Abstract: An LED taillight with an integrated GPS tracking system is disclosed therein. The GPS tracking system is hidden behind the LED portion of the LED taillight so that the GPS tracking system is not noticeable by someone inspecting a trailer on which the LED taillight is installed. Additionally, power sent to the LED taillight to power the LEDs also recharge a battery associated with the GPS tracking system and power the GPS tracking system during use.

Abstract: Vehicle telematics systems and methods for vehicle telematics systems are provided. The telematics system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a processing device. The first antenna is disposed at a first location on the vehicle. The second antenna is disposed at a second location on the vehicle. The second location is remote from the first location. The processing device is coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The processing device is configured to monitor a parameter that is indicative as to whether the first antenna is operational, communicate using the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational, and communicate using the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication circuit part, a transmission path for signals, a ground, a coupler electrode, and a resonance part. The coupler electrode includes an upper flat part as an electrode, a support, and a connecting portion. The support supports the upper flat part. Thus, the upper flat part faces the ground and is separately placed therefrom at a height only enough to ignore the wavelength of the signal, while having a flexible portion which is elastically deformable in the height direction. On the connecting portion, the other end of the support is connected to the transmission path. The resonance part enlarges a current flowing into the coupler electrode through the transmission path. A micro dipole is a line segment connecting between the center of accumulated electric charge in the coupler electrode and the center of mirror charge accumulated in the ground.

Abstract: A compacted patch antenna is described, particularly for installation in a vehicle, comprising an electrically supplied strip radiating element and a ground plane. The strip radiating element is connected to the ground plane at a first end by means of a metal link and at a second end, opposite to the first end, by means of a variable capacitor. The compacted patch antenna comprises a printed circuit, the bottom surface of which is integral with the ground plane, a dielectric material layer arranged between the strip radiating element and the printed circuit; the strip radiating element is substantially parallel to the ground mass. The dielectric material layer has a relative dielectric constant ranging between 3 to 6 with a loss factor ranging between 0.03 to 0.1.

Abstract: A tire pressure detecting apparatus has a micro-controller, a detecting module and a transceiver. The detecting module is electronically connected to the micro-controller and has a tire pressure detecting unit controlled by the micro-controller to detect a tire pressure inside a tire. The transceiver is electronically connected to the micro-controller, transmits a high frequency signal corresponding to detected characteristic tire parameters from the detecting module to a monitoring system inside a car and receives an external high frequency signal sent from external tire pressure detecting apparatus for the micro-controller, with the micro-controller temporarily delaying sending of the high frequency signal until a waiting time has expired to prevent signal collision between the high frequency signal and the external high frequency signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft undercarriage including at least one axle having at least one wheel mounted to rotate thereon, the undercarriage including a communication device for connecting a sensor mounted on a rim of the wheel to stationary processor means mounted on the aircraft. According to the invention, the communication device comprises firstly an antenna secured to the sensor and thus rotating together with the wheel, and secondly a stationary antenna extending at the end of the axle and connected to the processor means, the two antennas being in radio communication through a cover of non-conductive material secured to the wheel and covering the end of the axle.

Abstract: An antenna system for a vehicle including a front windshield glass and a rear windshield is disclosed. The antenna system comprises an antenna unit including a radiating element electromagnetically coupled to an excitation element. The radiating element is coupled to the front windshield glass, and the excitation element is positioned on a passenger compartment interior surface of the front windshield glass. The antenna system also comprises a high-gain antenna unit including first radiating elements, a second radiating element, a 90-degree phase shift circuit, and a low noise amplifier that is coupled to the phase shift circuit. The first radiating elements receive signals through the rear windshield glass. The antenna unit and the high-gain antenna unit may function in a diversity antenna configuration.

Abstract: Antenna constructions for electronic devices and methods of manufacturing such antenna constructions. The electronic device comprises a transponder and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder. The antenna has a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core. The second material has a higher electrical conductivity than the first material and/or a lower permeability than the first material. The coating on the core also has a predetermined thickness. The electronic devices may be used in tires.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus is mounted at a wheel rim as a transponder of a system for monitoring a tire pressure or the like, and attached at an end portion of an air valve. The apparatus includes a circuit board having an electronic circuit portion and a grounding conductor layer, a sheet-metal inverse-F type antenna element, a sheet-metal shield case conducting to the grounding conductor layer to cover the electronic circuit portion, and a resin case for accommodating these components. One side surface extending in a longitudinal direction of a space defined between the circuit board and the radiating conductor of the antenna element faces one of sidewalls of a tire, and the other side surface thereof faces a wall surface of the wheel rim with a distance interposed therebetween, the distance being about one-fourth of a wavelength of a radio wave to be used.

