阅读说明：本技术 带有集成的发射放大器保护功能的用于无线电信号的发射/接收系统 (Transmitting/receiving system for radio signals with integrated transmit amplifier protection ) 是由 J·什佩尔 L·赖夏特 A·帕普 于 2019-07-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于发射和接收无线电信号的系统,系统包括具有调制解调器和连接在调制解调器上的发射放大器模块的控制器、与控制器间隔开地布置的具有天线和连接在天线上的接收放大器模块的天线单元以及使控制器和天线单元相连接的高频缆线。(The invention relates to a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller having a modem and a transmit amplifier module connected to the modem, an antenna unit arranged at a distance from the controller and having an antenna and a receive amplifier module connected to the antenna, and a high-frequency cable connecting the controller and the antenna unit.)

1. A system (1) for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller (30) having a modem (31) and a transmit amplifier module (32) connected to the modem (31), an antenna unit (10) arranged at a distance from the controller (30) and having an antenna (11) and a receive amplifier module (12) connected to the antenna (11), and a high-frequency cable (20) connecting the controller (30) and the antenna unit (10), wherein the antenna unit (10) comprises a protection circuit (40) for protecting the transmit amplifier module (32) and/or the modem (31), the protection circuit comprising a protection switch (42) having a reflection detector and a termination resistor (41) and/or a bypass line (43), the protection circuit being configured such that, when the reflected power detected by the reflected power detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the transmission signal is guided by means of a bypass line (43) to the antenna (11) or to a terminating resistor (41) bypassing the receiving amplifier module (12).

2. A system (2) for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller (30) having a modem (31) and at least one transmit amplifier module (32) connected to the modem (31), at least one antenna unit (10) arranged at a distance from the controller (30) and having an antenna (11) and a receive amplifier module (12) connected to the antenna (11), and a high-frequency cable (20) connecting the modem (31) of the controller (30) and the at least one antenna unit (10), the system comprising a further antenna (34) and a further high-frequency cable (20) connecting the at least one transmit amplifier module (32) of the controller (30) and the further antenna (34).

3. The system of any one of claims 1 or 2, configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals having a frequency above 3 GHz.

4. The system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gain factor of the transmit amplifier module (32) and/or receive amplifier module (12) is equal to or greater than the attenuation coefficient of the high frequency cable (20), and/or the transmit amplifier module (32) and receive amplifier module (12) are dimensionally symmetric to each other.

5. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, comprising an adjusting element (50) for adjusting a gain factor of the transmit amplifier module (32) and/or the receive amplifier module (12).

6. System according to any of claims 1 to 5, comprising an adjustment element (50) for adjusting the available frequency range, and/or configured for coordinating the effective frequency.

7. The system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the antenna unit (10) comprises a high frequency module which is connected in the transmission and/or reception direction before the transmission amplifier module (32) and/or the reception amplifier module (12).

8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7, configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals of different radio services.

9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a diagnostic unit for checking the functionality of the high-frequency cable (20).

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, configured to load the receive amplifier module (12) with a direct current through the high frequency cable (20).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller having a modem and a transmit amplifier module connected to the modem, an antenna unit arranged at a distance from the controller and having an antenna and a receive amplifier module connected to the antenna, and a high-frequency cable connecting the controller and the antenna unit.

Background

In this type of system, the modem is configured to Transmit (TX) and Receive (RX) radio signals by means of an antenna, and is therefore commonly referred to as a TRX modem. In order to transmit High Frequency (HF) signals between the modem and the antenna, the system comprises a high frequency cable by which the modem and the antenna are connected to each other.

However, when transmitting in a high frequency cable, it is inevitable to attenuate the signal. The longer the high-frequency cable on the one hand and the higher the frequency of the signal on the other hand, the greater the attenuation caused by the cable, the so-called cable attenuation. Due to such cable attenuation, transmission quality may be impaired, which for example leads to bit errors, which in mobile radios may be perceived in the form of dropped lines, and the effective distance of the radio connection and the reception quality may be reduced. Nevertheless, it is often desirable or necessary to arrange the TRX modem and the antenna spatially separated despite the high signal frequencies.

In order to overcome the signal attenuation caused by the cable in this case, a power amplifier module (PA) and/or a receive amplifier module (LNA) are usually connected in the respective signal paths, that is to say in the transmit path and the receive path. The receive amplifier module is mostly integrated into the antenna unit to overcome the noise of the received signal, i.e. to reduce the noise figure of the receive path. In many cases, the receive amplifier module is also integrated into the antenna unit, for example for simple operability.

