JP2020123808A - Antenna module, on-vehicle communication device and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an antenna module capable of alleviating a thermal influence.SOLUTION: An antenna module that is used for an on-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle to communicate with a base station device, comprises: a signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing; a distributor that distributes the transmission signal into a plurality of transmission signals; a plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle to transmit the plurality of transmission signals; and a phase regulator provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the distributor and that performs phase adjustment of the plurality of transmission signals distributed by the distributor. The signal processing unit is provided inside the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna module, an in-vehicle communication device, and a vehicle.

Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle communication device capable of wireless communication by a fifth generation mobile communication system.

International Publication No. 2018/088051

In the fifth-generation mobile communication system, since millimeter waves or quasi-millimeter waves (for example, radio waves having a very high frequency of 6 GHz or more) are used for wireless communication, the propagation loss is large. Therefore, in the fifth-generation mobile communication system, beamforming is performed in order to compensate for the attenuation of radio waves.
Therefore, in a mobile station compatible with the fifth generation mobile communication system, it is necessary to install an antenna at a position where a horizontal line of sight can be secured for beamforming. For example, in Patent Document 1, the antenna device (antenna module) is installed on the ceiling (roof) of the vehicle.

The temperature of the outside of the vehicle, such as the ceiling of the vehicle, rises due to sunlight or the like and becomes high, and the antenna module may be exposed to a high temperature environment.
The antenna module may have a large number of antenna elements that form an array antenna, a control circuit for adjusting the phase and amplitude, and an electronic circuit such as a transmission/reception unit for processing a transmission/reception signal. ..

Generally, when an electronic circuit is used in a high temperature environment, due to the influence of heat, the margin for the temperature range in which the operation of the electronic circuit is guaranteed is reduced, the operation becomes unstable, and the durability is reduced. There is a risk that this may occur.
Therefore, in the antenna module, it is necessary to install the antenna outside the vehicle in order to secure the wireless communication environment, while it is necessary to reduce the influence of heat.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an antenna module and the like that can reduce the influence of heat.

An antenna module according to an embodiment is an antenna module used in an on-vehicle communication device that is mounted on a vehicle and communicates with a base station device, and is a signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing. A distributor for distributing the transmission signal into a plurality of distribution signals; a plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle for transmitting the plurality of distribution signals; a plurality of antenna elements; and the distributor. And a phase adjuster that adjusts the phases of the plurality of distributed signals, and the signal processing unit is provided inside the vehicle.

An antenna module according to another embodiment is an antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device that is mounted on a vehicle and communicates with a base station device, is provided outside the vehicle, and receives a signal from the base station device. A plurality of antenna elements, a combiner that combines a plurality of received signals received by the plurality of antenna elements, a signal processing unit that receives a combined signal output by the combiner, the plurality of antenna elements, and the combination And a phase adjuster that adjusts the phases of the plurality of received signals, and the signal processing unit is provided inside the vehicle.

An in-vehicle communication device that is another embodiment is an in-vehicle communication device that includes the antenna module described above.

A vehicle that is another embodiment is a vehicle that includes the above-described in-vehicle communication device.

According to the present invention, the influence of heat can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle-mounted communication device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the transmitting side of the antenna module. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the receiving side of the antenna module. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmitting side of an antenna module according to another embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to still another embodiment.

First, the contents of the embodiment will be listed and described.
[Outline of Embodiment]
(1) An antenna module according to one embodiment is an antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle and communicating with a base station device, and generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing. A signal processing unit, a distributor for distributing the transmission signal into a plurality of distribution signals, a plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle for transmitting the plurality of distribution signals, the plurality of antenna elements, and A phase adjuster that is provided between the distributor and a phase adjuster that adjusts the phases of the plurality of distributed signals, and the signal processing unit is provided inside the vehicle.

According to the antenna module having the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the signal processing unit provided inside the vehicle from being exposed to a high temperature environment.
As a result, the influence of heat can be reduced as compared with the case where all the components are installed outside the vehicle where the temperature becomes high.

