US6449469B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switched directional antenna for automotive radio receivers
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-03-01
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Granted: 2002-09-10
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Expires: 2019-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A directional antenna system includes several antenna elements, a phase shift/attenuation circuit, and a switching system. The circuit synthesizes four antenna patterns which are oriented toward the front, back, left, and right sides of a vehicle. The system switches between antenna patterns depending upon received signal strength at any particular moment.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunji Miyahara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/1271; H01Q3/24; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/08; H04B7/0837; H04B7/0842; H04B7/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A radio receiver system installed on a vehicle, said vehicle having front, back, left, and right sides, said radio receiver system comprising: a plurality of antenna elements mounted on said vehicle, each antenna element producing a respective radio-frequency signal; an antenna combiner coupled to said antenna elements electronically combining said radio-frequency signals according to a selected one of four predetermined phase/amplitude combinations to generate a combined antenna signal, wherein said four predetermined phase/amplitude combinations each provides a respective directivity pattern substantially aligned with said front, back, left, and right sides, respectively, whereby said front and back directivity patterns are aligned with a street upon which said vehicle travels; a tuner generating a tuner signal in response to said combined antenna signal; a quality detector generating a detection signal in response to a comparison of a quality of said tuner signal and a predetermined quality; and a pattern selector coupled to said quality detector and said antenna combiner to change-over said antenna combiner to a different one of said predetermined phase/amplitude combinations in response to said detection signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A radio receiver system installed on a vehicle, said vehicle having front, back, left, and right sides, said radio receiver system comprising: a plurality of antenna elements mounted on said vehicle, each antenna element producing a respective radio-frequency signal; an antenna combiner coupled to said antenna elements electronically combining said radio-frequency signals according to a selected one of four predetermined phase/amplitude combinations to generate a combined antenna signal, wherein said four predetermined phase/amplitude combinations each provides a respective directivity pattern substantially aligned with said front, back, left, and right sides, respectively, whereby said front and back directivity patterns are aligned with a street upon which said vehicle travels; a tuner generating a tuner signal in response to said combined antenna signal; a quality detector generating a detection signal in response to a comparison of a quality of said tuner signal and a predetermined quality; and a pattern selector coupled to said quality detector and said antenna combiner to change-over said antenna combiner to a different one of said predetermined phase/amplitude combinations in response to said detection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein said antenna combiner is comprised of four voltage-controlled phase shifters connected in respective pairs to a respective one of four voltage-controlled attenuators, each of said pairs being connected to a summer which produces said combined antenna signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The radio receiver system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of antenna elements are comprised of four glass-mounted elements, each element being connected to a respective one of said phase shifter/attenuator pairs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein said antenna combiner is comprised of a digital signal processor including predetermined phase shift and attenuation values stored in memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The radio receiver system of claim 4 wherein said quality detector and said pattern selector are contained within said digital signal processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein said tuner signal is an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and wherein said predetermined quality is a predetermined signal strength of said IF signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein said tuner signal is an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and wherein said predetermined quality is a predetermined percent of average signal strength of said IF signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein said phase/amplitude combinations only shift the phases of respective signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The radio receiver system of claim 1 wherein transmission lines provide said phase/amplitude combinations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-09 | 2006-03-11 | 2006-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-09 | 2010-03-11 | 2010-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-09 | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |