Antenna arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna arrangement (10) for a vehicle (100), comprising: at least one antenna element (20) for transmitting and / or receiving radio signals, and at least one printed circuit board (30) having at least one electrical coupling element (50) which is provided for contactless, in particular capacitive, coupling to the at least one antenna element (20).

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG

[0003] Description

[0004] Antenna arrangement for a vehicle

[0005] The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a vehicle, a detection system, and a method.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] It is known from the prior art that sensors such as ultra-wideband (UWB) radar systems are used in vehicles to improve safety and functionality. For example, due to its high bandwidth and short pulse duration, UWB radar technology enables highly precise distance measurements and object detection. Applications include interior monitoring for occupant detection, precise parking assistance systems, collision avoidance through the detection of obstacles in the immediate vicinity, and gesture-based control systems. Furthermore, UWB radar is characterized by low interference with other radio services and high resistance to signal disturbances.

[0008] A disadvantage of the known solutions, however, is that the antenna performance is not sufficient in every situation. Furthermore, such systems can be susceptible to interference under certain conditions, which further affects reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the technical effort required for manufacturing and implementation can be higher compared to other technologies.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna arrangement for vehicles that is easier to integrate, more cost-effective and less susceptible to interference, while at the same time improving accuracy and reliability under various conditions.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] The invention relates to an antenna arrangement with the features of claim 1, a vehicle with the features of claim 16, a detection system with the features of claim 17, and a method with the features of claim 18. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the antenna arrangement according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the vehicle, the detection system, and the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that mutual reference is always possible with regard to the disclosure of the invention.

[0012] The invention relates in particular to an antenna arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least one, and preferably at least two or at least three or at least four or at least five, antenna element(s) for transmitting and / or receiving radio signals. In other words, each antenna element can be configured as a radio antenna element, and thus the antenna arrangement can provide a radio antenna.

[0013] Furthermore, the antenna arrangement can comprise at least one (main) circuit board, also referred to as a main board. The at least one circuit board preferably includes at least one electrical coupling element, which is provided for contactless, in particular capacitive, coupling with the at least one antenna element.

[0014] Contactless here and in the following means in particular galvanically isolated – i.e., without electrical contact. It is entirely possible, and within the scope of the invention, that a physical contact exists between the coupling element and the antenna element, for example, but not limited to, at least one interposed element, such as a layer of dielectric, an insulator, a holder, a semiconductor, a layer of the circuit board, etc., insofar as this is technically feasible and practical.

[0015] The at least one antenna element can preferably be mounted as an electrically conductive area on a further (antenna) circuit board. The electrically conductive area can, for example, be provided on this antenna circuit board as an electrically conductive layer, in particular on a top or bottom layer of the antenna circuit board in the form of a multilayer board. Similarly, the electrical coupling element can also be provided as a conductive area on the (main) circuit board.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the invention, the at least one antenna element can be mounted at a distance from the (main) circuit board and / or from the at least one coupling element. Particularly for contactless coupling, the at least one electrical coupling element can be designed and arranged in the antenna assembly such that it is sufficiently close to the at least one antenna element. With multiple antenna and / or coupling elements, all antenna elements can be spaced apart from all coupling elements without exception. "Spaced apart" here refers in particular to a range with a minimum distance at which galvanic isolation is present and a maximum distance at which the contactless / capacitive coupling is suitable for operation as an antenna.

[0017] Thus, the invention can be characterized by a contactless / capacitive coupling between the at least one antenna element and the at least one coupling element. The arrangement with the described spacing enables a contactless connection and prevents galvanic coupling, which contributes to a more flexible and simpler design and potentially also to an improvement in the reliability and performance of the system. In addition to UWB, the spatial separation of the antenna from the mainboard also offers flexibility in the integration of various other wireless standards such as Bluetooth or WiFi (WLAN). Furthermore, the capacitive coupling allows for precise control of the electromagnetic interaction, leading to optimized antenna performance.

[0018] The use of contactless, and in particular capacitive, coupling eliminates the need for a galvanic connection between the at least one antenna element and the other electronics on the (main) circuit board for operating the at least one antenna element. This avoids problems such as corrosion or wear at contact points, increasing the reliability and lifespan of the antenna. Technically, this coupling also allows for a flat antenna design, as no direct electrical connections are required. The advantage of this is a lightweight and compact construction, ideal for applications with limited space in existing vehicle components such as a door handle or exterior mirror.

[0019] Furthermore, the contactless coupling allows at least one antenna element to be mounted directly on an antenna circuit board or another surface separate from the main circuit board. This leads to simpler integration into electronic systems and can reduce manufacturing costs, as printed circuit techniques can be used to fabricate the at least one antenna element.

