System and method for telematics control unit

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for a telematics control unit. [Solution] A telematics system for a vehicle, the telematics system includes a reconfigurable antenna 404, which includes an antenna portion 408, a coupling portion 410, a radiation switch 442, and a frequency switch 412. The telematics system further includes a plurality of antennas and a processor in which instructions are stored in non-volatile memory, the instructions causing one of the plurality of antennas to link to a satellite based on a predicted overlap between the stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 740,932, filed on December 31, 2024, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT". The entire content of the foregoing application is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicle communication systems, and more particularly, to a telematics control unit for a vehicle.

Background Art

[0003] A telematics control unit (TCU) or telematics unit is a system within a vehicle that can wirelessly connect a vehicle to various network services via various types of networks, such as cellular, Wi - Fi, Bluetooth®, etc. Such systems can also, for example, control wireless tracking, diagnostics, and communication with the vehicle. In some examples, the TCU can collect telemetry data from the vehicle, such as position, speed, engine data, connection quality, etc., from various subsystems via data and control buses. Such TCU systems can use antennas to collect and communicate signal data.

[0004] The TCU can include one or more antennas, and each antenna is dedicated to one type of communication network. For example, at least one antenna may be included for each of cellular, Bluetooth® / WiFi, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and satellite communication (SatCom). Each antenna included in the TCU can increase the cost, weight, and size of the TCU. Further, each separate antenna may increase the risk of interference caused by antenna co - existence.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The inventors have identified the above-mentioned problems, and embodiments for addressing at least some of the problems in part are disclosed herein. An exemplary telematics system includes a reconfigurable antenna of a telematics unit, the antenna including an antenna portion physically coupled to a base, a coupling portion physically coupled to a base, a radiating switch electrically coupled to the coupling portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a first short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a first open earth, and a frequency switch electrically coupled to the antenna portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a second short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a second open earth.

[0006] In other words, an exemplary telematics system includes a plurality of antennas, each of which is configured to link a satellite to at least one other communication system, and a processor which includes instructions stored in non-volatile memory, and when an instruction is executed, the processor causes one of the plurality of antennas to link to the satellite based on a predicted overlap between the stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite. The present invention provides, for example, the following items: (Item 1) A reconfigurable antenna for a telematics unit, The antenna section is physically coupled to the base, A coupling portion physically coupled to the base, A radiating switch is electrically coupled to the coupling portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a first short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a first open-circuit earth, A frequency switch is electrically coupled to the antenna portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a second short-circuit ground and an electrical coupling to a second open-circuit ground. A reconfigurable antenna, including one. (Item 2) The reconfigurable antenna as described above, wherein the coupling portion is physically separated from the antenna portion and configured to be reversibly electromagnetically coupled to the antenna portion by adjusting the radiation switch. (Item 3) The aforementioned antenna portion is a planar inverted F antenna, and is a reconfigurable antenna as described in any of the above items, including a pin portion, a planar portion, and a feed portion. (Item 4) The coupling portion overhangs the antenna portion in a plane parallel to the base, and is a reconfigurable antenna as described in any of the above items. (Item 5) The base is a printed circuit board, and the reconfigurable antenna is as described in any of the above items. (Item 6) The coupling portion is L-shaped and includes a parallel plate portion and a vertical plate portion relative to the base, the reconfigurable antenna as described in any of the above items. (Item 7) A method for operating a reconfigurable antenna, In response to determining that the cellular network can be searched, the high-frequency switch is activated to cellular mode based on determining which mode has better signal quality, and the reconfigurable antenna is switched to a cellular module or to cellular / satellite hybrid mode. In response to determining that the cellular network cannot be found, the system activates the high-frequency switch on the satellite module and switches the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular / satellite hybrid mode or satellite mode, based on determining which mode has better signal quality. Methods that include... (Item 8) The method according to any of the above items, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first open ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short ground. (Item 9) The method according to any of the above items, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular / satellite hybrid mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first short-circuit ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short-circuit ground. (Item 10) The method according to any of the above items, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the satellite mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first open ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second open ground. (Item 11) Determining better signal quality is a method of any of the above items, including comparing the signal-to-noise ratio and / or comparing the received signal strength indicator. (Item 12) Switching the reconfigurable antenna is the method described in any of the above items, which adjusts the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna. (Item 13) Switching the reconfigurable antenna is a method of adjusting the radiation pattern of the reconfigurable antenna, as described in any of the above items. (Item 14) A telematics unit for a vehicle, A plurality of antennas, each of which is configured to link to a satellite and at least one other communication system, A processor including instructions stored in non-volatile memory, wherein when an instruction is executed, the processor: A telematics unit that links one of the plurality of antennas to the satellite based on the predicted overlap between the stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite. (Item 15) The telematics unit according to any of the above items, further comprising the instruction causing the processor to compare the satellite signal strength with the cellular signal strength, and, in response to the cellular signal strength being stronger than the satellite signal strength, to hand over the link to the cellular module. (Item 16) The telematics unit according to any of the above items, further comprising linking one of the plurality of antennas to the satellite based on signal strength measured in response to the signal quality of the link falling below a threshold, wherein the telematics unit includes a SatCom signal quality monitor configured to monitor the satellite signal quality of each of the plurality of antennas. (Item 17) The telematics unit according to any of the above items, wherein the stored radiation pattern includes a lookup table of elevation angle ranges and azimuth angle ranges, and one of the plurality of antennas corresponding to each of the ranges. (Item 18) The stored radiation patterns include a lookup table for each satellite vendor, including the antennas of the multiple antennas corresponding to the frequencies supported by each vendor, as described in any of the above items, for the telematics unit. (Item 19) The telematics unit described in any of the above items, wherein the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite are based on the satellite orbit schedule and vehicle parameters. (Item 20) The vehicle parameters include local time, location, orientation, and vehicle speed, as described in any of the above items, in the telematics unit. (Summary) Embodiments of an exemplary telematics system for a vehicle are disclosed. The telematics system includes a reconfigurable antenna, which includes an antenna portion, a coupling portion, a radiating switch, and a frequency switch. Further, the telematics system includes a plurality of antennas and a processor whose instructions are stored in a non-volatile memory, the instructions linking one of the plurality of antennas to a satellite based on a predicted overlap between the stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite.

[0007] The present disclosure may be better understood by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram depicting an exemplary vehicle-to-vehicle communication system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0009] [Figure 2] An exemplary partial view of a vehicle cabin according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0010] [Figure 3] An exemplary in-vehicle computing system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] [Figure 4] A perspective view of an example of a reconfigurable antenna is shown.

[0012] [Figure 5] A top view and a side view of the reconfigurable antenna are shown.

[0013] [Figure 6] An operation scheme of the reconfigurable antenna is shown.

[0014] [Figure 7]A diagram of a second example of a reconfigurable antenna is shown.

[0015] [Figure 8] The graph shows the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) as a function of frequency, measured for the operating modes of the second example of a reconfigurable antenna.

[0016] [Figure 9] A three-dimensional plot of the signal gain in the operating modes of a second example of a reconfigurable antenna is shown.

[0017] [Figure 10] A flowchart shows the method for selecting between modes of a reconfigurable antenna.

[0018] [Figure 11] This flowchart shows an example of how to link to a satellite using a telematics control unit with a line-of-sight module.

[0019] [Figure 12] A block diagram of a telematics unit, including a module for selecting an antenna to link to a satellite, is shown.

[0020] [Figure 13] A diagram of a telematics unit is shown, including multiple antennas and the radiation patterns of those antennas.

[0021] [Figure 14] An example of a lookup table used to select an antenna for linking to a satellite is shown.

[0022] [Figure 15] This flowchart outlines the process for selecting an antenna to link to a satellite.

[0023] [Figure 16]This flowchart shows how to select an antenna for linking to a satellite using a beyond-line-of-sight module.

[0024] [Figure 17] A diagram of the satellite and antenna handover is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] As described above, telematics systems are used to provide telecommunications and cellular connectivity for vehicles. A telematics control unit may be connectable to multiple antennas or integrated into multiple antennas. This disclosure describes a telematics system for vehicles that reduces the number of antennas included in the telematics system and provides a method for providing a more stable communication link than conventional telematics systems. In one example, a telematics control unit may include a reconfigurable antenna that can be configured to switch between three operating modes depending on the requested radiation pattern and communication frequency. In this way, one physical antenna can receive both cellular (e.g., 4G / 5G) communications and satellite communications (SatCom). In an alternative example, a dedicated SatCom antenna may be omitted from the telematics unit, and a SatCom algorithm may select from the remaining multiple antennas, depending on the relative position of the satellite and the vehicle, to perform the function of the SatCom antenna. A communication system, such as the system shown in Figure 1, illustrates one such example of a telematics system that can provide communication between a vehicle and an external service. The telematics system may include a telematics control unit configured as described above. The telematics system may be contained within a vehicle, such as the vehicle shown in Figure 2, where the indoor cabin is located. The vehicle may further include a computing system incorporating a telematics control unit, as shown in the block diagram of Figure 3. The cost and weight of the telematics control unit can be reduced by reducing the number of incorporated antennas. Reconfigurable antennas, such as the reconfigurable antennas shown in Figures 4-5 and 7, can reduce the required number of antennas by functioning as both cellular and satellite antennas. The operating scheme of the reconfigurable antenna is shown in Figure 6, and plots showing the frequency and radiation pattern flexibility of the reconfigurable antenna are shown in Figures 8-9. A method for selecting an optimized mode for the reconfigurable antenna is shown in Figure 10.The cost and weight of the telematics control unit can be further reduced by the SatCom-free telematics unit, and multiple antennas are configured to connect to other communication modalities (e.g., cellular, WLAN, GNSS, etc.) and are also used for satellite communications. Methods and systems for selecting the optimal antenna from multiple antennas to link to one or more target satellites are shown in Figures 11 to 17.

[0026] Referring to Figure 1, an exemplary operating environment is shown, including a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system 10 that can be used to implement the method disclosed herein. The vehicle-to-vehicle communication system 10 generally includes one or more telematics-equipped vehicles 12, one or more radio carrier systems 14, and one or more remote servers 16. In some examples, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system 10 may further include various personal radio devices 22 and a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 24. Referring to Figures 11 and 15-16, it should be understood that the method disclosed below can be used by any number of different systems and is not particularly limited to the operating environment shown herein. Therefore, the following paragraphs briefly provide an outline of one configuration that may occur to provide radio communication between each vehicle 12 and between the vehicles 12 and the remote servers 16. However, it should be recognized that other systems not shown herein can also be used to perform the disclosed method.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle 12 is depicted as a passenger car, but it should be understood that any other vehicle, including motorcycles, trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), campervans (RVs), ships, aircraft, etc., may also be used. Some of the vehicle electronics 28 are generally shown in Figure 1. A more detailed description of exemplary vehicle electronics that may be included in vehicle 12 is shown below with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The vehicle electronics 28 may include a telematics unit 30 (also called a TCU), a microphone 32, one or more push buttons or other control inputs 34, an audio system 36, a visual display 38, and a navigation module 40, as well as one or more of several vehicle system modules (VSMs) 42. Some of these devices, for example, the microphone 32 and push buttons 34, may be directly connected to the telematics unit 30, while others may be indirectly connected using one or more network connections, such as a communications bus 44 or an entertainment bus 46. Examples of appropriate network connections include, to name a few, CAN (controller area network), MOST (media-oriented system transfer), LIN (local interconnection network), local area network (LAN), and other suitable connections such as Ethernet®, or others that comply with known ISO, SAE, and IEEE standards and specifications.

[0028] The telematics unit 30 is an OEM or aftermarket device that enables the vehicle 12 to receive and / or transmit radio signals corresponding to voice, text, and / or other data. Therefore, the telematics unit 30 can transmit and / or receive radio signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, radio, and cellular. Thus, the telematics unit 30 may also be called a transceiver 30, as it may be capable of both transmitting and receiving radio signals. Radio signals generated by the telematics unit 30 of the vehicle 12 can be transmitted to one or more of the vehicle 12 and the cellular tower 16, and received by one or more of the vehicle 12 and the remote server 16. Thus, each of the vehicles 12 can radio communicate with each other via the telematics unit 30 to transmit and / or receive information between vehicles. Furthermore, each of the vehicles 12 can radio communicate with the remote server 16 to transmit and / or receive information between them.

[0029] Wireless communication between the remote server 16 and the vehicle 12 can be maintained even when the distance between the server 16 and the vehicle 12 is long by including a relay tower 70. Each of the towers 70 may include transmitting and receiving antennas for relaying wireless signals between the remote server 16 and the vehicle 12.

