A glass antenna with improved reception sensitivity was provided. A glass antenna formed on a surface of a window of a motor vehicle includes: an FM antenna element; and a heater that is capacitively coupled to the FM antenna element, and includes a plurality of heating wires, wherein a distance S between the FM antenna element and the heater is more than 40 mm.

A window glass for vehicle includes a glass plate having a transmissive region transmitting visible light, and a light shielding film shielding visible light; a dielectric having a first surface and a second surface; a planar conductor arranged between the glass plate and the first surface of the dielectric; positive and negative electrodes connected to the planar conductor; one or more feeding electrodes and one or more grounding electrodes arranged on the second surface of the dielectric. The planar conductor generates heat by an electric voltage applied between the positive and negative electrodes. The feeding electrodes and the grounding electrodes are arranged to face the planar conductor via the dielectric so that the planar conductor receives at least electromagnetic waves of a VHF band. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, the feeding electrodes and the grounding electrodes are arranged to overlap with the light shielding film in a planar view.

The present application discloses a glass antenna arranged on a vehicular window glass. The glass antenna includes: a feeding terminal connected to an antenna amplifier; a first antenna connected to the feeding terminal and set so as to receive a radio frequency signal in a first frequency band which has a first wavelength at a central frequency of the first frequency band; a coupling element having a length set based on a length obtained by multiplying one-half of the first wavelength by a glass reduction rate, coupling element being connected to the feeding terminal; and a second antenna capacitively coupled to the coupling element and set so as to receive a radio frequency signal in a second frequency band which has a second wavelength at a central frequency of the second frequency band.

A multi-band antenna system is provided. The antenna system can be placed under and embedded within a glass exterior surface of a vehicle. Such an antenna system can include a capacitively coupled metallic element on or adjacent to the glass exterior surface, which can serve as both a parasitic element to enhance gain and as a heating element to melt snow and/or ice accumulation over the glass area that covers the antenna. In certain applications, the antenna's structure itself can be used as a heater to improve performance in adverse weather conditions while the heating elements are positioned away from the thermally sensitive electronics. The antenna system with integrated heating can include a spiral antenna.

A planar antenna providing a heating function includes a radiating element and a ground element disposed over a surface of a substrate, wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive. The ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point. The ground element is adapted to be connected to a power source to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path.

A planar antenna that provides a heating function is fabricated by printing a pattern of catalytic ink onto a surface of a web of flexible substrate. The printed pattern of catalytic ink defines an antenna pattern including a radiating element and a ground element. A conductive material is electrolessly plated onto the pattern of catalytic ink by transporting the web of flexible substrate through a reservoir of plating solution to form a corresponding pattern of conductive material. The electrolessly-plated ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein the electrolessly-plated ground element is adapted to be connected to a power source to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path.

A vehicle glazing with a slot antenna between the vehicle portal and the peripheral edge of an IR reflective coating that includes a heating bus over the coating edge. The antenna slot may be fed directly by a voltage probe or a coupled coplanar line at a position to excite both fundamental and higher order modes for multiband antenna applications. A portion of the IR reflective coating may overlay the window frame at null positions of first higher order mode to tune the slot antenna to higher frequencies. Slot antenna resonant frequency may also be moved higher by separating the IR reflective coating into two coating panel with the lower coating panel connected to electrical ground by capacitive coupling. Multiple antennas can be fed at different locations for multiband applications and diversity antenna systems.

A window assembly comprises a substrate with a transparent layer that defines an area having a periphery. An outer region devoid of the transparent layer is defined adjacent the transparent layer along the periphery. A conductive element disposed on the substrate and comprises a first portion overlapping an area of the transparent layer and abutting and being in direct electrical contact with the transparent layer. The conductive element further comprises a second portion integrally extending from the first portion and disposed in the outer region. The periphery of the transparent layer delineates the first and second portions of the conductive element. The second portion has an area defining an enclosed slot. A feeding element couples to the conductive element for energizing the enclosed slot as a slot antenna. An energizing element couples to the conductive element for energizing the conductive element to implement a bus bar.

A method for determining a connection status between an antenna amplifier and an antenna structure includes applying a first diagnostic voltage to a connecting link between the antenna amplifier and the antenna structure, reading out a first voltage value at a measuring point of the connecting link, and comparing the first voltage value with the first diagnostic value. The method includes applying a second diagnostic voltage different from the first diagnostic voltage to the connecting link, reading out a second voltage value at the measuring point, and comparing the second voltage value with the second diagnostic voltage. A faulty connection between the antenna amplifier and the antenna structure is determined if the first voltage value corresponds to the first diagnostic voltage and the second voltage value corresponds to the second diagnostic voltage.

A window glass for a vehicle includes a glass plate; a dielectric having a first surface on a side facing the glass plate, and a second surface; a first electrode arranged between the glass plate and the first surface; a second electrode arranged on the second surface side such that the dielectric is interposed between the first and second electrodes; and an antenna element arranged between the glass plate and the first surface, and connected to the first electrode, the antenna element receiving at least an electromagnetic wave in a frequency band of AM broadcasting, and a coupling capacitance between the first and second electrodes satisfying a condition determined by an antenna capacitance of the antenna element, an input capacitance of an amplifier connected to the second electrode, a voltage value output from the second electrode, and a reception voltage value of the antenna element.