Motor vehicle for car to car communication and associated method for operating an antenna structure of a motor vehicle

• US 8,280,592 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Wisniowski, Damian
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/093,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 343/757, 343/713, 342/377
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3208 characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence

Abstract

A motor vehicle is equipped for radio communication with at least one further motor vehicle. An antenna structure is used to transmit and receive useful signals. The antenna structure can be controlled with the aid of a control device in such a way that it is possible to change the setting of the main lobe of the antenna. A method is also disclosed for operating an antenna structure which is installed in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An antenna structure assembly for enabling radio communication of a first motor vehicle with at least one other motor vehicle, and for transmitting and receiving useful communication signals, comprising:

an antenna structure mounted to the first motor vehicle, said antenna structure having a main lobe;

a controller connected to said antenna structure and having an input for receiving from a speed recording device of the motor vehicle a signal representing a travel speed of the motor vehicle, said controller being configured to control said antenna structure to selectively change a setting of said main lobe, said controller adjusting a beam spread angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure in dependence on a travel speed of the first motor vehicle.

2. A motor vehicle equipped for radio communication with at least one other motor vehicle, comprising:

an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving useful radio signals in a radio communication with the at least one other motor vehicle, said antenna structure having a main lobe; and

a controller connected to said antenna structure and having an input for receiving from a speed recording device of the motor vehicle a signal representing a travel speed of the motor vehicle, said controller being configured to control said antenna structure to selectively change a setting of said main lobe by adjusting a beam spread angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure in dependence on a travel speed of the motor vehicle, the travel speed being provided by the speed recording device.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said antenna structure includes a plurality of individual emitters and said controller is configured such that an alignment of said main lobe in a horizontal plane of a radiation pattern can be set by way of activating phase positions of signals of said individual emitters.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to decrease a beam spread angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure with an increase in a travel speed of the motor vehicle.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the controller is adjusted in such a way that at high vehicle speed, the beam spread angle of the main lobe is kept low more often and for a longer period of time than at low vehicle speed.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to retain an alignment of said main lobe towards a stationary target.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to cause an alignment of said main lobe of said antenna structure to be adjusted to a steering direction of the motor vehicle, the steering direction being provided by a direction recording device.

8. A motor vehicle equipped for radio communication with at least one other motor vehicle, comprising:

an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving useful radio communication signals, said antenna structure having a main lobe; and

a controller connected to said antenna structure and configured to continuously change a direction angle of said main lobe of said antenna structure for establishing a communication connection to the other motor vehicle, said controller receiving a signal from a speed recording device indicating a speed of the motor vehicle and reducing a maximum angle of deflection for the direction of said main lobe of said antenna structure with increasing vehicle speed.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to continuously move said main lobe of said antenna structure to and fro.

10. A method for operating an antenna structure installed in a motor vehicle, which comprises:

transmitting and receiving radio communication signals with the antenna structure;

feeding a signal from a speed recording device representing a current travel speed of the motor vehicle to a controller;

controlling the antenna structure with the controller and thereby changing a setting of a main lobe of the antenna structure; and

adjusting a beam spread angle of the main lobe of the antenna structure as a function of a travel speed of the motor vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controlling step comprises setting an alignment of the main lobe of the antenna structure in a horizontal plane of a radiation pattern by way of activating phase positions of signals of individual emitters of the antenna.

12. The method according to claim 10, which comprises narrowing a beam spread angle of the main lobe of the antenna structure with an increasing vehicle speed.

13. A method for operating an antenna structure installed in a motor vehicle, which comprises:

transmitting and receiving useful signals with the antenna structure;

receiving with a controller a signal from a speed recording device representing a travel speed of the motor vehicle;

controlling the antenna structure with the controller and thereby changing a setting of a main lobe of the antenna structure by continuously changing an angle of a direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure for establishment of a communication connection with another motor vehicle; and

decreasing a maximum angle of deflection for the direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure with increasing vehicle speed.

14. The method according to claim 13, which comprises continuously moving to and fro the angle of the direction of the main lobe of the antenna structure.