Low power, high speed data communications in vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of distributing information from a first electronic module to a second electronic module, said first and second electronic modules being in physically separated locations within a transportation vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a structural member forming a portion of said transportation vehicle for use as a transmission guide having an enclosed, elongated space with first and second openings substantially proximate to said first and second electronic modules, respectively;
encoding said information in said first electronic module into a radio-frequency signal;
coupling said radio-frequency signal from said first electronic module into said transmission guide at said first opening;
coupling said radio-frequency signal from said transmission guide at said second opening to said second electronic module; and
decoding said radio-frequency signal in said second electronic module to recover said information.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Cavities within structural members of a motor vehicle or other structure are used for propagation of wireless RF communication signals. The system is particularly adapted for use in structures wherein permanent, fixed transmission guides can be easily provided, and it is especially useful in motor vehicles where it 1) reduces the cost and power requirements of electronic modules using wireless communication, 2) shields the communication channel from outside electromagnetic interference, and 3) allows the propagation of emissions to be substantially restricted to desired regions away from people and electronic devices not in the intended network.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of distributing information from a first electronic module to a second electronic module, said first and second electronic modules being in physically separated locations within a transportation vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a structural member forming a portion of said transportation vehicle for use as a transmission guide having an enclosed, elongated space with first and second openings substantially proximate to said first and second electronic modules, respectively; encoding said information in said first electronic module into a radio-frequency signal; coupling said radio-frequency signal from said first electronic module into said transmission guide at said first opening; coupling said radio-frequency signal from said transmission guide at said second opening to said second electronic module; and decoding said radio-frequency signal in said second electronic module to recover said information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless communication system for communicating within a transportation vehicle, comprising:
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a first electronic module being a source of information to be communicated, said first electronic module encoding said information into a radio-frequency signal; a second electronic module being a recipient of said information, said first and second electronic modules being in physically separated locations within said transportation vehicle, said second electronic module decoding said radio-frequency signal to recover said information; a structural member forming a transmission guide having an enclosed, elongated space with first and second openings substantially proximate to said first and second electronic modules, respectively, wherein said structural member is selected from the group comprising a portion of a body of said transportation vehicle and a portion of a frame of said transportation vehicle; a first coupler for coupling said radio-frequency signal from said first electronic module into said transmission guide at said first opening; and a second coupler for coupling said radio-frequency signal from said transmission guide at said second opening to said second electronic module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification