Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-08-07
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S040000, C455S345000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272349
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to antennas, and more particularly to antennas having higher levels of integration than previously known.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An antenna appropriate for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted by global positioning system (GPS) satellites is known. It is desirable to incorporate the positioning capabilities of the GPS into an automobile. The known antenna, for example M/A-COM part ANPC 128B-N-7-2, receive a 1.51 Ghz radio frequency signal and launches the received signal onto a cable to a coaxial connector termination. A printed circuit board (PCB) in the automobile receives the RF signal to process it further down to an intermediate frequency (IF). The IF is then launched to another PCB populated with digital circuitry having GPS intelligence for interpretation of the signal into positioning information. Disadvantageously, the transmission of the RF signal through the cable injects introduces noise and generates loss, which can degrade the signal RF prior to processing. Degradation of the RF signal has a direct impact in reducing the sensitivity and the effectiveness of the overall system. The known GPS solution also requires relatively large packaging and is expensive to design and maintain at the system level due to the number of functional modules that comprises the overall system. The problem is exacerbated in an automobile because the standard form factor of a passenger automobile, the desirable physical size of the automobile, and the desirability of passenger space limit the available “on board” space for functional components. Once a system is installed in an automobile, because it is aesthetically desirable to hide the automobile's functional systems, access to the system's component parts is also limited. The problem is further exacerbated by the difficulty in installing coaxial cables and connectors in a vehicle. Coaxial cable is not a standard component for the automobile industry and degrades GPS performance but also causes coupling of unwanted signals to other electronic components such as the radio. Much of the wiring in vehicles is now implemented as a data bus.
There is a need, therefore, for a smaller, more efficient, and less expensive GPS system especially packaged to connect directly to standard vehicle wiring harnesses and data buses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A GPS receiver comprises a printed circuit board substrate and an antenna disposed on the printed circuit board substrate. There is at least one integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate with electrical conductors interconnecting the antenna and the at least one integrated circuits. An electrical connector is disposed on the printed circuit board substrate providing electrical access to the at least one integrated circuit,
It is a feature of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that a receiving antenna and digital data connector (implementing the bus, power and Ground interfaces) are integrated on a single PCB with all intervening analog and digital circuitry also mounted on the PCB.
It is a feature of an embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention that a GPS integrated receiver provides a direct connection of a GPS receiver to a data bus including all of the GPS signal intelligence and the electronics to transmit signals to and from the vehicle bus,
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that the system sensitivity is improved over prior art GPS systems.
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that the system is smaller, less expensive to manufacture, and more reliable than prior art GPS systems.
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that the overall system complexity is less than prior art GPS systems.
It is an advantage of a GPS receive according to the teachings of the present invention that the units will be less susceptible to electromagnetic interference and will cause less interference in other electronic components.
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that ease of installation will be substantially improved by a direct or “one touch” installation procedure onto a vehicle bus.
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that overall installation of GPS onto a vehicle will be less obtrusive affecting the styling and vehicle design and allowing the GPS and antenna to be hidden. This means it is less likely to be forcefully removed if the vehicle is stolen.
It is an advantage of a GPS receiver according to the teachings of the present invention that a GPS receiver with the physical means to connect to a vehicle bus can provide additional networking features not yet contemplated by the current state of the art including output of GPS data directly to the vehicle standard wiring harness, reading data messages from the vehicle to perform diagnostic self checking, and output of data on demand.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5223844 (1993-06-01), Mansell et al.
patent: 5357254 (1994-10-01), Kah, Jr.
patent: 5504684 (1996-04-01), Lau et al.
patent: 5819163 (1998-10-01), Tsukamoto et al.
patent: 5889493 (1999-03-01), Endo
patent: 6078294 (2000-06-01), Mitarai
patent: 6121922 (2000-09-01), Mohan
Griffin William
Jordan David Frederick
LaChapelle John
Martin David
McGrath Finbarr
Maung Nay
The Whitaker Corporation
Vuong Quochien B.
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