[0020] The absence of a galvanic connection also improves the electrical isolation of at least one antenna element. The advantage here is reduced susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, which increases performance in noisy environments. Finally, this design allows for high adaptability. The antenna array can thus be configured for different frequencies and polarizations.

[0021] Capacitive coupling can specifically describe the transfer of energy between two physically unconnected conductors (in this case, in particular, the at least one coupling element and the at least one antenna element) due to their differing electrical potentials. Furthermore, contactless coupling can alternatively or additionally be implemented as inductive coupling.

[0022] Particularly when using the at least one antenna element for a patch antenna, capacitive and / or inductive coupling can enable reliable transmission of the antenna signal, especially a radio signal. The at least one antenna element can be configured as a patch, preferably located on a dielectric above a ground plane. The ground plane can also be located on a different printed circuit board (main board) than the at least one antenna element. The at least one coupling element, on the other hand, can be part of the feed patch. By adjusting the geometry of the feed patch and the distance of the coupling element from the antenna element, antenna parameters, such as the bandwidth, can be set. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the at least one antenna element is designed to form a patch antenna.It is conceivable that the at least one antenna element is configured as a patch and thus as the main radiation source of the patch antenna. Furthermore, it is possible that the at least one electrical coupling element forms a feed patch of the patch antenna to enable the transmission and / or reception of radio signals via contactless coupling with the at least one antenna element. It can also be provided that one layer of the printed circuit board has at least one conductive base surface of the patch antenna, particularly to influence the radiation characteristics of the patch antenna. This base surface can also be referred to as a ground plane and may relate to the ground plane described above.

[0023] Thus, the capacitive coupling of the at least one antenna element to the coupling element or to the other electronics on the circuit board enables contactless operation. Using the at least one antenna element as the main radiation source of a patch antenna offers high efficiency and can be efficiently controlled by the feed patch. The conductive base of the patch antenna on the circuit board influences the antenna's radiation pattern, allowing it to be adapted to specific requirements. In this way, the invention can, for example, be used as a UWB radar for a vehicle system to more precisely detect the vehicle's surroundings. The UWB frequency band selection enables high spatial resolution, allowing even small objects to be reliably detected.The capacitive coupling and the optional multi-layer PCB design also protect electronic elements from interference caused by external influences and improve reliability in complex environments.

[0024] It is conceivable that the antenna arrangement further comprises at least one electronic element mounted on the circuit board. This at least one electronic element, and in particular a processing device, can be at least indirectly electrically connected to the at least one coupling element and / or to the at least one antenna element in order to control the transmission of radio signals and / or to process the received radio signals. This enables the control and processing of the radio signals by at least one of the electronic elements on the circuit board. This electronic element can, for example, be a processing device that processes and reacts to the received radio signals after analog-to-digital conversion, or that controls the transmission of radio signals for the detection of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle. The latter can also be referred to as a radar function.The electronic elements of the printed circuit board can also be referred to simply as electronics.

[0025] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is optionally possible for the antenna arrangement to be configured as a UWB antenna arrangement, preferably as a UWB radar. Preferably, the at least one antenna element is configured to receive and / or transmit radio signals in the form of UWB signals at least in the frequency range between 30 MHz and 10.6 GHz, preferably 6.5 GHz to 10 GHz, more preferably 7.5 GHz to 9 GHz. This enables a variety of applications such as radar, tracking, and communication. The specific design of the antenna element and the coupling elements allows for precise control of the radio signals and thus high reception and transmission accuracy.

[0026] Furthermore, the number and / or arrangement and / or design and / or geometry and / or orientation of the antenna elements on the antenna circuit board can be used to achieve a desired configuration of the direction and / or extent of the radio and / or monitoring area in which radio signals are transmitted and / or objects can be detected.

[0027] Optionally, the (main) circuit board can have at least two, three, or four layers that define the distance between the at least one antenna element and the circuit board and / or the at least one coupling element, thereby preferably influencing an antenna specification, preferably at least one frequency and / or bandwidth for the radio signals of the antenna arrangement. This offers the advantage that the antenna arrangement can achieve a specific frequency or bandwidth for radio signals through the defined distance between the antenna and the circuit board / at least one coupling element. The multi-layered structure of the circuit board also allows for flexible design and adaptation to various requirements.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the antenna arrangement can be configured as a Bluetooth and / or WLAN arrangement. This has the advantage that the antenna arrangement can cover a variety of communication standards, and other radio standards besides those mentioned are also conceivable.

[0029] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the antenna arrangement is designed to transmit and / or receive radio signals at least in the frequency range between 1.0 GHz and 7.125 GHz, preferably 2.0 GHz and 5.925 GHz, preferably 2.4 GHz and 2.4835 GHz and / or 5.15 GHz and 5.825 GHz. The flexible adaptation to different frequency ranges enables a wide application of the system in various vehicle functions, such as data transmission or positioning.

[0030] Furthermore, the antenna arrangement is designed to transmit and / or receive radio signals at least in the frequency range between 5 GHz and 11 GHz, preferably 6.0 GHz and 10 GHz, and preferably 6.5 GHz and 8 GHz. The flexible adaptation to different frequency ranges enables a wide application of the system in various vehicle functions.

[0031] Furthermore, it is optionally provided that the antenna arrangement, and preferably the design and arrangement of the at least one antenna element and the circuit board, is configured such that direction-dependent reception and / or direction-dependent transmission of the radio signals via the at least one antenna element results. This allows the antenna to be aligned in specific directions to optimize signal transmission and reception and to improve sensitivity in certain areas. This directional effect is useful for applications such as radar, where precise signal guidance is important, or for avoiding interference with other radio signals.

[0032] It is also conceivable that the antenna arrangement, in particular with the at least one spaced-apart antenna element and / or via the at least one coupling element and / or via the contactless coupling, is designed to receive the radio signal in order to provide at least one vehicle function for the vehicle depending on the received radio signal.

[0033] Furthermore, at least one vehicle function can include at least one of the following:

[0034] a gesture recognition system, in particular to detect and recognize a gesture (of a person, such as a hand or foot gesture) in the vehicle's environment and to trigger another vehicle function based on the recognized gesture,

[0035] Localization of persons inside the vehicle, in particular for determining the position of occupants in the vehicle, preferably to individually adjust safety systems such as airbags or seat belts,

[0036] indoor and outdoor localization of persons, in particular to determine whether persons are inside or outside the vehicle and to control vehicle functions accordingly,

[0037] Monitoring, in particular by means of a front and / or rear hatch sensor, for controlling a front and / or rear hatch movement, in particular to enable automatic hatch opening by means of a foot movement under the vehicle,

[0038] a determination of which seat an identified person occupies, in particular to make personalized settings such as seat position, mirrors or infotainment,

[0039] Tracking of people outside the vehicle, in particular to detect approaching persons and to control safety or comfort functions such as welcome lighting or door locking,

[0040] a "Phone as a Key" function, in particular to use a mobile device as a vehicle key and to grant access and / or starting authorization to the vehicle,

[0041] Distance measurements, in particular to determine a distance between vehicle and objects or persons and / or to support a parking aid or collision warning system of the vehicle,

[0042] a ranger operation using UWB, in particular to enable precise distance measurements and / or localizations and preferably to provide for vehicle functions such as access control, security functions or person detection,

[0043] a vehicle access and start authorization function, in particular a passive access control where the vehicle recognizes an authorized key or mobile device in the vicinity to unlock doors or enable engine start,

[0044] locating and authenticating an ID transmitter or other device, in particular to prevent unauthorized access and to increase vehicle security,

[0045] Detection and prevention of relay station attacks, in particular by distance measurement, preferably to prevent unauthorized access by means of signal extension,

[0046] a control of an automatically extendable door handle, preferably an initiation of an extension of the door handle depending on a gesture.

[0047] This allows the antenna arrangement to be reliably used for vehicle-specific functions.

[0048] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the antenna assembly is designed to be installed and / or integrated into an existing vehicle component such as a door handle, emblem, door sill, in the vehicle interior, center console, mirror, or rear of the vehicle. This allows for flexible integration of the antenna assembly into various parts of the vehicle to cover a wide range of applications. In particular, the antenna assembly can be discreetly integrated into existing vehicle components to enhance the vehicle's functionality.

[0049] It is also possible, as an option, for the circuit board to be designed as a main board (also referred to as the main circuit board), with a separate antenna circuit board. The antenna circuit board can be attached to the main board. Furthermore, the at least one antenna element can be mounted on the antenna circuit board, preferably on a surface of the antenna circuit board facing away from the main board. This allows for spacing between the antenna element and the circuit board and / or the at least one coupling element, thus enabling contactless coupling without a direct galvanic connection. In other words, the at least one antenna element and the coupling element are located on different circuit boards and are therefore spaced apart from each other.This is therefore preferably a radio antenna of the patch antenna type, but for a vehicle in which the antenna element is not located on the mainboard, but separately from it (one element rests on top of the other). This allows for a clearer separation between the mainboard and the at least one antenna element, which can lead to an improvement in the electromagnetic properties of the overall system. A further advantage is the increased flexibility in the placement of the at least one antenna element.

[0050] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the antenna circuit board can be designed as a single layer or with fewer layers, in contrast to the main circuit board. In this way, the antenna circuit board can be made simpler and more cost-effective in its structure than the main circuit board of the antenna assembly.

