Antenna system

• US 20040058690A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hirschmann Electronics GmbH and Co KG (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hirschmann Electronics GmbH and Co KG (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wendt, Dirk, Ratzel, Achim, Schaich, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/08 at the receiving station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0837 using pre-detection combining H04B7/0868 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna system (1) comprising several antennae (2), which can be connected to at least two receivers (4, 4′) via a combination unit. According to the invention, a signal processing unit (5) for evaluating the output signals of the receivers (4, 4′) and a control unit (10) are provided, by means of which at least one of the antennae can be switched to transmit mode in order to conduct a self-test. These antennae (2) transmit test signals with a test frequency that is pre-set by a first receiver (4). Said test signals are fed into at least one other antenna (2) that, via the combination device (3), is connected to the second receiver (4′) whose frequency is tuned to the test frequency. In order to conduct the self-test, the receiving levels of the second receiver (4′) are recorded as actual values and compared with predetermined set values. This results in the realization of an antenna system in which a function check is conducted with the least possible amount of complexity.

Claims

1. Antenna system (1) with several antennae (2) which can be connected to at least two receivers (4, 4′

) in given combinations via a combination unit, with a signal processing unit (5) for evaluation of the output signals of the receivers (4, 4′

) and with a control unit (10), by means of which at least one of the antennae (2) can be switched to transmitting operation to carry out a self-test, this antenna (2) with a test frequency dictated via a first receiver (4) sending test signals which are coupled into at least one other antenna (2) which is connected via the combination device (3) to the second receiver (4′

) with a frequency tuned to the test frequency, and the reception levels of the second receiver (4′

) being detected as actual values and being compared to given setpoints to carry out the self-test.

2. Antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receivers (4, 4′

) are each formed by a superheterodyne receiver, each of the receivers (4, 4′

) having a mixer (6, 6′

) to which an oscillator (7, 7′

) is connected, and there being one bandpass filter (8, 8′

, 9, 9′

) on the input side and the output side of the mixer (6, 6′

).

3. Antenna system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the test frequency for the antenna (2) operated in the transmit mode during the self-test is generated by the oscillator (7, 7′

) of the first receiver (4).

4. Antenna system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the oscillator (7, 7′

) of the first receiver (4) is connected to the combination device (3) via a feed line which has a switch (11), and the switch (11) can be actuated via the control unit (10).

5. Antenna system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the switch (11) is closed only during the self-test.

6. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a level measurement means (12) for determining the actual values is connected downstream of the bandpass at the output of the second receiver (4′

).

7. Antenna system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the level measurement means (12) is connected to the control unit (10) in which the actual values are compared to the setpoints stored in the control unit (10).

8. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the signals which evaluate the reception quality and which form actual values from the signal processing unit (5) are read into the control unit (10) for comparison with the setpoints stored there.

9. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the oscillator (7, 7′

) of the second receiver (4′

) is tuned to the test frequency during the self-test.

10. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the frequencies of the oscillators (7, 7′

) can be set via the control unit (10).

11. Antenna system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frequencies of the oscillators (7, 7′

) are changed in a given frequency range for carrying out the self-test.

12. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control unit (10) is formed by the microcontroller.

13. Antenna system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, wherein it is integrated in a motor vehicle as a component of a broadcast receiving system.

14. Antenna system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the antennae are integrated into the rear window of the motor vehicle.

15. Antenna system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein during its control operation by means of a receiver (4) broadcast signals receiving [sic] from a combination or selection of antennae (2) and sent at a first frequency are processed for reproduction in the broadcast receiving system, and wherein by means of another receiver (4′

) broadcast signals received by another antenna (2) and sent at a second frequency are processed and are further processed to make available additional functions in the broadcast receiving system in the signal processing unit (5).

16. Antenna system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the additional functions are formed by the reception optimization functions.