Vehicle antenna system and method for determining connectivity status thereof
First Claim
1. An antenna system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a test antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to transmit a wireless diagnostic signal with a signature waveform, wherein the test antenna is coupled to a vehicle infotainment system (VIS) module that includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and that also provides the signature waveform;
a primary antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless diagnostic signal from the test antenna and to provide a wired diagnostic signal in response thereto; and
a diagnostic circuit coupled to the primary antenna via a wired connection so as to receive the wired diagnostic signal, wherein the diagnostic circuit is configured to evaluate the contents of the wired diagnostic signal and determine a connectivity status of the antenna system based on the presence or absence of the signature waveform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle communication system that includes an antenna system for a vehicle and a method of determining a connectivity status of the antenna system. The antenna system includes a test antenna for transmitting a wireless diagnostic signal with a signature waveform and a primary antenna that receives the wireless diagnostic signal and provides a corresponding wired diagnostic signal to a diagnostic circuit. The diagnostic circuit is configured to determine a connectivity status of the antenna system based on the presence or absence of the signature waveform in the wired diagnostic signal received from the primary antenna. It is possible for the diagnostic circuit to include a finite state machine (FSM) for carrying out the connectivity status determination.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An antenna system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a test antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to transmit a wireless diagnostic signal with a signature waveform, wherein the test antenna is coupled to a vehicle infotainment system (VIS) module that includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and that also provides the signature waveform; a primary antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless diagnostic signal from the test antenna and to provide a wired diagnostic signal in response thereto; and a diagnostic circuit coupled to the primary antenna via a wired connection so as to receive the wired diagnostic signal, wherein the diagnostic circuit is configured to evaluate the contents of the wired diagnostic signal and determine a connectivity status of the antenna system based on the presence or absence of the signature waveform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of determining a connectivity status of an antenna system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a wireless diagnostic signal with a signature waveform from a test antenna mounted in the vehicle to a primary antenna mounted in the vehicle, wherein the test antenna is coupled to a vehicle infotainment system (VIS) module having an electronic control unit (ECU), the transmitting step further comprising transmitting the wireless diagnostic signal in response to receiving the signature waveform from the VIS module; (b) converting the wireless diagnostic signal into a wired diagnostic signal at the primary antenna; (c) transmitting the wired diagnostic signal from the primary antenna to a diagnostic circuit via a wired connection; and (d) evaluating the contents of the wired diagnostic signal and determining a connectivity status of the antenna system based on the presence or absence of the signature waveform. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An antenna system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a test antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to transmit a wireless diagnostic signal with a signature waveform; a first primary antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless diagnostic signal from the test antenna and to provide a first wired diagnostic signal in response thereto; a second primary antenna mounted in the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless diagnostic signal from the test antenna and to provide a second wired diagnostic signal in response thereto; and at least one diagnostic circuit coupled to the first and second primary antennas via at least one wired connection so as to receive the first and second wired diagnostic signals, wherein the at least one diagnostic circuit is configured to evaluate the contents of the first and second wired diagnostic signals and determine a connectivity status of each of the first and second primary antennas based on the presence or absence of the signature waveform.
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Specification