Antenna module for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna module for a vehicle, which antenna module is designed to communicate with a mobile device in the vehicle and / or in the range of action of the vehicle, comprising a circuit board on which at least two antennas are arranged, the at least two antennas are designed to transmit and / or receive signals via a multiple-input multiple-output transmission path (10), characterized in that the at least two antennas are each designed to transmit and / or receive signals in at least two frequency ranges.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna module for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. Background Art

[0002] In a vehicle, an antenna can be used to couple a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or a smart phone, to the vehicle. Through such coupling, the vehicle can communicate with the mobile device. For example, such communication can be used to enable the use of functions of the mobile device in the vehicle, such as being able to play music from the mobile device in the entertainment system of the vehicle.

[0003] Mobile devices usually have antennas in order to be able to transmit and receive signals in multiple frequency ranges. In order to be able to communicate with the mobile device in all these frequency ranges or to provide communication of the mobile device in all these frequency ranges, it has hitherto been necessary to install multiple individual antennas in the vehicle. Each of these individual antennas is used to communicate with the mobile device in a specific frequency range. However, since interference may occur between these individual antennas, it is necessary to distribute and assemble the individual antennas in the vehicle in such a way as to avoid interference and obstruction between these individual antennas.

[0004] Since mobile devices will be able to communicate in three or more frequency ranges in the future, for example at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, it is necessary to cover these frequency ranges in the vehicle as well. The antenna systems used hitherto in vehicles require, for example, at least four individual antennas for this purpose and thus result in high costs in terms of structural space integration, wiring harness routing, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object on which the present invention is based is to provide an antenna module for a vehicle which enables the minimization of the individual components required for communicating with a mobile device in the vehicle.

[0006] This object is achieved by an antenna module for a vehicle according to claim 1.

[0007] The antenna module proposed here can be used in a vehicle, which can be any type of vehicle, such as a motor vehicle (e.g., a car or a truck), an aircraft, a train, or a ship. The antenna module is configured to communicate with a mobile device in and / or within the range of action of the vehicle. The mobile device can be, for example, a smartphone or other mobile devices, such as a tablet computer, etc. The mobile device has its own antenna in order to be able to communicate with the antenna module for the vehicle. In today's mobile devices, antennas that can communicate in three frequency ranges are particularly used. For this purpose, the mobile device can have multiple antennas.

[0008] The antenna module can be pre-connected to the mobile device via various coupling mechanisms, such as coupling via Bluetooth, which can be initiated directly by the vehicle or can be initiated at the mobile device. For this purpose, known coupling mechanisms can be used.

[0009] The antenna module has a circuit board on which at least two antennas are arranged. The at least two antennas are configured to transmit and / or receive signals via a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission path. The MIMO transmission path (multiple input, multiple output) constitutes a wireless signal transmission, wherein the channels of the MIMO transmission path form a transmission channel between multiple transmitting and receiving antennas. The MIMO transmission path can use various coding methods, such as space-time coding.

[0010] In a MIMO transmission path with n transmitting antennas and n receiving antennas, n×n individual channels are obtained. These n×n channels can be used at the same time and at the same frequency, with the transmit power being distributed to each antenna. That is, the MIMO transmission path is used to increase the data transmission rate. If signals are transmitted simultaneously in multiple frequency ranges, there are correspondingly additional MIMO transmission paths, one for each frequency range.

[0011] In order to now reduce the number of individual components compared to the hitherto existing antenna modules, the at least two antennas of the antenna module are each configured to transmit and / or receive signals in at least two frequency ranges. That is, instead of using multiple individual antennas each operating in one frequency range, the antenna module proposed here uses antennas that can operate in at least two, preferably three or more, frequency ranges. Such so-called dual-band antennas or triple-band antennas can transmit and receive in multiple frequency ranges as a single component. For example, each antenna can transmit and receive in a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz and in one or more additional frequency ranges of approximately 5 GHz and approximately 6 GHz. Other and / or additional frequency ranges or other combinations of frequency ranges are also possible.

[0012] Here, the antenna is understood as a single component configured to receive and transmit electromagnetic waves. The antennas used here, as single components, are each capable of transmitting and / or receiving signals in at least two, preferably three or more frequency ranges.

