Glass antenna for vehicle window

A transparent antenna for an automobile comprising:

• a first rigid transparent ply having a peripheral edge defining a desired shape;
• a first transparent electroconductive antenna element positioned at least on a central portion of a major surface of said first ply and spaced from and generally extending along selected portions of said peripheral edge of said first ply;
• a second transparent electroconductive antenna element positioned on said major surface of said first ply spaced between said first antenna element and said selected portions of said peripheral edge of said first ply;
• at least one electroconductive connector extending between said first and second antenna elements to electrically interconnect said elements and form a single antenna assembly, wherein a first portion of said connector overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said first antenna element, a second portion of said connector overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said second antenna element, a third portion of said connector extends between and electrically interconnects said first and second portions of said connector, and a fourth portion of said connector extends from said second portion and beyond said peripheral edge of said first ply;
• and
• a second rigid transparent ply secured to said first rigid ply such that said first and second antenna elements and at least said first, second and third portions of said connector are positioned between said plies, wherein said second ply has a peripheral edge generally corresponding to said peripheral edge of said first ply at least in the vicinity where said connector extends beyond said first ply.

A method of making a transparent antenna comprising the steps of:

• applying a first transparent electroconductive antenna element on a major surface of a first rigid transparent ply having a peripheral edge defining a desired shape, said first element extending along and being spaced from selected portions of said peripheral edge;
• applying a second transparent electroconductive antenna element on said major surface of said first ply spaced between said first antenna element and said selected portions of said first ply's peripheral edge;
• positioning an electroconductive connector along said first ply such that a first portion of said connector overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said first antenna element, a second portion of said connector overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said second antenna element, a third portion of said connector extends between and electrically interconnects said first and second portions of said connector, and a fourth portion of said connector extends from said second portion and beyond said peripheral edge of said first ply;
• and
• securing a second rigid transparent ply having a peripheral edge generally corresponding to said peripheral edge of said first ply, to said first ply such that said first and second antenna elements and at least said first, second and third portions of said connector are positioned between said first and second plies and said fourth portion of said connector extends beyond said peripheral edges of said first and second plies such that said connector electrically interconnects said first and second antenna elements between said first and second rigid plies and forms a single antenna assembly.

A transparent antenna assembly for an automobile comprising:

• a first glass ply having a peripheral edge defining a desired shape;
• a first transparent electroconductive coating covering a substantial portion of a major surface of said first ply, said first coating being spaced from selected portions of said peripheral edge of said first ply;
• a second transparent electroconductive coating positioned on said major surface of said first ply spaced between said first coating and said selected portions of said peripheral edge of said first ply, wherein said first and second coatings are first and second antenna elements;
• a second glass ply having a peripheral edge generally corresponding to said peripheral edge of said first ply, laminated to said first glass ply such that said first and second coatings are positioned between said plies;
• and
• a flat metal connector electrically interconnecting said first and second antenna elements between said first and second glass plies and having a first portion which overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said first antenna element, a second portion which overlays and is electrically interconnected with a portion of said second antenna element, a third portion which extends between and electrically interconnects said first and second portions of said connector, and a fourth portion which extends from said second portion and outwardly from between said plies beyond said peripheral edges of said first and second plies, wherein said interconnected first and second antenna elements form a single antenna assembly.