# US 12,603,672 B2 · Wireless router system and method for vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,672 B2 - Document ID: US12603672B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/386,817 - Filed: 2023-11-03 - Published: 2024-06-06 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-05 - Assignees: Airgain Incorporated - Applicants: Airgain, Inc. - Inventors: Ali Sadri; Cheng-Yuan Chin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603672B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/3275: {mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk} - H04B 1/3822: specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) - H01Q 1/2291: {used in Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] (H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W)} - H01Q 1/3291: {mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body} - H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A vehicle communication system comprises a first housing configured to be mounted inside the vehicle and a second housing configured to be mounted outside of the vehicle. A router is coupled to a first electronics module and an antenna selection module. The router, first electronics module, and antenna selection module are disposed in the first housing. A first Wi-Fi antenna is disposed in the first housing and coupled to the antenna selection module. A second Wi-Fi antenna is disposed in the second housing and coupled to the antenna selection module. A modem is disposed in the first housing or the second housing and coupled to the router. The antenna selection module comprises a switch operable by a user of the communication system for selecting between a plurality of Wi-Fi coverage states including an inside vehicle coverage state, an outside vehicle coverage state, and an inside and outside vehicle coverage state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication system for a vehicle, comprising: a first housing configured to be mounted inside the vehicle; a router coupled to a first electronics module and an antenna selection module, the router, first electronics module, and antenna selection module disposed in the first housing; a first Wi-Fi antenna disposed in the first housing and coupled to the antenna selection module; a second housing configured to be mounted outside of the vehicle; a second Wi-Fi antenna disposed in the second housing and coupled to the antenna selection module; a modem disposed in the first housing or the second housing and coupled to the router; the antenna selection module comprising a tri-state switch operable by a user of the communication system for selecting between a plurality of Wi-Fi coverage states including an inside vehicle coverage state, an outside vehicle coverage state, and an inside and outside vehicle coverage state, wherein the tri-state switch arrangement comprises: a single pole-triple throw (SP3T) switch having a pole coupled to the router; a first single pole-double throw (SPDT) switch having a pole coupled to the first Wi-Fi antenna; a second SPDT switch having a pole coupled to the second Wi-Fi antenna; and a power divider selectively couplable between the SP3T switch and the first and second SPDT switches. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a physical switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a soft switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a tri-state switch arrangement configured to selectively couple the router to the first Wi-Fi antenna, the second Wi-Fi antenna, or both the first and second Wi-Fi antennas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the modem is disposed in the second housing; and a second electronics module is disposed in the second housing and coupled to the modem and the first electronics module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the modem is disposed in the first housing and coupled to the first electronics module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the second housing is configured to be mounted to a roof of the vehicle; the first housing is configured to be mounted to a ceiling of the vehicle; and the first and second housings are mechanically connected via a coupling arrangement passing through the roof and ceiling. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a snap-on fastening arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the first housing is configured to be mounted inside the vehicle and away from a ceiling of the vehicle; and the second Wi-Fi antenna is coupled to the antenna selection module by a cable passing through a hole in a roof of the vehicle and the ceiling. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein: a second electronics module is disposed in the second housing; and the second electronics module is coupled to the first electronics module by a cable harness passing through a hole in the roof and the ceiling. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first electronics module disposed in the first housing and a second electronics module disposed in the second housing comprises one or more sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a temperature sensor, a camera, a radar, and a lidar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a connector interface configured to provide one or more of power, data, and RF connectivity between the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the router comprises or is coupled to a heatsink. ### Claim 15 A communication system for a vehicle, comprising: a first housing configured to be mounted to a ceiling of the vehicle; a router coupled to a first electronics module and an antenna selection module, the router, first electronics module, and antenna selection module disposed in the first housing; a first Wi-Fi antenna disposed in the first housing and coupled to the antenna selection module; a second housing configured to be mounted to a roof of the vehicle, wherein the first and second housings are mechanically connected via a coupling arrangement passing through the roof and ceiling; a second Wi-Fi antenna disposed in the second housing and coupled to the antenna selection module; a modem disposed in the first housing or the second housing and coupled to the router; the antenna selection module comprising a tri-state switch operable by a user of the communication system, the switch comprising a tri-state switch arrangement configured to selectively couple the router to the first Wi-Fi antenna, the second Wi-Fi antenna, or both the first and second Wi-Fi antennas, wherein the tri-state switch arrangement comprises: a single pole-triple throw (SP3T) switch having a pole coupled to the router; a first single pole-double throw (SPDT) switch having a pole coupled to the first Wi-Fi antenna; a second SPDT switch having a pole coupled to the second Wi-Fi antenna; and a power divider selectively couplable between the SP3T switch and the first and second SPDT switches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a snap-on fastening arrangement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the switch comprises a physical switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the switch comprises a soft switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the tri-state switch arrangement comprises: a single pole-triple throw (SP3T) switch having a pole coupled to the router; a first single pole-double throw (SPDT) switch having a pole coupled to the first Wi-Fi antenna; a second SPDT switch having a pole coupled to the second Wi-Fi antenna; and a power divider selectively couplable between the SP3T switch and the first and second SPDT switches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein: the modem is disposed in the second housing; and a second electronics module is disposed in the second housing and coupled to the modem and the first electronics module. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the modem is disposed in the first housing and coupled to the first electronics module.