INTEGRATED GPS RECEIVER AND CELLULAR TRANSCEIVER MODULE FOR AUTOMOTIVE BUS APPLICATIONS

• US 20120142397A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Laubner, Thomas S., Jordan, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/00 Devices consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid-state components formed in or on a common substrate details thereof H01L23/00, H01L29/00 - H10K10/00; assemblies consisting of a plurality of individual solid state devices H01L25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

An integrated global positioning system (GPS) receiver and cellular transceiver module including (i) a printed circuit board substrate, (ii) a cellular multiband antenna disposed on the printed circuit board substrate, (ii) at least one first integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from and signals to the cellular multiband antenna, (iii) a GPS antenna attached to the printed circuit board substrate, (iv) at least one second integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from the GPS antenna and the at least one first integrated circuit, and (v) an electrical connector disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for establishing a data communication path between the at least one first and the at least one second integrated circuits and an electronic system of a vehicle, where the GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module is capable of being integrated into the electronic system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An integrated global positioning system (GPS) receiver and cellular transceiver module comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate;

a cellular multiband antenna disposed on the printed circuit board substrate;

at least one first integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from and signals to the cellular multiband antenna;

electrical conductors for interconnecting the cellular multiband antenna and the at least one first integrated circuit;

a GPS antenna attached to the printed circuit board substrate;

at least one second integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from the GPS antenna and the at least one first integrated circuit;

electrical conductors for interconnecting the GPS antenna, the at least one first integrated circuit, and the at least one second integrated circuit;

an electrical connector disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for establishing a data communication path between the at least one first and the at least one second integrated circuits and an electronic system of a vehicle, wherein the GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module is capable of being integrated into the electronic system of the vehicle.

2. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver according to claim 1, wherein said cellular multiband antenna comprises a cellular quadband polarization diverse folded inverted F antenna formed in a conductive layer of said printed circuit board substrate.

3. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver according to claim 1, wherein said cellular multiband antenna is configured to receive both horizontally polarized and vertically polarized cellular signals.

4. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver according to claim 1, wherein said cellular multiband antenna is formed in a metallization layer of said PCB substrate and comprises a first open-circuit stub, a second open-circuit stub and a short-circuit stub, said second open-circuit stub being thicker than said first open-circuit stub.

5. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first integrated circuit and the at least one second integrated circuit transmit and receive data to and from a data bus in the electronic system of the vehicle through the electrical connector and the electrical connector is a plug-in connector which can be plugged into the electronic system of the vehicle.

6. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 1, further comprising a subscriber identity module (SIM) disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for storing data to be used with signals processed by the at least one first integrated circuit.

7. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one integrated circuit.

8. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 7, wherein said map data and information provided by the integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module is communicated to an advanced driver assistance system of said vehicle.

9. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one integrated circuit and the memory are disposed on one side of the printed circuit board substrate, and the GPS antenna is disposed on another side of the printed circuit board substrate.

10. The integrated GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module according to claim 2, wherein said at least one integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit for converting radio frequency signals from the GPS antenna into intermediate frequency signals, and a second integrated circuit for performing operations on the intermediate frequency signals to produce GPS signals, and transmitting the GPS signals to the electronic system of the vehicle.

11. A method for providing an integrated GPS (global positioning system) receiver and cellular transceiver module comprising the steps of:

providing a printed circuit board substrate;

providing a cellular multiband antenna disposed on the printed circuit board substrate;

providing at least one first integrated circuit disposed on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from and signals to the cellular multiband antenna;

providing electrical conductors for interconnecting the cellular multiband antenna and the at least one first integrated circuit;

providing a GPS antenna on the printed circuit board substrate;

providing at least one second integrated circuit on the printed circuit board substrate for processing signals from the GPS antenna;

providing electrical conductors on the printed circuit board substrate for interconnecting the GPS antenna, the at least one first integrated circuit and the at least one second integrated circuit; and

providing an electrical connector on the printed circuit board substrate for establishing a data communication path between the at least one first integrated circuit, the at least one second integrated circuit and an electronic system of a vehicle, wherein the GPS receiver and cellular transceiver module is capable of being integrated into the electronic system of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said cellular multiband antenna comprises a cellular quadband polarization diverse folded inverted F antenna formed in a conductive layer of said printed circuit board substrate.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said cellular multiband antenna is formed in a metallization layer of said PCB substrate and comprises a first open-circuit stub, a second open-circuit stub and a short-circuit stub, said second open-circuit stub being thicker than said first open-circuit stub.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one first integrated circuit transmits and receives data to and from a data bus in the electronic system of the vehicle through the electrical connector.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

providing a subscriber identity module (SIM) on the printed circuit board substrate for storing information to be used with signals processed by the at least one first integrated circuit.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing a memory on the printed circuit board substrate for storing map data to be used with signals processed by the at least one second integrated circuit.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

supplying map data and position information from the GPS receiver and cellular transceiver to an advanced driver assistance system of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cellular multiband antenna, the at least one first integrated circuit, the at least one second integrated circuit, the SIM, and the memory are disposed on one side of the printed circuit board substrate, and the GPS antenna is disposed on another side of the printed circuit board substrate.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit for converting radio frequency signals from the GPS antenna into intermediate frequency signals, and a second integrated circuit for performing operations on the intermediate frequency signals to produce GPS signals and transmitting the GPS signals to the electronic system of the vehicle.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, through the at least one first integrated circuit, GPS satellite and position data; and

initiating an assisted GPS operation responsive to said data.