Method and systems for testing an antenna

• US 6,693,584 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cattron North America, Inc. (Cattron Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CANAC Incorporated
• Inventors: Mokhtar, Magid, Horst, Folkert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/059,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42, 342/44, 342/50, 342/51, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/165, 342/169, 342/170, 342/173, 342/174, 246/5, 246/6
• US Class Current: 342/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3225 Cooperation with the rails or the road

Abstract

A system for testing a vehicle antenna is provided including a testing transponder and a monitoring unit. The testing transponder is positioned such that it lies within the electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna and, while in the electromagnetic field, the testing transponder intermittently transmits signals conveying data to the vehicle antenna. The monitoring unit is in an operative relationship with the antenna and is suitable to receive data indicative of the signals conveying data detected by the vehicle antenna. The monitoring unit detects an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna when the time since the last signal conveying data detected by the antenna exceeds a certain threshold time period.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing a vehicle antenna, said apparatus being operative for:

generating signals conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by a vehicle antenna;

intermittently transmitting said signals in response to the presence of an electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna.

2. An apparatus for testing a vehicle antenna, said apparatus comprising:

a) a receiver responsive to an electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna for generating a first power signal;

b) a processing unit coupled to said receiver, said processing unit being operative for processing said first power signal to generate an intermittent power signal, said intermittent power signal including power segments;

c) a transmitter responsive to the power segments in said intermittent power signal for generating a succession of signals, each signal conveying data to be transmitted to the vehicle antenna.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said first power signal is a constant voltage signal.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said receiver includes a resonating circuit responsive to an electromagnetic field generated by a vehicle antenna.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said transmitter includes a radiating antenna.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said intermittent power signal includes regular time intervals during which power is transmitted.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said intermittent power signal includes irregular time intervals during which power is transmitted.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said processing unit is powered at least in part on the basis of said first power signal.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said processing unit is powered by said first power signal.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said transmitter is powered at least in part on the basis of said intermittent power signal.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said transmitter is powered by said intermittent power signal.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, said apparatus further comprising a memory unit coupled to said transmitter, said memory unit being suitable for storing data elements to be transmitted to a vehicle antenna.

13. A method for testing a vehicle antenna, the vehicle antenna generating an electromagnetic field, said method comprising:

a) providing a testing transponder responsive to the elctromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna for intermittently transmitting signals conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by the vehicle antenna;

b) positioning the testing transponder in the electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna;

c) monitoring the signals detected by the antenna to detect an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna.

14. A method as described in claim 13, wherein an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna is detected when a time period since the last signal conveying data detected by the antenna exceeds a certain threshold time period.

15. A method for testing a vehicle antenna, the vehicle antenna generating an electromagnetic field, said method comprising:

a) providing a testing transponder responsive to an electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna for intermittently transmitting signals conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by the vehicle antenna;

b) positioning the testing transponder in the electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna;

c) monitoring the signals detected by the antenna to detect an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna when a time period since the last signal conveying data detected by the antenna exceeds a certain threshold time period.

16. A method as described in claim 15, wherein the testing transponder is positioned in the electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna such that the strength of the electromagnetic field at the testing transponder is not greater than the strength of the electromagnetic field of the antenna at transponders positioned on a path in proximity of which a vehicle transporting the vehicle antenna is to come.

17. In combination:

a) a testing transponder responsive to an electromagnetic field of an antenna for intermittently transmitting signals conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by the vehicle antenna;

b) a monitoring unit suitable to be operatively coupled to a vehicle antenna, said monitoring unit being operative for monitoring the signals conveying data to detect an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna when a time period since the last signal conveying data detected by the antenna exceeds a certain threshold time period.

18. In combination:

a) a vehicle antenna suitable for generating an electromagnetic field;

b) a testing transponder responsive to the electromagnetic field of the vehicle antenna for intermittently transmitting signals conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by the vehicle antenna;

c) a monitoring unit suitable to be operatively coupled to a vehicle antenna, said monitoring unit being operative for monitoring the signals conveying data to detect an error condition associated with the vehicle antenna when a time period since the last signal conveying data detected by the antenna exceeds a certain threshold time period.

19. An apparatus for testing a vehicle antenna, said apparatus comprising:

a) means responsive to an electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna for generating a first power signal;

b) means for processing said first power signal to generate an intermittent power signal, said intermittent power signal including power segments;

c) means responsive to the power segments in said intermittent power signal for generating a succession of signals, each signal conveying data to be transmitted to the vehicle antenna.

20. A method of testing a vehicle antenna, said method comprising:

providing an apparatus that is operative for;

generating signals for conveying data in a format suitable to be detected by the vehicle antenna;

intermittently transmitting said signals in response to the presence of an electromagnetic field of a vehicle antenna;

positioning said apparatus within an electromagnetic field of an antenna.