Vehicle-mounted device

Abstract

The present invention provides an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of antennas configured to receive ultra wide band signals, the plurality of antennas being disposed at at least two of a front, a center, and a rear of the vehicle, the plurality of antennas being configured to receive the ultra wide band signals; and the plurality of antennas are positioned below the ceiling of the vehicle and above the center of a vehicle axle in the vertical direction vertical to the chassis of the vehicle. According to the vehicle-mounted device, it is ensured that the mobile device outside the vehicle can receive the signals of the at least two anchor points, the positioning reliability can be improved, and water can be prevented from submerging the antenna to damage internal devices of the antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle or the like. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the widespread adoption of smart mobile devices and the development of in-vehicle systems, achieving high-precision communication and positioning between vehicles and mobile devices has become a significant research area. Among these, technologies that leverage radio waves between vehicle-mounted devices and mobile devices to determine their positional relationships have garnered significant attention. For example, existing technologies utilize UWB (Ultra Wideband) communication technology to estimate the distance of a mobile device relative to the vehicle by measuring the round-trip time (RTT) of a pulse signal sent from the in-vehicle system to the mobile device. UWB technology, with its ultra-wide bandwidth, provides high-precision distance measurement and robustness against multipath interference, making it suitable for scenarios requiring precise positioning.

[0003] UWB communication technology utilizes bandwidths exceeding 500MHz. Its broadband nature makes it superior in dealing with multipath effects, enabling relatively accurate distance measurement between transmitters and receivers. Furthermore, UWB technology can achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy within a range of tens of meters, and even the presence of obstacles of a certain size has little impact on measurement results. Therefore, UWB technology is considered a communication technology suitable for precise distance measurement over relatively large spaces.

[0004] The application prospects of UWB technology combined with mobile devices such as smartphones are broad. For example, integrating UWB technology into a smartphone can transform the phone into a virtual key for a vehicle, enabling keyless entry and start. This application not only improves user convenience but also provides technical support for emerging business models such as vehicle sharing and logistics sharing. In a vehicle sharing scenario, different users' smartphones can function as vehicle keys at different times, enabling secure control and management of the vehicle.

[0005] While existing technologies have made progress in communication and positioning between vehicles and mobile devices, several challenges and limitations remain. For example, further improving positioning accuracy, reducing system complexity, and optimizing power consumption and cost remain hot research topics. Therefore, developing a more efficient and accurate UWB positioning technology, particularly anchor point design for in-vehicle scenarios, has become a pressing issue.

[0006] Prior art literature

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-114258 Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted device based on UWB technology, which can appropriately configure UWB anchor points to obtain more efficient and accurate UWB positioning.

[0010] The vehicle-mounted device of the present invention is installed on a vehicle and includes:

[0011] a plurality of antennas configured to receive ultra wide band (UWB) signals;

[0012] The plurality of antennas are disposed at at least two locations selected from the group consisting of a front portion of the vehicle, a portion near the center of the vehicle, and a portion at the rear portion of the vehicle;

[0013] The plurality of antennas are located below a vehicle ceiling and above a center of a vehicle wheel axle in a vertical direction perpendicular to the vehicle chassis.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] The vehicle-mounted device of the present invention places antennas at at least two locations: the front, near the center, and at the rear of the vehicle. This maximizes signal coverage, ensuring that mobile devices outside the vehicle can receive signals from at least two anchor points, thereby improving positioning reliability. Furthermore, the antennas are located below the vehicle's ceiling and above the center of the vehicle's wheel axles, perpendicular to the vehicle's chassis. This prevents water from submerging the antennas and damaging their internal components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a UWB vehicle-mounted system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle-mounted device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a UWB anchor point according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the UWB anchor point installation position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the installation height of a UWB anchor point according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7Schematic diagram of a mounting bracket for a front UWB anchor point according to an embodiment of the present invention

[0023] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the preferred installation angle range of the front UWB anchor point according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the preferred installation angle range of the rear UWB anchor point according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the preferred installation range of UWB anchor points in a vehicle cabin according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Description of Reference Numerals

[0027] 100 vehicle systems

[0028] 1 vehicle

[0029] 2 Vehicle-mounted devices

[0030] 21ECU module

[0031] 22UWB Anchor Point

[0032] 221 shell

[0033] 222 connector

[0034] 23 radar units

[0035] 24 brackets

[0036] 241 first plug-in portion

[0037] 242 second plug-in portion

[0038] 3. Mobile devices

[0039] 31UWB module DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Hereinafter, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be schematically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same structures in each of the drawings are marked with the same symbols.

