Xm Satellite Radio Inc.

Other

Lear Corporation

Argy Petros

Anh Xuan Nguyen

Terry C Helstrom

Riad Ghabra

Qingfeng Tang

Jason Summerford

Imtiaz Zafar

Karl R Guppy

A low profile antenna for use in a vehicle remote communication system in accordance with the present invention includes a printed circuit board having a copper ground plane mounted on a first side thereof. A dielectric spacer is mounted to the first side of the printed circuit board. A lineal antenna trace is disposed on the dielectric spacer. The antenna also includes a transmission line having first and second signal conductors. The first conductor is coupled to a feed point on the lineal antenna trace and the second conductor is coupled to both the ground plane and a second point on the lineal antenna trace spaced from the feed point.

Low profile antenna for remote vehicle communication system

A system and method for confirming that two antennae are connected to a radio receiver. There is provided a radio receiver including a signal generating source, a first antenna feed connection port, a second antenna feed connection port, and a signal detection circuit. Also provided is a low noise amplifier (LNA) module having a first LNA and a second LNA, wherein the first LNA is in communication with a first antenna and the second LNA is in communication with a second antenna, and wherein outputs of the first and second LNAs are in communication, respectively, with the first antenna feed connection port and the second antenna feed connection port. A DC signal pathway is established, at least in part, through the LNA module and electrically connects the signal generating source and the signal detection circuit to each other, whereby when the signal is detected it can be confirmed that both antennae are connected to the radio receiver.

System and method for detecting the connections of two antennae to a radio receiver

A combined antenna system used for both vehicles and structures, whereby a satellite antenna is placed concentrically around a conventional mast antenna that can be used for both conventional FM radio and also terrestrial retransmission of the satellite broadcast signals. The combined antenna system, in a vehicle implementation, is configured to use only the one hole created in the vehicle manufacturing process, thereby preventing the necessity of drilling a second hole for the satellite antenna, which alleviates deterioration of the vehicle's body. Additionally, because the combined antenna system can be advantageously placed, a shorter RF cable connecting it to a receiver box can be implemented than otherwise would be the case for a satellite antenna located on a window or roof of a vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, the satellite antenna can be mounted on either a fixed or retractable terrestrial antenna, thereby raising the satellite antenna to a higher elevation with respect to any obstacles on the vehicle or structure.

Combination satellite and terrestrial antenna

An antenna system is provided which employs RF and DC coupling across a dielectric. RF coupling is achieved using low cost and low loss RF coupler pairs such as quarterwave patches that are mounted opposite each other on either side of a dielectric. The feeds of the patches are aligned so as to be directly opposite each other, and the patches are mounted against the dielectric. A voltage booster circuit can be provided to increase input supply voltage for DC coupling that is adjustable to accommodate the thickness of the dielectric.

Apparatus and method for transferring DC power and RF energy through a dielectric for antenna reception

A radio frequency (RF) coupler for passing RF energy through a dielectric such as glass, includes first and second circuit boards, each board having disposed thereon an electrical conducting material, the first and second circuit boards being arranged opposite each other on opposing sides of the dielectric, the first circuit board having a first ground element that defines a first aperture, and a first exciter strip disposed within the first aperture, the second circuit board having a second ground element that defines a second aperture, and a second exciter strip disposed within the second aperture, wherein one of the first and second exciter strips is longer than the other.

Through glass RF coupler system

A combination linearly polarized antenna and quadrifilar helix antenna ( ) comprises a flexible substrate ( ), a quadrifilar antenna ( ) with a feed network ( ) etched on a first portion of the flexible substrate, an antenna with linear polarization ( ) etched on a second portion of the flexible substrate and a ground plane ( ) for both the quadrifilar antenna and the antenna with linear polarization etched on the flexible substrate.

Combination linearly polarized and quadrifilar antenna sharing a common ground plane

A vehicle antenna mounting system whereby the antenna, associated antenna electronics (e.g., LNA) and RF and DC coupling are provided in an integral antenna assembly for installation on the exterior of a vehicle. The integral antenna assembly comprises a base section enclosing the associated antenna electronics and RF and DC coupling devices, and an antenna section pivotably mounted on the base section comprising the antenna. Two or more antennas are provided in the integral antenna assembly for SDARS reception on at least one satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Another satellite channel can be provided for diversity purposes, or a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver for performing location services, among others, for the vehicle.

Glass-mountable antenna system with DC and RF coupling

A drooping quadrifilar helix antenna includes first, second, third, and fourth radiating elements ( , and respectively) of conductive material, each element extending in a first direction in a first plane and at least one of the radiating elements having a portion ( ) thereof drooping in a second direction in a second plane, the antenna further including a dielectric tube ( ) for maintaining a substantial portion of the radiating elements in a substantially helical or spiral shape, a coupler ( ) for coupling electrical energy to and/or from each of said radiating elements, and a feed network ( ) for individually feeding at least two of the radiating elements.

Drooping helix antenna

A combination linearly polarized antenna and quadrifilar helix antenna ( ) includes a quadrifilar antenna ( ) having a first coaxial cable ( ) and an antenna with linear polarization ( ) external to the quadrifilar antenna and having a second coaxial cable ( ). A center conductor of the second coaxial cable is isolated from a center conductor of the first coaxial cable and the first coaxial cable runs substantially concentrically through the antenna with linear polarization.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Worth, FL, United States of America

Argy Petros