VEHICLE, COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREOF, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE THEREIN

• US 20160278065A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: KANG, Kyunghyun, KIM, Sung Un
• Granted Patent: US 10,433,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams

Abstract

A vehicle includes a wireless communication unit configured to form a beam pattern for performing wireless communication with a target vehicle, a camera module configured to obtain an image of at least one peripheral vehicle, and a display unit configured to display the image. When the target vehicle is selected based on the displayed image, the beam pattern is formed toward the selected target vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to form a beam pattern for performing wireless communication with a target vehicle;

a camera module configured to obtain an image of at least one peripheral vehicle; and

a display unit configured to display the obtained image,

wherein, when the target vehicle is selected from the at least one peripheral vehicle based on the displayed image, the beam pattern is formed toward the selected target vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit comprises:

a beam forming module configured to form the beam pattern, and transceive a wireless signal through a radio wave of the beam pattern; and

a wireless communication control module configured to control the formation of the beam pattern according to a position of the target vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the beam forming module comprises:

a plurality of phase converters configured to convert a phase of a modulation signal received from a signal conversion module; and

an array antenna including a plurality of unit antennas and configured to transmit signals received from the plurality of phase converters to a free space.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication control module determines a main direction of the beam pattern according to the position of the target vehicle, and determines a phase difference between the plurality of phase converters according to the determined main direction.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a touch sensing display unit configured to detect a touch input of a driver, and

the target vehicle is selected according to the touch input of the driver.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a gaze detection device configured to detect a gaze of a driver,

wherein the target vehicle is selected according to the detected gaze of the driver.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an engine control system configured to control an operation of an engine, and detect a malfunction in the engine,

wherein the wireless communication unit transmits information on the malfunction in the engine received from the engine control system to the target vehicle through a radio wave of the beam pattern.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a brake control apparatus configured to control a brake and detect a malfunction in the brake,

wherein the wireless communication unit transmits information on the malfunction in the brake received from the brake control apparatus to the target vehicle through a radio wave of the beam pattern.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a driving subsystem configured to assist a driver with driving,

wherein the wireless communication unit transmits information on road conditions received from the driving subsystem to the target vehicle through a radio wave of the beam pattern.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to form a beam pattern for performing wireless communication with a target vehicle;

a radar module configured to obtain position information of at least one peripheral vehicle; and

a display unit configured to display the obtained position information,

wherein, when the target vehicle is selected from the at least one peripheral vehicle based on the position information, the beam pattern is formed toward the selected target vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication unit comprises:

a beam forming module configured to form the beam pattern, and transceive a wireless signal through a radio wave of the beam pattern; and

a wireless communication control module configured to control the formation of the beam pattern according to a position of the target vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the beam forming module comprises:

a plurality of phase converters configured to convert a phase of a modulation signal received from a signal conversion module; and

an array antenna including a plurality of unit antennas and configured to transmit signals received from the plurality of phase converters to a free space.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the wireless communication control module determines a main direction of the beam pattern according to the position of the target vehicle, and determines a phase difference between the plurality of phase converters according to the determined main direction.

14. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the display unit includes a touch sensing display unit configured to detect a touch input of a driver, and

the target vehicle is selected according to the touch input of the driver.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a gaze detection device configured to detect a gaze of a driver,

wherein the target vehicle is selected according to the detected gaze of the driver.

16. A communication method of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a driver'"'"'s selection of a target vehicle;

forming a beam pattern toward the target vehicle; and

communicating with the target vehicle through a radio wave of the beam pattern.

17. The communication method according to claim 16, wherein the receiving of the driver'"'"'s selection of the target vehicle comprises:

obtaining an image of at least one peripheral vehicle;

displaying the obtained image; and

determining the target vehicle from the at least one peripheral vehicle based on the selection of the driver and the displayed image.

18. The communication method according to claim 16, wherein the receiving of the driver'"'"'s selection of the target vehicle comprises:

obtaining position information of the at least one peripheral vehicle;

displaying an image representing the position information of the at least one peripheral vehicle; and

determining the target vehicle from the at least one peripheral vehicle based on the selection of the driver and the displayed image.

19. The communication method according to claim 16, wherein the forming of the beam pattern toward the target vehicle comprises:

determining a main direction of the beam pattern according to the position information of the target vehicle;

determining phase differences of wireless signals transmitted through a plurality of unit antennas based on the determined main direction; and

transmitting the wireless signals through the plurality of unit antennas according to the determined phase differences.

20. A wireless communication device of a vehicle, comprising:

an internal communication unit configured to access a communication network of the vehicle;

a wireless communication unit configured to form a beam pattern and communicate with an external device through a radio wave of the beam pattern; and

a communication controller configured to control the wireless communication unit to form the beam pattern toward a target vehicle when an information transmission request and position information of the target vehicle through the internal communication unit are received.

21. The wireless communication device according to claim 20, wherein the wireless communication unit comprises:

a beam forming module configured to form the beam pattern, and transceive a wireless signal through the radio wave of the beam pattern;

a signal conversion module configured to demodulate the wireless signal received through the beam forming module, and modulate a signal transmitted through the beam forming module; and

a wireless communication control module configured to control the formation of the beam pattern according to a position of the target vehicle.

22. The wireless communication device according to claim 21, wherein the beam forming module comprises:

a plurality of phase converters configured to convert a phase of the modulated signal received from the signal conversion module; and

an array antenna including a plurality of unit antennas and configured to transmit signals received from the plurality of phase converters to a free space.

23. The wireless communication device according to claim 22, wherein the wireless communication control module determines a phase difference between the plurality of phase converters according to a main direction of the beam pattern.