Device and method for transmitting and / or receiving signals using electromagnetic waves, and motor vehicle

Abstract

In a device for transmitting and / or receiving signals by means of electromagnetic waves, preferably a telematics unit of a truck, two antennas (100, 200) (preferably PIF antennas) are provided on both sides of a flat substrate, preferably a printed circuit board (300). By coupling the antennas, natural frequencies of the entirety, consisting of the first antenna (100) and the second antenna (200), can also be used, not just the natural frequencies of the two antennas individually.

Description

[0001] 202400820

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Device and method for sending and / or receiving signals using electromagnetic waves, as well as motor vehicle

[0005] The invention relates to a device for sending and / or receiving signals using electromagnetic waves and a method in which this device is used. The device is specifically intended as a telematics unit for a motor vehicle (preferably a truck). The motor vehicles can communicate with toll plazas ("basic station") via the telematics unit and corresponding counterpart units. It would be desirable for such telematics units in motor vehicles to be designed to be particularly compact.

[0006] From DE 60 2006 004 258 D1, an antenna for a mobile device is known, in which a first antenna part is located above a printed circuit board and a second antenna part is located below the same printed circuit board, the antenna parts being coupled via a feed pin. The resonant bands of the two antennas are intended to complement each other.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide an improved device for sending and / or receiving signals using electromagnetic waves.

[0008] The problem is solved by the device with the features of claim 1, by the motor vehicle with the features of claim 9, and by the method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0009] The device according to the invention for sending and / or receiving signals by means of electromagnetic waves comprises an electronic circuit on a planar substrate and two antennas, a first of which is arranged on a top surface of the planar substrate and a second of which is arranged on a 202400820

[0010] 2

[0011] The antennas are arranged on the underside of the planar substrate, and each antenna is coupled to the electronic circuit via a common coupling device (“feeding point”) and is thus also coupled to each other. According to the invention, the coupling device is designed to couple first electromagnetic waves at the natural frequencies of the first antenna, second electromagnetic waves at the natural frequencies of the second antenna, and third electromagnetic waves at the natural frequencies of the assembly including the first and second antennas (which are coupled via the coupling device) out of and / or into the electronic circuit. Furthermore, the electronic circuit is designed to generate and / or process the first, second, and third electromagnetic waves in order to provide and / or receive the signals.

[0012] By using not only the natural frequencies of the individual antennas but also the natural frequencies of the entire system with the first and second antennas (in the limited case from the first and second antennas, otherwise possibly including further components on the planar substrate, on the planar substrate or of the planar substrate), the total usable frequency range can be significantly expanded, which means that the telematics unit can be more compact with the same performance.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic circuit provided on the planar substrate is in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB). Such PCBs can be built compactly. The electronic circuit comprises known components such as capacitors, microcontrollers, memory, and the like.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and / or the second antenna is provided as a planar F-shaped antenna. Such antennas are known as "Planar Inverted F-shaped Antennas," abbreviated as PIFA. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (version 202400820), these antennas possess

[0015] 3 of November 9, 2024) a geometrically regular, F-shaped basic pattern with a horizontal F, formed by the feed line, the lateral short-circuit connection to the ground plane, and the upper antenna surface. Additional resonant frequencies can be achieved by adding L- or U-shaped slots to the upper antenna surface.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antennas are each coupled to a ground side of the electronic circuit via a connecting element (“ground pin”) (i.e., they are grounded via the connecting element when the electronic circuit is grounded on the ground side).

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the first and / or the second antenna is attached to the flat substrate via metallized foam cushions.

[0018] The frequencies mentioned can be as follows: The first and second electromagnetic waves have frequencies between 791 and 960 MHz. By coupling the first and second antennas to form a resonant unit, the third electromagnetic waves can have frequencies between 1710 and 2170 MHz and / or between 2490 and 2690 MHz. The performance of the device is therefore significantly increased compared to using the antennas individually.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the longest extent of the first antenna is between 36 mm and 56 mm (approximately: between 44 mm and 48 mm, preferably 46 mm) and / or an extent perpendicular thereto is between 18 mm and 38 mm (approximately: between 26 mm and 30 mm, preferably 28 mm) and / or a longest extent of the second antenna is between 18 mm and 39 mm (approximately: between 26.3 mm and 30.3 mm, preferably 28.3 mm) and / or an extent perpendicular thereto is between 14 mm and 30 mm (approximately: between 20.8 mm and 24.8 mm, preferably 22.8 mm). Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, a base of the first antenna is between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm.

