Patent Description:
Vehicles are commonly known as machines for transportation, which move by reaction from friction of wheels attached to the car body against the road surface caused by artificial power rather than human or animal power. Vehicles may include, for example, three- or four-wheel vehicles, two-wheel vehicles such as motorcycles, construction machinery, bicycles, train traveling along rail tracks, and the like.

A vehicle may be equipped with electronic devices that provide various kinds of information to provide entertainment to the user (e.g., the driver and/or passenger) and other user convenience. An electronic device may do this by receiving and processing or not processing an external signal, and there are many different kinds of electronic devices for vehicle released on the market. Signals required to operate these electronic devices may be received through a communication apparatus for vehicle. As the amount of information to be provided for the vehicle and the user increases, high frequency communication such as communication using fifth generation (<NUM>) or vehicle to everything (V2X) protocols is required. V2X communication is a communication scheme that enables autonomous and safe driving through connection and communication of vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure, vehicle to pedestrian, etc., and uses e.g., the <NUM> frequency band. Likewise, <NUM> communication supports high data rate and low latency using high frequencies of <NUM> or higher. A communication module and an antenna module may be installed a few meters away from each other in the vehicle due to design constraints, in which case the high frequency may result in signal loss in the cable connecting the communication module and the antenna module. Relevant prior art can be found in <CIT> and <CIT>.

One or more embodiments of the instant disclosure provide a high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle capable of controlling operation of an antenna in an antenna module using a cable and the antenna module.

One or more embodiments of the instant disclosure also provide a high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle capable of controlling another device using a cable and an antenna module.

Technical objectives of the disclosure are not limited thereto, and there may be other technical objectives.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle using a single cable is provided, corresponding to the appended claims. The high frequency communication apparatus includes a communication module connected to an end of the single cable and configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal and a transmit (TX) serial communication signal, the communication module including a TX serial communication modulation circuit configured to modulate the TX serial communication signal from a first digital signal to a first alternate current (AC) signal in a first frequency band different from a second frequency band of the RF signal, and a receive (RX) serial communication demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a modulated RX serial communication signal received through the single cable to a second digital signal; and an antenna module connected to the other end of the single cable and configured to receive and branch the RF signal and the TX serial communication signal, the antenna module including a front end module configured to process the RF signal, a TX serial communication demodulation circuit configured to demodulate the TX serial communication signal from the first AC signal to the first digital signal, a controller configured to receive the demodulated TX serial communication signal to control the front end module and output an RX serial communication signal, and an RX serial communication modulation circuit configured to modulate the RX serial communication signal to a second AC signal in a third frequency band different from the second frequency band of the RF signal and the first frequency band of the TX serial communication signal.

The RF signal may be transmitted or received according to a time division duplex scheme or a frequency division duplex scheme.

The communication module may further include a TX/RX control signal modulation circuit configured to modulate a TX/RX control signal to control TX/RX mode of the RF signal from a third digital signal to a third AC signal, wherein a fourth frequency band of the third AC signal of the TX/RX control signal is different from the second frequency band of the RF signal, the first frequency band of the TX serial communication signal, and the third frequency band of the RX serial communication signal, and the antenna module may further include a TX/RX control signal demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a transmitted TX/RX control signal from the third AC signal to the third digital signal.

The communication module may further include a power circuit configured to supply power to the antenna module via the single cable.

The antenna module may further include a device configured to perform functions other than wireless communication or a serial communication interface configured to control the device, and the TX/RX serial communication signal may include a control command or data for the device.

The antenna module may be installed at a wing mirror and the device may include a turn indication lamp.

The antenna module may be installed at a front window, and the device may include at least one of a rain sensor, a tollgate passing terminal module, a radar module, or a proximity sensor.

The communication module may be configured to transmit or receive a plurality of RF signals having different frequencies or are in different communication schemes, and the antenna module may include a plurality of antennas and a plurality of front end circuits corresponding to the plurality of RF signals, and the controller may be further configured to control the plurality of antennas and the plurality of front end circuits.

The plurality of RF signals may include at least one of a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication signal, a mobile communication signal, a short-range communication signal, a satellite digital radio service (SDARS) signal, or a global positioning system (GPS) signal.

The single cable may be a coaxial cable.

