Patent Description:
In wireless communication systems for vehicles, a modem for the vehicle is typically placed a great distance away from an antenna in order to prevent electro-magnetic signals from the modem from interfering with the antenna. This often requires a long coaxial cable wired throughout the vehicle.

General definitions for terms utilized in the pertinent art are set forth below.

BLUETOOTH technology is a standard short range radio link that operates in the unlicensed <NUM> gigahertz band.

Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA") is a spread spectrum communication system used in second generation and third generation cellular networks, and is described in <CIT>.

GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications is a second generation digital cellular network.

The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS") is a wireless standard.

Long Term Evolution ("LTE") is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals and is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA communication network technologies.

LTE Frequency Bands include <NUM>-<NUM> (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); <NUM>-<NUM> (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>); <NUM>-<NUM> (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); <NUM>-<NUM>. 5MH (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); <NUM>-<NUM> (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); <NUM>-<NUM> (Band <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).

Antenna impedance and the quality of the impedance match are most commonly characterized by either return loss or Voltage Standing Wave Ratio.

Surface Mount Technology ("SMT") is a process for manufacturing electronic circuits wherein the components are mounted or placed directly onto a surface of a printed circuit board ("PCB ").

The APPLE IPHONE <NUM> LTE Bands include: LTE700 /<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>); LTE <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>); and LTE <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>).

The SAMSUNG GALAXY® SIii LTE Bands include: LTE <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>.

The NOKIA LUMIA® <NUM> LTE Bands: LTE <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>); LTE <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM>-<NUM>).

The long coaxial cable that connects a modem to an antenna on a vehicle leads to signal losses due to the length of the coaxial cable. Thus, there is a need for placement of a modem in proximity of an antenna for a vehicle system.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a communication system, comprising at least one housing having a first and an additional housing part. In the housing, a circuit board having electronic components is arranged, and outside the housing, at least one antenna element is arranged. The invention is characterized in that an antenna support that is connectable to the housing is provided, wherein the at least one antenna element is arranged on the surface and/or inside the antenna support.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a on-board telematic device intended to be attached to a metal part of a body of a motor vehicle comprises, according to the invention, a housing integrating a printed circuit board, a face of which supports at least one electronic power component, a radiofrequency antenna, intended to extend through an opening of the metal part, and a metal screen interposed between a lower part of the antenna, on the one hand, and the printed circuit board and said at least one component, on the other hand, in order to isolate the antenna from parasitic emissions. The component is placed in line with the metal screen and in thermal contact with a portion of said screen, and said screen is made of a thermally conductive material so as to form a thermal transfer means between the electronic power component and the metal part.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a satellite antenna terminal includes a circuit board having first and second opposite surfaces. A plurality of antenna elements are disposed on the first surface of the circuit board and are operative to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals from a satellite. One or more signal processing devices are disposed on the second surface of the circuit board and are coupled to process the RF signals received by the antenna elements.

One aspect of the present invention is a heat dissipation system according to claim <NUM>.

The present invention eliminates the signal loss over the cables connecting the modem to the antenna since the modem and antenna are in relative proximity.

The present invention also replaces several coaxial cables with a single cable.

An antenna assembly <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The antenna assembly <NUM> preferably comprises a base <NUM>, a modem <NUM>, a top lid <NUM> and a housing <NUM>. Alternatively, the antenna assembly comprises a base <NUM>, a modem <NUM>, router (not shown), a top lid <NUM> and a housing <NUM>. The base <NUM> is preferably composed of an aluminum material. The modem <NUM> is disposed on the base <NUM>. The top lid <NUM> is to cover the base <NUM> and modem <NUM>, and the top lid <NUM> preferably comprises at least one antenna element disposed on an exterior surface. A radiofrequency cable <NUM> is attached to the modem <NUM> and secured to the base <NUM> by bolt <NUM>. The housing <NUM> covers the top lid <NUM> and the base <NUM>. The top lid <NUM> acts as an electro-magnetic barrier for the modem <NUM> to maintain the electro-magnetic signals inside of the base <NUM> to prevent interference with the antenna signals.

