Modelling the installed performance of automotive antennas integrated with vehicle glazing

The number of antennas deployed on modern vehicles is now rising very rapidly. In addition, styling and security considerations make conformal antennas particularly attractive for vehicle applications, despite the likelihood that the electromagnetic performance may be compromised. Thus, there is increasing interest in predicting the installed performance of automotive antennas. This paper outlines the results of a numerical investigation based on a simple meanderline structure mounted in laminated dielectrics. It is concluded that it is essential to include the electrical properties of the glass in order to predict the performance of antennas mounted in vehicle glazing, even at low frequencies where the thickness is relatively small relative to the wavelength.