# US 10,374,653 B2 · V2X antenna systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,653 B2 - Document ID: US10374653B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/048,617 - Filed: 2016-02-19 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-13 - Applicants: Laird Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Panamalai G. Gururaj; Cheikh T. Thiam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374653B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/44: Transmit/receive switching - H01Q 1/325: {characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle} - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of V2X antenna systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a V2X antenna system comprises a coupler and a microcontroller. The coupler is operable for sensing radio frequency (RF) power and relaying the information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is operable for controlling RF switches to selectively activate either a transmit path (Tx-path) or a receive path (Rx-path) based on the information from the coupler. The microcontroller may also be operable for controlling one or more attenuators to control attenuation of signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A V2X antenna system for a vehicular antenna configured for installation to a body wall of a vehicle, the V2X antenna system comprising: a coupler, a microcontroller, at least one attenuator including a first variable attenuator along a transmit path (Tx-path), and a power amplifier (PA), wherein the coupler is operable for sensing radio frequency (RF) power of RF signals received from a transmitting device remote from the V2X antenna system via an RF feed line and relaying information to the microcontroller, wherein the first variable attenuator is operable for attenuating the RF signals when the RF signals are communicated along the Tx-path, wherein the PA is configured to amplify the RF signals attenuated by the first variable attenuator for re-transmission via the vehicular antenna, thereby enabling the V2X antenna system to compensate for a loss of power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line, wherein the first variable attenuator is configured to attenuate the RF signals before amplification by the PA, and wherein the microcontroller is operable for: controlling RF switches to selectively activate either the Tx-path or a receive path (Rx-path) based at least in part on the information relayed from the coupler, wherein the V2X antenna system is configured to provide a wireless path for communication between V2X devices, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the RF switches to selectively activate the Tx-path when the information relayed to the microcontroller indicates transmitting signals and to selectively activate the Rx-path when the information relayed to the microcontroller indicates received signals and controlling at least the first variable attenuator along the Tx-path to control power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line to a level such that compression of the RF signals when amplified by the PA is reduced or minimized, thereby enabling the V2X antenna system to re-transmit the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line through the vehicular antenna without corruption. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attenuator includes a second attenuator along the Rx-path and operable for attenuating signals communicated along the Rx-path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA), and wherein the at least one attenuator includes a second attenuator configured to attenuate signals after amplification by the LNA. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one attenuator is controllable by digital signals; and the coupler comprises a bi-directional coupler. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, further comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured for amplifying received signals. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The V2X antenna system of claim 5, wherein the PA and the LNA are integrated in a single front end module (FEM). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The V2X antenna system of claim 6, wherein the single FEM further comprises at least one of the RF switches controllable by the microcontroller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein the V2X antenna system is operable with only DC power and RF signal at an RF feed point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein the V2X antenna system is configured to provide a wireless path for communication between V2X devices at 5.9 gigahertz (GHz). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicular antenna configured for installation to a body wall of a vehicle, the vehicular antenna comprising the V2X antenna system of claim 1 and an antenna configured to be operable with Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) signals, wherein the V2X antenna system is configured to be operable independent of and without requiring digital communications with an existing V2X system inside the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is operable for relaying the sensed RF power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device remote from the V2X antenna system via the RF line and relaying the sensed RF power to the microcontroller; and wherein the microcontroller is operable for controlling at least the first attenuator along the Tx-path to control the power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line based on the sensed RF power relayed to the microcontroller by the coupler. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The V2X antenna system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is inside the vehicle. ### Claim 13 A V2X antenna system for a vehicular antenna configured for installation to a body wall of a vehicle, the V2X antenna system comprising: RF switches and a front end module (FEM) including a power amplifier (PA); at least one attenuator including a first attenuator along a transmit path (Tx-path) between the RF switches, wherein the first attenuator is operable for attenuating RF signals received from a transmitting device remote from the V2X antenna system via an RF feed line, wherein the PA is configured to amplify the RF signals attenuated by the first attenuator for re-transmission via the vehicular antenna, thereby enabling the V2X antenna system to compensate for a loss of power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line; an adaptive control including a feedback system integrated with the V2X antenna system, the feedback system including a coupler; wherein the coupler is operable for: sensing radio frequency (RF) power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device; and coupling the RF signals received from the transmitting device to the Tx-path; wherein the adaptive control is operable for: controlling the RF switches to selectively activate either the Tx-path or a receive path (Rx-path) between the RF switches, wherein the adaptive control is configured to control the RF switches to selectively activate the Tx-path based at least in part on information relayed from the coupler and to selectively activate the Rx-path based at least in part on information relayed from the coupler; and controlling at least the first attenuator along the Tx-path to control power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line to a level such that compression of the RF signals when amplified by the PA is reduced or minimized, thereby enabling the V2X antenna system to re-transmit the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line through the vehicular antenna without corruption; and wherein the V2X antenna system is configured to provide a wireless path for communication between V2X devices at 5.9 gigahertz (GHz). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The V2X antenna of claim 13, wherein the at least one attenuator includes a second attenuator along the Rx-path and operable for attenuating signals communicated along the Rx-path after amplification by a low noise amplifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The V2X antenna system of claim 13, wherein the front end module includes a low noise amplifier (LNA); wherein the PA and the LNA are integrated in the front end module; and wherein the front end module includes at least one of the RF switches controllable by the adaptive control. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The V2X antenna system of claim 13, wherein: the adaptive control includes a microcontroller; wherein the coupler is operable for relaying the information to the microcontroller, and wherein the microcontroller is operable for: controlling the RF switches to selectively activate either the Tx-path or the Rx-path between the RF switches based at least in part on the information relayed from the coupler; and controlling at least the first attenuator along the Tx-path to control power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line to a level such that compression of the RF signals when amplified by the PA is reduced or minimized. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The V2X antenna system of claim 13, wherein the V2X antenna system is operable with only DC power and RF signal at an RF feed point. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A vehicular antenna configured for installation to a body wall of a vehicle, the vehicular antenna comprising the integrated V2X antenna system of claim 13 and an antenna configured to be operable with Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) signals, wherein the V2X antenna system is configured to be operable independent of and without requiring digital communications with an existing V2X system inside the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The V2X antenna system of claim 16, wherein the coupler is operable for relaying the sensed RF power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device remote from the V2X antenna system via the RF line and relaying the sensed RF power to the microcontroller; and wherein the microcontroller is operable for controlling at least the first attenuator along the Tx-path to control the power of the RF signals received from the transmitting device via the RF feed line based on the sensed RF power relayed to the microcontroller by the coupler. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The V2X antenna of claim 13, wherein the FEM includes at least one of the RF switches.