JP2001267843A - Composite antenna module, signal processor for composite antenna and communication signal processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of cables 3 for connecting an antenna 1 to a signal processing part for conducting the signal processing of the antenna 1. SOLUTION: A plurality of types of antennas 1 are arranged on the upper surface 5a of a circuit board 5, and a circuit including a signal synthesis circuit part 16 for forming a synthetic signal of high frequency signals of various antennas 1 is formed on the rear face 5b of the board 5 to constitute a composite antenna module. A composite antenna signal processor having a plurality of signal processing parts corresponding to respective antennas 1 is provided with a signal distribution circuit part for separating the synthetic signal to the high frequency signal of each antenna 1. The high frequency signal synthesis/ output part 15 of the composite antenna module is connected to the high frequency input part of the signal processor through the cable 3 to form a communication signal processing system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite antenna module in which a plurality of antennas having different frequency bands are assembled and unitized, a signal processing apparatus for a composite antenna connected to the composite antenna module, and a composite antenna module and a composite antenna. The present invention relates to a communication signal processing system having a signal processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, GPS (Global Positio
ning System) and VICS (Vehicle Information and C)
ommunication Systems)
There is a tendency that various types of devices using wireless communication such as are used. The above devices such as GPS and VICS are shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the antenna 1 includes a signal processing unit 2 that processes a high-frequency signal of the antenna 1. For example, the antenna 1 is disposed on a ceiling of a car, and a signal processing unit 2 is provided. The antenna 2 and the signal processor 2 are connected to each other by a cable 3.

[0003]

The types of in-vehicle devices utilizing wireless communication as described above are increasing in number, and with this, the above-described wireless communication utilizing devices installed in one car are used. The number of such devices is increasing. Conventionally, as described above, since the antenna 1 and the signal processing unit 2 are connected for each device by the cable 3 dedicated to each device, as the number of devices using the wireless communication increases, it becomes inevitable. As a result, the number of the cables 3 routed in the car increases, which causes a problem that wiring becomes complicated and a problem that a space for routing the cables 3 must be expanded. .

As described above, when the number of cables 3 increases, for example, in the connection process of the cables 3, it is necessary to connect those cables while checking each time to make sure that there is no error. This is troublesome, cumbersome, and requires a lot of time, resulting in a decrease in production efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of types of antennas 1 are assembled into a unit, and the signal processing units 2 corresponding to the various types of antennas 1 are similarly assembled into a unit. A configuration in which the unit on the antenna 1 side and the unit on the signal processing unit 2 side are connected using a cable 3 has been proposed. In this proposed configuration, for example, the GPS antenna 1 ( 1
a) and the GPS signal processor 2 (2a) are signal-connected by a GPS-dedicated cable 3 (3a).
A cable 3 according to the number of antennas 1 (signal processing units 2), such that the ICS antenna 1 (1b) and the VICS signal processing unit 2 (2b) are also connected by a VICS dedicated cable 3 (3b). Is wired.

Therefore, although the antenna 1 side and the signal processing unit 2 side are each unitized,
As in the case shown in (a), the number of cables 3 increases as the number of antennas 1 (signal processing units 2) increases,
As a result, problems such as a complicated wiring, an increase in the space for cable wiring, and a problem that the connection of the cable 3 is troublesome and troublesome, and that much time is required arise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite antenna module and a composite antenna module capable of reducing the number of cables connecting the antenna side and the signal processing unit side. An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna signal processing device and a communication signal processing system.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following structure to solve the above problems. That is, the composite antenna module of the first invention has an antenna unit in which two or more types of antennas using different frequency bands are mounted on the same substrate, and synthesizes the high-frequency signals of these antennas to obtain all of the above. Means for solving the above-mentioned problems are provided by providing a signal combining circuit section for creating a combined signal of the high-frequency signal of the antenna and a high-frequency cable or connector for outputting the combined signal to the outside.

A signal processing apparatus for a composite antenna according to a second aspect of the present invention is a signal processing apparatus for a composite antenna connected to the composite antenna module according to the first aspect of the present invention, and corresponds to each antenna of the composite antenna module. A high-frequency input unit that has a signal processing unit and receives a composite signal output from the composite antenna module, and separates a composite signal input through the high-frequency input unit for each high-frequency signal of each antenna, And a signal distribution circuit unit that supplies each of the separated high-frequency signals to the corresponding signal processing unit.