Patent document EP 0905915 a2 discloses such a system configured as a mobile radio adapter. The mobile radio adapter comprises an antenna and a receive amplifier module or a transmit amplifier module, respectively, arranged adjacent to the antenna and connected to the antenna. The mobile terminal device, which is arranged spaced apart from the receive amplifier module, can be connected to the mobile radio adapter by means of two cables, wherein only one of the two cables is associated with the transmit path and the receive path, respectively.

A system of the type mentioned at the outset can be installed in vehicles, in particular in most motor vehicles, in order to enable radio communication (vehicle-to-vehicle X) for the vehicle, for example with an external mobile radio network, an external WLAN interface, an external bluetooth device or another motor vehicle.

For example, patent document DE 4410542 a1 discloses a system for using a mobile terminal device in a vehicle. The system includes an external antenna and a receive amplifier module disposed adjacent to and connected to the external antenna and a transmit amplifier module disposed within the vehicle. The receive amplifier module and the transmit amplifier module are connected to each other by means of two coaxial cables, which are associated with the transmit path and the receive path, respectively only.

Patent document DE 102006021514 a1 discloses a further mobile radio participation system for a vehicle, which has an antenna, a receiving amplifier module arranged adjacent to the antenna and connected thereto, a coaxial cable and a transmitting amplifier module connected to the receiving amplifier module by means of the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable is associated with both a transmit path and a receive path. The mobile terminal device may be connected to a transmit amplifier module.

Patent document US 2013/0215804 a1 discloses a system with a controller and an antenna unit arranged adjacent to the controller, the antenna unit comprising a protection circuit preventing a functional failure of a specific member of the antenna unit.

However, when the components of the system described above are not sufficiently coordinated with one another, it is also already possible to impair the function of the system or to damage or destroy the transmit amplifier module, for example due to reflections in the high-frequency cable. Incompatibility is also likely to occur from the actual installation situation of the system, erroneous adjustment of the amplifier module, and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an improved system for transmitting and receiving radio signals, which avoids the described disadvantages and has a high stability.

The subject matter of the invention is a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller with a modem and a transmit amplifier module connected to the modem, an antenna unit arranged at a distance from the controller with an antenna and a receive amplifier module connected to the antenna, and a high-frequency cable connecting the controller and the antenna unit. The system is widely applicable and can be installed in motor vehicles in particular. In these cases, the controller may be a so-called communication controller. It will be appreciated that the transmit paths bypass the receive amplifier modules respectively and the receive paths bypass the transmit amplifier modules respectively.

According to the invention, the antenna unit comprises a protection circuit for protecting the transmission amplifier module and/or the modem, the protection circuit comprising a protection switch with a reflection detector and a termination resistor and/or a bypass line and being configured to direct the transmission signal by means of the bypass line around the reception amplifier module to the antenna or the termination resistor when the reflected power detected by the reflection detector exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The protection circuit, also called VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) protection circuit, effectively prevents the transmit amplifier module or the modem from being damaged by signal reflections in the high frequency cable without coordination. In this case, when the reflection detector receives unwanted reflected power, the protection switch connects the signal output of the transmission amplifier module to a terminating resistor (dummy load, typically 50 ohms) or to the antenna via a bypass line. In this way, damage or destruction of the transmission amplifier module or the modem is effectively prevented.

The invention also relates to a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals, comprising a controller with a modem and at least one transmit amplifier module connected to the modem, at least one antenna unit arranged at a distance from the controller with an antenna and a receive amplifier module connected to the antenna, and a high-frequency cable connecting the modem of the controller and the at least one antenna unit, and comprising a further antenna and a further high-frequency cable connecting the transmit amplifier module of the controller and the further antenna. The system separates the receive path from the transmit path, thereby protecting the transmit amplifier module from signal reflections in the high frequency cable. In this way, damage or destruction of the transmission amplifier module or the modem is effectively prevented.

In both cases, the transmit amplifier module is arranged in the modem, and only the receive amplifier module is integrated in the antenna unit. This arrangement offers the advantage that the transmit amplifier module and the modem are integrated in terms of circuitry, i.e. can be arranged on the same circuit board (printed circuit board, PCB), wherein the modem assumes the control of the transmit amplifier module. Accordingly, an external control line that would otherwise be between the modem and the transmit amplifier module can be omitted. Furthermore, the transmit power of the modem may be reduced, since the signal transmitted by the modem is amplified by the transmit amplifier module before being transmitted over the high frequency cable.