(2) In the above antenna module, a frequency conversion unit that is provided between the signal processing unit and the plurality of antenna elements and that converts the frequency of the transmission signal or the plurality of distribution signals into a radio frequency is further provided. The frequency conversion unit is preferably provided outside the vehicle.
In this case, the frequency of the transmission signal or the distribution signal transmitted from the signal processing unit provided inside the vehicle to the frequency conversion unit provided outside the vehicle can be converted to a frequency lower than the radio frequency. As a result, the attenuation of the transmission signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the transmission signal or the distribution signal transmitted from the signal processing unit to the outside of the vehicle is transmitted at the radio frequency.
Also, since it is possible to reduce the attenuation when transmitting a transmission signal or distribution signal, set the transmission distance from the signal processing unit to the outside of the vehicle longer than when transmitting by a radio frequency transmission signal or distribution signal. Therefore, the degree of freedom in arranging the signal processing unit in the vehicle can be increased.

(3) Further, in the antenna module, the distributor and the phase adjuster may be provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the frequency conversion unit.
In this case, since the phase adjuster is provided in the vicinity of the plurality of antenna elements, the phase of the distributed signal given to each antenna element can be adjusted accurately.

(4) In the antenna module, the distributor and the phase adjuster may be provided between the signal processing unit and the frequency conversion unit.
In this case, in addition to the signal processing unit, a distributor and a phase adjuster can be provided inside the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the signal processing unit, the distributor, and the phase adjuster from being exposed to a high temperature environment, and it is possible to further reduce the influence of heat.

(5) The antenna module further includes a control unit that controls the direction of the beam of the plurality of antenna elements by controlling the phase adjuster, and the control unit is provided inside the vehicle. Good.
In this case, not only the signal processing unit but also the control unit can be suppressed from being exposed to the high temperature environment, and the influence of heat can be further reduced.

(6) An antenna module according to another embodiment is an antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device that is mounted in a vehicle and communicates with a base station device, the antenna module being provided outside the vehicle and receiving a signal from the base station device. A plurality of antenna elements, a combiner for combining a plurality of received signals received by the plurality of antenna elements, a signal processing unit for receiving a combined signal output by the combiner, and the plurality of antenna elements , A phase adjuster provided between the combiner and the phase adjuster for adjusting the phases of the plurality of received signals, and the signal processing unit is provided inside the vehicle.

According to the antenna module having the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the signal processing unit provided inside the vehicle from being exposed to a high temperature environment.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat due to being placed in a high temperature environment.

(7) In the antenna module, further comprising a frequency conversion unit that is provided between the signal processing unit and the plurality of antenna elements and that converts the frequency of the reception signal or the combined signal to a lower frequency, The frequency converter is preferably provided outside the vehicle.
In this case, the frequency of the reception signal or the combined signal transmitted from the frequency conversion unit provided outside the vehicle to the signal processing unit provided inside the vehicle can be lower than the radio frequency. As a result, the attenuation of the received signal or the combined signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the received signal or the combined signal transmitted from outside the vehicle to the signal processing unit is transmitted at the radio frequency.
Also, since the attenuation when transmitting the received signal or the combined signal can be reduced, the transmission distance from the outside of the vehicle to the signal processing unit should be set longer than when transmitting with the received signal or the combined signal of radio frequency. Therefore, the degree of freedom in arranging the signal processing unit in the vehicle can be increased.

(8) An antenna module according to another embodiment is an antenna module used in an on-vehicle communication device that is mounted on a vehicle and communicates with a base station device, and generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing. A signal processing unit, a distributor that distributes the transmission signal into a plurality of distribution signals, a plurality of antenna elements that are provided outside the vehicle and transmit the plurality of distribution signals, and a plurality of the antenna elements, A phase adjuster that is provided between the distributor and adjusts the phases of the plurality of distributed signals, and the signal processing unit is at a temperature higher than that of an installation space outside the vehicle in which the plurality of antenna elements are provided. It is installed in a low space.

According to the antenna module having the above configuration, since the signal processing unit is provided in a space having a lower temperature than the installation environment of the plurality of antenna elements, compared to the case where all the configurations are installed in the same environment, The effect of can be reduced.

(9) Further, an in-vehicle communication device according to another embodiment is an in-vehicle communication device including the antenna module according to any one of (1) to (8) above.