[0020] 4 is long (approximately: between 4.4 mm and 4.6 mm, preferably 4.5 mm) and / or that one foot of the second antenna is between 4.4 mm and 6.4 mm long (approximately: between 5.3 mm and 5.5 mm, preferably 5.4 mm).

[0021] The device according to the invention further preferably comprises a housing which surrounds the planar substrate with the electronic circuit and both antennas, wherein the housing preferably has a length of between 66 mm and 86 mm (approximately: between 75 mm and 77 mm, preferably 76 mm), a width of between 24 mm and 44 mm (approximately: between 33 and 35 mm, preferably 34 mm), and a height of between 12 mm and 22 mm (approximately: between 16 mm and 18 mm, preferably 17 mm).

[0022] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a truck and comprises the device of the type described above in at least one of the mentioned embodiments as a telematics unit.

[0023] The inventive method for transmitting and / or receiving signals using a device of the type described above involves modulating the signals onto the first, second, and third electromagnetic waves. Here, first signals can be modulated onto the first electromagnetic waves, second signals onto the second electromagnetic waves, and third signals onto the third electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, the same signals can be modulated onto the first and second, the second and third, or the first and third electromagnetic waves, or, more preferably, the same signals can be modulated onto all of the first, second, and third electromagnetic waves. Upon reception, demodulation naturally also occurs.

[0024] The method is preferably used for communication between a motor vehicle of the type according to the invention and a toll station. 202400820

[0025] 5

[0026] To perform the described steps, a processor circuit can be provided that includes programming or software comprising program instructions which, upon execution of the program instructions, cause the processor circuit to carry out an embodiment of the method. The processor circuit can include at least one microprocessor and / or microcontroller. The program instructions can be stored in a data memory of the processor circuit.

[0027] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

[0028] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the procedure and are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, according to the procedure, an error message and / or a request for user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0029] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention is described below. The following is shown:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a side perspective view of the entire device as an embodiment of the type according to the invention, but without a surrounding housing;

[0032] Fig. 2a shows a top view of the device according to Fig. 1 from below, with the first antenna; 202400820

[0033] 6

[0034] Fig. 2b shows the first antenna according to the embodiment from Fig. 1 in detail;

[0035] Fig. 3a shows a top view of the device from Fig. 1 from the upper side with the second antenna; and

[0036] Fig. 3b shows the second antenna according to the embodiment from Fig. 1 in detail.

[0037] The embodiment described below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the described components each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another. Each of these features further develops the invention independently and can therefore be considered part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by other features of the invention already described.

[0038] In the figures, functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference symbols.

[0039] The device shown in Fig. 1, designated therein as 1000, is intended to provide a telematics unit for a motor vehicle. The electronic components, which are known per se, are provided on a printed circuit board 300; components 310, 320, 330, and 340 are shown here (see also 350 in Fig. 3a). A first antenna 100 is arranged on one side of the printed circuit board 300, and a second antenna 200 on the other side. These are PIF antenna structures. The first antenna 100 is attached to the first side of the printed circuit board 300 via metallized foam pads 410, and the second antenna 200 is attached to the other side of the printed circuit board 300 via similar metallized foam pads 420. Here, pads 410 and 420 are located opposite each other, since the two antennas 100 and 200 are connected to a common coupling point (coupling device 360) with 202400820

[0040] The 7 foam pads of the circuit board 300 are electrically coupled to each other. The other foam pads serve to couple to a ground connection of the circuit board 300. A connecting wire 430 of the circuit board allows the device to be coupled to external units. Typically, the entire device 1000 is enclosed in a housing (not shown here), from which the connecting wire 430 is led out through a gap to allow the device to be connected.

