Communication device

Abstract

In a communication device with a first hollow waveguide (1; 101) having a slot (4; 104) extending in its longitudinal direction, and with a stationary coupling device (5; 105) for coupling a microwave signal into and out of the first hollow waveguide (1; 101), the coupling device (5; 105) has a second hollow waveguide (6; 106) which is connected to the first hollow waveguide (1; 101) on one side without a slot.The coupling device (5; 105) has at least one stationary antenna (11; 111A, 111B) which is arranged projecting into the cavity (7; 107) of the second hollow waveguide (6; 106), and it has at least one opening (13; 113A, 113B) connecting the cavities (3; 103, 7; 107) of the two hollow waveguides (1; 101, 6; 106) and which allows electromagnetic waves propagating in one of the two hollow waveguides (1; 101, 6; 106) to pass into the other hollow waveguide (6; 106, 1; 101).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a communication device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a conductor rail system according to the preamble of claim 11.

[0002] Such a communication device is known from DE 10 2011 108 584 A1. It enables communication with high bandwidth and interference immunity between a vehicle guided by one or more rails on a predetermined path of movement and a stationary station via a waveguide extending along the path of movement of the vehicle. An antenna is arranged on a vehicle in such a way that it projects through a slot running in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide into the cavity of the waveguide and can receive and / or emit electromagnetic waves that propagate along the waveguide while the vehicle is moving. An antenna of a stationary station, which is also suitable for receiving and emitting electromagnetic waves, is attached to the waveguide in such a way that it also projects into its cavity in order to transmit a microwave signal into or out of the waveguide.to couple in and out of the waveguide, but not through the slot.

[0003] Fixed antennas are also required at expansion joints, i.e., at short gaps between longitudinally arranged waveguides. Such expansion joints must be provided for long transmission links consisting of several consecutive waveguides due to the unavoidable thermal expansion. In each of two waveguides separated by an expansion joint, one of two fixed antennas is located near the expansion joint, connected by a coaxial cable, to transmit signals across the expansion joint from one waveguide to the other.

[0004] If the waves radiated into a waveguide by a stationary antenna are to propagate only in one desired direction and not in both directions, which is particularly necessary when such an antenna is arranged close to an open end of the waveguide, it must be combined with a reflector that largely prevents propagation in the undesired direction, i.e. out of the waveguide. Typically, a so-called comb reflector is used for this purpose. This is a piece of sheet metal with slots like a comb, or a circuit board with conductive strips, which extends inside the waveguide next to an antenna projecting into the waveguide and from the antenna in the undesired direction of propagation. The use of such a comb reflector is also described in the document cited above.

[0005] A fixed antenna must be positioned laterally offset from the slot in a slotted waveguide so that it can be passed by a vehicle antenna extending through the slot into the waveguide. The usual laterally centered arrangement of the slot therefore requires a laterally off-center, i.e., asymmetrical, arrangement of a fixed antenna within the waveguide cavity, which is not optimal for its radiation and reception characteristics. A symmetrical fixed antenna configuration can be achieved by using two antennas arranged symmetrically to the center of the waveguide's cross-section, as shown in DE 10 2009 052871 A1. In this case, a splitter / combiner is required as an additional component for the connection between the two antennas and a stationary transmitting and receiving device.With such an antenna arrangement, two comb reflectors are required to allow wave propagation only in one desired direction.

[0006] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide an advantageous new solution for feeding and / or coupling a microwave signal into or out of a slotted waveguide by means of a stationary antenna.

[0007] The invention solves this problem by a communication device having the features of claim 1 and by a conductor rail system having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, in a communication device with a first waveguide which has a first cavity surrounded by an electrically conductive wall, wherein the wall has on one side a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide, which slot enables a movement of an antenna projecting into the first cavity along the waveguide, and with a stationary coupling device for coupling and decoupling a microwave signal into or out of the first waveguide.from the first waveguide, that the coupling device has a second waveguide with a second cavity which is connected to the first waveguide on one side without a slot, that the coupling device has at least one stationary antenna which is arranged on the second waveguide so as to project into the second cavity, and that the coupling device has at least one opening which connects the two cavities to one another and which enables the passage of electromagnetic waves propagating in one of the two waveguides into the respective other waveguide.

[0009] This eliminates the need to consider the possibility of a vehicle antenna projecting through the slot in the first waveguide when arranging a stationary antenna. The antenna can also be mounted or dismounted away from the first waveguide. The second waveguide can be attached to the outside of the first waveguide, and the necessary intervention in the first waveguide for coupling and decoupling microwave signals is limited to creating at least one opening.

[0010] The length of the second waveguide is significantly shorter than the length of the first waveguide, preferably at least by a factor of 10, resulting in compact dimensions for the coupling device. For the coupling device to function properly, it is sufficient if the length of the second waveguide is on the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for which the first waveguide is designed. While a longer than necessary length of the second waveguide would not jeopardize the functionality of the coupling device, from the point of view of material expenditure, the shortest possible length for the second waveguide, i.e., a length on the order of magnitude of said wavelength, is expedient.

[0011] Preferably, the second waveguide is closed at both of its longitudinal ends, which prevents unwanted radiation of microwave power into the environment without the use of comb reflectors. However, the ends of the first waveguide cannot be closed at least both times, as this would make it impossible to install a vehicle-mounted antenna at one of its ends.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the second waveguide has a first straight section in its longitudinal direction, parallel to the first waveguide, which at least one of its two ends transitions into an arcuate section, which at its end transitions into another straight section. A stationary antenna is arranged on the further straight section. This provides additional degrees of freedom for the arrangement and orientation of the connector, to which a cable for connecting the antenna to a transmitting and / or receiving device can be connected, thus enabling a compact design of the coupling device.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one stationary antenna extends into the second cavity from the side of the second waveguide opposite the opening, or from the side of the second waveguide where the opening is located. This orientation of the antenna is advantageous for coupling a microwave signal into the second waveguide and for transmitting it to the first waveguide, as this results in a matching polarization with the microwave signal coupled into the first cavity by an antenna extending through the slot.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the second waveguide has a straight shape, and the longitudinal directions of the two waveguides are parallel to each other, which makes it possible for the two waveguides to share a common wall. In this case, the second waveguide can be easily manufactured by attaching a U-shaped extruded profile to one side of the first waveguide.

[0015] If no directional selectivity of the coupling and decoupling of microwave signals with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide is required, it is sufficient to provide only one stationary antenna and one opening.

[0016] If directional selectivity for the coupling and decoupling of microwave signals with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide is desired, this can be achieved in a simple manner by providing two openings connecting the two cavities, the centers of which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the two waveguides by a distance equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for which the first waveguide is designed, and by arranging an antenna between one of the openings and the end of the second waveguide closest to this opening. In this case, destructive interference results in significant attenuation of microwave signals which pass the position of the antenna in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide as they propagate toward or away from the openings in the first waveguide.

[0017] Preferably, the distance between the antenna and the nearest end of the second waveguide is one-quarter of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves the first waveguide is designed to propagate. This results in minimal attenuation of the microwave signal emitted or received by the antenna due to reflection at the nearest end of the second waveguide.

[0018] Preferably, the distance between the antenna and the opening nearest to it is at least one wavelength of the electromagnetic waves the first waveguide is designed to propagate. This ensures effective interference between the waves passing through different openings on their propagation path.

[0019] Bidirectional directional selectivity of the coupling and decoupling of microwave signals into and out of the first waveguide, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide, can be achieved by arranging an antenna between each of the two openings and the end of the second waveguide closest to the respective opening. With this arrangement, microwave signals propagating within the first waveguide experience significant attenuation due to destructive interference on their way to one of the two antennas. Which of the two antennas is affected depends on the direction of propagation.

[0020] If a stationary transmitting and receiving device that can be connected to the two stationary antennas of the coupling device contains a comparison device that is designed to determine the direction from which a microwave signal has propagated in the first waveguide to the coupling device based on a comparison of the intensities of the microwave signals received by the two stationary antennas, the position of the transmitter along the first waveguide with respect to the coupling device can be deduced from this.

[0021] By means of a switching device, by means of which a stationary transmitting and receiving device can be selectively connected to each of the two stationary antennas, a microwave signal can be coupled into the first waveguide for targeted propagation in only one of the two opposite directions due to the directional selectivity of the coupling device.

[0022] By means of two transmitting and receiving devices, which are designed to transmit and receive microwave signals on mutually different frequencies and each of which is connected to one of the two antennas, a fixed station can communicate simultaneously with two different vehicles located on the first waveguide on different sides of the coupling device.

[0023] The communication device described above and in the claims can preferably be used in a conductor rail system for the conductive transmission of electrical energy between a stationary, elongated conductor rail and a current collector attached to a movable electrical load. For this purpose, the conductor rail can preferably have conductor rails running in its longitudinal direction, which can preferably be arranged in one or each of the hollow profiles with a longitudinal slot running in the longitudinal direction. One or more sliding contacts of the current collector can then each be brought to the one or more conductor rails through the longitudinal slot(s) in the hollow profile. Furthermore, the conductor rails can be arranged on the first waveguide, in particular on the electrically conductive wall surrounding the first cavity, in a directly electrically conductive manner, or electrically insulated from the first waveguide.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of a communication device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a partial longitudinal section of the communication device Fig. 1 along line AA in Fig. 3 ; Fig. 3 a front view of the communication device according to the invention Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 a partial cross-section of the communication device Fig. 1 along line BB in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 a plan view of a second embodiment of a communication device according to the invention; Fig. 6 a side view of a third embodiment of a communication device according to the invention; Fig. 7a side view of a fourth embodiment of a communication device according to the invention; Fig. 8 a partial longitudinal section of the communication device Fig. 7 along line AA in Fig. 9 ; Fig. 9 a front view of the communication device according to the invention Fig. 7 ; Fig. 10 a partial cross-section of the communication device Fig. 7 along line BB in Fig. 7 ; Fig. 11 a block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 another block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0025] A first embodiment of a communication device according to the invention is shown in the Figures 1 to 4A first waveguide 1 provides a communication channel for communication between a rail-guided vehicle and a stationary station, which, for example, monitors and / or controls the movement of the vehicle, and / or other vehicles traveling on the same route. It consists of an extruded profile that is electrically conductive and can be made, in particular, of metal. The extruded profile is formed by a wall 2 that surrounds a cavity 3 of approximately rectangular cross-section and, on one side, merges into two projections that are mirror-symmetrical to one another and project perpendicularly from the cavity 3, which define between them a laterally central slot 4 in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 1. An antenna of the vehicle (not shown in the figures) projects through the slot 4 into the approximately rectangular cavity 3 inside the waveguide 1.The ratio of the length of the first waveguide 1 to its cross-sectional dimensions is much larger than in the . Figures 1 and 2 This is reflected in the fact that only a very short section of the first waveguide 1 is shown in these figures in the longitudinal direction.

[0026] A coupling device 5 is provided for coupling microwave signals into and out of the first waveguide 1. On the side of the first waveguide 1 opposite the slot 4, a second waveguide 6 with a cavity 7 is arranged parallel to the first waveguide 1. The cross-sectional width of the second waveguide 6, i.e. the cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the slot 4, corresponds approximately to the width of the cavity 3 of the first waveguide 1. The length of the second waveguide 6 is, however, considerably shorter than that of the first waveguide 1 and is of the order of magnitude of the mean wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for whose propagation the first waveguide 1 is designed. The second waveguide 6 has no slot and is closed at both of its longitudinal ends.

[0027] The second waveguide 6 is also made of a conductive material, such as metal in particular. It is attached to the first waveguide 1 such that a wall section 9 of the second waveguide 6 rests against the wall section 8 of the first waveguide 1 that is opposite its slot 4. The connection between the two waveguides 1 and 6, which is not shown in the figures, can be achieved, for example, by gluing, welding, a screw connection, or by a clamp surrounding the two waveguides 1 and 6 and pressing them against one another. The wall section 9 of the second waveguide 6 can also be formed by the wall section 8 of the first waveguide 1. In this case, to produce the second waveguide 6, only a U-shaped extruded profile with closed ends needs to be placed onto the first waveguide 1 and connected to it.

[0028] A stationary antenna 11 extends into the cavity 7 inside the second waveguide 6 through a wall section 10 of the second waveguide 6, which is opposite the wall section 8 adjacent to the first waveguide 1. The antenna 11 is connected to a connector 12 on the outside of the wall section 10. A cable can be plugged into the connector 12 to connect the antenna 11 to a stationary station.

