Work Vehicle Antenna Unit Mounting on Cabin Roof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic traveling systems for work vehicles, such as tractors, face challenges in efficiently mounting and securely supporting various antenna devices for communication and navigation, particularly due to the curved and less rigid cabin roof, which affects detection accuracy and communication reliability.
Innovation Solution
A modular antenna unit is designed with a GNSS antenna and inertial measurement unit at the longitudinal center, a wireless communication unit at one end, and multiple wireless communication antennas in parallel at the front, optimized to minimize radio interference and shielding, with a base station antenna raised for better reception and a mounting space for additional units, all integrated into a support frame that secures the unit to the cabin frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antenna devices are mounted on the cabin roof, then communication and navigation functions are improved, but mounting efficiency and structural support are worsened due to the curved and less rigid cabin roof
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into separate functional modules (GNSS antenna module, wireless communication antenna module, base station antenna module) that can be independently designed, manufactured, and mounted. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall mounting process on the cabin roof.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from mounting antennas directly on the curved cabin roof surface to using a rigid support frame structure that extends upward from the cabin roof. This dimensional change elevates the antennas to a platform that provides a flat, rigid mounting surface, effectively solving the curvature and rigidity issues of the original mounting surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If antennas are mounted on the cabin roof, then navigation and communication functions are enabled, but detection accuracy is reduced due to radio wave shielding from the cabin structure
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame structure elevates the GNSS antenna and other radio frequency devices to a higher dimension above the cabin roof, positioning them outside the immediate shielding zone of the cabin's metal structure. This spatial elevation reduces the impact of radio wave shielding and improves signal reception accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If various antenna devices are installed separately, then communication and navigation capabilities are achieved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna devices (GNSS antenna, wireless communication antennas, base station antenna) and their supporting structures into a single integrated antenna unit. This merging reduces the number of separate components, simplifies installation, and lowers overall system complexity while maintaining all required communication and navigation functions.
4Reliability
If multiple antenna devices are mounted, then communication reliability is improved, but mounting space requirements and structural reinforcement needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame structure utilizes the vertical dimension by extending upward from the cabin roof, allowing multiple antenna devices to be mounted in a compact vertical arrangement rather than spreading them out horizontally. This three-dimensional arrangement reduces the mounting footprint on the cabin roof while accommodating all necessary antenna devices for reliable communication.
Data Source
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AI summary
A GNSS antenna 26 and an inertial measurement unit 25 are placed at a longitudinal center of a unit base 55 mountable onto a work vehicle. A wireless communication unit 27 is placed at the longitudinal one end side of the unit base 55. A wireless communication antenna 28 of the wireless communication unit 27 is placed in a front part of the unit base 55, which is located on the front side of a vehicle body when the unit base 55 is mounted on the work vehicle. The GNSS antenna 26 is provided above the inertial measurement unit 25.