WO2010112011A1 - Vehicle, internal vehicle network, network and installation kit for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Modern car-to-car communication requires the transmission of road user information such as speed, dimensions of the vehicle or mass. For communication it has been proposed to locate transmission and reception devices both in the front and in the rear region of the motor vehicle. This can result, in particular in intersection areas, in vehicle communication not taking place. The invention therefore proposes a vehicle with a vehicle upper side, wherein the vehicle has an interior and an exterior region which are separated from one another at least partially by the vehicle upper side, wherein an exterior antenna is located on the vehicle upper side in such a way that the exterior antenna is found substantially in the exterior region, with the result that a transmission or reception operation takes place in the exterior region, wherein a signal conditioning unit is located beneath on the vehicle upper side in such a way that the signal conditioning unit is located in the interior of the vehicle.

Description

 Vehicle, vehicle interior network, network and a kit for motor vehicles

The invention relates to a vehicle having a vehicle upper side, wherein the vehicle has an interior space and an exterior area which are at least partially separated from one another by the vehicle upper side, wherein an external antenna is located on the vehicle upper side so that the external antenna substantially in the Outside is located that a sending or receiving process takes place outdoors.

[02] In the future, vehicles in road traffic will exchange information with each other. This exchange of information is called car-to-car communication or car to car communication (C2C).

[03] In order to realize such communication, it is proposed in the prior art to mount antennas in the front and rear of the vehicles. The radiation characteristic of the antennas may result in crossing areas that no information can be exchanged. This communication can also be disturbed by buildings or vegetation.

[04] Mitführgeräte can also carry out a car-to-car communication. An example of this are navigation devices which are connected to the wind are secured disc and have transmitting and receiving devices with which a car to car communication can take place. Due to the location in the interior of the vehicle and the emission characteristics of the transmitting and receiving units, interference in the communication may also occur here in the crossing area.

[05] The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

[06] The object is achieved by a vehicle having a vehicle upper side, the vehicle having an interior space and an exterior area which are at least partially separated from one another by the vehicle upper side, wherein an external antenna is located on the vehicle upper side so that the external antenna essentially located in the outdoor area that a transmitting or receiving process takes place in the outer area, wherein a signal conditioning unit is located below the top of the vehicle so that the signal conditioning unit is located in the interior of the vehicle.

[07] Due to the exposed position of the external antenna, an annular radiation characteristic can be achieved with a suitable design. In addition, certain obstacle heights can be overcome in this way.

[08] In the first place, the following is explained conceptually: "motor vehicles" can be, in particular, motor vehicles such as buses, passenger cars, lorries or construction vehicles. [09] The term 'vehicle upper side' covers all surfaces to which an external antenna can be attached and which are located in an exposed position with respect to height, in particular the top of the vehicle protects passengers or cargo from rain, snow or snowfall especially thought of the car roof.

[10] The term "interior" essentially covers spaces for the passengers and drivers of the vehicle and / or the goods to be transported.The interior is generally protected from external influences by side elements such as doors and the floor Antenna housing is protected, it is located in the outer area, if their radiation characteristic causes the received signals or signals sent substantially remain outdoors.

[11] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention follow.

[12] In order to ensure a low attenuation of the antenna signal, the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna can be between 0 cm and 300 cm.

In another embodiment, the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna between 0 cm and 100 cm. This also results in a lower attenuation of the antenna signal. In order to further reduce the attenuation of the antenna signal, the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the Outside antenna between 0 and 30 cm, in particular between 0 and 10 cm and further in particular between 0 and 3 cm.

[14] In order to obtain an extremely low attenuation of the antenna signal, the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the antenna may be given only by the thickness of the vehicle upper side.

[15] In this case, in particular directly above the signal conditioning unit, the outer antenna can be located.

[16] In particular, in a car, a vehicle roof may form the vehicle upper side.

[17] In order to use the invention also in trucks, a container roof can form the vehicle top. A container of the type described herein may in particular be a fifteen foot or thirty foot container.

To use the invention also in a convertible, an upper side of a cross member over the A-pillars may form the vehicle upper side. This can advantageously be ensured that a closable vehicle roof for the convertible can be used while the antenna remains stationary.

[19] In order to process several signals simultaneously, the outer antenna can have one, two, three, four or more single outer antennas. [20] In a further embodiment of the invention, the individual external antennas for satellite positioning signal (eg GPS) reception, radio (eg FM) reception and / or mobile telephone network (eg GSM / GPRS) reception can be configured. Thus, position data or audio data can be received. To use the outdoor antenna for car-to-car communication, the individual outdoor antennas can form an 802.1 ip individual antenna and / or a WLAN individual antenna and / or a Bluetooth individual antenna. Data can also be exchanged via these individual antennas.

