U.S. patent application number 17/195286 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-24 for combination external vehicle antenna housing and installation method.
The applicant listed for this patent is MAGNADYNE CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Barry L. CAREN, Mark E. HOCKETT, CM WONG, Wentsan YEH.
Application Number | 20210194114 17/195286 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005444243 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210194114 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CAREN; Barry L. ; et
al. |
June 24, 2021 |
COMBINATION EXTERNAL VEHICLE ANTENNA HOUSING AND INSTALLATION
METHOD
Abstract
An antenna housing facilitates retrofitting a repeater/router
and/or an LTE antenna on a vehicle. The combination antenna housing
comprises a housing including a base adapted to be assembled to the
vehicle, an intermediate portion, and an upper antenna enclosure
portion for a radio and television antenna. A method for providing
a vehicle with one or more communication links includes the steps
of first assembling a plurality of cables within a wall of the
vehicle that extend from inside the vehicle to a location on a roof
of the vehicle. A radio and television antenna is attached to one
or more of the cables within the combination antenna housing. An
extra cable is secured inside the housing without electrically
connecting the extra cable to another device until after assembly
of the vehicle is completed.
Inventors: |
CAREN; Barry L.; (Beverly
Hills, CA) ; HOCKETT; Mark E.; (Santa Cruz, CA)
; WONG; CM; (Scarborough, CA) ; YEH; Wentsan;
(Torrance, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGNADYNE CORPORATION |
Compton |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005444243 |
Appl. No.: |
17/195286 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
16847373 |
Apr 13, 2020 |
10944159 |
|
|
17195286 |
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|
15943054 |
Apr 2, 2018 |
10622709 |
|
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16847373 |
|
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|
62480969 |
Apr 3, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/12 20130101;
H01Q 1/3275 20130101; H04B 7/155 20130101; H04W 84/005 20130101;
H04W 84/042 20130101; H01Q 1/42 20130101; H01Q 21/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 1/32 20060101
H01Q001/32; H04B 7/155 20060101 H04B007/155; H01Q 21/28 20060101
H01Q021/28; H01Q 1/42 20060101 H01Q001/42 |
Claims
1. A LAN system comprising: an access point router that sends and
receives LAN signals; a housing adapted to be attached to a vehicle
that encloses a television antenna, a radio antenna, and a
repeater/router that sends and receives secondary LAN signals
between the access point router and the repeater/router, the
housing including a base attached to the vehicle and an enclosure
portion that is detachably secured to the base; and a LAN enabled
device being adapted to selectively-- send and receive LAN signals
between the LAN enabled device and the access point, or send and
receive secondary LAN signals between the LAN enabled device and
the repeater/router disposed in the housing.
2. The LAN system of claim 1 further comprising: a rebroadcaster
disposed inside the vehicle that is adapted to send and receive the
secondary LAN signals from the repeater/router in the housing, and
wherein the LAN enabled device is adapted to send and receive
signals to and from the rebroadcaster.
3. The LAN system of claim 2 wherein the secondary LAN signals from
the repeater/router in the housing are transmitted through a cable
extending between the repeater/router and the rebroadcaster.
4. The LAN system of claim 2 wherein an extra cable is installed in
the vehicle when the vehicle is assembled, and wherein the
enclosure portion is at least partially removed from the base to
install the repeater/router on the base as a retrofit with the
enclosure portion being reattached to the base after the
repeater/router is installed.
5. The LAN system of claim 1 further comprising: a passive antenna
including an outside portion disposed outside the vehicle and an
inner portion disposed inside the vehicle, wherein the secondary
LAN signals from the repeater/router in the housing are passively
transmitted through the passive antenna between the repeater/router
and the LAN enabled device.
