GB2318217A

GB2318217A - A patch aerial combined with another aerial

Info

Publication number: GB2318217A
Application number: GB9720650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jo Eide
Original assignee: Comrod AS
Current assignee: Comrod AS
Priority date: 1996-10-04
Filing date: 1997-09-29
Publication date: 1998-04-15
Also published as: NO304809B1; DE19742084A1; GB9720650D0; NO964202D0; FR2754396A1; NO964202L; FR2754396B1

Abstract

An aerial arrangement comprises an aerial 7 with a feed cable 6 which passes through a hole 14 in the centre of a patch aerial 10. The patch aerial 10 may comprise a radiating element 11, formed by a dielectric substrate plate with a conductive layer on either side, and an amplifier located within a hosing 12. The patch aerial 10 is located within the base 1 of the aerial 7. The patch aerial 10 may be employed in a Global Positioning System (GPS) and the aerial 7 may be a monopole antenna for use in radio communications. The aerial arrangement may be mounted on the outer surface of a vehicle.

Description

1 2318217 DEVICE FOR AERIAL The invention relates to a device for an

aerial for satellite navigation.

Satellite navigation by means of the so-called GPS (Global Positioning system) is used increasingly, both for military and civil purposes. for example in vehicles and vessels.

The use of GPS presupposes a receiver with an aerial for receiving radio signals.

In connection with vehicles and vessels an externally mounted aerial is advantageous. The aerial is connected to the receiver by means of an aerial cable, typically a coaxial cable, taken through a wall or roof.

Vehicles and vessels are often already provided with aerials for communication radio, radiotelephone, broadcasting receivers and other, and it may therefore be difficult to find a suitable place for a so-called GPS aerial. Another condition is that aerial signals from 2 neighbouring aerials may to a certain extent interfere with each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for the simplified mounting of a GPS aerial together with 5 another aerial.

The object is reached through the features stated in the following description and subsequent claim.

Externally mounted aerials, for example aerials for communication radio, are often provided with a cone- shaped base fixed externally to a wall or a roof. The aerial element itself is electrically connected through an aerial cable, for example a coaxial cable, lead through the aerial base.

According to the invention a so-called patch aerial is used for receiving GPS signals. Such an aerial comprises a plate, an aerial plate, of synthetic material, coated with a metal on each side surface, as is known from printed circuit boards. The metal on the one side of the plate constitutes an earth plane, and the metal on the other side constitutes an aerial element.

The aerial plate is most often arranged inside a tight housing together with an amplifier which is electrically connected to the aerial plate. Further, an aerial cable is connected to the amplifier. Such GPS aerials are well known to those skilled in the art and will, therefore, not be described in further detail.

By placing such an aerial plate, for receiving GPS signals, inside the aerial base of an existing aerial, for 3 example an aerial for a communication radio, a simple and space-saving mounting of a GPS aerial is achieved.

Experiments have shown that the aerial cable to the primary aerial, i.e. the aerial mounted on the aerial base, may influence the GPS aerial inside the base. It has also turned out that this undesirable effect becomes very small if said aerial cable is first taken right through the centre of the aerial plate comprised by the GPS aerial, instead of leading the aerial cable beside and about the aerial plate. Therefore, it is a feature of the invention to lead the aerial cable through a hole at or near the centre of the aerial plate.

The invention will be described in the following by means of a non-limiting example of an embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view, partly in section, of an aerial base with part of a rod aerial for a connunication radio, in which the aerial base contains an aerial plate, Fig. 2 shows, partly in section, the aerial base with the aerial plate, seen from above.

In the figure the reference numeral 1 designates an aerial base standing on a mounting plate 2 attached to a roof 3 of a vehicle not shown. Between the mounting plate 2 and the aerial base 1, and between the mounting plate 2 and the roof 3, a seal or other tightening means, which is not shown, may advantageously be provided. The aerial base 1 is secured to the mounting plate 2 by screws 4. The mounting plate 2 is preferably 4 secured to the roof 3 by screws or other securing means' not shown. In the mounting plate 2, near the centre thereof, is provided a first hole 5 for a first aerial cable 6 to a primary aerial 7 which is attached to the top of the aerial base 1 in a known manner. In the mounting plate 2 is further provided a second hole 8 for a second aerial cable 9 to a secondary aerial, in this case a GPS aerial 10 of the so-called patch type, comprising an aerial plate 11, and possibly a not shown amplifier arranged in a known manner inside an aerial housing 12. The aerial cables 6, 9 are taken through a hole 13 in the roof 3 to not shown radio equipment or GPS equipment in the vehicle.

The aerial cable 6 to the primary aerial 7 is taken through a hole 14 in the aerial plate 11 near the centre thereof, and also through the aerial housing 12, which encloses the aerial plate 11. It is possible, of course, for the aerial plate 11 to be mounted directly, without being enclosed in an aerial housing 12.

The aerial cables 6 and 9 are shown directly connected to the primary aerial 7 and the GPS aerial 11 respec tively. Especially for the primary aerial 7 it will be of advantage if a separable contact is arranged on the aerial cable, either on the upper side of the housing 12 or in a recess 15 in the mounting plate 2, prefera bly in the side of the mounting plate 2 facing the roof 3. It is considered to be well known to a person skilled in the art to fit necessary contacts on aerial cables, and such contacts are, therefore, not shown.

Claims

CLAIM

1. Device for aerial for satellite navigation, in which is used, for the reception of position signals, an aerial (10) of a type comprising an aerial plate (11), which is provided on each side with a conductive coating, which is connected, possibly by way of an amplifier, to an aerial cable (9) connecting the aerial (11) to equipment for receiving position signals, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the aerial (11) is arranged inside an aerial base (1) which holds a primary aerial for another purpose such as radio communication, and in which an aerial cable (6) to a primary aerial (7) is taken through the aerial (11) near the centre of the aerial plate (11).