More advanced radio, television and GPS antennas for Volvo cars

Volvo cars now have the first fully integrated multi-functional antenna and RF tuner, the antennas have been developed by Professor Richard Langley from the University of Sheffield's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

In recent years, antenna engineers and researchers have been studying the design and performance of automotive antenna systems. The roof-mounted mast antenna that has been used for decades to receive radio signals in cars, is gradually being replaced by hidden antennas whose profile does not affect the aesthetic design of the vehicle.

The new type of hidden automotive antenna is often printed on the quarter glass areas of vehicles. Alternatively, many cars use the rear glass screen heater grid as the antenna to provide reception.

However, with the introduction of heated windscreens and metal-coated solar reflecting glass, the performance of these hidden antennas can be seriously affected.

Since 2001, Professor Langley has therefore been working on developing a different type of antenna model which is installed under an aperture in the roof of a sports utility vehicle, below a plastic panel similar to a sunroof slot.

In this configuration, the various receiver tuners including radio, television and GPS are directly connected and mounted to the antennas, and controlled via an optical network to the main entertainment control unit in the dashboard.

"Compared with a typical side glass window antenna, the average gain for the roof aperture antenna is higher by 2dB," says Professor Langley.

This multi-functional antenna was brought into production on Volvo cars in 2004. So far, it has been an expensive device and only installed in their advanced sports cars.

"We are working on refining and improving it and making it more accessible," says Professor Langley adding, "the value of my work is in improving the communication network either in cars or aircraft."

Professor Langley is also developing antenna technology in collaboration with King Abdulaziz City University for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration, involving electrical communications and Radio Frequency Engineering, focuses on antenna systems for small satellites. The antennas will provide communication to and from the satellites using a four element array with circular polarisation.

For further information, please contact Professor Richard Langley at:

tel: 0114 222 5583

email : r.j.langley@sheffield.ac.uk