(10) A vehicle according to another embodiment is a vehicle including the vehicle-mounted communication device according to (9) above.

[Details of Embodiment]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
It should be noted that at least a part of the embodiments described below may be arbitrarily combined.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device.
In FIG. 1, the in-vehicle communication device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 2. The in-vehicle communication device 1 is a mobile station that performs wireless communication with the base station 4 of the mobile communication system. The vehicle 2 includes a bus, a railway vehicle, and the like, in addition to an ordinary passenger car.
The base station 4 is installed at a relatively high place such as a rooftop of a building and wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 on the ground.

The wireless communication performed between the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 and the base station 4 is, for example, wireless communication based on the fifth generation mobile communication system.
In the fifth-generation mobile communication system, for example, a radio wave having a very high frequency of 6 GHz or higher is used, so that the attenuation during propagation is large. Therefore, the in-vehicle communication device 1 and the base station 4 perform beamforming in order to compensate for the attenuation of radio waves. The in-vehicle communication device 1 can improve the gain by directing the beam in a specific direction by beam forming. Beamforming is performed by both the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 and the base station 4.

The in-vehicle communication device 1 is connected to the wireless LAN wireless unit 6. The wireless LAN wireless unit 6 is a wireless LAN access point and provides a wireless LAN service to the mobile terminal 8 in the vehicle. The mobile terminal 8 in the vehicle is, for example, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or the like that a passenger of the vehicle 2 has. The mobile terminal 8 can communicate with the mobile communication system via wireless LAN communication.
That is, the in-vehicle communication device 1 has a function of relaying communication between the mobile terminal 8 and the base station 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the in-vehicle communication device 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 includes an antenna module 10 and a communication processing unit 12.
The antenna module 10 includes a plurality of antenna elements 20. The plurality of antenna elements 20 form an array antenna. As a result, the antenna module 10 has a function of transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the base station 4 while performing beamforming.
The communication processing unit 12 gives a transmission baseband signal which is a digital signal to the antenna module 10. Further, the communication processing unit 12 receives the reception baseband signal which is a digital signal given from the antenna module 10.

The antenna module 10 includes a first unit 22 arranged at a position outside the outer surface 2a of the roof (ceiling) of the vehicle 2 (hereinafter, referred to as outside the vehicle), and a position inside the outer surface 2a of the vehicle 2 (hereinafter , In the vehicle).
The first unit 22 and the second unit 24 are connected by a cable 26 that penetrates the roof of the vehicle 2 in and out of the vehicle 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the antenna module 10. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the transmitting side of the antenna module 10.
The second unit 24 includes a signal processing unit 30 to which the transmission baseband signal from the communication processing unit 12 is given, and a directivity control unit 32 having a function of controlling the directivity of the antenna module 10.
The signal processing unit 30 performs signal processing such as quadrature modulation on the transmission baseband signal supplied from the communication processing unit 12, and outputs an analog transmission signal. The signal processor 30 outputs the transmission signal as an intermediate frequency signal. The transmission signal output by the signal processing unit 30 is given to the first unit 22.
The intermediate frequency is a frequency that is higher than the frequency of the baseband signal and lower than the radio frequency that is the frequency of the signal radiated into space.
In the present embodiment, the radio frequency is, for example, 28 GHz, and the intermediate frequency is, for example, 3 GHz.

The directivity control unit 32 controls the phase adjuster 36 by giving a control command to the phase adjuster 36 (described later) included in the first unit 22, and controls the directivity of the antenna module 10.
The directivity control unit 32 is configured by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as a memory. A computer program or the like to be executed by the CPU is stored in the storage device of the directivity control unit 32, and a function of controlling the directivity of the antenna module 10 by the CPU reading and executing the computer program. Is realized.

The first unit 22 includes a frequency converter 34, a distributor 35, a phase adjuster 36, a plurality of power amplifiers 38, and a plurality of antenna elements 20.

