Communication device for managing access to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication device (1) for mounting on the roof (3) of a motor vehicle to manage access to the vehicle's passenger compartment by interacting with a radio frequency identification device. The device comprises a communication module at least partially integrated into a trim piece (2) made of plastic. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a communication device (1). Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Communication device for managing access to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic systems integrated into motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a communication device intended to be fixed to the roof of a motor vehicle in order to manage access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle by interacting with a radiofrequency signal identification apparatus, said device comprising a communication module at least partially integrated into a trim made of plastic material. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a communication device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] Modern motor vehicles generally have a roof antenna to enable connectivity of the vehicles to mobile communication networks. In addition, separate electronic systems are generally integrated into vehicles to facilitate the locking and unlocking of openings and thus manage access to their passenger compartment. For some of these systems, ultra wideband antennas are used and, in certain known configurations, at least five such antennas are arranged at various locations around the periphery of the vehicle in order to be able to cover the entire space around the vehicle.However, this solution leads to design difficulties, particularly for the installation of CAN harnesses which are essential for connecting these antennas to a computer, it generates latency for the execution of access management commands, it increases the manufacturing cost of vehicles, it induces significant energy consumption and it adds constraints in terms of cybersecurity due to the possibility of having access to peripherals which are connected to the vehicle computers. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, it aims to provide an alternative solution for managing access to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle by means of ultra-wideband antennas. In this way, the invention aims to facilitate the design of vehicles, to minimize their manufacturing costs, to make them less energy-intensive and to improve their security in terms of cybersecurity.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a device communication device intended to be fixed to the roof of a motor vehicle in order to manage access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle by interacting with a radio frequency signal identification device, said device comprising a communication module at least partially integrated into a trim made of plastic material, said communication module comprising several antennas formed using plastronic technology in a part of the trim.

[0005] According to a variant, said antennas may be ultra-wideband antennas.

[0006] According to another variant, said antennas may be twelve in number.

[0007] According to yet another variant, said antennas can be arranged along the periphery of the same circle.

[0008] According to yet another variant, said antennas can be arranged at the hour positions of a clock face.

[0009] According to yet another variant, said communication module may comprise a printed circuit board connected to each of said antennas.

[0010] According to yet another variant, said communication module can be configured to simultaneously power three of said antennas positioned adjacently, the power of a first signal emitted by one of the powered antennas being greater than that of a second signal and a third signal emitted by each of the other two, and the first signal being out of phase with respect to the second signal and the third signal.

[0011] According to yet another variant, said communication module can be configured to determine the power of a received signal when a signal is transmitted by means of at least one of said antennas.

[0012] According to yet another variant, said communication device may be formed so as to be able to be inserted into a hole passing through the roof of a motor vehicle with the trim closing said hole.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle which comprises a communication device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a first diagram of a communication device according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] is a second diagram of a communication device according to the invention; And

[0017] [Fig.3] is a scanning diagram carried out by means of a communication device according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] Figures 1 schematically illustrate a communication device 1 according to the invention seen from the side and [Fig.2] illustrates it schematically seen from above. Traditionally, this comprises a trim 2 made of plastic material and it is intended to be fixed to the roof 3 of a motor vehicle in order to allow the management of access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle by interacting with a radiofrequency signal identification device (e.g. remote control, hands-free key, smartphone, etc.). To do this, it is preferably formed so that it can be inserted into a hole 4 which passes through the roof 3 of the vehicle with the trim 2 closing the hole 4.

[0019] The communication device 1 according to the invention further comprises a communication module, the latter comprising several ultra-wideband antennas 5, preferably twelve in number, which are arranged along the periphery of the same circle. These antennas 5 are preferably distributed at each hour position of a clock face, as seen in [Fig. 2]. Advantageously, the antennas 5 are formed by means of plastronic technology in a part of the trim 2. This allows a significant minimization of the weight of the communication device 1 according to the invention compared to those which comprise antennas of the same type which are arranged on the periphery of the vehicle. This contributes to the provision of a less energy-consuming motor vehicle.Furthermore, this way of forming the antennas 5 makes it possible to minimize cybersecurity risks in comparison with vehicles equipped with antennas of the same type which are connected to a computer of a motor vehicle by means of a CAN network and which are arranged on the periphery of the vehicle. This also completely eliminates the need for connectors (i.e. harnesses), which makes it easier to design the vehicles and minimize their manufacturing costs.

[0020] The communication module further comprises a printed circuit board 6 connected to each of the antennas 5.

[0021] Advantageously, the communication module is configured to perform electronic phase-shift scanning. More specifically, it is configured to simultaneously power three adjacently positioned antennas, the power of the signals emitted by the antenna located between the other two being greater than that of the signals emitted by each of the other two. In addition, the communication module is also configured so that the signals emitted by the antenna located between the other two are phase-shifted relative to those emitted by the other two. This improves the gain and the directivity, so that the angle of incidence of an identification device carried by a user who is in the vicinity of the vehicle can be determined more precisely.

[0022] Following the transmission of signals by a triplet of antennas, the communication module is configured to determine at least the power of a received signal. This is then a new triplet of antennas which is powered by rotating incrementally around the circle on the periphery of which the antennas 5 are positioned, preferably in a clockwise direction. This operation is illustrated schematically in [Fig.3], with, on the left, a first instant i(n) during which it is the antennas 5a, 5b and 5c which are powered, then, on the right, a following instant i(n+l) during which it is the antennas 5b, 5c and 5d which are powered.

[0023] Thus, thanks to the device according to the invention described above, an alternative solution exists for managing access to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle by means of ultra-wideband antennas. In this way, the invention facilitates the design of vehicles, it minimizes their manufacturing cost, it makes them less energy-intensive and it ensures better security in terms of cybersecurity.

Claims

Claims

1. Communication device (1) intended to be fixed to the roof (3) of a motor vehicle in order to manage access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle by interacting with a radiofrequency signal identification device, said device comprising a communication module at least partially integrated into a trim (2) made of plastic material, characterized in that said communication module comprises several antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) formed by means of plastronic technology in a part of the trim (2).

2. Communication device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said antennas are ultra wideband antennas.

3. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are twelve in number.

4. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are arranged along the periphery of the same circle.

5. Communication device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are arranged at the hour positions of a clock face.

6. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication module comprises a printed circuit board (6) connected to each of said antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d).

7. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication module is configured to simultaneously power three of said antennas (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) positioned adjacently, the power of a first signal emitted by one of the powered antennas being greater than that of a second signal and a third signal emitted by each of the other two, and the first signal being out of phase with respect to the second signal and the third signal.

8. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication module is configured to determine the power of a received signal when a signal is transmitted by means of at least one of said antennas (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d).

9. Communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed so as to be able to be inserted into a hole (4) passing through the roof (3) of a motor vehicle with the trim (2) closing said hole.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a communication device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.