Thin film antenna to fakra connector

An RF connector assembly for connecting a co-planar waveguide (CPW) antenna mounted on a vehicle glass to a FAKRA-type connector, said CPW antenna including a ground plane, an antenna radiating element, and a CPW feed structure, wherein the antenna operates in a frequency band suitable for AM/FM radio antennas, DSRC antennas, satellite radio antennas, GPS antennas, or cellular antennas, said RF connector assembly comprising:

• a printed circuit board (PCB) including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first ground metallization plane formed on the top surface of the PCB, a first microstrip line formed on the top surface of the PCB and being electrically separated from the first ground plane, a second ground metallization plane formed to the bottom surface of the PCB, a second microstrip line formed on the bottom surface of the PCB and being electrically separated from the second ground plane, and a plurality of vias extending through the PCB some of which make electrical contact between the first and second ground metallization planes and some of which make electrical contact between the first and second microstrip lines, said PCB being secured to the vehicle glass so that the second ground metallization plane and the second microstrip line make electrical contact with the CPW feed structure, wherein some of the vias are positioned to accept ground terminals of the FAKRA-type connector that extend through the PCB and make electrical contact with the second ground metallization plane and one of the vias is positioned to accept a signal pin of the FAKRA-type connector that makes electrical contact with the first and second microstrip lines.

An RF connector assembly for connecting a co-planar waveguide (CPW) antenna mounted on a thin-film substrate to a FAKRA-type connector, said CPW antenna including a ground plane, an antenna radiating element, and a CPW feed structure, wherein the ground plane includes a slot and the antenna radiating element is positioned within the slot, and wherein the FAKRA-type connector is connected to a coaxial cable, said RF connector assembly comprising:

• a printed circuit board (PCB) including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first ground metallization plane formed on the top surface of the PCB, a first microstrip line formed on the top surface of the PCB and being electrically separated from the first ground plane, a second ground metallization plane formed to the bottom surface of the PCB, a second microstrip line formed on the bottom surface of the PCB and being electrically separated from the second ground plane, and a plurality of vias extending through the PCB some of which make electrical contact between the first and second ground metallization planes and some of which make electrical contact between the first and second microstrip lines, said PCB being secured to the substrate so that the second ground metallization plane and the second microstrip line make electrical contact with the CPW feed structure, wherein some of the vias are positioned to accept ground terminals of the FAKRA-type connector that extend through the PCB and make electrical contact with the second ground metallization plane and one of the vias is positioned to accept a signal pin of the FAKRA-type connector that makes electrical contact with the first and second microstrip lines.