[0041] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a UWB vehicle-mounted system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, in-vehicle system 100 includes an in-vehicle device 2 installed in vehicle 1 and a mobile device 3 that communicates with in-vehicle device 2. The UWB in-vehicle system of the present invention is capable of short-range wireless communication using UWB-IR (Ultra Wide Band-Impulse Radio). Hereinafter, UWB-IR short-range wireless communication is referred to as UWB communication. UWB communication can also be referred to as ultra-wideband wireless communication.

[0042] The mobile device 3 is an information processing terminal, such as a smart phone, etc., which can be carried by a user. Figure 2 A block diagram showing the general structure of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the mobile device 3 includes a UWB module 31. In this embodiment, for the sake of convenience, descriptions of other related structures of the mobile device 3 other than the UWB communication with the vehicle-mounted device 2 are omitted.

[0043] The UWB module 31 is a communication module that can perform UWB communication with the vehicle-mounted device 2 and can be composed of, for example, an integrated circuit, an antenna, a communication circuit, etc. The UWB module 31 performs UWB communication by sending and receiving radio waves in the form of pulses (hereinafter referred to as pulse signals). The pulse signal used in UWB communication is a signal with an extremely short pulse width. For example, the pulse width can be 2ns. In addition, the pulse signal used in UWB communication has a bandwidth of more than 500MHz (i.e., an ultra-wide bandwidth). The frequency bands available for UWB communication (hereinafter referred to as UWB bands) include 3.1GHz~10.6GHz, 3.4GHz~4.8GHz, 7.25GHz~10.6GHz, 22GHz~29GHz, etc. When the UWB module 31 receives a pulse signal sent from the vehicle-mounted device 2, it will reply with a corresponding response signal.

[0044] Figure 3 1 is a block diagram showing the general structure of the vehicle-mounted device 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the vehicle-mounted device 2 includes an ECU module 21 and a plurality of UWB anchor points 22. The UWB anchor points 22 are equivalent to antennas, and the plurality of UWB anchor points 22 are arranged at a plurality of locations inside and outside the vehicle and are connected to the ECU module 21 respectively.

[0045] The ECU module 21 includes a processor, memory, I / O, and a bus connecting these components. It executes control programs stored in the memory to perform various processes. The ECU module 21 performs various processes related to controlling communication with the UWB anchor point 22 and determining the position of the mobile device 3 relative to the vehicle.

[0046] The UWB anchor point 22 is a communication module composed of, for example, an integrated circuit, an antenna, and communication circuitry. The UWB anchor point 22 performs UWB-IR short-range wireless communication based on instructions from the ECU module 21. The UWB anchor points 22 may include two anchor points located at at least two of the following locations: the front, near the center, and at the rear of the vehicle. These UWB anchor points 22 located inside and outside the vehicle act as internal and external antennas. Each UWB anchor point 22 may be assigned a unique identifier (anchor point ID).

[0047] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing a UWB anchor according to an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 4 shown, the anchor 22 includes a cuboid-shaped housing 221 and a connector 222 extending in the length direction from one end of the housing 221 in the length direction. Although not shown in the drawing, the housing 221 is internally provided with units such as a UWB antenna, a communication unit, a control unit, and a timer. The antenna is used to transmit and receive ultra-wideband signals. The communication unit generally includes components such as a radio frequency (RF) front end and a baseband processor, and is used to process received signals and prepare signals to be transmitted. The timer is used to measure the time elapsed from the transmission of a pulse signal to the reception of a response signal to the pulse signal (i.e., the round-trip time, RTT). The UWB anchor 22 measures the round-trip time using this timer, associates the measured round-trip time with its own anchor ID, and then outputs it to the ECU module 21. The connector 222 is an interface for the UWB anchor 22 to other devices, so as to connect and exchange data with other devices or networks.

[0048] In UWB technology, the distance between two devices can be measured through the round-trip time RTT, but the orientation cannot be directly determined only by the distance. To know the orientation, multi-point positioning is usually required. That is, multiple UWB anchors are deployed in the vehicle, the distances between the mobile device and each anchor are measured, and the position of the mobile device relative to these anchors is calculated to determine the orientation. Although theoretically two anchors are sufficient for two-dimensional positioning, in practical applications, especially in a vehicle environment, factors such as signal occlusion and不理想 signal coverage may affect the positioning accuracy. Therefore, in practical applications, UWB positioning usually uses 3 anchors or more anchors to provide more measurement data and improve the accuracy and reliability of positioning.

