JP2020078012A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle communication device capable of suppressing a troublesome work at the time of updating and an increase in cost.SOLUTION: A vehicle communication device 10 includes an antenna unit 11 and a control device 13. The control device 13 can be connected to an expansion control device 15 and an expansion antenna unit 17. The antenna unit 11 includes a plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23. The first antenna 21 is an antenna for wireless communication in a first frequency band F1. The second antenna 23 is an antenna for wireless communication in a second frequency band F2 higher than the first frequency band F1. The expansion antenna unit 17 includes a plurality of extension antennas 33. The extension antenna 33 is an antenna for wireless communication in the second frequency band F2. The control device 13 includes a connection member 25 provided for equipment expansion. The expansion control device 15 includes an expansion side connection member 31 connected to the connection member 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a vehicle communication device including a plurality of mobile communication antennas and a positioning signal reception antenna is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2015-147509, A

  By the way, in the vehicle communication device as described above, for example, when it is necessary to update the antenna and the control device according to a newly established mobile communication standard or the like, it takes complicated time and cost. It is desired to suppress this.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device capable of suppressing the troublesome time and cost when updating.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention adopts the following aspects.
(1) A communication device according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment) is a first wireless communication device in a first frequency band (for example, a first frequency band F1 in the embodiment). One antenna (for example, the first antenna 21 in the embodiment) and a second antenna for wireless communication in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band (for example, the second frequency band F2 in the embodiment) ( For example, a second antenna 23 in the embodiment, a control device (for example, the control device 13 in the embodiment) that is connected to at least the first antenna and controls wireless communication in the first frequency band, and at least the A second controller provided in the controller or the second antenna and controlling wireless communication in the second frequency band that can be used by replacing the controller or adding it to the controller (for example, in the embodiment). Connection member (for example, the connection member 25 in the embodiment, the second connection member 41, the second expansion-side connection member 43, the antenna-side connection) for connection with the expansion controller 15 and the replacement controller 61) The member 67, the second antenna side connecting member 73, and the fourth antenna side connecting member 83).

(2) A communication device according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment) includes a first frequency band (for example, the first frequency band F1 in the embodiment) and the first frequency band. An antenna (for example, the third antenna 51 in the embodiment) for wireless communication in a higher second frequency band (eg, the second frequency band F2 in the embodiment), and the first frequency connected to the antenna. A control device for controlling wireless communication in the band (for example, the control device 13 in the embodiment) and at least the control device or the antenna are provided and can be used by replacing the control device or adding to the control device. A connection member (for example, a connection in the embodiment) for connecting to a second control device (for example, the extension control device 15 or the replacement control device 61 in the embodiment) that controls wireless communication in the second frequency band. The member 25, the second connection member 41, the second extension-side connection member 43, and the antenna-side connection member 67).

(3) The communication device according to (1) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment) includes a predetermined number of the second antennas, and the predetermined number is the wireless communication in the second frequency band. It may be less than the total number of antennas required for.

(4) The communication device according to (2) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment) includes a predetermined number of the antennas, and the predetermined number is necessary for wireless communication in the second frequency band. It may be less than the total number of antennas.

(5) In the communication device according to any one of (1) to (4) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the second frequency band is , More than the total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the first frequency band.

(6) In the communication device according to any one of (1) to (5) above (for example, the vehicular communication device 10 in the embodiment), an antenna unit configured separately from the control device ( For example, the antenna unit 11) in the embodiment may be provided.

(7) In the communication device according to any one of (1) to (6) (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the second control device (for example, the connection device) connected to the connection member (for example, The additional control device 15, the replacement control device 61) in the embodiment, and a plurality of additional antennas for wireless communication in the second frequency band (for example, the additional antenna 33 in the embodiment) may be provided. ..

(8) In the communication device according to (7) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the additional antenna may be built in the second control device.

(9) In the communication device according to (1) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the wireless communication in the first frequency band has a total number of antennas required for each of the transmission side and the reception side. In the wireless communication in the second frequency band, the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is four, which is two multi-input / output transmission (for example, 2 × 2 MIMO transmission in the embodiment). Multiple input / output transmission (for example, 4 × 4 MIMO transmission in the embodiment), the total number of the first antennas may be two, and the total number of the second antennas may be two.

(10) In the communication device according to (2) above (for example, the vehicular communication device 10 in the embodiment), the wireless communication in the first frequency band has a total number of antennas required for each of the transmission side and the reception side. In the wireless communication in the second frequency band, the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is four, which is two multi-input / output transmission (for example, 2 × 2 MIMO transmission in the embodiment). Multiple input / output transmission (for example, 4 × 4 MIMO transmission in the embodiment), and the total number of antennas may be two.

(11) In the communication device according to (9) or (10) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), an additional antenna for wireless communication in the second frequency band, which is connected to the connection member. May be two in total.

(12) In the communication device according to (1) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the connection member is provided on the second antenna and can be used by replacing the control device. It may be connectable to the second control device.
(13) In the communication device according to (1) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the connection member is provided in the second antenna or the control device and is added to the control device. It may be connectable to the second control device that can be used by.

(14) In the communication device according to the above (2) (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the connection member is provided on the antenna, and the connection member can be used by replacing the control device. It may be connectable to two control devices.
(15) In the communication device according to (2) above (for example, the vehicle communication device 10 in the embodiment), the connection member is provided in the antenna or the control device, and is used by being added to the control device. It may be connectable to the second control device which is enabled.

  According to the above (1), even when it is necessary to connect to the second control device that controls wireless communication in the second frequency band that can be used by replacing the control device or adding to the control device, By using the connecting member, it is possible to suppress the troublesome work and the increase in cost.

According to the above (2), even when it is necessary to connect to the second control device that controls wireless communication in the second frequency band that can be used by replacing the control device or adding to the control device, By using the connecting member, it is possible to suppress the troublesome work and the increase in cost.
Further, the antenna can be used for wireless communication in the first frequency band and the second frequency band. For example, the entire antenna is larger than in the case where individual antennas are provided in the first frequency band and the second frequency band. Can be suppressed, and the antenna layout can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  In the case of any one of the above (3) to (5), when an additional antenna is required for wireless communication in the second frequency band, the use of a connecting member causes troublesome work and costs. Can be suppressed.

  In the case of the above (6), when the communication device is mounted on a vehicle or the like, the degree of freedom in layout of the control device and the antenna unit can be improved.

In the case of the above (7), wireless communication in the second frequency band can be controlled by connecting the second control device and the additional antenna to a connection member provided in advance, which is troublesome and costly. Can be suppressed.
In the case of (8) described above, by integrating the additional antenna and the second control device, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the entire device and a complicated layout.

  In the case of any one of the above (9) to (11), when an additional antenna is required for wireless communication in the second frequency band, the use of a connecting member causes troublesome work and increases costs. Can be suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the example of arrangement | positioning of the communication device for vehicles of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing an example of composition of a vehicular communication device of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 1st modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 2nd modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 3rd modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 4th modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 5th modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the example of arrangement | positioning of the vehicle communication apparatus which concerns on the 6th modification of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an arrangement example of a vehicle communication device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle communication device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device according to the present embodiment is a vehicle communication device 10, which is mounted on a vehicle 1. The vehicular communication device 10 is arranged, for example, inside a dashboard (inside the instrument panel 2 or the like) in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 1.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle communication device 10 includes, for example, an antenna unit 11 and a control device 13. The control device 13 can be connected to the expansion control device 15 and the expansion antenna unit 17.

The antenna unit 11 is configured separately from the control device 13, for example.
The antenna unit 11 includes a plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23. For example, the antenna unit 11 includes two first antennas 21 and two second antennas 23. Further, the antenna unit 11 may further include an antenna of a type different from the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 23. The antennas of different types from the first antenna 21 and the second antenna 23 are, for example, an antenna for receiving a positioning signal of a positioning system (Global Navigation Satellite System: GNSS, etc.), an antenna for a wireless LAN, and a V2X communication (for example, a vehicle. Such as an antenna for inter-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication.

The first antenna 21 is an antenna for wireless communication in the first frequency band F1. The first frequency band F1 is, for example, a frequency band of 700 MHz to 2 GHz corresponding to the standard of the fourth generation mobile communication system (4G).
The two first antennas 21 are used for MIMO (Multiple Input and Multiple Output) transmission, for example. MIMO transmission is spatial multiplexing transmission in which a plurality of antennas are combined for transmission and reception. The two first antennas 21 are used, for example, for 2 × 2 MIMO transmission using two antennas each on the transmission side and the reception side.

The second antenna 23 is an antenna for wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 higher than the first frequency band F1. The second frequency band F2 is, for example, a frequency band of 2 GHz to 5 GHz corresponding to the standard of the fifth generation mobile communication system (5G).
For example, the total number of antennas required on the transmitting side and the receiving side in wireless communication in the multiple input / output transmission in the second frequency band F2 is, for example, four, and in the multiple input / output transmission in the first frequency band F1. The number of antennas is set to be larger than the total number of antennas (for example, two) required on the transmitting side and the receiving side in wireless communication.
Then, for example, the total number of the second antennas 23 provided in the vehicle communication device 10 is the total number of antennas required on the transmitting side and the receiving side in the wireless communication in the multiple input / output transmission in the second frequency band F2 (for example, 4). Number), for example, two. The two second antennas 23 are combined with the two additional antennas 33, which will be described later, in the vehicle communication device 10, and are combined with each other to use four antennas on the transmitting side and the receiving side, respectively. Used for 4MIMO transmission.

The control device 13 is connected to the antenna unit 11 and various devices mounted on the vehicle 1. The control device 13 is connected to, for example, each of the plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23 forming the antenna unit 11. The control device 13 is, for example, a software function unit that functions by executing a predetermined program by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The software function unit is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) including a processor such as a CPU, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, and an electronic circuit such as a timer. is there.
At least a part of the control device 13 may be an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Good.

The control device 13 is, for example, a so-called TCU (Telematics Control Unit). The control device 13 may be an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) device such as a navigation device or a display audio. The control device 13 controls transmission / reception of information by wireless communication, and controls various devices based on the received information. For example, the control device 13 controls automatic notification in an emergency, navigation, driving support, diagnosis of in-vehicle devices (battery, etc.), and the like.
The control device 13 controls wireless communication in the first frequency band by the plurality of first antennas 21. The control device 13 does not have a configuration and a function for controlling wireless communication in the second frequency band by the plurality of second antennas 23.
The control device 13 includes an antenna for receiving a positioning signal of a positioning system (for example, Global Navigation Satellite System: GNSS), an antenna for wireless LAN, and an antenna for V2X communication (for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication). Etc., on the other hand, when these antennas are provided outside the control device 13, they may have communication connection ports with these antennas.

The control device 13 includes a connecting member 25 that is provided for adding devices to the control device 13. The connection member 25 is, for example, a connection port, a connector, a connection terminal, or the like. The connection member 25 is used to connect the expansion control device 15 to the control device 13.
The expansion control device 15 includes an expansion side connection member 31 connected to the connection member 25. The extension-side connection member 31 is, for example, a cable attached to a connection port, a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with the connection member 25, or the like.

The expansion control device 15 is connected to the expansion antenna unit 17. The extension antenna unit 17 is configured separately from the extension control device 15, for example. The extension antenna unit 17 includes a plurality of extension antennas 33. For example, the extension antenna unit 17 includes two extension antennas 33. The extension control device 15 is connected to each of the plurality of extension antennas 33 that form the extension antenna unit 17. The extension antenna unit 17 may further include an antenna of a type different from that of the extension antenna 33. The type of antenna different from the extension antenna 33 is, for example, an antenna for receiving a positioning signal of a positioning system (Global Navigation Satellite System: GNSS), a wireless LAN antenna, and V2X communication (for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication. Etc.) and the like.
The additional antenna 33 is an antenna for wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 higher than the first frequency band F1. The additional antenna 33 is, for example, the same as the second antenna 23 of the antenna unit 11. The two additional antennas 33, for example, are combined with the two second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11 and used for 4 × 4 MIMO transmission.

  The extension controller 15 controls wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 by the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11 and the plurality of extension antennas 33 of the extension antenna unit 17. The extension control device 15 controls the transmission and reception of information by wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 by being connected to various devices mounted on the vehicle 1 via the control device 13, for example, and receives the received information. Controls various devices based on.

  As described above, according to the vehicle communication device 10 of the present embodiment, the extension control device 15 can be easily connected to the control device 13 by the connecting member 25 provided in the control device 13. As a result, even when the control device 13 needs to be updated in order to control the wireless communication in the second frequency band F2, it is possible to suppress the cumbersome work and cost.

