COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD IN VEHICLE

• US 20180241134A1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Published: 08/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, ZN Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, ZN Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KANG, Chang Soo, PARK, Chulgyun, KIM, Na Young, BIEN, Franklin
• Granted Patent: US 10,622,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/085 Triplate lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3208 characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0031 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0081 with antenna coils loop aerials H01Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/43 Antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 : Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 : being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 : Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 : Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A camera apparatus includes a camera module configured to generate an input image, and a transceiving circuit configured to encode and modulate the input image and to provide an electric and/or magnetic first signal. Also, the camera apparatus includes an antenna attached to a metal body of a vehicle and configured to form an electromagnetic field on the metal body and to propagate the first signal received from the transceiving circuit by carrying the first signal in the electromagnetic field.

Claims

1. A camera apparatus installed and used in a vehicle, the camera apparatus comprising:

a camera module configured to generate an input image;

a transceiving circuit configured to encode and modulate the input image and to provide a first signal; and

an antenna attached to a metal body of the vehicle and configured to form an electromagnetic field on the metal body and to propagate the first signal received from the transceiving circuit by carrying the first signal in the electromagnetic field.

2. The camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises:

a first layer formed of a conductive material and comprising at least one aperture facing the metal body;

a second layer formed of a conductive material and located adjacent to the first layer; and

a third layer formed of a dielectric material, located between the first layer and the second layer and configured to exchange electromagnetic waves with the metal body so that the first signal is carried in the electromagnetic field.

3. The camera apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first layer includes nine apertures in a 3×

3 array.

4. The camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is further configured to receive power from an electromagnetic wave propagated through the metal body and to provide the power to the transceiving circuit, and the transceiving circuit is further configured to supply power to the camera module through a converter.

5. The camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a copper material.

6. The camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third layer comprises at least one of a carbon fiber, acryl and polycarbonate.

7. An image processing apparatus that receives an image from a camera installed in a vehicle, the image processing apparatus comprising:

an antenna attached at a first position of a metal body of the vehicle and configured to receive a first signal corresponding to the image when a camera-side antenna attached at a second position of the metal body forms an electromagnetic field and propagates the first signal by carrying the first signal in the electromagnetic field; and

a transceiving circuit configured to modulate and decode the first signal and to provide the first signal as the image.

8. The image processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the antenna comprises:

a first layer formed of a conductive material and comprising at least one aperture facing the metal body;

a second layer formed of a conductive material and located adjacent to the first layer; and

a third layer formed of a dielectric material, located between the first layer and the second layer, and configured to receive the first signal by exchanging electromagnetic waves with the metal body.

9. The image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a copper material.

10. The image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third layer comprises at least one of a carbon fiber, acryl and polycarbonate.

11. The image processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein when a voltage supplied from a battery of the vehicle or a power source of the vehicle is converted and transferred, the transceiving circuit is further configured to transfer power to the antenna and the antenna is further configured to form an electromagnetic field on the metal body and propagate the power to the camera-side antenna.