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EP2128841A1 - Fahrzeugtelematik-Vorrichtung - Google Patents

Fahrzeugtelematik-Vorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2128841A1
EP2128841A1 EP08009800A EP08009800A EP2128841A1 EP 2128841 A1 EP2128841 A1 EP 2128841A1 EP 08009800 A EP08009800 A EP 08009800A EP 08009800 A EP08009800 A EP 08009800A EP 2128841 A1 EP2128841 A1 EP 2128841A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
communication device
antenna
telematics communication
telematics
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08009800A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2128841B1 (de
Inventor
Edouard Jean-Louis Rozan
Marc Torrent Moreno
Ramiro Quintero Illera
Adrian José Fernández Fernández
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SISTEMAS SA
GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SIST S
Ficosa International SA
Original Assignee
GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SISTEMAS SA
GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SIST S
Ficosa International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SISTEMAS SA, GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SIST S, Ficosa International SA filed Critical GRUPO MECANICA DE VUELO SISTEMAS SA
Priority to ES08009800T priority Critical patent/ES2775074T3/es
Priority to EP08009800.7A priority patent/EP2128841B1/de
Publication of EP2128841A1 publication Critical patent/EP2128841A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2128841B1 publication Critical patent/EP2128841B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/32Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
    • H01Q1/3208Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
    • H01Q1/3233Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/20Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
    • G08G1/205Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/36Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/28Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to communications and more specifically to a novel and improved telematics communication device for automotive applications.
  • the present invention also relates to a novel and improved method for emergency signalling for automotive applications.
  • a first level of monitoring could be based on vehicle diagnostics, such as wheel tire pressure or wear, oil or fuel liquid levels, structural integrity measurements, or any other vehicle parameters which give an indication as to the "health" of the vehicle in terms of mechanics and electronics.
  • vehicle diagnostics such as wheel tire pressure or wear, oil or fuel liquid levels, structural integrity measurements, or any other vehicle parameters which give an indication as to the "health" of the vehicle in terms of mechanics and electronics.
  • a second level could be based on vehicle live parameters, such as speed, average fuel consumption, driving distance left till next fuel tank fill up, number of passengers, how many passengers have their seatbelts attached, temperature at different locations of the vehicle, or any other measurements which give an indication of the current state of the vehicle at any one moment in time in terms of its current usage patterns.
  • GNSS Global Navigation Satellite Systems
  • Yet another vital application is the transmission of an SOS emergency signal in cases of distress, or heavy vehicle accident, to a central node for further routing to the appropriate emergency services, such as polices ambulance, fire brigade, or the like.
  • emergency services such as polices ambulance, fire brigade, or the like.
  • Such a service is being developed in several countries, and may be known as automatic emergency call, or eCall system.
  • the antennas for wireless communication for example cellular, and/or navigation service provision via a Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS
  • GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
  • a telematics communication device is provided with internal connectivity enabling the collection of telematic data from multiple sensors and/or electronic control units spread throughout the vehicle.
  • control processing means are provided for determining a state of the vehicle from the collected telematic data, and in particular, for the determination of the state of the vehicle after processing the multiple telematic information in combination and synergistically, as well as the provision of raw data directly.
  • Location information may be included as part of this telematic data.
  • a telematics communication device is provided with external connectivity enabling the notification of the vehicle state derived from the telematic data collected and therefore the provision of services, in particular allowing for the provision of services directly dependent on the state of the vehicle, including its users.
  • a telematics communication device is provided with all the antennas of the different communication modules integrated within the device.
  • a telematics communication device is provided with power supply means which enables the continued operation of the device even when the wired connections with the main vehicle power supply lose their functionality, due to the vehicle being involved, for example, in a heavy accident.
  • a method for emergency signalling in a telematics communication device whereby an automatic emergency distress signal may be transmitted to the appropriate emergency services even after the device has lost all wired connectivity with the vehicle, due to the vehicle being involved, for example, in a heavy accident.
  • the invention provides a method and device that implements various aspects, embodiments, and features of the invention, as described in the following.
  • FIG. 1 depicts the functional block diagram of an example telematics communication device 100.
  • the device 100 is adapted to support a wide range of services, such as:
  • the multiple sensor units fixed all over the vehicle may transmit raw measurements to a central processing unit. They may also be integrated within a single module together with an electronic control unit, where a preprocessing of measurements is performed, in order to transmit to the central controller, or even to other modules, data already in a state which might be further utilised.
  • Example measurements could include a sub-set from a plurality of telematic data, such as:
  • the performance of the telematics device is dependent on a plurality of parameters:
  • the power supply means of device 100 comprises a DC/DC converter 105 connected to the vehicle's main power supply line 101.
  • Power supply means also comprises an internal backup battery 104 connected to the remaining circuitry and processing means 108 via switch 107. Thanks to its high processing power, the unit is able to run several services and communication technologies at the same time, and can operate as the main telematics gateway of the vehicle.
  • Processing means 108 comprises means for control processing 109 as well as means for internal communications 110 with the rest of the vehicle. These two functionalities may be comprised within the same programmable micro-controller or they may be independent inter-connected units, as depicted via the broken line.
  • Control processing means 109 is adapted to detect a loss of connectivity, via data line 106, with the vehicle's main power supply line 101 and therefore activate switch 107 to connect the internal backup battery 104.
  • Such automatic detection of loss of power has the advantage of providing service continuity in case the telematics communication device's connection to the vehicle's cables is lost, for example, due to a crash. Therefore the device of the present invention can continue to function and transmit data independently from this connection, at least temporarily, for a duration of several hours.
  • processing means 109 is adapted to recharge the internal backup battery 104 via internal recharging circuitry. Once recharged, means 109 is adapted to disconnect switch 107, thereby leaving battery 104 ready for the next eventuality.
  • Means for internal communications 110 provides connectivity with multiple modules throughout the vehicle. Each module may comprise a single sensor unit, a single electronic control unit ECU, or a combination of sensor and electronic control units. Therefore the internal communications means 110 interfaces with at least one module via data cable 102. Such connectivity is possible as the means for internal communications implements a data networking protocol which interfaces with similar protocols in the different modules.
  • data from the sensors and/or electronic control units are routed via the vehicle cable to the telematics communication device.
  • This data is received by the means for internal communications 110 and may be further routed either as non-processed raw data, or a combination of such information may be further processed by the control processor means 109.
  • the control processor means 109 may be further processed by the control processor means 109.
  • An example of one such networking protocol is the CAN protocol for vehicle data communications.
  • data cable 102 would be a CAN Bus, and every module within the vehicle would comprise a CAN communications unit connected to the CAN Bus.
  • any other protocol providing internal data connectivity over a common communications line may be implemented.
  • Processing means 108 is adapted to further connect with wireless communications means via switch 111 and connection 120. Means 108 can therefore open or close this switch depending on whether the telematics device is to have wireless functionality or not. In the case where the only connection of the telematics device is intended through wireline connection, this section would be disconnected from the means for power supply.
  • Wireless communication means may comprise an internal wireless communication section and external wireless communication sections, both functionalities being shared by a common wireless controller 114. It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that the two functionalities may be implemented as completely independent units as well.
  • Wireless controller 114 comprises a radio frequency section for long range communications and a Bluetooth module 116 for short range communications.
  • a position determination module 112 comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System as well as optional inertial sensors, provides the additional location information in case necessary.
  • Radio frequency section comprises at least one transceiver for cellular communications, connected to RF antenna 115.
  • the plurality of transceivers may be implemented as a software definable radio SDR unit, sharing a common antenna.
  • separate antenna units may be provided, or in combination with separate transceiver units.
  • Common cellular standards currently in use are based on the GSM, CDMA, or OFDMA standards.
  • antenna 115 may be a multiple input multiple output MIVIO antenna. The implementation of such a cellular unit, according to the plurality of communication protocols, is within the scope of the person skilled in the art and will not be further detailed here.
  • Wireless controller 114 has a data connection to processing means 108 to collect the data being provided via the wireline connection, either in raw format or processed, in order to transmit it to vehicle-external servers, or vehicle internal modules.
  • Bluetooth module 116 has also the functionality for internal data communications due to its short range communication characteristics. Therefore it complements the internal communication means section for providing data to, and receiving from, sensors and/or electronic control units which do not necessarily have a cable connection via the internal data networking protocol.
  • This additional connectivity is especially advantageous in case the standard cable connections 118 and 102 are lost, for example due to a heavy accident.
  • the Bluetooth module 116 connected to the vehicle's speakers and microphone, would provide an uninterrupted audio link between the passengers of the vehicle and the operator of a central emergency service.
  • Such audio link is instrumental in saving lives when be used for providing vital first aid instructions either to the passengers themselves or to pedestrians.
