Transmission / reception module for vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a transmit / receive module (1) of a vehicle, comprising a transmit / receive unit (2) for radio frequency signals, an amplifier unit (4) connected downstream of the transmit / receive unit (2) by a cable connection (3), and at least one antenna (5) for relaying radio frequency transmit signals and receiving radio frequency receive signals. According to the invention, the amplifier unit (4) is in the form of a second control loop (7) of the transmit / receive module (in addition to a known control loop) and, for this purpose, comprises a variable amplifier (8) as a control element of the second control loop (7) for adjusting the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal relayed by the at least one antenna (5), the output power is used as a controlled variable of the second control loop (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle transmitter / receiver module. Background Technology

[0002] In vehicles, telematics is increasingly being used to control certain vehicle functions. For example, telematics connects vehicles to the cloud, to emergency centers in the event of an accident, or to traffic management systems to control traffic flow.

[0003] For these applications, radio frequency (RF) signals are typically used for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. For this purpose, at least one antenna of the vehicle's transmitter / receiver module relays the RF transmitted signal as a transmit message, and / or at least one antenna of the vehicle's transmitter / receiver module receives the RF received signal as a receive message. To ensure sufficient transmit power for the RF transmitted signal relayed by at least one antenna of the vehicle's transmitter / receiver module, and specifically to compensate for attenuation losses due to cable connections within the transmitter / receiver module, the RF transmitted signal generated by the transmitter / receiver unit of the transmitter / receiver module is typically amplified by the amplifier unit of the transmitter / receiver module before being relayed.

[0004] In this regard, US 2012 / 0177095 A1 discloses a method in which orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (i.e., a modulation method using multiple orthogonal carrier frequencies for digital data transmission) aims to reduce interference from adjacent receiving channels during the signal acquisition phase in certain receiving channels. This is achieved by selecting the RF gain based on the total energy formed by the sum of the received energy in each receiving channel. Specifically, when signal reception is detected in a receiving channel, the RF gain is also appropriately adjusted to largely suppress interference to adjacent receiving channels. Utility Model Content

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle transmitter / receiver module that enables easy and improved selection of the power level at the output of the transmitter / receiver module.

[0006] This objective is achieved through the vehicle's transmitter / receiver module and the vehicle itself.

[0007] Advantageous developments of the invention are covered by other embodiments.

[0008] According to the present invention, a vehicle transmitter / receiver module is provided, comprising a transmitter / receiver unit for radio frequency (RF) signals, an amplifier unit connected downstream of the transmitter / receiver unit via a cable connector, and at least one antenna for relaying RF transmitted signals and receiving RF received signals. The amplifier unit is characterized in that it takes the form of a second control loop of the transmitter / receiver module, having a variable amplifier as a control element of the second control loop for adjusting the output power of the RF transmitted signals relayed by the at least one antenna, the output power being intended as a controlled variable of the second control loop. The “first control loop” may be derived from solutions known per se, or may be a variation of the “first control loop” described later. The RF signals, i.e., RF transmitted and RF received signals, typically involve a frequency range between 100 kHz and 300 GHz, and are specifically used for long-distance transmission power and / or information.

[0009] In an advantageous development of the invention, the variable amplifier of the amplifier unit takes the form of an attenuation selector with variable power attenuation and a power amplifier with constant power gain, which interacts with the attenuation selector. Specifically, in this case, the power amplifier with constant power gain is connected downstream of the attenuation selector with variable power attenuation.

[0010] In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one antenna for relaying radio frequency (RF) transmitted signals is integrated into an amplifier unit and, in this case, arranged at the amplifier output of the amplifier unit. A specific power level of the output power of the RF transmitted signal is applied to at least one antenna at the amplifier output of the amplifier unit.

[0011] In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one antenna for relaying radio frequency (RF) transmitted signals is connected to the amplifier output of an amplifier unit via a (short) cable connector, and is therefore arranged separately from the amplifier unit. Here, a specific power level of the output power of the RF transmitted signal is applied to the at least one antenna via the (short) cable connector.

[0012] During the initialization phase of the transmit / receive module, after the transmit / receive module is powered on, the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, adjusts the output power level of the radio frequency signal to a predetermined power level. In other words, the control performed by the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, takes effect during the initialization phase of the transmit / receive module after it is powered on.

