Antenna apparatus and vehicle having the same

Disclosed herein is an antenna apparatus which allows adjusting a directional pattern to a desired direction through a simple switching without employing a complicated feed structure of an array antenna and a vehicle having the same. The antenna apparatus includes a power feed unit, a waveguide through which a radio signal provided from the power feed unit propagates, a plurality of antenna elements including radiation slots from which the radio signal propagating through the waveguide is radiated and configured to be shifted by a predetermined angle and stacked, and a switching unit configured to switch at least one of the power feed units included in the plurality of antenna elements in order to select at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0164886, filed on Nov. 24, 2015 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Forms of the present disclosure relate to an antenna apparatus capable of adjusting a directional pattern and a vehicle having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

When a position of a communication target is varied or a scanning is needed for searching a position of the communication target, it is required to adjust a directional pattern of an antenna.

In general, a directional pattern of an antenna is adjusted by altering a phase difference between array radiation elements to control a direction of main beam or by using a mechanical rotation.

However, in the case of altering the phase difference, a plurality of additional circuits for controlling a phase of each array radiation element are required, an angle of a pattern alteration is small, and a large side lobe is generated, thus reducing the radiation efficiency of an antenna.

Furthermore, in the case of using the mechanical rotation, a separate structure for rotating the antenna is required, and it is difficult to accurately adjust a directional pattern in a direction of a communication target traveling at a high speed.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an antenna apparatus capable of adjusting a directional pattern toward a desired direction through a simple switching without employing a complicated feed configuration of an array antenna and a vehicle having the same.

In one form of the present disclosure, an antenna apparatus includes a power feed unit, a waveguide through which a radio signal provided from the power feed unit propagates, and a plurality of antenna elements including radiation slots for radiating the radio signal propagated through the waveguide, and the plurality of antenna elements are shifted by a predetermined angle and stacked.

The antenna apparatus may further include a switching unit for switching at least one of the power feed units included in the plurality of antenna elements in order to select at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.

The plurality of antenna elements may be formed by a plurality of substrates that are stacked in up and down directions.

The antenna element may include an upper plate, a lower plate, and n partition walls (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) that is formed between the upper and lower plates to form n−1 number of waveguides.

The upper and lower plates may be each formed in predetermined regions of two adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates.

The partition wall may be formed with a plurality of pins adjacent to each other spaced at a distance below a critical distance, and the plurality of pins may be inserted into the upper and lower plates.

The n−1 number of waveguides may distribute the radio signal provided from the power feed units in the same phase and amplitude.

Between the power feed units and the n−1 number of waveguides, n−1 number of inductive posts may be arranged.

A common ground unit to which the power feed units included in the plurality of antenna elements are connected may be further included.

The plurality of antenna elements may be stacked one per layer.

The plurality of antenna elements may be stacked two or more per layer.

In another form of the present disclosure, a vehicle is equipped with an antenna apparatus, wherein the antenna apparatus includes a power feed unit, a waveguide through which a radio signal provided from the power feed unit propagates, and a plurality of antenna elements including radiation slots for radiating the radio signal propagated through the waveguide and shifted by a predetermined angle and stacked.

The antenna apparatus may further include a switching unit for selecting at least one of the power feed units included in the plurality of antenna elements.

The plurality of antenna elements may be formed by a plurality of substrates that are stacked in upward and downward directions.

The antenna element may include an upper plate, a lower plate, and n partition walls (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) that is formed between the upper and lower plates to form n−1 number of waveguides.

The upper and lower plates may be each formed on certain regions of two adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates.

The partition wall may be formed with a plurality of pins adjacent to each other spaced at a distance below a critical distance, and the plurality of pins may be inserted into the upper and lower plates.

The n−1 number of waveguides may distribute the radio signals provided from the power feed units in the same phase and amplitude.

Between the power feed units and the n−1 number of waveguides, n−1 number of inductive posts may be arranged.

A common ground unit to which the power feed units included in the plurality of antenna elements are connected may be further included.

The switching unit may sequentially switch the power feed units in order to determine a position of a communication target.

The switching unit may switch the power feed unit of the antenna element corresponding to the position of the communication target.

The switching unit may switch the power feed unit according to the movement of the communication target to perform a beam tracking when the communication target moves.

The switching unit may switch the power feed unit according to the movement of the vehicle to perform the beam tracking when the vehicle moves.

In forms of the present disclosure, an antenna apparatus and a vehicle having the same may adjust a directional pattern toward a desired direction through a simple switching without employing a complicated feed configuration of an array antenna.

Also, it is possible to alter a directional pattern within a desired angle range by adjusting numbers of the antenna elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, forms of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a structure of an antenna apparatus, andFIG. 2is a plan view of the antenna apparatus as viewed from above. The following forms will be described with a z-axis direction regarded as the up and down directions. Therefore, the perspective view ofFIG. 1is a view in a three-dimensional space defined by x-, y-, z-axis directions, whereasFIG. 2is a two-dimensional view in an x-y plane.

An antenna apparatus100has an array antenna structure in which a plurality of antenna elements are arranged. As shown inFIG. 1, a plurality of antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160constituting the antenna apparatus100are stacked in the z-axis direction, that is, up and down directions.

In the example ofFIGS. 1 and 2, each antenna element has a fan shape, and the antenna apparatus100formed by stacking the plurality of antenna elements has a circular column shape. However, this is merely an example of the antenna apparatus100, and each antenna element may have other shapes such as a polygonal shape, a circular shape, a semicircular shape, and the like besides the fan shape. Also, the antenna apparatus100may have other shapes such as a polygonal column shape besides the circular column shape. For the purpose of explaining a detailed structure, the following forms will be described with examples where each antenna element has the fan shape and the antenna apparatus100has the circular column shape.

As shown inFIG. 2, the plurality of antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160are stacked with each shifted by a predetermined angle instead of being stacked lined up in the z-axis direction. Each antenna element is shifted by a predetermined angle so that a direction of radiation or beam pattern of the antenna apparatus100may be variably adjusted. Hereinafter, the example will be described in detail.

For example, when the first antenna element110, the second antenna element120, the third antenna element130, the fourth antenna element140, the fifth antenna element150, and the sixth antenna element160are sequentially stacked from the bottom, the second antenna element120may be shifted by 30 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the first antenna element110about the center C in a x-y plane of the antenna apparatus100, the third antenna element130may be shifted by 30 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the second antenna element120, the fourth antenna element140may be shifted by 30 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the third antenna element130, the fifth antenna element150may be shifted by 30 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the fourth antenna element140, and the sixth antenna element160may be shifted by 30 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the fifth antenna element150.

In this case, the antenna apparatus100may switch a radiation direction within the range of 180 degrees. For example, when the antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160each has a radiation range of 90 degrees, the antenna apparatus100may cover a range of about 240 degrees and selectively radiate a radio signal in a desired direction within the range of 240 degrees. Also, by variously changing a design regarding a radiation range of each antenna element, shift angles among the antenna elements, and a number of antenna elements, a coverage of the antenna apparatus100may be adjusted.

FIGS. 3 to 6are diagrams illustrating a structure of a single antenna element constituting the antenna apparatus. In the examples inFIGS. 3 to 6, a structure of a first antenna element arranged in the lowest layer is described.

With reference toFIG. 3, the first antenna element110includes an upper plate111and a lower plate113having a fan shape and a partition wall112for partitioning multiple waveguides115in the antenna element.

A power feed unit114is connected to the center of the fan shape and a radio signal provided from the power feed unit114is radiated into outside free space through the first antenna element110.

In order to illustrate an internal structure of the first antenna element110in detail, the upper plate111is not shown inFIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 4is a plan view of the first antenna element as viewed from above,FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a distribution of power provided from the power feed unit, andFIGS. 6 and 7are a plan view and a perspective view, respectively, illustrating the antenna element further including inductive posts.

For example, as shown inFIG. 4, when six waveguides are formed in the single antenna element, the partition wall112partitioning the waveguides115a,115b,115c,115d,115e,and115fmay be formed as seven partition walls ranging from first to seventh partition walls112a,112b,112c,112d,112e,112f,and112g.

The first waveguide115amay be partitioned by the first partition wall112aand the second partition wall112b,the second waveguide115bmay be partitioned by the second partition wall112band the third partition wall112c,and the third waveguide115cmay be partitioned by the third partition wall112cand the fourth partition wall112d.Also, the fourth waveguide115dmay be partitioned by the fourth partition wall112dand the fifth partition wall112e,the fifth waveguide115emay be partitioned by the fifth partition wall112eand the sixth partition wall112f,and the sixth waveguide115fmay be partitioned by the sixth partition wall112fand the seventh partition wall112g.

In the example form, the partition wall112may be implemented by multiple pins each arranged with a constant spacing or implemented in a general plate shape. When the partition wall112is implemented by the multiple pins, it is possible to implement the partition wall112by inserting the multiple pins into the upper plate111and the lower plate113, so that an ease of manufacturing and design may be improved.

When the partition wall112is implemented by the multiple pins, by limiting a spacing between the adjacent pins to be below a critical distance, a loss of a radio signal propagating through the waveguide115may be prevented. For example, it is possible to prevent the loss by arranging the multiple pins at a spacing equal to or less than one-tenth of the wavelength of the radio signal.

The radio signal provided from the power feed unit114is branched off to propagate through the six waveguides115a,115b,115c,115d,115e,and115f,and then the branched-off radio signals are radiated into the outside free space through radiation slots115a-1,115b-1,115c-1,115d-1,115e-1, and115f-1formed respectively on each of the corresponding waveguides.