Hereinafter, modified examples of the embodiment will be described.
Although the extension antenna unit 17 is connected to the extension control device 15 in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension antenna unit 17 may be connected to the control device 13. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle communication device 10 according to the first modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle communication device 10 according to the first modification, the control device 13 includes a second connecting member 41 for antenna addition in addition to the connecting member 25. The second connection member 41 is, for example, a connection port, a connector, a connection terminal, or the like. The second connection member 41 is used to connect the extension antenna unit 17 to the control device 13.
The extension antenna unit 17 includes a second extension-side connection member 43 that is connected to the second connection member 41. The second extension-side connection member 43 is, for example, a cable attached to the connection port, a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with the second connection member 41, or the like.

  According to the first modification, the additional antenna unit 17 can be easily connected to the control device 13 by the second connecting member 41 provided in the control device 13. As a result, it is possible to suppress the troublesome work and cost, and it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in the layout of the expansion control device 15 and the expansion antenna unit 17.

  In the embodiment and the first modification described above, the antenna unit 11 includes the plurality of first antennas 21 and the second antenna 23, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the plurality of first antennas 21 and the second antenna 23. Alternatively, a plurality of third antennas 51 may be provided. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle communication device 10 according to the second modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the vehicle communication device 10 according to the second modification, the antenna unit 11 includes, for example, two third antennas 51. The third antenna 51 is an antenna for wireless communication in the first frequency band F1 and the second frequency band F2.
For example, the total number of the third antennas 51 provided in the vehicular communication device 10 is the total number of antennas required on the transmission side and the reception side in wireless communication in the multiple input / output transmission in the second frequency band F2 (for example, 4). Number), for example, two.
The two third antennas 51 are used for 2 × 2 MIMO transmission in wireless communication in the first frequency band F1, for example. For example, in wireless communication in the second frequency band F2, the two third antennas 51 are used for 4 × 4 MIMO transmission in combination with the two additional antennas 33 provided in the vehicle communication device 10. ..

The control device 13 controls wireless communication in the first frequency band F1 by the plurality of third antennas 51. The control device 13 does not have a configuration and a function for controlling wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 by the plurality of third antennas 51.
The extension controller 15 controls wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 by the plurality of third antennas 51 of the antenna unit 11 and the plurality of extension antennas 33 of the extension antenna unit 17.

  According to the second modified example, the plurality of third antennas 51 can be used for wireless communication of the first frequency band F1 and the second frequency band F2, and for example, each of the first frequency band F1 and the second frequency band F2. It is possible to prevent the antenna unit 11 from becoming large in size and to prevent the layout of the plurality of third antennas 51 from becoming complicated as compared with the case where the individual antennas are provided in the above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control device 13 is assumed to be connectable to the expansion control device 15 and the expansion antenna unit 17, but the invention is not limited to this, and the control device 13 can be replaced with the replacement control device 61. May be FIG. 5: is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus 10 which concerns on the 3rd modification of embodiment of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the vehicle communication device 10 according to the third modification, the control device 13 includes a third connecting member 63 for an antenna instead of the connecting member 25 of the above-described embodiment. The replacement control device 61 includes a replacement side connection member 65 for the antenna. The third connection member 63 of the control device 13 and the replacement-side connection member 65 of the replacement control device 61 are, for example, the same and are connection ports, connectors, connection terminals, or the like.
The antenna unit 11 includes an antenna-side connection member 67 provided for device replacement. The antenna-side connecting member 67 can be connected to each of the third connecting member 63 of the control device 13 and the replacement-side connecting member 65 of the replacement control device 61. The antenna-side connection member 67 is, for example, a cable attached to a connection port, or a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with each of the third connection member 63 and the exchange-side connection member 65. The antenna-side connecting member 67 is used to connect the antenna unit 11 to the control device 13, and to replace the control device 13 with the replacement control device 61 and to connect the antenna unit 11 to the replacement control device 61. ..

The replacement control device 61 is connected to the additional antenna unit 17. The additional antenna unit 17 is configured separately from the replacement control device 61, for example. The replacement control device 61 is connected to each of the plurality of additional antennas 33 included in the additional antenna unit 17.
The replacement control device 61 is connected to the antenna unit 11 and various devices mounted on the vehicle 1 by replacement of the control device 13. The replacement control device 61 is connected to, for example, each of the plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23 included in the antenna unit 11.

