A wireless key system for a mobile vehicle includes a key fob with a controller, a microphone operably coupled to the controller, a memory operably coupled to the controller, arid a telematics unit operably coupled to a vehicle communication bus. Verbal commands received through the microphone initiate the controller to send a function message in accordance with instructions stored in the memory to the telematics unit that activates a function through the vehicle communication bus.

Personalized key system for a mobile vehicle

A region in a metallic panel that facilitates the transmission of radio frequency signals. The metallic panel may be included in a window such as the window of a vehicle or building. For example, the metallic panel may be used for heating or to reflect infrared radiation. An aperture is formed in the metallic panel to enable radio frequency signals to be transmitted through the metallic panel. The design of the aperture may be selected to enable the transmission of the desired frequency band. Furthermore, the aperture is designed such that there is a taper in the transmission amplitude and/or the phase to suppress lobing effects on the other side of the aperture. In an embodiment in which the metallic panel is used to conduct electric current, the aperture may be oriented such that the current may flow between the openings of the aperture. Accordingly, there may be uniform heating across the metallic panel without blocking the transmission of radio frequency signals in the desired frequency band.

Sidelobe controlled radio transmission region in metallic panel

In a cellular type communication system a sector antenna (12) provides coverage of a sector with a relatively low receive gain. A multi-beam antenna (20) covers the same sector with a plurality of narrower beams (21', 22', 23' and 24') providing higher gain. A multi-beam antenna system (10) provides higher gain operation by selecting the one of the narrower beams (21', 22', 23' or 24') currently providing best reception of a signal transmitted by a user and coupling that selected beam to a system receiver (18). Beam selection is accomplished by sequentially coupling each narrow beam to a microprocessor based control unit (40) and storing samples of user signals as received in each narrow beam on a continuing repetitive basis. The stored samples are then analyzed in order to select the beam currently providing best reception. If, based on analysis of subsequent samples, a different one of beams (21', 22', 23' or 24') provides best reception (because of user movement or changing transmission conditions) that different beam is coupled to the system receiver (18). Spaced diversity reception is achieved by providing a second multi-beam antenna (20a) and enabling the system receiver (18) to choose either of two, or both, inputs. Fail/safe operation is provided by coupling the sector antenna (12) to the system receiver (18) in the absence of coupling of a superior narrow beam signal. Systems using multiple sector antennas (12 and 12a), transmitters (16 and 16a) and receiver systems (18 and 18a) are described, as are arrangements enabling narrow beam signal transmission. Methods of operation of such a multi-beam receiving arrangement, including methods for beam selection during initial random access user contacts, are also described.

High gain antenna systems for cellular use

A satellite communication subscriber device includes a smart antenna for generating antenna beams for receiving signals from at least one satellite, and a receiver. The receiver includes a quality metric module for calculating a quality metric on the signals received by each antenna beam. A beam selector is coupled to the smart antenna for selecting the antenna beams. An antenna steering algorithm module runs an antenna steering algorithm for operating the beam selector for scanning the antenna beams, receiving the calculated quality metrics from the receiver for each scanned antenna beam, and comparing the calculated quality metrics. The algorithm selects one of the scanned antenna beams based upon the comparing for continuing to receive signals from the at least one satellite.

Satellite communication subscriber device with a smart antenna and associated method

Mobile stations using antenna diversity are described. Techniques for combining CDMA signals received over plural antennas at a mobile unit are provided which suppress interference from undesired base stations.

A mobile station having plural antenna elements and interference suppression

The invention relates to a diversity reception system for motor vehicles for digitally modulated terrestrial and/or satellite radio signals in the frequency range above 1 GHz. The system includes an antenna arrangement of which the reception signal is supplied to a radio receiver. The antenna arrangement is designed as an antenna system having several individual antennas and several antenna components, and contains a controllable logic switching device. The individual antennas and the several antenna components are positioned on the vehicle so that for discrete switching positions of the controllable logic switch, reception signals that are different in terms of diversity are available at the antenna connection point. A reception level testing device is provided for the comparative determination of the reception level contained in the data flow in the HF-channel with an HF channel bandwidth B. The level testing device is designed so that when initiated by the symbol cycle generated in the receiver and during the simultaneously occurring symbol identification of the received flow of data, the reception level is determined in each case within the shortest possible level testing duration.

Diversity system for receiving digital terrestrial and/or satellite radio signals for motor vehicles

Disclosed is a pane antenna installed in a heated window pane of a motor vehicle to receive frequencies above the high frequency range. The antenna includes at least one wire-shaped first antenna conductor extending across parallel heating conductors of a heating field. The crossing points of the first antenna conductor with heating conductors are preferably in galvanic contact to create a capacitive antenna region along the first antenna conductor. The capacitive antenna region is coupled via a second antenna conductor extending also perpendicularly to the heating conductors, to an antenna terminal arranged on the window pane in proximity to a rim. The window pane is surrounded by a conductive frame and a grounding point is created on the frame opposite the antenna terminal.

Pane antenna having at least one wire-like antenna conductor combined with a set of heating wires

An antenna for a windowpane or windshield, comprising a thin, electrically conductive layer flatly applied to an area of the windowpane. The layer is transparent to light and capable of reducing the transmission of heat through the windowpane, and creates a low-conductive area having non-negligible surface resistivity on the windowpane. Also provided is a substantially flat electrode made of highly conductive material, which is high-frequency connected with a reduced high frequency loss connected at at least one edge of said low-conductive layer, and also capacitively connected at high frequencies to an antenna connection point. The electrode is sufficiently long so as to minimize the loss created by the edge of the low-conductive layer. The low-conductive layer can also be sandwiched between glass panels such as in automotive safety glass and an additional electrode can be capacitively coupled to the main electrode. Multiple electrodes can also be disposed on the windowpane for receiving a diversity of frequencies.

Windowpane antenna with transparent conductive layer

The antenna diversity system for mobile reception of VHF and UHF waves has a plurality of antennae; an antenna distributor connected to each of the antennae to receive antenna signals from the antennae and having a plurality of inputs and sets of outputs; a plurality of antenna switches, each of the antenna switches being connected to one of the sets of outputs of the antenna distributor; a plurality of tuners, each of the tuners connected to one of the antenna switches and producing one of an intermediate-frequency signal and demodulated signal; a plurality of diversity processors, each of the diversity processors being connected to a tuner to receive an intermediate-frequency or demodulated signal therefrom and also to the antenna switch of the tuner connected thereto via a control line and being structured to carry out a signal evaluation of the signal received in the diversity processor to control the antenna switch to switch through a more favorable input signal to the tuner connected to it.

Antenna diversity system with at least two antennae for the mobile reception of very-high and ultra-high frequency waves

An antenna installation for radio and television reception in motor vehicles in the meter and decimeter frequency wave ranges with a first antenna and-at least one additional antenna on the vehicle. The receiving signal available at each connection point of the antennas are combined in a collecting network. The signal then flows out of the collecting network to a reception point to form an overall receiving signal. The line and collecting network is designed to select the highest possible reception quality for a motor vehicle moving through a reception field based upon a statistical average.

Jochen Hopf

Papers

Diversity system for receiving digital terrestrial and/or satellite radio signals for motor vehicles

Pane antenna having at least one wire-like antenna conductor combined with a set of heating wires

Windowpane antenna with transparent conductive layer

Antenna diversity system with at least two antennae for the mobile reception of very-high and ultra-high frequency waves

Antenna for radio and television reception in motor vehicles