A communication signal processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes the composite antenna module according to the first aspect of the present invention and a signal processing device for a composite antenna according to the second aspect of the present invention, and a signal combining circuit of the composite antenna module. The circuit and the signal distribution circuit of the signal processing device of the complex antenna are characterized by having the same circuit configuration in which the direction of signal flow is reversed.

In the invention having the above configuration, for example, the signal combining circuit of the composite antenna module combines high frequency signals applied from various antennas. The composite signal of the high-frequency signals of all the antennas is output to the outside of the composite antenna module using a high-frequency cable or a connector.

The output composite signal is input to a high-frequency input unit of a signal processing device for a composite antenna, and the input composite signal is separated by the signal distribution circuit unit for each of the high-frequency signals of the various antennas, and corresponds to each. The signal is supplied to the signal processing unit.

As described above, the high-frequency signals of the various antennas are combined and supplied from the composite antenna module to the signal processing device of the composite antenna. In the signal processing device of the composite antenna, the composite signal is output for each high-frequency signal of the various antennas. By separating and adding to the corresponding signal processing units, the cable connecting the composite antenna module and the signal processing device of the composite antenna can reduce the number of installed antennas in the composite antenna module and the composite antenna. Irrespective of the increase in the number of signal processing units in the signal processing device of (1).

This solves the problem of complicated cable wiring, the problem of increasing the space for cable wiring, and the problem of complicated cable connection work due to the increase in the number of antennas (signal processing units). It becomes possible.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a composite antenna module of the communication signal processing system according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a specific antenna provided in the composite antenna module. The circuit configuration is shown by a block diagram. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a characteristic circuit configuration of the signal processing device of the composite antenna constituting the communication signal processing system according to this embodiment.

The communication signal processing system shown in this embodiment is for use in a vehicle, and has a composite antenna module shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and a composite antenna having a unique circuit configuration shown in FIG. The signal processing device (receiver device) of the antenna is connected to the signal by one cable. The composite antenna module is installed, for example, on the ceiling of a car, and the signal processing device of the composite antenna is installed on the front of the car.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the composite antenna module of this embodiment has a plurality of types of antennas 1 (1).
A, 1B, 1C, 1D) are arranged on the upper surface 5a of the circuit board 5 with an interval therebetween to form an antenna unit, and a circuit as shown in FIG. 1B is formed on the back surface 5b of the circuit board 5. It is unitized by doing. In this embodiment, a shield case 6 for electromagnetically shielding the circuit is provided on the back surface 5b side of the circuit board 5.

Each of the antennas 1A to 1D is used for a different radio communication system. For example, the antenna 1A is an S-DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast (stationary satellite mobile) Information communication service system))), antenna 1B is for VICS, and antenna 1C is for G
The antenna is for PS and the antenna 1D is for remote keyless entry. The various antennas 1A to 1D have various configurations, respectively, and any configuration may be employed here, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the shape and size of the various antennas 1 are taken into consideration, and the upper surface 5a of the circuit board 5 is effectively used as efficiently as possible. An antenna 1 is provided to reduce the size of the composite antenna module.

As shown in FIG. 1B, circuits formed on the back surface 5b of the circuit board 5 include LNAs (low noise amplifiers) 7, 8, and 9, FILs (filters) 10, and DUs.
It comprises P (duplexers) 11 and 12 and DIP (diplexer) 13. These circuit components 7 to 13 are wired and connected as shown in FIG. 1B by conductive connection means 14 such as a conductor pattern and a conductor wire, and through a through hole formed in the circuit board 5. Thus, it is electrically connected to the various antennas 1. Further, the output terminal 15 of the DIP 13 constitutes a high-frequency signal synthesis output section of the composite antenna module, and this high-frequency signal synthesis output section 15 is conductively connected to the cable 3 which is a high-frequency cable.

The high-frequency signal synthesizing and outputting section 15 may be directly connected to the cable 3 or may be connected to the cable with connector 3 via a connector provided on the circuit board 5, for example. Configuration. In the case where the high-frequency signal combining and outputting unit 15 is electrically connected to the cable 3 by using the connector, the connecting operation can be performed more easily.

