Patent Publication Number: US-2021194114-A1

Title: Combination external vehicle antenna housing and installation method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Reference to Related Applications 
     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 
     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 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below. 
     SUMMARY 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     The rebroadcaster may be disposed within the vehicle or within the housing. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a recreational vehicle including a LAN system made in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a combination antenna apparatus made in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the combination antenna apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         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. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a base portion of the antenna housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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  29   a  and a radio antenna  29   b  is provided in the top portion  28  of the housing  22  and is connected by a cable  27   a  and  27   b , respectively, wiring or cables to a television  31   a  and radio  31   b  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 . 
     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 . 
     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. 
     According to the method disclosed, coaxial cables for an entertainment system  31  a and  31   b  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 . 
     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 . 
     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. 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     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.  27   a ,  27   b ,  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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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.