[0051] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the at least one antenna element comprises at least two, three, or four antenna elements, which are preferably arranged spaced apart from each other and from the main board on the antenna circuit board, preferably each as a patch to form a patch antenna arrangement. In other words, not only one, but also several antenna elements can be provided. The various antenna elements can be arranged on a common antenna circuit board. However, the antenna elements can differ in their spatial arrangement on the circuit board and / or in relation to the main board and / or in their geometry. This flexible design allows for adaptation to specific application areas and radio frequencies.Preferably, according to the invention, the antenna arrangement is configured to form a UWB satellite on the vehicle, wherein the at least one antenna element is preferably arranged such that it is initiated by at least one electronic element of the circuit board and preferably via the at least one coupling element to emit UWB radio signals. This arrangement enables efficient transmission of radio signals in the UWB frequency range through targeted positioning of the antenna and coupling elements. One or more such UWB satellites can be provided on the vehicle. The UWB satellites can be designed and / or arranged to transmit short radio pulses over a very broad frequency spectrum in the relevant area surrounding the vehicle, thereby enabling highly precise measurements of distances and movements in and around the vehicle.This design and / or arrangement enables a wide range of applications, such as interior monitoring for detecting people or animals inside the vehicle. Additionally, gesture recognition for contactless control of vehicle functions can be optionally implemented, increasing user comfort. Furthermore, the UWB satellites may also enable secure keyless access by determining the precise location of a key or authorized device. Finally, they may support driver assistance systems such as parking aids and collision avoidance mechanisms through precise distance measurements, thus improving safety while driving. The antenna arrangement according to the invention, and preferably the UWB satellites, are particularly suitable for implementing a UWB radar system in the vehicle.This UWB radar system preferably uses the emitted ultra-wideband pulses for the precise location and / or detection and measurement of objects in the vehicle's environment.

[0052] This allows for the precise determination of distances to objects, people, occupants, and / or other road users, and, if necessary, the reliable detection of object movements. This enables safety features such as vehicle access functions and / or advanced driver assistance functions such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, or autonomous emergency braking. Furthermore, the UWB radar, with its high resolution and accuracy, contributes to improved environmental awareness for the vehicle.

[0053] It is also possible for one layer of the printed circuit board to be configured as a component placement area for mounting one or more electronic elements. These electronic elements can be galvanically isolated from the at least one antenna element. Furthermore, a processing device can be provided for controlling the at least one antenna element to transmit radio signals and / or for processing radio signals received by the at least one antenna element. Preferably, the processing device can be configured as a UWB chip. This has the advantage that electronic elements can be placed on a separate layer of the printed circuit board. This achieves galvanic isolation between these elements and the antenna element, which improves protection against electromagnetic interference and increases the reliability of the system.

[0054] Furthermore, it is optionally provided that the minimum distance between the circuit board and the at least one antenna element is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, more preferably 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that the circuit board has a plane for providing the at least one coupling element, wherein the minimum distance between the at least one coupling element and the at least one antenna element is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, more preferably 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, more preferably 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm. Alternatively or additionally, the printed circuit board may have a plane to provide an electrically conductive surface and, in particular, an electrical ground potential for the antenna arrangement, wherein the minimum distance between the plane and the at least one antenna element is in the range of 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 3.0 mm, preferably 2.2 mm to 2.6 mm.This allows the electromagnetic coupling between the antenna and the circuit board to be adjusted to optimize the performance and sensitivity of the antenna signal. The minimum distance is defined as the smallest spatial separation between the respective structure (circuit board / coupling element / plane) and each of the antenna elements in the assembled state.

[0055] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one antenna arrangement according to the invention. The vehicle according to the invention thus offers the same advantages as described in detail with reference to an antenna arrangement according to the invention. The vehicle can be, for example, a motor vehicle and / or passenger car and / or truck. The invention also relates to a detection system, preferably a sensor system, comprising one or more antenna arrangements according to the invention, in particular for monitoring the vehicle's surroundings. The detection system according to the invention thus offers the same advantages as described in detail with reference to an antenna arrangement according to the invention.

[0056] The invention also relates to a method for operating an antenna arrangement according to the invention, comprising:

[0057] Receiving a radio signal by the antenna arrangement via the at least one spaced-apart antenna element via contactless coupling, processing the radio signal by a processing device, in particular an electronic one,

[0058] Providing a vehicle function depending on the processing.

[0059] The method according to the invention thus offers the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to an antenna arrangement according to the invention. Furthermore, it is optionally possible within the scope of the invention for the vehicle function to control a retractable door handle, automatically extending the handle in response to a detected gesture. In this way, a driver can conveniently and comfortably extend the door handle of their vehicle using gesture control. This simplifies vehicle operation, as manual controls are no longer necessary. Integrating automatic door handle control into the system provides an intuitive and user-friendly solution for vehicle operation.

[0060] A retractable door handle is defined in particular as a door handle in which the door handle is retracted within the vehicle body in a rest position - preferably completely and / or flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body - and can be extended from this rest position when required.

[0061] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings show:

[0062] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of parts of the antenna arrangement according to embodiments of the invention.

[0063] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a printed circuit board of the antenna arrangement according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0064] Figs. 3 and 4 show further perspective views from different directions of parts of the antenna arrangement according to embodiments of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a side view of a vehicle according to embodiments of the invention.

[0065] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a method according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0066] In the following figures, identical reference numerals are used for the same technical features even for different embodiments.

[0067] Figures 1, 3, and 4 show perspective views of parts of the antenna arrangement 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. Figures 3 and 4 show the antenna arrangement 10 from different sides (from "above" in Figure 3 and from "below" in Figure 4). The antenna arrangement 10 may have been specially manufactured for use with a vehicle 100 and comprises at least one antenna element 20 for transmitting and / or receiving radio signals and at least one circuit board 30 with at least one electrical coupling element 50, which is provided for contactless, in particular capacitive, coupling with the at least one antenna element 20. The at least one antenna element 20 may be mounted at a distance from the circuit board 30 and / or from the at least one coupling element 50.

[0068] As can be seen in Fig. 1, at least two, three, four, or five antenna elements 20 can be arranged on an antenna circuit board 35, spaced apart from each other and from a main circuit board 30. The thickness D1 of the circuit board 30 shown is, for example, 920 pm, and the thickness D2 of the antenna circuit board 35 shown is, for example, 1370 pm. This results in a distance of at least D2, i.e., 1370 pm, between the at least one antenna element 20 and the circuit board 30 and / or the at least one coupling element 50. The at least one antenna element 20 can accordingly be located on the surface of the antenna circuit board 35. As shown, this can be a side of the antenna circuit board 35 facing away from the circuit board 30.

[0069] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the (main) printed circuit board 30 with a multilayer structure designed for mounting and electrically connecting electrical / electronic components 40. The printed circuit board 30 comprises, by way of example, four layers 221-224. According to further embodiments, a different number of layers may be provided, e.g., only two or three layers. Solder masks 201 are applied to the uppermost and lowermost layers 221 and 224 of the printed circuit board 30. These solder masks 201 can also be referred to as "solder masks" or "solder resists" and preferably protect the intermediate layers and / or prevent short circuits caused by excessive solder flow. The first layer 221, the second layer 222, the third layer 223, and the fourth layer 224 preferably form the conductor layers that can be provided for the electrical connections between the electrical / electronic components 40.Each of these layers preferably comprises conductive material, preferably copper. In embodiments of the invention, however, not all of the layers 221, 222, 223, 224 are actually used for electrical connections between the electrical / electronic elements 40. In other words, the printed circuit board 30 may also have unused layers. The first layer 221 can be arranged at the top and the last layer 224 at the bottom in Fig. 1, so that corresponding position and direction information for the description of the antenna arrangement 10 results from this.

[0070] In embodiments of the invention, a base material 210 is provided between the conductor layers 221, 222, 223, 224. This base material can optionally serve as a dielectric layer to ensure the structural stability of the printed circuit board. The base material can consist of a circuit board insulating material such as FR4, a glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, and preferably has a specific thickness to ensure the desired insulation between the layers 221, 222, 223, 224. The first thickness, D1, refers to the total thickness of the printed circuit board 30, which in this example ranges from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.3 to 1.7 mm, and preferably substantially 1.5 mm, depending on the specifications and manufacturing tolerances. Another preferred value for D1 is about 1370 pm. By reducing the number of levels 221, 222, 223, 224, the thickness D1 can be correspondingly smaller, e.g.The thickness of the base material lies in the range of 500 pm to 1300 pm, and preferably 700 pm to 1100 pm, most preferably at 920 pm. Within this thickness, the individual base material layers are composed, according to one embodiment of the invention, as follows: Under the first layer 221 with a thickness of 450 pm ± 50 pm, under the second layer 222 with a thickness of 410 pm ± 50 pm, and under the third layer 223 with a thickness of 510 pm ± 50 pm. These layers of base material separate the conductive layers 221, 222, 223, 224 and contribute to the stability of the overall structure. Furthermore, the layers make it possible to define a distance to the at least one antenna element 20, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0071] The thickness of the solder masks 201 can be specified in a range of approximately 35-59 pm and meet the requirements of IPC-6012 Class 3.

[0072] One of the levels 221, 222, 223, 224, preferably the first level 221, can serve as a mounting surface for the electrical / electronic elements 40, similar to a processing device 41. The electrical / electronic elements 40 can thus be mounted "on top" of the printed circuit board 30, as shown schematically in a perspective top view in Fig. 3.

[0073] One of the planes 221, 222, 223, 224, preferably the second plane 222, can have at least one ground plane. Accordingly, the plane 222 can have conductive elements and, in particular, surfaces that provide an electrical ground potential. The ground plane can be configured as at least one or exactly one metal surface. Optionally, the ground plane can functionally interact with the at least one antenna element 20, e.g., as a reflector and / or resonator. One of the planes 221, 222, 223, 224, preferably the third plane 223, can be configured as an isolated plane without any electronic function.

[0074] One of the levels 221, 222, 223, 224, preferably the fourth level 224, can have at least one capacitive coupling element 50. This can be at least one element that serves for the capacitive coupling of the at least one antenna element 20. Thus, it is conceivable that no galvanic coupling is provided between the circuit board 30 and the at least one antenna element 20, since the at least one antenna element 20 can instead be capacitively coupled.

[0075] It is also conceivable that there is no galvanic coupling between the uppermost, preferably first, level 221 and / or the lowermost, preferably fourth, level 224, and the antenna circuit board 35. In other words, only a mechanical connection can be provided between the uppermost or lowermost level and the antenna circuit board 35, e.g. by clamps or an adhesive.

[0076] The at least one antenna element 20 and the printed circuit board 30 can be spaced apart, preferably by a distance of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 mm, more preferably 1.3 to 1.7 mm. The distance, preferably the average, minimum, or maximum distance, between the ground plane of the printed circuit board 30 (i.e., in particular the second layer 222) and the at least one antenna element 20 can accordingly be in the range of 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, more preferably 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm, more preferably 2.2 mm to 2.6 mm. The distance can be particularly relevant for the antenna specification, e.g., defined as wavelength-dependent. This ensures, in particular, reliable operation when configured as a patch antenna arrangement 10.

[0077] In embodiments of the invention, the at least one antenna element 20 serves to form a patch antenna. According to a typical patch antenna design, this can include a ground plane, also referred to as a base plane or ground plane, which is provided, for example, as the ground plane of the printed circuit board 30, particularly on the second layer 222. It serves, in particular, to reduce back-radiation and / or to improve and / or adjust the directivity of the antenna. It is preferably made of a metallic material (e.g., copper or aluminum) and is located above the dielectric (the first layer 221 is defined here as "top" and the last layer 224 as "bottom"). Furthermore, a dielectric, i.e., a dielectric substrate, can serve as an insulating layer. The dielectric can be arranged between the ground plane and the patch and is preferably at least partially formed by the printed circuit board 30.This layer can influence the distance between at least one antenna element and the ground plane, and / or the antenna's resonant frequency and / or bandwidth. The coupling capacitance between the patch and the coupling element depends, for example, on the distance and / or the dielectric constant of the dielectric. In this way, the distance and the dielectric can determine the performance and tuning of the patch antenna. The distance between the antenna element and the coupling element can affect the coupling capacitance, impedance matching, bandwidth, and / or efficiency, and to a lesser extent, the antenna's resonant frequency. A precisely chosen distance therefore ensures that the antenna is optimally tuned to the respective frequency range and the desired operating conditions. In other words, the dielectric can influence the electrical properties of the antenna.

[0078] Furthermore, a patch (main patch) can be provided, in particular formed by the at least one antenna element. It can be located below the ground plane. The patch can have a polygonal, rectangular, circular, or square shape; its size is specifically adapted to the antenna's resonant frequency. The patch can also be referred to as a radiator or radiating element. Additionally, a feed patch, an extra conductive area near the main patch, can be provided, which supplies energy via contactless coupling. The feed patch can, for example, be formed by the at least one coupling element. The contactless, and in particular capacitive, coupling can refer to the transmission of energy or (radio) signals between the feed patch and the main patch via an electric field.This coupling therefore takes place between the at least one coupling element and the at least one antenna element and utilizes the electric field that forms due to the distance and capacitance between these two conductive surfaces.

[0079] In alternative embodiments, the assignment can also be varied; for example, the ground plane or an additional element of the printed circuit board can serve as the coupling element. For instance, designs for a patch antenna are also possible in which a microstrip line is positioned as the coupling element so that it extends close to the edge of the (main) patch without directly contacting it. Figure 3 shows that the antenna arrangement 10 can include at least one electronic element 40, which is arranged on the printed circuit board 30. The at least one electronic element 40, and in particular a processing device 41, can be at least indirectly electrically connected to the at least one coupling element 50 and / or to the at least one antenna element 20 in order to control the transmission of the radio signals and / or to process the received radio signals.The antenna arrangement 10 can be configured as a UWB antenna arrangement 10, preferably as a UWB radar.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 5, the antenna assembly 10 can be designed for one or more vehicle functions and can be mounted at various locations on the vehicle 100. For example, one vehicle function is the location and authentication of an ID transmitter 300 or other device such as a smartphone, particularly to prevent unauthorized access and to increase the security of the vehicle 100. The antenna assembly 10 can be designed to be installed in a door handle 110 and / or emblem and / or door sill and / or in the vehicle interior and / or in a center console 120 and / or on a mirror 130 and / or in the area of ​​a tailgate 140, i.e., in the rear area of ​​the vehicle 100. For this purpose, the antenna assembly 10 can include appropriate fastening means or a housing with appropriate fastening means.

