Glass antenna system with an impedance matching network

摘要

The present invention provides a glass antenna system with improved reception, a connector of the glass antenna system and a method of producing the glass antenna system. The glass antenna system includes a glass substrate, at least one electroconductive antenna element positioned along a major surface of the substrate, wherein the antenna element provides an impedance which varies over a given frequency band, an impedance matching network secured to the glass substrate in a position such that the impedance matching network is electrically coupled to a portion of the antenna element, and means to electrically interconnect the network to a feedline of an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving unit. The impedance matching network is used to transform the impedance of the antenna element to a desired impedance. In one particular embodiment of the invention the impedance matching network is part of a connector and is formed along a first major surface of a printed circuit board. The network is electrically connected to the opposing major surface of the board which includes an electroconductive coating. The connector is secure to the glass substrate in a position such that the impedance matching network is electrically coupled to the antenna element. The impedance matching network may be a passive or active impedance matching network. The glass antenna may be incorporated into a laminated windshield wherein glass substrate is a first glass ply and further including a second glass ply secured to the first glass ply, with the antenna element positioned between the plies.