6. A long-term evolution (LTE) system comprising: a cellular system
that sends and receives primary mobile phone/cell phone data
signals; a housing adapted to be attached to a vehicle that
encloses a television antenna, a radio antenna, and an LTE antenna
for receiving primary mobile phone/cell phone data signals, the
housing including a base attached to the vehicle and an enclosure
portion that is detachably connected to the base; and a mobile
phone/cell phone data signal booster disposed inside the vehicle
and connected to the LTE antenna, wherein the mobile phone/cell
phone data signal booster is adapted to send and receive secondary
mobile phone signal/cell phone data signals between a cell phone
and the mobile phone/cell phone data signal booster and a cell
phone.
7. A LAN system for receiving LAN signals from an access point
router and transmitting LAN signals to the access point router, the
LAN system comprising: a housing adapted to be attached to a
vehicle that encloses a television antenna, a radio antenna, and a
repeater/router, the repeater/router receives the LAN signals
between the access point router and the repeater/router, the
repeater/router transmits the LAN signals to the access point
router, the housing includes a base attached to the vehicle and an
enclosure portion that is detachably secured to the base; a
rebroadcaster disposed inside the vehicle that is adapted to send
and receive secondary LAN signals with the repeater/router in the
housing, wherein the rebroadcaster sends and receives secondary LAN
signals; and a LAN enabled device being adapted to selectively--
send and receive LAN signals between the LAN enabled device and the
access point, or send and receive secondary LAN signals between the
LAN enabled device and the rebroadcaster.
8. The LAN system of claim 7 wherein the secondary LAN signals from
the repeater/router in the housing are transmitted through a cable
extending between the repeater/router and the rebroadcaster.
9. The LAN system of claim 7 wherein the secondary LAN signals from
the repeater/router in the housing are transmitted through a wall
of the vehicle between the repeater/router and the
rebroadcaster.
10. The LAN system of claim 7 further comprising: a passive antenna
including an outside portion disposed outside the vehicle and
inside the housing adjacent a second antenna connected to the
repeater/router and an inner portion disposed inside the vehicle,
wherein the secondary LAN signals from the repeater/router in the
housing are passively transmitted through the passive antenna
between the repeater/router and the LAN enabled device.
11. A long-term evolution (LTE) system that communicates with a
cellular system that sends and receives primary mobile phone/cell
phone data signals, the LTE system comprising: a housing adapted to
be attached to a vehicle that encloses a television antenna, a
radio antenna, and an LTE antenna for receiving primary mobile
phone/cell phone data signals, the housing including a base
attached to the vehicle and an enclosure portion that is detachably
connected to the base; and a mobile phone/cell phone data signal
booster disposed inside the vehicle and connected to the LTE
antenna, wherein the mobile phone/cell phone data signal booster is
adapted to send and receive secondary mobile phone/cell phone data
signals between a cell phone and the mobile phone/cell phone data
signal booster.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
16/847,373 filed Apr. 13, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,944,159 issued
Mar. 9, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
15/943,054 filed Apr. 2, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,622,709 issued
Apr. 14, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 62/480,969 filed Apr. 3, 2017, the disclosures
of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to external vehicle antenna housings
and a method of installing antennas on recreation vehicles,
trailers, boats, and trucks having sleeper compartments.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Recreation vehicles, trailers, boats, trucks having sleeper
compartments are provided with radio and television antennas that
receive broadcast signals. The antennas may be mounted on the roof
or other exterior location on the vehicle to improve signal
reception. Radio and television antennas may be enclosed in an
antenna housing. Due to wind resistance, the intermediate mast may
be designed to have a narrow cross-section. The top portion of the
antenna housing may be an aerodynamically shaped circular housing,
a square housing, a wing-shaped housing, or the like.
[0004] Wireless routers provide Internet transmissions over a local
area network (LAN) that frequently follow a standard known as WiFi.
Campgrounds and truck stops may provide LAN routers as a service
for customers. Available LAN systems have limited range and the
walls of a vehicle substantially reduce the effective range for LAN
transmissions that are normally designed to be indoor devices used
to connect computers and other internet connected devices.
[0005] Long-Term Evolution (LTE) refers to a standard for using
high-speed wireless communications for mobile devices and data
terminals based upon Global Systems for Mobile
Communications/Enhanced Data Rates for GSM (GSM/EDGE) and Universal
Mobile Telecommunication System/High Speed Packet Rate (UMTS/HSPA)
technologies. Generally, LTE increases capacity and speed of
wireless communication for mobile devices.