[0049] The selection of the installation position of the UWB anchor is also very important. Signal occlusion should be avoided as much as possible, and good signal coverage should be ensured. In this embodiment, the following UMB anchor configuration method is adopted.

[0050] <Configuration of UWB Anchor>

[0051] Regarding the installation position of the UWB anchor, this embodiment considers from the following aspects.

[0052] Front, middle, and rear: Place one anchor at the front of the vehicle, and place the other two anchors at the middle and rear of the vehicle respectively, so as to ensure good signal coverage in the length direction of the vehicle.

[0053] Height distribution: If possible, consider placing anchor points at different heights to improve vertical signal coverage. For example, one anchor point can be placed at a low location (such as near the bumper) and the other two can be placed at higher locations (such as the roof or near the windows).

[0054] Diagonal layout: If the vehicle structure allows, consider placing the anchor points in a diagonal layout to increase the spatial separation between them and thus improve positioning accuracy.

[0055] Avoid metal obstructions: Try to install the anchor point at a certain distance from large metal surfaces (such as the engine hood or roof) to reduce the impact of signal reflection and obstruction.

[0056] Based on the above factors, in this embodiment, multiple UWB anchor point 22 antennas are installed in at least two locations in front of the vehicle, near the center of the vehicle, and behind the vehicle, and are located below the vehicle ceiling and above the center of the vehicle axle in the vertical direction. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation position of the UWB anchor point according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the installation height of a UWB anchor point according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the specific installation location of the UWB anchor point is:

[0057] External anchor points: There are four external anchor points (UWB anchor points 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d), namely:

[0058] UWB anchor point 22a, near the left corner of the front end of the vehicle;

[0059] UWB anchor point 22b, near the right corner of the front end of the vehicle;

[0060] UWB anchor point 22c, near the left corner of the rear end of the vehicle;

[0061] UWB anchor point 22d: near the right corner of the rear end of the vehicle.

[0062] In-car anchor points: There are two in-car anchor points (UWB anchor points 22e and 22f), namely:

[0063] UWB anchor point 22e, front part of the interior of the vehicle;

[0064] UWB anchor point 22f, rear part of the interior of the vehicle.

[0065] In addition, inside the vehicle, a UWB anchor point UWB22g can be set in the trunk as needed.

[0066] like Figure 6As shown, the UWB anchor point 22 is located below the vehicle ceiling and above the center of the vehicle wheel axle in a vertical direction perpendicular to the vehicle chassis. Specifically, the installation position should be selected at a height of at least 350 mm above the ground to prevent water from flooding.

[0067] (Configuration of the UWB anchor point outside the front of the vehicle)

[0068] In this embodiment, the specific configuration of the front UWB anchor points 22a and 22b outside the vehicle can be:

[0069] Place UWB anchor points 22a and 22b on the inside of the vehicle's front bumper, at least 14 mm from the bumper surface to prevent direct contact with the anchor points due to user pushing against the bumper. UWB anchor points 22a and 22b should be located at least 350 mm above the ground to prevent flooding. Furthermore, UWB anchor points 22a and 22b should be positioned away from areas prone to minor collisions and pedestrian protection features to minimize pedestrian injury.

[0070] On the inside of the vehicle's front bumper, locations near the left and right corners of the vehicle's front end can provide good signal coverage. Bumpers are typically located at the edge of the vehicle, away from the vehicle's metal structure. Placing UWB anchor points 22a and 22b on the inside of the bumper, at least 14 mm from the bumper surface, can reduce signal obstruction and reflection from metal structures, thereby minimizing multipath effects and signal attenuation.

[0071] Furthermore, to comply with relevant regulations regarding minor collisions, it is necessary to ensure that the UWB anchor points 22a and 22b maintain their correct position during a minor collision. This means that even if the bumper or other components are pushed in, the UWB anchor points 22a and 22b should not shift due to contact. In the real world, collisions can occur anywhere, but for testing and design purposes, designers will determine the collision points for testing based on regulations and the most common collision scenarios, conduct standardized testing, and ensure that a certain strength and safety gap are maintained within this most likely collision area. In this embodiment, after considering the thickness of the bumper, it is necessary to ensure that there is at least 3mm of clearance from the pendulum (the vibrator used to simulate a collision) to the UWB anchor points 22a and 22b during standardized collision testing. The UWB anchor points 22a and 22b should also be installed in a location that is not susceptible to flying rocks and away from components that may generate high temperatures, such as the CVTF cooler, to ensure normal operation in ambient temperatures between -40°C and 100°C.