Preferably, the system is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals having a frequency higher than 3 GHz. At frequencies above 3GHz, the attenuation through the high frequency cable is very strong. Both the frequency band of mobile radio (3.5GHz) and the frequency band for vehicle-to-X radio communication (5.9GHz) are higher than 3 GHz.

In one embodiment, the gain factor of the transmit amplifier module and/or the receive amplifier module is equal to or greater than the attenuation coefficient/loss factor of the high frequency cable, and/or the transmit amplifier module and the receive amplifier module are symmetrical in size with respect to each other. The attenuation coefficient corresponds to the attenuation loss of the signal in the high-frequency cable, i.e., to the loss power caused by the cable. Therefore, the power loss is compensated for by the amplification power corresponding to the gain factor at least as large. The symmetrical dimensioning results in a compensated power transmission balance (link budget) between the transmit direction and the receive direction, which requires mainly the radio services with certification requirements, such as bluetooth and car-pair X.

Advantageously, the system comprises an adjusting element for adjusting, in particular automatically, the gain factor/amplification factor of the transmit amplifier module and/or the receive amplifier module. The adjusting element can be designed as software, so that the gain factor can be set flexibly and adjustably. In this way, the gain factor can be encoded, that is to say the amplification power of the transmit amplifier module and/or the receive amplifier module can be adjusted as a function of the attenuation through the high-frequency cable. The adjusting element can be configured without feedback or with feedback. In the case of feedback, the adjusting element can be connected to a detector which picks up the attenuation of the high-power cable to form an adjusting loop for the gain factor. By means of the control loop, the gain factor can be automatically and dynamically adapted to different lengths of high-power cables.

Alternatively or additionally, the system may comprise an adjusting element for adjusting, in particular automatically, the available frequency range and/or be configured to, in particular automatically, coordinate the effective frequencies. Depending on the bandwidth and/or the number of the auxiliary radio service channels, the adjusting elements enable a coordination, in particular a readjustment (synchronization), of the transmit amplifier module and/or the receive amplifier module in respect of the frequency used (TRX control loop), respectively. The adjustment element may be part of an adjustment loop to achieve automatic and dynamic coordination.

In other embodiments, the antenna unit comprises, in particular, a scalable high-frequency module, in particular a filter, a mixer, a switch or a duplex/triplexer. The form and number of high frequency modules depends on the bandwidth and/or number of the auxiliary radio service channels.

In these embodiments, the high-frequency module can be connected upstream of the transmit amplifier module and/or the receive amplifier module in the transmit direction and/or the receive direction. In other words, the high-frequency module can be switched into the transmit path and/or the receive path on the antenna side or on the modem side.

Preferably, the system is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals of different radio services, and in particular the antenna unit comprises a combiner or a frequency multiplexer. The combiner or frequency multiplexer allows the simultaneous or parallel transmission of radio signals of different radio services, that is to say of different frequencies and bandwidths (GSM-, UMTS, LTE mobile radio service and car-to-X service), using a single high-frequency cable.

In one embodiment, the system comprises a diagnostic unit for checking the functionality of the high frequency cable. The diagnostic unit may be based on Direct Current (DC) resistance measurements. Alternatively, the diagnostic unit may use a current window or pulse width modulated (pulse width modulation) signal for measurement purposes. By means of the diagnostic unit, a disconnection, a short circuit or a deformation of the high-frequency cable in its installation section (remote structure) can be reliably recognized.

In other embodiments, the system is configured to load the receiving amplifier module with a direct current through the high-frequency cable, and the system comprises, inter alia, a biaser (also referred to as Bias-Tee) and/or a direct current blocker (DC blocker). This is achieved in that the antenna unit is supplied by the controller without being connected to a separate current cable. In this way, the antenna unit does not have to be connected to the on-board circuit itself, for example in a vehicle.

Drawings

The invention is further described with reference to the embodiments schematically shown in the drawings and with reference to the figures. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals in a schematic diagram;

fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to an embodiment of the invention in a schematic view;

fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to another embodiment of the invention in a schematic view;

fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a third embodiment of the invention in a schematic view;

fig. 5 shows a block diagram of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a schematic diagram;

fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in a schematic diagram.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a system 1 for transmitting and receiving radio signals, which is installed, for example, in a motor vehicle.

