Motor Vehicle for Car to Car Communication and Associated Method for Operating an Antenna Structure of a Motor Vehicle

• US 20090222173A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Wisniowski, Damian
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3208 characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence

Abstract

A motor vehicle is equipped for radio communication with at least one further motor vehicle. An antenna structure is used to transmit and receive useful signals. The antenna structure can be controlled with the aid of a control device in such a way that it is possible to change the setting of the main lobe of the antenna. A method is also disclosed for operating an antenna structure which is installed in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An antenna structure assembly for enabling radio communication of a motor vehicle with at least one other motor vehicle, and for transmitting and receiving useful signals, comprising:

an antenna structure having a main lobe;

a controller connected to said antenna structure and configured to control said antenna structure to selectively change a setting of said main lobe.

22. A motor vehicle equipped for radio communication with at least one other motor vehicle, comprising:

an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving useful signals, said antenna structure having a main lobe; and

a controller connected to said antenna structure and configured to control said antenna structure to selectively change a setting of said main lobe.

23. The motor vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said antenna structure includes a plurality of individual emitters and said controller is configured such that an alignment of said main lobe in a horizontal plane of a radiation pattern can be set by way of activating phase positions of signals of said individual emitters.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said controller is configured for changing a beam spread angle of said main lobe.

25. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein said controller is configured to adjust the beam spread angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure in dependence on a travel speed of the motor vehicle, the travel speed being provided by a speed recording device.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein said controller is configured to decrease a beam spread angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure with an increase in a travel speed of the motor vehicle.

27. The motor vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said controller is configured to continuously change a direction angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure for establishing a communication connection to the other motor vehicle.

28. The motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein said controller is configured to continuously move said main lobe of said antenna structure to and fro.

29. The motor vehicle according to claim 28, wherein said controller is configured to reduce a maximum angle of deflection for the direction of said main lobe of said antenna structure with increasing vehicle speed.

30. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the controller is adjusted in such a way that at high vehicle speed, the beam spread angle of the main lobe is kept low more often and for a longer period of time than at low vehicle speed.

31. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein said controller is configured to retain an alignment of said main lobe towards a stationary target.

32. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein said controller is configured to cause an alignment of said main lobe of said antenna structure to be adjusted to a steering direction of the motor vehicle, the steering direction being provided by a direction recording device.

33. A method for operating an antenna structure installed in a motor vehicle, which comprises:

transmitting and receiving useful signals with the antenna structure; and

controlling the antenna structure with a controller and thereby changing a setting of a main lobe of the antenna structure.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the controlling step comprises setting an alignment of the main lobe of the antenna structure in a horizontal plane of the radiation pattern by way of activating phase positions of signals of individual emitters of the antenna.

35. The method according to claim 33, which comprises adjusting a beam spread angle of the main lobe of the antenna structure.

36. The method according to claim 35, which comprises adjusting the beam spread angle of the main lobe of the antenna structure as a function of a travel speed of the motor vehicle.

37. The method according to claim 35, which comprises narrowing a beam spread angle of the main lobe of the antenna structure with an increasing vehicle speed.

38. The method according to claim 33, which comprises continuously changing a angle of a direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure for establishment of a communication connection with another motor vehicle.

39. The method according to claim 38, which comprises continuously moving to and fro the angle of the direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure.

40. The method according to claim 39, which comprises decreasing a maximum angle of deflection for the direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure with increasing vehicle speed.