[0030] However, it should be understood that in some cases, the relay tower 70 may not be included in the communication system 10, and the vehicles 12 may communicate wirelessly with the remote server 16 directly. Furthermore, if one or more of the vehicles 12 are at a sufficient distance from the remote server 16, and / or if terrain (e.g., mountains) prevents the transmission of wireless signals between them, one or more vehicles 12 may not communicate wirelessly with the server 16.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, the communication system 10 may utilize satellite communication to provide unidirectional or bidirectional communication between one or more of the vehicles 12 and the remote server 16. This can be done using one or more communication satellites 62 and an uplink transmitting station 64. Unidirectional communication could be, for example, a satellite radio service, in which programming content (news, music, etc.) is received by the transmitting station 64, packaged for uploading, and then transmitted to the satellite 62, which broadcasts the programming to subscribers. Furthermore, in some examples, each of the vehicles 12 may also wirelessly transmit information to the satellite 62, which then broadcasts that information to the server 16.

[0032] Therefore, each of the vehicles 12 may communicate with one or more of the following: the remote server 16, other telematics-equipped vehicles 12, or any other entity or device capable of transmitting and / or receiving radio signals. The telematics unit 30 enables the vehicles to provide a number of different services, including those related to messaging, navigation, telephone, emergency assistance, diagnostics, infotainment, and the like. Data can be transmitted via a data connection, for example, via a packet switching connection, or via a voice channel using techniques already known in the art. In the case of combined services that include both voice and data communication, the system may utilize a single call via a voice channel and switch between voice and data transmission via the voice channel as needed, which can be done using techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the telematics unit 30 utilizes a wireless modem 50 for data transmission, an electronic processing device 52 (e.g., a processor 52), one or more digital memory devices 54, and one or more antennas 56. It should be understood that the modem can either be implemented via software or be a separate hardware component located inside or outside the telematics unit 30. The modem can operate using any number of different standards or protocols, such as EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, and EDGE. Wireless networking between the vehicle 12 and other network devices can also be performed using the telematics unit 30. For this purpose, the telematics unit 30 can be configured to communicate wirelessly according to one or more wireless protocols, such as IEEE 802.11 protocol, WiMAX, or Bluetooth®. When used for packet-switching data communication such as TCP / IP, the telematics unit 30 can be configured with a static IP address, or it can be set up to automatically receive an assigned IP address from another device on the network, such as a router, or from a network address server.

[0034] The processor 52 can be any type of device capable of processing electronic instructions, including microprocessors, microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, vehicle communication processors, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It can be a dedicated processor used exclusively for the telematics unit 30, or it can be shared with other vehicle systems. The processor 52 executes various types of digitally stored instructions, such as software or firmware programs stored in memory 54, which enable the telematics unit 30 to provide a wide variety of services. For example, the processor 52 can execute programs or process data to perform at least some of the methods described herein.

[0035] The telematics unit 30 can be used to provide a variety of vehicle services with wireless communication to the vehicle 12. Such services may include remote control of specific vehicle functions using the VSM 42, turn-by-turn route guidance and other navigation-related services provided in combination with the navigation module 40, other emergency or roadside assistance-related services provided in conjunction with one or more collision sensor interface modules such as airbag deployment notifications and a body control module (not shown), diagnostic reports using one or more diagnostic modules, and infotainment-related services such as music, web pages, movies, television programs, video games and / or other information downloaded by an infotainment module (not shown) and stored for playback now or later. The services described above are by no means a complete list of all the functions of the telematics unit 30, but merely an enumeration of some of the services that an exemplary telematics unit may provide. Furthermore, while several possibilities are listed, it should be understood that at least some of the modules described above may be implemented in the form of software instructions stored inside or outside the telematics unit 30, or as hardware components located inside or outside the telematics unit 30, or may be integrated with and / or shared with other systems located throughout the vehicle 12. If the modules are implemented as VSM42 located outside the telematics unit 30, they may exchange data and commands with the telematics unit 30 using the communication bus 44.

[0036] In some examples, the antenna 56 of the telematics unit 30 may be integrated with the telematics unit 30. The antenna 56 may be configured for various different signaling networks, such as cellular signals, Wi-Fi signals, and / or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. The antenna 56 may be configured for terrestrial networks, SatCom networks, and / or NTN. Narrowband NTN (NB-NTN) networks use geostationary satellites. NTN is a communication protocol defined by 3GPP® and may be for forms of non-terrestrial networks, including satellites (e.g., LEO, MEO, and GEO), high-altitude platforms, and drones. NTN is non-proprietary. The antenna 56 may also be configured for proprietary and non-proprietary NTN. The frequencies used are within the L and S bands. UE devices supporting NB-NTN use the same cellular antennas used for terrestrial networks (TN). The same terrestrial network antenna switching disclosed herein can be used for NB-NTN. Future NTN projects may utilize low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and require separate phased array antennas to enable beamforming and tracking of satellite motion. SatCom may also include communication between antenna 56 and mid-earth orbit (MEO) and / or geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites. The proposed frequencies for these are within the FR2 band of 17–30 GHz. In some examples, FR2 may be greater than 7 GHz, while FR1 may be less than 7 GHz. For example, the frequency band L&S may be within FR1, and Ku(12–18) GHz may be within FR2. It should be understood that in at least some examples, antenna 56 may include two or more antennas for each different signaling network.

[0037] In one example, antenna 56 may include a reconfigurable antenna. The reconfigurable antenna may be configured for communication to SatCom and cellular networks. For example, as further illustrated in Figures 4 to 10, the reconfigurable antenna may be reconfigurable with respect to both the operating frequency band and the radiation pattern. The reconfigurable antenna may use two switching elements to implement three operating modes: (1) a high-elevation satellite mode with a high-elevation radiation pattern, (2) a cellular mode, and (3) a cellular / satellite hybrid mode with a low-elevation radiation pattern. The telematics unit 30 may further include a signal quality prediction algorithm to perform the switching between modes.

[0038] In a further example, the telematics unit 30 is a SatCom-free telematics unit. Each antenna of the SatCom-free telematics unit may be configurable for satellite communications. Each antenna of the SatCom-free telematics unit may be configured for at least one other type of communications in addition to satellite communications. The SatCom-free telematics unit does not have to include antennas dedicated solely to satellite communications. Instead of dedicated SatCom antennas, the SatCom-free telematics unit may include a SatCom selection algorithm for selecting one of a number of non-dedicated antennas best configured to communicate with one or more target satellites, based on the relative positions of the vehicle and one or more target satellites and known radiation patterns of multiple antennas. The SatCom selection algorithm may predict the antennas preferred for satellite communications in terms of time and position. In some examples, the SatCom selection algorithm may be included in a conventional telematics unit, and SatCom signal quality may be improved by using both dedicated SatCom antennas in addition to other communication antennas for satellite communications (e.g., cellular, WLAN, GNSS, etc.).

[0039] Antenna 56 may be coupled to the telematics unit 30 via a cable, via an antenna matching circuit, and / or directly. For example, the telematics unit 30 or the antenna matching circuit may be mounted on the inner surface of a metal surface of the vehicle (e.g., a metal roof) adjacent to the interface with the glass surface to which the antenna is mounted, so that the antenna can be directly coupled to the telematics unit or antenna matching circuit without a cable. The antenna matching circuit may be coupled to the telematics unit via a cable. The antennas may be spaced apart by any appropriate distance. The antenna matching circuit may include a rigid printed circuit board having an impedance matching function.

[0040] The navigation module 40 may be configured to support any suitable navigation system, such as GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, or IRSSS. In an example where the navigation module 40 is a GPS navigation module, the module 40 receives signals from a constellation of GPS satellites 60. From these signals, the module 40 can determine the vehicle's position, which is used to provide navigation and other location-related services to the vehicle driver. Navigation information can be presented on the display 38 (or other displays in the vehicle) or verbatim, as is done when providing turn-by-turn navigation. Navigation services can be provided using a dedicated in-vehicle navigation module (which may be part of the navigation module 40), or some or all navigation services can be provided via the telematics unit 30, and the position information is transmitted to a remote location for the purpose of providing the vehicle with navigation maps, map annotations (points of interest, restaurants, etc.), route calculations, etc. The position information can be supplied to a remote server 16 for other purposes, such as fleet management.

[0041] Apart from the audio system 36 and the navigation module 40, the vehicle 12 may include other vehicle system modules (VSMs) 42 in the form of electronic hardware components that are located throughout the vehicle and typically receive inputs from one or more sensors and use the sensed inputs to perform diagnostic, monitoring, control, reporting, and / or other functions. Each of the VSMs 42 is preferably connected to other VSMs by a communication bus 44, as well as to a telematics unit 30, and can be programmed to perform diagnostic tests of vehicle systems and subsystems and to perform other functions. For example, one VSM 42 may be an engine control module (ECM) that controls various aspects of engine operation such as fuel ignition and ignition timing, another VSM 42 may be a powertrain control module that adjusts the operation of one or more components of the vehicle powertrain, and yet another VSM 42 may be a body control module that adjusts various electrical components located throughout the vehicle, such as the vehicle's power door locks. According to one embodiment, the ECM is equipped with an OBD (on-board diagnostic) feature, which provides a vast amount of real-time data, including from various sensors such as vehicle emission sensors, and a set of standardized DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) that enable technicians to quickly identify and address malfunctions within the vehicle. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the above VSM is only one example of a module that may be used in the vehicle 12, and many others are possible.

[0042] The vehicle electronics 28 may also include several vehicle user interfaces that provide the vehicle occupants with means of providing and / or receiving information, such as a microphone 32, push buttons 34, an audio system 36, and a visual display 38. As used herein, the term “vehicle user interface” broadly includes any suitable form of electronic device, including both hardware and software components, that is located on the vehicle 12 and enables the vehicle user to communicate with or through the components of the vehicle 12. In this description, the vehicle user may also be simply referred to as the user and / or vehicle operator. The microphone 32 provides an audio input to the telematics unit 30 to enable the driver or other occupants to provide voice commands and perform hands-free calls. For this purpose, it may be connected to an onboard automatic voice processing unit utilizing human-machine interface (HMI) technology known in the art. The push buttons 34 enable manual user input to the telematics unit 30 to provide data, responses, or control inputs. Separate push buttons may be used to initiate emergency calls and regular service assistance calls. The audio system 36 provides audio output to vehicle occupants and may be a dedicated standalone system or part of a main vehicle audio system. According to certain embodiments shown herein, the audio system 36 may be operably coupled to both the vehicle bus 44 and the entertainment bus 46 and may provide AM, FM, and satellite radio, CD, DVD, and other multimedia functions. This functionality may be provided in combination with or independently of the infotainment module described above. The visual display 38 is preferably a graphics display, such as a touchscreen on the instrument panel, a pop-up visual display, or a head-up display reflected in the windshield, and may be used to provide a number of input and output functions.Since the interface in Figure 1 is merely an example of one specific embodiment, various other vehicle user interfaces can also be used.

[0043] The remote server 16 may take the form of a mainframe computer, server computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, home entertainment computer, network computing device, mobile computing device, mobile communication device, game device, or the like.

[0044] The remote server 16 may include a logic subsystem 82 and a data retention subsystem 84. The remote server 16 may optionally include a display subsystem 86, a communication subsystem 88, and / or other components not shown in Figure 1. For example, the remote server 16 may also optionally include user input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, game controller, camera, microphone, and / or touchscreen.

[0045] The logic subsystem 82 may include one or more physical devices configured to execute one or more instructions. For example, the logic subsystem 82 may be configured to execute one or more instructions that are part of one or more applications, services, programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, or other logic constructs. Such instructions may be implemented to perform a task, implement a data type, transform the state of one or more devices, or otherwise achieve a desired result.

[0046] The logic subsystem 82 may include one or more processors configured to execute software instructions. Additionally or alternatively, the logic subsystem 82 may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute hardware or firmware instructions. The processors of the logic subsystem 82 may be single or multicore, and programs executed on them may be configured for parallel or distributed processing. The logic subsystem 82 may optionally include individual components distributed across two or more devices, which may be located remotely and / or configured for collaborative processing. For example, the logic subsystem 82 may include several engines for processing and analyzing data. These engines may be wirelessly connected to one or more databases to process data received from one or more of the vehicles 12. One or more embodiments of the logic subsystem 82 may be virtualized and run by a remotely accessible networked computing device configured in a cloud computing configuration.

[0047] The data retention subsystem 84 may include one or more physical, non-transient devices configured to hold data and / or instructions executable by the logic subsystem 82 in order to implement the methods and processes described herein. When such methods and processes are implemented, the state of the data retention subsystem 84 can be transformed (for example, to hold different data).

