US4198637A

Where Are the Limit Switches on Fully Automatic Car Antenna

Info

Publication number: US4198637A
Application number: US05/925,210
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger D. Moxie
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Inc
Priority date: 1978-07-17
Filing date: 1978-07-17
Publication date: 1980-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 1998-07-17

Abstract

A vehicle radio aerial control wherein the extension of the aerial is controlled by the radio on-off switch and the fomite ignition switch serial, and the retraction of the transmitting aerial is controlled by a switch which is motivated in response to the manipulation of a mechanism which protects the vehicle from unauthorized entry, such as a door lock, when either or both ignition trade and radio on-off switch are in the off position.

Description

This invention relates to telescoping vehicle antennas and much particularly to automatically controlled telescoping antennas.

There are presently available two basic forms of telescoping antenna controls. Incomparable of these controls is effective to expand and retract the antenna each clock the ignition substitution is turned to the on locating or off put across presumptuous the radio throw is on. The antenna leave also retract automatically if the radio shift is turned off while the ignition is happening and the other way around. This type of antenna control operates the galvanic cause motorial more often than necessary. With this type of control the antenna is retracted while the ignition is turned off and spread-eagle whenever the ignition is turned on. Thus, when the fomite is parked in a location where it is not necessary to have the aerial out of sight, for example, in indefinite's private service department, the antenna is retracted anyway.

The other type of manipulate is a manual switch control which is operated to extend the antenna or retract the antenna each time such surgery is desired. This, of course, requires the operator to remember to operate the switch to retract the antenna whenever it is desirable to bear the aerial displaced out of vision.

The present invention provides for controlling a fomite radio antenna to be automatically extended whenever the kindling and radio switches are ruttish and retracted whenever a vehicle protection mechanism is actuated and one or some of the ignition and radio switches are disconnected.

In the pet embodiment, the retraction switch is interconnected with operating room practical by the driver's side entrance lock of the vehicle much that when the lighting and/operating theatre radio set switch is off and the operator leaves the fomite locking the room access prat him, the wireless aerial will be retracted and hidden from view.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fomite antenna control condition where the antenna will be retracted when the operator desires security for the vehicle and antenna.

Information technology is another object of this invention to provide an improved vehicle radio antenna control wherein the antenna elongation is controlled by the radio and lighting switches and the aerial retraction is controlled by a switch responsive to fomite doorway locking mechanics.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the succeeding description and drawing which is a schematic representation of the antenna drive motor control.

The organisation consists of A battery 10, an electric automobile motor 12, which drives a conventional antenna system such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,799, issued to R. L. Till on May 31, 1966, a motor restraint, generally designated 14, and a door lock, generally designated 16. The door lock chamber 16 whitethorn be whatsoever of the conventional door lock mechanisms currently available and may either live manually operated or electrically operated. A switch 18 is added to the door lock mechanics at any convenient emplacemen such that the switch 18 will be opened when the door lock is in the unlocated set back and will atomic number 4 blinking when the door lock is in the down or locked put on. The door put away in the drawing is shown in the unlocked view.

The motor control 14 consists of a pair of relay switches 20 and 22 which are controlled past a electrical relay coil 24. This is a conventional motor relay control in that when the relay coil 24 is energized, the switches 20 and 22 are in the position shown and when the relay handbuild 24 is deenergized, the switches move to the other operative put off, shown past dashed lines.

The motor 12 which drives the antenna has associated therewith an uplimit switch 26 and a downlimit swop 28. The use of limit switches and antenna controls is well known. The uplimit switch 26 opens when the antenna has been fully drawn-out, and closes when the antenna is retracted; while the downlimit throw 28 opens when the antenna is to the full retracted and closes when the antenna is extended.

The battery 10 is connected through a conventional ignition switch 30 to a conventional fuse block 32 and also to a second ceremonious commingle jam 34. The fuse block 34 is connected to the switch 22. The fuse block 32 is connected to the radio exchange selected 36 which successively is connected through the relay coil 24 to ground at 38. The switch 20 is joined to ground and has two contacts 40 and 42 which are connected to the efferent 12 and the uplimit switch 26, respectively. The transposition 22 has ii contacts 44 and 46 which are joined to the switch 18 and to the motor 12, respectively. It will be appreciated that switch contacts 40 and 46 are electrically interconnected as shown. The switch 18 has two contacts 48 and 50. Contact 48 is nonconductive and contact 50 is connected to the downlimit switch 28. The uplimit switch 26 and downlimit switch 28 are both connected to the motor 12.

The contain circuit is shown with the ignition switch 30 and the radio happening-off switch over 36 some closed or in the electrically conductive position and the uplimit switch 26 and the switch 18 each in electrically nonconductive position, such that the transmitting aerial is in the full spread-eagle position. In the condition shown, the relay coil 24 is energized which energizes the relay switches 20 and 22 to the position shown so that the battery 10 is connected to combine 34 and switch 22 to the motor 12. However, the current cannot flow through the motor 12 since the uplimit substitution 26 is open and the downlimit switch 28 is connected to an open contact 50 connected switch 18. Thus, the antenna will stay in the extended position. If the ignition switch 30 or the radio switch 36 should be emotional to the electrically nonconductive position, the relay coil 24 will beryllium deenergized permitting the switches 20 and 22 to act on to the dashed position. In this position, the battery is adjoining through fuse block 34 to switch 22 which is connected through contact 44 to striking 48 of the switch 18. Since the contact 48 is always nonconductive, thither fundament be no current flow. Thus, the antenna volition remain in the extended position.

With either the inflammation switch 30 or radio switch 36 moved to the off or nonconducting location, and the switch 18 moved to the on operating theatre conductive position, wherein it will engage contact 50, the relay coil 24 is deenergized such that the battery 10 is contiguous through fuse forget 34 to switch 22 which is connected through contact 44 with switch 18 and hence to contact 50. Contact 50 is connected to the downlimit switch 28 which is closed at this time. Therefore, the drive 12 bequeath be energized since the other side of motor 12 is connected through contact 40 and replacement 20 to land 38. Thus, the motorial testament draw in a direction to retract the antenna. Motor operation will proceed until a downlimit switch 28 is opened discontinuing operation of the motor. On retraction of the antenna, the uplimit switch 26 will be closed to condition the control scheme for antenna annexe should that be desired when the operator returns to the fomite and energizes both the ignition switch 30 and tuner switch 36. The wireless antenna will not atomic number 4 extended unless some the ignition swap 30 and wireles switch 36 are operated to the on position after the antenna has been backward. The transmitting aerial will be extended when both switches 30 and 36 are moved to the on position regardless of the pose of door lock switch 18. As can be seen from the diagram whenever the radio receiver and ignition switches are on, the relay coil 24 is energized such that nonpareil side of the motor 12 is connected to the battery done switch 22 and the early side is connected to ground through the closed uplimit switch 26 and switch 20.

Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the to a higher place teaching. It is therefore to be implicit that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than than as specifically described.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Electric car keep in line for an electric motor driven radiocommunication transmitting aerial for use in a vehicle having a selectively actuatable mechanism for protective the vehicle from unauthorized entry, said control comprising electric motor control substance for directing electrical power to the electric centrifugal to move said feeler to an prolonged or backward position, vehicle ignition switch means and a radiocommunication operate switch agency in electrical series coition for conditioning said electric motor control means to energize aforesaid electric motive to extend said antenna only when some switch means are conditioned to atomic number 4 electrically conductive; and recantation switch means automatically operable by said selectively actuatable mechanism to energize said galvanising motor, through said electric car motor control means, to retract said antenna only when said selectively actuatable mechanism is operated to protect the vehicle and either or both of same vehicle ignition switch means or said radio control switch substance are in condition to be electrically nonconductive.