DUAL TRANSMITTING ANTENNA SYSTEM

• US 20090195465A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Gohl, Jonathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3208 characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a signal processing module and a first antenna that provides a first transmitted signal that has a first phase. A second antenna of the system provides a second transmitted signal that has a second phase that differs from the first phase. At least one receive antenna of the vehicle system receives first and second received signals that correspond to the first and second transmitted signals, respectively. The signal processing module processes the received first and second signals based on the first and second transmitted signals and selectively controls transmissions of the first and second transmitted signals.

Claims

1. A vehicle system, comprising:

a signal processing module;

a first antenna that provides a first transmitted signal that has a first phase;

a second antenna that provides a second transmitted signal that has a second phase that differs from said first phase; and

at least one receive antenna that receives first and second received signals that correspond to said first and second transmitted signals, respectively, wherein said signal processing module processes said received first and second signals based on said first and second transmitted signals and selectively controls transmissions of said first and second transmitted signals.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of receive antennas that receive said first and second received signals.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of switches that selectively control said plurality of receive antennas.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of comparators that communicate with said selectively controlled receive antennas.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a mixer that generates a beat signal based on one of said received first and second signals and one of said transmitted first and second signals.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising first and second voltage controlled oscillators that selectively provide said first and second transmitted signals, respectively, based on signals from said signal processing module.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said signal processing module samples said beat signal.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of receive antennas are contiguously collocated.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said first and second antennas are contiguously collocated with said plurality of receive antennas.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said first phase and second phase differ by predetermined amount.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second signals include at least one of radar, lidar, and vision signals.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said first antenna is positioned at a first angle and said second antenna is positioned at a second angle that differs from said first angle.

13. A vehicle that comprises:

the vehicle system of claim 12.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a control module that controls a vehicle safety system based on both said first and second received signals but that does not control said vehicle system based on only one of said first and second received signals.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said first angle directs said first antenna above a centerline of said vehicle and said second angle directs said second antenna below said centerline.

16. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

signal processing means for processing signals;

first antenna means for providing a first transmitted signal that has a first phase;

second antenna means for providing a second transmitted signal that has a second phase that differs from said first phase by a predetermined amount, wherein said first and second antenna means are contiguously collocated, wherein said first antenna means is directed above a centerline of the vehicle, and wherein said second antenna means is directed below said centerline of the vehicle; and

at least one receive antenna means for receiving said first and second received signals that correspond to said first and second transmitted signals, respectively, wherein said signal processing means processes said received first and second signals based on said first and second transmitted signals and selectively controls transmissions of said first and second transmitted signals.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a plurality of receive antennas means for receiving said first and second received signals that are contiguously collocated with said first and second antenna means; and

a plurality of switching means for selectively controlling said plurality of receive antennas.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising mixer means for generating a beat signal based on one of said received first and second signals and one of said transmitted first and second signals.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising first and second voltage controlled oscillator means for selectively providing said first and second transmitted signals, respectively, based on signals from said signal processing means.

20. A method for operating a system for a vehicle, comprising:

providing a first transmitted signal that has a first phase from a first antenna that is directed at least partially above a centerline of the vehicle;

providing a second transmitted signal that has a second phase that differs from said first phase from a second antenna that is directed below said centerline;

receiving said first and second received signals that correspond to said first and second transmitted signals, respectively;

processing said received first and second signals based on said first and second transmitted signals; and

selectively controlling transmissions of said first and second transmitted signals.