Motor feed antenna for vehicle

• US 9,735,465 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kemler, Vincent Martin, Becze, Karoly, Standke, Randy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US14/804,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20170025744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/00 Propulsion; Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/286 substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines

Abstract

According to some embodiments, an unmanned vehicle includes a power supply configured to supply an electrical power signal to a motor for propelling the unmanned vehicle, a wireless communication device configured to transmit or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a motor feed antenna coupled to the power supply and the wireless communication device, the motor feed antenna configured to conduct the electrical power signal from the power supply to the motor, and to transmit or receive RF signals as an antenna for the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. An unmanned vehicle comprising:

a motor coupled to a propulsion system for propelling the unmanned vehicle;

a power supply configured to supply an electrical power signal to the motor;

a wireless communication device configured to transmit or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

a motor feed antenna coupled to the power supply and the wireless communication device, the motor feed antenna configured to conduct the electrical power signal from the power supply to the motor, and to transmit or receive RF signals as an antenna for the wireless communication device.

2. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor feed antenna comprises at least one conductive trace having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor.

3. The unmanned vehicle of claim 2, wherein a length of the at least one conductive trace is selected based on a frequency of the RF signals.

4. The unmanned vehicle of claim 2, wherein the motor feed antenna further comprises at least one of:

at least one trap coupled between the at least one conductive trace and the power supply, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the at least one conductive trace and to block an RF signal received by the motor feed antenna from passing to the power supply;

or

at least one trap coupled between the at least one conductive trace and the motor, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the motor and to block an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device from passing to the motor.

5. The unmanned vehicle of claim 4, wherein the at least one conductive trace is further directly coupled to a coil of the motor such that the coil of the motor and the at least one conductive trace of the motor feed antenna are together configured to transmit or receive the RF signals as the antenna for the wireless communication device.

6. The unmanned vehicle of claim 2, wherein the motor feed antenna further comprises an RF signal feed coupled between the at least one conductive trace and the wireless communication device, the RF signal feed configured to allow an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device to pass and to block the electrical power signal from passing to the wireless communication device.

7. The unmanned vehicle of claim 6, wherein the RF signal feed comprises a capacitor.

8. The unmanned vehicle of claim 6, wherein the motor feed antenna further comprises an impedance matching circuit coupled between the RF signal feed and the wireless communication device, the impedance matching circuit comprising an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel.

9. The unmanned vehicle of claim 6, wherein a combined length of the at least one conductive trace and the RF signal feed is selected based on a frequency of the RF signals.

10. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor feed antenna further comprises at least one conductive trace and at least one trap coupled between an end of the conductive trace and the motor, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the motor and to block an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device from passing to the motor, the at least one trap including a capacitor and an inductor coupled in parallel, the unmanned vehicle further comprising a second inductor coupled in series with and between the one end of the at least one trap and the motor.

11. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical power signal is a differential direct current (DC) power signal having a high level DC signal component and a low level DC signal component.

12. The unmanned vehicle of claim 11,

wherein the motor feed antenna comprises at least one conductive trace having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor;

wherein the at least one conductive trace comprises a plurality of conductive traces, each of the conductive traces having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor; and

wherein a first trace of the conductive traces is configured to deliver the high level DC signal component to the motor, and a second trace of the conductive traces is configured to deliver the low level DC signal component to the motor.

13. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit or receive a plurality of RF signals;

and

wherein each of the RF signals corresponds to a different frequency band.

14. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a main body for housing the power supply and the wireless communication device;

a propeller configured to be driven by the motor; and

an arm for supporting the motor feed antenna, the arm having a first end attached to the main body and a second end attached to the motor, the arm holding the motor at a location separated from the main body by at least a portion of the length of the arm.

15. The unmanned vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an arm holding the propulsion system, the motor feed antenna extending along at least a portion of the arm.

16. The unmanned vehicle of claim 15, wherein the arm has a first end attached to a main body and a second end attached to the motor, the arm holding the motor at a location separated from the main body by at least a portion of the length of the arm.

17. The unmanned vehicle of claim 16, wherein the main body holds at least one of the power supply or the wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor feed antenna is configured to transmit and receive RF signals as an antenna for the wireless communication device.

19. A method of manufacturing an unmanned vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a motor coupled to a propulsion system for propelling the unmanned vehicle;

supporting a power supply on a body of the unmanned vehicle, the power supply configured to supply an electrical power signal to the motor;

supporting a wireless communication device on the body of the unmanned vehicle, the wireless communication device configured to transmit or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

coupling a motor feed antenna to the power supply and the wireless communication device, the motor feed antenna configured to conduct the electrical power signal from the power supply to the motor, and to transmit or receive RF signals as an antenna for the wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the motor feed antenna comprises at least one conductive trace having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a length of the at least one conductive trace is selected based on a frequency of the RF signals.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising at least one of:

connecting at least one trap between the at least one conductive trace and the power supply, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the at least one conductive trace and to block an RF signal received by the motor feed antenna from passing to the power supply;

or

connecting at least one trap between the at least one conductive trace and the motor, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the motor and to block an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device from passing to the motor.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising directly coupling a coil of the motor to the at least one conductive trace such that the coil of the motor such that the coil of the motor and the at least one conductive trace of the motor feed antenna are together configured to transmit or receive the RF signals as the antenna for the wireless communication device.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising connecting an RF signal feed between the at least one conductive trace and the wireless communication device, the RF signal feed configured to allow an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device to pass and to block the electrical power signal from passing to the wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising coupling an impedance matching circuit between the RF signal feed and the wireless communication device, the impedance matching circuit comprising an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein a combined length of the at least one conductive trace and the RF signal feed is selected based on a frequency of the RF signals.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing at least one conductive trace and connecting at least one trap between an end of the conductive trace and the motor, the at least one trap configured to allow the electrical power signal to pass to the motor and to block an RF signal transmitted by the wireless communication device from passing to the motor, the at least one trap including a capacitor and an inductor coupled in parallel, the unmanned vehicle further comprising a second inductor coupled in series with and between the one end of the at least one trap and the motor.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical power signal is a differential direct current (DC) power signal having a high level DC signal component and a low level DC signal component.

29. The method of claim 28,

wherein the motor feed antenna comprises at least one conductive trace having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor;

wherein the at least one conductive trace comprises a plurality of conductive traces, each of the conductive traces having a first end coupled to both the power supply and the wireless communication device, and a second end coupled to the motor; and

wherein a first trace of the conductive traces is configured to deliver the high level DC signal component to the motor, and a second trace of the conductive traces is configured to deliver the low level DC signal component to the motor.