ANTENNA SYSTEM LOADED IN VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME

• US 20200136239A1
• Filed: 03/13/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: JEONG, Sunin
• Granted Patent: US 11,121,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

Abstract

An antenna system loaded on a vehicle according to the present invention includes a telematics module, and antenna modules coupled to both side surfaces of the telematics module, wherein the antenna modules have a plurality of antenna elements disposed therein so as to perform Multiple-Input and Multi-Output (MIMO) by transmitting or receiving a plurality of first signals according to a first communication system through the plurality of antenna elements, whereby a plurality of communication services can be provided through a flat vehicle antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna system for being loaded on a vehicle, the antenna system comprising:

a telematics module; and

first antenna modules coupled to side surfaces of the telematics module,

wherein the first antenna modules include a plurality of antenna elements configured to perform Multiple-Input and Multi-Output (MIMO) communication by transmitting or receiving a plurality of first signals according to a first communication system.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna modules include first, second, third and fourth antenna elements configured to perform 4×

4 MIMO communication, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements are disposed at upper and lower ends of the first antenna modules.

3. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements includes:

a first member disposed at one of a left upper end, a right upper end, a left lower end and a right lower end in the corresponding first antenna module, and

a second member connected at a right angle to the first member to operate as an antenna together with the first member,

wherein a sum of a length of the first member and a length of the second member forms a resonance length of the corresponding antenna element among the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna modules are coupled to the telematics module by sliding rail structures, respectively, and

wherein the first antenna modules are coupled to end portions of the telematics module, corresponding to the side surfaces.

5. The antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a second antenna module disposed on an upper part of the telematics module,

wherein the second antenna module includes a plurality of array antennas, and the second antenna module is configured to transmit or receive second signals according to a second communication system through one or more of the plurality of array antennas.

6. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the second antenna includes first, second, third and fourth array antennas, and the second antenna is configured to perform beam-forming through one or more of the first, second, third and fourth array antennas.

7. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth array antennas has a form printed on a substrate that is perpendicular to a surface of the second antenna module, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth array antennas are disposed at intervals of 90 degrees with respect to one another to cover 90-degree regions, respectively, in an azimuth direction.

8. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna modules further include a plurality of array antennas, and the first antenna modules are configured to transmit or receive second signals according to a second communication system through one or more of the plurality of array antennas.

9. The antenna system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of array antennas include first, second, third and fourth array antennas, and the plurality of array antennas are configured to perform beam-forming through one or more of the first, second, third and fourth array antennas.

10. The antenna system of claim 9, wherein the first, second, third and fourth array antennas have a form printed on a substrate that is perpendicular to a surface of the first antenna modules,

wherein the first and second array antennas are disposed at an interval of 90 degrees therebetween with respect to a center line within one of the first antennas modules connected to a first side of the telematics module, and

wherein the third and fourth array antennas are disposed at an interval of 90 degrees therebetween with respect to a center line within another one of the first antenna modules connected to a second side of the telematics module.

11. The antenna system of claim 9, wherein the first, second, third and fourth array antennas have a form printed on a substrate that is perpendicular to a surface of the first antenna modules,

wherein the first and second array antennas are disposed at an interval 90 degrees therebetween, and at least one of the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements is disposed between the first and second array antennas or the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements and the first, second, third and fourth arrays antennas are alternately arranged around the telematics module, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees with respect to one another for isolation therebetween.

12. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna modules are coupled to the side surfaces of the telematics module through Radio Frequency (RF) connectors, respectively, and

wherein the plurality of antenna elements are fed through the RF connectors for operating in the first communication system.

13. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the second antenna module is connected to the telematics module through a 2×

4 port connector, and

wherein the plurality of array antennas are fed through the 2×

4 port connector for operating in the second communication system.

14. The antenna system of claim 8, wherein the first antenna modules are coupled to the side surfaces of the telematics module through 2×

4 connector ports, and

wherein the plurality of antenna elements are fed through one of the 2×

4 port connectors for operating in the first communication system, and the plurality array antennas are fed through another one of the 2×

4 port connectors for operating in the second communication system.

15. A vehicle equipped with an antenna system, the vehicle comprising:

a telematics module;

a controller configured to control the telematics module and components of the vehicle; and

first antenna modules configured to transmit or receive a plurality of communication signals from the telematics module,

wherein the first antenna modules are coupled to side surfaces of the telematics module, the first antenna modules including a plurality of antenna elements configured to perform Multiple-Input and Multi-Output (MIMO) communication by transmitting or receiving a plurality of first signals.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first antenna modules include first, second, third and fourth antenna elements configured to perform 4×

4 MIMO communication, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth antenna elements are disposed at upper and lower ends of the first antenna modules.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

a second antenna module disposed on the telematics module,

wherein the second antenna module includes a plurality of array antennas, the second antenna module being configured to transmit or receive second signals according to a second communication system through one or more of the plurality of array antennas.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of array antennas include first, second, third and fourth array antennas, the second antenna module being configured to perform beam-forming through one or more of the first, second, third and fourth array antennas, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth array antennas are disposed at intervals of 90 degrees with respect to one another to cover 90-degree regions, respectively, in an azimuth direction.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first antenna modules further include a plurality of array antennas, the plurality of array antennas being configured to transmit or receive second signals according to a second communication system.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the plurality of array antennas include first, second, third and fourth array antennas, and the plurality of array antennas being configured to perform beam-forming through one or more of the first, second, third and fourth array antennas, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth array antennas have a form printed on a substrate that is formed perpendicular to a surface of the first antenna modules.