[21] In order to pass on the data received from the outside antenna to the vehicle interior, the signal conditioning unit can exchange data with a vehicle communication system and / or a communication system in the interior of the vehicle via a digital serial connection, in particular by means of a universal asynchronous transmitter.

[22] Conceptually, the following is clarified: "Vehicle communication system" includes all communication standards used in the automotive sector, in particular MOST, Flexrey, CAN or LIN.

"Communication systems" in the interior of the vehicle may include all handheld devices such as mobile phones, game consoles, PDAs, MP3 players and iPods, headphones, hands-free or even laptops. [24] In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle may have an interior antenna in the interior. As a result, it is advantageously possible to realize radio links in the interior of the vehicle. In order to provide the interior of the vehicle as optimally as possible with signals, the interior antenna can be located below at the top of the vehicle. In order to obtain the best possible signal, the inner antenna can have a distance to the signal conditioning unit between 0 cm and 30 cm.

[25] In a further embodiment of the invention, the inner antenna may have one, two, three, four or more single inner antennas. As a result, several signals can be processed in parallel.

[26] In order to allow communication or car-to-car communication, the indoor antennas can form a single 802.1 lp antenna and / or WLAN single antenna and / or a single bluetooth antenna.

[27] In order to enable fast processes and to reduce latency, the signal conditioning unit may comprise at least one receiver or transmitter and / or transceiver for the outside antenna. For the same reason, the signal conditioning unit may comprise at least one receiver and / or transmitter and / or transceiver for the indoor antenna. [28] At this point, it should be mentioned that time-critical data can be processed in particular directly in the signal conditioning unit. Applications that are not so critical in time can be realized by another device in or on the vehicle.

[29] To reduce the number of components in the signal conditioning unit, the signal conditioning unit can have a multi-transceiver.

[30] In another embodiment, the signal conditioning unit may include a memory and a processor. This memory and the processor enable the time-critical calculations, in particular for the car-to-car communication, to be implemented.

[31] In order to realize a network via the outside antenna or inside antenna, the signal conditioning unit may have a network processor.

[32] Alternatively or cumulatively, the signal conditioning unit may be functional as a router. In this case, networks with the same protocols can advantageously be coupled to one another.

[33] In order to connect networks with different protocols, the signal conditioning unit can express the gateway / router bridge function. [34] In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle may have a radio storage medium, in particular a multimedia hard disk. This data on the radio storage medium can be distributed or stored on this via internal and / or external antenna. Furthermore, in particular MP3 or MPEG files can be stored on a multimedia hard disk.

[35] In order to view the data of the radio storage medium, the vehicle may have a display device. In particular, films of the multimedia hard disk can thus be recorded on the display.

[36] In order to reduce the number of built-in displays in the vehicle, a Mitführgerät, in particular a navigation device, mobile phone and / or PDA, the display device may have. Thus, for example, by means of the navigation device movies are viewed.

[37] In order to ensure car-to-car communication even if the car battery fails, the signal conditioning unit can have a redundant power supply, in particular a battery, accumulator and / or solar cell.

[38] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle interior network, wherein the vehicle interior network is located at least partially in the interior of a vehicle as described above. This allows a data network functionality in the interior of a be ensured of a vehicle. For example, a mobile phone with the navigation device in the car exchange data.

[39] In order to facilitate the exchange of data, a first entity and a second entity can communicate via this in-car network. The term is intended to explain that "entities" include all devices and devices with which electronic data can be exchanged.

[40] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a network, the network comprising a vehicle interior network as described above and a network having means for communicating by means of the exterior antennas of the vehicle as described above. This can be advantageously interconnected networks.

[41] In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a kit for a motor vehicle, after installation in the motor vehicle, a motor vehicle as described above, has arisen. As a result, motor vehicles can advantageously be retrofitted with a car-to-car communication.

[42] In the following, the invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment.

[43] It shows 1 shows a schematic section of a detail of a vehicle top,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of a signal conditioning unit,

Figure 3 shows an application of the invention and

Figure 4 also an application of the invention.

[44] FIG. 1 shows an external antenna 111 with an antenna housing 109. The antenna housing protects the outer antenna 111 from the weather. Between antenna housing 109 and outer antenna 111, a part of the inner space 115 forms. This inner space 115 is connected via the cable bushing 113 with the inner space 119 below the car roof 101.

[45] Thus, it is ensured that the emission characteristic of the outer antenna 111 is essentially in the outer region 117. Below the car roof 101, the signal conditioning unit 107 and the inner antenna 103 are located.

In order to seal the cable bushing, the antenna housing and the signal conditioning unit on the car roof 101 are braced against each other via the screw connection 105.

