Vehicle Mobile Terminal Position Detection Using Auxiliary Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile terminal position detection in vehicles requires a large number of antennas to achieve accurate results, as radio waves are attenuated by obstacles like human bodies, leading to erroneous distance estimation and the need for increased antenna installation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal position detecting device that uses a combination of reception antennas and auxiliary antennas formed from meandering connection cables or conductive materials to accurately determine the position of a mobile terminal without increasing the number of antenna installations, by distinguishing between reception strengths and determining the position based on whether the auxiliary antenna receives the radio wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of reception antennas is increased to improve position detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into two functional segments: reception antennas for detecting radio waves from mobile terminals and auxiliary antennas for detecting reflected radio waves. This segmentation allows each antenna type to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall detection accuracy without requiring a proportional increase in the total number of antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary antennas act as intermediaries that detect reflected radio waves from obstacles. By detecting these reflected waves, the system can infer the presence and position of obstacles that would otherwise block the direct signal between reception antennas and mobile terminals, thereby maintaining accurate position detection without increasing the number of reception antennas.
2Reliability
If the number of reception antennas is increased to compensate for signal attenuation by obstacles, then the reliability of position detection is improved, but the ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary antennas serve multiple functions: they detect reflected radio waves, identify obstacle positions, and provide correction information for the reception antennas. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high reliability without proportionally increasing the total number of antennas, thereby reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary antennas are positioned in advance at locations where reflected radio waves are likely to be detected. By pre-positioning these antennas to capture reflected signals before they are completely blocked or lost, the system ensures reliable position detection without requiring additional reception antennas to be installed in difficult-to-reach locations.
3Measurement precision
If more reception antennas are installed to detect positions behind obstacles, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding more reception antennas to directly detect signals from mobile terminals behind obstacles, the patent inverts the approach by using auxiliary antennas to detect reflected radio waves from obstacles. This indirect detection method provides information about obstacle positions that helps correct the readings from reception antennas, achieving improved precision without increasing reception antenna count.
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
Enables accurate detection of the mobile terminal's position within a vehicle compartment with fewer antenna installations, improving accuracy and ease of implementation by utilizing auxiliary antennas to compensate for signal attenuation caused by obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of reception antennas 10a to 10d and an auxiliary antenna 20 are located in a vehicle compartment... configured to detect a reception strength of the radio wave from the mobile terminal
Implementation Method 2
the auxiliary antenna 20... configured to determine whether the radio wave from the mobile terminal has been received by the auxiliary antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A reception strength detection unit (101) is connected to multiple reception antennas (10) located in a vehicle compartment, and detects a reception strength of a radio wave from a mobile terminal for each of the multiple reception antennas. A reception determination unit (102) is connected to an auxiliary antenna (20) located at a predetermined position that is a blind spot of the reception antenna in the vehicle compartment, and determines whether the radio waves from the mobile terminal has been received by the auxiliary antenna. When the radio wave from the mobile terminal has not been received by the auxiliary antenna, an existence position calculation unit (103) calculates an existence position of the mobile terminal based on the reception strength detected by the multiple reception antennas. When the radio wave from the mobile terminal is received by the auxiliary antenna, the existence position determination unit (104) determines the predetermined position at which the auxiliary antenna receiving the radio wave is located as the existence position of the mobile terminal.