[0006] LTE systems use a different radio interface that are
combined with core network improvements made in the fourth
generation (4G) cellular networks for data speed improvements. LTE
systems are used to improve cellular communications where cell
reception is limited. LTE systems include an antenna that may be
mounted on the roof of a vehicle for better signal reception and
are connected to a booster inside the vehicle that amplifies the
signal. However, attaching a separate LTE antenna, LAN antenna,
radio antenna and television antenna on a vehicle is undesirable
because each installed antenna may require a separate mount,
requires additional labor, increases wind resistance, creates a
potential water leak path, and is visually objectionable.
[0007] Vehicle manufacturers attach and connect cables to radio and
television antennas mounted on the vehicle at a factory when the
walls and ceiling are accessible because nearly all vehicles are
provided with a radio and a television. LAN and LTE devices are not
pre-installed because the added cost of the antennas or LAN router
or LTE booster is not warranted if the customer does not require
LAN or LTE reception. But for customers who want improved
reception, adding LAN and LTE antennas after the vehicle is
manufactured increase costs due to the need to disassemble walls
and ceiling panels to run wiring or cables from a wall receptacle
to the roof mounted antennas.
[0008] When cables are routed through the roof or walls of a
vehicle, generally a hole is cut in the roof or wall and the cable
is pulled through the hole into a base of the antenna mount.
Caulking or on another type of sealant is applied around the base.
If there are any gaps in the caulking or a crack develops in the
caulking, water may leak into the hole in the roof or wall and may
cause interior damage.
[0009] This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems
and other problems as summarized below.
SUMMARY
[0010] The disclosed method and apparatus solve the above problems
by providing a combination antenna housing as original equipment on
a vehicle that includes a detachably connected intermediate housing
portion that facilitates retrofitting a router/repeater including
an antenna and/or an LTE antenna into the combination antenna
housing. The detachably connected intermediate housing portion may
be attached with threaded fasteners, connected by a hinge, threaded
connection, bayonet mount, or the like. As used herein, the terms
"detachably connect" or "detachably connected" should be construed
to mean to be connected in such a way as to be partially or fully
separable and includes alternative arrangements to the disclosed
fasteners such as a hinge, mating threaded portions, a bayonet
mount, latches, or the like that permit accessing the interior of
the housing to install an antenna or a repeater/router.
[0011] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a combination
antenna apparatus is disclosed that is assembled to a roof or other
exterior location on a vehicle. The combination antenna housing
comprises a base adapted to be attached to the roof or another
exterior location on the vehicle, a housing detachably connected to
the base that defines an enclosed space, a seat, or a receptacle,
for a repeater/router including a LAN antenna (hereinafter referred
to as a "repeater/router"). The base defines an area adapted to
securely receive the repeater/router within the enclosed space.
[0012] The repeater/router may be adapted to communicate wirelessly
or through a cable with a second rebroadcasting repeater/router
(hereinafter referred to as a "rebroadcaster") inside the vehicle.
The repeater/router may communicate with the rebroadcaster, for
example, by sharing the 2.4 gHz frequency that is used for
connecting with the host. Alternatively, a passive antenna may be
installed within the enclosed space to provide enhanced reception
to LAN enabled devices inside the vehicle. The passive antenna may
include an outer portion in close proximity to the repeater/router
to pick up signals from the repeater/router and transfer the
signals picked up from the repeater/router to an inside portion of
the passive antenna. A radio antenna and a television antenna may
also be enclosed within the housing.
[0013] The base may include an outer flange adapted to be attached
to the vehicle with fasteners, either directly or with a bracket,
and a raised ring inside the outer flange. The raised ring may
define a cavity inside the raised ring and also may inhibit any
water from entering the cavity. The cavity may be cup-shaped and
may also define a pocket or receptacle for receiving the
repeater/router and securing the repeater/router inside the
enclosed space. A conduit may be provided that may extend as much
as several inches above the cavity and the raised ring and into the
enclosed space. Cables are routed through the opening in the
conduit that is spaced above the roof or other mounting surface and
then is connected to the repeater/router and at least one antenna.