[0048] The data retention subsystem 84 may include removable media and / or built-in devices. The data retention subsystem 84 may also include optical memory (e.g., CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray® disc, etc.) and / or magnetic memory devices (e.g., hard drive disks, floppy disk drives, tape drives, MRAM, etc.). The data retention subsystem 84 may include devices having one or more of the following characteristics: volatile, non-volatile, dynamic, static, read / write, read-only, random access, sequential access, position addressable, file addressable, and content addressable. In some embodiments, the logic subsystem 82 and the data retention subsystem 84 may be integrated into one or more common devices, such as application-specific integrated circuits or system-on-a-chip.

[0049] It should be understood that the data retention subsystem 84 includes one or more physical, non-temporary devices. In contrast, in some embodiments, the instruction modes described herein may be propagated transiently by pure signals (e.g., electromagnetic signals) that are not retained by physical devices for at least a finite duration. Furthermore, data and / or other forms of information relating to this disclosure may be propagated by pure signals.

[0050] The remote server 16 may include one or more databases 85 within the data retention subsystem 84 to store processed support requests, vehicle location data, and vehicle operator preferences.

[0051] If included, the display subsystem 86 may be used to present a visual representation of the data held by the data retention subsystem 84. If the methods and processes described herein change the data held by the data retention subsystem 84, thereby transforming the state of the data retention subsystem 84, the state of the display subsystem 86 may similarly be transformed to visually represent the change in the underlying data. The display subsystem 86 may include one or more display devices utilizing substantially any type of technology. Such display devices may be combined with the logic subsystem 82 and / or the data retention subsystem 84 within a shared enclosure, or such display devices may be peripheral display devices.

[0052] If included, the communication subsystem 88 may be configured to couple the remote server 16 to communicate with one or more other computing devices, such as the vehicle 12. The communication subsystem 88 may include wired and / or wireless communication devices compatible with one or more different communication protocols. In non-limiting examples, the communication subsystem 88 may be configured to communicate over a wireless telephone network, a wireless local area network, a wired local area network, a wireless wide area network, a wired wide area network, and the like. In some embodiments, the communication subsystem 88 may enable the remote server 16 to send and / or receive messages to and from other devices over a network such as the public internet.

[0053] In some examples, the relay tower 70 may be configured as part of a wireless cellular network. In such examples, the communication system 10 may also include personal wireless devices 22, which may be, for example, mobile phones or other wirelessly wirelessly capable personal portable devices, including SMS messaging capabilities in the illustrated embodiment. The devices 22 may communicate with the relay tower 70 and send and receive other communications, such as voice calls, SMS messages, and possibly other communications, such as non-speech data, for the purpose of providing internet access, weather information, stock information, etc. Furthermore, the telematics unit 30 of each vehicle 12 may also be able to send and / or receive SMS messages and calls over the cellular network provided by the relay tower 70.

[0054] Therefore, the telematics unit 30 may utilize cellular communication in accordance with either GSM® or CDMA, and thus may include a standard cellular chipset for voice communication such as hands-free calling.

[0055] Furthermore, the communication system may include, in addition to one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs) 72, any other network components necessary to connect the radio carrier system 14 to the remote server 16. Thus, each of the relay towers 70 may include transmitting and receiving antennas and base stations, and base stations from different cell towers are connected to the MSCs 72 either directly or via intermediate equipment such as base station controllers. The radio carrier system 14 can implement any suitable communication technology, including, for example, analog technologies such as AMPS, or newer digital technologies such as CDMA (e.g., CDMA2000) or GSM® / GPRS. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various cell tower / base station / MSC configurations are possible and can be used with the radio carrier system 14. For example, some possible configurations include, the base stations and cell towers may be located at the same site or remotely from each other, each base station may be able to respond to a single cell tower, or a single base station may serve various cell towers, and various base stations may be coupled to a single MSC.

[0056] The Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 24 preferably communicates with the relay tower 70 and is involved in the transmission of SMS messages. The SMSC 24 can operate according to the store-and-forward principle; that is, when a first user sends an SMS message addressed to a second user, the SMS message is stored in the SMSC until it becomes available for the second user to receive. In other embodiments, the SMSC employs a store-and-forget approach, attempting to pass the SMS message only once. These types of approaches allow users to send and receive SMS messages at any time, even if they are currently on a voice call. Naturally, it should be understood that the exemplary representation of the SMSC 24 is merely one example of a preferred configuration, and alternatively, the SMSC may be provided according to several other configurations known in the art. Generally, SMS messages sent to or from a vehicle 12 or wireless mobile device 22 are received and / or transmitted by the relay tower 70 and pass through the MSC 72 and SMSC 24 for processing and routing to a remote server 16.

[0057] An example interior of one of the vehicle compartments of vehicle 12 is shown below with reference to Figure 2.

[0058] Figure 2 shows an exemplary partial view of the interior of the passenger compartment 100 of a vehicle 102, where a driver and / or one or more passengers can be seated, which is a kind of environment for a communication system for data synchronization. Vehicle 102 may be the same as or similar to vehicle 12 described above with reference to Figure 1. Vehicle 102 in Figure 2 may be a motor vehicle including drive wheels (not shown) and an internal combustion engine 104. The internal combustion engine 104 may include one or more combustion chambers that can receive intake air through an intake passage and expel combustion gases through an exhaust passage. Vehicle 102 may be a road vehicle, among other types of vehicles. In some examples, vehicle 102 may include a hybrid propulsion system that includes an energy conversion device that can absorb energy from vehicle motion and / or the engine and convert the absorbed energy into an energy form suitable for storage by an energy storage device. Vehicle 102 may include a fully electric vehicle that incorporates a fuel cell, a solar energy capture element, and / or other energy storage system for powering the vehicle.

[0059] As illustrated, the instrument panel 106 may include various displays and control devices accessible to the driver (also referred to as the user) of the vehicle 102. For example, the instrument panel 106 may include a touchscreen 108 of an in-vehicle computing system 109 (e.g., an infotainment system), an audio system control panel, and a group of instruments 110. The exemplary system shown in Figure 2 includes an audio system control device that can be operated via the user interface of the in-vehicle computing system 109, such as the touchscreen 108, without using a separate audio system control panel. In other embodiments, the vehicle may include an audio system control panel that may include control devices for conventional vehicle audio systems such as a radio, compact disc player, or MP3 player. The audio system control device may include a mechanism for controlling one or more aspects of the audio output via the speakers 112 of the vehicle speaker system. For example, the in-vehicle computing system or the audio system control device may control the volume of the audio output, the distribution of sound between the individual speakers of the vehicle speaker system, the equalization of the audio signal, and / or any other aspects of the audio output. In a further example, the in-vehicle computing system 109 can adjust radio station selection, playlist selection, audio input source (e.g., radio, CD, or MP3), etc., based on user input received directly via the touchscreen 108, or based on data about the user (such as the user's physical state and / or environment) received via an external device 150 and / or mobile device 128.

[0060] In some embodiments, one or more hardware elements of the in-vehicle computing system 109, such as a touchscreen 108, a display screen, various control dials, knobs and buttons, memory, a processor(s), and any interface elements (e.g., connectors or ports), may form an integrated head unit mounted on the vehicle's instrument panel 106. The head unit may be fixed to the instrument panel 106 or mounted detachably. In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more hardware elements of the in-vehicle computing system may be modular and mounted at multiple locations in the vehicle.

[0061] The passenger compartment 100 may include one or more sensors for monitoring the vehicle, the user, and / or the environment. For example, the passenger compartment 100 may include one or more seat-mounted pressure sensors configured to measure the pressure applied to the seats to determine the presence of a user, a door sensor configured to monitor the operation of the doors, a humidity sensor to measure the humidity content of the passenger compartment, a microphone for receiving user input in the form of voice commands, enabling the user to make a phone call, and / or measuring ambient noise within the passenger compartment 100. It should be understood that the above-mentioned sensors and / or one or more additional or alternative sensors may be positioned at any suitable location in the vehicle. For example, sensors may be positioned in the engine compartment, on the exterior of the vehicle, and / or at other suitable locations for providing information about the vehicle's operation, the vehicle's surroundings, the vehicle's user, etc. Information about the vehicle's surroundings, vehicle status, or the vehicle driver may also be received from external / separate sensors (i.e., not part of the vehicle system), such as sensors connected to external device 150 and / or mobile device 128.

[0062] The vehicle compartment 100 may also include one or more user objects, such as a mobile device 128, which is stored inside the vehicle before, during, and / or after the vehicle is moved. The mobile device 128 may include a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, portable media player, and / or any suitable mobile computing device. The mobile device 128 may be connected to the in-vehicle computing system via a communication link 130. The communication link 130 may be wired (e.g., via Universal Serial Bus [USB], Mobile High Definition Link [MHL], High Definition Multimedia Interface [HDMI®], Ethernet®, etc.) or wireless (e.g., via Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct Near Field Communication [NFC], cellular connectivity, etc.) and may be configured to provide bidirectional communication between the mobile device and the in-vehicle computing system. The mobile device 128 may include one or more wireless communication interfaces for connecting to one or more communication links (e.g., one or more of the communication link examples described above). The wireless communication interface may include one or more physical devices, such as antennas or ports coupled to data lines for carrying transmitted or received data, as well as one or more modules / drivers for operating the physical devices in accordance with other devices within the mobile device. For example, communication link 130 may provide sensor and / or control signals from various vehicle systems (such as a vehicle audio system and an environmental control system) and touchscreen 108 to the mobile device 128, and may provide control and / or display signals from the mobile device 128 to the in-vehicle systems and touchscreen 108. Communication link 130 may also provide power to the mobile device 128 from an in-vehicle power source to charge the mobile device's internal battery.

[0063] The in-vehicle computing system 109 may also be communicatively coupled to further devices (e.g., one or more external devices 150) located outside the vehicle 102 but operated and / or accessed by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the external devices are located outside the vehicle 102, but in alternative embodiments, it is understood that the external devices may be located inside the cabin 100. The external devices may include server computing systems, personal computing systems, portable electronic devices, electronic wristbands, electronic headbands, portable music players, electronic activity tracking devices, pedometers, smartwatches, navigation systems, and the like. The external devices 150 may be connected to the in-vehicle computing system via a communication link 136, which may be wired or wireless, as described with reference to communication link 130, and may also be configured to provide bidirectional communication between the external devices and the in-vehicle computing system. For example, the external devices 150 may include one or more sensors, and the communication link 136 may transmit sensor outputs from the external devices 150 to the in-vehicle computing system 109 and the touchscreen 108. The external device 150 may also store and / or receive information such as context data, user behavior / preferences, and operating rules, and may transmit such information from the external device 150 to the in-vehicle computing system 109 and the touchscreen 108.

[0064] The in-vehicle computing system 109 may analyze inputs received from external devices 150, mobile devices 128, and / or other input sources and selected settings of various in-vehicle systems (environmental control systems or audio systems), provide outputs via the touchscreen 108 and / or speaker 112, communicate with mobile devices 128 and / or external devices 150, and / or perform other actions based on the evaluation. In some embodiments, all or part of the evaluation may be performed by mobile devices 128 and / or external devices 150.

[0065] In some embodiments, one or more of the external devices 150 may be indirectly and communicatively coupled to the in-vehicle computing system 109 via the mobile device 128 and / or another external device 150. For example, the communication link 136 may communicatively couple the external devices 150 to the mobile device 128 so that the output from the external devices 150 is relayed to the mobile device 128. The data received from the external devices 150 may then be aggregated in the mobile device 128 along with the data collected by the mobile device 128, and the aggregated data may then be transmitted to the in-vehicle computing system 109 and the touchscreen 108 via the communication link 130. Similar data aggregation may be performed in a server system and then transmitted to the in-vehicle computing system 109 and the touchscreen 108 via the communication links 136 / 130.

[0066] Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an in-vehicle computing system 200 configured and / or integrated inside the vehicle 201. The in-vehicle computing system 200 may be an example of the in-vehicle computing system 109 in Figure 2, and / or in some embodiments it may perform one or more of the methods described herein. In some embodiments the in-vehicle computing system may be a vehicle infotainment system configured to provide vehicle users with informational media content (including audio and / or visual media content, such as entertainment content and navigation services) to enhance the operator's in-vehicle experience. The vehicle infotainment system may include, or be linked with, various vehicle systems, subsystems, hardware components, and software applications and systems that are integrated into or can be integrated into the vehicle 201 to enhance the driver and / or passenger's in-vehicle experience.

[0067] The in-vehicle computing system 200 may be configured to detect the occurrence of an accident, impact, or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle 201 based on inputs received from various sensors in the vehicle 201. Furthermore, in some examples, the vehicle user may send a signal indicating that an impact, accident, mechanical malfunction, etc., has occurred via user input such as buttons or a touchscreen on the user interface 218.

[0068] The in-vehicle computing system 200 may include one or more processors, including an operating system processor 214 and an interface processor 220. The operating system processor 214 may run an operating system on the in-vehicle computing system and control the input / output, display, playback, and other operations of the in-vehicle computing system. The interface processor 220 may interface with the vehicle control system 230 via a vehicle-to-vehicle system communication module 222.

[0069] The vehicle-to-vehicle system communication module 222 may, for example, receive data inputs from other vehicle components and systems 231 and 261 via the vehicle control system 230, while also outputting data to other vehicle systems 231 and vehicle control elements 261. When outputting data, the vehicle-to-vehicle system communication module 222 may provide signals via buses corresponding to outputs of any state of the vehicle, the vehicle's surroundings, or any other information sources connected to the vehicle. Vehicle data outputs may include, for example, analog signals (such as flow velocity), digital signals provided by individual information sources (such as clocks, thermometers, and position sensors such as Global Positioning System [GPS] sensors), and digital signals propagated via vehicle data networks (such as the engine's Controller Area Network [CAN] bus, which can communicate engine-related information; the environmental control CAN bus, which can communicate environmental control-related information; and the multimedia data network, which communicates multimedia data between multimedia components within the vehicle). For example, an on-board computing system may extract from the engine CAN bus the vehicle's flow velocity inferred by wheel sensors, the vehicle's power status via the vehicle's battery and / or power distribution system, and the status of the vehicle's ignition system. In addition, other means of communication, such as Ethernet®, may be used in a similar manner without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0070] A non-volatile storage device 208 may be included in the in-vehicle computing system 200 to store data such as instructions that can be executed by processors 214 and 220 in a non-volatile form. The storage device 208 may store application data and enable the in-vehicle computing system 200 to run applications to connect to and / or collect information for transmission to a cloud-based server (e.g., remote server 16 shown in Figure 1). The applications can retrieve information collected by vehicle systems / sensors, input devices (e.g., user interface 218), devices communicating with the in-vehicle computing system (e.g., mobile devices connected via Bluetooth® link), etc. The in-vehicle computing system 200 may further include volatile memory 216. The volatile memory 216 may be random-access memory (RAM). Non-volatile storage devices such as the non-volatile storage device 208 and the volatile memory 216 may store instructions and / or code that, when executed by a processor (e.g., the operating system processor 214 and / or interface processor 220), control the in-vehicle computing system 200 to perform one or more of the actions described herein.

[0071] The microphone 202 may be included in the in-vehicle computing system 200, for example, to receive voice commands from the user, measure ambient noise inside the vehicle, and determine whether the sound from the vehicle's speakers is adjusted according to the vehicle's acoustic environment. The voice processing unit 204 may process voice commands, such as voice commands received from the microphone 202. In some embodiments, the in-vehicle computing system 200 may also use microphones included in the vehicle's audio system 232 to receive voice commands and sample ambient vehicle noise.

[0072] One or more additional sensors may be included in the sensor subsystem 210 of the in-vehicle computing system 200. For example, the sensor subsystem 210 may include cameras such as a rear camera to assist the user in parking the vehicle and / or a cabin camera to identify the user (e.g., using facial recognition and / or user gestures). The sensor subsystem 210 of the in-vehicle computing system 200 may communicate with and receive inputs from various vehicle sensors, and may also receive user inputs. For example, inputs received by the sensor subsystem 210 may include gear position, clutch position, gas pedal input, brake input, gear selector position, vehicle speed, engine speed, airflow through the engine, ambient temperature, intake air temperature, etc., as well as inputs from environmental control system sensors (heat transfer fluid temperature, antifreeze temperature, fan rotation speed, passenger compartment temperature, desired passenger compartment temperature, ambient humidity, etc.), a voice sensor to detect voice commands issued by the user, and a fob sensor to receive commands from the geographical location / proximity of vehicle fobs and optionally track them. A particular vehicle system sensor may communicate with the sensor subsystem 210 independently, while other sensors may communicate with both the sensor subsystem 210 and the vehicle control system 230, or indirectly with the sensor subsystem 210 via the vehicle control system 230. The navigation subsystem 211 of the in-vehicle computing system 200 may generate and / or receive navigation information such as location information (e.g., via GPS sensors and / or other sensors from the sensor subsystem 210), road directions, traffic information, and point of interest (POI) identification, and / or provide other navigation services to the driver.

[0073] The external device interface 212 of the in-vehicle computing system 200 can connect to and / or communicate with one or more external devices 240 located outside the vehicle 201. Although the external devices are indicated as being located outside the vehicle 201, it should be understood that they may be temporarily housed inside the vehicle 201, such as when a user is operating an external device while operating the vehicle 201. In other words, the external devices 240 are not essential to the vehicle 201. The external devices 240 may include a mobile device 242 (for example, connected via Bluetooth®, NFC, Wi-Fi Direct, or other wireless connection) or an alternative Bluetooth®-enabled device 252. Examples of mobile devices 242 include mobile phones, smartphones, wearable devices / sensors, or other portable electronic devices that can communicate with the in-vehicle computing system via wired and / or wireless communication. Other external devices include external services 246. For example, external devices may include off-vehicle devices located outside the vehicle, away from the vehicle. Other external devices include external storage devices 254, such as solid-state drives, pen drives, and USB drives. For example, the external storage device 254 may include the server 16 described above, with reference to Figure 1.

[0074] Therefore, the external storage device 254 may receive a request for assistance from the in-vehicle computing system 200. The operating system processor 214 may determine, based on the output received from the vehicle sensors, whether another type of emergency has occurred, such as an accident, mechanical and / or electrical malfunction, or a medical emergency for the occupants. Additionally or alternatively, the driver or occupants of the vehicle may communicate their need for assistance to the operating system processor 214 via the user interface 218. In response to a determination that an impact, accident, mechanical malfunction, or other emergency has occurred, the operating system processor 214 may send a request for assistance to the external storage device 254.

[0075] The external storage device 254 may process the request and determine the desired recipient of the assistance request. In some embodiments, the storage device 254 may transmit the assistance request to a vehicle located within the same geographical area or within a threshold distance of the vehicle that received the assistance request, so that the vehicle can be assisted by a nearby vehicle. Furthermore, the storage device 254 may contact an external service 246, such as an ambulance, tow truck, or police, to provide the vehicle with the desired assistance.

[0076] The external device 240 may communicate with the in-vehicle computing system 200 wirelessly or via a connector without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the external device 240 may communicate with the in-vehicle computing system 200 via the external device interface 212 through a network 260, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, a direct wired connection, a direct wireless connection, and / or other communication links.

[0077] The external device interface 212 may provide a communication interface to enable the in-vehicle computing system to communicate with a mobile device associated with the driver's contact. For example, the external device interface 212 may enable a call to be established and / or a text message (e.g., SMS, MMS, etc.) to be sent to the mobile device associated with the driver's contact (e.g., via a cellular communication network). The external device interface 212 may also, as will be described in more detail below, provide a wireless communication interface to enable the in-vehicle computing system to synchronize data with one or more devices in the vehicle (e.g., the driver's mobile device) via WIFI Direct.

[0078] One or more applications 244 may be able to run on the mobile device 242. For example, a mobile device application 244 may operate to aggregate user data relating to the user's interaction with the mobile device. For instance, a mobile device application 244 may aggregate data such as music playlists listened to by the user on the mobile device, call logs (including the frequency and duration of calls accepted by the user), and location information including places frequently visited by the user and the amount of time spent at each location. The collected data may be transferred by the application 244 to the external device interface 212 via the network 260. In addition, specific user data requests from the in-vehicle computing system 200 may be received by the mobile device 242 via the external device interface 212. Specific data requests may include requests to determine the user's geographical location, ambient noise levels and / or music genres at the user's location, and ambient weather conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) at the user's location. The mobile device application 244 may send control commands to components of the mobile device 242 (e.g., a microphone) or other applications (e.g., a navigation application) to enable the collection of requested data on the mobile device. The mobile device application 244 can then transmit the collected information back to the in-vehicle computing system 200.

[0079] Similarly, one or more applications 248 may operate on an external service 246. For example, an external service application 248 may operate to aggregate and / or analyze data from multiple data sources. For instance, an external service application 248 may aggregate data from one or more of a user's social media accounts, data from an in-vehicle computing system (e.g., sensor data, log files, user input, etc.), data from internet queries (e.g., weather data, POI data), etc. The collected data may be sent to another device and / or analyzed by the application to determine the context of the driver, vehicle, and environment, and to take action based on this context (e.g., requesting data from other devices / sending data to other devices).

[0080] The vehicle control system 230 may include control devices for controlling various aspects of vehicle systems 231 related to different in-vehicle functions. These may include, for example, controlling aspects of a vehicle audio system 232 for providing audio entertainment to vehicle occupants, aspects of an environmental control system 234 for meeting vehicle occupants' requests for cabin cooling or heating, and aspects of a communication system 236 for enabling vehicle occupants to establish a communication network with others.

[0081] The audio system 232 may include one or more sound reproduction devices, including electromagnetic transducers such as speakers. The vehicle audio system 232 may be passive or active, for example, by including a power amplifier. In some examples, the in-vehicle computing system 200 may be the sole sound source for the sound reproduction devices, or there may be other sound sources connected to an audio reproduction system (e.g., an external device such as a mobile phone). Any such connection of external devices to the audio reproduction devices may be analog, digital, or any combination of analog and digital technologies.

[0082] The environmental control system 234 may be configured to provide a comfortable environment in the passenger compartment or occupant compartment of the vehicle 201. The environmental control system 234 includes components that enable controlled ventilation, such as air vents, heaters, air conditioning units, and integrated heater and air conditioning systems. Other components related to heating and air conditioning settings may include a windshield defrosting and anti-fog system that can clean the windshield, and ventilation filters for cleaning outside air entering the occupant compartment through the air intakes.

[0083] The vehicle control system 230 may also include controls for adjusting the settings of various vehicle control devices 261 (or vehicle system control elements) relating to the engine and / or auxiliary elements in the vehicle's cabin, such as steering wheel control devices 262 (e.g., audio system control devices, driving control devices, wiper control devices, headlight control devices, turn signal control devices, etc. mounted on the steering wheel), instrument panel control devices, microphones, microphones, access / brake / clutch pedals, gear shifts, door / window control devices positioned on the driver's or passenger's door, seat control devices, cabin lighting control devices, audio system control devices, cabin temperature control devices, etc. The vehicle control devices 261 may also include internal engine and vehicle operation controls (e.g., engine controller modules, actuators, valves, etc.) configured to receive commands via the CAN bus to change the operation of one or more of the engine, exhaust system, transmission, and / or other vehicle systems. Control signals may also control the audio output in one or more speakers of the vehicle audio system 232. For example, the control signal may adjust audio output characteristics such as volume, equalization, sound image (e.g., the configuration of an audio signal that produces an audio output that appears to the user as originating from one or more defined locations), and audio distribution between multiple speakers. Similarly, the control signal may control the vents, air conditioning, and / or heaters of the environmental control system 234. For example, the control signal may increase the delivery of cooled air to a specific area of ​​the passenger compartment.

[0084] Control elements positioned outside the vehicle (e.g., control devices for safety systems) may also be connected to the computing system 200 via a communication module 222, etc. Control elements of the vehicle control system may be physically and permanently positioned on and / or inside the vehicle to receive user input. In addition to receiving control commands from the onboard computing system 200, the vehicle control system 230 may also receive input from one or more external devices 240 operated by the user, such as a mobile device 242. This allows embodiments of the vehicle system 231 and the vehicle control device 261 to be controlled based on user input received from the external devices 240.

[0085] The in-vehicle computing system 200 may further include an antenna 206. Although the antenna 206 is illustrated as a single antenna, in some embodiments it may include one or more antennas. The in-vehicle computing system may obtain broadband wireless internet access via the antenna 206 and may further receive broadcast signals such as radio, television, weather, and traffic. The in-vehicle computing system may receive positioning signals such as GPS signals via one or more antennas 206. The in-vehicle computing system may also receive wireless commands via radio frequency (RF) such as the antenna(s) 206, or via infrared or other means through a suitable receiving device. In some embodiments, the antenna 206 may be included as part of an audio system 232 or a communication system 236. In addition, the antenna 206 may provide AM / FM wireless signals to an external device 240 (such as a mobile device 242) via an external device interface 212. Antenna 206 is a non-limiting example of one of the antennas 56.