[0072] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a mounting bracket for a front UWB anchor point according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 7 (a) shows the state before installation, Figure 7 (b) shows the state after installation. Figure 7 As shown, the UWB anchor 22 and the radar unit 23, which acquires vehicle exterior information, share a bracket 24. Bracket 24, for example, is made of resin and affixed to the inside of the bumper. It includes a first connector 241 for mounting the UWB anchor 22 and a second connector 242 for mounting the radar unit 23. Specifically, the UWB anchors 22a and 22b are secured to the bracket 24 located inside the bumper, adjacent to the radar unit 23 and at least 14 mm from the bumper surface. During installation, the UWB anchors 22a and 22b must be engaged with the first connector 241 of the bracket 24. Therefore, sufficient manual clearance is required, such as the width of the first connector 241 plus at least 20 mm on either side, and a circular area extending 110 mm outward from the rear end of the connector to ensure ease of installation and maintenance.

[0073] That is, in this embodiment, the UWB anchor points 22a and 22b are set at the left and right ends of the inner side of the vehicle front bumper at a moderate height, avoiding the collision area and high-temperature components, and taking into account the operating space.

[0074] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the preferred installation angle range for the front UWB anchor point. Figure 8 As shown, in this embodiment, the front UWB anchor points 22a and 22b are installed in a state where the housing 221 is located at the top and the connector 222 is located at the bottom, and the preferred installation angle is:

[0075] In the front view of the vehicle, the angle between the length direction of the housing 221 and the vertical direction perpendicular to the vehicle chassis (hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction) is between -10° and 10°;

[0076] In a side view of the vehicle, the length direction of the housing 221 deviates from the vertical direction, with the upper end facing the rear of the vehicle and the lower end (i.e., the connector end) facing the front of the vehicle, with an angle of 40°±10°. In other words, the lower end of the connector 222 is tilted between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction toward the front of the vehicle.

[0077] In a top view of the vehicle, the angle between the length direction of the housing 221 and the front-rear direction of the vehicle is between -10° and 10°.

[0078] like Figure 8 As shown in the test results on the right, by adopting the above-mentioned preferred installation angle range, it is possible to ensure that the signals of the UWB anchor points 22a and 22b can more evenly cover the front and side front areas of the vehicle, thereby improving the consistency and accuracy of positioning.

[0079] (Configuration of UWB anchor points outside the rear of the vehicle)

[0080] In this embodiment, the specific configuration of the rear UWB anchor points 22c and 22d outside the vehicle compartment can be:

[0081] Place UWB anchor points 22c and 22d on the inside of the vehicle's rear bumper, near the left and right corners of the rear end, to provide good signal coverage. UWB anchor points 22c and 22d should be at least 14 mm above the bumper surface to prevent direct contact with the bumper by the user. UWB anchor points 22c and 22d should be at least 350 mm above the ground to prevent flooding.

[0082] Figure 9 The following is a schematic diagram of the preferred installation angle range for the rear UWB anchor point. Figure 9 As shown, in this embodiment, the rear UWB anchor points 22c and 22d are installed in a state where the housing 221 is located above and the connector 222 is located below, and the preferred installation angle is:

[0083] In the front (rear) view of the vehicle, the angle between the length direction of the housing 221 and the vertical direction is between -10° and 10°;

[0084] In a side view of the vehicle, the length direction of the housing 221 deviates from the vertical direction, with the upper end facing the rear of the vehicle and the lower end (i.e., the connector end) facing the front of the vehicle, with an angle of 40°±10°. In other words, the lower end of the connector 222 is tilted between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction toward the front of the vehicle.

[0085] In the top view of the vehicle, the angle between the long side of the other end of the shell 221 in the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction of the vehicle is 40°±10°, that is, between 30° and 50°.

[0086] like Figure 9 As shown in the test results on the right, by adopting the above-mentioned preferred installation angle range, it is possible to ensure that the signals of UWB anchor points 22c and 22d can more evenly cover the rear and side rear areas of the vehicle, thereby improving the consistency and accuracy of positioning.

[0087] (Configuration of UWB anchor points in the vehicle)

[0088] In this embodiment, the specific configuration of the UWB anchor points 22e and 22f in the vehicle cabin may be:

[0089] The UWB anchor points 22e and 22f are arranged in the front and rear of the vehicle cabin. The UWB anchor point 22e is arranged in the cabin near the boundary between the front windshield and the ceiling of the vehicle, and the UWB anchor point 22f is arranged at a rear position of the ceiling.

[0090] Figure 10Schematic diagram of the preferred installation range of UWB anchor points in the vehicle. Figure 10 As shown, in this embodiment, the preferred installation range of the rear UWB anchor points 22e and 22f is:

[0091] In a top view of the vehicle, UWB anchor point 22e is positioned with its length roughly parallel to the vehicle ceiling, housing 221 facing roughly forward, and connector 22 facing roughly rearward. The length of housing 221 of UWB anchor point 22e deviates from the dashed-dotted line 0B (the vehicle's centerline, which can represent the vehicle's longitudinal direction) toward the side of the vehicle (where more metal shielding or vehicle pillars are present), with an angle of 30°±10°. UWB anchor point 22f is positioned roughly parallel to the vehicle ceiling, with housing 221 facing roughly rearward, and connector 222 facing roughly forward. The length of housing 221 of UWB anchor point 22f is preferably offset by 30° from the vehicle's longitudinal direction, though the length of housing 221 of UWB anchor point 22f may also be offset by 90°. By offsetting UWB anchor points 22e and 22f from the 0B line in this manner, the direction of strong signals can be directed toward these areas, thereby improving signal coverage and communication quality.

[0092] In the lateral direction of the vehicle, UWB anchor points 22e and 22f are arranged within ±150mm on both sides of the 0B line to ensure that smartphones on both sides can communicate effectively with it. The UWB anchor points should be as close to the center of the vehicle as possible to achieve better signal coverage.

[0093] In the vehicle's height direction, UWB anchor points 22e and 22f should be located near the top edge of the windows to ensure communication with smartphones inside and outside the vehicle. In particular, UWB anchor point 22e at the front of the vehicle should be located below the front roof rail to better communicate with the front (exterior) of the vehicle.

[0094] By distributing two UWB anchor points 22e and 22f (or more UWB anchor points) along the front-to-back direction inside the vehicle cabin as described above, full coverage of the vehicle cabin can be achieved. This ensures that any location inside the vehicle cabin can effectively communicate with the UWB anchor points, thereby improving positioning accuracy and reliability. In addition, placing the UWB anchor points 22e and 22f near the top of the glass inside the vehicle cabin can help the signal penetrate the glass and reduce signal obstruction by other objects inside the vehicle, thereby improving signal propagation efficiency and enabling communication with devices such as smartphones outside the vehicle. This is very beneficial for achieving seamless connection and interaction between the vehicle and external devices.

[0095] (Trunk anchor point)

[0096] In this embodiment, a UWB anchor point 22g can be set at the trunk as needed to realize the function of using the vehicle for shared logistics.

[0097] In shared logistics applications, smartphones establish a secure connection with vehicles via UWB technology, acting as virtual keys. Vehicle owners can authorize different users to use their smartphones as vehicle keys within specific time periods. This allows different users to independently open the trunk to retrieve or store items during their authorized time periods. The system can set permissions and restrictions to ensure that only authorized users can open the trunk. Furthermore, the system records the time, location, and user information of each trunk opening, enabling monitoring and management by the vehicle owner or manager.

[0098] The trunk is usually a closed space. By setting a dedicated UWB anchor point 22g in the trunk, the signal can be evenly covered in the entire trunk area, avoiding inaccurate positioning due to signal blocking or attenuation. Combined with the high-precision positioning function of UWB, the system can accurately determine the location of the user and the vehicle, ensuring that the trunk can only be opened when the user is close to the vehicle, thereby improving safety and enabling the opening of the trunk to be controlled solely by a smartphone, providing convenience and security for vehicle sharing and intelligent management.

