IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,594,362
Granted Patent B2
US 10,594,362 · App. 16/406,485 · Granted Mar 17, 2020

Communication apparatus and communication system

Inventor: Toshikatsu Murakami (Iwaki, JP)
Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
H04B1/745H01Q1/3275H01Q1/48H01Q23/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,594,362
App. No.
16/406,485
Granted
Mar 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication apparatus electrically connected to a first antenna through a first cable includes a second antenna that is substitutable for the first antenna; a first ground portion to which a second cable for grounding the first antenna is connected; an antenna detection circuit to detect a state of the first antenna; an antenna switching unit to switch from the first antenna to the second antenna, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna; and an insulating portion to insulate the first ground portion from a second ground portion around the first ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

Claims (61)

1. A communication apparatus electrically connected to a first antenna through a first cable, comprising:

a second antenna configured to be substitutable for the first antenna;

a first ground portion to which a second cable for grounding the first antenna is connected;

an antenna detection circuit configured to detect a state of the first antenna;

an antenna switching unit configured to switch from the first antenna to the second antenna, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna; and

an insulating portion configured to insulate the first ground portion from a second ground portion around the first ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a connection state switching unit configured to switch between a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically connected and a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected,

wherein the connection state switching unit electrically connects the first ground portion and the second ground portion until the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, and

electrically disconnects the first ground portion and the second ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the second antenna is grounded to the second ground portion,

the tuning of the second antenna is performed in a state where the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected by the connection state switching unit, and

in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected such that communication using the second antenna is performed in a state of the peripheral metal, which is the same as a state in tuning.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the first antenna is a shark fin antenna.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the first antenna is a shark fin antenna.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first antenna is a shark fin antenna.

10. A communication system in which a first antenna and a communication apparatus are electrically connected through a first cable, comprising:

a second antenna configured to be substitutable for the first antenna;

a first ground portion to which a second cable for grounding the first antenna is connected;

an antenna detection circuit configured to detect a state of the first antenna;

an antenna switching unit configured to switch from the first antenna to the second antenna, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna; and

an insulating portion configured to insulate the first ground portion from a second ground portion around the first ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

11. The communication system according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a connection state switching unit configured to switch between a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically connected and a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected,

wherein the connection state switching unit electrically connects the first ground portion and the second ground portion until the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, and

electrically disconnects the first ground portion and the second ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

12. The communication system according to claim 11 ,

wherein the second antenna is grounded to the second ground portion,

the tuning of the second antenna is performed in a state where the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected by the connection state switching unit, and

in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected such that communication using the second antenna is performed in a state of the peripheral metal, which is the same as a state in tuning.

13. The communication system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

14. The communication system according to claim 13 ,

wherein the first antenna is a shark fin antenna.

15. The communication system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

16. A communication apparatus electrically connected to a first antenna through a first cable, comprising:

a second antenna;

a first ground portion to which a second cable for grounding the first antenna is connected;

a second ground portion for grounding the second antenna, where the second ground portion is insulated from the first ground portion;

an antenna detection circuit configured to detect a state of the first antenna;

an antenna switching unit configured to switch from the first antenna to the second antenna, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna; and

a connection state switching unit configured to switch between a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically connected and a state in which the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the connection state switching unit electrically connects the first ground portion and the second ground portion until the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, and electrically disconnects the first ground portion and the second ground portion, in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17 ,

wherein the tuning of the second antenna is performed in a state where the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected by the connection state switching unit, and

in a case where the antenna detection circuit detects an abnormality of the first antenna, the first ground portion and the second ground portion are electrically disconnected such that communication using the second antenna is performed in a state of the peripheral metal, which is the same as a state in tuning.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 18 ,

wherein the antenna detection circuit detects a cut-off of the first cable.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 19 ,

wherein the first antenna is a shark fin antenna.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2019
From: MURAKAMI, TOSHIKATSU
To: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049157/0978 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-090855 · May 9, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190349025A1 · Nov 14, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,640,767