[0041] As can be seen in Fig. 1, a first foot 110 of the antenna 100 is coupled to one foam pad 410, and a second foot 120 to the second foam pad 420. Fig. 2a shows that the second foot is coupled to the coupling device 360, while the first foot is coupled to a ground plane, here designated 370. The first antenna 100, shown in plan view in Fig. 2a, is shown separately in Fig. 2b.

[0042] The antenna according to Fig. 2b is described in detail as follows:

[0043] In the top view, the feet 110 and 120 can be seen as attachment points in the lower area of ​​Fig. 2b. The distance d1 from the outer side of the first foot 110 to the inner side of the second foot 120 is given, for example, as 10.3 mm. In the same example, the width d2 in the area of ​​the second foot 110 is 3.4 mm. Shortly before reaching half the distance d1, the strip with the initial width d2 begins to widen, reaching a value d3 of 9.5 mm. Here, a kind of foot 130 is formed, from which three fingers 140, 150, and 160 extend.

[0044] Finger 140 is a straight strip and, starting from the inner point of foot 120, has a length d4 of 19.4 mm. The distance d5 to the second finger 150 is 1 mm. The second finger 150 bends to the right at its end, in area 170. This area 170 is formed as a strip running perpendicular to strip 150, which has a width d6 of 3.1 mm and a length d7 of 8.3 mm. The distance d8 to the third finger 160 is 2 mm. Finger 160 initially runs essentially as a strip for a distance of length d9. At the end of the strip, an angled piece extends, consisting of two, 202400820

[0045] The structure consists of eight slightly wider strips 180 and 190. Strip 180, extending to the left from finger 160, has a width d10 of 7 mm and a length d11 of 17.7 mm. Strip 190 runs in the opposite direction, parallel to finger 160, and has a width d12 of 6.7 mm and a length d13 of 18 mm. The distance between finger 160 and strip 190, d14, is 8 mm.

[0046] Figure 3a shows the appearance of the second antenna 200. Its two feet 210 and 220 are coupled to the circuit board 300; as shown in Figure 3a, foot 210 is coupled to the same coupling device 360 ​​as the first antenna 100 via its foot 120. The second foot 220 of the second antenna 200 is coupled to ground, symbolized here by 380.

[0047] The exact appearance of the second antenna 200 is shown in Fig. 3b.

[0048] The feet 210 and 220 are formed in and on a strip 230, which has a length of 25.8 mm. A U-shaped structure extends from the side of the strip 220 facing the inside of the printed circuit board. This structure consists of a strip 240, a transverse structure 250, and another strip 260. The distance between the strips 240 and 260, I2, is 2 mm. The length of the strip 260, I3, is 12.3 mm, with the end of the strip 260 having a distance of 3.5 mm, I4, from the extended underside of the strip 230. A strip 270, with a length I5 of 17 mm, extends at a right angle from the other side of the strip 230. This is now followed by a kind of square frame, formed by a bar or strip 280, which has a width I6 of 5.3 mm and a length I7 of 20.8 mm.Two strips, 290 and 291, extend from strip 280. These strips have a length I8 of 12.8 mm, with an inner distance I9 between strips 290 and 291 of 9.4 mm. Strips 290 and 291 are coupled via a cross piece 292, which has a width 110 of 2.8 mm and runs parallel to strip 230 at a distance 111 of 1 mm from it. The distance between strips 270 and 290, 112, is 12 mm. 202400820.

[0049] 9

[0050] Furthermore, a board 293 extending over a length of 113 is formed on strip 291.

[0051] By coupling the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 via point 360 of the circuit board 300, the antennas are also coupled to each other, so that resonances can occur across the antennas, including the circuit board, and the device can support a frequency range of 791 to 960 MHz, another frequency range of 1710 to 2170 MHz, and a further frequency range of 2490 to 2690 MHz. The signals emitted by the device 1000 are, as is common in radio technology, electromagnetic waves modulated with these frequencies (especially those just mentioned).

