This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Different types of antennas are used in the automotive industry, including AM/FM radio antennas, satellite digital audio radio service antenna (SDARS), cellular phone antennas, satellite navigation antennas, etc.
Automotive antennas may be mounted inside or outside of a vehicle. For example, a satellite navigation antenna may be mounted on an exterior vehicle surface, such as the roof, trunk, or hood of the vehicle to help ensure that the antenna has unobstructed views overhead or toward the zenith. As another example, a satellite navigation antenna may be mounted inside an instrument panel of the vehicle. The satellite navigation antenna may be connected to one or more electronic devices (e.g., an in-dash touchscreen display, etc.) inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional antenna assembly 100 including a patch antenna 104, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 108, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield 112. As shown, the conventional patch antenna 104 includes a radiating element, antenna structure, or radiator 116 on a top surface of a first dielectric substrate 120. The first dielectric ceramic substrate 120 is positioned to be mounted on top of a second dielectric substrate or board of the PCBA 108.
The antenna assembly 100 also includes a connector 124 for electrically connecting the PCBA 108 to a communication link, which, in turn, may be connected to an electronic device (e.g., an in-dash touchscreen display, etc.) inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The antenna assembly 100 includes a cover or housing 128 that may be coupled to (e.g., snapped together with, latched to, etc.) a base 132. Bumpers 136 are positioned between the PCB 108 and the cover 128.
The patch antenna 104 may be electrically connected or coupled to the PCBA 108 via a connector 118. The connector 118 may comprise an uninsulated pin or an insulated pin (e.g., a metal conductor with an EMI shield around it, etc.). The pin may be a semi-rigid pin and extend from the top of the patch antenna 104 through the patch's radiating element 116 and first dielectric substrate 120 to the PCBA 108.
A label 190 may be adhesively attached to an outer surface of the cover 128. The label 190 may include information for identifying the particular antenna assembly.
FIG. 2 illustrates another conventional antenna assembly 200 including a patch antenna 204 and a PCBA 208. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional patch antenna 204 includes a radiating element 216 on a top surface of a first dielectric ceramic substrate 220. The first dielectric ceramic substrate 220 is mounted on top of a second dielectric substrate or board of the PCBA 208. The antenna assembly 200 also includes a connector 224 for electrically connecting the PCBA 208 to a communication link, which, in turn, may be connected to an electronic device (e.g., an in-dash touchscreen display, etc.) inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
The patch antenna 204 may be electrically connected or coupled to the PCBA 208 via a connector 218. The connector 218 may comprise an uninsulated pin or an insulated pin (e.g., a metal conductor with an EMI shield around it, etc.). The pin may be a semi-rigid pin and extend from the top of the patch antenna 204 through the patch's radiating element 216 and first dielectric substrate 220 to the PCBA 208.