Receiving antenna scanning diversity system with controllable switching

• US 6,169,888 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: FUBA Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Hopf, Jochen, Lindenmeier, Heinz, Reiter, Leopold
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/803,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 455/62, 455/63, 455/132, 455/133, 455/134, 455/135, 455/272, 455/273, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/291, 455/129, 455/126, 455/127, 343/700.R, 343/702, 343/703, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 455/277.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0831 Compensation of the diversity switching process for non-uniform properties or faulty operations of the switches used in the diversity switching process

Abstract

A receiving antenna system for vehicles that eliminates interference in receiving signals. The interference detector is disposed within the receiver and generates and transmits an indicating signal, or a signal derived therefrom. Such signal can be formed in several different ways, and in the site of the antenna installation, it can be converted into a switching signal that only effects the switching condition in the antenna installation having a controllable switching circuit.

Claims

1. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of controllable selector switches (5) and a plurality of change-over switches (8), said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of said selector (5) and change-over switches (8), the switching position of at least one of said switches (5, 8) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11);

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said selector and change-over switches (5, 8) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19);

a high frequency generator (27) disposed within the receiver (20) and coupled to said interference detector (18), said generator forming a signal burst (28) of high frequency through analysis of said indicating signal (10) or a control signal (26) derived therefrom; and

an electronic switch (25) disposed within the receiver (20) and coupled to said high frequency generator (27), said indicating signal (10) switching the intermediate frequency signal (19) through to signal line (24) via said electronic switch (25), and wherein said signal burst (28) includes a high-frequency oscillation formed by the intermediate-frequency signal (19).

2. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of controllable selector switches (5) and a plurality of change-over switches (8), said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of said selector (5) and change-over switches (8), the switching position of at least one of said switches (5, 8) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11), wherein the antenna installation (21) further comprises antenna part connections (14) connected to said change-over switches (8), said antenna part connections (14) are loaded with a plurality of different impedances (7) by said change-over switches (8); and

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said selector and change-over switches (5, 8) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19).

3. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, further comprising a binary control signal (26) derived from said indicating signal (10) for controlling said switching circuit (11).

4. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, further comprising a pulse signal derived from said indicating signal (10) through differentiation for controlling said switching circuit (11).

5. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, further comprising a high frequency generator (27) disposed within the receiver (20), said generator forming a signal burst (28) of high frequency through analysis of said indicating signal (10) or control signal (26) derived therefrom.

6. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, wherein said indicating signal (10) transmits switching conditions to said switching circuit (11) in the form of a DC voltage coding.

7. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, further comprising control signals (9) formed at an output in said switching circuit (11), said control signals (9) adapted to adjust the position of at least one of said selector switches (5) and change-over switches (8) in response to interference indicated by said interference detector (18).

8. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 7, wherein said control signals (9) are formed such that a cyclic repetition of switching positions of said selector switches (5) and said change over switches (8) are performed is an preset configuration.

9. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, wherein said signal line (24) provides DC voltage supply to said switching circuit (11).

10. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, wherein said signal line (24) is formed by a fiber-optic conductor.

11. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, wherein said antenna connections (14) are loaded with different impedances (7) by said change-over switches (8).

12. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 2, wherein said change-over switches (8) have a passage and blockage operation mode that is electronically controllable by said switching circuit (11).

13. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of controllable selector switches (5) and a plurality of change-over switches (8), said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of said selector (5) and change-over switches (8), the switching position of at least one of said switches (5, 8) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11), wherein the antenna line (12) is combined with said signal line (24), and said indicating signal (10) is transmitted superimposed on said receiving signal (23) on an output of the receiver (20) to antenna installation (21) via the combined line (12, 24); and

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said selector and change-over switches (5, 8) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19).

14. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 13, further comprising means for preventing said indicating signal (10) from causing interferences in receiver (20) through antenna line (12).

15. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first selection circuit (13) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and connected between the antenna line (12) and said switching circuit (11);

a second selection circuit (13) disposed within the receiver (20) and connected between said interference detector (18) and the antenna line (12);

said first and second selection circuits (13) being frequency selective filters for said indicating signal (10) and said control signal (26) and said signal burst (28) derived from said indicating signal (10), and whereby the antenna line (12) is not loaded by impedance from the connection of said selection circuits.

16. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), wherein the antennas (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n) are formed by a heating field (6) within the windowpane (1) of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of controllable selector switches (5) and a plurality of change-over switches (8), said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of said selector (5) and change-over switches (8), the switching position of at least one of said switches (5, 8) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11);

a first and a second antenna part connections (14 and 15) formed by connections to the heating field (6);

amplifiers (2) having an input selectively coupled to at least one of said second antenna part connections (15) to form active antennas, and an output connected to said selector switch (5); and

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said selector and change-over switches (5, 8) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19).

17. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 16, wherein said first antenna part connections (14) not coupled to said amplifiers are loaded with different impedances (7) through connection to said change-over switches (8).

18. The receiving antenna scanning diversity system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said first antenna part connections (14) is loaded with different impedances (7) in the form of reactances via connection to said selector switch (5).

19. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), wherein the antennas (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n) are formed by a heating field (6) within the windowpane (1) of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of change-over switches (8), said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of change-over switches (8), the switching position of at least one of said switches (8) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11);

a first and a second antenna part connections (14 and 15) formed by connections to the heating field (6);

at least one amplifier (2) having an input selectively coupled to said second antenna part connection (15) to form active antennas, and an output connected to said antenna connection site (22); and

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said change-over switches (8) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19).

20. A receiving antenna scanning diversity system with a controllable switching circuit for vehicles operating in the meter wave range with an antenna installation (21) and a receiver (20) connected to the antenna installation via an antenna line (12) and antenna connection site (22), the antenna installation (21) having reception properties and including a plurality of individual antenna parts (A₁, A₂, . . . A_n), the system comprising:

an interference detector (18) disposed within the receiver (20) and adapted to detect interference in a receiving signal (23) and an intermediate frequency signal (19), said detector generating an indicating signal (10) upon detection of interference;

a switching circuit (11) disposed within the antenna installation (21) and having a plurality of controllable selector switches (5) said switching circuit (11) changing the reception properties of the antenna installation (21) by switching the position of at least one of said selector switches(5), the switching position of at least one of said switches (5) changing the receiving signal (23) present in the antenna connection site (22), the switching position being repeated until said indicating signal (10) indicates no interference;

a signal line (24) coupled between the receiver (20) and the antenna installation (21) and adapted to transmit said indicating signal (10) to said switching circuit (11), wherein the antenna line (12) is combined with said signal line (24), and said indicating signal (10) is transmitted superimposed on said receiving signal (23) on an output of the receiver (20) to antenna installation (21) via the combined line (12, 24); and

said switching circuit (11) receiving said indicating signal (10) via said signal line (24) and operating in conjunction with said interference detector (18) to change the switching position of said selector switches (5) based on reception interference detected in the received signal (23) and the intermediate-frequency signal (19).