In this embodiment, the DUPs 11, 1
2 and the DIP 13 constitute a signal combining circuit section 16 for combining high-frequency signals of various antennas 1. That is, in the signal synthesizing circuit unit 16, the high frequency signal of the antenna 1A is added to the DUP 11 via the LNA 7 and the high frequency signal of the antenna 1B is directly added to the DUP 11, and the DUP 11 The high frequency signal of the antenna 1B is synthesized, and the synthesized signal is output to the DUP12.

The output signal (synthesized signal) of the DUP 11 is added to the DUP 12, and the high frequency signal of the antenna 1C is added via the LNA 8, the FIL 10 and the LNA 9 in order, and the DUP 12 outputs the synthesized signal of the DUP 11 and the antenna 1C high-frequency signal and DIP1
Output to 3.

The DIP 13 receives the combined signal of the output of the DUP 12 and the high frequency signal of the antenna 1D directly. The DIP 13 combines the combined signal of the output of the DUP 12 and the high frequency signal of the antenna 1D. A composite signal of the high-frequency signals of all the antennas 1A to 1D is generated, and the composite signal is output from the high-frequency signal composite output unit 15 to the outside through the cable 3.

In the example shown in FIG. 1B, S-DA
The LNA 7 is interposed between the B antenna 1A and the DUP 11, and the GPS antenna 1C and the DUP 12
LNA8, FIL10 and LNA9 are interposed between the antenna 1 and the signal combining circuit 16
The circuit elements such as the LNA and the FIL are provided as necessary depending on conditions such as the strength of the signal received by the antenna 1 and are not essential.

Next, a description will be given of a configuration example of a receiver device which is a signal processing device of the composite antenna according to the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the receiver device has signal processing units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D corresponding to the various antennas 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, respectively, and has a signal distribution circuit unit 18. Signal processing units 2A to 2D
And the signal distribution circuit unit 18 are collectively unitized. The input end 19 of the signal distribution circuit section 18 constitutes a high-frequency input section of the receiver device, and the high-frequency input section 19 is electrically connected to the cable 3.

Each of the signal processing sections 2A to 2D has various configurations, and any configuration may be employed here, and description thereof will be omitted. Further, the high-frequency input section 19 may be configured to be directly connected to the cable 3, or may be configured to be connected to the cable 3 with a connector via a connector. In the case where the high-frequency input unit 19 is electrically connected to the cable 3 by using the connector, the connection operation can be performed more easily.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the signal distribution circuit section 18 comprises a DIP 20 and a DUP 21,
22, the DIP 20 and the DU
As shown in FIG. 2, P21 and P22 are connected to the respective signal processing units 2 by conductive connection means 23 such as a conductor pattern and a conductor wire. In this embodiment, the circuit configuration of the signal distribution circuit section 18 is the same as that of the signal synthesis circuit section 16 of the composite antenna module. However, the signal synthesizing circuit section 16 and the signal distribution circuit section 1
Numeral 8 indicates that the directions of the signal flows are opposite to each other.

In this embodiment, the high-frequency signal combining and outputting section 15 of the composite antenna module shown in FIG. 1 and the high-frequency input section 19 of the receiver shown in FIG. A communication signal processing system is configured, and the synthesized signal output from the high-frequency signal synthesis output unit 15 of the composite antenna module passes through the cable 3 and is input to the high-frequency input unit 19 of the receiver device. The composite signal input from the high-frequency input unit 19 is applied to a signal distribution circuit unit 18, and the signal distribution circuit unit 18 operates the circuit of the various antennas 1 in a circuit operation reverse to the circuit operation of the signal composition circuit unit 16. It is separated for each high frequency signal.

That is, in the signal distribution circuit section 18, the composite signal added from the high frequency input section 19 is DIP2
Added to 0. The DIP 20 separates (branches) the combined signal into a high-frequency signal of the antenna 1D and another combined signal, outputs one combined signal to the DUP 21, and converts the high-frequency signal of the other antenna 1D to the antenna 1D. To the signal processing unit 2D.

The DUP 21 separates the composite signal added from the DIP 20 into a high frequency signal of the antenna 1C and another composite signal, outputs one composite signal to the DUP 22, and converts the high frequency signal of the other antenna 1C into The signal is supplied to the signal processing unit 2C corresponding to the antenna 1C.