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals indicate like elements in the drawings, and the elements may be exaggerated in size for clarity and convenience of explanation. Embodiments of the disclosure as will be described below are illustrative examples, and there may be various modifications to the embodiments of the disclosure.

The terms are selected from among common terms widely used at present, taking into account principles of the disclosure, which may however depend on intentions of those of ordinary skill in the art, judicial precedents, emergence of new technologies, and the like. Some terms as herein used are selected at the applicant's discretion, in which case, the terms will be explained later in detail in connection with embodiments of the disclosure. Therefore, the terms should be defined based on their meanings and descriptions throughout the disclosure.

The term "include (or including)" or "comprise (or comprising)" is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps, unless otherwise mentioned.

The terms "unit," "module," "block," etc., as used herein each represent a unit for handling at least one function or operation, and may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

The expression "configured to" as herein used may be interchangeably used with "suitable for," "having the capacity to," "designed to," "adapted to," "made to," or "capable of" according to the given situation. The expression "configured to" may not necessarily mean "specifically designed to" in terms of hardware. For example, in some situations, an expression "a system configured to do something" may refer to "an entity able to do something in cooperation with" another device or parts. For example, "a processor configured to perform A, B and C functions" may refer to a dedicated processor, e.g., an embedded processor for performing A, B and C functions, or a general purpose processor, e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or an application processor that may perform A, B and C functions by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory.

Throughout the specification, the term "communication module" may refer to a circuit separated from but connected by a cable to an antenna module in a high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle.

The antenna module may refer to a circuit having an antenna installed directly on a circuit board or connected to an antenna by a very short cable. Herein, the term "very short cable" may refer to a cable that is sufficiently short such that signal loss due to high frequency is negligible. For example, a very short cable may have a length of a few millimeters, a few centimeters, or tens of centimeters.

In the disclosure, the high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle may be used in various communication schemes such as e.g., vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, fourth generation (<NUM>) communication, and fifth generation communication. For example, the V2X communication may include vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to pedestrian (V2P), vehicle to network (V2N) communications, etc..

Throughout the specification, the term "transmit" and its derivatives mean sending a signal from a communication module to an antenna module via a cable, and the term "receive" and its derivatives mean receiving a signal at the communication module from the antenna module via the cable. For example, a transmit (TX) radio frequency (RF) signal is sent to the antenna module from the communication module via the cable and then transmitted through an antenna. Conversely, a receive (RX) RF signal is received at the antenna and sent to the communication module from the antenna module via the cable.

<FIG> shows a car body of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> is a machine that includes wheels that are driven for the purpose of transportation of humans or goods. The vehicle <NUM> may travel along a road. The vehicle <NUM> includes a car body <NUM> defining the external shape of the vehicle <NUM>, a chassis (not shown), the remaining portion of the vehicle <NUM> other than the car body <NUM>, on which mechanical equipment required for driving is installed, and electric control devices for protecting the driver and provide user convenience for the driver.

As shown in <FIG>, the exterior of the car body <NUM> may include a front panel <NUM>, a hood <NUM>, a roof panel <NUM>, a rear panel <NUM>, and front/rear/left/right doors <NUM>. To provide a clear view for the driver, there may be a front window <NUM> installed on the front of the car body <NUM>, wing mirrors <NUM> and side windows <NUM> installed on the sides of the car body <NUM>, and a rear window <NUM> installed on the rear side of the car body <NUM>.

The electric control devices of the vehicle <NUM> may control various devices of the vehicle <NUM> and provide the driver with comfort or safety, and may include at least one of e.g., an engine management system, a transmission control unit, an electronic braking system, an electric power steering system, a body control module, a display, a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system, an audio system, or a telematics unit. The electric control devices of the vehicle <NUM> may also include a high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> so that the vehicle is capable of wireless communication. The high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may be understood as part of the telematics unit, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may be a device equipped in the vehicle <NUM> before or after the vehicle <NUM> is released on the market.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may include a communication module <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, and a cable <NUM>.

For example, the communication module <NUM> may be arranged in a space behind rear seats of the car body <NUM>, without being limited thereto. In another example, the communication module <NUM> may be arranged under the hood <NUM>, near the driver's seat, near the roof panel <NUM>, or the like.

The antenna module <NUM> may be arranged on the roof panel <NUM>, the front window <NUM>, the wing mirror <NUM>, the rear window <NUM>, or the like. The antenna module <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the cable <NUM> by a connector.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cable <NUM> may be a single cable. The cable <NUM> may be a coaxial cable that electrically connects the communication module <NUM> to the antenna module <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> and the antenna module <NUM> may be installed a few meters away from each other in the vehicle <NUM> due to their design, but is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a block diagram of the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may include the communication module <NUM>, the antenna module <NUM>, and the cable <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module <NUM> may include an RF circuit <NUM>. The RF circuit <NUM> may be a circuit for processing an RF signal, and may include a modem circuit, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a radio frequency front end (RFFE), etc. The modem circuit may be a circuit for e.g., <NUM> or V2X communication. The communication module <NUM> may be part of the electric control device (e.g., telematics control unit (TCU)) in the vehicle <NUM>, or may be controlled by a processor (e.g., an application processor (AP) of the TCU) of the electric control device. The processor may include a microprocessor or any suitable type of processing circuitry, such as one or more general-purpose processors (e.g., ARM-based processors), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU), a video card controller, etc. In addition, it would be recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code for implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computer for executing the processing shown herein. Certain of the functions and steps provided in the Figures may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both and may be performed in whole or in part within the programmed instructions of a computer.

RF signals processed by the communication module <NUM> may include different RF signals having different frequencies or are in different communication schemes.

The communication module <NUM> may distinguish between transmission (TX) and reception (RX) of the RF signal by a time division duplexing (TDD) method. The RF circuit <NUM> may output a TX/RX control signal to distinguish between TX and RX. For example, TX/RX control signal '<NUM>' indicates a TX mode, and TX/RX control signal '<NUM>' indicates an RX mode. The TX/RX control signal is modulated to an alternating current (AC) signal of a certain frequency in a TX/RX control signal modulation circuit (hereinafter, a first modulation circuit) <NUM>, and is then carried on the cable <NUM>. The first modulation circuit <NUM> may include a direct current (DC) to AC circuit, a frequency oscillator, a band pass filter, etc. For example, the DC to AC circuit modulates the TX/RX control signal '<NUM>' to an AC signal. The TX/RX control signal '<NUM>' may not include an AC component even after being modulated in the DC to AC circuit. The band pass filter may include e.g., an LC filter. The modulated TX/RX control signal may have a different frequency from that of the transmitted or received RF signal. In an embodiment of the disclosure, modulation of the TX/RX control signal may be performed in the RF circuit <NUM>.

The communication module <NUM> may distinguish between TX and RX of the RF signal by using a frequency division duplexing (FDD) method. In the case of using the FDD method, TX frequency and RX frequency of the RF signal may be differentiated based on frequency. In this case, the extra TX/RX control signal may not be needed.

The communication module <NUM> may further include a power circuit <NUM>. The power circuit <NUM> may supply DC power. The power circuit <NUM> may convert power from the vehicle <NUM> into a voltage (e.g., <NUM> volts (V)) required by the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle. The power circuit <NUM> may supply the power to various circuits in the antenna module <NUM> and communication module <NUM>. The power circuit <NUM> may include e.g., a low dropout linear regulator (LDO). When the RF circuit <NUM> sends an enable signal to the power circuit <NUM>, the power circuit <NUM> supplies DC power.

An RF block filter (not shown in <FIG>) may further be provided at an output end of the power circuit <NUM> to prevent an RF signal from entering to the power circuit <NUM>. The RF block filter may include e.g., an LC filter.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the power circuit <NUM> for supplying power to the antenna module <NUM> may be provided separately from the communication module <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module <NUM> may include a serial communication module for transmitting or receiving a serial communication signal. The serial communication module may be arranged in the RF circuit <NUM> or arranged separately.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module <NUM> may use a serial communication module based on the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) scheme. For example, a TX serial communication signal (e.g., UART TXD) output from the RF circuit <NUM> may be a digital signal comprised of <NUM>(s) and <NUM>(s). The UART scheme may have separate data lines for transmission and reception. The communication module <NUM> may include a TX serial communication modulation circuit (hereinafter, a second modulation circuit) <NUM> for TX serial communication, and an RX serial communication demodulation circuit (hereinafter, a first demodulation circuit) <NUM> for RX serial communication.