[0013] Preferably, the amplifier unit, serving as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, adjusts the output power level of the radio frequency transmit signal to a predetermined power level based on signal attenuation, which depends on the cable length of the cable connector between the transmit / receive unit and the amplifier unit. Specifically, the output power level of the radio frequency transmit signal is adjusted based on the minimum possible signal attenuation, which depends on the cable length of the cable connector between the transmit / receive unit and the amplifier unit.

[0014] Following the initialization phase of the transmit / receive module, during its operation phase, the amplifier unit, acting as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, adjusts the output power of the RF transmit signal to a defined power level only within a specific control window. Outside this control window, the amplifier unit, acting as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, does not adjust the output power or power level of the RF transmit signal. In other words, the control performed by the amplifier unit, acting as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, ceases to function outside this control window.

[0015] Within the control window of the output power of the radio frequency (RF) transmitted signal, the controlled variable "output power of the RF transmitted signal" can be adjusted to a defined power level in different ways based on the control difference of the output power of the RF transmitted signal. In other words, different step sizes are applied to the controller of the second control loop to compensate for the control difference, based on the control difference between the target value and the actual value of the output power of the RF transmitted signal or its power level.

[0016] Outside the control window for the output power of the RF transmit signal, during the operation phase of the transmit / receive module, the transmit / receive unit, which serves as the first control loop of the transmit / receive module, adjusts the output power of the RF transmit signal to a defined power level. In this case, the first control loop of the transmit / receive module (connected upstream of the second control loop of the transmit / receive module) also independently determines the power level of the RF transmit signal output at the amplifier output of the transmit / receive module.

[0017] Therefore, the transmit / receive module includes two control loops that regulate the output power of the radio frequency (RF) transmitted signal relayed by at least one antenna of the transmit / receive module to a desired power level. The transmit / receive unit, serving as the first control loop of the transmit / receive module, regulates the output power independently of the downstream amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop. The amplifier unit, serving as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, is unaware of the output power to be regulated by the first control loop; the maximum permissible power level of the RF transmitted signal's output power is used as a target value and thus as an input variable for the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module.

[0018] As described above, the control difference formed in the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, exists only within a specific control window around the controlled variable that is the target value, and therefore only within a specific control window around the maximum possible or maximum permissible power level of the RF transmit signal output power. For example, the control window for this controlled variable is 4 dB, therefore the second control loop of the transmit / receive module only uses the output power of the RF transmit signal, which is the controlled variable, within a range of at most +2 dB or -2 dB away from the target value. Outside this control window, the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module, does not adjust the output power of the RF transmit signal.

[0019] As described above, within the control window, the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal, which is a controlled variable, can be adjusted in different ways according to the control difference in the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module. Specifically, based on the control difference between the actual value and the target value of the controlled variable, different step sizes for changing the controlled variable can be applied to the controller of the amplifier unit, which serves as the second control loop of the transmit / receive module.

[0020] The present invention also includes combinations of features of the described embodiments.

[0021] Advantageously, the vehicle's transmit / receive module of the present invention relates to setting the power level of the output power of a radio frequency transmit signal relayed by at least one antenna to a maximum possible value within a wide range. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this regard,

[0023] Figure 1 A block diagram of a system component including a transmit / receive module is shown; and

[0024] Figure 2 An alternative block diagram of a transmit / receive module with control components including a transmit / receive module is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In these exemplary embodiments, each of the components described constitutes a separate feature of the present invention, which should be considered independently of each other, and each is also independently developed in relation to the present invention and therefore should be considered individually or in combinations other than those shown as part of the present invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments may be supplemented by other features of the present invention already described.

[0026] In the accompanying drawings, elements with the same function are each given the same reference numerals.

[0027] according to Figure 1 The vehicle's transmit / receive module 1 includes: a transmit / receive unit 2, commonly referred to as a telematics control unit (TCU), serving as a first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1; an amplifier unit 4, connected downstream of the transmit / receive unit 2 and also commonly referred to as a compensator unit, serving as a second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1; and a cable connector 3, formed in the vehicle and between the transmit / receive unit 2 and the amplifier unit 4. Depending on the location of the transmit / receive unit 2 and the amplifier unit 4 in the vehicle, the cable connector 3 may have different cable lengths, and therefore, depending on cable attenuation, also cause different signal attenuations in the radio frequency transmitted signals relayed by the vehicle's transmit / receive module 1.