[0081] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a method 500 for operating an antenna arrangement 10 according to embodiments of the invention. According to a first method step 501, a radio signal is received by the antenna arrangement 10 via the at least one spaced-apart antenna element 20 by means of contactless coupling. According to a second method step 502, the radio signal is processed by a processing device 41. According to a third method step 503, a vehicle function is provided depending on the processing.

[0082] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention. List of reference numerals

[0083] 10 Antenna arrangement

[0084] 0 antenna element

[0085] 0 circuit board

[0086] 5 antenna circuit board

[0087] 0 electronic elements

[0088] 1 Processing device

[0089] 0 coupling element

[0090] 100 vehicles

[0091] 110 Door handle

[0092] 120 Center console

[0093] 130 mirrors

[0094] 140 tailgate

[0095] 01 Solder mask

[0096] 10 Basic materials

[0097] 221 first level

[0098] 222 second level

[0099] 223 third level

[0100] 224 fourth level

[0101] 300 ID transmitters

[0102] D1 first thickness

[0103] D2 second thickness

Claims

Claims 1. Antenna arrangement (10) for a vehicle (100), comprising: - at least one antenna element (20) for transmitting and / or receiving radio signals, - at least one printed circuit board (30) with at least one electrical coupling element (50) which is provided for contactless, in particular capacitive, coupling with the at least one antenna element (20), characterized by that at least one antenna element (20) is mounted at a distance from the circuit board (30) and / or from the at least one coupling element (50).

2. Antenna arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one antenna element (20) is provided for the formation of a patch antenna, preferably that at least one antenna element (20) is designed as a patch and thus as the main radiation source of the patch antenna, that the at least one electrical coupling element (50) forms a feed patch of the patch antenna to provide the transmission and / or reception of the radio signals via contactless coupling with the at least one antenna element (20), and that a plane (221, 222, 223, 224) of the printed circuit board (30) has at least one conductive base surface of the patch antenna, in particular to influence a radiation characteristic of the patch antenna.

3. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the antenna arrangement (10) further comprises: - at least one electronic element (40) which is arranged on the circuit board (30), wherein the at least one electronic element (40) and in particular a processing device (41) is at least indirectly electrically connected to the at least one coupling element (50) and / or to the at least one antenna element (20) in order to control the transmission of the radio signals and / or to process the received radio signals.

4. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the antenna arrangement (10) is configured as a UWB antenna arrangement (10), preferably as a UWB radar, and preferably the at least one antenna element (20) is configured to receive and / or transmit the radio signals in the form of UWB signals at least in the frequency range between 30 MHz and 10.6 GHz, preferably 6.5 GHz to 10 GHz, preferably 7.5 GHz to 9 GHz.

5. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the printed circuit board (30) has at least two or at least three or at least four levels (221, 222, 223, 224) which define the distance of the at least one antenna element (20) to the printed circuit board (30) and / or to the at least one coupling element (50) and thus preferably influence an antenna specification, preferably at least one frequency and / or bandwidth for the radio signals of the antenna arrangement (10).

6. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the antenna arrangement (10) is configured as a Bluetooth and / or WLAN arrangement, and / or that the antenna arrangement (10) is configured to transmit and / or receive radio signals at least in the frequency range between 1.0 GHz and 7.125 GHz, preferably 2.0 GHz and 5.925 GHz, preferably 2.4 GHz and 2.4835 GHz and / or 5.15 GHz and 5.825 GHz, and / or that the antenna arrangement (10) is designed to transmit and / or receive radio signals at least in the frequency range between 5 GHz and 11 GHz, preferably 6.0 GHz and 10 GHz, preferably 6.5 GHz and 8 GHz.

7. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the antenna arrangement (10) and preferably the design and arrangement of the at least one antenna element (20) and the circuit board (30) is designed such that direction-dependent reception and / or direction-dependent transmission of the radio signals via the at least one antenna element (20) results. 22 8. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the antenna arrangement (10), in particular with the at least one spaced-apart antenna element (20) and / or via the at least one coupling element (50) and / or via the contactless coupling, is configured to receive the radio signal in order to provide at least one vehicle function for the vehicle (100) depending on the received radio signal, wherein the at least one vehicle function comprises at least one of the following: a gesture recognition system, in particular to detect and recognize a gesture in the vehicle environment of the vehicle (100) and to trigger a further vehicle function based on the recognized gesture, a localization of persons in the vehicle interior (100), in particular for recording the position of occupants in the vehicle (100), preferably to individually adjust safety systems such as airbags or seat belts, indoor and outdoor localization of persons, in particular to determine whether persons are inside or outside the vehicle (100) and to control vehicle functions accordingly, a monitoring system for controlling a front and / or rear hatch movement, in particular to enable automatic hatch opening by means of a foot movement under the vehicle (100), a determination of which seat an identified person is in, in particular to make personalized settings such as seat position, mirrors or infotainment, tracking of persons outside the vehicle (100), in particular to detect approaching persons and to control safety or comfort functions such as welcome lighting or door locking, a "Phone as a Key" (Paak) function, in particular to use a mobile device (300) as a vehicle key and thereby grant access and / or starting authorization to the vehicle (100), - Distance measurements, in particular to determine a distance between vehicle (100) and objects or persons and / or to support a parking aid or collision warning system of the vehicle (100), 23 a rangefinding operation using UWB (Ultra-Wideband), in particular to enable precise distance measurements and / or localizations and preferably to provide for vehicle functions such as access control, security functions or person detection, a vehicle access and start authorization function, in particular a passive access control in which the vehicle (100) detects an authorized key or mobile device (300) in the vicinity to unlock doors or enable engine start, a location and authentication of an ID transmitter (300) or other device, in particular to prevent unauthorized access and to increase the security of the vehicle, Detection and prevention of relay station attacks, in particular through distance measurement, to prevent unauthorized access via signal extension, a control of an automatically extendable door handle, preferably an initiation of an extension of the door handle depending on a gesture. 24 9. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the antenna arrangement (10) is designed to be arranged in a door handle (110) and / or emblem and / or door sill and / or in the vehicle interior and / or in a center console (120) and / or on a mirror (130) and / or in the rear area of ​​the vehicle (100).

10. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the circuit board (30) is designed as a main board, and a further antenna circuit board (35) is provided, which is attached to the main board, and on which the at least one antenna element (20) is attached in the assembled state, preferably on a surface of the antenna circuit board (35) facing away from the main board, in order to enable the distance to the circuit board (30) and / or to the at least one coupling element (50) and thus the contactless coupling without a direct galvanic connection.

11. Antenna arrangement (10) according to claim 10, characterized by that the antenna circuit board (35) is designed as a single layer or with fewer layers, unlike the main board.

12. Antenna arrangement (10) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that the at least one antenna element (20) comprises at least two or at least three or at least four antenna elements (20) which are arranged spaced apart from each other and from the main board on the antenna circuit board (35), preferably each as a patch to form a patch antenna arrangement. 25 13. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the antenna arrangement (10) is designed to form a UWB satellite on the vehicle (100), wherein for this purpose the at least one antenna element (20) is preferably arranged such that it is initiated by at least one electronic element (40) of the circuit board (30) and preferably via the at least one coupling element (50) to emit UWB radio signals.

14. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a plane (221) of the printed circuit board (30) is designed as a component placement area for mounting one or more electronic elements (40) on the printed circuit board (30), wherein the electronic elements (40) are galvanically isolated from the at least one antenna element (20), wherein a processing device (41) is provided which is designed to control the at least one antenna element (20) for transmitting radio signals and / or for processing radio signals received by the at least one antenna element (20), wherein preferably the processing device (41) is designed as a UWB chip.

15. Antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the minimum distance (D2) between the circuit board (30) and the at least one antenna element (20) is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm, or that the circuit board (30) has a plane (224) for providing the at least one coupling element (50), wherein the minimum distance between the at least one coupling element (50) and the at least one antenna element (20) is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm, or that the printed circuit board (30) has a plane (222) to provide an electrically conductive surface and in particular an electrical ground potential for the antenna arrangement (10), wherein the minimum distance between the plane (222) and the at least one antenna element (20) is in the range of 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 3.0 mm, preferably 2.2 mm to 2.6 mm. 26 16. Vehicle (100) comprising at least one antenna arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

17. Detection system comprising several antenna arrangements (10), each configured according to one of claims 1 to 15, for monitoring a vehicle environment.

18. Method (500) for operating an antenna arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising: Receiving (501) a radio signal by the antenna arrangement (10) via the at least one spaced-apart antenna element (20) via contactless coupling, Processing (502) the radio signal by a processing device (41), providing (503) a vehicle function depending on the processing.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized by that the vehicle function is a control of a retractable door handle in order to automatically extend the door handle depending on a detected gesture.

Images