The second modulation circuit <NUM> may include a DC to AC circuit, a frequency oscillator, a band pass filter, etc. A TX serial communication signal (digital signal) output from the serial communication module may be modulated to an AC signal in the second modulation circuit <NUM>, may pass the band pass filter, and may then be carried on the cable <NUM>. The AC signal modulated from the TX serial communication signal may have a different frequency from that of an AC signal modulated from an RX serial communication signal, which will be described later. Specifically, a signal from a frequency oscillator supplied to the DC to AC circuit of the second modulation circuit <NUM> may have a different frequency from the frequency of the AC signal modulated from the RX serial communication signal.

The first demodulation circuit <NUM> may include a band pass filter, an AC to DC circuit, etc. An RX serial communication signal transmitted from the antenna module <NUM> may be an AC signal modulated in the antenna module <NUM>, as will be described later. The modulated RX serial communication signal passes a band pass filter <NUM> and is then converted to a digital signal in the AC to DC circuit.

The communication module <NUM> may use peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) or other well-known serial communication schemes.

The TX serial communication signal may include a control command for the antenna module <NUM> to perform an operation to compensate for a loss in the cable <NUM> or a self-calibration operation.

The TX serial communication signal may include control commands or data for antenna switching, antenna impedance change, RF power back off, antenna diagnosis operations, etc., which are implemented in the antenna module <NUM>. For example, the TX serial communication signal may include information indicating the start of the compensation operation or self-calibration operation of the antenna module <NUM>, or a diagnosis message indicating the result of the self-calibration.

The antenna module <NUM> may also serve as a serial communication interface for devices performing various other functions aside from wireless communication (e.g., various sensors, lamps, tollgate passing terminals such as Hi-pass in Korea and E-ZPass in the U. , etc.), and the TX serial communication signal may include control commands or data for operation of these devices.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a front end module (FEM) <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> may be installed directly on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the antenna module <NUM>, or connected to the PCB by a very short cable.

The FEM <NUM> is a circuit for amplifying a received or transmitted RF signal or canceling noise from the RF signal, including an amplifier such as a pre-amplifier (PA) and a low noise amplifier (LNA).

The FEM <NUM> may have a plurality of gain modes that may be selected under the control of the communication module <NUM>. For example, the plurality of gain modes may include a low power mode and a high power mode.

The FEM <NUM> may further include a detection circuit for detecting errors or detecting power of an RF signal input or output for signal compensation.

When the TDD method is used to distinguish between TX and RX, the FEM <NUM> may include a TX/RX switch. The TX/RX switch may be e.g., a single pole double throw (SPDT) circuit. The TX/RX switch may switch between TX mode and RX mode based on a TX/RX control signal transmitted through the cable <NUM>.

RF signals transmitted or received by the antenna module <NUM> may have different frequencies or be in different communication schemes, so the FEM <NUM> may include a separate circuit for each RF signal or circuits that universally support two or more kinds of RF signals.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a TX/RX control demodulation circuit (hereinafter, second demodulation circuit) <NUM> that includes a band pass filter, an AC to DC circuit, etc., to demodulate the TX/RX control signal. The pass band of the band pass filter of the second demodulation circuit <NUM> may be the frequency of the TX/RX control signal modulated in the first modulation circuit <NUM> of the communication module <NUM>.

The TX/RX control signal transmitted through the cable <NUM> is an AC signal modulated at a certain frequency, which may be demodulated by the second demodulation circuit <NUM> back to the original digital signal.

In the case of using the FDD scheme to distinguish between TX and RX, a duplexer may be used instead of the TX/RX switch in an embodiment of the disclosure.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a power circuit <NUM>. The power circuit <NUM> may use a circuit including a capacitor to separate DC power delivered from the communication module <NUM> through the cable <NUM> from an RF signal and a TX/RX serial communication signal. The power circuit <NUM> may convert the DC power delivered through the cable <NUM> into a voltage (e.g., <NUM>. 3V) required by the antenna module <NUM> and supply the voltage to various circuits and elements in the antenna module <NUM>. The power circuit <NUM> may include e.g., an LDO. An RF block filter (not shown in <FIG>) may be provided between the cable <NUM> and the power circuit <NUM> to prevent an RF signal from entering to the power circuit <NUM>.

The antenna module <NUM> may include additional devices that perform functions other than wireless communication, in which case the power circuit <NUM> may supply power even to those devices.