[0028] In order to generate and receive the radio frequency signal of the transmit / receive module 1, and specifically in order to adjust the power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal relayed by the transmit / receive module 1, as based on Figure 1 The first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1 includes the following circuit components, for example:

[0029] Transceiver 12, as an integrated circuit (IC) (transmitter and receiver), is used to transmit and receive V2X messages in the context of V2X communication (vehicle-to-everything communication).

[0030] Attenuation selector 13 is used to change or adjust the output power of transceiver 12.

[0031] Power amplifier 14, connected downstream of attenuation selector 13, amplifies the transmitted V2X message.

[0032] Coupler 15, connected downstream of power amplifier 14, is used to decouple a small amount of transmit power.

[0033] Level detector 16 converts the transmission power of the radio frequency signal into a voltage value.

[0034] The controller 17 has multiple functions, such as measuring the voltage value of the level detector 16, changing the gain, establishing communication with the amplifier unit 4, and switching between the transmit and receive modes of the transmit / receive unit 2, thereby switching between the transmit and receive modes of the transmit / receive module 1.

[0035] Switch 18 is used to switch between the transmit mode and receive mode of the transmit / receive unit 2, thereby switching between the transmit mode and receive mode of the transmit / receive module 1.

[0036] Filter 19 is used to combine V2X messages of various frequencies on a common line.

[0037] Voltage regulator 20 is used to provide power to transmitter / receiver unit 2.

[0038] Filter 21 is used to filter received V2X messages within a specific frequency range.

[0039] And a low-noise amplifier 22, which is connected upstream of transceiver 12, for amplifying the received V2X message.

[0040] In order to amplify the radio frequency (RF) transmitted signal relayed by the transmitter / receiver module 1, and specifically, to adjust the output power level of the RF transmitted signal relayed by the transmitter / receiver module 1 within a specific level range of the output power level of the RF transmitted signal relayed by the transmitter / receiver module 1, as based on Figure 1 The amplifier unit 2 of the second control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1 includes the following circuit components, for example:

[0041] Filter 30 further divides the frequencies of the V2X messages that have already been combined by filter 19 on the common line into individual frequencies.

[0042] Voltage regulator 23 is used to provide power to amplifier unit 4.

[0043] Two switches 24 are used to switch between the transmit and receive modes of amplifier unit 4, thereby switching between the transmit and receive modes of transmit / receive module 1.

[0044] Variable amplifier 8 is used to change the output power of transmit / receive module 1, thereby changing the power level of the output signal of transmit / receive module 1. For this purpose, variable amplifier 8 consists of attenuation selector 9 with variable power attenuation and power amplifier 10 with constant power gain, which is connected downstream of attenuation selector 9 to amplify the transmitted V2X message.

[0045] Coupler 25, connected downstream of power amplifier 10, decouples a small amount of transmit power.

[0046] Level detector 26 converts the transmission power of the radio frequency transmission signal into a voltage value.

[0047] The controller 27 has multiple functions, such as measuring the voltage value of the level detector 26, changing the gain, establishing communication with the transmit / receive unit 2, and switching between the transmit and receive modes of the amplifier unit 4, thereby switching between the transmit and receive modes of the transmit / receive module 1.

[0048] Antenna 5 is used to relay the radio frequency transmission signal of V2X messages at a specific transmission frequency.

[0049] Filter 28 is used to filter received V2X messages within a specific frequency range.

[0050] And a low-noise amplifier 29, which amplifies the received V2X message.

[0051] Figure 2 The necessary components and parts of the two control loops 6 and 7 are schematically shown. The first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1 is formed by the transmit / receive unit 2, and the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 is formed by the amplifier unit 4.

[0052] During normal operation of the transmit / receive module 1, the desired output power of the transmit / receive unit 2 of the transmit / receive module 1 is, for example, a (maximum permissible) power level of 23 dBm. This power level should also be achievable under different operating conditions of the transmit / receive module 1 and under different interference effects on the transmit / receive module 1. This is achieved by using an amplifier unit 4 as a compensator, the function of which causes this maximum power level (e.g., 23 dBm) to also appear at the amplifier output of the amplifier unit 4, and thus at the antenna 5 of the transmit / receive module 1.