The DUP 22 separates the composite signal added from the DUP 21 into a high-frequency signal of the antenna 1A and a high-frequency signal of the antenna 1B, and supplies the high-frequency signal of the antenna 1A to the signal processing unit 2A corresponding to the antenna 1A. , And supplies the high-frequency signal of the antenna 1B to the signal processing unit 2B corresponding to the antenna 1B.

As described above, the high-frequency signals of the corresponding antennas 1 are added to the respective signal processing units 2A to 2D of the receiver device, and the signal processing units 2A to 2D process the added signals.

According to this embodiment, since the signal combining circuit section 16 is provided in the composite antenna module, a combined signal of the high-frequency signals of the various antennas 1 can be produced.
Thereby, one output end of the composite antenna module is provided,
In other words, only the high-frequency signal synthesis output unit 15 needs to be provided, and the number of cables 3 drawn from the composite antenna module is reduced to one regardless of the number of antennas 1 installed in the composite antenna module. .

Further, since the signal distribution circuit section 18 is provided in the receiver device for signal connection to the composite antenna module, even if the composite signal is output from the composite antenna module as described above, the composite signal is transmitted to each antenna 1. , So that the high-frequency signal of the corresponding antenna 1 can be added to each signal processing unit 2.

Since the composite signal can be communicated between the composite antenna module and the receiver device as described above, the communication signal processing system must be constructed by connecting the composite antenna module and the receiver device with one cable 3. Can be. As described above, the number of cables 3 connecting the composite antenna module and the receiver device is one, regardless of the increase in the number of antennas 1 (the number of signal processing units 2 in the receiver device) of the composite antenna module. Various problems caused by the increase of the cables 3 as described above, that is, the problem of the complicated cable wiring, the problem of the expansion of the space for the cable wiring, the troublesome connection of the cable connection, and It is possible to prevent a problem that the production efficiency is deteriorated by taking a lot of time.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the composite antenna module includes four types of antennas: an antenna 1A for S-DAB, an antenna 1B for VICS, an antenna 1C for GPS, and an antenna 1D for remote keyless entry. However, the number of the antennas 1 provided in the composite antenna module and the combination of the types of the antennas 1 are not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the number of antennas 1 in the composite antenna module may be plural, for example, two or three, or five or more. Also, for example,
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an antenna 1E for an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection (automatic toll collection system)) is provided instead of the remote keyless entry antenna 1D shown in the above embodiment. You may. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, as in the above-described embodiment, the shape and size of the various antennas 1 (1A, 1B, 1C, 1E) are taken into consideration, and the upper surface of the circuit board 5 is taken into account. Various antennas 1 (1A, 1B, 1
C, 1E) are arranged on the upper surface 5a of the circuit board 5, and the various antennas 1
A circuit as shown in FIG. 3B including a signal synthesizing circuit section 16 similar to that of the above-described embodiment for producing a synthesized signal of the high frequency signals of A, 1B, 1C, and 1E is formed.

Further, the types of antennas used in the radio communication system include those for the above-described S-DAB and VICS.
For, for GPS, for remote keyless entry,
There are various types such as not only for ETC, but also for mobile phones, TVs, and radios. The types of antennas installed in the composite antenna module are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be appropriately changed. Types of antennas are provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the signal synthesizing circuit section 16 has the configuration having the DUPs 11 and 12 and the DUP 13 to sequentially synthesize the high-frequency signals of the respective antennas 1. The circuit configuration may be such that one high-frequency signal is synthesized at a time, and is not limited to the circuit configuration of the above embodiment. Further, the same applies to the signal distribution circuit section 18 and is not limited to the circuit configuration of the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the signal synthesizing circuit section 16 of the composite antenna module and the signal distribution circuit section 18 of the receiver device have the same circuit configuration in which the direction of signal flow is reversed. However, the signal combining circuit section 16 and the signal distribution circuit section 18 may have different circuit configurations.

Further, DUPs 11, 12, 21, 22 constituting the signal synthesizing circuit section 16 and the signal distribution circuit section 18 are described.
Is provided, a circuit 24 as shown in FIG.
The circuit may be configured by lumped constants such as C and R. Further, instead of the DIPs 13 and 20 constituting the signal synthesizing circuit section 16 and the signal distribution circuit section 18, a circuit 2 as shown in FIG.
5 may be provided to configure a circuit with lumped constants such as L, C, and R.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of signal processing units 2 and the signal distribution circuit unit 18 are unitized as a unit, but may not be unitized.

