System and method for improving received signal strength for an in-vehicle wireless communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio frequency (“
- RF”
) communication system for a vehicle, said system comprising;
an RF receiver configured to receive RF signals for processing by an onboard vehicle system;
an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal intended for said RF receiver, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; and
a resonant slot formed in a conductive panel of the vehicle located proximate to said RF transmitter, said resonant slot being configured to reduce electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle, said reduction in electromagnetic field scattering resulting in reduced signal strength loss of said RF signal.
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Abstract
An onboard wireless communication system for a vehicle, such as a tire pressure monitoring system (“TPMS”) is disclosed. The TPMS includes wheel-mounted radio frequency (“RF”) sensor/transmitters that transmit RF signals conveying tire pressure information, at least one RF relay element, and an RF receiver coupled to a TPMS processor. The RF relay element(s) relay the RF signals from the sensor/transmitters to the RF receiver to reduce the negative effect of electromagnetic field scattering caused by conductive parts of the vehicle.
21 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (“
- RF”
) communication system for a vehicle, said system comprising;an RF receiver configured to receive RF signals for processing by an onboard vehicle system; an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal intended for said RF receiver, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; and a resonant slot formed in a conductive panel of the vehicle located proximate to said RF transmitter, said resonant slot being configured to reduce electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle, said reduction in electromagnetic field scattering resulting in reduced signal strength loss of said RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- RF”
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7. An onboard tire pressure monitoring system (“
- TPMS”
) for a vehicle, said TPMS comprising;a wheel-mounted tire pressure sensor/transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (“
RF”
) signal that conveys tire pressure information, said RF signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; anda resonant slot formed in a conductive panel of the vehicle located proximate to said wheel-mounted tire pressure sensor/transmitter, said resonant slot being configured to reduce electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle, said reduction in electromagnetic field scattering resulting in reduced signal strength loss of said RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- TPMS”
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13. An onboard wireless communication method for a vehicle, said method comprising:
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transmitting a wireless signal that conveys information for processing by an onboard vehicle system, said wireless signal being susceptible to electromagnetic field scattering caused by the vehicle; radiating said wireless signal through a resonant slot formed in a conductive panel of the vehicle to provide a relayed wireless signal in a manner that reduces signal strength loss of said relayed wireless signal, said signal strength loss resulting from said electromagnetic field scattering; and receiving said relayed wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification