# US 2014/0191911 A1 · Antenna Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191911 A1 - Document ID: US20140191911A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/147,044 - Filed: 2014-01-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Inventors: Michael Merrick; Qian Li; Takehito Onuki; Sowjanya Kolli; Adham Izi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191911A1 ## CPC - H01Q 1/3291: {mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body} - H01Q 1/3283: {side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted (mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271)} - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 23/00: Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them - H01Q 1/3233: {particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A vehicle component having a housing made of non-metallic material and having at least one surface made of metallic material is provided, and an antenna assembly is disposed in the vehicle component. The antenna assembly includes a high-gain film-type antenna element having an input for receiving a wireless signal, an output, and a ground portion is disposed on said non-metallic portion of the housing of said vehicle component. The antenna assembly also includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a feeding structure including a coaxial cable and a ground wire. The coaxial cable establishes electrical communication between the antenna element and the LNA, and the ground wire establishes an electrical connection between the ground portion of the antenna element and the metallic surface of the vehicle component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle component, said vehicle component comprising: a housing made of a non-metallic material and having at least one surface made of a metallic material; a high gain film-type antenna element having an input for receiving a wireless signal, an output, and a ground portion, said antenna element being disposed on said non-metallic portion of said housing of said vehicle component; a low noise amplifier (LNA) in electrical communication with said output of said antenna element; and a ground wire in electrical connection with said ground portion of said antenna element and said metallic surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle component of claim 1, further comprising: a feeding structure including a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable establishing electrical communication between said output of the film-type antenna and the LNA. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is a wheel-well. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is a bumper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is a deck lid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said antenna element includes a film layer and a substrate element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 6, wherein said film layer of said antenna element is made of a polymeric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 7, wherein said polymeric material of said film layer is a mylar-type film. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 6, wherein said substrate element is made of copper. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 6, wherein said substrate element has a generally square wave configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ground portion of said antenna element is a ground plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic surface is a plate affixed to said vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one metallic surface is a chassis component of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A vehicle component as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LNA is in electrical communication with a radio receiver. ### Claim 15 An antenna assembly for disposition in a vehicle component having a housing made at least partially of non-metallic material and having at least one surface made of metallic material, said antenna assembly comprising: a high gain film-type antenna element having an input for receiving a wireless signal, an output, and a ground portion; a low noise amplifier (LNA); and a feeding structure having a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable establishing electrical communication between said output of the film-type antenna element and said LNA. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A vehicle component of claim 15, wherein said feeding structure further includes a ground wire for establishing an electrical connection between said ground portion of said antenna element and a metallic surface of the vehicle component. ### Claim 17 A method of coupling an antenna to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: preparing a vehicle component having a housing made of a non-metallic material and having a surface made of a metallic material; placing a high gain film-type antenna element having an input for receiving a wireless signal, an output and a ground portion on the non-metallic housing of the vehicle component; placing a low noise amplifier (LNA) in the vehicle component; coupling a coaxial cable to the output of the film-type antenna element and to the LNA to establish electrical communication between the film-type antenna element and the LNA; and coupling a ground wire to the ground portion of the film type antenna to the metallic surface of the vehicle to ground the film-type antenna element.