EP2603053B1 - System for electric coupling between an antenna system and a radio receiver terminal. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical coupling system between an antenna system and a terminal (receiver - radio). The invention is intended, among other things, for wireless applications for motorized systems, enabling high speed transmission of radio signals. This system is implanted within an antenna attached to a metal structure that can be a motor vehicle, a boat, ...

As an example, we explain in the following, that the electrical coupling system is placed on a vehicle of automobile type. But, the invention is not limited for this type of system. It concerns all types of metal structures that can have a cavity and using radio transmission - reception, namely: road, air, sea or river transport systems (such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, trains, trams, airplanes, helicopters, boats ...) .

The document EP 2410608 for example and that corresponds to the document WO 2010107258 , describes a shark fin antenna for vehicles comprising a cap ensuring tightness and aerodynamics. The antennas are arranged either inside the cap or on the surface of the cap. In recent years, communications systems have experienced strong growth, most of them wireless. These systems require communication antennas with more functionality than "conventional" designs do. Thus, new antenna systems have emerged to cope with user demand. In the automotive sector, for example, these new requirements are felt through communications inside and / or outside the vehicle as well as exchanges between the vehicle and its environment.

In addition, we can note that for several years, the share of electronics in the automotive field has become increasingly important.

For example, conventional modulated waves for carrying information such as: "AM" amplitude modulation and "FM" frequency modulation, Global Positioning System "GPS", automatic door opening, mobile phones, anti-collision radars, have been added in recent years.

For each of these applications, a specific emission / reception system for electromagnetic waves is dedicated. The transport of information between the antennal system and the terminal (transceiver type ) is provided by the "RF" Radio Frequency cables.

In the envelope "Soleau"" INTEGRATED DEMODULATION " with reference 426675, it is demonstrated that these "RF" Radio Frequency cables can be replaced by high-speed "buses" such as USB, Ethernet, etc.

This system allows manufacturers to overcome some problems of electromagnetic compatibility, to obtain through the removal of cables a decrease in expenditure and a significant gain of space since, as a result, the environment is no longer busy. Recall that this antennal system does not modify the process currently used and leaves indifferent the design of the motorized vehicle.

Indeed, in our example, the multiplication of applications, leads to a significant use of coaxial cables that can generate very large problems of electromagnetic compatibility inside the passenger compartment of said vehicle. It becomes particularly difficult for car manufacturers to install the cables, the beams inside the cabin for reasons of space (more and more reduced) and weight. It should be noted that to support our argument, the cost of specific cables can be much greater compared to that of conventional cables carrying analog signals.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and described in the preceding paragraphs. As a result, the invention proposes a new means of transporting broadband radio information. Namely a transmission provided by a coupling between the antennal system and the terminal (receiver - radio) within a closed or semi-closed metal structure (11). In our example of use the metal structure is a vehicle of the automotive type but the possibilities of use are very important (see all the possibilities of applications in the first chapter) . The coupling is generated by a control of the contact between the antenna system and the terminal (receiver - radio) through the metal structure. Mainly, this contact is managed by the addition of a radiating element (10) (according to the IEEE 802.XX standard) whose geometry and dimensions are predefined according to the size of the metal structure and the terminal (receiver - radio).

In our example of application, the coupling is effected by means of the antenna system drum entering inside the vehicle and the addition on this barrel of a radiating element allowing the electrical transmission of the information towards the terminal (receiver - radio).
For information in the Soleau envelope " PROTECTION EMBASE " with reference 426673, we demonstrate the merits of a new baseplate equipped with additional savings ("savings" or free passage through the base of the base).

• Figure A : Présentation de la situation actuelle, à savoir la transmission du signal électrique entre le système antennaire et le terminal (récepteur - radio) par l'intermédiaire de câbles.
• Figure B : Présentation de l'invention, à savoir la transmission du signal effectuée par le biais d'un élément de couplage assurant la propagation du signal entre celui-ci et le terminal (récepteur - radio). Cet élément de couplage est directement relié au fût de l'embase et permet également la fixation de ces éléments entre eux (antenne - toit - élément rayonnant).