[0029] Both waveguides 1 and 6 each have an opening of the same size arranged laterally centrally in the cross-sectional view, and the second waveguide 6 is positioned on the first waveguide 1 in the longitudinal direction such that the two openings are aligned with one another and together form an opening 13 connecting the cavities 4 and 9 of the two waveguides 2 and 6.The size of the opening 13 is selected so that electromagnetic waves in the wavelength range for which the two waveguides 1 and 6 as well as the antenna 11 are designed can pass through it, so that waves radiated by the antenna 11 into the cavity 9 of the second waveguide 6 pass through the opening 13 into the cavity 4 of the first waveguide 1 and can propagate there in its longitudinal direction, and waves radiated by an antenna of a vehicle and propagating in the first waveguide 1 pass through the opening 13 into the cavity 9 of the second waveguide 6 and can be received there by the antenna 11.

[0030] Due to the fact that it does not protrude into the cavity 4 of the first waveguide 1, the stationary antenna 11 can be arranged laterally centrally, i.e., aligned with the slot 5 of the first waveguide 2. Therefore, to maintain lateral symmetry, no second antenna is required. The central arrangement of the antenna 11 and the opening 13 in the longitudinal direction of the second waveguide 6 is preferred, but not mandatory.

[0031] The propagation from the antenna 11 and the reception of electromagnetic waves by the antenna 11 are not direction-selective in this first embodiment, but rather they occur equally in both or from both directions along the first waveguide 1. This embodiment is therefore primarily suitable for coupling and decoupling a signal at a point on a first waveguide 1 which is so far away from its ends that it is not necessary to prevent radiation from one end of the first waveguide 1, but rather radiation and reception in both or from both directions along the first waveguide 1 is desired.

[0032] A second embodiment of a communication device according to the invention shows Fig. 5 in a plan view, ie in a view of the side of the first waveguide 1 opposite the slot 4. As can be seen from Fig. 5As can be seen, the second waveguide 6 in this embodiment does not have a straight shape, but rather it consists of two straight sections 6A and 6C, whose longitudinal directions are perpendicular to one another, and of an arcuate section 6B which connects the two straight sections 6A and 6C. The first straight section 6A of the second waveguide 6 lies parallel to the first waveguide 1, as in the first embodiment, and the cavities of the two waveguides 1 and 6 are also connected to one another by an opening 13.

[0033] The other straight section 6C of the second waveguide 6 protrudes in the plan view from Fig. 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 1. At this section 6C of the second waveguide 6, i.e. in the plan view of Fig. 5The antenna 11 and the connector 12 are arranged laterally away from the first waveguide 1. This provides the option of arranging the connector 12 and the cable to be connected to it optionally on the underside of the second waveguide 6, as shown in Fig. 5 This embodiment thus provides an additional degree of design freedom and can be particularly advantageous if the connector 12 and the cable to be connected to it, in their arrangement on the top side of the second waveguide 6 as provided in the first embodiment, would have a disruptive effect.

[0034] A third embodiment of a communication device according to the invention shows Fig. 6 in a side view according to Fig. 1 . As from Fig. 6As can be seen, the second waveguide 6 in this embodiment also does not have a straight shape, but rather it consists of two straight sections, the longitudinal directions of which are perpendicular to each other, and of an arcuate section 6B, which connects the two straight sections 6A and 6C. The first straight section 6A of the second waveguide 6 lies parallel to the first waveguide 1, just as in the first embodiment, and the cavities of the two waveguides 1 and 6 are also here connected by a Fig. 6 connected by an invisible opening.

[0035] The other straight section 6C of the second waveguide 6 also projects perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 1, as in the second embodiment, but in the side view of Fig. 6 upwards, compared to the second embodiment of Fig. 5in a direction deviating by 90°. At this section 6C of the second waveguide 6, i.e. in the side view of Fig. 6 Above the first waveguide 1, the antenna 11 and the connector 12 are arranged, whereby these elements can also be arranged differently than in Fig. 6 shown, can be arranged on that side of the section 6C of the second waveguide 6 which merges into the convex side of the arcuate section 6B, i.e. in Fig. 6 on the right side of section 6C. The third embodiment opens up the possibility of arranging the connector 12 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide 1, which can be advantageous when laying the cable to be connected to the connector 12 along the first waveguide 1, since a cable loop is avoided.