The combination antenna apparatus may further comprise an O-ring or
other type of seal that is assembled to the raised ring that
establishes a seal around the cavity.
[0014] The housing may include a lower surface that includes a rib
that engages the O-ring or seal when the housing is attached to the
base. The rib engages the O-ring or seal when the housing is
attached to the base. A plurality of fasteners may be inserted into
a plurality of internally threaded receptacles secured to the base
to detachably connect the intermediate housing to the base. Seals
may also be provided around the fasteners.
[0015] The repeater/router may be enclosed within the interior
space, and the rebroadcaster may be disposed inside the vehicle and
may be wirelessly connected to the LAN antenna. Alternatively, the
repeater/router may be enclosed within the interior space, and the
rebroadcaster may be disposed inside the vehicle and may be
connected by a cable, for example an ethernet cable, to the
repeater/router.
[0016] The combination antenna apparatus may further comprise an
LTE antenna secured within the intermediate housing and connected
through a cable to an LTE booster disposed inside the vehicle. LTE
as referred to in this application should be construed to comprise
cellular data and voice communication systems.
[0017] The combination antenna apparatus may further comprise a
wiring conduit that extends through the base and into the
intermediate housing in an elevated relationship to the base,
wherein cables are routed through the wiring conduit from inside
the vehicle for connection to a plurality of antennas inside the
housing. The LTE antenna may be attached to the roof by securing
the LTE antenna to the wiring conduit.
[0018] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is
disclosed for providing a vehicle with one or more communication
links. The method includes the steps of first assembling a
plurality of cables or wires within a wall of the vehicle that
extend from inside the vehicle to an exterior location on the
vehicle. Next, an antenna is attached to one of the cables and the
antenna is provided within a housing assembled to the vehicle. A
second one of the cables is secured inside the housing without
electrically connecting the second cable to another apparatus after
which assembly of the vehicle is completed.
[0019] The plurality of cables may be of different types. For
example, a coaxial cable may be provided for a television, another
coaxial cable may be provided for an AM/FM radio, an ethernet cable
may be provided for LAN signals, and a power wire may be provided
to provide power to a repeater/router. The ethernet cable may
include a power over ethernet (POE) wire instead of using a
separate power wire.
[0020] The housing may have at least two portions and the method
may further comprise opening the housing by fully or partially
separating the at least two portions of the housing after
completing assembly of the vehicle. A repeater/router may be
assembled inside the housing and the second one of the cables may
be attached to the repeater/router. A rebroadcaster may be provided
that is operatively connected to the repeater/router by, for
example an ethernet cable or by a wireless link.
[0021] The rebroadcaster may be disposed within the vehicle or
within the housing.
[0022] A third cable may be connected to an LTE antenna after the
housing is opened and after completing assembly of the vehicle. The
third cable may be connected between the LTE antenna and an LTE
booster.
[0023] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a LAN system
is disclosed for vehicles such as recreational vehicles, trailer,
boats, and sleeper cabs. The LAN system comprises an access point
router that sends and receives LAN signals. A housing is provided
that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle, either directly or
with a bracket, that houses a television antenna, a radio antenna,
and a repeater/router that sends and receives LAN signals between
the access point and the repeater/router. The housing includes a
base attached to the vehicle and an enclosure portion that is
detachably connected to the base. A LAN enabled device may be used
to send and receive LAN signals between the LAN enabled device and
the access point, or send and receive secondary LAN signals between
the LAN enabled device and the repeater/router disposed in the
housing or the rebroadcaster inside the vehicle.
[0024] According to other aspects of the LAN system, the system may
further comprise a rebroadcaster disposed inside the vehicle that
is adapted to send and receive secondary LAN signals from the
repeater/router in the housing. The LAN enabled device is adapted
to communicate with the rebroadcaster.
