HF wheel rim antenna having several patch antennas

• US 20040263404A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Tenten, Wilfried, Thiel, Michael, Voigtlaender, Klaus, Damm, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0805 with single receiver and antenna switching H04B7/0822 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0834 based on external parameters, e.g. subscriber speed or location

Abstract

A system for wireless data transmission between a stationary transmitting/reception device and a rotating body, e.g., a vehicle wheel, having secondary antennas, is provided. A plurality of stationary primary antennas are coupled to the stationary transmitting/reception device, and a plurality of secondary antennas are positioned along a circumference of the rotating body. Amongst the plurality of primary antennas, at least one primary antenna is provided for transmitting electrical energy to the secondary antennas, and at least one other primary antenna is provided for communications with the secondary antennas. In this manner, data transmission independent of the speed of the rotating body and the position of the secondary antennas is achieved.

Claims

1. A system for wireless data transmission, comprising:

a plurality of stationary primary antennas; and

a plurality of secondary antennas situated on a rotating body;

wherein a first primary antenna transmits electrical energy to the secondary antennas, and a second primary antenna is provided for at least bi-directional communications for data exchange with the secondary antennas.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary antennas are positioned on a carrier band placed on the rotating body.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the carrier band is a rim band positioned on a circumference of a wheel rim.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary antennas are situated on the wheel housing of a vehicle, and wherein the main emitting direction of the primary antennas is towards the direction of a corresponding wheel in the wheel housing, and at an angle downwards relative to the horizontal plane of a road surface below the wheel.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a processing unit for controlling the energy transmitting operation and the communications operation of the primary antennas, wherein the processing unit is able to change the operation mode of the second primary antenna between the communications operations for data exchange and the transmitting operation for the energy transmission.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a synchronization device for synchronizing the second primary antenna operating in the communications operation mode with the first primary antenna operating in the energy transmitting operation mode.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the primary antennas operate at a carrier frequency approximately in the gigahertz range.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein a quadratic amplitude modulation is used for data transmission from the secondary antennas to the primary antennas.

9. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an energy storage medium connected to the secondary antennas for storing the energy transmitted by the primary antennas.

10. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the secondary antennas are arranged in a plurality of rows.

11. The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a selection device for selecting a desired number of secondary antennas among the plurality of secondary antennas for communications with at least one of the first and second primary antennas.

12. The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a selection device for deactivating, if the vehicle exceeds a predefined speed, a first selected number of the secondary antennas and operating a second selected number of secondary antennas for communications with at least one of the first and second primary antennas.