Abstract: A composite antenna and method for tire monitoring systems is configured as a core composed of polymeric material and a conductive metallic layer in intimate surrounding contact with the core. The polymeric material provides elasticity to the core to enable the core to elongate when subjected to stress forces within a tire. The conductive layer is fabricated from a low impedance material and may be configured as a composite wherein an inner base metal is selected as a strength member and an outer metallic layer is applied to the base for electrical performance enhancement.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for a motor vehicle has a housing mounted on the vehicle body and overhanging a portion of a window provided with an antenna connector structure. A carrier removably mounted on that housing has one or more contact elements which bear directly against a printed circuit board in the housing and carrying the antenna signal processing circuitry and against the antenna conductor structure on the window.

Abstract: High frequency (HF) antennas for wideband signals are used in the tracking of railcars. These are rugged antennas especially adapted to the hostile environment of a railcar. One antenna is in the form of a magnetic loop. Another generates an electric field produced by a plate mounted just below the railcar undercarriage with an optional dielectric slab situated between the plate and the undercarriage. The antennas need not be specified in terms of optimal parameters since the approach taken is to provide a generic antenna structure adapted to being fitted underneath the carriage of a railcar. This generic structure exhibits a mitigated Q and is capable of broadband tuning. This feature makes the antenna easier and less costly to produce in large quantities and facilitates use of a standard fitting mechanism and installation procedure.

Abstract: Antenna system including a first antenna which is connected to a first transmit and/or receive unit and which has a natural frequency of at least approximately the value fm. The system also includes a second antenna which is linked both inductively and mechanically to the first antenna and which has a natural frequency of at least approximately the value fm. The first and second antennae are designed to be linked to another antenna system with at least a third antenna which has a natural frequency of at least approximately the value fm and which is connected to a second transmit and/or receive unit intended for the transmission of data to and/or reception of data from the first transmit and/or receive unit. At least one transmit and/or receive unit, either of the first or the second transmit and/or receive unit, is located at a route point on a public thoroughfare. The other transmit and/or receive unit is located on a vehicle driving on the public thoroughfare.

Abstract: A vehicle having a plurality of antennas each in association with a communications transmitter device disposed within the vehicle to thereby provide multiple signal transmission sites. At least one antenna is disposed substantially at a top site of the vehicle and at least one antenna is disposed substantially at a bottom site of the vehicle, thus providing antenna coverage irrespective of the spatial orientation of the vehicle. The invention includes a communications system employing a multiplicity of antenna sites as well as methodology for providing a communication link from a vehicle to a receiving site by incorporating the communications system. In this manner, vehicle occupants are provided with a communications link from the vehicle, irrespective of the position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile communications system for transmitting or receiving a broadcast signal and designed for mounting on in a vehicle has a transmitter or receiver and one or more antennas electrically connected to the transmitter/receiver. The system is mounted on or in a vehicle so that the transmitter/receiver and the antenna(s) are concealed. The system includes a GPS unit for receiving and processing a GPS and signal a cellular telephone unit for transmitting a fix of the vehicle location (to the police, for example). The system is particularly useful in recovering stolen vehicles and deterring theft.

Abstract: An antenna unit for an automotive vehicle is provided. This antenna unit is adapted to be located in a non-visible position on a vehicle and includes an grounding plate, a radiating conductive plate, and a loop antenna element which is interposed between the plates and is fixed thereto. The loop antenna is formed by two bars which have configurations symmetrical to each other. One end of each bar is folded at a right angle relative to the other end thereof. The ends of the bars are connected by elastically deformable connectors to define a loop and are electrically connected by a wire. By adjusting a length of the wire, easy tuning of the resonance frequency of the antenna unit can be obtained. The deformation of the connector absorbs shock given to the antenna unit by road obstacles such as stones or mud and guards it against impact damage.

Abstract: A bar-type antenna unit is installed at a normally non-visible point on the lower side of a vehicle body. The unit includes an antenna element, a metal plate, and noise shielding means. The metal plate functions to adjust the reactance of the antenna to obtain a desired sensitivity and protects the antenna from water, mud, or snow splashed from the vehicle's wheels to ensure good insulation between the vehicular body and the antenna element. By selecting capacitance of the metal plate, the length of the antenna can be shortened without reducing sensitivity of the unit. The shielding means shields the antenna from noise generated by for example an engine or electrical equipment which would otherwise interfere with radio broadcasts.

Abstract: In a planar array antenna in which radio frequency power fed by a feeder line is radiated from a plurality of radiation elements disposed in a planar state on one surface of a dielectric substrate on the other surface of which the feeder line is disposed, the feeder line has a first feeder part and a second feeder part.

Abstract: A slot antenna is disclosed for a horizontal dielectric vehicle door in which the ground plane of the antenna sheet does not connect with or overlap the surrounding electrically conducting vehicle body panels but which nevertheless maintains significant RF currents at FM frequencies through the vertical roof pillars of the vehicle. This is accomplished by the formation of a parasitic slot surrounding the antenna slot in the gap between the sheet and the surrounding sheet metal at the trunk opening. The parasitic slot has a first portion of length substantially the same as that of the antenna slot and a similar width and a second portion of a greater width effective to comprise an open circuit for currents. Thus the total effective length of the parasitic slot is equal to that of the antenna slot for similar resulting current flow from the decklid area through the vertical roof pillars; and the desirable FM performance is preserved.

Abstract: A side-looking array antenna system is disclosed in which the inclination angle of the antenna main beam is determined depending on the intervals of a plurality of antenna elements forming an array. A switch is provided to selectively connect one of the ports of an antenna feeder to a signal source or the like. The switch is used to select one of the ports of the antenna feeder as an excitation port, thereby reversing the direction of inclination of the antenna main beam. The antenna main beam can thus be directed in either of the two directions by the operation of the switch. Also, by using this antenna system, a Doppler radar vehicle speedometer with small calculation error, automotive radar and the like may be simply configured.

Abstract: In a fixed station for a two-way radio link with a vehicle (5) which has a self-contained transmit/receive device (6) including a transmit antenna (8) in the form of a vertical axis coil so as to generate a vertical electromagnetic field and a receive antenna (9) in the form of a horizontal axis coil disposed transversely relative to the vehicle, a set of transmit/receive antennas at the fixed station includes a receive antenna constituted by a first multiconductor cable (10) forming a rectangular loop whose long dimension runs parallel to the direction of vehicle displacement, and a transmit antenna constituted by a second multiconductor cable (12) forming two narrow elongate rectangular loops extending in the direction of vehicle displacement and mutually parallel so as to create a horizontal electromagnetic field extending perpendicularly to the direction of vehicle displacement.

Abstract: An antenna system which operates over a wide spectrum of radio frequencies by utilizing a body of a vehicle as an antenna. The antenna system comprises a tuned impedance-matching coupler and a uniquely-configured floating, low-capacitance coaxial transmission line. In this arrangement, the outer conductor of the transmission line connecting the coupler to the vehicular body is severed at both ends. Thus, electrical connection between the coupler and the vehicle body is provided only by the transmission line's center conductor and the line's capacitive coupling. Antenna performance with the instant configuration exhibits improved voltage standing wave ratios and field strength as compared to conventional radio antennas.

Abstract: A fixed wing aircraft comprises two major components, namely an airframe and a payload carrier which are articulated. The airframe is equipped with all the essentials for independent flight. The attitude of the payload carrier can be controlled independently of the attitude of the airframe.

Abstract: A mounting structure of a Doppler radar vehicle speed sensor for an automobile, especially adapted for damage-free mounting of the radar to a bottom of the automobile which may detrimentally hit on the road surface while the automobile is in motion. In order to protect the radar casing from the attacks by possible flying pebbles and muddy splashes caused by the rotation of the front wheels, the radar casing containing a horn antenna or a slot array antenna is accommodated in a recess or a stepped space formed near the rear wheels in the bottom surface of the floor of the automobile in such a manner that the casing is within the partial space in the recess lying on the side opposite to the road surface with respect to a plane containing the front edge of the recess and the tangent line drawn from the front edge to the outer diameter of the front wheel. The mouth of the antenna is directed toward the rear end of the automobile.

Abstract: An improved safety method and apparatus for sensing individuals adjacent a vehicle utilizes a balanced bridge circuit. The method and apparatus provides for rebalancing the bridge circuit at a first rate during vehicle motion to compensate for topography and environmental changes as the vehicle proceeds and for varying the rate to a second relatively lower rate, and, alternatively inhibiting rebalancing of the bridge circuit when the vehicle is stationary during proximity detection of individuals adjacent the vehicle. A delay in restoring the rebalancing rate to the first rate is provided as the vehicle prepares to proceed. An improved electrode, detection assembly employed in the method and apparatus is described.

Abstract: A Doppler speed sensor for a ground vehicle wherein errors due to vehicle tilt relative to the ground surface and initial mounting angle error are substantially eliminated by using a first antenna with its radiation pattern directed down and forward and a second antenna with its radiation pattern directed down and rearward, so the principal axes of the radiation patterns are 90.degree. apart. A novel digital technique for processing the signals received from such antennas is also disclosed.