[0025] The secondary LAN signals from the repeater/router in the
housing may be transmitted through a cable extending between the
receiver/router and the rebroadcaster.
[0026] The cable may be installed in the vehicle when the vehicle
is assembled, and the enclosure portion may be removed from the
base to install the repeater/router on the base as a retrofit with
the enclosure portion being reattached to the base after the
repeater/router is installed.
[0027] A passive antenna may be provided that includes an outer
portion disposed inside the combination antenna housing and an
inner portion disposed inside the vehicle. The outer portion of the
passive antenna is placed close to the antennas of the
repeater/router to capture bleed-over EMF that is passively
transmitted through the passive antenna to the inner portion inside
the vehicle. LAN enabled devices inside the vehicle can then link
to the repeater/router through the passive antenna. The passive
antenna provides sufficient signal quality for devise such as
laptops, phones, tablets, and the like to function with improved
range even if a rebroadcaster is not provided inside the
vehicle.
[0028] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a long-term
evolution (LTE) system is provided that comprises a cellular system
that sends and receives mobile phone/cell phone data signals. A
housing is adapted to be attached to a vehicle that encloses a
television antenna, a radio antenna, and an LTE antenna for
receiving mobile phone/cell phone data signals. The housing
includes a base attached to the vehicle and an enclosure portion
that is detachably connected to the base. A mobile phone/cell phone
data signal booster is disposed inside the vehicle and connected to
the LTE antenna. The mobile phone/cell phone data signal booster is
adapted to send and receive secondary mobile phone/cell phone data
signals between the mobile phone signal/cell phone data signal
booster and a cell phone.
[0029] The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will
be described below with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a recreational vehicle
including a LAN system made in accordance with one embodiment of
this disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a combination antenna
apparatus made in accordance with one embodiment of this
disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the combination
antenna apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base portion of the
antenna housing with a repeater/router an LTE antenna and a passive
LAN antenna.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base portion of the
antenna housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to
the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied
in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily
to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show
details of particular components. The specific structural and
functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting,
but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
how to practice the disclosed concepts.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a recreation vehicle 10 is shown that
is within range of a base station 12 through an access point router
14. Local Area Network (LAN) signals 16 are transmitted between the
access point router 14 and the recreation vehicle 10. While a
recreation vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 1, this disclosure is
also applicable to truck sleeper cabins, boats, or camping
trailers.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the recreation vehicle 10
includes a roof 18 upon which a combination antenna apparatus
generally indicated by reference numeral 20 is mounted. In the
illustrated embodiment, the combination antenna apparatus 20 is
mounted directly on the roof but it should be understood that the
apparatus could be mounted on a bracket attached to the roof or at
another exterior location on the vehicle. The combination antenna
apparatus 20 includes a housing 22 that encloses a plurality of
antennas as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The housing 22 includes a base
24, an intermediate portion 26, and a top portion 28. A television
antenna 29a and a radio antenna 29b is provided in the top portion
28 of the housing 22 and is connected by a cable 27a and 27 b,
respectively, wiring or cables to a television 31a and radio 31b
inside the recreational vehicle 10. The intermediate portion 26 and
top portion 28 are separable in the illustrated embodiment but may
also be combined into a single part. The base 24 is adapted to be
attached to the roof 18 of the recreation vehicle 10 with fasteners
and is caulked or otherwise sealed to prevent any water from
leaking into the recreation vehicle 10 from around the base 24.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the intermediate portion 26 of
the housing 22 is separated from the base 24 to illustrate the base
24 with a repeater/router 30 seated on the base 24. A pair of
repeater/router antennas 32 are part of the exterior
repeater/router antenna 32 and function to send and receive LAN
signals 16 to and from the access point router 14. The intermediate
portion 26 is configured to cooperatively engage the base 24. In
the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate portion 26 is
detachably connected by four bolts to the base 24. Other types of
detachable connectors such as a hinge, cooperating threaded
portions, a bayonet connector, or the like are to be understood to
detachably connect the intermediate housing to the base. The
detachable connectors may be used to provide access for installing
antennas or a repeater/router 30 in the enclosed space above the
base 24 inside the intermediate housing 26.
