Low-profile, multi-antenna module, and method of integration into a vehicle

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer is a portion of a structural part of the vehicle.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the structural part forms at least a portion of a roof of said vehicle.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the structural part forms a metal roof of said vehicle.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer is a non-structural part of the vehicle.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the non-structural part is a thin conductive layer attached or secured in place by a headliner in said vehicle.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the thin conductive layer is a metal foil material.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer is a portion of a structural part of the vehicle.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein the structural part forms at least a portion of a roof of said vehicle.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein the structural part forms a metal roof of said vehicle.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer is a portion of a non-structural part of the vehicle.

Claim 13

The method of claim 11 wherein the non-structural part is a thin dielectric layer attached or secured in place over said antenna module on an exterior surface of said vehicle.

Claim 14

A antenna mounted on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle; (b) a high impedance surface mounted on said ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle, said high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (c) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array, said antenna element having at least one major axis which is parallel to said array when said at least one antenna element is disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements.

Claim 15

A antenna mounted on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle; (b) a high impedance surface mounted on said ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle, said high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (c) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array, said antenna element having at least one major axis which is parallel to said array when said at least one antenna element is disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements.

Claim 16

The antenna of claim 13 wherein the high impedance surface and the at least one antenna are packaged as a module which is installed as a unit on said ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle.

Claim 17

An antenna mounted on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a sheet of dielectric material forming a portion of said vehicle; (b) a ground plane sheet disposed adjacent a headliner in said vehicle, said headliner being disposed in said vehicle in a confronting relationship with the sheet of dielectric material; (c) a high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of dielectric material; (d) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements; and (e) wherein said high impedance surface is disposed between said ground plane sheet and said sheet of dielectric material such that said plurality of conductive elements of said high impedance surface and said at least one antenna element disposed thereon confront said sheet of dielectric material forming a portion of said vehicle.

Claim 18

An antenna mounted on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a sheet of dielectric material forming a portion of said vehicle; (b) a ground plane sheet disposed adjacent a headliner in said vehicle, said headliner being disposed in said vehicle in a confronting relationship with the sheet of dielectric material; (c) a high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of dielectric material; (d) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements; and (e) wherein said high impedance surface is disposed between said ground plane sheet and said sheet of dielectric material such that said plurality of conductive elements of said high impedance surface and said at least one antenna element disposed thereon confront said sheet of dielectric material forming a portion of said vehicle.

Claim 19

The antenna of claim 15 wherein the high impedance surface and the at least one antenna are packaged as a module which is installed as a unit between said ground plane sheet and said sheet of dielectric material.

Claim 20

An antenna for mounting on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a high impedance surface adapted to be mounted adjacent a ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle, said high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; (b) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array, said antenna element having at least one major axis which is parallel to said array when said at least one antenna element is disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements; and (c) a connector for coupling RF from said antenna.

Claim 21

An antenna for mounting on a vehicle, said antenna comprising: (a) a high impedance surface adapted to be mounted adjacent a ground plane formed by a structural portion of said vehicle, said high impedance surface comprising: (1) at least one layer of a dielectric material; (2) a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and disposed adjacent one surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; and (3) a ground plane layer disposed adjacent another surface of said at least one layer of a dielectric material; (b) at least one antenna element disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array, said antenna element having at least one major axis which is parallel to said array when said at least one antenna element is disposed on said high impedance surface adjacent said plurality of conductive elements; and (c) a connector for coupling RF from said antenna.

Claim 22

The antenna of claim 17 further includes active component and wherein the connector couples a source of DC to said active components.

Claim 23

The antenna of claim 17 wherein the high impedance surface and the at least one antenna are packaged as a module which is adapted to be installed as a unit on a ground plane formed by a structural portion of the vehicle such that the ground plane layer of the high impedance surface cooperates with the ground plane formed by the structural portion of the vehicle.

Claim 24

The antenna of claim 17 wherein the high impedance surface and the at least one antenna are packaged as an antenna module which is adapted to be installed as a unit adjacent a structural portion of said vehicle.

Claim 25

The antenna of claim 20 wherein the antenna module is adapted to be installed as a unit adjacent a structural portion of said vehicle with the ground plane layer of the high impedance surface cooperating with a ground plane formed by or adjacent the structural portion of the vehicle.