[0099] The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments and can be appropriately modified and improved. For example, in the above embodiment, four external vehicle anchor points (UWB anchor points 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d), two internal vehicle anchor points (UWB anchor points 22e, 22f), and one trunk anchor point (UWB anchor point 22g) are illustrated, but this is not limited to this. The number of UWB anchor points can be flexibly increased or decreased as needed. For example, additional anchor points can be added to the four corners or top center of the vehicle. Depending on the size and shape of the vehicle, the number of internal vehicle anchor points can be increased to improve the accuracy and coverage of in-vehicle positioning. Depending on the vehicle's usage environment and common parking postures, the external vehicle anchor points can also be offset to the front or rear of the vehicle.

[0100] In the aforementioned embodiments, a scenario in which a UWB anchor point is used to implement a car key using UWB technology is described, but the invention is not limited to this. Bluetooth technology can also be combined to fully utilize the respective advantages of both, and dynamically switch between Bluetooth and UWB modes according to the relative distance between the user and the vehicle to achieve a more comprehensive vehicle control and positioning solution. Specifically, Bluetooth technology performs well in long-distance communication, especially Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, which can achieve stable communication within a range of tens of meters. Therefore, Bluetooth technology can be used to perform preliminary identity authentication and vehicle wake-up when the user approaches the vehicle, preparing for subsequent UWB precise positioning and control. UWB technology provides millimeter-level positioning accuracy within a short distance, which is very suitable for precise positioning inside and around the vehicle. For example, when the user approaches the vehicle at a certain distance, the system can switch to UWB mode and use the UWB anchor point for more accurate distance measurement and positioning, thereby realizing keyless entry, start and other location-based control functions. This can achieve a more flexible, efficient and accurate vehicle control and positioning system to meet the needs of different scenarios.

[0101] Furthermore, the present invention includes at least the following matters, wherein the components or the like corresponding to those in the above-mentioned embodiments are shown in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0102] <Scheme 1>

[0103] A vehicle-mounted device (vehicle-mounted device 2), mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

[0104] a plurality of antennas configured to receive ultra-wideband (UWB) signals (UWB anchor points 22);

[0105] The plurality of antennas are disposed at at least two of the positions selected from the group consisting of a front position, a position near the center, and a rear position of the vehicle;

[0106] The plurality of antennas are located below a ceiling of the vehicle and above a center of a wheel axle of the vehicle in a vertical direction perpendicular to a chassis of the vehicle.

[0107] By employing the vehicle-mounted device described in Solution 1, antennas are positioned at at least two locations: the front, near the center, and rear of the vehicle. This maximizes signal coverage, ensuring that mobile devices 3 outside the vehicle can receive signals from at least two anchor points, thereby improving positioning reliability. Furthermore, the antennas are positioned below the vehicle's ceiling and above the center of the vehicle's wheel axles, perpendicular to the vehicle's chassis. This prevents water from submerging the antennas and potentially damaging their internal components.

[0108] <Scheme 2>

[0109] In the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, each of the plurality of antennas includes a housing (housing 221) and a connector (connector 222) extending in the longitudinal direction from one end of the housing.

[0110] The plurality of antennas include a pair of front antennas (UWB anchor points 22a and 22b).

[0111] The pair of front antennas are located at left and right ends of the vehicle, further inward than a bumper surface constituting an outer surface of the front portion of the vehicle and at a distance of at least 14 mm from the bumper surface;

[0112] The pair of front antennas are installed on the vehicle with the shell located above and the connector located below, and: in the front view of the vehicle, the angle between the longitudinal direction of the shell and the vertical direction is between -10° and 10°, in the side view of the vehicle, the connector is inclined between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction to the front of the vehicle, and in the top view of the vehicle, the angle between the long side of the other end of the longitudinal direction of the shell and the front-rear direction of the vehicle is between -10° and 10°.

[0113] By adopting the vehicle-mounted device described in Option 2, the left and right ends of a pair of antennas are mounted further inboard of the bumper surface, avoiding collision zones and high-temperature components while also allowing for adequate operating space. Furthermore, the bumper is typically located at the edge of the vehicle, away from the vehicle's metal body. Placing the antennas on the inside of the bumper, at least 14 mm from the bumper surface, reduces signal obstruction and reflection from the metal structure, thereby reducing multipath effects and signal attenuation. Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device in Option 2 optimizes signal propagation direction and reception conditions by adjusting the antenna's tilt angle, ensuring better signal propagation in different directions of the vehicle, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

[0114] <Scheme 3>

[0115] In the vehicle-mounted device described in Option 2, the pair of front antennas share a bracket with a radar unit that obtains vehicle exterior information, and are fixed to a plastic component provided further inward than the bumper surface while being adjacent to the radar unit.