[47] The schematic structure of the signal conditioning unit 1/107 is shown in FIG. As far as the signal conditioning unit 1/107 connections for single outdoor antennas for GPRS 2 FM 3, car to car communication (802. I IP) 4 and single antenna connections for GPRS 2 FM 7 and WLAN 10 and Bluetooth 11 on. The individual antennas and the individual external antennas are evaluated via the multi-transceiver 8 and the signals are forwarded to the processor 14. The processor 14 processes the data and evaluates it and forwards it to the Uart interface 12. In addition, the processor exchanges the evaluated data with the GNS protocol stack 15, the gateway / router stack 9 and with the 802.11p stack. For storing programs or data, the signal conditioning unit 1/107 additionally has the memory 5.

[48] When the device of FIG. 1 is located with the signal conditioning unit of FIG. 2 in a vehicle 301, the applications illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be realized. In Figure 3 there are two entities 305/307 in the interior of the vehicle 301. The entity 305 is a navigation system with display and the entity 307 is a multimedia hard disk which can exchange data via radio. Via the navigation system 305, data is read from the multimedia hard disk via the vehicle interior network and displayed on the display.

[49] New data can be played on the multimedia hard disk. Thus, via an external network from home 303, a data stream can be transmitted via the external antenna 111 to the vehicle interior network. From the vehicle interior network, the data are then stored on the multimedia hard disk. This process can also be done in the other direction. [50] In Figure 4 shows how a software update can be transmitted to a vehicle. In an auto workshop 403, the vehicle data 407 is read out via the outside antenna. These data are compared with the current software version and, if necessary, a software update is imported. The fact that such a software update has taken place can be displayed on the navigation device 305, for example.

[51] It is conceivable that a software update will record the protocols that were still in the pre-standard when the device was manufactured.

Claims

claims: A vehicle having a vehicle upper side, the vehicle having an inner space and an outer area at least partially separated from each other by the vehicle upper side, wherein an outer antenna is located on the vehicle upper side such that the outer antenna is located substantially in the outer area Transmitting or receiving operation takes place in the outer area, characterized in that a signal processing unit is located below the vehicle top, wherein the signal conditioning unit preferably in the interior of the Vehicle is located. 2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna is between 0 cm and 300 cm. 3. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the outer antenna is between 0 cm and 100 cm. 4. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna is between 0 cm and 30 cm. 5. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna is between 0 cm and 10 cm. 6. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the external antenna between 0 cm and 3 cm. 7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the signal conditioning unit and the antenna is given by the thickness of the vehicle top. 8. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a vehicle roof forms the vehicle upper side. 9. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a container roof forms the vehicle upper side. 10. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an upper side of a cross member over an A-pillar forms the vehicle upper side. 11. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer antenna 1, 2, 3, 4 or more individual outer antennas. 12. Vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the individual outer antennas for GPS reception, FM reception and / or GPRS reception are configured. 13. Vehicle according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the individual outer antennas form an 802.1 lp single antenna and / or a WLAN single antenna and / or a Bluetooth single antenna. 14. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit via a digital serial connection, in particular by means of a universal asynchronus receiver transmitter ter, exchanges data with a vehicle communication system and / or a communication system in the interior of the vehicle. 15. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle has an interior antenna in the interior. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the inner antenna is located below the vehicle top. 17. Vehicle according to one of claims 15 to 16, wherein the inner antenna has a distance to the signal conditioning unit between 0 cm and 30 cm. 18. Vehicle according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the inner antenna 1, 2, 3, 4 or more single inner antennas. 19. Vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the individual indoor antennas form an 802.1 lp single antenna and / or a WLAN single antenna and / or a Bluetooth single antenna. 20. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one receiver for the external antenna. 21. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one transmitter for the external antenna. 22. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one Tranceiver for the external antenna. 23. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one receiver for the inner antenna. 24. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one transmitter for the inner Anne. 25. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one Tranceiver for the indoor antenna. 26. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has at least one multi-transceiver. 27. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit comprises a memory and a processor. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit comprises a network processor. 29. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit expresses the function of a router. 30. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit expresses the function of a gateway. 31. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle has a radio storage medium, in particular a multimedia hard disk. 32. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle has a display device. 33. Vehicle according to claim 32, wherein a carry-along device, in particular a navigation device, mobile telephone and / or PDA, has the display device. 34. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal conditioning unit has a redundant power supply, in particular battery, accumulator and / or solar cell. 35. Vehicle interior network, wherein the vehicle interior network is at least partially located in the interior of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 34. 36. The vehicle interior network according to claim 35, wherein a first entity and a second entity in the vehicle communicate via this vehicle interior network. 37. Network, wherein the network comprises a vehicle interior network according to one of claims 35 to 36 and a network, which is communicated by means of the external antennas of the vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 34. 38. Installation kit for a motor vehicle, wherein after installation in the motor vehicle, a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 34 has arisen. 39. A two-piece antenna device attachable or attached to a vehicle, the antenna device as described above.