[0053] In other words, the two control loops 6 and 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 react independently to each other. Specifically, the control performed by the transmit / receive unit 2, which is the first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1, is autonomous, and the control performed by the amplifier unit 4, which is the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1, is designed to compensate for interference variables (such as cable attenuation of the cable connector 3) or temperature effects (specifically, such as the effect of temperature on the gain of power amplifiers 14 and 10).

[0054] The controlled variables of the two control loops 6 and 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 are the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal relayed by the antenna 5 of the transmit / receive module 1, so that the power level of the radio frequency transmit signal is intended to be adjusted to a desired power level (e.g., 23 dBm).

[0055] The transmit / receive unit 2, which is the first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1, adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal by providing a specific power attenuation or gain as a manipulated variable to the first controlled system (power amplifier 14) through a control element (attenuation selector 13). Depending on a specific interference variable (specifically, temperature) affecting the power gain of the power amplifier 14, the controlled variable affected by this power gain is provided at the output of the first controlled system to a measuring element (level detector 16), and the measuring element (level detector 16) determines the (instantaneous) actual value of the controlled variable "output power or power level of output power". Based on a comparison between the actual value of the controlled variable "output power or power level of output power" and a predetermined target value of the controlled variable "output power or power level of output power", the difference between the target value and the actual value is provided as a control difference to the controller (controller 17). Thus, the controller determines an updated control variable for the control element (attenuation selector 13), thereby applying a new attenuation value of power attenuation to the attenuation selector 13, which is the control element.

[0056] Furthermore, the first control loop 6 of the transmit / receive module 1, and specifically the first controlled system of the first control loop 6, is connected via a second controlled system to the amplifier unit 4, which serves as the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1. This second controlled system is specifically formed by different cable attenuations of the cable connector 3 located between the transmit / receive unit 2 and the amplifier unit 4 of the transmit / receive module 1.

[0057] The control in amplifier unit 4, which serves as the second control loop 7 of transmitter / receiver module 1, operates in a manner similar to the control described in transmitter / receiver unit 2, which serves as the first control loop 6 of transmitter / receiver module 1.

[0058] Applicable components of the amplifier unit 4, which serves as the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1, include an attenuation selector 9 as a control element, a power amplifier 10 as a third controlled system, a level detector 26 as a measurement element, and a controller 27 as a controller.

[0059] The amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 uses the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal or the power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal as the controlled variable. As described above, the power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal is, for example, at most 23 dBm. Therefore, the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to the value of 23 dBm. For this purpose, the power level of the output power is measured at the output of the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 and thus determined as the actual value of the controlled variable. The power level of the output power may vary depending on the cable attenuation of the connection cable 3 and depending on the temperature. Specifically, the temperature changes the gain of the power amplifier 10, thus significantly changing the power level of the output power.

[0060] This control by the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 is specifically carried out during the initialization phase of the transmit / receive module 1 after the transmit / receive module 1 is switched on. First, the gain factor (gain) of the variable amplifier 8 is selected such that the predetermined minimum cable attenuation of the cable connection 3 is compensated. If the minimum cable attenuation of the cable connection 3 is, for example, 5 dBm, then by appropriately changing the attenuation factor of the attenuation selector 9, the gain factor (gain) of the variable amplifier 8 is also (firstly) set to 5 dBm.

[0061] During the operation phase of the transmit / receive module 1 after the initialization phase of the transmit / receive module 1, this control of the power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal is adjusted by the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmit / receive module 1 only in a specific control window (X < R < Y) around the maximum allowable power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal (e.g., 23 dBm), for example, in a control window between 21 dBm (X) and 25 dBm (Y).

[0062] Within the control window (X < R < Y), the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmitting / receiving module 1 can specifically perform different regulations according to the control difference between the actual value and the target value of the power level of the output power as the controlled variable. Specifically, according to this control difference, different step sizes when changing the controlled variable can be applied to the controller 27 of the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmitting / receiving module 1. For example, when the control difference between the actual value of the controlled variable and the target value of the controlled variable is between -2 dBm and -0.25 dBm, a step size of 0.25 dB is applied to the controller 27 of the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 4 of the transmitting / receiving module 1, so that the controller is slowly regulated, while a control difference greater than +1 dB between the actual value of the controlled variable and the target value of the controlled variable causes the controller 27 of the amplifier unit 4 of the second control loop 7 of the transmitting / receiving module 1 to be rapidly regulated.