[0036] A fourth embodiment of a communication device according to the invention is shown in the Figures 7 to 10A first waveguide 101, whose function corresponds to that of the waveguide 1 of the first embodiment, consists of an extruded profile that is electrically conductive and can be made, in particular, of metal. The extruded profile is formed by a wall 102 that surrounds a cavity 103 of approximately rectangular cross-section and, on one side, merges into two projections that are mirror-symmetrical to one another and project perpendicularly from the cavity 103, which define between them a laterally central slot 104 in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 101. An antenna of the vehicle (not shown in the figures) projects through the slot 104 into an approximately rectangular cavity 103 inside the first waveguide 101. The ratio of the length of the first waveguide 101 to its cross-sectional dimensions is much greater than is shown in the Figures 5 and 6This is reflected in the fact that only a very short section of the first waveguide 101 is shown in these figures in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] On the side of the first waveguide 101 opposite the slot 104, a second waveguide 106 with a cavity 107 is arranged parallel to the first waveguide 104, the cross-sectional dimensions of which approximately correspond to those of the cavity of the first waveguide 101. The length of the second waveguide 106 is, however, considerably shorter and is of the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for whose propagation the first waveguide 101 is designed. However, it is greater than the length of the second waveguide 6 of the first embodiment. In the Figures 5 and 6In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the second waveguide 106 is approximately twice the wavelength. The second waveguide 106 has no slot and is closed at both of its longitudinal ends.

[0038] The second waveguide 106 is also made of a conductive material, such as metal. It is attached to the first waveguide 102 such that a wall section 109 of the second waveguide 106 rests against the wall section 108 of the first waveguide 101 that is opposite its slot 104. The connection between the two waveguides 101 and 106, which is not shown in the figures, can be achieved, for example, by gluing, welding, a screw connection, or by a clamp surrounding the two waveguides 101 and 106 and pressing them together. The wall section 109 of the second waveguide 106 can also be formed by the wall section 108 of the first waveguide 101. In this case, to produce the second waveguide 106, only a U-shaped extruded profile with closed ends needs to be placed on the first waveguide 101 and connected to it.

[0039] Two stationary antennas 111A and 111B extend into the cavity 107 inside the second waveguide 106 through a wall section 110 of the second waveguide 106, which is opposite the wall section 109 adjacent to the first waveguide 102. These antennas are each connected to a connector 112A or 112B on the outside of the wall section 110. A cable can be plugged into each of the connectors 112A and 112B to connect the antennas 111A or 111B to a stationary station.

[0040] Both waveguides 101 and 106 each have two openings of the same size, which are arranged laterally centrally in the cross-sectional view and are equidistant from one another in the longitudinal direction of the respective waveguide 101 or 106, and the second waveguide 106 is positioned on the first waveguide 101 in the longitudinal direction such that each of the two openings of the first waveguide 101 is aligned with an opening of the second waveguide 106 and together with this forms an opening 113A or 113B connecting the cavities 103 and 107 of the two waveguides 101 and 106 to one another.

[0041] The size of the openings 113A and 113B is selected such that electromagnetic waves in the wavelength range for which the two waveguides 101 and 106 and the antennas 111A and 111B are designed can pass through them, so that waves radiated by the antennas 111A and 111B pass through the openings 113A and 113B into the cavity 103 of the first waveguide 101 and can propagate there in its longitudinal direction, and waves radiated by an antenna of a vehicle and propagating in the waveguide 101 pass through the openings 113A and 113B into the cavity 107 of the second waveguide 106 and can be received there by the antennas 111A and 111B.

[0042] The distance d between the respective centers of the openings 113A and 113B in the longitudinal direction of the two waveguides 101 and 106 is a quarter of the mean wavelength of the wavelength range for which the two waveguides 102 and 106 as well as the antennas 111A and 111B are designed. The arrangement of the openings 113A and 113B is symmetrical in the longitudinal direction to the two ends of the second waveguide 106. The antennas 111A and 111B are significantly further apart in the longitudinal direction of the second waveguide 106 than the two openings 113A and 113B. Their arrangement is preferably, but not necessarily, symmetrical to the two openings 113A and 113B in the longitudinal direction of the two waveguides 101 and 106.

[0043] In the Figures 7 and 8In the embodiment shown, the distance d of the respective center axis of an antenna 111A and 111B from the nearest end of the second waveguide 106, as well as the center-to-center distance of the openings 113A and 113B, is a quarter of the wavelength for which the two waveguides 101 and 106 are designed, which is a particularly preferred arrangement. The distance of an antenna 111A or 111B from its nearest opening 113A or 113B is slightly more than half of said wavelength, with approximately one wavelength being the preferred value.