[0116] By adopting the vehicle-mounted device described in Solution 3, the UWB antenna and the radar unit share a bracket, which enables the sharing of the mounting bracket and reduces the number of parts.

[0117] <Scheme 4>

[0118] In the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 2, the plurality of antennas include a pair of rear antennas (UWB anchor points 22c, 22d), the pair of rear antennas being arranged at left and right ends of the rear of the vehicle.

[0119] The pair of rear antennas are installed on the vehicle with the shell located above and the connector located below, and: in the front view of the vehicle, the angle between the longitudinal direction of the shell and the vertical direction is between -10° and 10°, in the side view of the vehicle, the connector is inclined between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction to the front of the vehicle, and in the top view of the vehicle, the long sides of the other end of the longitudinal direction of the shell approach each other at an angle of between 30° and 50° with the front-to-back direction.

[0120] By adopting the vehicle-mounted device described in Solution 4, it is possible to ensure that the signals of a pair of rear antennas can more evenly cover the rear and side rear areas of the vehicle, thereby improving the consistency and accuracy of positioning.

[0121] <Scheme 5>

[0122] In the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, the plurality of antennas include at least two center antennas (UWB anchor points 22e, 22f) that are spaced apart from each other in the front and rear directions within the vehicle cabin.

[0123] By adopting the vehicle-mounted device described in Solution 5, full coverage of the vehicle compartment can be achieved, ensuring that any location in the vehicle compartment can effectively communicate with the antenna, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of positioning.

[0124] <Scheme 6>

[0125] In the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, at least one of the central antennas is arranged in the vehicle cabin near a boundary between a front windshield and a ceiling of the vehicle.

[0126] By adopting the vehicle-mounted device described in Solution 6 and configuring the antenna near the area between the vehicle's front windshield and ceiling, the UWB signal can be helped to penetrate the glass, and the obstruction of the signal by other objects in the vehicle can be reduced, thereby improving the signal propagation efficiency, thereby enabling communication with devices such as smartphones outside the vehicle. This is very beneficial for achieving seamless connection and interaction between the vehicle and external devices.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted device, mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of antennas configured to receive ultra-wideband signals; The plurality of antennas are disposed at at least two of the positions selected from the group consisting of a front position, a position near the center, and a rear position of the vehicle; The plurality of antennas are located below a ceiling of the vehicle and above a center of a wheel axle of the vehicle in a vertical direction perpendicular to a chassis of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein Each of the plurality of antennas has a housing and a connector extending from one end of the housing in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of antennas include a pair of front antennas, The pair of front antennas are located at left and right ends of the vehicle, further inward than a bumper surface constituting an outer surface of the front portion of the vehicle and at a distance of at least 14 mm from the bumper surface; The pair of front antennas are installed on the vehicle with the shell located above and the connector located below, and: in the front view of the vehicle, the angle between the longitudinal direction of the shell and the vertical direction is between -10° and 10°, in the side view of the vehicle, the connector is inclined between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction to the front of the vehicle, and in the top view of the vehicle, the angle between the long side of the other end of the longitudinal direction of the shell and the front-rear direction of the vehicle is between -10° and 10°.

3. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 2, wherein: The pair of front antennas share a bracket with a radar unit that acquires vehicle exterior information, and are fixed to a plastic member provided on the inner side of the bumper surface in a state adjacent to the radar unit.

4. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 2, wherein: The plurality of antennas include a pair of rear antennas, the pair of rear antennas being arranged at left and right ends of the rear of the vehicle. The pair of rear antennas are installed on the vehicle with the shell located above and the connector located below, and: in the front view of the vehicle, the angle between the longitudinal direction of the shell and the vertical direction is between -10° and 10°, in the side view of the vehicle, the connector is inclined between 30° and 50° from the vertical direction to the front of the vehicle, and in the top view of the vehicle, the long sides of the other end of the longitudinal direction of the shell approach each other at an angle of between 30° and 50° with the front-to-back direction.

5. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein The plurality of antennas include at least two central antennas that are disposed spaced apart from each other frontally and rearwardly within a cabin of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 5, wherein: At least one of the central antennas is disposed in the vehicle cabin near a boundary between a front windshield and a ceiling of the vehicle.

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