[0039] The recreation vehicle has walls 34 (shown in FIG. 1) that
block reception of LAN signals from the access point router 14. The
combination antenna apparatus 20 mounted on the roof 18 or on
another exterior location on the vehicle is better positioned to
send and receive LAN signals 16 from the access point router 14.
The repeater/router 30 repeats or retransmits the LAN signals 16
wirelessly to rebroadcaster 36 inside the vehicle 10.
Alternatively, the rebroadcaster 36 may be connected by a cable 38,
such as a ethernet cable, through the walls 34 or roof 18 to the
exterior repeater/router 30. A power supply 39 may be connected by
a power supply wire 40 for the exterior repeater/router 30. The
power supply wire 40 may be a separate wire or may be a power over
ethernet cable (COE). The wire 40 or cable is installed inside the
walls 34 and roof 18 of the of the recreation vehicle 10 along with
other wires or cables (not shown) when the recreation vehicle is
built in the factory prior to when the inner wall panels are
installed.
[0040] According to the method disclosed, coaxial cables for an
entertainment system 31 a and 31b including a television and/or
radio are normally installed when the recreation vehicle is
assembled at the factory because they are almost universally
required by purchasers. Internet and LTE services are less
frequently required and are normally installed as aftermarket
equipment. However, this disclosure solves the problems relating to
retrofitting repeater/routers and LTE antennas on vehicles after
manufacturing by preinstalling the wires or cables 38, 40 in the
walls 34 and roof 18 and securing the outside ends thereof to the
antenna housing 22. If an exterior router/repeater 30 and/or or an
LTE antenna 48 are desired by the purchaser, they may be easily
installed by opening the housing 22, attaching the devices, and
closing the housing 22 to re-establish an effective seal between
the intermediate portion 26 and the base 24.
[0041] A LAN enabled device 46 (shown in FIG. 1) may connect to the
access point router 14 through the rebroadcaster 36, a passive LAN
antenna 48, or the exterior repeater/router 30. The passive LAN
antenna 48 includes an inner portion 50 that extends into the
recreation vehicle. An outer portion 52 of the passive LAN antenna
48 is disposed outside the vehicle and is passively connected to
the repeater/router 30. The recreation vehicle 10 may have interior
walls 54 through which LAN signals 16 may be retransmitted by the
rebroadcaster 36, a passive LAN antenna 48, or the exterior
repeater/router 30 and received by the LAN enabled device 46.
[0042] An LTE antenna 56 may be provided inside the housing 22 to
improve cell phone communications in areas where cell phone signals
are weak and reception is not reliable. The LTE antenna 56 may be
attached to a receptacle in the base 24 or may be attached with a
zip-tie to part of the housing 22. The LTE antenna is connected by
a cable 61 to a booster 57 mounted inside the vehicle 10 to boost
the signal that is transmitted through an inside antenna as a
mobile phone or cell phone data signal.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the base 24 includes a
repeater/router receptacle 62. The receptacle 62 may be a cavity
defined by the base 24 and intermediate housing 26 that is adapted
to receive a repeater/router 30 or may alternatively be an area,
seat, or receptacle for a repeater/router 30. The repeater/router
30 or antenna may be secured by a zip tie, screws, or other types
of fasteners to the base 24 that are capable of securely holding
the device 30 within the combination antenna apparatus 20. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, a rectangular receptacle 62 is integrally
formed in the base 24 with sides that are configured to restrain
movement of the repeater/router 30. Bosses 63 may be integrally
molded, or otherwise provided on the base 24 for receiving screws.
The repeater/router 30 may be securely fastened to the base 24 by
attachment bosses 63. Router antenna receptacles 64 may also be
provided to further secure the repeater/router 30 to the base
24.