[0052] Overall, this example shows how a combined dual antenna structure with split feed can be provided.

[0053] 202400820

[0054] 10

[0055] Reference symbol list

[0056] 100 first antenna

[0057] 110 first foot

[0058] 120 second foot

[0059] 140 fingers

[0060] 150 fingers

[0061] 160 fingers

[0062] 170 area

[0063] 180 strips

[0064] 190 strips

[0065] 200 second antenna

[0066] 210 feet

[0067] 220 feet

[0068] 230 strips

[0069] 240 strips

[0070] 250 cross-structure

[0071] 260 strips

[0072] 270 strips

[0073] 280 strips

[0074] 290 strips

[0075] 291 strips

[0076] 292 Cross piece

[0077] 293 Board of Directors

[0078] 300 circuit boards

[0079] 310 Component of the electronic circuit

[0080] 320 Component of the electronic circuit

[0081] 330 Component of the electronic circuit

[0082] 340 Component of the electronic circuit

[0083] 350 Component of the electronic circuit

[0084] 360 coupling device

[0085] 370 Mass page

[0086] 380 Mass page 202400820

[0087] 11

[0088] 410 metallized foam pads

[0089] 420 metallized foam pads

[0090] 430 connection wire

[0091] 1000 Device d1 , d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9, d10, d11 , d12, d13, d14 Antenna dimensions 100

[0092] 11, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, I7, I8, I9, 110, 111, 112, 113

[0093] Antenna dimensions 200

Claims

202400820 12 Patent claims 1. Device (1000) for transmitting and / or receiving signals by means of electromagnetic waves, comprising an electronic circuit (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) on a planar substrate and comprising two antennas (100, 200), of which a first antenna (100) is arranged on a top surface of the planar substrate and a second antenna (200) is arranged on a bottom surface of the planar substrate, wherein the antennas (100, 200) are each coupled to the electronic circuit (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) via a common coupling device (360) and are thus also coupled to each other, characterized in that the coupling device (360) is designed to receive first electromagnetic waves at the natural frequencies of the first antenna (100) and second electromagnetic waves at the natural frequencies of the second antenna. (200) and third electromagnetic waves at natural frequencies of the whole with the first and the second antenna (100,200) to extract from and / or couple into the electronic circuit, and that the electronic circuit is designed to generate and / or process the first, second and third electromagnetic waves in order to provide and / or receive the signals.

2. Device (1000) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit provided on the planar substrate (300) is in the form of a printed circuit board (300).

3. Device (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and / or the second antenna (100, 200) is / are provided as a planar antenna in F-shape.

4. Device (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antennas (100, 200) are each coupled to a ground side (370, 380) of the electronic circuit via a connecting element (410, 420). 202400820 13 5. Device (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or the second antenna (100, 200) is / are attached to the planar substrate via metallized foam cushions (410, 420).

6. Device (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second electromagnetic waves have frequencies between 791 and 960 MHz and the third electromagnetic waves have frequencies between 1710 and 2170 MHz and / or between 2490 and 2690 MHz.

7. Device (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the longest extent of the first antenna is between 36 mm and 56 mm and / or the extent perpendicular to the longest extent is between 18 mm and 38 mm, and / or the longest extent of the second antenna (200) is between 18 mm and 39 mm, and / or the extent perpendicular to the longest extent is between 14 mm and 30 mm, and / or that a foot of the first antenna (100) is between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm long and / or that a foot of the second antenna (200) is between 4.4 mm and 6.4 mm long.

8. Device (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 7 comprising a housing which surrounds the planar substrate with the electronic circuit and both antennas, wherein the housing preferably has a length of between 66 mm and 86 mm, a width of between 24 mm and 44 mm, and a height of between 12 mm and 22 mm.

9. Motor vehicle, in particular truck, with a device according to one of claims 1 to 8 as a telematics unit.

10. Method for sending and / or receiving signals using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the signals are modulated onto the first, second and / or third electromagnetic waves. 202400820 14 11. Method according to claim 10, used to communicate a motor vehicle according to claim 9 with a toll station.

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