  • the Bluetooth module may be configured to act as a backup external transmission device by attempting to link to an on-board phone, or a passenger phone with activated Bluetooth functionality. Periodic dialling of the default emergency services telephone number would provide redundancy in attempting to notify the appropriate emergency services.
  • Another advantageous example for this wireless connectivity is to have a Bluetooth SOS button in the vehicle's dashboard. Therefore a user may still request assistance manually via the wireless connection, even if the standard cable connection 119 is lost.
  • the button may also be in the form of an LED, which would be activated in case of an accident to signal visually the position of the SOS button.
  • the position determination module 112 may be based on a plurality of location determination services.
  • One such system is the Global Positioning System GPS, readily made available for use for the general public.
  • Other systems such as GLONASS, IRNSS or COMPASS also exist for different geographical regions in the world. In the case of Europe the satellite-based system being developed is the GALILEO satellite system.
  • the GNSS system implemented may be additionally complemented via inertial sensors located within module 112.
  • Inertial sensors have the functionality of improving the location estimate calculated from the signals received via the plurality of satellite transponders. In particular, they have the functionality of updating the current location of the vehicle in the interval between the reception of different satellite signals. Therefore since the location is constantly tracked, at any one time very accurate position information will be available.
  • Dead reckoning is the process of estimating a vehicle's current position based upon a previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position based upon known speed, elapsed time, and course.
  • Classic schemes of Inertial Navigation Systems INS include external motion sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers and other devices besides a GNSS receiver. These sensors increase highly both the final price of the equipment and the complexity of the installation into vehicles.
  • the telematics communication device object of the present invention provides the innovative solution whereby the telematic information gathered via the vehicle's data bus is used for building an INS based on these data. With such procedure the accuracy of the positioning service is improved in hard environments with low satellite coverage in a cost effective and reliable manner.
  • telematic data in addition to the location information provided by the GNSS module, obtained from the vehicle's internal communication bus could be:
  • Prior art positioning applications suffer from a basic limitation in that they do not guarantee service availability nor service integrity. These two aspects are indispensable for the provision of a plurality of services. Service integrity is an important component for the implementation of GNSS safety critical applications as well as for liability-critical applications. The latter applications are delicate in that performance problems can generate significant legal or economic consequences when not properly identified.
  • the telematics communication device of the present invention conforms to the service requirements in order to provide the necessary guarantee to fulfil service availability and integrity needs. This is possible due to the integration of a Protection Level PL calculation with each position determination.
  • the Protection Levels correspond to the radius of a plurality of circumferences centered at calculated positions. The multiple circumferences build a region where the actual calculated position is guaranteed to a pre-determined level.
  • the telematics communication device of the present invention has been designed to comply with a protection level with a probability of 99.9999%.
  • Protection Level analysis while designing the device filters the wrong detections and thereby avoids problems caused by erroneous calculations. This is especially important in liability-critical applications: for example, in an electronic toll collect system that charges the user depending on the number of kilometers driven within a specific road or zone.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a section of the inside of an exemplary telematics communication device of the present invention.
  • the compact design can be readily appreciated in this configuration 200.
  • a section of the power supply means 201 is contiguous to the internal backup battery 202.
  • Connector 203 provides wireline connectivity between the device and the rest of the vehicle.
  • the telematics communication device is provided with electric power supply via this connector.
  • most data communication and exchange with the rest of the vehicle normally takes place via connector 203.
  • a particular advantage of the device of the present invention is the complete integration of the antennas from the different communication means, thereby removing the necessity of having a long external coaxial cable connecting the telematics device with external antennas. Similarly, the antennas are protected from tampering, therefore guaranteeing permanent connectivity.
  • the various antennas of the at least one communication module, from the group of cellular RF, Bluetooth or GNSS antennas, are built in such a way that they comply with the compact limitation of the device's housing.
  • the integrated cellular and Bluetooth antennas 205 are designed not to be contiguous with GNSS antenna 204 in order to minimise interference.
  • At least one antenna may be a space-filling curve antenna in the form of a circuit board, with a printed pattern based, at least in part, on specific space-filling curve geometry. Due to the pattern fixing process, there is no constraint that the board be flat.
  • the circuit board may have many different shapes and forms, be flat or curved, spherical or conical, as long as it can contain the copper serigraphy which will form the antenna pattern.
  • the high adaptability of the pattern design allows for the integration of the miniature antenna into a wide variety of shapes.
  • its space-filling curve pattern is designed in order to enable it to receive either GNSS signals, or receive and transmit RF signals or Bluetooth signals.
  • Antennas based on space-filling curves are characterised by their self-similar repetitive designs, enabling to maximise their length, or increase their perimeter, to cover inside sections or outside structures, of the supporting material which can receive or transmit electromagnetic signals.
  • a space-filling curve can be described as a curve that is large in terms of physical length but small in terms of the area in which the curve can be included. Whatever the design of such space-filling curve is, it can never intersect with itself at any point except the initial and final point (that is, the whole curve can be arranged as a closed curve or loop, but none of the parts of the curve can become a closed loop).
  • a space-filling curve can be fitted over a flat or curved surface, and due to the angles between segments, the physical length of the curve is always larger than that of any straight line that can be fitted in the same area (surface) as said space-filling curve.
  • the self-similar repetitive design is obtained via a multi-scalar repetition of a pattern, or motif, and results in the advantageous characteristics described, among which are its ability to operate simultaneously at a plurality of frequency bands, and frequency ranges, as well as providing the possibility of integration.
  • the inconvenience of the long coaxial cables connecting external antennas with the telematics unit of the prior art is solved by providing at least one antenna with a highly compact pattern. This characteristic enables the space-filling curve antenna to be implemented in an exceptionally small surface area, allowing it to be integrated within a single housing.
  • the space-filling curve pattern may be printed on a standard copper printed circuit board.
  • a standard copper printed circuit board An example of such a board would be the thin FR4 PCB (example dimensions: 35 ⁇ m Cu, 0.2mm thick) as well as other supports which offer a good compromise between ease of assembling, flexibility, cost and dielectric properties.
  • supports for the copper either blended plastic films, Moulded Interconnected Device MID technology, cartons or flex-film may be used.
  • Other materials which offer the advantageous feature during integration of flexibility are ceramic-based materials.
  • the antenna may be integrated into the device by attaching it via clips or heatstaking it to the device.
  • a space-filling curve antenna may be designed is following the Hilbert geometry as it offers a very high degree of miniaturisation. Consequently, it also offers good integration characteristics inside the device.
  • the Hilbert geometry allows for a variety of designs where different patterns vary in complexity and degree in which the space of the antenna is filled. The overall effect is to change the antenna's effective length and therefore electromagnetic properties.
  • FIG. 4A depicts the front cover 401, the back cover 403 and the printed circuit board 402 of an exemplary device according to the present invention, where the antennas are assembled in the PCB.
  • FIG. 4B depicts the PCB 402 with the pattern printed 420 on the board.
  • FIG. 4C depicts the pattern printed on a flexible plastic film 430, which may then be fixed on any surface of the housing or the board.
  • FIG. 4D depicts the integration of the antennas 440 using MID technology.
  • Antenna patterns may be designed by using the Koch geometry or the Meander geometry.
  • Further miniaturisation may also be achieved via the use of a PIFA configuration, consisting on connecting two parallel conducting sheets, said sheets separated either by air or a dielectric, magnetic or magnetodielectric material, said sheets connected through a conducting strip near one of the sheets corners and orthogonally mounted to both sheets.
  • the antenna is fed through a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable having its outer conductor connected to first sheet, being the second shit coupled either by direct contact or capacitatively to the inner conductor of said coaxial cable.
  • Antennas may also be designed as a conducting arm, part of the arm being shaped as a space-filling curve, or as a miniature microstrip patch antenna, part of said antenna being shaped as a space-filling curve, based on any of the abovementioned geometries.
  • Antennas may also be formed as a superposition of two conducting sheets. These conducting sheets may have a space-filling curve pattern designed on them, or they may have a gap shaped as a space-filling curve.
  • the various patterns are carefully designed in order to provide a good compromise between antenna performance and degree of integration.
  • the correct choice while designing the geometry of the antenna will depend on a number of factors, as well as finally affect the performance of a number of parameters of the antenna 100. Among these factors and parameters are antenna size, its relative gain, electromagnetic radiation patterns, impedance characteristics, degree of flatness or curvature, frequency range of operation, antenna efficiency, specific absorption rate and polarization.
  • the antennas depicted in FIG. 2 are located inside the housing of the telematics device. However the at least one antenna may be also integrated on the exterior of the back cover. In either configuration the shape of the antenna's board is chosen to fit in with the rest of the components.