[0013] By using two antennas each capable of transmitting and / or receiving signals in at least two frequency ranges, communication of the antenna module with a mobile device also capable of transmitting and / or receiving in two or more frequency ranges can be achieved without an additional antenna. In hitherto existing systems, in order to be able to cover all frequency ranges and at the same time prevent interference between the antennas, it has been necessary to install various individual antennas, especially more than four individual antennas, at different locations in a vehicle. This is avoided by the antenna module proposed here, which is provided as a single, compact module or component in which two antennas are mounted on a single circuit board. That is, in this way, the installation space required for the antenna module in the vehicle is reduced, since only one component with all the required antennas needs to be installed in the vehicle.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the number of frequency ranges of the antennas corresponds to the number of frequency ranges of the mobile device. This has the advantage that the antenna module can support all the frequency ranges of the mobile device. That is, no additional antennas are required for additional frequency ranges, and thus the number of individual components is reduced compared to hitherto existing systems.

[0015] To ensure the correct operation of the two antennas, according to another embodiment, the at least two antennas are arranged geometrically at a maximum distance from each other. This maximum distance depends both on the antennas used and on the shape of the circuit board. For example, on a circuit board, two antennas can be arranged in two opposite corners in order to be able to achieve the maximum distance. Such a maximum distance has the advantage that the at least two antennas are decoupled from each other and no interference occurs between the antennas. Other arrangements capable of achieving the maximum distance are also possible.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the at least two antennas are decoupled and / or decorrelated. This decoupling or decorrelation can be achieved on the one hand by the above-described arrangement of the antennas on the circuit board. On the other hand, this decoupling and / or decorrelation can also be achieved by a suitable circuit connection in which the individual components of the antenna module, i.e., the two antennas, are arranged such that a maximum degree of decoupling and / or decorrelation is achieved. This can be achieved by correspondingly designing the antennas, the circuit board, and the other components used (such as cables, etc.), taking into account common circuit connection designs.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the antenna module has a housing, and a circuit board and the at least two antennas are arranged in the housing. Arranging the components in a single housing provides a compact module that can be installed in a vehicle as a single component. That is, the antenna module can be fully optimized in terms of decoupling, decorrelation, and signal transmission before being installed in the vehicle, and then installed in the vehicle in its final state. Therefore, no circuit connection parameters or layout parameters need to be considered during the installation of the vehicle.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the antenna module is configured as a communication interface between a control unit of a vehicle and a mobile device. The antenna module can be installed in the vehicle and connected to the control unit there, for example, via a wiring harness installed in the vehicle. Such a control unit (which can be, for example, part of a central control system of the vehicle) can then connect the antenna module to the mobile device. In particular, the antenna module serves as an interface between the vehicle and the mobile device to control the functions of the mobile device via the vehicle, for example. The mobile device or the vehicle can also access the components of the vehicle or the mobile device respectively by means of the antenna module. These components can be, for example, the speakers and / or the display screen of the vehicle. Then, the user can execute the functions of the mobile device via the input device of the vehicle. Here, the antenna module is used to communicate with the mobile device to output or control, for example, a phone call or music via the devices of the vehicle.

[0019] That is, the antenna module is used to provide an interface between the vehicle and the mobile device, and all frequency ranges of the mobile device are supported by this antenna module. That is, different from the existing systems, only a single component, namely the circuit board with the at least two antennas, is required to achieve comprehensive coupling and communication between the mobile device and the vehicle.

[0020] Other possible implementations of the present invention also include combinations of features or embodiments not explicitly mentioned in the foregoing or later descriptions of the embodiments. Here, those skilled in the art can also add individual aspects as improvements or supplements to the corresponding basic forms of the present invention.

[0021] Other advantages and advantageous embodiments are given in the description, the drawings, and the claims. Here, the combinations of features given especially in the description and the drawings are purely exemplary, so that these features can also exist alone or in different combinations. Description of the Drawings

[0022] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Here, these embodiments and the combinations shown in these embodiments are purely exemplary and should not define the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection is only defined by the appended claims.

[0023] Wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an antenna module for a vehicle; and

[0025] Figure 2 shows a vehicle having an Figure 1 antenna module. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] Figure 1 There is shown an antenna module 1 for a vehicle. The antenna module 1 is used to communicate with a mobile device 12 located in or within the range of action of the vehicle, and in particular to provide an interface between the mobile device 12 and the vehicle.

[0027] In prior systems, in order to be able to communicate with the mobile device 12 in all its frequency ranges, a large number of individual antennas need to be installed in the vehicle. In particular, these individual antennas need to be distributedly assembled on the vehicle in order to achieve decoupling between the antennas.

[0028] In order to now save structural space compared to prior systems and provide a compact module, the antenna module 1 has a housing 2 in which at least one circuit board 4 is installed. On this circuit board 4, two antennas 6, 8 are arranged, which are configured to transmit and / or receive signals via a MIMO transmission path 10. The transmission takes place here as a radio signal, which is shown by a dashed line. The MIMO transmission path 10 is not a physically existing unit, but is formed by the signal transmission between the antennas 6, 8 and the corresponding antennas in the mobile device 12.

