Patent ID: 7859457
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
1. An antenna device for use in a vehicle having a GPS antenna element for receiving a GPS signal, an amplifier for amplifying the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna element, and a first terminal for outputting an amplified GPS signal amplified by the amplifier to a navigation apparatus, the device comprising: a communication antenna element for sending and receiving a communication radio wave; a second terminal for connecting a communication device to the communication antenna element; a signal separation unit for separating a part of the GPS signal transmitted from the amplifier to the first terminal on a communication antenna element side, for mixing the separated GPS signal with a reception signal from the communication antenna element, and for outputting the mixed signal from the second terminal to the communication device, when the amplifier is in operation; and a route switch unit for switching an output route of the GPS signal from the GPS antenna element from a route on an amplifier side to a route on the communication antenna element side, for mixing the GPS signal with the reception signal from the communication antenna element, and for outputting the mixed signal from the second terminal to the communication device, when the amplifier is not in operation, wherein the amplifier is configured to be operated in synchronization with the navigation apparatus.