Vehicle Antenna Apparatus Wiring Simplification via Onboard LAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle-mounted antenna apparatuses have complex wiring due to separate signal wires needed for transmitting and receiving signals between antenna elements and external devices.
Innovation Solution
An antenna apparatus with a signal processing section that includes multiple processing units connected to corresponding antenna elements, a transceiver unit, and a voltage/current control unit, allowing signals to be transmitted and received through a single cable via an onboard LAN, simplifying wiring and reducing electric energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate signal wires are used to transmit signals between antenna elements and external devices, then signal transmission is achieved, but wiring becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal transmission functions into a single integrated structure. The signal processing section integrates multiple processing units (position calculation, mobile communication, information transmission/reception, broadcast reception, image processing) that share common connections to the gateway ECU through the onboard LAN, eliminating the need for separate external wiring for each antenna element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing section that acts as a mediator between the antenna elements and the gateway ECU. This section processes signals from multiple antenna elements and transmits them through a single connection to the gateway ECU via onboard LAN, simplifying the wiring structure while maintaining full signal transmission functionality.
2Device complexity
If multiple antenna elements are accommodated in a case, then integration is achieved, but signal wiring becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing section is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can process signals from various types of antenna elements (positioning, mobile communication, information transmission, broadcast reception). This single integrated section handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate processing units and wiring for each antenna type.
3Loss of energy
If separate wiring is used for each antenna element, then signal integrity is maintained, but electric energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple signal paths into a single integrated path through the signal processing section and onboard LAN connection to the gateway ECU. This consolidation reduces the total length and number of wires, thereby reducing electric energy loss while maintaining signal integrity through proper shielding and routing in the integrated structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna apparatus includes a signal processing section having a first processing unit for calculating position information of a vehicle to which a first antenna element is attached, a second processing unit for performing mobile communication, a third processing unit for receiving information from outside of the vehicle and transmitting information that pertains to the vehicle, and a fourth processing unit for receiving a digital broadcast; an antenna element section having the first antenna element to a fourth antenna element; and a transceiver unit connected to a gateway ECU of the vehicle through an onboard LAN. The first antenna element to the fourth antenna element are covered with an antenna case. The first to fourth processing units are accommodated in a housing arranged at a position closer to the antenna element section than the gateway ECU.