[0063] Outside the control window (X < R < Y), the control of the output power of the radio frequency transmission signal is only carried out by the transmitting / receiving unit 2 of the first control loop 6 of the transmitting / receiving module 1. Therefore, the power level of the output power of the radio frequency transmission signal can also adopt a value other than 23 dBm.

[0064] List of reference numerals

[0065] 1 Transmitting / receiving module

[0066] 2 Transmitting / receiving unit

[0067] 3 Cable connector

[0068] 4 Amplifier unit

[0069] 5 Antenna

[0070] 6 Amplifier unit control loop

[0071] 7 Amplifier unit control loop

[0072] 8 Variable amplifier

[0073] 9 Attenuation selector

[0074] 10 Power amplifier

[0075] 11 Amplifier output of the amplifier unit

[0076] 12 Transceiver

[0077] 13 Attenuation selector

[0078] 14 Power amplifier

[0079] 15 Coupler

[0080] 16-level detector

[0081] 17 Controller

[0082] 18 switches

[0083] 19 Filters

[0084] 20 Voltage Regulator

[0085] 21 Filter

[0086] 22 Amplifier

[0087] 23 Voltage Regulator

[0088] 24 Switches

[0089] 25 Coupler

[0090] 26 Level Detectors

[0091] 27 Controller

[0092] 28 Filters

[0093] 29 Amplifier

[0094] 30 Filter.

Claims

1. A vehicle transmitter / receiver module (1), the transmitter / receiver module (1) comprising a transmitter / receiver unit (2) for radio frequency signals, having an amplifier unit (4) connected downstream of the transmitter / receiver unit (2) via a cable connector (3), and having at least one antenna (5) for relaying radio frequency transmitted signals and receiving radio frequency received signals, characterized in that, The amplifier unit (4) takes the form of a second control loop (7) of the transmit / receive module (1), which has a variable amplifier (8) as the control element of the second control loop (7) for adjusting the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal relayed by the at least one antenna (5), the output power being intended as a controlled variable of the second control loop (7).

2. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable amplifier (8) of the amplifier unit (4) is in the form of an attenuation selector (9) with variable power attenuation and a power amplifier (10) with constant power gain, the power amplifier interacting with the attenuation selector (9).

3. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one antenna (5) for relaying radio frequency transmit signals is arranged at the amplifier output (11) of the amplifier unit (4) in a manner integrated into the amplifier unit (4).

4. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one antenna (5) for relaying radio frequency transmit signals is connected to the amplifier output (11) of the amplifier unit (4) via a cable connector.

5. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein during the initialization phase, after the transmit / receive module (1) is turned on, the amplifier unit (4) of the second control loop (7) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to a defined power level.

6. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein during the initialization phase, the amplifier unit (4) of the second control loop (7) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to a defined power level based on signal attenuation, the signal attenuation depending on the cable length of the cable connector (3) between the transmit / receive unit (2) and the amplifier unit (4).

7. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein during the initialization phase, the amplifier unit (4) serving as the second control loop (7) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to a defined power level based on the minimum possible signal attenuation, the minimum possible signal attenuation depending on the cable length of the cable connector (3) between the transmit / receive unit (2) and the amplifier unit (4).

8. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein during the operation phase of the transmit / receive module (1) after the initialization phase, the amplifier unit (4) of the second control loop (7) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to a defined power level only within a specific control window of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal.

9. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein within the control window of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal, the amplifier unit (4) serving as the second control loop (7) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal in different ways according to the control difference of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal.

10. The transmit / receive module (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein outside the control window, the transmit / receive unit (2) connected to the first control loop (6) upstream of the second control loop (7) of the transmit / receive module (1) adjusts the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal to a defined power level during the operation phase of the transmit / receive module (1) in the case of the output power of the radio frequency transmit signal.

11. A vehicle having at least one transmit / receive module (1) as described in any one of the preceding claims.

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