Meanwhile, when the radio signal provided from the power feed unit114is branched off, power of the radio signal is distributed. In the example form, the structure of the partition wall112may perform a function of a power divider. Hereinafter, with reference toFIG. 5, the branching of the radio signal will be described in terms of power distribution.

As shown inFIG. 5, by adjusting a length of the partition wall112forming each waveguide, the power provided from the power feed unit114may be distributed in steps.

For example, as shown inFIG. 5, lengths of the second partition wall112bbeing the boundary between the first waveguide115aand the second waveguide115b, the fourth partition wall112dbeing the boundary between the third waveguide115cand the fourth waveguide115d,and the sixth partition wall112fbeing the boundary between the fifth waveguide115eand the sixth waveguide115fmay be implemented shorter than those of the remaining partition walls. The length of the partition wall represents a length from one end of the partition wall near the power feed unit114to the opposite end, and when a shape of the single antenna element is a fan shape, the length of the partition wall represents a length in a radial direction.

A forward direction of the power feed unit114is a direction at which the power or radio signal is distributed, and a backward direction thereof is a direction toward the center of the fan-shaped antenna.

The third partition wall112cand the fifth partition wall112emay be implemented longer than the second partition wall112b,the fourth partition wall112d, and the sixth partition wall112fand shorter than the first partition wall112aand the seventh partition wall112g.

When the first antenna element110has a structure made of the aforementioned partition walls, power P1provided from the power feed unit114is distributed into a space between the first partition wall112aand the third partition wall112c,a space between the third partition wall112cand the fifth partition wall112e,and a space between the fifth partition wall112eand the seventh partition wall112g,so that the distributed powers are P12, P34, and P56, respectively.

In order to make the distributed power P12, P34, and P56have the same value, an angle θ12between the first partition wall112aand the third partition wall112c,an angle θ34between the third partition wall112cand the fifth partition wall112e,and an angle θ56between the fifth partition wall112eand the seventh partition wall112gare all designed to have the same value.

That is, in order to satisfy P12=P34=P56, θ12=θ34=θ56should be satisfied. Also, the provided power P1is distributed into three equal values of power so that the relationship of P1=3P12=3P34=3P56is established.

The power P12distributed into the space between the first partition wall112aand the third partition wall112cis again distributed into a space between the first partition wall112aand the second partition wall112band a space between the second partition wall112band the third partition wall112c,that is, distributed into the first waveguide115aand the second waveguide115b.At this point, the distributed power values are P1and P2respectively.

The power P34distributed into the space between the third partition wall112cand the fifth partition wall112eis again distributed into a space between the third partition wall112cand the fourth partition wall112dand a space between the fourth partition wall112dand the fifth partition wall112e,that is, distributed into the third waveguide115cand the fourth waveguide115d.At this point, the distributed power values are P3and P4respectively.

The power P56distributed into the space between the fifth partition wall112eand the seventh partition wall112gis again distributed into a space between the fifth partition wall112eand the sixth partition wall112fand a space between the sixth partition wall112fand the seventh partition wall112g,that is, distributed into the fifth waveguide115eand the sixth waveguide115f.At this point, the distributed power values are P5and P6respectively.

Similarly, in order to make the power distributed into each of the waveguides have the same value, an angle θ1between the first partition wall112aand the second partition wall112b,an angle θ2between the second partition wall112band the third partition wall112c,an angle θ3between the third partition wall112cand the fourth partition wall112d,an angle θ4between the fourth partition wall112dand the fifth partition wall112e,an angle θ5between the fifth partition wall112eand the sixth partition wall112f,and an angle θ6between the sixth partition wall112fand the seventh partition wall112gare designed to have the same value. That is, θ12=2θ1=2θ2, θ34=2θ3=2θ4, and θ56=2θ5=2θ6.θ

As a result, the relationship of P1=3P12=3P34=3P56=6P1=6P2=6P3=6P4=6P5=6P6is established. That is, the same power value may be distributed to each of the waveguides, and the radio signals having the same phase and amplitude may be branched off to be radiated through the radiation slots.

For example, when the first antenna element110has a radiation range of 90 degrees, it may be θ12=θ34=θ56=30 degrees, and θ1=θ2=θ3=θ4=θ5=θ6=15 degrees.

Meanwhile, distributing the power through the partition wall structure described above is merely an example applicable to the antenna apparatus100, and various modifications in which the procedures for power distribution is further subdivided, the power is distributed in six ways at once, and the number of waveguides is decreased or increased from six are definitely possible.

FIGS. 6 and 7are diagrams illustrating a power feed structure further including inductive posts.

With reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, in order to improve a return loss, inductive posts116are further included in the first antenna element110. The inductive post may be implemented by a metal fin.

When the power distribution is performed as in the example described above, three inductive posts116g,116h,and116imay be firstly arranged in positions close to the power feed unit114, and then six inductive posts116a,116b,116c,116d,116e, and116fcorresponding to the waveguides may be arranged.

In particular, the inductive posts116g,116h,and116imay be arranged respectively in a space between the first partition wall112aand the third partition wall114c,a space between the third partition wall114cand the fifth partition wall114e,and a space between the fifth partition wall114eand the seventh partition wall114g.

And, the inductive posts116a,116b,116c,116d,116e,and116fmay be arranged respectively in a space between the first partition wall112aand the second partition wall112b,a space between the second partition wall112band the third partition wall112c,a space between the third partition wall112cand the fourth partition wall112d,a space between the fourth partition wall112dand the fifth partition wall112e,a space between the fifth partition wall112eand the sixth partition wall112f,and a space between the sixth partition wall112fand the seventh partition wall112g.

By arranging the inductive posts as described above, the return loss of the radio signal distributed into each space may be improved by about 20 percent (%).

The inductive post116may connect the upper plate111to the lower plate113, and since a difference in inductive capacity occurs depending on a diameter of the inductive post116, the diameter of the inductive post116may be determined by considering an amount of the return loss.

Also, a distance between the inductive post116and the power feed unit114may be determined depending on the center frequency of the radio signal.

Further, since a height of the power feed unit114also affects the amount of the return loss, it is possible to design the height so as to minimize the amount of the return loss. At this point, a height of the power feed unit114capable of minimizing the amount of the return loss may be determined by a simulation, an experiment, and/or a calculation.

Furthermore, when the inductive post116is arranged, capacitance between the upper plate111and the lower plate113is reduced to cause a variation of impedance, so a height of the power feed unit114may be appropriately adjusted according to the arrangement of the inductive post116.

The structure of the first antenna element110shown inFIGS. 3 to 7may be identically applicable to the remaining antenna elements120,130,140,150, and160, so that a detailed description of the structure of each of the remaining antenna elements will be omitted.

FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating an example of which the plurality of antenna elements is stacked.

As described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna apparatus100has a structure in which the plurality of antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160are stacked in the z-axis direction. For implementing such a structure, as shown inFIG. 8, multiple substrates101,102,103,104,105,106, and107may be stacked in the z-axis direction.

Each substrate may be formed by a conductor. For example, the substrate may be made of a metal such as copper, aluminum, lead, silver, and stainless steel, have a surface coated with these metals, or employ a printed circuit board (PCB). In case of employing the PCB, the structure of the antenna element may be formed by printing and via-holes.

As a detailed example, in order to form six antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160, seven PCB substrates101,102,103,104,105,106, and107may be stacked. At this point, in order to form the waveguides between the substrates, substrates adjacent to each other in the z-axis direction may be separated from each other at a constant spacing instead of contacting each other.

A spacing between the substrates may be determined depending on a frequency of the radio signal and, as an example, may be separated by 1 millimeter (mm) when the center frequency of the radio signal is 60 gigahertz (GHz). Also, a radius of the single antenna element may be implemented to be about 5 mm.

Meanwhile, the space between the substrates may be empty or filled with a dielectric substance.

The first antenna element110is formed by using the first substrate101and the second substrate102. That is, a predetermined region of the first substrate101and a predetermined region of the second substrate102are respectively used as the upper plate111and the lower plate113of the first antenna element110.

The second antenna element120is formed by using the second substrate102and the third substrate103. Similarly, a predetermined region of the second substrate102and a predetermined region of the third substrate103may respectively be used as the upper and lower plates of the second antenna element120.

Also, the third antenna element130may be formed by using the third substrate103and the fourth substrate104, the fourth antenna element140may be formed by using the fourth substrate104and the fifth substrate105, the fifth antenna element150may be formed by using the fifth substrate105and the sixth substrate106, and the sixth antenna element160may be formed by using the sixth substrate106and the seventh substrate107.

Meanwhile, a region of the substrate that is not used as the upper and lower plates may be made of a nonconductor. For example, the region that is used as the upper and lower plates may be coated with a metal such as gold, silver, copper or the like, whereas the coating may be removed from the other region.

In the drawings described above, the number of the substrates is merely an example applicable to the antenna apparatus100, and the number of the antenna elements and the number of the substrates used depending on a stacking manner of the antenna elements may definitely be varied.

FIGS. 9 and 10are diagrams illustrating a power feed structure supplying power to each antenna element, andFIG. 11is a diagram illustrating a switch capable of selecting the antenna element.FIG. 9is a plan view of the power feed unit as viewed from above, andFIG. 10is a lateral view thereof as viewed from side.

The plurality of antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160respectively have separate power feed units114,124,134,144,154, and164.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the power feed units114,124,134,144,154, and164are extended and connected to a common ground unit of the antenna apparatus100, so that the common ground unit may be formed on a substrate that constitutes a bottom of the antenna apparatus100. The substrate constituting the bottom of the antenna apparatus100may be the first substrate101, and it is possible to further provide a separate substrate under the first substrate101to constitute the bottom.

The antenna apparatus100may transmit the radio signal through the antenna element corresponding to a direction in which a communication target is located, wherein the radio signal may be transmitted in the desired direction by selecting the power feed unit of the corresponding antenna element. At this point, one power feed unit may be selected, or two or more power feed units may be selected depending on the number of communication targets.

For selecting the power feed unit corresponding to the desired direction, the antenna apparatus100may further include a switching unit, and the switching unit may include an antenna selection switch170as shown inFIG. 11. As an example, the antenna selection switch170may be implemented with a radio frequency (RF) switch.

The power feed unit114for supplying power to the first antenna element110, the power feed unit124for supplying power to the second antenna element120, the power feed unit134for supplying power to the third antenna element130, and the power feed unit144for supplying power to the fourth antenna element140are connected to the antenna selection switch170.

The antenna selection switch170may select at least one of the multiple power feed units114,124,134,144,154, and164according to a control signal input and provide a signal to the selected power feed unit. In this form, selecting a power feed unit and providing a signal thereto will be referred to as a switching of the power feed unit.

The control signal input to the antenna selection switch170may be generated by an external control unit of the antenna apparatus100or by a control unit provided therein.

In the latter case, the control unit provided in the antenna apparatus100may control the antenna selection switch170according to a control signal input from an instrument (for example, a vehicle) on which the antenna apparatus100is mounted or generate a control signal based on its own judgment.

When the control unit is included in the antenna apparatus100, it is possible that the control unit of the antenna apparatus100performs a part or all of the operations of the control unit of a vehicle to be described below for controlling the antenna apparatus100.

The antenna selection switch170may be formed at the common ground unit to which the multiple power feed units are grounded.

FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating a radiation pattern of the single antenna element, andFIG. 13is a diagram illustrating directivity of the antenna apparatus.

As shown inFIG. 12, it can be seen that a size of a side lobe appears very small on the radiation pattern of the single antenna element. That is because the radio signals having the same amplitude and phase are provided to the multiple waveguides constituting the antenna elements.

Also, it can be seen that a main lobe appears in a direction into which the radiation slots of the antenna elements are formed to radiate. Therefore, the antenna apparatus100according to one form of the present invention has a superior radiation efficiency and directivity.

When the multiple antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160having such a radiation pattern are respectively shifted by a predetermined angle to be stacked, as shown inFIG. 13, the antenna apparatus100having beam patterns P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6toward various directions may be implemented.

Since each antenna element has a directivity toward a predetermined direction, the radio signal may be radiated toward a desired direction by selecting and feeding an antenna element corresponding to a desired radiation direction.

At this point, one antenna element may be selected, or two or more antenna elements may be simultaneously selected depending on the number and position of a communication target.

FIGS. 14 and 15are diagrams illustrating another structure of the antenna apparatus according to one form of the present invention.

In the aforementioned form, the structure in which six antenna elements110,120,130,140,150, and160are stacked one per layer in the z-axis direction is described as the example, but the number, stack structure, shift angle, and the like of the antenna element are not limited by the aforementioned examples and may be modified.

In another example, as shown inFIG. 14, it is possible to implement a 12-layer structure of which twelve antenna elements110to220are stacked one per layer. A 30 degree shift angle between antenna elements adjacent in the z-axis direction means it is possible to cover a range of 360 degrees in the horizontal direction.

In still another example, as shown inFIG. 15, it is possible to implement a 6-layer structure out of the twelve antenna elements110to220, in which two antenna elements are stacked per layer. In this case, by also designing a shift angle between antenna elements adjacent in the z-axis direction to be 30 degrees and additionally designing a shift angle between two antenna elements in the same layer to be 180 degrees for facing opposite directions, it is possible to cover a range of 360 degrees in the horizontal direction.

Meanwhile, the antenna apparatus100may be mounted on a vehicle to transmit and receive a radio signal to and from an external terminal or server of the vehicle or other vehicles.

Hereinafter, an form of a vehicle having the antenna apparatus100mounted will be described.

A radio signal being transmitted and received by the antenna may be a signal according to a second generation (2G) communication method such as a time division multiple access (TDMA), a code division multiple access (CDMA), and the like, a third generation (3G) communication method such as a wide CDMA (WCDMA), a CDMA 2000, a wireless broadband (Wibro), a world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), and the like, a fourth generation (4G) communication method such as a long term evolution (LTE), a wireless broadband evolution, and the like, and a fifth generation (5G) communication method.