The controller <NUM> may be a micro controller unit (MCU). The controller <NUM> may control general operation of the antenna unit <NUM> including the FEM <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be configured to control the communication module <NUM> or perform self error detection or signal compensation.

The TX serial communication signal transmitted from the communication module <NUM> through the cable <NUM> is demodulated to a digital signal in a TX serial communication demodulation circuit (hereinafter, a third demodulation circuit) <NUM>. The third demodulation circuit <NUM> may include a band pass filter, an AC to DC circuit, etc., to demodulate the TX serial communication signal. The pass band of the band pass filter of the third demodulation circuit <NUM> may be the frequency of the TX serial communication signal modulated in the second modulation circuit <NUM> of the communication module <NUM>. The TX serial communication signal demodulated in the third demodulation circuit <NUM> is input to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to receive the TX serial communication signal transmitted from the communication module <NUM>, and perform a certain operation (e.g., antenna switching, antenna impedance change, RF power back off, antenna diagnosis, etc.). As such, the TX serial communication signal may include control commands or data for antenna switching, antenna impedance change, RF power back off, antenna diagnosis, etc. For example, when the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> performs Bluetooth communication, complicated operations such as controlling switching of a Bluetooth antenna between inside and outside of the vehicle <NUM> are required, which may be performed by the controller <NUM> according to a control command included in the TX serial communication signal transmitted from the communication module <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may output and send an RX serial communication signal to the communication module <NUM>. The RX serial communication signal is a digital signal comprised of <NUM>(s) and <NUM>(s), which is modulated to an AC signal of a certain frequency in an RX serial communication modulation circuit (hereinafter, a third modulation circuit) <NUM>.

The third modulation circuit <NUM> may include a DC to AC circuit, a frequency oscillator, a band pass filter, etc. An RX serial communication signal (digital signal) output from the controller <NUM> may be modulated to an AC signal in the third modulation circuit <NUM>, may pass the band pass filter, and may then be carried on the cable <NUM>. The AC signal modulated from the RX serial communication signal may have a different frequency from that of an AC signal modulated from the aforementioned TX serial communication signal. Specifically, a signal from the frequency oscillator supplied to the DC to AC circuit of the third modulation circuit <NUM> may have a different frequency from that of the AC signal modulated from the TX serial communication signal.

An RX serial communication signal may include antenna impedance information of the antenna module <NUM>, gain information of the FEM <NUM>, antenna diagnosis information, etc..

The antenna module <NUM> may further include a memory (not shown). The memory may store data related to antenna operations as well as data related to controlling devices that perform functions other than wireless communication.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cable <NUM> may be a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable is a coaxial transmission line having a cross-section of concentric circles, including an inner conductor and an outer conductor, such that current or signal may be transmitted with minimal loss. For example, polyethylene steatite insulation may be placed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, to mechanically lock the inner conductor and outer conductor in their appropriate positions and reduce attenuation.

A TX RF signal, a TX/RX control signal, and a TX serial communication signal may be transmitted to the antenna module <NUM> from the communication module <NUM> via the cable <NUM>. Furthermore, DC power may be transmitted to the antenna module <NUM> from the communication module <NUM> via the cable <NUM>. An RX RF signal and an RX serial communication signal may be transmitted to the communication module <NUM> from the antenna module <NUM> via the cable <NUM>. The transmitted and received signals may all be modulated at different frequencies and carried on the cable <NUM>, and the receiving end of a signal may receive the signal at a desired frequency by using a band pass filter suited for that frequency. Specifically, the frequency of the transmitted or received RF signal, the frequency of the modulated TX/RX control signal, the frequency of the modulated TX serial communication signal, and the frequency of the modulated RX serial communication signal may all be in different frequency bands. For example, the frequency of the RF signal may be in the <NUM> band. The frequency of the modulated TX/RX control signal may be <NUM>. The frequency of the modulated TX serial communication signal may be <NUM>. The frequency of the modulated RX serial communication signal may be <NUM>.

The TX serial communication signal may include a control command or data to operate a device performing functions other than the wireless communication (e.g., various sensors, lamps, tollgate passing terminals, etc.), and the RX serial communication signal may include many different types of data resulting from controlling the device. The controller <NUM> may control the device, and communicate the associated control command or data with the communication module <NUM> in the TX/RX serial communication signal. In other words, the antenna module <NUM> may also serve as a serial communication interface for the device that performs functions other than wireless communication.

There are numerous devices designed for vehicles in the vehicle <NUM> that are needed for reliable vehicular operation in addition to wireless communication. For reliable control of these devices and communication between them, delivering the RF signal and digital signal is important. The RF signals and digital signals need to be delivered using the cable <NUM> in the vehicle <NUM> between the side of the antenna module <NUM> that receives RF signals and the device to be controlled, in which case RF signals, DC power, and various interface (e.g., a UART, a PCIE, etc.) signals for a controller (e.g., an MCU, an IC, etc.) of the device are carried on the single cable <NUM> for the antenna module <NUM> in order for the device to perform independent operations.

Detailed examples of installed antenna modules of the high frequency communication device will now be described.

<FIG> shows an example of an installed antenna module <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a block diagram of a high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle including the antenna module <NUM> of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may include a communication module <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, and a cable <NUM> connecting the communication module <NUM> to the antenna module <NUM>. The cable <NUM> may be a coaxial cable. Among elements of the communication module <NUM> and the antenna module <NUM>, those that overlap with those described above will not be described again for the sake of simplicity. The antenna module <NUM> may be mounted on one side A of the wing mirrors <NUM>.

The wing mirror <NUM> is equipped with a turn indication lamp (a light module) <NUM>. The turn indication lamp <NUM> may include a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a lamp, and a light source driving circuit for driving the light source.

The antenna module <NUM> may perform not only a wireless communication function but also a control interface function for the turn indication lamp <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> may include the turn indication lamp <NUM> or the driving circuit for the turn indication lamp <NUM>.

The communication module <NUM> receives a control command for the turn indication lamp <NUM> from an electronic control device and transmits the control command to the antenna module <NUM>. The control command for the turn indication lamp <NUM> may be delivered by modulating a serial communication signal to an AC signal. In other words, a TX serial communication signal may include the control command for the turn indication lamp <NUM>.

Although the wing mirror <NUM> is shown as including the turn indication lamp <NUM> in this embodiment of the disclosure, the wing mirror <NUM> may include a rear camera and/or a side camera. In this case, the antenna module <NUM> may include the rear camera and/or the side camera, or serve as a serial communication interface to control the rear camera and/or the side camera.

<FIG> shows another example of an installed antenna module <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a block diagram of a high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle including the antenna module <NUM> of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle may include a communication module <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, and a cable <NUM> connecting the communication module <NUM> to the antenna module <NUM>. The cable <NUM> may be a coaxial cable.

The antenna module <NUM> may be mounted on an upper end area B of the front window <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> may include an FEM <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM> for performing wireless communication. Furthermore, the antenna module <NUM> may include various other components such as rain sensor <NUM>, tollgate passing terminal module <NUM>, radar module <NUM>, proximity sensor <NUM>, etc. The antenna module <NUM> may serve as a control interface for these various other components.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the rain sensor <NUM> may detect rain drops falling on the front window <NUM>. The controller <NUM> of the antenna module <NUM> may control the rain sensor <NUM> and sends detection information about detected rain drops to the communication module <NUM>. The control command for the rain sensor <NUM> or the detection information about the rain drops may be transmitted or received through the cable <NUM> by modulating a serial communication signal to an AC signal. In other words, a TX serial communication signal may include the control command for the rain sensor <NUM>, and an RX serial communication signal may include status information of the rain sensor <NUM> and rain detection information.

The tollgate passing terminal module <NUM> is a device that uses infrared or RF signals to wirelessly communicate with an antenna installed at a tollgate for making electronic payments. Control commands or data for the tollgate passing terminal module <NUM> may be transmitted or received by the communication module <NUM> through the cable <NUM> by modulating a serial communication signal to an AC signal. In other words, a TX serial communication signal may include the control command for the tollgate passing terminal module <NUM>. An RX serial communication signal may include status information or tollgate payment information of the tollgate passing terminal module <NUM>.

The radar module <NUM> includes a sensor for emitting electromagnetic waves and detecting reflected electromagnetic waves to detect objects on the road using the reflected electromagnetic waves. The radar module <NUM> may include at least one of a pulse Doppler radar, a continuous wave (CW) radar, a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, a multiple frequency CW radar, or a pulse compression radar. A control command for the radar module <NUM> or information obtained from the radar module <NUM> may be transmitted or received by the communication module <NUM> through the cable <NUM> by modulating a serial communication signal to an AC signal. In other words, a TX serial communication signal may include the control command for the radar module <NUM>. An RX serial communication signal may include status information of the radar module <NUM> or information obtained from the radar module <NUM>. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the antenna module <NUM> may further include Sonar, Vison, Lidar, radar sensor system, etc., as devices for detecting road conditions while the vehicle <NUM> is moving, in addition to the radar module <NUM>.

The proximity sensor <NUM> is a device for detecting a person or object approaching the vehicle <NUM> by using, for example, infrared or RF signals. A control command for the proximity sensor <NUM> or information obtained from the proximity sensor <NUM> may be transmitted or received by the communication module <NUM> through the cable <NUM> by modulating a serial communication signal to an AC signal. In other words, a TX serial communication signal may include the control command for the proximity sensor <NUM>. An RX serial communication signal may include status information of the proximity sensor <NUM> or information obtained from the proximity sensor <NUM>.

The aforementioned rain sensor <NUM>, tollgate passing terminal module <NUM>, radar module <NUM>, and proximity sensor <NUM> are devices used for controlling the vehicle <NUM> or providing convenience or information to the user, and the communication module <NUM> may communicate with various electric control devices in the vehicle <NUM> to receive control information from the electric control device and forward data received from those devices to the electric control device.

The embodiments as described above in connection with <FIG> are only examples of certain installations of the antenna module <NUM> or <NUM>, but the instant disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the antenna module <NUM> or <NUM> may be installed in the front panel <NUM>, roof panel <NUM>, rear panel <NUM>, or rear window <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle is a device for transmitting or receiving a plurality of RF signals, and includes a communication module <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, and a cable <NUM>. Parts of the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle that overlap the high frequency communication apparatus <NUM> for vehicle described above in connection with <FIG> will not be described in detail.

The communication module <NUM> processes a plurality of RF signals transmitted or received.

The RF signal to be processed by the communication module <NUM> may include signals for V2X communication, signals used in mobile communication such as <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., signals used in short-range communication such as Bluetooth (BT) and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), signals used in satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS), global positioning system (GPS) signal, etc..

The communication module <NUM> may include front end (FE) circuits for universally supporting the various different types of RF signals described above. These different types of RF signals may have different frequencies or are in different communication schemes. The FE circuits are employed to transmit or receive the RF signals.

The FE circuit of the antenna module <NUM> may include a long term evolution (LTE) module <NUM>, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) module <NUM>, a Wi-Fi/BT module <NUM>, a V2X module <NUM>, a GPS module <NUM>, or an SDARS module <NUM>.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a plurality of antennas corresponding to different RF signals having different frequencies or communication schemes (V2X1, V2X2, GPS, SDARS, LTE1, LTE2, LTE3, LTE4, BLE1, BLE2, BT, Wi-Fi1, and Wi-Fi2). Some of the antennas (e.g., BLE2) may be installed directly on a circuit board <NUM> of the antenna module <NUM>, and some others (e.g., V2X1, V2X2, GPS, SDARS, LTE1, LTE2, LTE3, LTE4, BLE1, BT, Wi-Fi1, and Wi-Fi2) may be installed in a separate antenna housing <NUM> or in another location and are connected to the circuit board <NUM> by a very short antenna cable. The term "very short antenna cable" may refer to an antenna cable that is sufficiently short such that signal loss due to high frequency is negligible. For example, a very short antenna cable may have a length of a few millimeters, a few centimeters, or tens of centimeters. Some of the plurality of antennas (e.g., BLE2, BT, and Wi-Fi2) may also be used for wireless communication inside the car body.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a duplex filter <NUM>, SPDT switches <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch <NUM>, or a diplexer, to separate out different RF signals that have different frequencies or are in communication schemes.

The antenna module <NUM> may include an LTE module <NUM>. The LTE module <NUM> in this example is a mobile communication module, but there may further be a <NUM> or <NUM> module. For LTE communication, one or more antennas may be used. In <FIG>, an example where four antennas LTE1, LTE2, LTE3, and LTE4 that are used for LTE communication is illustrated.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a BLE module <NUM>. The BLE module <NUM> may perform BLE communication using one or more antennas. In <FIG>, an example where two antennas BLE1 and BLE2 that are used for BLE communication is illustrated.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a Wi-FiBT module <NUM>. The Wi-FiBT module <NUM> is an integrated module for supporting Wi-Fi communication and BT communication, and may be connected to e.g., an antenna for BT (BT) and two antennas for Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi1 and Wi-Fi2).

The antenna module <NUM> may include a V2X module <NUM>. The V2X module <NUM> may use one or more antennas. In <FIG>, an example where two antennas V2X1 and V2X2 that are used for V2X communication is illustrated.

The antenna module <NUM> may include a GPS module <NUM> and an SDARS module <NUM>. The GPS module <NUM> and the SDARS module <NUM> may be respectively connected to an antenna for GPS (GPS) and an antenna for SDARS.

Some communication may be used in combination with a different type of communication. For example, depending on the status of a communication network, switching may be performed between LTE communication, BLE communication, and Wi-Fi communication. For this, lines of some of the antennas (LTE1, LTE2, LTE3, and LTE4) used for LTE communication (e.g., LTE <NUM> and LTE <NUM>) and lines of other communication antennas (e.g., BLE1 and BLE2) may be selectively connected by switching operation of the DPDT switch <NUM> and the SPDT switches <NUM> and <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

Wireless communication may also be performed inside the vehicle <NUM>. For example, while in BLE/BT communication, antennas BLE1, BLE2, and BT may be switched between inside and outside of the vehicle <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

Some antennas (e.g., GPS, SDARS) may be connected to the circuit board <NUM> via a common antenna cable, and may be branched to the GPS module <NUM> and the SDARS module <NUM> by the duplexer filter <NUM>.

As described above, the antenna module <NUM> may include the controller <NUM> for controlling the plurality of antennas and FE circuits for supporting the antennas to transmit or receive different RF signals having different frequencies or communication schemes. The controller <NUM> may be configured to perform complicated switching between the plurality of antennas and the FE circuits as well as complicated functions such as backup antenna switching for emergency call (E-Call) or specific absorption rate (SAR) back off.

The high frequency communication apparatuses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> use the single cable <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively, and enable control of the antenna module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> itself or control of a device that performs functions other than wireless communication, so that the vehicle manufacturer may reduce cost and solve design and space constraints by eliminating the need for extra cables.

According to the disclosure, the high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle may perform serial communication through a single cable and an antenna module.

According to the disclosure, the high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle may be able to control operation of an antenna in an antenna module through a single cable and the antenna module.

According to the disclosure, the high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle may be able to control other devices through a single cable and an antenna module.

Several embodiments of the disclosure of the high frequency communication apparatus for vehicle have been described above, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing the scope of the disclosure. Thus, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the true scope of technical protection is only defined by the following claims.

Claim 1:
A high frequency communication apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for a vehicle, the high frequency apparatus using a single cable (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and comprising:
a communication module (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to an end of the single cable and configured to transmit a radio frequency, RF, signal and to transmit a transmit, TX, serial communication signal, the communication module including
a TX serial communication modulation circuit (<NUM>) configured to modulate the TX serial communication signal from a first digital signal to a first alternate current, AC, signal in a first frequency band different from a second frequency band of the RF signal, and
a receive, RX, serial communication demodulation circuit (<NUM>) configured to demodulate a modulated RX serial communication signal received through the single cable to a second digital signal; and
an antenna module (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to an other end of the single cable and configured to receive and branch the RF signal and the TX serial communication signal, the antenna module including
a front end module (<NUM>) configured to process the RF signal,
a TX serial communication demodulation circuit (<NUM>) configured to demodulate the TX serial communication signal from the first AC signal to the first digital signal,
a controller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to
receive the demodulated TX serial communication signal
to control the front end module and
output an RX serial communication signal, and
an RX serial communication modulation circuit (<NUM>) configured to modulate the RX serial communication signal to a second AC signal in a third frequency band different from the second frequency band of the RF signal and the first frequency band of the TX serial communication signal,
characterized in that the communication module further comprises a power circuit (<NUM>) configured to supply power to the antenna module via the single cable, and the communication module further comprises an RF block filter configured to reduce the entrance of an RF signal to the power circuit.