GPS Selector Using Directional Coupler and Bandpass Filter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with multiple radio devices such as cellular transceivers and navigation systems require multiple antennas and corresponding transmission lines, leading to increased cost, assembly time, weight, and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A radio system that uses a single coaxial cable to carry signals from multiple antennas to multiple radios, employing a signal combiner, directional coupler, and band pass filter to selectively route signals to each radio device, eliminating the need for individual transmission lines between each antenna and radio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple transmission lines are used to connect each antenna to its corresponding radio device, then signal transmission reliability is maintained, but cost, assembly time, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transmission lines into a single transmission line by using a signal combiner device that multiplexes signals from multiple antennas onto one cable. This merging approach reduces the total weight of transmission lines while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal separation at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The single transmission line serves multiple functions by carrying signals from multiple different antennas to multiple different radio frequency devices. The transmission line becomes a universal conduit that handles multiple signal paths simultaneously through frequency-division multiplexing.
2Reliability
If multiple transmission lines are used to connect each antenna to its corresponding radio device, then signal transmission reliability is maintained, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transmission lines into a single transmission line by using a signal combiner device that multiplexes signals from multiple antennas onto one cable. This merging approach reduces the total weight of transmission lines while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal separation at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The single transmission line serves multiple functions by carrying signals from multiple different antennas to multiple different radio frequency devices. The transmission line becomes a universal conduit that handles multiple signal paths simultaneously through frequency-division multiplexing.
3Reliability
If multiple transmission lines are used to connect each antenna to its corresponding radio device, then signal transmission reliability is maintained, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transmission lines into a single transmission line by using a signal combiner device that multiplexes signals from multiple antennas onto one cable. This merging approach reduces the total weight of transmission lines while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal separation at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The single transmission line serves multiple functions by carrying signals from multiple different antennas to multiple different radio frequency devices. The transmission line becomes a universal conduit that handles multiple signal paths simultaneously through frequency-division multiplexing.
4Reliability
If multiple transmission lines are used to connect each antenna to its corresponding radio device, then signal transmission quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a signal combiner device as an intermediary component that manages the complexity of connecting multiple antennas to multiple radio frequency devices. This intermediary device handles signal multiplexing and demultiplexing, simplifying the overall system architecture by replacing a complex mesh of individual transmission lines with a single managed conduit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the number of transmission lines, lowering costs, assembly time, weight, and improving reliability by efficiently distributing signals from multiple antennas to various radio devices via a single transmission line.
Implementation Method 1
a band pass filter to select GPS signals
Implementation Method 2
directional coupler, and band pass filter to selectively route signals
Data Source
AI summary
A single transmission line couples multiple different antennas to corresponding radios using a low-loss signal selector made from a directional radio frequency coupler and a bandpass filter. A combiner receives signals from the antennas and combines those signals onto the one transmission line. The multiple, different-frequency signals on the transmission line are provided to a directional coupler having two outputs. One of the outputs from the directional coupler is routed to a first band pass filter having a pass band corresponding to a radio frequency required by a particular radio.