  The replacement control device 61 is, for example, a software function unit that functions by executing a predetermined program by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The software function unit is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) including a processor such as a CPU, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, and an electronic circuit such as a timer. is there. At least a part of the control device 13 may be an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Good.

The exchange control device 61 is, for example, a so-called TCU (Telematics Control Unit). Further, the exchange control device 61 may be an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) device such as a navigation device or a display audio.
When the replacement control device 61 is connected to the antenna unit 11 by replacement of the control device 13, the replacement control device 61 uses the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11 and the plurality of additional antennas 33 of the additional antenna unit 17 for the second frequency band F2. Control wireless communication in. The exchange control device 61 controls transmission / reception of information by wireless communication in the second frequency band, and controls various devices based on the received information.
The exchange control device 61 is for an antenna for receiving a positioning signal of a positioning system (for example, Global Navigation Satellite System: GNSS), an antenna for wireless LAN, and V2X communication (for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and road-to-vehicle communication). The antennas and the like may be built in. On the other hand, when these antennas are provided outside the replacement control device 61, they may have communication connection ports with these antennas.

According to the third modification, the control device 13 can be easily replaced with the replacement control device 61 by the antenna-side connecting member 67 provided in the antenna unit 11. As a result, even when the control device 13 needs to be updated in order to control the wireless communication in the second frequency band F2, it is possible to suppress the cumbersome work and cost.
Although the extension antenna unit 17 is configured separately from the replacement control device 61 in the third modified example, the configuration is not limited to this, and the extension antenna unit 17 may be, for example, a replacement control device. It may be configured integrally with the replacement control device 61 by being built in the device 61 or the like.
Further, in the third modification, a plurality of third antennas 51 may be provided instead of the plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23, as in the second modification described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the expansion control device 15 is connected to the control device 13, but the invention is not limited to this. The expansion control device 15 is connected to the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11. May be. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle communication device 10 according to the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the vehicle communication device 10 according to the fourth modified example, the expansion control device 15 includes a second expansion side connection member 71 for the antenna. The second extension-side connection member 71 is, for example, a connection port, a connector, a connection terminal, or the like.
Among the plurality of first antennas 21 and the second antennas 23 forming the antenna unit 11, the plurality of first antennas 21 are connected to the control device 13. The plurality of second antennas 23 include second antenna-side connection members 73 provided for equipment expansion. The second antenna side connection member 73 can be connected to the second extension side connection member 71 of the extension control device 15. The second antenna-side connection member 73 is, for example, a cable attached to the connection port, a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with the second extension-side connection member 71, or the like. The second antenna side connection member 73 is used to connect the extension control device 15 to the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11.

  In the fourth modified example, when the extension control device 15 is connected to the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11, for example, the extension control device 15 is connected to various devices mounted on the vehicle 1 without the control device 13. As a result, transmission / reception of information by wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 is controlled, and various devices are controlled based on the received information.

  According to the fourth modified example, the add-on control device 15 can control the wireless communication in the second frequency band F2 without going through the control device 13, and can prevent the control process from becoming complicated. it can.

  In the third modified example of the above-described embodiment, the control device 13 and the extension control device 15 are connected to each of the plurality of first antennas 21 and second antennas 23 forming the antenna unit 11. Not limited to. FIG. 7: is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle communication apparatus 10 which concerns on the 5th modification of embodiment of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the antenna unit 11 of the vehicle communication device 10 according to the fifth modification, the plurality of first antennas 21 are provided with the third antenna side connecting member 81, and the plurality of second antennas 23 are The antenna-side connection member 83 of 4 is provided.
The third antenna side connecting member 81 is connected to the third connecting member 63 of the control device 13. The third antenna-side connection member 81 is, for example, a cable attached to a connection port, a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with the third connection member 63, or the like. The third antenna side connecting member 81 is used to connect the plurality of first antennas 21 of the antenna unit 11 to the control device 13.
The fourth antenna side connecting member 83 is connected to the exchange side connecting member 65 of the exchange control device 61. The fourth antenna-side connection member 83 is, for example, a cable attached to the connection port, a connector or a connection terminal that forms a pair with the exchange-side connection member 65, or the like. The fourth antenna side connection member 83 is used to connect the plurality of second antennas 23 of the antenna unit 11 to the replacement control device 61.

