Antenna diversity system for radio reception for motor vehicles

• US 7,936,852 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Lindenmeier, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu; Shuwang
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKIE, GINA M
• Application Number:
  US11/531,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 375/347
• 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 7/0828 with delay elements in antenna paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/084 Equal gain combining, only phase adjustments antenna beam scanning or forming by phase or amplitude control H01Q3/26, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0874 using subgroups of receive antennas

Abstract

An antenna diversity system for radio reception for motor vehicles, which comprises a multi-antenna system having several antennas with antenna feed lines. There can be a diversity switching device for selection of a different reception signal, and an evaluation circuit which evaluates the reception quality of the reception signal just arriving at the receiver. This evaluation circuit is designed to bring a different reception signal in terms of diversity to the receiver if interference occurs, by switching over. This design also includes at least one phase rotation device which is disposed along at least one of the signal paths.

Claims

1. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit;

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch;

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position;

said system further comprising an electronic control device having a memory, for coordinated setting of discrete phase rotation angles φ

_i of said at least one phase rotation device wherein said angles are assigned in a fixed manner to a particular switching position of said addressable logic signal selection switch, and wherein each of said phase rotation angles are stored in a memory of said electronic control device as a phase vector, wherein a phase value matrix of discrete phase rotation angles φ

_i is stored in said control device by way of said switching positions, wherein if interference occurs in a summed signal, an interference indicator signal of said evaluation circuit is passed to said electronic control device in the form of a different coordinated setting resulting in the selection of a different coordinated setting for said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch.

2. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1 wherein said discrete phase rotation angles are selected on the basis of a simulation calculation of a diversity efficiency in the Rayleigh reception scenario with regard to a set of greatest possible values in terms of diversity efficiency, and wherein there is a smallest number I of the different phase rotation angles φ

_i.

3. The antenna diversity system as in claim 2, wherein said at least one phase rotation device that can be set in a fixed manner is structured as a voltage-controlled phase rotation circuit that can be set in an analog manner, and wherein said control device having memory generates a voltage serving as a phase setting signal, wherein said signal is passed to said phase rotation circuit which is set in an analog manner, and which is used for setting a discrete phase rotation angle Φ

_{a, b, l} that can be set in a fixed manner, wherein there is a related logic switching signal that is sent from said electronic control device for setting an assigned switching position (a=0, 1, 2, N, b=0, 1, 2, . . . N) of said addressable logic signal selection switch.

4. The antenna diversity system as in claim 3, wherein said at least one phase rotation device is designed as an addressable phase rotation circuit that can be set in a digital manner, and wherein said control device emits a phase setting signal that represents a logic address signal.

5. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of antennas include active amplifier circuits for signal amplification and for uncoupling said antennas relative to one another, in view of load changes caused by switching, wherein said plurality of selection switches situated in said addressable logic signal selection switch are formed by switching diodes.

6. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of antenna amplifiers with a high impedance front end amplifier wherein at least one antenna amplifier is coupled to an input of said first output signal path, and at least one antenna amplifier is coupled to an input of said second output signal path, and wherein said antennas are configured as passive antennas.

7. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1, further comprising amplitude correction circuits which are coupled to said plurality of antennas or said plurality of antenna feed lines, wherein said antenna correction circuits are used to prevent relatively large deviations of azimuthal average values of radiation diagrams of said plurality of antennas.

8. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one phase rotation device is set in a fixed manner and is tied into said at least one input signal to rotate a phase angle of an antenna signal in at least one antenna feed line before said signal reaches said addressable logic selection switch.

9. The antenna diversity system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one phase rotation device disposed in said antenna diversity module, comprise circuits that change the phase of signals in said plurality of antennas and antenna feed lines.

10. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit; and

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position, and

wherein said phase rotation angle vector φ

_i of said discrete phase rotation angles of said adjustable phase rotation device which is assigned to a specific switching position of said addressable signal selection switch, is formed from I≦

5 different phase rotation angles φ

_i having the same angle differences of 2π

/1.

11. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit; and

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position, and

wherein said antenna diversity module further comprises a diversity processor wherein said evaluation circuit for detecting reception quality transfers to an intermediate frequency signal from said receiver to said antenna diversity module, wherein said diversity processor provides for rapid recognition of interference, wherein said diversity processor creates an interference indicator signal for causing said addressable signal selection switch to set a different switching position (a=0, 1, 2, . . . N, b=0, 1, 2, . . . N) and said at least one adjustable phase rotation device to set a different discrete phase rotation angle Φ

.

12. The antenna diversity system as in claim 11, wherein said evaluation circuit and said diversity processor are both disposed in said receiver, wherein said interference indicator signal is coupled to said antenna diversity module and to said electronic control device having a memory.

13. The antenna diversity system as in claim 11, wherein said diversity processor has a logic processor having memory, wherein said evaluation circuit continuously detects an intensity and frequency of reception interference that occurs with the combinations of different switching positions of said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch, and a set of discrete phase angles Φ

a, b, I of said phase rotation device, wherein a priority list with regard to ranking, beginning with a combination that has the least interference is determined and continuously updated,

wherein a logic interference indicator signal is configured as a logic address selection signal for targeted selection of a combination of switching positions, and phase rotation angles Φ

stored in said electronic control device, such that when interference occurs, said addressable signal selection switch switches to a different combination in a targeted manner, on the basis of a ranking formed, wherein said combination provides for the greatest probability of a lowest interference reception.

14. The antenna diversity system as in claim 13, wherein said diversity processor is disposed in said receiver, and wherein said receiver sends an address reception signal to said electronic control device in said antenna diversity module.

15. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit;

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position; and

further comprising a plurality of antenna amplifiers with a high impedance front end amplifier wherein at least one antenna amplifier is coupled to an input of said first output signal path, and at least one antenna amplifier is coupled to an input of said second output signal path, and wherein said antennas are configured as passive antennas,

wherein at least one antenna amplifier comprises at least one transformation circuit wherein said at least one transformation circuit can be set in a logically addressable manner, and wherein said electronic control device forms at least one address control signal, wherein a related setting for compensation of a frequency response for at least one transformation circuit is initiated in said at least one antenna amplifier, when at least one of said plurality of antennas is switched on.

16. The antenna diversity system as in claim 15, wherein said plurality of antennas are configured as passive antennas, and comprise conductive structures disposed on a window of a vehicle, wherein the system further comprises a set of connectors of which are connected with said antenna diversity module which is disposed adjacent to the window, and wherein said high frequency line is for coupling said antenna diversity module to said receiver.

17. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit;

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position;

a level transmission setting device which is coupled to at least one of said first output signal path and said second output signal path; and

a level transmission value matrix for different discrete level transmission values (P a, b, I, j, where j=1, 2, . . . ) which is stored in said electronic control device having memory, wherein said matrix is for coordinating a setting of different discrete level transmission values for a combination of certain switching positions of said addressable signal selection switch, and a discrete phase rotation angle Φ

, of said at least one phase rotation device and wherein there is a level transmission setting signal formed in said level transmission setting device.

18. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit; and

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position, and

wherein said at least one adjustable phase rotation device comprises at least two phase rotation circuits having phase angles set in a fixed manner, and wherein the device further comprises a controllable phase selection switch for an alternative selection of at lease one of the output signals of said phase rotation circuits, and wherein said control device generates a phase setting signal which is passed to said at least one phase rotation device that can be set in an analog manner for setting a discrete phase rotation angle Φ

in each instance, and wherein said electronic control device also generates a logic switching signal for setting an assigned switching position, of said addressable logic signal selection switch.

19. the antenna diversity system as in claim 18, wherein said phase rotation device further comprises a multi-stage rotation circuit, coupled to a controllable phase selection switch wherein said multi-stage rotation circuit has a plurality of outputs which feed into said subsequent multi-stage selection switch.

20. The antenna diversity system as in claim 19, wherein said phase rotations which are formed from said multi-stage rotation circuit, are set so that at least two phases are optimized with regard to diversity efficiency and are available for pairs of combinations of said plurality of antennas.

21. The antenna diversity system as in claim 18, wherein said at least two phase rotation circuits, have phase angles set in a fixed manner, wherein said phase selection switch, is formed as a selective switch, wherein said phase angles are formed so that a greatest possible value of diversity efficiency is obtained for average values of all settings of said addressable signal selection switch and of said phase selection switch at a predetermined frequency.

22. The antenna diversity system as in claim 21, wherein said two phase circuits are designed as a low loss, high frequency reactance circuit and wherein a frequency dependence of their phases are structured to achieve diversity efficiency as great as possible at every frequency.

23. The antenna diversity system as in claim 22, further comprising at least one antenna amplifier having at least one high impedance front end amplifier on an input side and further comprising at least one transformation circuit, wherein at least one amplifier is disposed along said at least one first output signal path and at least one amplifier is disposed along said at least one second output signal path, so that a necessary phase ratio occurs at an input of said summation circuit.

24. The antenna diversity system as in claim 22, wherein said two phase rotation circuits comprise phase values of 0°

and 180°

; and

wherein the system further comprises an inversion circuit; and

a phase rotation circuit, wherein said phase rotation circuit determines a phase which is formed in a frequency dependent manner so that it creates a greatest possible antenna diversity.

25. An antenna diversity system for radio reception comprising:

a) a receiver;

b) a plurality of antennas;

c) a plurality of antenna feed lines forming at least one input signal path coupled to said plurality of antennas;

d) a high frequency line coupled to said receiver;

e) an antenna diversity module disposed external to said receiver and coupled to said plurality of antenna feed lines and to said high frequency line, said antenna diversity module comprising;

i) at least one addressable logic signal selection switch comprising at least two switching devices for a selection of different antenna reception signals, said at least two switching devices in the form of at least a first switching device having its output coupled to a first output signal path and at least a second switching device having its output coupled to a second output signal path;

ii) a summation circuit having an output which is coupled to said receiver and has at least two inputs coupled to said first and second signal paths, wherein at least one switching device in said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch has at least an output coupled to said summation circuit;

iii) at least one phase rotation device that is disposed along at least one of said signal paths, and is disposed between said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch and said summation circuit and is pre-set in phase angle rotation, in a fixed manner wherein a reception signal of one of said plurality of antennas is switched through to one of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit and wherein with at least one of a set of switch positions of said signal selection switch, the reception signal on another one of said plurality of antennas first passes through said at least one phase rotation device which is set in a fixed manner, and then is switched through another input of said at least two inputs on said summation circuit, and

f) an evaluation circuit which evaluates a quality of the reception signal and which is in communication with said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch,

wherein if an interference occurs in a summed signal, said at least one evaluation circuit detects said interference and signals said addressable logic signal selection switch to select a different coordinated setting of a switching position,

wherein said at least one phase rotation device is set in a fixed manner and is tied into said at least one input signal to rotate a phase angle of an antenna signal in at least one antenna feed line before said signal reaches said addressable logic selection switch, and

wherein when a plurality of antennas are present in the form of N number of antennas, said at least one phase rotation device is set in a fixed manner and tied to a plurality of antenna feed lines in the form of N-1 feed lines which are coupled to said at least one addressable logic signal selection switch, wherein said at least one phase rotation device is designed as a plurality of phase rotation devices and as a plurality of low loss high frequency reactance circuits, wherein a frequency dependence of their phase values results in a greatest possible diversity efficiency at every frequency and at each instance.