Exemplary forms will be described in detail below assuming that the antenna transmits and receives a radio signal according to the 5G communication method.

FIG. 16is a diagram illustrating a large-scale antenna system of a base station according to the 5G communication method, andFIG. 17is a diagram illustrating a vehicle communicating with peripheral vehicles.

In the 5G communication method, the large-scale antenna system may be employed. The large-scale antenna system represents a system capable of covering an ultra-high frequency by using over tens of antennas and of transmitting and receiving simultaneously large amounts of data through multiple access. In particular, the large-scale antenna system may perform a massive data transmission as well as extend the available area of the 5G communication network by adjusting an array of antenna elements to transmit and receive radio signals farther in a specific direction.

With reference toFIG. 16, the base station BS may simultaneously transmit and receive data to and from numerous equipment through the large-scale antenna system. Also, the large-scale antenna system minimizes electromagnetic waves being drained into directions other than the transmission direction to reduce noise, thereby promoting the improvement of transmission quality as well as the reduction of power.

Also, unlike a general communication method of modulating a transmission signal through an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the 5G communication method transmits a radio signal modulated through a non-orthogonal multiplexing access (NOMA), so that multiple access of more equipment and a simultaneous massive data transmission and reception are possible.

For example, the 5G communication method may provide a transmission speed of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) at maximum. Through a massive transmission, the 5G communication method may support an immersive communication such as an ultra-high definition (UHD), a 3-dimension (3D) hologram or the like, which requires the massive transmission. Accordingly, through the 5G communication method, a user may more quickly transmit and receive ultra-high capacity data which may be more delicate and more immersive.

Also, the 5G communication method may process in real time at a maximum response speed of 1 millisecond (ms) or less. Accordingly, the 5G communication method may support a real time service that responds well in advance of the user response.

For example, when a communication module realizing the 5G communication method is mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle itself may be a communication hub that transmits and receives data. Accordingly, a vehicle communicating with external equipment may provide an autonomous driving system as well as various remote controls by receiving sensor information from a variety of equipment while driving to process the received sensor information in real time.

The 5G communication method may use a millimeter wave band. For example, the 5G communication method may use a frequency band of 28 GHz. A longer wavelength of a radio signal means a larger size of the antenna apparatus100. That is, a higher frequency of a radio signal means a smaller size of the antenna apparatus100. Therefore, when used in 5G communication, the antenna apparatus100may be implemented as a micro and low profile.

Through the real-time process and massive transmission provided by 5G communication, a vehicle300may provide a big data service to passengers therein. For example, the vehicle may analyze various information on the web, social network service (SNS), and the like to provide customized information suitable for situation of the passengers. As an example, the vehicle collects information such as famous restaurants, attractions, and the like existing in the surroundings of a travel route through a big data mining and provide the collected information in real time, so that the passengers may immediately check the various information related to the surroundings of a travel route.

Also, a network of 5G communication may perform a relay transmission of a radio signal through a multi-hop method. For example, the vehicle located within a network of the base station BS may perform a relay transmission of a radio signal to be transmitted by other vehicles or equipment positioned outside of the network of the base station BS to provide the radio signal to the base station BS. Accordingly, it is possible to expand areas in which the 5G communication network is supported as well as to solve a buffering problem that occurs when the number of users within a cell are increased.

Meanwhile, the 5G communication method may provide a device-to-device (D2D) communication applicable to vehicles, communication equipment, and the like. Direct D2D communication stands for a communication in which devices directly transmit and receive signals without a base station. When the direct D2D communication method is employed, there is no need to transmit and receive a radio signal through a base station, and a direct transmission and reception of the radio signal occurs between devices, so that unnecessary energy consumption may be reduced.

In this case, as shown inFIG. 17, through the 5G communication method, the vehicle300may process sensor information in real time together with peripheral vehicles20,30, and40existing in the surroundings of the vehicle300to provide collision generation possibility information to users in real time as well as traffic situation information to occur on a travel route in real time.

FIGS. 18 and 19are diagrams illustrating an exterior of a vehicle.

As shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, the vehicle300includes wheels301moving the vehicle300, a body302forming the exterior of the vehicle300, a drivetrain (not shown) rotating the wheels301, doors303shielding an interior from the outside, a front glass304providing a view in the forward direction of the vehicle to a driver inside thereof, and side mirrors305providing a view in the rear direction of the vehicle to the driver.

The drivetrain provided within an engine hood307provides rotary power to the wheels301in order to move the vehicle in a forward or backward direction.

Such a drivetrain may employ an engine generating rotary power by burning fossil fuel or a motor generating rotary power by receiving electric power supplied from an electric condenser (not shown).

The doors303are rotatably provided on the left and right sides of the body302to enable the driver to enter the vehicle300when opened and shield the interior of the vehicle300from the outside thereof when closed.

