Short range radio receiver

• US 20040005864A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronic (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronic (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Eray, Yves
• Application Number:
  US10/276,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20040005864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/084 Equal gain combining, only phase adjustments antenna beam scanning or forming by phase or amplitude control H01Q3/26, e.g. phased arrays

Abstract

The short range radio receiver for motor vehicle data signals comprises antenna means (1, 2, 3) having a radiation pattern, connected to a unit (10, 11, 21, 22) for processing received signals, arranged in order to extract the data therefrom, the antenna circuits (1, 2, 3) comprise circuits (3) for rotating the radiation pattern and the processing unit comprises circuits (22) for controlling the rotational drive circuits (3), associated with circuits (21) for measuring the signal level received in at least two positions of the pattern, the measuring circuits (21) driving the control circuits (22) as a function of the measurements.

Claims

1. A short range radio receiver for motor vehicle data signals, comprising antenna means (1, 2, 3) having a radiation pattern, connected to a unit (10, 11, 21, 22) for processing received signals, arranged in order to extract the data therefrom, a receiver characterized in that the antenna means (1, 2, 3) comprise circuits (3) for rotating the radiation pattern and the processing unit comprises circuits (22) for controlling the rotational drive circuits (3), associated with circuits (21) for measuring the signal level received in at least two positions of the pattern, the measuring circuits (21) being arranged in order to drive the control circuit (22) as a function of the measurements.

2. The receiver as claimed in claim 1, in which the antenna means comprise two independent antennas (1, 2) with two respective radiation patterns offset angularly, connected to the processing unit (10, 11, 21, 22) by the rotational drive circuits (3), arranged in order to select one of the antennas (1, 2) for this purpose.

3. The receiver as claimed in claim 2, in which the antennas (1, 2) are substantially perpendicular printed circuit tracks.

4. The receiver as claimed in claim 1, in which the antenna means comprise two linear radiating elements (1, 2) and the rotational drive circuits (3) connect one of the two elements (2) to the other (1) and to an amplifier (10) for receiving a composite antenna signal.

5. The receiver as claimed in claim 4, in which the antenna elements (1, 2) are substantially parallel printed circuit tracks.

6. The receiver as claimed in claim 4, in which the measurement circuits (21) are arranged in order to modulate the phase of the composite signal through the rotational control circuits (22), and to determine a phase of maximum reception level.