Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-03-27
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With vehicle
C343S711000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208305
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention comprises an antenna capable of being located in a variety of locations within a vehicle passenger compartment wherein the antenna itself is integrated with respect to a vehicle trim component.
BACKGROUND ART
Most modern vehicles are equipped with electronic devices such as a keyless remote entry system, transmitters for garage door openers, radios, position navigation systems, etc., each of which requires an antenna system. Such antenna systems in known automotive applications require compromise in the size of the antenna because of space considerations. The effectiveness of the device that utilizes the antenna is decreased when space restrictions limit the size of the antenna. Further, an automotive vehicle body typically has metal at or near the locations of the antenna, which reduces the effectiveness of the antenna. Because of the space restrictions, transmitters that are used to supply radio frequency signals received by the antenna, such as a remote keyless entry transmitter signal, must be relatively large in size and expensive to manufacture because of the need for the transmitter to provide a powerful radio frequency signal. Similarly, receivers with normal power that are associated with antenna systems of reduced size heretofore have not been able to receive a signal until the transmitter is moved very close to the vehicle.
It would be desirable to eliminate or to reduce these restrictions on the transmitter. Prior art devices, however, do not permit the use of a high efficiency antenna that would make it possible to reduce the transmitter signal power. A relatively large antenna in known antenna systems, furthermore, would not be practical from a commercial standpoint because of aesthetic considerations and because of space limitations on integrating the antenna with passenger compartment components. Space limitations are imposed on the antenna system also by the proximity of structural metal in the passenger compartment.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The antenna system of the invention integrates an antenna with a vehicle trim component within the vehicle passenger compartment. The transmitter used with the antenna system need not be used with enhanced power because the antenna itself can be relatively large. Further, the signal can be detected by a receiver from a relatively long distance.
At least a portion of the antenna system is positioned on a vehicle interior trim component in the passenger compartment at a location vertically above the sill of a window for the vehicle. In this way, a transmitter, such as a remote entry transmitter, pointed at the vehicle will provide a signal to the antenna in an unobstructed line-of-sight fashion. The antenna may be applied to a vehicle trim element, such as a steering wheel cover or within a headrest of a vehicle, or within the vertical seat back of the driver seat or passenger seat, or within the rearview mirror, or within the rear deck of the vehicle, or as part of the pillar trim in the passenger compartment.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antenna is formed as a near-transparent film that contains indium-tin oxide. The film can be applied to the surface of a trim component using known techniques. This material is known commercially as indium-tin oxide #49. It can be deposited on the surface of a vehicle trim component using, for example, a vacuum depositing method, or electrostatic depositing method, or a sputtering method. Because of the near transparency of the film, the aesthetics of the trim material remain unchanged. The indium-tin oxide is electrically conductive and, following its application to the surface of a trim component, provides an efficient antenna system of substantial length.
An alternate embodiment of the invention may use a pinstripe, electrically conductive material formed on the outer surface of a vehicle trim component. In this instance, the pinstripe may form a part of the trim design to add to the aesthetics.
Although indium-tin oxide material has a higher resistivity compared to copper or other efficient electrically conducive materials, compensation for this feature is provided by the increased length of the antenna made possible by the use of this technique for forming the antenna.
If the vehicle antenna is used with a transponder for an engine starter, the antenna must be located within two centimeters of the transponder in order to be effective. This design limitation can be avoided by using a relatively large antenna incorporating the features of the invention. A 125 kHz signal, for example, would have a long wavelength and, of necessity, would require a long antenna. Such a long antenna can be achieved by using the antenna of the invention where the length is increased without affecting the aesthetics of the trim and without being affected by space limitations imposed on conventional antenna systems.
A receiver or transmitter for conventional systems may experience signal losses at the frequencies of interest unless the receiver is located near the antenna. The receiver or transmitter can be located farther from the electronic unit because of the increased length of the antenna that is made possible by the invention. It is not necessary, for example, to use a transmitter with enhanced wattage if it is capable of functioning with a useful signal of low wattage because of the presence of a large antenna.
Trim materials typically used in automotive vehicle passenger compartments often contain dies that have a carbon content. By using the antenna system of the invention where the antenna wire is applied to the surface of the trim, the presence of the carbon in the trim itself will not attenuate the signal for the antenna. This would not be possible if the antenna is located within the trim itself.
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Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Lear Corporation
Nguyen Hoang
Wong Don
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