The front glass304is provided in the front portion of the body302to enable the driver to acquire visual information from the front direction of the vehicle300, and it is also referred to as a windshield glass.

Also, the side mirrors305enable the driver in the vehicle300to acquire visual information of the side and rear of the body302.

The antenna apparatus100may be mounted outside of the vehicle300. Since the antenna apparatus100is implemented as a micro type and low profile, as shown inFIG. 18, it may be mounted on top of a roof, the engine hood307, or the like, but not limited thereto.

Also, as the example shown inFIG. 19, the antenna apparatus100may be implemented integrated with a shark fin antenna mounted on an upper portion of a rear glass306.

Further, two or more antenna apparatuses100may be mounted on the vehicle300. For example, the antenna apparatus100covering a front range of 240 degrees may be mounted on top of the engine hood307, and the antenna apparatus100covering a rear range of 240 degrees may be mounted on top of a trunk308or the shark fin antenna.

There is no limitation on a position or a number of the antenna apparatuses100, and an appropriate number and positions, and a radiation range of the antenna apparatus100may be determined by taking into consideration of the use of the antenna apparatus100, a design of the vehicle300, a straight-line propagation of the radio signal, and the like.

FIG. 20is a control block diagram of the vehicle, andFIG. 21is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a radio signal conversion module included in a communication unit. The control block diagram ofFIG. 20shows a configuration relating to a communication of the vehicle, and configurations relating to other operations such as driving, a control of the interior environment of the vehicle, and the like are omitted. Therefore, it should be noted that components not shown inFIG. 20do not indicate exclusion from the vehicle300.

With reference toFIG. 20, the vehicle300may include an internal communication unit310communicating with a variety of electronic equipment in the vehicle300through a vehicle communication network therein, a radio communication unit330communicating with equipment, base stations, servers outside of the vehicle300, and/or other vehicles, and a control unit320controlling the internal communication unit310and the radio communication unit330.

The internal communication unit310may include an internal communication interface311connected to the vehicle communication network and an internal signal conversion module312modulating and demodulating a signal.

The internal communication interface311may receive radio signals transmitted from a variety of electronic equipment in the vehicle300through the vehicle communication network and transmit radio signals to the variety of electronic equipment in the vehicle300through the vehicle communication network. Herein, the radio signals stand for signals which are transmitted and received through the vehicle communication network.

Such an internal communication interface311may include a communication port and a transceiver transmitting and receiving signals.

Under the control of the control unit320to be described in below, the internal signal conversion module312may demodulate a communication signal received through the internal communication interface311into a control signal and modulate a control signal output from the control unit320into an analog communication signal to be transmitted through the internal communication interface311.

The internal signal conversion module312modulates the control signal output from the control unit320into a communication signal according to a communication protocol of the vehicle network and demodulates the communication signal according to the communication protocol of the vehicle network into a control signal recognizable by the control unit320.

Such an internal signal conversion module312may include a memory storing a program and data for performing the modulation/demodulation of the communication signal and a processor performing the modulation/demodulation of the communication signal according to the program and data stored in the memory.

The control unit320controls operations of the internal signal conversion module312and the internal communication interface311. For example, when transmitting a communication signal, the control unit320determines whether or not the communication network is occupied by other electronic equipment through the internal communication interface311and then, when the communication network is not occupied, controls the internal communication interface311and the internal signal conversion module312to output the communication signal. Also, when receiving a communication signal, the control unit320controls the internal communication interface311and the internal signal conversion module312to demodulate the communication signal received through the internal communication interface311.

Such a control unit320may include a memory storing a program and data for controlling the internal signal conversion module312and the internal communication interface311and a processor generating a control signal according to the program and data stored in the memory.

The radio communication unit330may include a radio signal conversion module331modulating and demodulating a signal and the antenna apparatus100transmitting the modulated signal to the outside and receiving a signal therefrom.

The radio signal conversion module331performs functions of a receiver demodulating a radio signal received by the antenna apparatus100and a transmitter modulating the control signal output from the control unit320into a radio signal to be transmitted to the outside, and thus it may be referred to as a transceiver.

The radio signal is sent by superposing a signal onto a carrier wave of a high frequency (for example, about 28 GHz in case of the 5G communication method). For this purpose, the radio signal conversion module331may generate a radio signal by modulating a carrier wave of a high frequency (for example, about 28 GHz in case of the 5G communication method) according to the control signal output from the control unit320and restore a signal by demodulating a radio signal received by the antenna apparatus100.

A number L of control signals are input into the MIMO ENC331cvia the ENC331aand the MOD331b.A number M of streams output from the MIMO ENC331care pre-coded by the pre-coder331dto be converted into a number N of pre-coded signals. The pre-coded signals are output as analog signals via the IFFT331e,the P/S converter331f,the CP inserter331g,and the DAC331h.The analog signals output from the DAC331hare converted into a radio frequency (RF) band through the frequency converter331i.