[0086] One or more elements of the in-vehicle computing system 200 may be controlled by the user via a user interface 218. The user interface 218 may include a touchscreen, such as the touchscreen 108 in Figure 2, and / or a graphical user interface presented to user-driven buttons, switches, knobs, dials, sliders, etc. For example, user-driven elements may include a steering wheel control device, door and / or window control devices, instrument panel control devices, audio system settings, and environmental control system settings. The user may also interact with one or more applications of the in-vehicle computing system 200 and the mobile device 242 via the user interface 218. In addition to receiving the user's vehicle setting preferences on the interface 218, vehicle settings selected by the in-vehicle control system may be shown to the user on the user interface 218. Notifications and other messages (e.g., received messages), as well as navigation assistance, may be shown to the user on the user interface display. Responses to user preferences / information and / or presented messages may be performed via user input to the user interface.

[0087] With respect to Figure 1, it should be understood that the telematics unit 30 described herein may be formed from multiple components of an in-vehicle computing system 200, including but not limited to an antenna 206 and an external device interface 212.

[0088] Referring here to Figure 4, Figure 400 shows a reconfigurable antenna 404 including a base 406. The base 406 may be integrated with a telematics unit such as the telematics unit 30 described above, and the reconfigurable antenna 404 may be an example of the antenna 56 described above. A reference axis 402 is provided for comparison between the perspective view in Figure 4 and the top and side views shown in Figures 5 and 7. The reference axis 402 includes the x-axis, z-axis, and y-axis. The z-axis may be parallel to the vertical axis and may also be parallel to the gravity axis if the reconfigurable antenna 404 is positioned on or inside the roof of a vehicle. The x-axis may be parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the y-axis may be parallel to the transverse axis.

[0089] The reconfigurable antenna 404 may be configured as a plane-plate inverse f antenna (PIFA) with a coupling plate. The reconfigurable antenna 404 may include an antenna portion 408 and a coupling portion 410. The antenna portion 408 may be a PIFA antenna coupled to a frequency switch 412. The frequency switch 412 may include lumped element elements connected to ground.

[0090] The antenna portion 408 may further include a flat plate portion 414. The flat plate portion 414 may be positioned parallel to the base 406 or separated by a vertical distance 416. The flat plate portion may have a longitudinal length 418 and a transverse length 420. A pin portion 422 of the antenna portion 408 may be coupled to the flat plate portion 414 at a first end and to the base 406 at a second end. The second end may be in the negative z direction relative to the first end. The pin portion 422 may extend vertically between the flat plate portion 414 and the base 406. The pin portion 422 may be coupled to the flat plate portion 414 at its first longitudinal end 424. The pin portion 422 may be bent substantially 90° at its second end to form a continuation portion 426 of the pin portion 422, which is parallel to the base 406 and provides a larger surface area for mechanically coupling the pin portion 422 to the base 406. The continuation portion 426 may protrude a certain distance beyond the first longitudinal end 424 of the flat portion 414.

[0091] The antenna portion 408 may further include a feed portion 428. The feed portion 428 may extend vertically from the longitudinal edge of the flat plate portion 414 toward the base 406. The vertical height of the feed portion 428 may be equivalent to the vertical distance 416 between the flat plate portion 414 and the base 406. The feed portion 428 may extend along the longitudinal edge of the flat plate portion 414 for a longitudinal length 430. The frequency switch 412 may be physically coupled to the base 406 and the feed portion 428. The frequency switch may be electrically coupled to the antenna portion 408. In one example, the frequency switch 412 may be physically coupled to the feed portion 428 and positioned longitudinally off-center relative to the longitudinal length 430. In an alternative example, the physical position of the frequency switch 412 may be spaced away from the antenna portion 408. The frequency switch 412 may be configured to adjust the impedance matching of the reconfigurable antenna 404.

[0092] The coupling portion 410 may be L-shaped and may include a parallel plate portion 432 and a vertical plate portion 434. The coupling portion 410 may be positioned at the second longitudinal end of the plate portion 414, opposite the first longitudinal end 424 along the x-axis. A portion of the parallel plate portion 432 may overlap with a portion of the plate portion 414 in the xy-plane. The parallel plate portion 432 may be separated from the plate portion 414 in the vertical direction. The overlapping portion may be at the end of the plate portion 414 opposite to the pin portion 422 and may be laterally offset along the y-axis with respect to the lateral edge of the parallel plate portion 432.

[0093] The parallel plate portion 432 may be positioned parallel to the base 406, or it may be separated from the base 406 by a vertical distance 436. The parallel plate portion 432 may have a longitudinal length 438 and a transverse length 440. The longitudinal length 438 of the parallel plate portion 432 may be shorter than the longitudinal length 418 of the plate portion 414. The transverse length 440 of the parallel plate portion 432 may be longer than the transverse length 420 of the plate portion 414. In this way, the plate portion 414 and the parallel plate portion 432 may be elongated in directions perpendicular to each other (for example, parallel to the x-axis and y-axis, respectively). The vertical distance 436 of the parallel plate portion 432 may be greater than the vertical distance 416 of the plate portion 414.

[0094] The vertical plate portion 434 may extend vertically from the base 406 to the parallel plate portion 432. The coupling portion 410 may be a single continuous piece bent substantially at 90° to form an L-shape including the vertical plate portion 434 and the parallel plate portion 432. The vertical plate portion 434 may extend laterally along the base 406 with a lateral length 440 and a vertical height equal to the vertical distance 436. The radiation switch 442 may be positioned on the base 406 and may be physically and electrically coupled to the vertical plate portion 434. In some examples, the radiation switch 442 may be electrically coupled to the coupling portion 410 and physically separated from the coupling portion 410. The radiation switch 442 may be configured to control the radiation pattern shape by adjusting the peak gain direction.

[0095] Figure 5 shows a top view 500 of the antenna portion 408, a top view 502 of the reconfigurable antenna 404 including the antenna portion 408 and the coupling portion 410, and a side view 504 of the reconfigurable antenna 404 along the x-axis. The parts are labeled the same as in Figure 4 and are not reintroduced.

[0096] Comparing the top view 500 of the antenna portion 408 with the top view 502 of the reconfigurable antenna 404, the overlapping portion of the antenna portion 408 and the coupling portion 410 is shown. As shown in the top view 502, the parallel plate portion 432 may extend laterally on the plate portion 414 until it is substantially uniform along the longitudinal axis of the frequency switch 412. The overlapping portion of the plate portion 414 and the parallel plate portion 432 is indicated by a box 508. The area of ​​the box 508 can be adjusted to adjust the amount of coupling between the antenna portion 408 and the coupling portion 410. In this way, the frequency and radiation pattern produced by the reconfigurable antenna 404 can be adjusted.

[0097] As shown in the side view 504, the coupling portion 410 may be physically separated from the antenna portion 408. The coupling portion 410 does not have to be directly physically coupled to the antenna portion 408. As further shown in the side view 504, the parallel plate portion 432 may overhang the plate portion 414. In this way, when the radiating switch 442 is electrically floating (e.g., in the off position), the coupling portion 410 may be electromagnetically decoupled from the antenna portion 408. When the radiating switch 442 is electrically grounded to a common base (e.g., base 406) to turn the radiating switch 442 to the ON position, the coupling portion may be electromagnetically coupled to the antenna portion 408.

[0098] Figure 6 shows an operational diagram 600 of the reconfigurable antenna 404. The radiating switch 442 may be configured to switch between an electrical coupling between a first short-circuit ground 602 (e.g., short-circuit configuration) and a first open-circuit ground 604 (e.g., open configuration). The frequency switch 412 may be configured to switch between an electrical coupling between a second short-circuit ground 608 and a second open-circuit ground 606. A common ground 610, such as a printed circuit board, may electrically couple the radiating switch 442 to the frequency switch 412. The common ground 610 may be an example of the base 406 described above.

[0099] Controller 612 may be communicatively coupled to both frequency switch 412 and radiating switch 442. In one example, controller 612 may be a general-purpose input / output (GPIO) of a microcontroller unit (MCU) or other module. In one example, the MCU may be the processor of the telematics unit, such as the processor 52 of the telematics unit 30 shown in Figure 1. The high-frequency switch 614 may be communicatively coupled to controller 612 and electrically coupled to antenna section 408. The high-frequency switch 614 may be in the high-frequency path and may be configured to select between the satellite module and the cellular module of the reconfigurable antenna 404. The selection of the module (e.g., SatCom or cellular) may communicate with the controller of the telematics unit to configure other hardware and / or software functions for communication over the selected modality. In an alternative example, quadrature carrier modulation (QCM) may be implemented, and the high-frequency switch may be incorporated into the network access device of the telematics unit, such as the wireless modem 50 in Figure 1.

[0100] Table 1 below shows the modes of reconfigurable antennas, such as reconfigurable antenna 404, and the corresponding states of frequency switches, such as frequency switch 412, and radiation switches, such as radiation switch 442. [Table 1] As shown in Table 1, the reconfigurable antenna can operate in three different modes depending on the configuration of the frequency switch and the radiation switch. The modes may be numbered 1 to 3 as shown in Table 1 for reference. The radiation switch may be used to control the peak gain direction (e.g., radiation pattern shape) to adjust the status of the radiation switch (e.g., on / off or short / open), to adjust whether the coupling plate (e.g., coupling portion 410) is activated or deactivated, and may also affect the impedance of the reconfigurable antenna. The frequency switch may be used to tune (e.g., adjust) the frequency of the reconfigurable antenna within the frequency band required for communication. The frequency switch is used for impedance matching (VSWR) within the required frequency band. When the radiation switch is open and the frequency switch is open, the reconfigurable antenna may be in satellite mode (e.g., satellite mode or mode 1) with a high elevation radiation pattern. The VSWR frequency may be within the satellite band, and the radiation pattern may point towards the zenith. When the radiation switch is short-circuited and the frequency switch is open, the reconfigurable antenna may be in cellular mode (e.g., mode 2). In cellular mode, the radiation pattern may be a low-elevation pattern because the coupling plate is activated (e.g., open), and the VSWR frequency may be shifted to the cellular band. When the radiation switch is short-circuited and the frequency switch is short-circuited, the reconfigurable antenna may be in cellular and satellite mode (e.g., cellular / satellite hybrid mode or mode 3) with a low-elevation radiation pattern. The VSWR frequency may overlap with both the cellular band and the frequency band, and the radiation pattern may correspond to a low elevation.

[0101] In one example, radiating switch 442 can be controlled by supplying power to radiating switch 422. When power is supplied, radiating switch 442 may be in an ON state, which may correspond to radiating switch 442 being short-circuited (e.g., coupled to a first short-circuit earth 602). When no power is supplied to radiating switch 442, radiating switch 422 may be in an OFF state, which may correspond to radiating switch 442 being open (e.g., coupled to a first open earth 604). In a further example, frequency switch 412 may remain powered and be controlled by a voltage applied to frequency switch 412. When the applied voltage is low, frequency switch 412 may be open (e.g., coupled to a second open earth 606). When the applied voltage is high, frequency switch 412 may be short-circuited (e.g., coupled to a second short-circuit earth 608). In alternative examples, the switching mechanism (e.g., power and voltage) may be swapped between the frequency switch 412 and the radiation switch 422. In further examples, the switching mechanism is not particularly limited and other signals may be used to activate the switching between short-circuit and open-circuit grounding.

[0102] Figure 7 shows a top view of an alternative example of the reconfigurable antenna 702. The reconfigurable antenna 702 may include some of the same components as the reconfigurable antenna 404. Such components are numbered the same and are not reintroduced. For example, the base 406 may be made rectangular in shape, measuring 215 mm horizontally and 72 mm vertically. The antenna portion 408 and coupling portion 410 of the reconfigurable antenna 702 may be positioned towards the corners of the base 406.

[0103] The reconfigurable antenna 702 may include a radiating switch 704 and a frequency switch 706. The radiating switch 704 may operate in the same manner as the radiating switch 442, and the frequency switch 706 may operate in the same manner as the frequency switch 412, as described above with respect to Figure 6. The radiating switch 704 may be electrically coupled to the coupling portion 410 or physically separated from the coupling portion 410. The frequency switch 706 may be electrically coupled to the antenna portion 408 or physically separated from this antenna portion. The radiating switch 704 and the frequency switch 706 do not have to be directly physically coupled to the antenna portion 408 or the coupling portion 410.

[0104] The reconfigurable antenna 702 was tested in three different operating modes as listed in Table 1 above. Graph 800 in Figure 8 shows the VSWR as a function of frequency for the three different modes. Line 808 corresponds to the upper threshold VSWR, and frequencies below it are considered matched.