  According to the fifth modified example, the replacement control device 61 does not require a configuration for connecting the plurality of first antennas 21, and can prevent the configuration from becoming complicated.

In the above-described embodiment, the antenna unit 11 and the control device 13 are arranged inside the dashboard in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 1 (inside the instrument panel 2 or the like), but the invention is not limited to this. It may be arranged at another portion of. FIG. 8: is a block diagram which shows the outline of the example of arrangement | positioning of the vehicle communication apparatus 10 which concerns on the 6th modification of embodiment of this invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the vehicle communication device 10 according to the sixth modified example, the control device 13 is arranged inside the dashboard in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 1 (inside the instrument panel 2 or the like). The antenna unit 11 is arranged on the surface of an exterior member (for example, the roof 5) of the vehicle 1.

  According to the sixth modification, signal attenuation in wireless communication by the antenna unit 11 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the antenna unit 11 is arranged inside the vehicle 1, for example.

Although the antenna unit 11 is configured separately from the control device 13 in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna unit 11 may be built in the control device 13, for example. It may be configured integrally with the control device 13.
Further, the extension antenna unit 17 is configured separately from the extension control device 15, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the extension antenna unit 17 is built in the extension control device 15, for example. For example, it may be configured integrally with the additional control device 15.

  The embodiments of the present invention are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and the scope thereof, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Instrument panel, 5 ... Roof, 10 ... Vehicle communication device, 11 ... Antenna unit, 13 ... Control device, 15 ... Expansion control device (2nd control device), 17 ... Expansion antenna unit , 21 ... First antenna, 23 ... Second antenna, 31 ... Extension side connection member, 33 ... Extension antenna, 25 ... Connection member, 41 ... Second connection member (connection member), 43 ... Second extension side connection Member (connection member), 51 ... Third antenna (antenna), 61 ... Replacement control device (second control device), 63 ... Third connection member, 65 ... Exchange-side connection member, 67 ... Antenna-side connection member ( Connection member), 73 ... second antenna-side connection member (connection member), 81 ... third antenna-side connection member, 83 ... fourth antenna-side connection member (connection member), F1 ... first frequency band, F2 … Second frequency band

Claims (11)

A first antenna for wireless communication in the first frequency band,
A second antenna for wireless communication in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band;
A controller connected to at least the first antenna and controlling wireless communication in the first frequency band;
For connection with a second control device that is provided at least in the control device or the second antenna and controls wireless communication in the second frequency band that can be used by replacing the control device or adding to the control device. Connection member of
With
A communication device characterized by the above. An antenna for wireless communication in a first frequency band and a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band;
A control device that is connected to the antenna and controls wireless communication in the first frequency band;
Connection for connection with a second control device which is provided at least in the control device or the antenna and controls wireless communication in the second frequency band that can be used by replacing the control device or adding to the control device. Members,
With
A communication device characterized by the above. A predetermined number of the second antennas,
The predetermined number is less than the total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the second frequency band,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: Equipped with a predetermined number of the antenna,
The predetermined number is less than the total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the second frequency band,
The communication device according to claim 2, wherein: The total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the second frequency band is greater than the total number of antennas required for wireless communication in the first frequency band,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a communication device. An antenna unit configured separately from the control device is provided,
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A second control device connected to the connection member; and an additional antenna for wireless communication in the second frequency band,

The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a communication device. The additional antenna is built in the second control device,
The communication device according to claim 7, wherein: The wireless communication in the first frequency band is a multiple input / output transmission in which the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is two,
The wireless communication in the second frequency band is a multiple input / output transmission in which the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is four,
The total number of the first antennas is two, and the total number of the second antennas is two,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The wireless communication in the first frequency band is a multiple input / output transmission in which the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is two,
The wireless communication in the second frequency band is a multiple input / output transmission in which the total number of antennas required for each of the transmitting side and the receiving side is four,
The total number of said antennas is two,
The communication device according to claim 2, wherein: The total number of additional antennas for wireless communication in the second frequency band connected to the connecting member is two,
The communication device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that.

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