[0044] The base 24 is constructed to prevent water leakage into the
housing 22. The base 24 includes a central portion 66 that may
receive the repeater/router 30 and/or the LTE antenna 56 that are
installed after the vehicle 10 is assembled. A raised inner ring 68
extends around the central portion 66. In the illustrated
embodiment, the ring 68 is circular but may also be provided in a
different shape. The ring 68 is continuous to inhibit any water
that could possibly seep between the base 24 and the intermediate
portion 26 from reaching the central portion 66 where it could
damage the repeater/router 30.
[0045] A base mounting flange 70 extends outwardly from the raised
inner ring 68 and defines a plurality of fastener holes 72. A
conduit 74 is provided in the central portion 66 that extends from
the base 24 and into the intermediate portion 26 of the housing 22.
The conduit 74 may be up to several inches in height and is
intended to function to prevent water from flowing over the base 24
and entering the opening in the base 24 where the wires or cables
38, 40 enter the housing 22. An intermediate housing flange 76
extends outwardly from the intermediate portion 26 of the housing
22 and is substantially parallel to the base mounting flange 70.
The intermediate housing flange 76 defines a plurality of fastener
receiving holes 78 corresponding to the location of the fastener
holes 88 defined by the raised ring 68.
[0046] An O-ring seal 82 is fitted into an O-ring channel 84
defined by two upstanding, flanges that extend toward the
intermediate housing flange 76. A rib 86 is provided on the
intermediate housing flange 76 to engage the O-ring seal 82 when
the intermediate housing 26 is secured to the base 24. The O-ring
seal 82 is compressed by the rib 86 inside the O-ring channel 84 to
tightly seal the intermediate portion 26 to the base 24.
[0047] A plurality of fastener seals 88 are provided within the
fastener holes 78 that cooperate with a corresponding plurality of
small circular ribs 90 that are oriented to form a seal around the
fasteners that are used to secure the intermediate portion 26 to
the base 24. The fastener seals 88 prevent water from leaking into
the area below the base 24. The fastener seals 88 may be co-molded
with the base or otherwise assembled in to the fastener holes
78.
[0048] The method of providing a vehicle 10 with one or more
communication antennas for an entertainment system, internet
repeater/router, and/or LTE antenna and booster comprises a first
step of assembling a plurality of cables or wires (e.g. 27a, 27b,
38, 40) within a wall 34 of the vehicle that extend from inside the
vehicle 10 to the combination antenna apparatus 20 on a roof 18 or
other exterior location on the vehicle 10. A first antenna for
television or radio signals is attached to a first one of the
cables and is provided within a housing assembled to the roof of
the vehicle. An "extra" or second one of the cables or wires is
secured inside the housing 22 without electrically connecting the
second one of the cables to another apparatus in the housing 22 and
subsequently completing assembly of the vehicle 10. Additional
"extra" cables may be run to the housing 22 and left
unconnected.
[0049] The housing 22 may have at least two portions, and the
method may include the additional steps of opening the housing 22
by partially or fully separating the intermediate portion 26 from
the base 24 of the housing 22 after completing assembly of the
vehicle 10. Next, a repeater/router 30 is assembled inside the
housing 22 and the second one of the cables, such as a power wire
and/or signal cable, is assembled to the repeater/router 30 to
provide power to the repeater/router 30. The rebroadcaster 36
disposed in the vehicle may be operatively connected to the
repeater/router 30 by a wireless or wired connection.
[0050] At least one or more "extra" wires or cables may be
connected to the housing before completing assembly of the vehicle.
For example, a third cable may be provided that can later be
connected between a LTE antenna and an LTE booster. The third cable
is connected to the LTE antenna after the housing is opened and
after completing assembly of the vehicle 10. The LTE booster is
installed inside the vehicle and is connected by the cable to the
LTE antenna. The LTE booster receives mobile phone signal or cell
phone data signals from a cellular network and repeats the signal
inside the vehicle by sending and receiving secondary mobile phone
signals or cell phone data signals with a cellphone inside the
vehicle.
[0051] The embodiments described above are specific examples that
do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features
of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further
embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the
specification are words of description rather than limitation. The
scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically
disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the
illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *