In-vehicle antenna system and method

A method of sending and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals from a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a wall defining an interior cabin and including an outer surface and an inner surface that generally opposes the outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface cooperate to create an aperture, the method comprising:

• substantially preventing RF signals from entering the interior cabin by disposing windows in the wall having a solar management coating,
• transmitting a first RF signal from an external RF device to an exterior antenna, wherein the exterior antenna is disposed on the outer surface of the wall;
• communicating the first RF signal from the exterior antenna to an interior antenna located within the interior cabin through a data transmission line, where the wall defines an exterior environment and the interior cabin, and wherein the data transmission line directly electrically connects the exterior antenna and the interior antenna and passes through the aperture in the wall;
• radiating the first RF signal from the interior antenna to the interior cabin such that an interior RF device receives the first RF signal;
• transmitting a second RF signal from the interior RF device to the interior antenna;
• and
• communicating the second RF signal from the interior antenna to the exterior antenna through the transmission line.

A motor vehicle and passive antenna system, the motor vehicle having an interior cabin having side windows coated with a solar management glass coating that substantially interferes with transmission of RF signals, the motor vehicle and passive antenna system comprising, in combination:

• a wall including an outer surface and an inner surface that generally opposes the outer surface, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface cooperate to create an aperture, and wherein the wall and the windows define an exterior environment and the interior cabin;
• an exterior antenna located in the exterior environment and connected to the vehicle, wherein the exterior antenna transmits and receives RF signals to and from an external RF device that is located in the exterior environment;
• an interior antenna located within the interior cabin defined by the inner surface of the wall, wherein the interior antenna receives and transmits RF signals to and from an interior RF device located within the interior cabin;
• and
• a coaxial cable that carries RF signals, wherein the coaxial cable directly electrically connects the exterior antenna and the interior antenna, and wherein the coaxial cable passes through the aperture located in the plate between the exterior antenna and the interior antenna, and
• wherein the interior antenna communicates RF signals obtained from the interior RF device located within the interior cabin through the coaxial cable to the exterior antenna, and the exterior antenna communicates RF signals obtained from the external RF device through the coaxial cable to the interior antenna.