[0029] The two antennas 6, 8 are configured to both transmit and receive signals. Here, each of the two antennas 6, 8 can transmit and receive in at least two, preferably at least three, frequency ranges. The at least two frequency ranges preferably correspond here to the frequency ranges of the mobile device 12.

[0030] The number of channels formed by the MIMO transmission path 10 may preferably correspond to the antennas present in the mobile device 12. For example, if the mobile device 12 uses two antennas, the MIMO transmission path 10 is a 2×2 MIMO transmission path. However, 3×3 or 4×4 MIMO transmission paths etc. may also be formed. For each frequency range used simultaneously, there is a separate MIMO transmission path 10.

[0031] The two antennas 6, 8 can be any type of antenna structure capable of transmitting and / or receiving signals in two, three or more frequency ranges. For example, the antennas 6, 8 can be dual-band antennas or tri-band antennas. In any case, each of the antennas 6, 8 is the only component capable of transmitting and / or receiving in two, three or more frequency ranges. Preferably, the number of frequency ranges provided by the antennas 6, 8 corresponds to the number of frequency ranges of the mobile device 12.

[0032] In order to prevent interference between the antennas 6, 8 or to prevent interference between the two antennas 6, 8, the two antennas 6, 8 are arranged and connected on the circuit board 4 in such a way that they are decoupled and / or decorrelated. The exact arrangement of the two antennas 6, 8 can be selected according to the shape of the circuit board and according to the specific antenna structure of the antennas 6, 8. One possibility is, for example, to arrange the two antennas 6, 8 geometrically so that the distance between them is maximized, such as in Figure 1 Other arrangements or other measures on the printed circuit board that contribute to the decoupling of the two antennas 6 , 8 are also possible.

[0033] As in Figure 2 , and as already explained above, the antenna module 1 serves as a communication interface between a vehicle 16 and a mobile device 12. The antenna module 1 can be installed in the vehicle 16 and can be connected there, for example, with a wiring harness. The control unit 14 of the vehicle 16 can then access various functions of the mobile device 12 via the antenna module 1 as a communication interface and execute these functions and / or output these functions in the vehicle 16. For this purpose, for example, a loudspeaker and / or a display screen and input devices (such as buttons, etc.) of the vehicle 16 can be used to control the mobile device 12 via the antenna module 1. The communication with the mobile device 12 takes place here via the antenna module 1 or the antennas 6, 8, which act as a passive communication interface.

[0034] In summary, the antenna module 1 proposed here provides a single component which can be installed in a vehicle as a component in the form of a housing 2 or a printed circuit board 4 and which, with only two antennas 6 , 8 , can provide the functionality of a plurality of separate individual antennas.

[0035] Reference numeral

[0036] 1 Antenna module

[0037] 2 Housing

[0038] 4 Circuit board

[0039] 6 Antenna

[0040] 8 Antenna

[0041] 10 MIMO transmission path

[0042] 12 Mobile device

[0043] 14 Control unit

[0044] 16 Vehicle

Claims

1. An antenna module (1) for a vehicle, the antenna module (1) being configured to communicate with a mobile device (12) in and / or within the range of action of the vehicle, the antenna module (1) having a circuit board (4) on which at least two antennas (6, 8) are arranged, the at least two antennas (6, 8) being configured to transmit and / or receive signals via a multiple-input multiple-output transmission path (10), characterized in that, The at least two antennas (6, 8) are each configured to transmit and / or receive signals in at least two frequency ranges.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least two antennas (6, 8) are each configured to transmit and / or receive signals in at least three frequency ranges.

3. The antenna module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The number of frequency ranges of the antennas (6, 8) corresponds to the number of frequency ranges of the mobile device (12).

4. The antenna module according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The at least two antennas (6, 8) are arranged geometrically with a maximum distance between each other.

5. The antenna module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The at least two antennas (6, 8) are arranged geometrically according to the shape of the circuit board (4).

6. The antenna module according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The at least two antennas (6, 8) are decoupled and / or decorrelated.

7. The antenna module according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The antenna module (1) has a housing (2), and the circuit board (4) and the at least two antennas (6, 8) are arranged in the housing (2).

8. The antenna module according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, The antenna module (1) is configured as a communication interface between the control unit of the vehicle and the mobile device (12).

9. The antenna module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The antenna module (1) can be coupled to the control unit of the vehicle via the vehicle's wiring harness.

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