The system 1 comprises a controller 30 with a modem 31 and a transmit amplifier module 32 connected to the modem 31, an antenna unit 10 arranged at a distance from the controller 30 with an antenna 11 and a receive amplifier module 12 connected to the antenna 11, and a high-frequency cable 20 connecting the controller 30 and the antenna unit 10. The system 1 is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals having a frequency higher than 3GHz and accordingly also enables the use of radio services whose frequency band has a high frequency. The transmit path passes through the receive amplifier module 12 and the receive path passes through the transmit amplifier module 32, that is, the receive amplifier module 12 is not in the transmit path and the transmit amplifier module 32 is not in the receive path.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit 10 of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to an embodiment of the invention in a schematic view.

In this system, the gain factor of the transmit amplifier module 32 (see fig. 1) and/or the receive amplifier module 12 is equal to or greater than the attenuation coefficient of the high frequency cable 20. Further, the transmission amplifier module 32 and the reception amplifier module 12 are symmetrical in size with each other.

Furthermore, the system comprises a diagnostic unit (not shown) for checking the functionality of the high-frequency cable 20 and is configured to load the transmit amplifier module 12 with a direct current via the high-frequency cable 20. To this end, the system includes a biaser and a dc current resistor breaker (both not shown).

Furthermore, the antenna unit 10 includes a protection circuit 40 (VSWR-protection circuit) for protecting the transmission amplifier module 32 and/or the modem 31. The protection circuit 40 comprises a protection switch 42 with a reflected power detector, a termination resistor 41 and a bypass line 43 and is configured to direct the transmit signal by means of the bypass line 43 to the antenna 11 or the termination resistor 41 bypassing the receive amplifier module 12 when the reflected power detected by the reflected power detector exceeds a predetermined threshold. The protection switch 42 may be configured as a semiconductor (HL) switch.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit 10 of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to another embodiment of the invention in a schematic view. The system has the same structure as the system shown in fig. 2, wherein the protection circuit 40 is not shown here for visibility reasons.

The system comprises one or more scalable high frequency modules, which are shown in fig. 3 only as filters 13, mixers 14, switches 15 and duplex/triplexers 16, for example. The high-frequency module is connected between the antenna 11 and the receive amplifier module 12 and is connected upstream of the receive amplifier module 12 in the receiving direction.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an antenna unit 10 of a system for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a third embodiment of the invention in a schematic view. The system has the same structure as the system shown in fig. 2, wherein the protection circuit 40 is not shown here for visibility reasons.

The system is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals of different radio services (GSM-, UMTS, LTE mobile radio service and car-to-X service) and the antenna unit 10 comprises a combiner 17, but may also comprise a frequency multiplexer 18, which is shown as an alternative in fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of a system 2 for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a schematic diagram. The system 2 comprises an adjusting element 50 for automatically adjusting the gain factors of the transmit amplifier module 32 and the receive amplifier module 12. Alternatively or additionally, the adjusting element 50 is also designed to automatically adjust the available frequency range or to automatically determine the effective frequency.

Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a system 2 for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in a schematic diagram. The system 2 comprises a controller 30 having a modem 31, two transmit amplifier modules 32 combined into a transmit amplifier unit 33 connected to the modem 31, an antenna 34 spaced from the controller 30, and a high frequency cable 20 connecting the transmit amplifier modules 32 and the antenna unit 34 of the controller 30.

Furthermore, the system 2 comprises two antenna units 10, which are arranged at a distance from the controller 30 and each have an antenna 11 and a receiving amplifier module 12 connected to the antenna 11, and two high-frequency cables 20, which connect a modem 31 of the controller 30 to the antenna units 10. The transmission path with antenna 34 is completely separated from the two reception paths with antenna elements 10, i.e. antenna 11 only functions as a reception antenna (RX) and antenna 34 only functions as a transmission antenna (TX).

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the features of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may be combined in any number and freely according to the purpose and need.

An important advantage of the system 2 for transmitting and receiving radio signals according to the invention is that it has a high stability with respect to different installation situations and thus different lengths of the high-frequency cable 20 in a wide range of applications. Other advantages are obtained in the simple structure of the system 2 and in the performance of the system 2 for high frequencies of radio signals.

List of reference numerals

1 System

2 System

10 antenna unit

11 aerial

12 receive amplifier module

13 filter

14 mixer

15 switch

16 duplex/triplexer filter

17 combiner

18 frequency multiplexer

20 high frequency cable

30 controller

31 modem

32 transmission amplifier module

33 transmit amplifier unit

34 antenna

40 protective circuit

41 terminating resistor

42 protective switch

43 bypass line

50 adjusting element