As shown in <FIG>, the base <NUM> includes a body <NUM> with an interior surface <NUM>. A side wall <NUM> defines an interior compartment <NUM> in which a first plurality of heat dissipation elements 66a-66e and a second plurality of heat dissipation elements 67a-67e. An aperture <NUM> extends through the body <NUM> for access by at least one cable. The base <NUM> is preferably composed of a die-cast aluminum material to prevent electro-magnetic signals from the modem <NUM> from interfering with the antennas on the top lid <NUM>. In this manner, the modem <NUM> is capable of being placed in proximity to the antennas on the top lid <NUM> without interference from electro-magnetic signals with the antennas on the top lid <NUM>.

The first plurality of heat dissipation elements 66a-66e and the second plurality of heat dissipation elements 67a-67e dissipate heat that is generated by the operation of the modem <NUM>.

The sidewall <NUM>, in addition to acting as electro-magnetic barrier, also provides a structure for placement of the top lid <NUM> thereon.

As shown in <FIG>, the base <NUM> preferably has a height H2 ranging from <NUM> inch to <NUM> inch, a height, H1, ranging from <NUM> inch to <NUM> inch, and a height, H3, ranging from <NUM> inch to <NUM> inch The base preferably has a width ranging from <NUM> inches to <NUM> inches, and a length, L1, ranging from <NUM> inches to <NUM> inches. The aperture <NUM> is preferably from <NUM> inch to <NUM> inches across.

As shown in <FIG>, the top lid <NUM> comprises a first antenna element <NUM>, a second antenna element <NUM> and a third antenna element <NUM>. Preferably the first antenna element <NUM> is a multi-band antenna for cellular communications. Alternatively, the first antenna element is a <NUM> Sub <NUM> antenna or a mmWave antenna.

Preferably, the second antenna element <NUM> is selected from the group of antennas consisting of a WiFi <NUM> antenna, a WiFi <NUM> antenna, a DECT antenna, a ZigBee antenna, and a Zwave antenna. The WiFi <NUM> antennas are preferably <NUM>-<NUM> MegaHertz. The WiFi <NUM> antenna is preferably a <NUM> GigaHertz antenna. Alternatively, the second antenna element <NUM> operates at <NUM> or at <NUM>. Other possible frequencies for the second antenna element <NUM> include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The second antenna element <NUM> preferably operates on an <NUM> communication protocol. Most preferably, the second antenna element <NUM> operates on an <NUM>. 11n communication protocol. Alternatively, the second antenna element <NUM> operates on an <NUM>. 11b communication protocol. Alternatively, the second antenna element <NUM> operates on an <NUM> communication protocol. Alternatively, the second antenna element <NUM> operates on an <NUM>. 11a communication protocol. Alternatively, the second antenna element <NUM> operates on an <NUM>. 11ac communication protocol.

The third antenna element <NUM> is preferably a GPS/GLONASS module.

Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other antenna types may be used for the first antenna element <NUM>, the second antenna element <NUM> and/or the third antenna element <NUM> without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The top lid <NUM> is preferably composed of an aluminum material, at least on a bottom surface. Alternatively, the top lid <NUM> is composed of materials that can act as a barrier to electro-magnetic signals.

The modem <NUM> preferably includes at least one of a computation component, a communication chip <NUM>, a switch, an antenna switch circuit, a GNSS reception component <NUM>, a security access module <NUM>, a mobile phone communication component <NUM>, and a power supply source. The computation component preferably includes a CPU <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface (I/F) component. The modem <NUM> preferably operates for cellular protocols including <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> HPUE and <NUM> technology. HPUE is High Power User Equipment, and is more specifically a special class of user equipment for a cellular network, such as a LTE cellular network.

Preferably, the housing <NUM> is composed of a polypropylene material. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> preferably has a height, H4, ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters (mm), more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The housing <NUM> preferably has a length, L2, ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The housing <NUM> preferably has a width, W1 ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. An internal width W2 is preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. A width W3 is preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has a sidewall <NUM>, a crown <NUM> and a rear wall <NUM>. The walls of the housing <NUM> preferably have a thickness ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably are <NUM>.

Another embodiment of the invention is set forth in <FIG>. The antenna assembly system is used as a remote modem plus an antenna plus a serial communication system for upgrading existing installed routers to <NUM> sub <NUM>, or adding a failover modem. To upgrade an existing router to <NUM> with a new internal modem, a technician must: remove the router from the vehicle; take the router apart to remove the modem; install a new modem; install the router in the vehicle; and test the router to verify the new modem is working properly.