[0105] The first graph 802 includes plot 810 corresponding to the reconfigurable antenna 702 in satellite mode (e.g., mode 1) where the frequency switch is off (e.g., open) and the voltage applied to the radiating switch is low (e.g., open). Plot 810 includes two troughs, namely a first trough centered on the satellite TX / RX communication band and a second trough centered on the satellite RX band. The satellite TX / RX band may be, for example, in the range of 1 GHz to 2 GHz. The satellite Rx may be, for example, in the range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz. Thus, the frequency output of the reconfigurable antenna in satellite mode is suitable for communication with a satellite.

[0106] The second graph 804 includes plot 812 corresponding to the reconfigurable antenna 702 in cellular mode (e.g., mode 2) where the frequency switch is on (e.g., short-circuited) and the voltage applied to the radiating switch is low (e.g., open-circuited). Plot 812 includes three troughs. The minimum value of the first trough corresponds to the cellular low band. The second trough is below the VSWR threshold line 808 within the range corresponding to the cellular midband. The minimum value of the third trough corresponds to the cellular high band. In the example, the cellular low band may be below the satellite TX / RX band (e.g., at a lower frequency). Furthermore, the cellular midband may be between the satellite TX / RX band and the satellite RX band. In addition, the cellular high band may be above the satellite RX band (e.g., at a higher frequency). Thus, the frequency output of the reconfigurable antenna in cellular mode is suitable for communication at cellular communication frequencies.

[0107] The third graph 806 includes plot 814, which corresponds to a reconfigurable antenna in a combined cellular / satellite hybrid mode (e.g., mode 3) where the frequency switch is on (e.g., short-circuited) and the voltage applied to the radiating switch is high (e.g., short-circuited). Plot 814 includes three troughs. The first trough is located within the cellular low band. The second trough is located within the frequency range of the cellular midband. Plot 814 also shows that it is below the VSWR threshold line 808 between the first and second minimums and is also matched to the satellite TX / RX band. The third trough corresponds to the satellite RX band. Plot 814 also extends below the VSWR threshold line 808 into the cellular high-band frequency range. Thus, switching between the three modes described above may reconfigure a reconfigurable antenna, such as reconfigurable antenna 702 or 404, based on the required frequency.

[0108] Referring here to Figure 9, the three-dimensional plot 900 shows the radiation pattern measured for the reconfigurable antenna 702. The first graph 902 includes surface 906 corresponding to the reconfigurable antenna 702 in mode 1. As described above, mode 1 may include a high elevation radiation pattern by applying a low voltage to the radiation switch (e.g., open). The second graph 904 includes surface 908 corresponding to the reconfigurable antenna 702 in mode 3. As described above, mode 3 may include a low elevation radiation pattern by applying a high voltage to the radiation switch (e.g., closed). Surface 906 shows the maximum gain parallel to the zenith direction (e.g., 90° from the xy plane), as indicated by arrow 910. In contrast, surface 908 shows the maximum gain at an angle to the zenith direction (e.g., 60° to 70° from the xy plane), as indicated by arrow 912. In this way, Mode 1 can better overlap with signals from high-elevation satellites, and the reconfigurable antenna 702 may be switched to Mode 3 to better overlap with low-elevation satellites.

[0109] Referring here to Figure 10, a flowchart of Method 1000 for controlling a reconfigurable antenna, such as the reconfigurable antenna 404 or the reconfigurable antenna 702 described above, is shown. Method 1000 may select a configuration of the reconfigurable antenna (e.g., Mode 1, 2, or 3) based on predicting signal quality. Instructions for Method 1000 and any additional methods described herein may be stored in the controller's non-volatile memory, such as the digital memory 54 of the telematics unit 30, as described with reference to Figure 1, and executed by a processor such as the processor 52.

[0110] In 1002, method 1000 determines whether a cellular network can be searched. Determining whether a cellular network can be searched includes determining whether a telematics unit can search for and find a cellular signal. The search may be performed by a cellular signal monitoring hardware device of a telematics unit configured to continuously monitor cellular signal strength (e.g., SINR / RSRP). Determining whether a cellular network can be searched may be done when the cellular signal monitoring hardware measures the signal strength and compares the signal strength to a threshold. A signal strength above the threshold level indicates that the cellular network can be searched. A signal strength below the threshold may cause the cellular signal monitoring hardware device to output a signal indicating that no cellular network or service exists, indicating that the cellular network cannot be searched. If method 1000 determines that a cellular network can be searched, method 1000 proceeds to 1004, which includes activating an RF switch to configure a reconfigurable antenna to a cellular module. An RF switch could be an example of the high-frequency switch 614 shown in Figure 6.

[0111] In 1006, method 1000 determines whether the signal quality of mode 2 (e.g., cellular mode) is better than the signal quality of mode 3 (e.g., cellular / satellite mode). In one example, comparing signal quality as in step 1006 may include monitoring the received signal and comparing the received signal to the frequency / radiation patterns associated with mode 3 and mode 2. The monitored signals may be compared to determine which of the two modes has better signal quality. Metrics of signal quality to be compared may include the signal-to-noise ratio, a received signal strength indicator, etc. If in 1006 method 1000 determines that mode 2 has better signal quality, method 1000 proceeds to 1008, which includes switching to mode 2 (e.g., cellular mode). Switching to mode 2 may include activating a frequency switch (e.g., frequency switch 706 or frequency switch 412) coupled to a short-circuit ground. For example, switching to mode 2 may include powering the frequency switch. Furthermore, switching to mode 2 may involve activating a radiating switch (e.g., radiating switch 704 or radiating switch 442) that is coupled to open ground. Coupling a radiating switch to open ground may involve applying a low voltage to the radiating switch. Furthermore, switching to mode 2 and the other switching steps of method 1000 may be performed by implementing an algorithm to prevent hysteresis between reconfigurable antenna modes. Method 1000 returns.

[0112] In 1006, if method 1000 determines that mode 2 has better signal quality than mode 3, method 1000 proceeds to 1010, which includes switching to mode 3 (e.g., cellular / satellite low elevation mode). Switching to mode 3 may include activating a frequency switch coupled to short-circuit ground as described above. Furthermore, switching to mode 3 may include activating a radiating switch coupled to short-circuit ground. Coupling the radiating switch to short-circuit ground may include applying a high voltage to the radiating switch. Method 1000 returns.

[0113] Returning to 1002, if method 1000 determines that the cellular network cannot be found, method 1000 proceeds to 1012, which includes activating an RF switch on the satellite module. In 1014, method 1000 determines whether the signal quality of mode 1 is better than that of mode 3. Comparing the signal quality of mode 1 and mode 3 can be done in the same way as comparing mode 2 to mode 3, as described above with respect to step 1006. In addition, once the RF switch is activated on the satellite module, comparing the signal quality may include using vehicle information such as position, time, and heading, in addition to the stored satellite orbit schedule and the stored radiation patterns of mode 1 and mode 3, in order to predict which mode will best communicate with the target satellite. An algorithm for selecting an antenna to communicate with the satellite will be described further later with respect to Figure 11.

[0114] If method 1000 determines that the quality of mode 1 is better than the quality of mode 3, method 1000 proceeds to 10018, which includes switching to mode 1. Switching to mode 1 may include activating a frequency switch that is coupled to open ground. Coupling the frequency switch to open ground may include cutting the voltage to the frequency switch. Furthermore, switching to mode 1 may include activating a radiation switch to be coupled to open ground, as described above with respect to step 1008. If method 1000 determines that the quality of mode 1 is worse than the quality of mode 3, method 1000 proceeds to step 1010, which includes switching to mode 3. Method 1000 returns.

[0115] In some examples, the telematics unit, such as telematics unit 30, may be a SatCom-free telematics unit as described above with respect to Figure 1, and either the SatCom-free telematics unit or a telematics unit including one or more dedicated SatCom antennas may include a predictive SatCom algorithm as described later.

[0116] Figure 12 shows a block diagram of a portion of the telematics unit 1200, which includes a predictive SatCom algorithm. The telematics unit 1200 may be an example of the telematics unit 30 in Figure 1. The telematics unit 1200 may include multiple antennas 1202. In one example, the telematics unit 1200 may be a SatCom-free telematics unit, and each of the multiple antennas 1202 may be used for more than one communication modality. In an alternative example, the multiple antennas may include dedicated SatCom antennas, such as high-elevation and low-elevation SatCom antennas.

[0117] Multiple antennas 1202 can be electrically coupled to a switch controller 1204. The switch controller 1204 can be configured to selectively couple one of the multiple antennas 1202 to a module of the telematics unit 1200. The module may include a low Earth orbit (LEO) SatCom module 1206 (e.g., LEO module), a GNSS module 1208, a cellular module 1210, and a WLAN module 1212. The switch controller 1204 can selectively couple one of the multiple antennas 1202 in response to a command from a telematics unit controller (e.g., processor 52) based on a predictive SatCom algorithm including a line-of-sight (LOS) decision module 1214 and an out-of-line-of-sight (NLOS) decision module 1232.

[0118] The LOS determination module 1214 may receive dynamic information 1216. Dynamic information 1216 may be received from other sensors and controllers of the vehicle that are communicatively coupled to the telematics unit 1200. Dynamic information 1216 may include vehicle parameters 1220. Vehicle parameters 1220 may include information about the vehicle, including vehicle position, local time, vehicle orientation, and vehicle speed. Dynamic information 1216 may further include a local map 1224 and a satellite orbit schedule 1226. The satellite orbit schedule 1226 may include the satellite identity (e.g., satellite manufacturer) and the local time, position, and speed corresponding to the identified satellite. The LOS determination module 1214 may further include static information 1218. Static information 1218 may be stored in the non-volatile memory of the telematics unit 1200. Static information 1218 may include antenna radiation patterns. Information on antenna radiation patterns is further described below with reference to Figure 13.

[0119] Dynamic information 1216 may be input to satellite angle calculation 1228. Satellite angle calculation 1228 may output elevation and azimuth angles from the vehicle to one or more target satellites. The output of satellite angle calculation 1228 may be compared with static information 1218 in comparison 1230 to select one of several antennas to link to one or more target satellites. Comparison 1230 may match to the antenna that can best communicate with one or more target satellites. The selected antenna may be communicated to the switch controller 1204.

[0120] If the vehicle is not in line of sight to the satellite (for example, under the shade of a tree), the telematics unit 1200 may use the NLOS decision module 1232 to select an antenna. The NLOS decision module 1232 may include a SatCom signal quality monitor 1236. The SatCom signal quality monitor 1236 may be hardware communicatively coupled to an LEO module 1206 configured to monitor the signal quality of the connection between one or more target satellites and each of the antennas 1202. The SatCom signal quality monitor 1236 may be included in the telematics unit 1200, or alternatively, communicatively coupled to the telematics unit 1200. Signal quality may be monitored, for example, by monitoring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and / or reference signal received power (RSRP). The SatCom signal quality monitor 1236 may output a selection 1234 based on signal quality, and this selection may be output to the switch controller 1204.

[0121] Referring now to Figure 13, a diagram of a vehicle 1302 including a telematics unit 1304 is shown. The telematics unit 1304 may be an example of a telematics unit 1200 including a predictive SatCom algorithm as described above with respect to Figure 12. The telematics unit 1304 may be positioned, for example, on or inside the roof of the vehicle 1302 toward the rear end (for example, with respect to the normal direction of travel). A top view of the telematics unit 1304 shows that multiple antennas (e.g., multiple antennas 1202) may be physically positioned on the rectangular base 1305 of the telematics unit. For example, the first Wi-Fi antenna 1306 and the second Wi-Fi antenna 1310 may be positioned on opposing edges of the base 1305. The first cellular antenna 1312, the second cellular antenna 1318, the third cellular antenna 1314, and the fourth cellular antenna 1308 may be positioned on each of the four edges of the base 1305. The inner portion of base 1305 may include a GNSS antenna 1316. Optionally, the telematics unit 1304 may include one or more dedicated SatCom antennas 1320. It should be understood that a telematics unit including a predictive SatCom algorithm may not require one or more dedicated SatCom antennas 1320, and omitting one or more dedicated SatCom antennas 1320 may reduce the cost, size, and weight of the telematics unit 1304.

[0122] The side and top views of the telematics unit 1304 show the radiation coverage 1322 of each of the multiple antennas. Each of the multiple antennas may cover a different area and angle. Box 1324 highlights areas where the radiation coverage of two different antennas may overlap. In examples where antenna coverages overlap, the antenna with the higher gain radiation pattern may be preferred.

