System and method for improving received signal strength for an in-vehicle wireless communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio frequency (“
- RF”
) communication system for a vehicle, said system comprising;
an RF receiver configured to receive RF signals for processing by an onboard vehicle system;
an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal intended for said RF receiver, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; and
an RF relay element located proximate to said RF transmitter, said RF relay element being configured to reduce signal strength loss of said RF signal, said signal strength loss resulting from electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle.
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Abstract
An onboard wireless communication system for a vehicle, such as a tire pressure monitoring system (“TPMS”) is disclosed. The TPMS includes wheel-mounted radio frequency (“RF“) sensor/transmitters that transmit RF signals conveying tire pressure information, at least one RF relay element, and an RF receiver coupled to a TPMS processor. The RF relay element(s) relay the RF signals from the sensor/transmitters to the RF receiver to reduce the negative effect of electromagnetic field scattering caused by conductive parts of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (“
- RF”
) communication system for a vehicle, said system comprising;
an RF receiver configured to receive RF signals for processing by an onboard vehicle system;
an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal intended for said RF receiver, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; and
an RF relay element located proximate to said RF transmitter, said RF relay element being configured to reduce signal strength loss of said RF signal, said signal strength loss resulting from electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- RF”
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9. An onboard tire pressure monitoring system (“
- TPMS”
) for a vehicle, said TPMS comprising;
a wheel-mounted tire pressure sensor/transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (“
RF”
) signal that conveys tire pressure information, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; and
an onboard RF relay element located proximate to said wheel-mounted tire pressure sensor/transmitter, said onboard RF relay element being configured to reduce signal strength loss of said RF signal, said signal strength loss resulting from electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- TPMS”
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18. An onboard wireless communication method for a vehicle, said method comprising:
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transmitting a wireless signal that conveys information for processing by an onboard vehicle system, said wireless signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle;
passively relaying said wireless signal to provide a relayed wireless signal in a manner that reduces signal strength loss of said relayed wireless signal, said signal strength loss resulting from said electromagnetic field scattering; and
receiving said relayed wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification