Vehicular antenna assembly including GNSS antenna and SDARS antenna with reflector
According to various aspects, disclosed are exemplary embodiments of vehicular antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicular antenna assembly generally includes a first satellite antenna configured to be operable for receiving first satellite signals, and a second satellite antenna configured to be operable for receiving second satellite signals different than the first satellite signals received by the first satellite antenna. A reflector is positioned generally between the first and second satellite antennas. The reflector is configured to be operable for reflecting the first satellite signals generally towards the first satellite antenna.
1. A vehicular antenna assembly comprising:
a first satellite antenna configured to be operable for receiving first satellite signals;
a second satellite antenna configured to be operable for receiving second satellite signals different than the first satellite signals received by the first satellite antenna; and
a reflector positioned generally between the first and second satellite antennas and configured to be operable for reflecting the first satellite signals generally towards the first satellite antenna;
wherein the vehicular antenna assembly is configured to be installed and fixedly mounted to a body wall of a vehicle after being inserted into a mounting hole in the body wall from an external side of the vehicle and nipped from an interior compartment side of the vehicle.
2. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first satellite antenna comprises a first patch antenna including a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate;
the second satellite antenna comprises a second patch antenna including a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate; and
the reflector is positioned generally between the first and second patch antennas.
3. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second patch antenna is stacked on top of the first patch antenna such that the reflector is positioned generally between a lower surface of the dielectric substrate of the second patch antenna and an upper surface of the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
4. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 2 , wherein the reflector includes an electrically-conductive surface that is substantially planar and substantially parallel with the antenna structure of the first patch antenna, whereby the electrically-conductive surface of the reflector is operable for reflecting the first satellite signals generally towards the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
5. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 4 , wherein the electrically-conductive surface of the reflector has a surface area larger than a surface area of the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
6. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first satellite antenna is configured to be operable for receiving satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) signals and/or with frequencies from 2320 MHz to 2345 MHz; and
the second satellite antenna is configured to be operable for receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals or frequencies and/or with frequencies from 1558 MHz to 1608 MHz.
7. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the reflector comprises an electrically-conductive circular plate; and
the reflector is mechanically fastened to the first satellite antenna with one or more mechanical fasteners.
8. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the reflector comprises an electrically-conductive circular plate; or
the reflector is mechanically fastened to the first satellite antenna with one or more mechanical fasteners.
9. A vehicular antenna assembly comprising a stacked patch antenna assembly comprising:
a first patch antenna configured to be operable for receiving first signals;
a second patch antenna configured to be operable for receiving second signals different than the first signals received by the first patch antenna; and
a reflector configured to be operable for reflecting the first signals generally towards the first patch antenna;
wherein the second patch antenna is stacked on top of the first patch antenna such that the reflector is positioned generally between the first and second patch antennas; and
wherein the vehicular antenna assembly is configured to be installed and fixedly mounted to a body wall of a vehicle after being inserted into a mounting hole in the body wall from an external side of the vehicle and nipped from an interior compartment side of the vehicle.
10. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate;
the second patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate; and
the reflector is positioned generally between a lower surface of the dielectric substrate of the second patch antenna and an upper surface of the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
11. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 10 , wherein the reflector includes an electrically-conductive surface that is substantially planar and substantially parallel with the antenna structure of the first patch antenna, whereby the electrically-conductive surface of the reflector is operable for reflecting the first signals generally towards the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
12. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electrically-conductive surface of the reflector has a surface area larger than a surface area of the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
13. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first patch antenna is configured to be operable for receiving satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) signals and/or with frequencies from 2320 MHz to 2345 MHz; and
the second patch antenna is configured to be operable for receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals or frequencies and/or with frequencies from 1558 MHz to 1608 MHz.
14. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim wherein:
the reflector comprises an electrically-conductive circular plate; and
the reflector is mechanically fastened to the first patch antenna with one or more mechanical fasteners.
15. The vehicular antenna assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the reflector comprises an electrically-conductive circular plate; or
the reflector is mechanically fastened to the first patch antenna with one or more mechanical fasteners.
16. A method relating to a vehicular antenna assembly including first and second patch antennas configured to be operable for receiving respective first and second signals, the method comprising positioning a reflector generally between the first and second patch antennas such that the reflector is operable for reflecting the first signals generally towards the first patch antenna; and installing and fixedly mounting the vehicular antenna assembly to a body wall of a vehicle by inserting the vehicle antenna assembly inserted into a mounting hole in the body wall from an external side of the vehicle and nipping the vehicle antenna assembly from an interior compartment side of the vehicle.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method includes stacking the second patch antenna on top of the first patch antenna such that the reflector is positioned generally between the stacked first and second patch antennas.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the first patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate;
the second patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate and an antenna structure on the dielectric substrate; and
the method includes stacking the second patch antenna on top of the first patch antenna such that the reflector is positioned generally between a lower surface of the dielectric substrate of the second patch antenna and an upper surface of the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method includes positioning an electrically-conductive surface of the reflector substantially planar and substantially parallel with the antenna structure of the first patch antenna such that the electrically-conductive surface of the reflector is operable for reflecting the first signals generally towards the antenna structure of the first patch antenna.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the first patch antenna is configured to be operable for receiving satellite digital audio radio services (SDARS) signals and/or with frequencies from 2320 MHz to 2345 MHz; and
the second patch antenna is configured to be operable for receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals or frequencies and/or with frequencies from 1558 MHz to 1608 MHz.