# US 2021/0280963 A1 · Conformal antennas formed at a surface of a vehicle

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- Number: US 2021/0280963 A1
- Document ID: US20210280963A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/810,011
- Filed: 2020-03-05
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Igal Kotzer; Ofer Givati
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210280963A1

## CPC

- H01Q 1/3275: {mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk}
- H01Q 1/12: Supports; Mounting means
- H01Q 9/0407: {Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40)}
- H01Q 9/28: Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines (waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00)
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)

## Abstract

A conformal antenna at a surface of a vehicle and a method of forming the conformal antenna involve a slot formed in a portion of the surface of the vehicle. The method includes disposing the antenna in the slot. An exposed surface of the antenna is level with the surface of the vehicle. The method also includes connecting the antenna to one or more systems of the vehicle such that the antenna transmits or receives signals processed by the one or more systems.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a conformal antenna at a surface of a vehicle, the method comprising:
forming a slot in a portion of the surface of the vehicle, wherein the forming the slot includes specifying dimensions of the slot based on dimensions of the conformal antenna;
disposing the conformal antenna in the slot, wherein an exposed surface of the conformal antenna is level with the surface of the vehicle; and
connecting the conformal antenna to one or more systems of the vehicle such that the conformal antenna transmits or receives signals processed by the one or more systems.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising filling the slot with a filler material after the disposing the conformal antenna in the slot.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the filling the slot includes using a resin as the filler material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the disposing the conformal antenna in the slot includes placing a single or multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) in the slot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the disposing the conformal antenna also includes arranging a radiating element as the exposed surface that is level with the surface of the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the disposing the conformal antenna also includes arranging metal conductors to connect the radiating element to the PCB.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the disposing the conformal antenna also includes disposing electronic components.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the disposing the electronic components includes disposing a radio frequency (RF) front end, RF beam formers, RF up and down converters, a modem chip, analog filters, or power supply circuitry.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the disposing the conformal antenna in the slot includes disposing a bowtie dipole antenna, a patch antenna, or a spiral antenna.

### Claim 11

A vehicle with a conformal antenna at a surface of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
a slot in a portion of the surface of the vehicle, wherein the dimensions of the slot are based on dimensions of the conformal antenna;
the conformal antenna disposed in the slot, wherein an exposed surface of the conformal antenna is level with the surface of the vehicle; and
one or more systems of the vehicle connected to the conformal antenna such that the conformal antenna transmits or receives signals processed by the one or more systems.

### Claim 12

(canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the slot is filled with a filler material after the conformal antenna is disposed in the slot.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the filler material is a resin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the conformal antenna in the slot includes a single or multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB).

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the conformal antenna also includes a radiating element as the exposed surface that is level with the surface of the vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the conformal antenna also includes metal conductors that connect the radiating element to the PCB.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the conformal antenna also includes electronic components.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the electronic components include a radio frequency (RF) front end, RF beam formers, RF up and down converters, a modem chip, analog filters, or power supply circuitry.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the conformal antenna is a bowtie dipole antenna, a patch antenna, or a spiral antenna.