[0044] Due to the distance between the openings 113A and 113B of a quarter of the mean wavelength for which the waveguides 102 and 106 as well as the antennas 111A and 111B are designed, the waves that are in Fig. 6propagating from the left in the first waveguide 101, those components which pass through the opening 113A into the second waveguide 106, and those components which pass through the opening 113B into the second waveguide 106, have a path difference of approximately half their wavelength on the propagation path to the left antenna 111A. This causes destructive interference at the location of the antenna 111A and thus a strong attenuation of the received signal compared to the signal received by the other antenna 111B, in which constructive interference occurs between the signals passing from the first waveguide 101 through the two openings 113A and 113B into the second waveguide 106.

[0045] A waveguide 101 in the first waveguide Fig. 8A microwave signal propagating from left to right is therefore received by the right antenna 111B with a significantly higher reception power than by the left antenna 111A. Due to the symmetry of the arrangement, a microwave signal in the first waveguide 102 in Fig. 8 A microwave signal propagating from right to left is received by the left antenna 111A with a significantly greater reception power than by the right antenna 111B.

[0046] The effect of destructive interference due to the path difference also affects signals radiated by antennas 111A and 111B. A signal radiated by antenna 111A propagates in the first waveguide 101 from opening 113A to the left with a significantly lower power than from the two openings 113A and 113B to the right. Due to the symmetry of the arrangement, a signal radiated by antenna 111B propagates in the first waveguide 101 from opening 113B to the right with a significantly lower power than from the two openings 113A and 113B to the left.

[0047] The propagation of waves radiated by antennas 111A and 111B in the first waveguide 101 and the reception of electromagnetic waves by antennas 111A and 111B from the first waveguide 101 are thus directionally selective with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 101 in this second embodiment. This embodiment is therefore suitable for the simultaneous coupling and decoupling of various signals into or out of a waveguide 101 in or from opposite directions in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 101.

[0048] Here, too, the stationary antennas 111A and 111B can be arranged laterally centrally, i.e., aligned with the slot 103 of the first waveguide 101, due to the fact that they do not protrude into the cavity 104 of the first waveguide 101. To maintain lateral symmetry, only two antennas, not four, need to be provided.

[0049] The fourth embodiment can be modified into a fifth embodiment, which is suitable for radiating a microwave signal into or receiving it from a waveguide 101 at one end thereof. In contrast to the fourth embodiment, one of the two antennas 111A or 111B is omitted, depending on which direction in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide 101 is to be the desired direction of radiation and reception. It is understood that if one of the two antennas 111A or 111B is omitted, only effective radiation and effective reception in or from one of the two directions is possible, i.e., there is strong attenuation in the opposite transmission and reception directions. In order for the radiation and reception in and from the waveguide 101 to be possible in an arrangement at the end of the waveguide 101,from this, in the third embodiment the only antenna in this case is arranged on the second waveguide 106 closer to the end of the first waveguide 101 than the openings 113A and 113B. For example, if in . Fig. 6 If the first waveguide 101 ended near the left end of the second waveguide 106 and extended far to the right from the right end of the second waveguide 106, then only the left antenna 111A would be present.

[0050] The fifth embodiment is also fundamentally suitable for use at expansion joints between two consecutively arranged waveguides 101. In this case, only one antenna 111A or 111B is arranged on each of the two second waveguides 106, each of which is located closer to the expansion joint than the nearest of the two openings 113A and 113B. These two antennas are connected to each other by a flexible radio-frequency cable.As a result, a microwave signal arriving at the end of one of the first waveguides 101 is received by the antenna extending into the second waveguide 106, after propagating through the openings 113A and 113B and the first waveguide 101 connected to the first waveguide 101. It is transmitted via the high-frequency cable to the antenna extending into the other second waveguide 106, radiated by the antenna into the other second waveguide 106, and then propagates through the openings 113A and 113B therein into the other first waveguide 101. The symmetry of the arrangement enables bidirectional transmission of signals across the expansion joint on the described transmission path.