The frequency converter 34 includes an oscillator 34a that generates a local signal and a mixer 34b.
The mixer 34b and the signal processing unit 30 are connected to each other by a connection line 26a included in the cable 26. The mixer 34b is supplied with the intermediate frequency transmission signal from the signal processing unit 30 via the connection line 26a. The mixer 34b multiplies the transmission signal of the intermediate frequency given from the signal processing unit 30 by the local signal from the oscillator 34a, and converts (up-converts) the transmission signal of the intermediate frequency into the transmission signal of the radio frequency.
In this way, the frequency converter 34 converts the frequency of the transmission signal supplied from the signal processing unit 30 from the intermediate frequency to the radio frequency, and outputs it.
The frequency converter 34 gives a radio frequency transmission signal to the distributor 35.

The distributor 35 distributes the given transmission signal of the radio frequency into a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements 20, and outputs a plurality of distribution signals.
A phase adjuster 36 and a plurality of power amplifiers 38 are provided between the distributor 35 and the plurality of antenna elements 20.
The plurality of radio frequency distribution signals distributed by the distributor 35 are provided to the antenna elements 20 via the phase adjusters 36 and the plurality of power amplifiers 38.

The phase adjuster 36 adjusts the phases of a plurality of radio frequency distribution signals supplied from the distributor 35, and outputs a plurality of phase-adjusted radio frequency distribution signals. The phase adjuster 36 includes a plurality of phase shifters 36a corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements 20. The distribution signal of the radio frequency distributed by the distributor 35 is applied to each phaser 36a.
Each phase shifter 36a adjusts the phase of the distributed signal of the given radio frequency. Each phaser 36a adjusts the phase of the distributed signal, so that the phase adjuster 36 can change the direction of the transmission beam formed by the plurality of antenna elements 20 forming the array antenna.

Each phaser 36a adjusts the phase according to a control command given from the directivity control unit 32.
The phase shifters 36a and the directivity control unit 32 are connected to each other by a connection line 26b included in the cable 26. The control command from the directivity control unit 32 is given to each phase shifter 36a via the connection line 26b.

The plurality of distributed signals whose phases have been adjusted by the phase adjuster 36 are given to the plurality of power amplifiers 38, amplified, and given to the plurality of antenna elements 20.
The distributed signals of a plurality of radio frequencies given to the plurality of antenna elements 20 are radiated into the space from the plurality of antenna elements 20 as radio waves.

In the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 30 and the directivity control unit 32 are provided inside the vehicle by being included in the second unit 24 inside the vehicle.
That is, the signal processing unit 30 and the directivity control unit 32 are provided in a space whose temperature is lower than the installation space of the plurality of antenna elements 20.
Therefore, at least the signal processing unit 30 and the directivity control unit 32 can be suppressed from being exposed to a high temperature environment. Therefore, the influence of heat can be reduced as compared with the case where all the components are installed outside the vehicle where the temperature becomes high.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a frequency converter 34 that is provided between the signal processing unit 30 and the plurality of antenna elements 20 and that converts the frequency of the transmission signal output by the signal processing unit 30 from an intermediate frequency to a radio frequency is provided. The frequency converter 34 is provided in the first unit 22 outside the vehicle.
As a result, the frequency of the transmission signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 30 provided inside the vehicle to the frequency converter 34 provided outside the vehicle can be an intermediate frequency lower than the radio frequency.

That is, the transmission signal transmitted by the connection line 26a can be an intermediate frequency transmission signal.
Thereby, the attenuation of the transmission signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the transmission signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 30 to the first unit 22 outside the vehicle is transmitted at the radio frequency.

Further, since the attenuation at the time of transmitting the transmission signal can be reduced, the transmission distance from the signal processing unit 30 to the outside of the vehicle can be set longer than that in the case of transmitting the radio frequency transmission signal. The degree of freedom in arranging the portion 30 in the vehicle can be increased.
That is, since the length of the connection line 26a can be made longer than that in the case where the transmission signal of the radio frequency is transmitted, the degree of freedom in arranging the signal processing unit 30 in the vehicle can be increased.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the distributor 35 and the phase adjuster 36 are provided in the first unit 22 outside the vehicle and also between the plurality of antenna elements 20 and the frequency converter 34. Therefore, the phase adjuster 36 is provided near the plurality of antenna elements 20 as compared with the case where the distributor 35 and the phase adjuster 36 are provided in the second unit 24 in the vehicle. Therefore, the phase of the distributed signal transmitted from each antenna element 20 can be adjusted accurately.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the receiving side of the antenna module 10.
The first unit 22 includes a plurality of low noise amplifiers 48, a phase adjuster 46, a combiner 45, and a frequency converter 44 in addition to the plurality of antenna elements 20.
The plurality of low noise amplifiers 48 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of antenna elements 20.
Each low noise amplifier 48 is provided with a reception signal of a radio frequency received by the corresponding antenna element 20. Each low noise amplifier 48 amplifies the received signal of the given radio frequency and gives it to the phase adjuster 46.
The phase adjuster 46 is provided with received signals of a plurality of radio frequencies output from the plurality of low noise amplifiers 48.

The phase adjuster 46 adjusts the phases of the reception signals of a plurality of radio frequencies supplied from the plurality of low noise amplifiers 48, and outputs the reception signals of a plurality of radio frequencies having the phases adjusted. The phase adjuster 46 includes a plurality of phase shifters 46a corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements 20. The received signal of the radio frequency output from each low noise amplifier 48 is given to each phase shifter 46a.
Each phase shifter 46a adjusts the phase of a received signal of a given radio frequency. Each phaser 46a adjusts the phase of the received signal, whereby the phase adjuster 46 can change the direction of the reception beam formed by the plurality of antenna elements 20 forming the array antenna.

Each phaser 46a adjusts the phase according to a control command given from the directivity control unit 32.
The phase shifters 46a and the directivity control unit 32 are connected to each other by a connection line 26d included in the cable 26. The control command from the directivity control unit 32 is given to each phase shifter 46a via the connection line 26d.
That is, the directivity control unit 32 controls both the phase adjuster 36 on the transmitting side and the phase adjuster 46 on the receiving side.

The phase adjuster 46 provides the combiner 45 with the received signals of a plurality of radio frequencies after the phase adjustment.
The synthesizer 45 synthesizes a plurality of received radio frequency signals, and provides the frequency converter 44 with a synthesized signal that is a synthesized output as a radio frequency received signal.

The frequency converter 44 includes an oscillator 44a that generates a local signal and a mixer 44b. The mixer 44b multiplies the radio frequency composite signal supplied from the combiner 45 by the local signal from the oscillator 44a, and converts (down-converts) the radio frequency composite signal into an intermediate frequency composite signal.

The mixer 44b and the signal processing unit 40 of the second unit 24 in the vehicle are connected to each other by a connection line 26c included in the cable 26.
The frequency converter 44 converts the frequency of the combined signal supplied from the combiner 45 from a radio frequency to an intermediate frequency, and supplies it to the signal processing unit 40.

The second unit 24 further includes a signal processing unit 40 to which the received signal of the intermediate frequency is given from the frequency converter 44.
The signal processing unit 40 performs signal processing such as quadrature demodulation on the received signal of the intermediate frequency given from the frequency converter 44 of the first unit 22, and outputs a digital received baseband signal. The signal processing unit 40 gives the received baseband signal to the communication processing unit 12.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the signal processing unit 40 is also included in the second unit 24 inside the vehicle and is provided inside the vehicle, the influence of heat can be further reduced.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a frequency converter 44 that is provided between the signal processing unit 40 and the plurality of antenna elements 20 and that converts the frequency of the combined signal output by the combiner 45 from the radio frequency to the intermediate frequency is provided. Therefore, the frequency converter 44 is provided in the first unit 22 outside the vehicle.
As a result, the frequency of the combined signal transmitted from the frequency converter 44 provided outside the vehicle to the signal processing unit 40 provided inside the vehicle can be an intermediate frequency lower than the radio frequency.

That is, the combined signal transmitted through the connection line 26c can be an intermediate frequency combined signal.
As a result, the attenuation of the combined signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the combined signal transmitted from the first unit 22 outside the vehicle to the signal processing unit 40 is transmitted at the radio frequency.

