Device for transmitting signals and/or energy

• US 20040048582A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Thiel, Michael, Schmidt, Ewald, Ruoss, Hans-Oliver, Mattes, Bernhard, Fricke, Heiko, Arriazu, Jorge Sanchez, Buehring, Heiko, Madueno, Jose, Klotz, Ruediger
• Granted Patent: US 6,960,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/08 differentially influencing two coils

Abstract

A device, using which signals and energy may be transmitted without contact between an electrical device on or in the vehicle body and an electrical device on or in a vehicle seat, reliable signal and energy transmission being ensured even in the event of frequent changes of the seating configuration, without the vehicle user having to take special precautions for this purpose. The two electrical devices are each assigned a transmission module. These transmission modules form a high-frequency wireless transmission path. The transmission module on or in the vehicle body is integrated into the rail system for the vehicle seat, while the transmission module on or in the seat may be coupled into the rail system in such a way that the signal and/or energy transmission occurs via the displacement current generated in the rail system.

Claims

1. A device for transmitting at least one of signals and energy between a first electrical device on or in a body of a vehicle and a second electrical device on or in a seat of the vehicle, the vehicle having a rail system for the vehicle seat, the device comprising:

a first transmission module assigned to the first electrical device and a second transmission module assigned to the second electrical device, the first and second transmission modules forming a high-frequency wireless transmission path, the first transmission module being situated on or in the vehicle body and being integrated into the rail system, the second transmission module being situated on or in the vehicle seat and being adapted to be coupled into the rail system in such a way that at least one of the signal and energy transmission occurs via a displacement current generated in the rail system.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the rail system is an electrical line for at least one of high-frequency energy and signals.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rail system includes at least one of a coaxial cable, a two-wire line, a planar structure, and a waveguide.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second transmission module provides a coupling for the at least one of the signal and energy transmission that occurs one of capacitively, inductively, and through aperture coupling.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second transmission module includes a coaxial cable whose inner conductor ends in a coupling pin, the coupling pin being adapted to be introduced into the electrical line for the at least one of the signal and energy transmission.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second transmission module includes a coaxial cable whose inner conductor ends in at least one conductor loop, the conductor loop being adapted to be introduced into the electrical line for the at least one of the signal and energy transmission.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical line has apertures, the second transmission module including a further electrical line for at least one of high-frequency energy and signals, the further electrical line having apertures, the apertures of the further electrical line on or in the seat being situated in accordance with the apertures of the electrical line on or in the vehicle body.