An electrical signal of voltage/current output from the radio signal conversion module331are converted into a radio signal at the antenna apparatus100to be radiated into outside free space.

Such a radio signal conversion module331may include a memory storing a program and data for performing the modulation/demodulation of a communication signal and a processor performing the modulation/demodulation of the communication signal according to the program and data stored in the memory.

However, a configuration of the radio signal conversion module331shown inFIG. 21is merely an example and not limited thereto, so that other configurations may be implemented.

The vehicle300may transmit and receive real-time traffic information, accident information, status information of the vehicle, and the like, by communicating with an outside server or a control center through the antenna apparatus100. Also, it is possible to perform an adaptive management with respect to road conditions while transmitting and receiving sensor information measured by sensors provided on each vehicle or to collect information regarding an accident when an accident occurs, through communication with other vehicles. Herein, the sensor provided on each vehicle may include at least one of an image sensor, an acceleration sensor, a collision sensor, a gyro sensor, a proximity sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a speed sensor.

Hereinafter, an form in which the vehicle300according to one form communicates with peripheral vehicles to transmit and receive signals will be described.

FIGS. 22 to 25are diagrams illustrating examples of beam patterns formed by the vehicle in order to communicate with peripheral vehicles.

In order to transmit a signal from the vehicle300to the peripheral vehicles, a position of a communication target vehicle needs to be determined. As an example shown inFIG. 22, a beam scanning may be performed such that after beam patterns BP are formed and radiated in various directions, a peripheral vehicle20is determined to be located in a direction in which a response returns.

In particular, the vehicle300transmits an omnidirectional request signal or a request signal in various directions through the antenna apparatus100and, when an ack signal returns from the peripheral vehicle20located in the surrounding of the vehicle300, it may be determined that the peripheral vehicle20is located in a direction in which the ack signal returns. At this point, the peripheral vehicle20may transmit the ack signal with global positioning system (GPS) information included. In this case, even when multiple peripheral vehicles are overlapped and located in the same direction on the center of the vehicle300, it is possible to discriminate each one from the multiple peripheral vehicles.

In order to form beam patterns BP in various directions, a part or all of the plurality of antenna elements may be sequentially selected. Herein, selecting the antenna element represents switching a power feed unit of the selected antenna element and feeding power thereto.

The selection of the antenna element may be performed by the switching unit, and the switching unit may perform a switching operation according to the control signal of the control unit320.

Also, when, after establishing a communication with the peripheral vehicle20, the peripheral vehicle20or the vehicle300moves and thus vary a relative position thereof, as shown inFIGS. 23 and 24, a beam tracking may be performed according to a movement direction of the peripheral vehicle20or the vehicle300. Herein, the beam tracking represents switching the beam patterns according to the movement or the variation of the relative position of a communication target. Switching beam patterns may be performed through the switching of the power feed unit.

Also, when the number of peripheral vehicles20and30that are communication targets is two or more, as shown inFIG. 25, an antenna element corresponding to a position of each communication target is selected so that it is possible to simultaneously communicate with two or more peripheral vehicles.

With forms of the antenna apparatus, without employing a complicated feed structure or a structure for mechanically rotating the antenna, beam patterns in desired directions may be formed by selectively feeding the antenna element.

Also, a coverage range may be controlled as desired by adjusting the number of antenna elements being stacked.

Such an antenna may be implemented as a low profile and micro type. Therefore, when such an antenna is employed to the vehicle to perform 5G communication, the position of a communication target may be easily determined by using a beam scanning through the selective switching of the antenna elements.

Also, even if the communication target vehicle moves, the beam pattern may track the movement of the communication target vehicle by switching the antenna elements.

Although forms have been described in specific examples and drawings given as described above, various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible by those of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. For example, the described techniques may be performed in different order from the above-described methods, and/or the above-described systems, structures, devices, and components such as a circuit may be coupled to or combined with other form different from the above-described methods, or replaced with other components or equivalents to result in an acceptable outcome.

Therefore, other implementations, other forms and equivalents as well as claims are within the scope of the claims to be described later.

Also, the forms described therein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely preferred forms of the present disclosure, and various equivalents and modifications that can be made thereto may exist at the filing time of the present application.

Further, the terms as used herein are intended to illustrate the forms and are not intended to limit the invention. As described herein, expressions in the singular should be understood to include a plural meaning unless there is a clearly different meaning from the context. The terms of “comprise”, “include” and/or “have”, and the like specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and/or a combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and/or a combination thereof.

Also, as used herein, while the terms including ordinal numbers such as “first”, “second”, and the like are used to describe various components, the above components shall not be restricted to the above terms, and these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.