RECEIVER WITH ANTENNA SWITCHING CAPABILITY

• US 20120302191A1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Farrell, Brian, Deniau, Jean-Christophe, Costello, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,203,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/272
• 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: B60C 23/0454 Means for changing operation mode, e.g. sleep mode, factory mode or energy save mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0808 comparing all antennas before reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for receiving signals using a receiver with antenna switching capability is provided. The receiver is configured to poll each antenna of the plurality of antennas and process the signals from each antenna. In addition, the receiver coordinates providing power to each antenna with the polling.

Claims

1. A system for receiving signals with antenna switching capability, the system comprising:

a plurality of antennas for receiving the signals;

a receiver in communication with each antenna of the plurality of antennas, the receiver comprising;

a processing circuit for receiving configuration information,

a receiver circuit in communication with the antennas for processing the signals, and

a power switching circuit for powering each antenna of the plurality of antennas, the power switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches configured to provide power from a power supply to each antenna based on control signals from the processing circuit; and

a micro-processor in communication with the receiver for providing configuration information indicating a set of antennas of the plurality of antennas to power and poll.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is in communication with the receiver circuit for coordinating polling of the receiver with powering of each antenna of the plurality of antennas.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver circuit is configured to sequentially poll each antenna of the plurality of antennas during a period of activity.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power switching circuit is configured to power each antenna while being polled by the receiver and remove power from the antenna when not being polled by the receiver.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to store configuration information indicating a set of antennas of the plurality of antennas to power and poll based on a vehicle status.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive configuration information over a serial input indicating a set of antennas of the plurality of antennas to power and poll based on a vehicle status

7. A receiver for processing signals from a plurality of antennas, the receiver having antenna switching capability, the receiver comprising:

a processing circuit configured for receiving configuration information;

a receiver circuit being configured to communicate with the antennas for processing the signals; and

a power switching circuit configured to power each antenna of the plurality of antennas, the power switching circuit comprising a plurality of switches configured to provide power from a power supply to each antenna based on control signals from the processing circuit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is in communication with the receiver circuit for coordinating polling of the receiver with powering of each antenna of the plurality of antennas.

9. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuit, the receiver circuit, and the power switching circuit are formed on a chip and housed within an integrated circuit housing.

10. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein processing circuit is configured to provide alternating periods of activity where the receiver is in a run mode and inactivity where the receiver is in a sleep mode.

11. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the receiver circuit is configured to sequentially poll each antenna of the plurality of antennas during the period of activity.

12. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the power switching circuit is configured to power each antenna while being polled by the receiver and remove power from the antenna when not being polled by the receiver.

13. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is configured to store configuration information indicating a set of antennas of the plurality of antennas to power and poll based on a vehicle status.

14. The receiver according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive configuration information over a serial input indicating a set of antennas of the plurality of antennas to power and poll based on a vehicle status

15. A method for receiving signals using a receiver with antenna switching capability, the method comprising:

receiving configuration data in the receiver indicating a plurality of antennas to poll;

polling each antenna of the plurality of antennas;

powering of each antenna of the plurality of antennas;

processing the signals from each antenna; and

providing power to each antenna based on control signals.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising alternating periods of activity where the receiver is in a run mode and inactivity where the receiver is in a sleep mode.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising sequentially polling each antenna of the plurality of antennas during the period of activity.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising powering each antenna while being polled by the receiver and removing power from each antenna when not being polled by the receiver.

19. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by a programmed processor for receiving signals using a receiver with antenna switching capability, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

receiving configuration data in the receiver indicating a plurality of antennas to poll;

polling each antenna of the plurality of antennas;

powering of each antenna of the plurality of antennas;

processing the signals from each antenna; and

providing power to each antenna based on control signals.

20. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for alternating periods of activity where the receiver is in a run mode and inactivity where the receiver is in a sleep mode.

21. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for sequentially polling each antenna of the plurality of antennas during the period of activity.

22. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for powering each antenna while being polled by the receiver and removing power from each antenna when not being polled by the receiver.