Multiple antenna element system and method

An antenna system connectable to a vehicle having an interior cabin, wherein an external RF device is located exterior to the vehicle, and wherein a control module mounted to the vehicle receives an output RF signal from the antenna system, the antenna system comprising:

• a primary antenna connected to the vehicle and located in the exterior environment, wherein the primary antenna transmits and receives a first RF signal to and from the external RF device;
• a primary data transmission line for transmitting the first RF signal, wherein the primary data transmission line is in communication with the primary antenna;
• a secondary antenna connected to the vehicle and located in one of the exterior environment and the interior cabin, wherein the secondary antenna transmits and receives a second RF signal to and from the external RF device located in the exterior environment;
• a secondary data transmission line for transmitting the second RF signal, wherein the secondary data transmission line is in communication with the secondary antenna;
• and
• a fixed RF device connected to the vehicle and in communication with the primary data transmission line and the secondary data transmission line, wherein the fixed RF device includes at least one of an RF switch and an RF coupler, wherein the RF coupler combines the first RF signal and the second RF signal to create the output RF signal, and wherein the RF switch for selects one of the first RF signal and the second RF signal as the output RF signal.

An antenna system connectable to a vehicle having an interior cabin, wherein the vehicle has glass panes that are coated with a solar management glass coating that attenuates RF signals into the interior cabin, wherein an interior RF device is located within the interior cabin, and wherein a control module mounted to the vehicle receives an output RF signal from the antenna system, the antenna system comprising:

• a primary antenna connected to the vehicle and located in the exterior environment, wherein the primary antenna transmits and receives a first RF signal to and from the external RF device;
• a primary data transmission line for transmitting the first RF signal, wherein the primary data transmission line is in communication with the primary antenna;
• a secondary antenna connected to the vehicle and located in one of the exterior environment and the interior cabin, wherein the secondary antenna transmits and receives a second RF signal to and from the external RF device located in the exterior environment, and wherein the secondary antenna is in bidirectional communication with the interior RF device located within the interior cabin;
• a secondary data transmission line for transmitting the second RF signal, wherein the secondary data transmission line is in communication with the secondary antenna;
• and
• a fixed RF device connected to the vehicle and in communication with the primary data transmission line and the secondary data transmission line, wherein the fixed RF device includes at least one of an RF switch and an RF coupler, wherein the RF coupler combines the first RF signal and the second RF signal to create the output RF signal, and wherein the RF switch for selects one of the first RF signal and the second RF signal as the output RF signal;
• and
• a third data transmission line for transmitting RF signals, wherein the third data transmission line is in communication with the control module and the fixed RF device for transmitting the RF output signal from the fixed RF device to the control module.