[0123] As shown in Figure 13, multiple radiation patterns represented by multiple antennas can be used to input into one or more lookup tables stored in the non-volatile memory of a telematics unit (e.g., telematics units 1200 and / or 1304). An example of a lookup table is shown in Figure 14.

[0124] The first lookup table 1400 may include rows corresponding to communications satellite vendors (e.g., manufacturers such as Skylo® or SpaceX®) to which the telematics unit may link. The columns of the first lookup table 1400 may include columns corresponding to each antenna of the telematics unit. The first lookup table 1400 indicates which antennas support communications over the frequency bands used by each satellite vendor. For example, as shown in the example of the first lookup table 1400, vendor 3 may support communications over frequencies covered by the first, second, third, and fourth cellular antennas but not covered by the Wi-Fi or GNSS antennas.

[0125] A second lookup table 1402 may be stored per vendor. The second lookup table 1402 may include rows corresponding to elevation and azimuth angles, and columns corresponding to each antenna supporting communication with the satellite vendor of the table. For example, the second lookup table 1402 for vendor 3 includes columns for the first, second, third, and fourth cellular antennas. Divisions (e.g., ranges) of possible elevation and azimuth angles may be assigned to each antenna where the best gain exists. The best gain may be determined by the amount of physical overlap between the antenna's radiation pattern and the satellite's possible angles.

[0126] Refer to Figure 15, which shows a flowchart of a general method 1500 of the predictive SatCom algorithm. Method 1500 can be performed in response to a communication link.

[0127] In method 1502, method 1500 includes selecting an antenna using an LOS module (e.g., LOS decision module 1214). An example of the method performed by the LOS module is shown in Figure 11 and will be discussed further later.

[0128] In step 1504, method 1500 determines whether the signal quality is greater than the signal quality threshold. The signal quality may be determined by hardware configured to continuously monitor the signal quality of the SatCom link (e.g., SatCom signal quality monitor 1236). For example, the quality of the signal quality may be identified by quantitative metrics such as the signal-to-noise ratio, RISS. If method 1500 determines that the signal quality is not greater than the threshold (e.g., the signal quality is degraded), method 1500 proceeds to 1506, which includes selecting an antenna using an NLOS module (e.g., an NLOS decision module 1232). An example of the method performed by the NLOS module is shown in Figure 16 and described further below. If method 1500 determines that the signal quality is greater than the threshold (e.g., the signal quality is not degraded), method 1500 continues to select an antenna using an LOS module and proceeds to 1508.

[0129] In 1508, method 1500 includes comparing the predicted satellite signal strength with the cellular signal strength. The predicted satellite signal strength may be determined as part of the antenna selection by either the LOS module or the NLOS module. Furthermore, signal strength parameters (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) may be continuously monitored for each cellular antenna of the telematics unit. The signal strength parameters may be used to predict the cellular signal strength of the cellular antenna.

[0130] In step 1510, method 1500 determines whether the satellite signal strength is greater than (e.g., stronger than) the cellular signal strength. If method 1500 determines that the satellite signal strength is not greater than the cellular signal strength, method 1500 proceeds to 1512, which includes handing over the communication link to a cellular module (e.g., cellular module 1210). If method 1500 determines that the satellite signal strength is greater than the cellular signal strength, method 1500 proceeds to 1514, which includes linking the selected antenna to a satellite module (e.g., LEO module 1206). Method 1500 returns.

[0131] Figure 11 shows a flowchart of Method 1100 of the LOS module for selecting a SatCom antenna from multiple antennas included in a telematics unit (e.g., Telematics Unit 1200) when a line of sight exists between the vehicle and the satellite. Method 1100 may be performed in response to a user requesting a communication link and a method such as Method 1500 being determined when a line of sight exists.

[0132] In 1102, method 1100 includes obtaining the radiation pattern of each of several antennas included in the telematics unit. The radiation patterns for each of the several antennas may be stored in a lookup table on the non-volatile memory of the telematics unit (e.g., the lookup table shown in Figure 14, which is the lookup table described above). The lookup table may provide antennas operating at frequencies corresponding to the satellite vendors, and for each vendor, it may include a table for selecting antennas within a certain range of elevation and azimuth angles. In an example where one of the several antennas is a reconfigurable antenna, the lookup table may include radiation patterns for each mode of the reconfigurable antenna.

[0133] As 1104, method 1100 includes determining vehicle parameters, including local time, location, orientation, and vehicle speed. Determining vehicle parameters may include communicating with vehicle sensors or subsystems, such as, but not limited to, the sensor subsystem 210 and the navigation subsystem 211, as described above with respect to Figure 3. In some examples, one or more vehicle parameters may be data outputs that are communicated to and stored in an on-board computing system (e.g., on-board computing system 200) and communicated to a telematics unit.

[0134] In 1106, method 1100 includes identifying a region map of the vehicle's location. The vehicle's location may be the vehicle's location determined in 1104. Identifying the region map may include comparing the geographic coordinates of the vehicle determined in 1104 with the coordinates encompassed by one of several maps stored in the non-volatile memory of the telecom unit. The region map may include terrain information. The region map may be acquired periodically based on the vehicle's location and dynamically updated based on the positioning region.

[0135] In 1108, method 1100 includes obtaining a satellite orbit schedule. The satellite orbit schedule may be stored in the non-volatile memory of the telematics unit. The satellite orbit schedule may include the orbit schedules of satellites that the telematics unit can couple. The satellite orbit schedule is periodically updated over time and may be periodically updated by the telematics unit.

[0136] In 1110, method 1100 includes calculating the azimuth and elevation angles from the vehicle to one or more target satellites based on the vehicle parameters determined in 1104, the area map identified in 1106, and the satellite orbit schedule obtained in 1108. The one or more target satellites may be selected from the satellites included in the satellite orbit schedule based on a comparison of the vehicle position and the satellite position. In some examples, the one or more target satellites may be the number of closest satellites (e.g., 1 to 3). In some examples, the one or more target satellites may each be within a threshold distance of the vehicle position.

[0137] In 1112, method 1100 includes selecting an antenna from a group of antennas based on calculated azimuth and elevation angles that overlap with the acquired radiation pattern. The selection may include determining the amount of overlap in azimuth and elevation angles due to the respective radiation patterns of the group of antennas, and selecting the antenna corresponding to the largest overlap. For example, the calculated azimuth and elevation angles may correspond to ranges stored in a lookup table for the corresponding satellite vendor. The lookup table may indicate which antennas communicating at the correct frequency correspond to the angular range.

[0138] In an example where there is one target satellite, one elevation and azimuth angle may be matched to a stored radiation pattern (e.g., a lookup table) corresponding to one of several antennas having the best gain area (e.g., static). In an example where two of several antennas have overlapping radiation patterns with good matching elevation and azimuth angles, the antenna with the highest gain may be selected.

[0139] In some examples, multiple (e.g., more than one) target satellites may be within the vehicle's range, and the azimuth and elevation angles may be calculated for each of the target satellites. In such examples, target satellites with elevation and azimuth angles that have the highest gain area of ​​one of the antennas may be selected for the link.

[0140] In 1114, method 1100 includes linking to one or more target satellites via a selected antenna. Linking to a satellite may include coupling a telecom unit to the satellite via a satellite module so as to enable communication over the satellite link.

[0141] In 1116, method 1100 includes predicting and preparing for linked satellite and / or antenna handovers based on area map, vehicle position, orientation, and velocity information. In some examples, a handover may be required if a rapid change of direction occurs. A rapid change of direction may include a change of direction exceeding a threshold angle occurring in less than a threshold time. The threshold angle may include the angle in a three-dimensional sphere of vehicle motion. For example, a rapid change of direction may occur when the vehicle makes a sharp turn and / or when the vehicle experiences a steep uphill or downhill slope. Furthermore, a handover may be required because a different satellite may be better positioned to link to the vehicle over time. A better-positioned satellite may have a higher gain by one of the multiple antennas than the currently linked satellite.

[0142] Prediction may include calculating possible azimuth and elevation angles from the vehicle to one or more target satellites, which may be done as the vehicle and satellite move relative to each other and sudden changes in direction or other possible changes occur. Prediction may further include comparing the possible azimuth and elevation angles with the acquired radiation pattern in order to select one or more handover antennas.

[0143] In 1118, method 1100 determines whether the gain of the handover antenna and / or satellite is greater than the gain of the linked antenna. A greater gain may indicate that the handover antenna has better signal overlap with the current or new satellite than the current antenna / satellite pair. The gains of the current and potential links of one or more handover antennas can be predicted sequentially while the communication link is progressing.

[0144] If method 1100 determines in 1118 that the gain will not increase, method 1100 proceeds to 1120, which includes maintaining the linked antenna established in step 1114. If method 1100 determines in 1118 that the gain will improve, method 1100 proceeds to 1122, which includes switching the linked antenna to a suitable prepared handover antenna. In this way, the user may not experience service interruption in the event of abrupt changes in direction or when the satellite's position changes relative to the vehicle's position. Method 1100 returns.

[0145] Referring here to Figure 16, a flowchart of Method 1600 for selecting one antenna from several antennas using an NLOS module is shown. As described above, the NLOS module may continuously monitor the signal quality (e.g., signal vs. noise) of the link between the satellite and the antenna. Method 1600 may be triggered by indicating that the signal quality falls below a threshold, causing the NLOS module to no longer predict the best antenna for linking to the satellite.

[0146] Method 1600, in 1604, includes using hardware to measure the signal quality of each antenna link to the currently linked satellite. For example, the link may then be established antenna by antenna of multiple antennas, and the quality may be measured using hardware such as a SatCom signal quality monitor 1236.

[0147] In 1606, method 1600 includes linking to the current satellite via an antenna having the best signal quality. The best signal quality may be determined by a signal quality measurement performed in 1604. For example, the antenna having the best signal quality may be an antenna measured to have the best signal-to-noise ratio among several antennas.

[0148] Method 1600, as described in 1608, includes measuring the signal quality of each antenna link to the next satellite. The next satellite may be any other satellite that can be linked by one of the multiple antennas. The measurement may be performed by the same hardware used to measure the signal quality of the current satellite link as described above. Signal quality can similarly be quantified by the signal-to-noise ratio, etc.

[0149] In step 1610, method 1600 determines whether the gain of the current satellite is higher than the gain of the next satellite. For example, each measurement in 1604 may be compared to the gain of the current satellite link. If method 1600 determines that the gain of the current satellite is higher than the gain of the next satellite, method 1600 proceeds to 1612, maintaining the link between the current satellite and the antenna. If method 1600 determines that the gain of the current satellite is not higher than the gain of the next satellite, method 1600 proceeds to 1614, which includes linking to the next satellite via the antenna with the best signal quality. The antenna with the best signal quality may be determined from the measurements in 1608 based on a quantitative measure of signal quality such as the signal-to-noise ratio described above. For example, the best signal quality may be the signal with the best signal-to-noise ratio. Method 1600 returns.

[0150] Refer to Figure 17 here, which shows a diagram illustrating antenna selection and handover. An LOS module, such as the LOS module described above, can use a first table 1700 and a second table 1702 stored in the telematics unit's non-volatile memory to predict that the cell 1 antenna of the telematics' multiple antennas will have the strongest (e.g., best signal-to-noise ratio) link to the satellite, based on the calculated elevation and azimuth angles being within the range associated with cell 1. The vehicle and satellite are symbolically shown in the first Figure 1704.

[0151] Figure 2, 1706, shows an example where the vehicle is moving in one direction and the satellite is moving in the opposite direction, with the first satellite moving away from the vehicle and the second satellite moving toward the vehicle, as shown in Figure 1. As described above with respect to Method 1100, the elevation and azimuth angles from the vehicle to the second satellite can be calculated and used to predict that the cell 2 antenna has the strongest link to the second satellite. In response to predicting that the gain of the link between cell 1 and the first satellite is less than the gain between cell 2 and the second satellite, a handover of communication to the second satellite and cell 2 may occur. Similarly, a handover may also occur via an NLOS module. In the example where the antenna is linked by an NLOS module, the adjustment may be done stepwise, in contrast to switching both the satellite and the antenna in a single decision, as with an LOS module. For example, the NLOS module may first determine that the link between cell 3 and satellite 1 has a higher gain than the link between cell 1 and satellite 1, and then determine that the link between cell 2 and satellite 2 is better (e.g., has a higher gain) than the link between cell 3 and satellite 1.

[0152] The technical effect of the method described herein is to reduce the number of antennas included in a telematics unit without sacrificing any communication mode. Reducing the number of antennas reduces the size, weight, and cost of the telematics unit. Furthermore, reducing the number of antennas reduces the risk of interference due to the coexistence of antenna modules. The method described herein enables communication in communication modes with more than one antenna without sacrificing communication quality.