Further, since the attenuation at the time of transmitting the combined signal can be reduced, the transmission distance from the frequency converter 44 outside the vehicle to the signal processing unit 40 should be set longer than that in the case of transmitting the combined signal of the radio frequency. Therefore, the degree of freedom in arranging the signal processing unit 40 in the vehicle can be increased.
That is, since the length of the connection line 26c can be made longer than that in the case of transmitting the combined signal of the radio frequency, the degree of freedom in arranging the signal processing unit 40 in the vehicle can be increased.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmitting side of the antenna module 10 according to another embodiment.
This embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that the distributor 35 and the phase adjuster 36 are included in the second unit 24 in the vehicle.

The signal processing unit 30 of the present embodiment supplies the intermediate frequency transmission signal to the distributor 35.
The distributor 35 provides the phase adjuster 36 with a plurality of intermediate frequency distribution signals.

The phase adjuster 36 provides the distribution signals of the plurality of intermediate frequencies after the phase adjustment to the frequency converter 34 included in the first unit 22 outside the vehicle.

The frequency converter 34 has a plurality of mixers 34b corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements 20. The oscillator 34a gives a local signal to each mixer 34b.

The plurality of phase shifters 36a included in the phase adjuster 36 and the plurality of mixers 34b included in the frequency converter 34 are connected by a plurality of connection lines 26a included in the cable 26.

The frequency converter 34 frequency-converts the frequencies of the plurality of distribution signals supplied from the phase adjuster 36 from the intermediate frequency to the radio frequency.
The radio frequency distribution signal is then given to the plurality of power amplifiers 38, further given to the plurality of antenna elements 20, and radiated as a radio wave.

In the present embodiment, the distributor 35 and the phase adjuster 36 are provided between the signal processing unit 30 and the frequency converter 34, whereby the distributor 35 and the phase adjuster are provided in addition to the signal processing unit 30. The device 36 can be provided in the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the signal processing unit 30, the distributor 35, and the phase adjuster 36 from being exposed to a high temperature environment, and it is possible to further reduce the influence of heat.

Note that, also in this embodiment, the transmission signal transmitted by the connection line 26a can be an intermediate frequency distribution signal.
Thereby, the attenuation of the distribution signal is reduced as compared with the case where the distribution signal transmitted from the phase adjuster 36 of the second unit 24 inside the vehicle to the frequency converter 34 of the first unit 22 outside the vehicle is transmitted at the radio frequency. You can

Further, in FIG. 5, the configuration of the transmitting side of the antenna module 10 is shown, but similarly, on the receiving side, the combiner 45 and the phase adjuster 46 can be configured to be included in the second unit 24 in the vehicle. ..
In this case, the frequency converter 44 is included in the first unit 22 and performs frequency conversion on each of the plurality of received signals. Therefore, a plurality of reception signals are transmitted from the first unit 22 to the second unit 24.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplifications in all points and not restrictive.
In the above embodiment, the case where both the signal processing unit 30 and the directivity control unit 32 are included in the second unit 24 on the transmission side has been illustrated, but the signal processing unit 30 may be included in the second unit 24. Good. Further, on the receiving side, the case where both the signal processing unit 40 and the directivity control unit 32 are included in the second unit 24 has been illustrated, but the signal processing unit 40 may be included in the second unit 24.
However, as in the above embodiment, by including the directivity control unit 32 in the second unit 24 in the vehicle, not only the signal processing unit 30 and the signal processing unit 40 but also the directivity control unit 32 is exposed to a high temperature environment. Can be suppressed, and the influence of heat can be further reduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the phase adjuster 36 is provided on the transmission side and the phase adjuster 46 is provided on the reception side independently of the transmission side is illustrated, but the phase adjustment can be shared by the transmission side and the reception side. May be provided.
Further, an independent directivity control unit may be connected to each of the phase adjuster 36 on the transmission side and the phase adjuster 46 on the reception side.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the frequency converter 34 converts the transmission signal of the intermediate frequency into the transmission signal of the radio frequency and the frequency converter 44 converts the reception signal of the radio frequency into the reception signal of the intermediate frequency is illustrated. However, when the signal processing unit 30 outputs the transmission signal of the baseband frequency and the signal processing unit 40 receives the reception signal of the baseband signal, the frequency converter 34 converts the transmission signal of the baseband frequency into the transmission signal of the radio frequency. And the frequency converter 44 may be configured to convert the received signal at the radio frequency into the received signal at the baseband frequency.

