Biased Antenna Assembly for Remote DSRC Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna arrangements for toll collection systems, such as those using DSRC, face significant signal losses when the antenna and electronics are separated by long cables, leading to reduced communication quality and range.
Innovation Solution
An antenna arrangement with a transmitter/receiver unit and a biasing unit that provides sufficient bias current or voltage to maintain signal integrity over longer distances, using a switching unit to separate uplink and downlink paths and incorporating a conversion element to convert high-frequency signals to intermediate frequencies, reducing frequency-dependent losses and allowing the antenna and electronics to be remotely located.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna and electronics are located close to each other, then signal transmission quality is maintained, but the device cannot be remotely installed and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the transmitter/receiver unit and the antenna unit. This biasing unit provides the necessary bias current or voltage through the connection line, enabling the antenna to operate correctly at remote locations without suffering from signal degradation that would otherwise occur over long cable runs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional units: a transmitter/receiver unit containing processing electronics and an antenna unit positioned remotely. The connection line serves as a segmented pathway that, when combined with the biasing unit, enables functional separation while maintaining operational integrity across the separation distance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the antenna is remotely located from the electronics, then installation flexibility and cost savings are achieved, but signal losses in connecting cables increase
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing unit acts as a mediator that compensates for the detrimental effects of long connection cables. By injecting bias current or voltage into the connection line, it maintains sufficient signal strength and operational parameters at the remote antenna, thereby preserving communication quality while enabling cost-effective remote installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters (bias current or bias voltage) along the connection line to compensate for cable losses. The biasing unit adjusts these parameters to ensure the antenna receives adequate power and signal levels even when located meters away from the electronics, thus maintaining reliability while reducing installation costs.
3Length of stationary object
If high-frequency signals are transmitted over long distances, then communication range is extended, but frequency-dependent losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing unit modifies the electrical parameters (current or voltage) in the connection line to counteract frequency-dependent losses. By providing additional bias current or voltage, the system compensates for the attenuation that occurs when high-frequency signals traverse long cables, thereby extending effective communication range without sacrificing signal quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
An antenna arrangement comprises an antenna unit (11) and a transmit/receive unit (6) connected to the antenna unit (11). The transmit/receive unit (6) includes a processing unit (4) configured to process a signal received by the antenna unit (11) and to transmit signals to the antenna unit (11). The transmit/receive unit (6) further comprises a down path (Rx) and an up path (Tx), wherein the down path (Rx) is configured to transmit signals from the antenna unit (11) to the processing unit (4), and wherein the up path (Tx) is configured to transmit signals from the processing unit (4) to the antenna unit (11).The transmit/receive unit (6) also includes a switching unit (7) configured to separate the upstream and downstream paths (Tx, Rx), the upstream path (Tx) and the downstream path (Rx) being connected in parallel between the switching unit (7) and the processing unit (4). A biasing unit (8) is arranged in the downstream path (Rx) between the switching unit (7) and the processing unit (4) and is configured to provide a bias current (IB) or a bias voltage (UB).