[0051] The single antenna 11 of the first embodiment of the invention, as well as the two antennas 111A and 111B of the fourth embodiment, are connected to a transmitting and receiving device of a fixed station, which, for example, monitors and / or controls the movement of vehicles on the route along which a transmission path consisting of at least one first waveguide 1 or 101 runs. As previously mentioned, in the fourth embodiment, the microwave signal received by one of the two antennas 111A or 111B is significantly attenuated by destructive interference with the microwave signal received by the other antenna 111B or 111A. Which of the two received signals is significantly attenuated depends on the direction from which the microwave signal reached the coupling device 105 through the first waveguide 101.The receiving device of the fixed station can therefore be equipped with a comparison device which determines the direction of origin of a received microwave signal by comparing the powers received by the two antennas 111A and 111B.

[0052] The second and third embodiments can also be combined with the fourth embodiment by, unlike in the Figures 5 and 6 not only at one end of the section 6A of the second waveguide 6 running parallel to the first waveguide 1, an arcuate section 6B is connected to this by a further straight section 6C, but at both ends of the first section 6A. In this case, according to the fourth embodiment, two antennas 111A and 111B can be provided, namely one on each of the two sections 6C projecting perpendicularly from a first waveguide 101 in this case.

[0053] How Fig. 11As shown in a block diagram, in the fourth embodiment, a switching device 114 can also be provided, by means of which a transmitting and receiving device 115 of a fixed station can be selectively connected to one of the two antennas 111A or 111B. Due to the bidirectional effect of the attenuation due to interference, the switching position of the switching device 114 can be used to select in which of the two possible opposite directions the transmitted signal from the transmitting and receiving device 115 of the fixed station should propagate in the first waveguide 101 or from which direction a microwave signal should be received from the waveguide 101.

[0054] How Fig. 12As shown in a block diagram, it is also possible in the fourth embodiment to provide two separate transmitting and receiving devices 115A and 115B for the fixed station, each of which is connected to only one of the two antennas 111A or 111B. By selecting different frequencies at which the two transmitting and receiving devices 115A and 115B operate, simultaneous communication via both antennas 111A and 111B in mutually opposite propagation directions in the first waveguide 101 is possible.

[0055] Preferably, the above-described communication device can also be used as a component of a conductor rail system for the conductive transmission of electrical energy between a stationary mounted conductor rail and a current collector attached to an electrical load that can be moved longitudinally relative to the conductor rail. The conductor rail can be formed from the first waveguide 1, 101 and can have conductor rail contacts extending in the longitudinal direction, which are arranged in Fig. 3 and 4 or 9 and 10 are attached to the lower end and on both sides of the longitudinal slot 4, in particular inserted into the profile of the first waveguide 1, 101.

[0056] It should be noted that directional waveguide couplers are known in microwave technology. However, they have so far been used exclusively for measurement purposes, namely to divert a small portion of the power of a microwave signal propagating in a waveguide in order to monitor the power radiated by a microwave transmitter and / or the reflection conditions of a waveguide transmission path. Antennas that, as components of a communications system, are intended to radiate microwave signals into a waveguide with the highest possible transmission power or to receive them from such a waveguide with the highest possible reception power always extend directly into the waveguide, which represents the transmission path intended for the microwave signals.The exemplary embodiments described above should not be understood as meaning that the features contained therein are all inseparable components of the invention. Rather, each individual feature of an exemplary embodiment can make a significant contribution to the technical effect of the invention on its own, i.e., even without its other features. Reference symbol

[0057] 1, 101 First waveguide 2, 102 Wall 3, 103 First cavity 4, 104 Slot 5, 105 Coupling device 6, 106 Second waveguide 6A, 6B, 6C Sections of the second waveguide 7, 107 Second cavity 8, 108 Adjacent wall section 9, 109 Adjacent wall section 10, 110 Opposite wall section 11, 111A, 111B Antenna 12, 112A, 112B Connector 13, 113A, 113BOperating 114 Switching device 115, 115A, 115B Transmitting and receiving device

Claims

1. A communication device comprising a first waveguide (1; 101) having a first cavity (3; 103) surrounded by an electrically conductive wall (2; 102), the wall (2; 102) having on one side a slot (4; 104) extending in the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide (1; 101), which slot allows movement of an antenna projecting into the first cavity (3; 103) along the waveguide (1; 101), and comprising a stationary coupling device (5; 105) for coupling a microwave signal into and out of the first waveguide (1; 101), characterized in thatthe coupling device (5; 105) has a second waveguide (6; 106) with a second cavity (7; 107) which is connected to the first waveguide (1; 101) on a side without a slot, that the coupling device (5; 105) has at least one stationary antenna (11; 111A, 111B) which is arranged on the second waveguide (6; 106) so as to project into the second cavity (7; 107), and that the coupling device (5; 105) has at least one opening (13; 113A, 113B) which connects the two cavities (3; 103, 7; 107) to one another and which allows electromagnetic waves propagating in one of the two waveguides (1; 101, 6; 106) to pass into the other waveguide (6; 106, 1; 101) is possible.

2. Communication device according to claim 1, characterized by - that the length of the second waveguide (6; 106) is substantially, preferably at least by a factor of 10, less than the length of the first waveguide (1; 101), and / or - thatthe second waveguide (6; 106) is closed at both of its longitudinal ends.

3. Communication device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by - that the second waveguide (6; 106) has in its longitudinal direction a first straight section (6A) lying parallel to the first waveguide (1; 101), which at least one of its two ends merges into an arcuate section (6B) which at its end merges into a further straight section (6C), and that a stationary antenna (11; 111A, 111B) is arranged on the further straight section (6C), and / or - that the at least one stationary antenna (11; 111A, 111B) projects into the second cavity (7; 107) from that side of the second waveguide (6; 106) which is opposite the opening (13; 113A, 113B) or from that side of the second waveguide (6; 106) on which the opening (13; 113A, 113B) is located.

4. Communication device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second waveguide (6; 106) has a straight shape and the longitudinal directions of the two waveguides (1; 101, 6; 106) are parallel to each other.

5. Communication device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only one stationary antenna (11) and one opening (13) are provided.

6. Communication device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thattwo openings (113A, 113B) are provided which connect the two cavities (103, 107) to one another, the centers of which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the two waveguides (101, 106) by a distance which is one quarter of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for whose propagation the first waveguide (101) is designed, and that an antenna (111A, 111B) is arranged at least between one of the openings (113A, 113B) and the end of the second waveguide (106) closest to this opening (113A, 113B).

7. Communication device according to claim 6, characterized by - that the distance of the antenna (111A, 111B) from the end of the second waveguide (106) closest to it is one quarter of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for which the first waveguide (101) is designed to propagate, and / or - thatthe distance of the antenna (111A, 111B) from the opening (113A, 113B) nearest to it is at least one wavelength of the electromagnetic waves for whose propagation the first waveguide (101) is designed.

8. Communication device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that an antenna (111A, 111B) is arranged between each of the two openings (113A, 113B) and the end of the second waveguide (106) closest to the respective opening (113A, 113B) 9. Communication device according to claim 8, characterized in thatit has a stationary transmitting and receiving device (115) which can be connected to the two stationary antennas (111A, 111B) of the coupling device and which contains a comparison device which is designed to determine the direction from which a microwave signal has propagated in the first waveguide (101) to the coupling device (105) based on a comparison of the intensities of the microwave signals received by the two stationary antennas (111A, 111B).

10. Communication device according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by - that it has a switching device (114) by means of which a stationary transmitting and receiving device (115) can be selectively connected to each of the two stationary antennas (111A, 111B), and / or - thatit has two transmitting and receiving devices (115A, 115B) which are arranged to transmit and receive microwave signals at mutually different frequencies, and each of which is connected to one of the two antennas (111A, 111B).

11. Conductor rail system for the conductive transmission of electrical energy between a stationary mounted conductor rail and a current collector attached to a movable electrical consumer, with at least one communication device running in a longitudinal direction of the conductor rail, characterized in that the communication device is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Conductor line system according to claim 11, characterized in that which has conductor rails running longitudinally along the conductor line.

13. Conductor line system according to claim 12, characterized in thatthe busbars are arranged in one or each a hollow profile with a longitudinal slot running in the longitudinal direction.

14. Conductor line system according to claim 13, characterized in that one or more sliding contacts of the current collector can be brought to one or more busbars through the longitudinal slot(s) in the hollow profile.

15. Conductor line system according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the busbars are arranged on the first waveguide (1; 101), in particular on the electrically conductive wall (2; 102) surrounding the first cavity (3; 103), in a directly electrically conductive manner or in an electrically insulated manner with respect to the first waveguide (1; 101).

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