Vehicle Side-Mounted Antenna Layout for Clear Sky Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with unavailable roof space for antenna installation, such as low-cab trucks, face challenges in mounting antennas without interfering with cargo or trailer structures, leading to reduced reception performance.
Innovation Solution
An antenna arrangement is designed for fixation on vehicle side structures, featuring a rod antenna protruding downwards and a second antenna facing upwards, with a support structure and printed circuit board configuration to minimize interference and improve reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antennas are mounted on the vehicle roof, then reception performance is improved, but cargo space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the antenna mounting location from the vertical dimension (roof) to the horizontal dimension (side structure), specifically positioning antennas on the vehicle's side panel below the roof level. This dimensional transition allows the antenna to maintain optimal orientation for signal reception while preserving the roof space for cargo or trailer structures.
2Reliability
If the support structure is attached at 90 degrees to minimize coupling effects, then reception quality is improved, but the rod antenna protrudes sideways increasing drag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustability in the support structure's attachment angle, allowing it to be configured at angles other than 90 degrees (specifically 45-80 degrees). This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimization between two competing requirements: minimizing coupling effects (which favors 90 degrees) and reducing aerodynamic drag by preventing sideways protrusion (which favors smaller angles). The support structure can be tilted rearwards to align with the vehicle's aerodynamic flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the support structure's attachment angle from a fixed 90 degrees to a variable range (45-80 degrees). This parameter change allows optimization of the rod antenna's position to balance signal reception quality (minimizing coupling) with aerodynamic performance (reducing drag by directing the antenna rearwards rather than sideways).
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna arrangement for fixation on a vehicle side structure has an antenna housing, a first antenna being a rod antenna protruding from a first end of the antenna housing, the first antenna being configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals, a second antenna arranged in the antenna housing at a second end of the antenna housing opposite the first end. The second antenna is configured at least for receiving satellite signals. When the antenna arrangement is attached to the vehicle side structure the rod antenna is protruding downwards and the second antenna is facing upwards.