  • the pattern may be also designed to optimise its fit in relation to the remaining components, following the constraints of the printed circuit board size, area and forms, as can be appreciated from FIG. 4D .
  • the antenna pattern When integrated within the housing the antenna pattern is designed to be located substantially along the outer perimeter of the communications device or of the antenna's PCB, in order to maximise its irradiating characteristics and minimise the interference and electromagnetic coupling of other electronic modules.
  • the antenna may also be designed to be integrated either in parallel to the PCB or perpendicular to it. Either way, or even at any other angle, the advantages of flexibility while designing the pattern exist in order to achieve the advantages of highest integration and lowest interference reception.
  • FIG. 3 depicts the housing of an exemplary telematics communication device of the present invention.
  • Device 300 is designed to be embedded inside vehicles and be able to operate in extreme situations, for example, after a heavy accident, where most of the vehicle's integrity has been compromised. Even after the whole vehicle's mechanic structure has been destroyed, device 300 is able to operate in order to transmit, for example, an SOS emergency signal with the necessary telematic information.
  • Device 300 comprises a housing 301, wherein all the different components providing the advantageous aspects of the invention are integrated, and a connector 302, for connecting the various data cables to the internal vehicular data network and the power line to the vehicle's main power supply.
  • All the components of the telematics communication device are integrated in a compact manner resulting in a discrete small telematics box.
  • Such device can be positioned inside the vehicle in remote locations, such as in vehicle zones protected by the vehicle's own structure. Such positioning safeguards the telematics communication device's integrity best in situation of heavy collision. Therefore the correct internal component layout design within housing 301 provides the advantage of flexibility while installing the device inside the vehicle, and allows it to be placed in the safest less accident-prone zones.
  • Such placement of the telematics communication device has the additional advantage whereas important components will not be easily accessible for by-passers. In particular, it will be very difficult to steal such a device, tamper with it, and therefore extra protection against vandalism is provided.
  • FIG. 10A depicts an example housing of a device before fitting into the vehicle
  • FIG. 10B depicts the housing conformed to the spacing of the vehicle.
  • Such procedure would enable the device to be fit into non-uniform spaces, around or in-between existing objects, therefore optimising space occupation as well as overall protection, due to the shaping of the flexible part 1001 of the structure. Either the whole structure or part of it may be made conformable.
  • the housing of the device itself may also be designed to comprise at least two inter-connected modules 1101, 1102, as in FIG. 11 , wherein the connection 1103 is made from a thin flat flexible material or cable.
  • Antenna elements could be placed in one of these modules, whereas other electronic components, usually bigger in size, could be placed in other modules.
  • the telematics communication device could comprise two, three or more of these modules electrically and physically connected with each other so that the device may be fit into a free space within the vehicle even in difficult to reach zones, or spaces with a not well defined shape, for example, around or in-between other components and objects, such as pipes, or vehicle mechanical parts.
  • the modularity of the device's structure provides the flexibility during placement, and allows finding the optimal place and orientation for the antenna elements inside the vehicle.
  • the housing could be designed to be modular, as in FIG. 11 , and have at least one flexible malleable module 1102. Such a combination would maximise the integration capabilities of the device in non-accessible zones, therefore increasing its security against theft and structural deformations due to heavy crashes.
  • the small size of the device allows it to be placed in more accessible locations as well. Such necessities may arise in order to extend the possibilities of integration and vehicle-dependent customisation, especially when the main vehicle parts have already been mounted, and the less accessible regions are not an option for device placement anymore. More common locations where the telematics communication device may therefore be placed are for example under the dashboard, inside the glovebox, inside the central console, or inside the trunk.
  • the device In general terms, the smaller the volume the easier its integration inside the vehicle.
  • the device has approximate dimensions which do not exceed 120mm x 65mm x 35 mm.
  • its design can be customized in several forms and shapes in order to fit inside places with very different dimensions and configurations inside the vehicle bodywork.
  • the device's integrity is further safeguarded by the correct choice of materials for the housing 301.
  • Special plastic polymers may be chosen which provide the housing with extra mechanical strength, which in turn will result in a device 300 less prone to damage when under stress.
  • Example materials may be based on glass fibre reinforced polyamides, or polypropylene with talc.
  • the shape and form of housing 300 is also so designed to improve the crash-resistant characteristics of the telematics communication device 300. The resulting compact and robust electronic and mechanical design is able to withstand the stresses and G-forces present in an accident scenario.