Further, in the above embodiment, the antenna 1
Has a configuration capable of receiving only one type of signal. For example, it is possible to support a multi-frequency band capable of receiving a plurality of different types of signals such as two types of signals for GPS and S-DAB. The antenna 1 may be used. Also in such a case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, various high-frequency signals of the antenna 1 are combined with the high-frequency signals of the other antennas 1 and output to the outside from the composite antenna module.

Further, the communication signal processing system shown in the above-described embodiment is for a vehicle, but of course, the present invention is not limited to the vehicle and may be applied to a device other than the vehicle. You can do it.

[0047]

According to the invention of a composite antenna module comprising an antenna unit in which a plurality of types of antennas are gathered and a signal synthesis circuit for generating a synthesized signal of high-frequency signals of the plurality of types of antennas, Since the circuit section produces a composite signal of the high-frequency signals of all the antennas, the output section of the composite antenna module is connected to one.
Only one cable is required, and only one cable is required for transmitting the high frequency signal of the antenna to the outside of the composite antenna module.

Further, in the invention of the signal processing device of the composite antenna connected to the composite antenna module, since the signal distribution circuit is provided, the output from the composite antenna module is performed by the signal distribution circuit. The combined signal obtained can be separated for each high-frequency signal of each antenna and supplied to the corresponding signal processing unit. Thus, even if a composite signal of the high-frequency signal of each antenna is output from the composite antenna module, the high-frequency signal of the corresponding antenna is added to each signal processing unit.

As described above, since the composite antenna module and the signal processing device of the composite antenna according to the present invention can communicate a composite signal, the composite antenna module and the signal processing device of the composite antenna can be connected by one cable. By connecting, a communication signal processing system can be constructed. As described above, only one cable is required to connect the composite antenna module and the signal processing device of the composite antenna regardless of an increase in the number of antennas of the composite antenna module (the number of signal processing devices of the composite antenna). Becomes

For this reason, the problems caused by the increase in the number of cable wirings as described above, that is, the problem of the complicated cable wiring, the problem of the expansion of the space for the cable wiring, and the like.
The problem of complicated cable connection work can be solved.

In the invention in which the signal synthesizing circuit portion of the composite antenna module and the signal distribution circuit portion of the signal processing device of the composite antenna have the same circuit configuration in which the direction of the signal flow is reversed, In the signal distribution circuit section of the signal processing device of the antenna, a combined signal output from the composite antenna module is separated for each high-frequency signal of each antenna by a circuit operation reverse to a circuit operation in which the high-frequency signals of each antenna are combined. Therefore, the resilience of the high frequency signal of each antenna can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a composite antenna module of a communication signal system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a signal processing device of a composite antenna of the communication signal system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the composite antenna module.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the circuit configuration of the signal synthesis circuit (signal distribution circuit).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 antenna 2 signal processing unit 3 cable 11, 12, 21, 22 DUP 13, 20 DIP 15 high-frequency signal synthesis output unit 16 signal synthesis circuit unit 18 signal distribution circuit unit 19 high-frequency input unit

Continued on front page (72) Inventor Kazuya Kawabata 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Inside Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeichi Ito 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Atsuyuki Yuasa 2-26-10 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto F-term in Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (reference) 5J021 AA05 AA09 AA13 AB06 CA06 FA32 HA05 HA07 JA03 JA07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An antenna unit having two or more antennas using different frequency bands mounted on the same substrate, and synthesizing high-frequency signals of the respective antennas to generate a synthesized signal of the high-frequency signals of all the antennas. And a high-frequency cable or connector for outputting the synthesized signal to the outside. 2. A signal processing device for a composite antenna connected to the composite antenna module according to claim 1, wherein:
A signal processing unit corresponding to each antenna of the composite antenna module, a high-frequency input unit to which a composite signal output from the composite antenna module is input, and a composite signal input through the high-frequency input unit A signal processing apparatus for a composite antenna, comprising: a signal distribution circuit unit that separates each high-frequency signal of the antenna and supplies each of the separated high-frequency signals to the corresponding signal processing unit. 3. The composite antenna module according to claim 1, further comprising: a composite antenna signal processing device according to claim 2, wherein:
A communication signal processing system, wherein the signal distribution circuit section of the signal processing device of the composite antenna has the same circuit configuration in which the direction of signal flow is reversed.