[0153] This disclosure also provides support for a reconfigurable antenna for a telematics unit, the reconfigurable antenna including an antenna portion physically coupled to a base, a coupling portion physically coupled to the base, a radiating switch electrically coupled to the coupling portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a first short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a first open earth, and a frequency switch electrically coupled to the antenna portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a second short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a second open earth. In a first example of the system, the coupling portion is physically separated from the antenna portion and configured to reversibly electromagnetically couple to the antenna portion by adjusting the radiating switch. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the antenna portion is a planar inverted-F antenna and includes a pin portion, a planar portion, and a feed portion. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the coupling portion overhangs the antenna portion in a plane parallel to the base. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first to third examples, the base is a printed circuit board. In a fifth example of the system, which optionally includes one or more of the first to fourth examples or each of them, the coupling portion is L-shaped and includes a parallel plate portion and a perpendicular plate portion with respect to the base.

[0154] This disclosure also provides support for a method for operating a reconfigurable antenna, the method comprising: in response to determining that a cellular network can be searched, operating a high-frequency switch to cellular mode and switching the reconfigurable antenna to a cellular module or cellular / satellite hybrid mode based on determining which mode has better signal quality; and in response to determining that a cellular network cannot be searched, operating a high-frequency switch to a satellite module and switching the reconfigurable antenna to a cellular / satellite hybrid mode or satellite mode based on determining which mode has better signal quality. In a first example of the method, switching the reconfigurable antenna to cellular mode comprises coupling the radiating switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first open ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short ground. In a second example of the method, optionally including the first example, switching the reconfigurable antenna to cellular / satellite hybrid mode comprises coupling the radiating switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first short ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short ground. In a third example of the method, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, switching the reconfigurable antenna to satellite mode includes coupling the reconfigurable antenna's radiation switch to a first open ground and coupling the reconfigurable antenna's frequency switch to a second open ground. In a fourth example of the method, optionally including one or more of the first to third examples or each of them, determining better signal quality includes comparing the signal-to-noise ratio and / or comparing the received signal strength indicators. In a fifth example of the method, optionally including one or more of the first to fourth examples or each of them, switching the mode of the reconfigurable antenna adjusts the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna. In a sixth example of the method, optionally including one or more of the first to fifth examples or each of them, switching the mode of the reconfigurable antenna adjusts the reconfigurable antenna's radiation pattern.

[0155] This disclosure also provides support for a vehicle telematics unit, which includes a plurality of antennas, each of which is configured to link a satellite and at least one other communication system, and a processor, which includes instructions stored in non-volatile memory, and when an instruction is executed, causes the processor to link one of the plurality of antennas to the satellite based on a predicted overlap between the stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and the calculated azimuth and elevation angles of the satellite. In a first example of the system, the instruction further includes comparing the satellite signal strength to the cellular signal strength and, in response that the cellular signal strength is stronger than the satellite signal strength, handing over the link to a cellular module. In a second example of the system, which optionally includes the first example, the instruction further includes linking one of the plurality of antennas to the satellite based on the measured signal strength in response that the signal quality of the link falls below a threshold, and the telematics unit includes a SatCom signal quality monitor configured to monitor the satellite signal quality of each of the plurality of antennas. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the stored radiation pattern includes lookup tables for elevation and azimuth ranges, and one antenna from a group of antennas corresponding to each range. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first to third examples, or each of them, the stored radiation pattern includes a lookup table for each satellite vendor, including antennas from a group of antennas corresponding to the frequencies supported by each vendor. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first to fourth examples, the calculated elevation and azimuth angles of the satellite are based on the satellite orbit schedule and vehicle parameters. In a sixth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first to fifth examples, the vehicle parameters include local time, position, orientation, and vehicle speed.

[0156] In other words, the disclosure also provides support for a vehicle telematics unit, which comprises a plurality of antennas and a processor containing instructions stored in non-volatile memory, which, when executed, cause the processor to calculate azimuth and elevation angles from the vehicle to one or more target satellites based on vehicle parameters, a region map of the vehicle's position, and a satellite orbit schedule; to select one antenna from the plurality of antennas based on the predicted overlap of azimuth and elevation angles calculated by the stored radiation patterns of the plurality of antennas; and to link one or more target satellites to the selected antenna. In a first example of the system, the instructions further include predicting and preparing a handover antenna and / or satellite based on vehicle parameters, a region map, and a satellite orbit schedule. In a second example of the system, which optionally includes the first example, the handover antenna and / or satellite is predicted and prepared for a rapid change in the vehicle's direction. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the instruction includes switching the linked antenna to the handover antenna in response to the handover antenna's gain being greater than the linked antenna's gain. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first through third examples or each of them, each of the multiple antennas is configured to link to a satellite and to link a non-satellite communications module. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first through fourth examples or each of them, the multiple antennas do not include any antenna configured to link only to a satellite. In a sixth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first through fifth examples or each of them, the satellite orbit schedule includes the satellite's vendor, position, and velocity.

[0157] In other words, the disclosure also provides support for a method for operating a vehicle's telematics unit, the method comprising: calculating the azimuth and elevation angles of a satellite from the vehicle based on vehicle parameters, area maps, and satellite orbit schedules; selecting one antenna from a plurality of antennas based on the overlap of azimuth and elevation angles calculated by the stored radiation patterns of the plurality of antennas; linking the satellite to the selected antenna to form a satellite link; and predicting and preparing a handover antenna and / or satellite. In a first example of the method, the method further comprises monitoring the signal strength of the satellite link and the signal strength of the cellular signal via hardware; and handing over the link to the cellular module of the telematics unit in response to determining that the satellite link strength does not exceed the cellular signal strength. In a second example of the method, optionally including the first example, the method comprises determining by hardware whether the signal quality of the satellite link exceeds a threshold signal quality. In a third example of the method, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the signal quality of each antenna of a plurality of antennas is measured in response to determining that the signal quality of the link is below a threshold signal quality, and the satellite is linked to the antenna with the highest signal quality among the plurality of antennas. In a fourth example of the method, optionally including one or more or each of the first to third examples, the selection of antennas further includes selecting an antenna having a frequency that overlaps with the satellite frequency. In a fifth example of the method, optionally including one or more or each of the first to fourth examples, each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to link to a satellite module and to link to a non-satellite communications module.

[0158] In other words, the disclosure also provides support for a vehicle telematics unit, the telematics unit comprising a reconfigurable antenna including a radiating switch configured to switch between coupling to a first short-circuit ground and coupling to a first open-circuit ground, and a frequency switch configured to switch between coupling to a second short-circuit ground and coupling to a second open-circuit ground, and a processor including instructions stored in non-volatile memory, which, when executed, cause the reconfigurable antenna to couple the radiating switch to a first open-circuit ground and the frequency switch to a second open-circuit ground in response to a command to switch to satellite mode, to couple the radiating switch to a first open-circuit ground and the frequency switch to a second short-circuit ground in response to a command to switch to cellular mode, and to couple the radiating switch to a first short-circuit ground and the frequency switch to a second short-circuit ground in response to a command to switch to cellular / satellite hybrid mode. In a first example of the system, the peak gain of the radiating pattern of the reconfigurable antenna in satellite mode is in the zenith direction, and the peak gain of the radiating pattern of the reconfigurable antenna in cellular / satellite hybrid mode is at an angle with respect to the zenith direction. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna in satellite mode is within the satellite communication frequency band. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna in cellular mode is within the low, intermediate, and high cellular communication frequency bands. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first to third examples or each of them, the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna in cellular / satellite hybrid mode is within the satellite communication frequency band and within the cellular communication frequency band. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more of the first to fourth examples or each of them, the reconfigurable antenna includes a PIFA type antenna, a coupling plate, and a base coupled to the PIFA type antenna and the coupling plate.In a sixth example of the system, which optionally includes one or more of the first through fifth examples, or each of them, the system further includes a high-frequency switch configured to switch between the SatCom module and the cellular module.

[0159] Figures 4-5, 7, and 13 illustrate exemplary configurations involving the relative positioning of various components. Where elements are shown to be in direct contact with or directly coupled to one another, such elements may, in at least one example, be referred to as being in direct contact or directly coupled. Similarly, elements shown to be continuous or adjacent to one another may, in at least one example, be continuous or adjacent to one another. For example, components that are in contact with each other via a shared surface may be referred to as being in contact via a shared surface. Another example is when elements are positioned apart from each other, with only space between them and no other component present, and they may be referred to as such. Yet another example is when elements are shown above / below each other, on opposite sides of each other, or to each other's left / right, and they may be referred to as such relative to each other. Furthermore, as shown in the figures, in at least one example, the highest element or point of an element may be referred to as the "top" of the component, and the lowest element or point of an element may be referred to as the "bottom" of the component. As used herein, top / bottom, upper / lower, and above / below may be relative to the vertical axis of the figure and may be used to describe the positioning of elements in the figure relative to each other. For example, in one example, an element shown above another element is positioned vertically above the other element. In yet another example, the shape of an element shown in the figure may be referred to as having that shape (e.g., circular, straight, flat, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, etc.). Furthermore, in at least one example, elements shown intersecting each other may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting each other. Moreover, in one example, an element may be referred to as being shown within another element or outside another element. Figures 4-5 and 7 are drawn to approximately a constant scale, but other dimensions or relative dimensions may be used.

[0160] The embodiments have been presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes. Preferred modifications and variations to the embodiments are feasible in light of the foregoing description, or can be obtained by carrying out the methods described herein. For example, unless otherwise specified, one or more of the methods described may be carried out by preferred devices and / or combinations of devices, such as the telematics unit 30 described with reference to Figure 1. The methods may also be carried out by executing stored instructions by a combination of one or more logic devices (e.g., processors) and one or more further hardware elements (e.g., storage devices, memory, hardware network interfaces / antennas, switches, actuators, clock circuits, etc.). The methods described and associated operations may also be carried out in various orders, in parallel, and / or simultaneously, in addition to the order described herein. The systems described are illustrative only and may include and / or omit further elements. The subject matter of this disclosure includes various systems and configurations, as well as all novel, non-obvious combinations and partial combinations of other features, functions, and / or characteristics disclosed herein.

[0161] When used in this application, elements or steps listed singularly and advanced by the terms "a" or "an" should be understood not to exclude multiple such elements or steps, unless such exclusions are provided. Furthermore, where the “one embodiment” or “one example” of this disclosure is referred to, it is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of further embodiments that also incorporate the listed features. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used merely as identifiers and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a specific positional order on their objects. The following claims specifically refer to subject matter from the aforementioned disclosures that are considered novel and non-obvious.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable antenna for a telematics unit, The antenna section is physically coupled to the base, A coupling portion physically coupled to the base, A radiating switch is electrically coupled to the coupling portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a first short-circuit earth and an electrical coupling to a first open-circuit earth, A frequency switch is electrically coupled to the antenna portion and configured to switch between an electrical coupling to a second short-circuit ground and an electrical coupling to a second open-circuit ground. A telematics unit, including a telematics unit.

2. The reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is physically separated from the antenna portion.

3. The reconfigurable antenna according to claim 2, wherein the coupling portion is configured to be reversibly electromagnetically coupled to the antenna portion by adjusting the radiation switch.

4. The antenna portion is a flat plate inverted F antenna and includes a pin portion, a flat plate portion, and a feed portion, as described in claim 1, for a reconfigurable antenna.

5. The reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion overhangs the antenna portion in a plane parallel to the base.

6. The reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, wherein the base is a printed circuit board.

7. The reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is L-shaped and includes a parallel plate portion and a vertical plate portion with respect to the base.

8. A method for operating a reconfigurable antenna, In response to determining that the cellular network can be searched, the high-frequency switch is activated to cellular mode based on determining which mode has better signal quality, and the reconfigurable antenna is switched to a cellular module or to cellular / satellite hybrid mode. In response to determining that the cellular network cannot be found, the system activates the high-frequency switch on the satellite module and switches the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular / satellite hybrid mode or satellite mode, based on determining which mode has better signal quality. Methods that include...

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first open ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short ground.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the cellular / satellite hybrid mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first short-circuit ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second short-circuit ground.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna to the satellite mode includes coupling the radiation switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a first open ground and coupling the frequency switch of the reconfigurable antenna to a second open ground.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining better signal quality includes comparing the signal-to-noise ratio.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining better signal quality includes comparing received signal strength indicators.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna adjusts the resonant frequency of the reconfigurable antenna.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein switching the reconfigurable antenna adjusts the radiation pattern of the reconfigurable antenna.

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