To upgrade an existing router to <NUM> using an antenna assembly of the present invention, a technician must, leveraging the already-installed coax cables (as shown in <FIG>): loosen the existing antenna on a vehicle roof; cut the coax cables; add a coax connector to two of the cables; use one coax cable for powering the antenna assembly and for serial Ethernet communications; use the second coax cable for GPS/GNSS; connect a coax-to-Ethernet combiner and power injector to the router's spare Ethernet WAN port to 12V power (it combines Ethernet and power and conveys them over coax) and to an ignition sense; configure the router to use the Ethernet port as the WAN if it is not already configured; test the router to verify it is communicating over the new modem; remove the existing antenna and cables; disconnect the coax cables from the router; remove the antenna from the roof of the vehicle; install the new antenna and connect the coax cables to the router; connect the injector module to the router Ethernet, vehicle power and ignition sense; connect the combiner module Ethernet connector to the router; configure the router to use the Ethernet port as the WAN if it is not already configured; and test the router to verify it is communicating over the new modem.

<FIG> illustrates the removal of the existing antenna <NUM> of a vehicle, and the installation of an embodiment of antenna assembly <NUM> as described herein. <FIG> illustrate the connections between the antenna assembly and the existing router <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The antenna assembly <NUM> preferably comprises a base <NUM>, a modem <NUM>, a CPU <NUM>, a combiner <NUM>, a power regulator <NUM>, and a plurality of antenna elements <NUM>,<NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> within a housing <NUM>. Four coaxial cables <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are connected from the antenna assembly <NUM> to connectors on the vehicle. The coaxial cable <NUM> is connected to an injector <NUM>, the coaxial cables <NUM> and <NUM> are connected to WiFi connectors <NUM> and <NUM> of a router <NUM>. The coaxial cable <NUM> is connected to a GPS/GNSS connector <NUM> of the router <NUM>. The injector <NUM> comprises a reset button <NUM>, a SIM card <NUM>, a USB connection <NUM> and a power-conditioning unit. The router <NUM> preferably comprises a modem <NUM>, an Ethernet or USB WAN connector <NUM>, LTE connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, an ignition sense and 12Volt connector <NUM> which an ignition sense cable <NUM> and 12Volt cable <NUM> connect thereto.

Using certain embodiments described herein, there is no need to remove, open the existing router, remove and replace modem module, close the router, re-install the router, test the router and modem.

Using certain embodiments described herein, installation is quicker and a lower risk (no static discharge accidental damage to the router or modem due to opening the router).

Signal loss is typically higher at <NUM> mid-band frequencies than traditional cellular, and those losses are mitigated if not eliminated by the present invention. Using the modem that is embedded in the antenna housing avoids cable loss and thereby extends coverage range.

A user of certain embodiments of antenna assemblies described herein can continue to use the software they have been using with their existing router.