  • the space within the housing of the telematics device may be filled with a solidifying material, such as silicon or resin, so that after solidification extra strength is provided to the walls of the device in addition to the increase in device integrity.
  • a solidifying material such as silicon or resin
  • Dynamic scenarios have been simulated in order to determine the stresses and G-forces applied to the unit in case of vehicle crash when installed in several vehicle locations.
  • the material of the packaging has been selected to provide the best mechanical behaviour while maximizing antenna performance.
  • These integrated antennas may also be optimized for performance by choosing the correct placement of the device inside the vehicle. Since the resulting telematics communication device object of the present invention comprises complex communication circuitry and a plurality of electronic modules, thorough integration studies have to be performed to find out the best location for the device in order to guarantee correct operation while maximizing the performance of the device.
  • the GNSS antenna could be placed in such manner to have as much a direct view of the sky as possible. A view angle of approximately 170° is recommended. The use of other sources of information to aid in location determination in case GNSS reception is compromised should not be discarded.
  • the vehicle normally has bodywork with metal based components which attenuate GNSS signal reception and introduce undesirable reflected signals received by the antenna, commonly known as multipath components.
  • metal and plastic components attenuate both cellular and Bluetooth signal reception and reduce the transmission range of the device.
  • the telematics communication device should be installed in a place where it can continue to operate after an accident.
  • FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of different electromagnetic properties of the communication modules in different placements (glove box, dashboard), with different types of antennas (PIFA, radio PIFA, monopole) operating at different frequencies (920 Mhz, 1795 MHz).
  • FIG. 6 is a similar graphic representation of the GNSS module performance at different angular elevations, whereas FIG. 7 depicts the case for the Bluetooth module.
  • Interference caused by emissions in the same frequency band is commonly known as in-band noise. Measurements aimed at characterising the in-band noise of the GNSS module is depicted in FIG. 8 , and in FIG. 9 for cellular communications.
  • the correct antenna design, integration within the housing and placement of the device within the vehicle is a compromise between all these different characterisation patterns.
  • the vehicle state information may include, in particular, vehicle positioning information, thereby enabling the provision of location based services dependent on the remaining telematic parameters of the vehicle.
  • a method of telematic communication is thereby enabled not possible in prior art positioning units or telematic units.
  • the vehicle incorporating the telematics communication device of the present invention will be able to collect a variety of sensor data, and processed information from a variety of electronic control units, and periodically transmit the information to an external communication node connected to a server or database.
  • the information from multiple vehicles may optionally be used by traffic authorities to monitor country-wide traffic parameters.
  • the information may optionally be used by vehicle manufacturers in order to monitor the state of the vehicle and use this information as feedback in the design process and improvement of the vehicles.
  • the information may optionally be used by private service providers pushing information to the vehicle's display modules informing the driver and/or passengers not only of services available in the vicinity of the vehicle, such as restaurants or hotels, but more specifically, information linked to the current state of the vehicle.
  • the route to the next service station may be indicated. If the telematics data is indicative of a vehicle manufacturer specific problem, the next manufacturer service station may be indicated.
  • a data and audio link with a service station may be provided, where an operator located in a remote location may have access directly to the telematic data in order for it to be analysed by a technician understanding the details of vehicle mechanics and electronics. In such a situation an overall diagnostic as to the severity of the malfunction may be given and the appropriate actions to be followed proposed.
  • Such telematic data need not be limited only to vehicle specific information, but since sensors will be installed throughout the vehicle passenger compartment, even various health monitoring schemes may be installed either as a standard procedure, or for passengers with a medical record, live monitoring of the vital signs.
  • the telematics communication device When the device detects a continuous worsening of the vehicle state, or a driver's state, due to the telematic information being read and processed, or a sudden variation in telematic levels being monitored indicative of a major change in the state of the vehicle, or due to loss of functionality of the main wired data connection, or any such similar information indicative of an accident, the telematics communication device is still enabled to transmit an SOS emergency signal requesting the immediate assistance by emergency services, such as ambulance, police, or fire brigade.
  • the autonomous power supply means provides continued electric power, enabling the continued functioning of the remaining components.
  • the external communication means periodically transmits an emergency signal including the latest telematic data, be it either from the vehicle or its passengers, to a central emergency service center.
  • This data may comprise current telematic data available via the internal communication means if any wireless connection is still available, and may also comprise an audio link so that an operator may either provide instructions as to first aid help, or just reassure the people involved in the accident.
  • the plurality of telematic data collected may be analysed by the appropriate traffic authority intending to find out the causes of the accident, in order to prevent such a situation from happening again.
  • the telematics communication device of the present invention provides a variety of advantageous characteristics amongst them the increased security of vehicle transit.
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • a general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine.
  • a software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
EP08009800.7A 2008-05-29 2008-05-29 Fahrzeugtelematik-Vorrichtung Active EP2128841B1 (de)

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WO2012138249A1 (en) * 2011-04-08 2012-10-11 Closed Joint - Stock Company "Aerospace Technologies" Passenger train antenna module (embodiments) and antenna module heating device
JP2013097698A (ja) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-20 Yazaki Energy System Corp 運行情報収集装置
WO2015078848A1 (de) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Fahrzeug-kommunikationssystem und verfahren zum betrieb eines solchen systems
WO2015139800A1 (de) * 2014-03-20 2015-09-24 Audi Ag Steuergerät in einem kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur notfallkommunikation
US9773281B1 (en) 2014-09-16 2017-09-26 Allstate Insurance Company Accident detection and recovery
WO2018149680A1 (en) * 2017-02-17 2018-08-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh Methods and systems for providing accident information
IT201700027595A1 (it) * 2017-03-13 2018-09-13 Swhard S R L Dispositivo di monitoraggio del livello di un fluido all’interno di cisterne
US10341442B2 (en) 2015-01-12 2019-07-02 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Device and method of controlling the device
RU197132U1 (ru) * 2019-09-13 2020-04-02 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Научно-производственное предприятие "ИТЭЛМА" Блок интерфейса пользователя системы вызова экстренных оперативных служб
EP3520091A4 (de) * 2016-09-30 2020-09-09 Allstate Insurance Company Steuerung von autonomen fahrzeugen zur bereitstellung von automatisierten notfallantwortfunktionen
EP3764757A1 (de) * 2019-07-09 2021-01-13 Mobile Devices Ingenierie Elektronische vorrichtung mit einem gehäuse mit eingebetteter antenne
WO2021259920A1 (de) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-30 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Telematikvorrichtung und kraftfahrzeug
US11228329B2 (en) 2017-04-03 2022-01-18 Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for interference monitoring of radio data signals
CN114211915A (zh) * 2021-11-11 2022-03-22 赛赫智能设备(上海)股份有限公司 带有多线圈分布低频激励天线的整车下线tpms检测系统及其检测方法
US11543541B2 (en) 2019-05-01 2023-01-03 Swift Navigation, Inc. Systems and methods for high-integrity satellite positioning
FR3129332A1 (fr) * 2021-11-24 2023-05-26 Psa Automobiles Sa Implantation d’une batterie de secours d’un boitier de connectivité dans un véhicule terrestre à moteur
US11662478B2 (en) 2020-12-17 2023-05-30 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for fusing dead reckoning and GNSS data streams
US11693120B2 (en) 2021-08-09 2023-07-04 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for providing GNSS corrections
US11733397B2 (en) 2021-07-24 2023-08-22 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for computing positioning protection levels
US11860287B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2024-01-02 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for detecting outliers in GNSS observations
US11906640B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2024-02-20 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for fusing sensor and satellite measurements for positioning determination
US12013468B2 (en) 2022-09-01 2024-06-18 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for determining GNSS corrections
US12019163B2 (en) 2022-09-12 2024-06-25 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for GNSS correction transmission

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US6282491B1 (en) * 1996-10-02 2001-08-28 Robert Bosch Gmbh Telematic device for a motor vehicle
EP0915443A2 (de) * 1997-11-06 1999-05-12 GRUNDIG Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung zur Aussendung von Notrufsignalen aus einem Kraftfahrzeug
WO2001080353A1 (en) * 2000-04-06 2001-10-25 Gentex Corporation Vehicle rearview mirror assembly incorporating a communication system
US20040051661A1 (en) * 2000-08-01 2004-03-18 Thomas Wixforth Combined receiver and transponder module
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WO2012138249A1 (en) * 2011-04-08 2012-10-11 Closed Joint - Stock Company "Aerospace Technologies" Passenger train antenna module (embodiments) and antenna module heating device
JP2013097698A (ja) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-20 Yazaki Energy System Corp 運行情報収集装置
KR20160091891A (ko) * 2013-11-29 2016-08-03 바이에리셰 모토렌 베르케 악티엔게젤샤프트 차량 통신 시스템 및 상기 시스템을 작동하기 위한 방법
WO2015078848A1 (de) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Fahrzeug-kommunikationssystem und verfahren zum betrieb eines solchen systems
US10044418B2 (en) 2013-11-29 2018-08-07 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Vehicle communication system and method for operating such a system
WO2015139800A1 (de) * 2014-03-20 2015-09-24 Audi Ag Steuergerät in einem kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur notfallkommunikation
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CN105793906B (zh) * 2014-03-20 2017-10-20 奥迪股份公司 机动车中的控制器、机动车和用于紧急通信的方法
CN105793906A (zh) * 2014-03-20 2016-07-20 奥迪股份公司 机动车中的控制器、机动车和用于紧急通信的方法
US9773281B1 (en) 2014-09-16 2017-09-26 Allstate Insurance Company Accident detection and recovery
US10592990B1 (en) 2014-09-16 2020-03-17 Allstate Insurance Company Accident detection and recovery
US10341442B2 (en) 2015-01-12 2019-07-02 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Device and method of controlling the device
EP3520091A4 (de) * 2016-09-30 2020-09-09 Allstate Insurance Company Steuerung von autonomen fahrzeugen zur bereitstellung von automatisierten notfallantwortfunktionen
WO2018149680A1 (en) * 2017-02-17 2018-08-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh Methods and systems for providing accident information
IT201700027595A1 (it) * 2017-03-13 2018-09-13 Swhard S R L Dispositivo di monitoraggio del livello di un fluido all’interno di cisterne
US11228329B2 (en) 2017-04-03 2022-01-18 Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for interference monitoring of radio data signals
US11860260B2 (en) 2019-05-01 2024-01-02 Swift Navigation, Inc. Systems and methods for high-integrity satellite positioning
US12105211B2 (en) 2019-05-01 2024-10-01 Swift Navigation, Inc. Systems and methods for high-integrity satellite positioning
US11543541B2 (en) 2019-05-01 2023-01-03 Swift Navigation, Inc. Systems and methods for high-integrity satellite positioning
US11469493B2 (en) 2019-07-09 2022-10-11 Munic Electronic device having a housing with embedded antenna
EP3764757A1 (de) * 2019-07-09 2021-01-13 Mobile Devices Ingenierie Elektronische vorrichtung mit einem gehäuse mit eingebetteter antenne
RU197132U1 (ru) * 2019-09-13 2020-04-02 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Научно-производственное предприятие "ИТЭЛМА" Блок интерфейса пользователя системы вызова экстренных оперативных служб
WO2021259920A1 (de) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-30 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Telematikvorrichtung und kraftfahrzeug
US12013472B2 (en) 2020-12-17 2024-06-18 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for fusing dead reckoning and GNSS data streams
US11662478B2 (en) 2020-12-17 2023-05-30 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for fusing dead reckoning and GNSS data streams
US11733397B2 (en) 2021-07-24 2023-08-22 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for computing positioning protection levels
US12085654B2 (en) 2021-07-24 2024-09-10 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for computing positioning protection levels
US11693120B2 (en) 2021-08-09 2023-07-04 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for providing GNSS corrections
CN114211915B (zh) * 2021-11-11 2024-03-29 赛赫智能设备(上海)股份有限公司 带有多线圈分布低频激励天线的整车下线tpms检测系统及其检测方法
CN114211915A (zh) * 2021-11-11 2022-03-22 赛赫智能设备(上海)股份有限公司 带有多线圈分布低频激励天线的整车下线tpms检测系统及其检测方法
WO2023094741A1 (fr) * 2021-11-24 2023-06-01 Psa Automobiles Sa Implantation d'une batterie de secours d'un boitier de connectivité dans un véhicule terrestre à moteur
FR3129332A1 (fr) * 2021-11-24 2023-05-26 Psa Automobiles Sa Implantation d’une batterie de secours d’un boitier de connectivité dans un véhicule terrestre à moteur
US11860287B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2024-01-02 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for detecting outliers in GNSS observations
US11906640B2 (en) 2022-03-01 2024-02-20 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for fusing sensor and satellite measurements for positioning determination
US12013468B2 (en) 2022-09-01 2024-06-18 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for determining GNSS corrections
US12019163B2 (en) 2022-09-12 2024-06-25 Swift Navigation, Inc. System and method for GNSS correction transmission

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