In the above embodiment, the case where the first unit 22 including the plurality of antenna elements 20 is arranged outside the vehicle and the second unit 24 including the signal processing unit 30 (the signal processing unit 40) is arranged inside the vehicle is exemplified. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the antenna module 10 may be housed in a housing 50 arranged on the outer surface 2a of the vehicle 2.

In FIG. 6, the internal space of the housing 50 is partitioned by a partition plate 52 into an upper space 50a and a lower space 50b.
The first unit 22 is accommodated in the upper space 50a, and the second unit 24 is accommodated in the lower space 50b.
Since the lower space 50b has the upper space 50a above, the influence of sunlight is smaller than that of the upper space 50a. Therefore, the lower space 50b has a lower temperature than the upper space 50a.

In the case of FIG. 6, the signal processing unit 30 (signal processing unit 40) is provided in a space (lower space 50b) having a lower temperature than the installation space (upper space 50a) outside the vehicle in which the plurality of antenna elements 20 are provided. Therefore, also in this case, the influence of heat can be reduced as compared with the case where all the components are installed in the same environment.

The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above meaning but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle communication device 2 Vehicle 2a Outer side surface 4 Base station 6 Wireless LAN radio part 8 Mobile terminal 10 Antenna module 12 Communication processing part 20 Antenna element 22 1st unit 24 2nd unit 26 Cable 26a Connection line 26b Connection line 26c Connection line 26d Connection line 30 Signal processing unit 32 Directivity control unit 34 Frequency converter 34a Oscillator 34b Mixer 35 Distributor 36 Phase adjuster 36a Phaser 38 Power amplifier 40 Signal processing unit 44 Frequency converter 44a Oscillator 44b Mixer 45 Synthesizer 46 Phase adjustment Unit 46a Phaser 48 Low noise amplifier

Claims (10)

An antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device, which is installed in a vehicle and communicates with a base station device,
A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing,
A distributor for distributing the transmission signal into a plurality of distribution signals,
A plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle and transmitting the plurality of distribution signals;
A phase adjuster that is provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the distributor and that adjusts the phase of the plurality of distributed signals;
The signal processing unit is an antenna module provided inside the vehicle. Provided between the signal processing unit and the plurality of antenna elements,
Further comprising a frequency conversion unit for converting the frequency of the transmission signal or the plurality of distribution signals to a radio frequency,
The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein the frequency converter is provided outside the vehicle. The antenna module according to claim 2, wherein the distributor and the phase adjuster are provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the frequency conversion unit. The antenna module according to claim 2, wherein the distributor and the phase adjuster are provided between the signal processing unit and the frequency conversion unit. Further comprising a control unit for controlling the directivity of the beam by the plurality of antenna elements by controlling the phase adjuster,
The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided inside the vehicle. An antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device, which is installed in a vehicle and communicates with a base station device,
A plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle, for receiving signals from the base station device,
A combiner that combines a plurality of received signals received by the plurality of antenna elements,
A signal processing unit that receives a combined signal output by the combiner,
A phase adjuster that is provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the combiner, and that adjusts the phases of the plurality of received signals;
The signal processing unit is an antenna module provided inside the vehicle. The signal processing unit, further comprising a frequency conversion unit provided between the plurality of antenna elements, for converting the frequency of the received signal or the composite signal to a lower frequency,
The antenna module according to claim 6, wherein the frequency converter is provided outside the vehicle. An antenna module used in an in-vehicle communication device, which is installed in a vehicle and communicates with a base station device,
A signal processing unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the base station device by signal processing,
A distributor for distributing the transmission signal into a plurality of distribution signals,
A plurality of antenna elements provided outside the vehicle and transmitting the plurality of distribution signals;
A phase adjuster that is provided between the plurality of antenna elements and the distributor and that adjusts the phase of the plurality of distributed signals;
The signal processing unit is an antenna module provided in a space having a lower temperature than an installation space outside the vehicle in which the plurality of antenna elements are provided. An in-vehicle communication device comprising the antenna module according to claim 1. A vehicle provided with the in-vehicle communication device according to claim 9.

Images