The combiner <NUM> preferably inputs a wide area network connection from the router for send and receive data to/from Internet, and an ignition sense to put the unit to sleep and draw minimal power when the ignition is off. The combiner <NUM> also inputs twelve volts to power the antenna assembly <NUM>, which allows the combiner <NUM> to perform power regulation and surge protection, and pass the power up to the modem <NUM> in the antenna housing <NUM>. The combiner <NUM> also inputs a SIM card for a carrier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) subscriber identity module remoted from the modem <NUM> so that it can be easily accessed in the trunk of the vehicle <NUM>. All of the above are combined and sent up to the antenna assembly <NUM> over the existing coaxial cable, or over the Ethernet plus other wires.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate thermal dissipation and isolation features that are utilized in certain embodiments of an antenna assembly <NUM> for a vehicle to optimize heat removal and to protect certain heat sensitive components. The antenna assembly <NUM> preferably comprises a housing <NUM>, a top lid <NUM> with antenna elements and a base <NUM>. The base <NUM> preferably has a body <NUM> and a heat sink <NUM>, but those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the base may take various other forms without departing from the scope of the present invention. The body <NUM> preferably has a structure that forms a mounting surface <NUM> for some, or all, of the rest of the components of the antenna assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, the body <NUM> has an internal compartment or recess <NUM> forming a mounting surface <NUM> for mounting certain components directly on the body <NUM> itself, while other components are mounted on other features that themselves are mounted to the body <NUM>. In certain embodiments having a recess <NUM> formed by a sidewall <NUM>, the recess <NUM> has a shape that allows components to be mounted in proximity to or in contact with the heat sink <NUM>. In yet other embodiments, the recess <NUM> is formed in a shape that allows components to contact the heat sink <NUM> in substantially different areas, thereby transmitting their respective generated heat to different parts of the heat sink <NUM>, and minimizing the crossflow of heat from one component to another through the heat sink <NUM>. For example, a first area of the heat sink <NUM> is located on one side of the base <NUM> and a second area of the heat sink <NUM> is located on an opposing side of the base <NUM>. Alternatively, a first area of the heat sink <NUM> is located on one side of the base <NUM>, a second area of the heat sink <NUM> is located on an opposing side of the base <NUM>, and a third area of the heat sink <NUM> is located at a rear section of the base <NUM>. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the heat sink <NUM> may be partitioned into multiple areas without departing from the scope of the present invention. The heat sink <NUM> preferably comprises a plurality of heat dissipation elements. The heat dissipation elements are preferably fins or pins. In some embodiments, the recess <NUM> is generally rectangular and has mounting surfaces such that one component is in contact with one side of the heat sink <NUM> formed by the recess <NUM> and heat from another component is directed to another side of the heat sink <NUM> formed by the recess. The component mounting surface <NUM> is preferably formed to mount multiple components that have different heat sensitivities and heat generating characteristics. For example, a first component, such as a modem <NUM>, has a high heat sensitivity and lower heat generation and a second component, such as a high-power amplifier <NUM>, has a lower heat sensitivity, but a much higher heat generation characteristic. Those of skill in the art will know that for different components, different heat sensitivities and different heat generating characteristics may apply and may require further heat dissipation features. In some embodiments, to increase the flow of heat from the components mounted on the base <NUM>, heat transfer plates <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to the body <NUM> or heat sink <NUM> and in thermal contact with the components mounted on the body <NUM>. The heat transfer plates <NUM>, <NUM> are preferably mounted directly on the components (e.g., modem <NUM> and high-power amplifier <NUM>) or alternatively in thermal contact with the components via thermally conductive materials <NUM> and <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). The heat transfer plates <NUM>, <NUM> of in these embodiments are mounted directly or via fasteners to the body <NUM> or the heat sink <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second heat transfer plates are each made of material selected from the list consisting of copper, aluminum, graphite, carbon diamond, magnesium, gold, silver, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, and zinc. To provide additional thermal insulation between the components mounted to the body <NUM>, slots (not shown) are formed by molding, cutting or otherwise in the mounting surface <NUM>, to impede the flow of heat from one component to another and encourage the heat flow through the heat sink <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A heat dissipation system comprising an antenna assembly (<NUM>) for a vehicle (<NUM>), the antenna assembly (<NUM>) having an amplifier (<NUM>) that generates heat during operation and a modem (<NUM>) that generates heat during operation, the heat dissipation system comprising:
a base (<NUM>) comprising a body (<NUM>) and a heat sink (<NUM>), the heat sink (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of heat dissipation elements (66a-66e) and the body (<NUM>) defining a recess (<NUM>) forming a component mounting surface (<NUM>);
a first heat transfer plate (<NUM>) in thermal contact with the amplifier (<NUM>);
a second heat transfer plate (<NUM>) in thermal contact with the modem (<NUM>); and
a thermally insulative material disposed between the modem (<NUM>) and the base (<NUM>) configured to minimize the heat transferred from the amplifier (<NUM>) to the modem (<NUM>).
wherein the modem (<NUM>) and amplifier (<NUM>) are disposed within the recess (<NUM>) on the component mounting surface (<NUM>);
wherein the first heat transfer plate (<NUM>) is in thermal contact with a first area of the heat sink (<NUM>) and the second transfer plate (<NUM>) is in thermal contact with a second area of the heat sink (<NUM>) separate from the first part of the heat sink (<NUM>).