• Repère (1) Fouet de l'antenne assurant la réception des signaux électromagnétiques,
• Repère (2) Insert du système antennaire permettant la liaison mécanique du fouet (fouet/insert) et la transmission des signaux électromagnétiques,
• Repère (3) Coiffe du système antennaire qui de part sa conception et sa fixation assure l'étanchéité, l'aérodynamisme et l'esthétique,
• Repère (4) Le circuit électronique implanté dans cet emplacement permet de traiter les informations, les amplifier et les transmettre en un signal électrique,
• Repère (5) Toit de la structure métallique sur laquelle est fixée l'antenne,
• Repère (6) Bague assurant la reprise de masse sur le véhicule et la fixation de l'antenne (associé à la pièce en repère (7))
• Repère (7) Système de serrage (écrou,....) assurant le maintien du système antennaire sur la structure métallique,
• Repère (8) Câbles assemblés sur le circuit électronique et dont la fonction est d'assurer la transmission du signal électrique envers le terminal (récepteur - radio),
• Repère (9) Terminal (récepteur - radio) implanté dans les systèmes de transports routiers, aériens, maritimes ou fluviaux,
• Repère (10) Elément de couplage (principe de l'invention) destiné à fournir, du système antennaire envers le terminal (récepteur - radio), les signaux électriques utiles,
• Repère (11) Transmission des informations radio - électriques en haut débit assurée par un couplage entre le système antennaire et le terminal (récepteur - radio) au sein d'une structure métallique fermée ou semi fermée,

Hereinafter we describe by way of example the present invention with reference to the appended figures in which:

• Figure A: Presentation of the current situation, namely the transmission of the electrical signal between the antenna system and the terminal (receiver - radio) via cables.
• Figure B : Presentation of the invention, namely the transmission of the signal carried out by means of a coupling element ensuring the propagation of the signal between the latter and the terminal (receiver - radio). This coupling element is directly connected to the shaft of the base and also allows the attachment of these elements together (antenna - roof - radiating element).

• Mark (1) Antenna whip providing reception of electromagnetic signals,
• Benchmark (2) Insert of the antenna system allowing the mechanical connection of the whip (whip / insert) and the transmission of electromagnetic signals,
• Benchmark (3) Head of the antennal system which by its design and fixing ensures the waterproofness, aerodynamics and aesthetics,
• Reference (4) The electronic circuit implanted in this location makes it possible to process the information, amplify it and transmit it in an electrical signal,
• Benchmark (5) Roof of the metal structure on which the antenna is fixed,
• Marker (6) Ring for mass recovery on the vehicle and attachment of the antenna (associated with the reference part (7))
• Reference (7) Clamping system (nut, ....) ensuring the maintenance of the antennal system on the metal structure,
• Mark (8) Cables assembled on the electronic circuit and whose function is to ensure the transmission of the electrical signal to the terminal (receiver - radio),
• Landmark (9) Terminal (receiver - radio) installed in road, air, sea or river transport systems,
• Reference (10) Coupling element (principle of the invention) intended to supply, from the antenna system towards the terminal ( radio receiver ), the useful electrical signals,
• Benchmark (11) Broadband transmission of radio information provided by a coupling between the antenna system and the terminal (receiver - radio) within a closed or semi - closed metal structure,

Claims (2)

1. Antenna system including an electrical coupling system between said antenna system and a radio receiver terminal (9), the coupling system allowing the high-speed transmission of radio signals (11), characterised in that:

   - The antenna system includes a whip (1) suited to receiving electromagnetic signals, which also includes:

   - An insert (2) connected mechanically to the whip (1) and allowing the transmission of electromagnetic connections;

   - A fairing (3) ensuring that the antenna system is impermeable, aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing;

   - An electronic circuit (4) connected to the insert (2) suited to handling electrical signals and located inside the fairing (3);

   - The antenna system being suitable for attachment onto a metal structure (5) by means of a clamping screw integrated into the coupling element (10);

   The coupling element (10) being situated on the opposite face of the metal structure (5) in relation to the antenna system, the electromagnetic signals received by the whip (1) being handled as an electrical signal by the electronic circuit (4) so as to amplify them, filter them and adapt them for impedance before supplying them to the coupling element (10).
2. Antenna system according to claim 1 characterised in that the signal generated is distributed via wireless broadband (11) by the coupling element (10) to a radio receiver terminal (9) according, for example, to IEEE 802-Series Standards of the XBee, WI - FI or Bluetooth type.

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