VEHICLE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle (2) comprising an electrical device (4, 5, 6) having a primary function. In use, the electrical device (4, 5, 6) generates electromagnetic radiation while performing said primary function. A controller (7) is provided having at least one electronic processor (9) for receiving a data signal (S1). The at least one electronic processor (9) is configured to control operation of said electrical device (4, 5, 6) such that the generated electromagnetic radiation comprises a modulated signal (S.sub.MOD) generated in dependence on said data signal (S1).

Claims

1. A controller for controlling operation of an electrical device having a primary function, wherein electromagnetic radiation is generated by the electrical device as a side-effect of performing the primary function, the controller comprising at least one electronic processor for receiving a data signal; wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to output a control signal to control operation of the electrical device such that the electromagnetic radiation generated as a side-effect of performing the primary function comprises a modulated signal generated in dependence on the data signal.

2. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

3. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to control an operating mode of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

4. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to change one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to modify properties of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when generating the modulated signal.

5. The controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to change the one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to change an amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation when generating the modulated signal.

6. The controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to change the one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to adjust a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation when generating the modulated signal.

7. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to control the electrical device to vary an amplitude and/or frequency and/or phase of the electromagnetic radiation to generate the modulated signal.

8. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical device is one of the following: a front windshield heater; a rear windshield heater; an alternator; a light; or an electric traction machine.

9. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data signal comprises an emergency signal.

10. A vehicle comprising: an electrical device having a primary function, wherein the electrical device generates electromagnetic radiation while performing the primary function; and a controller as claimed in claim 1; wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to control operation of the electrical device such that the generated electromagnetic radiation comprises a modulated signal generated in dependence on the data signal.

11. A method of controlling an electrical device having a primary function, wherein electromagnetic radiation is generated by the electrical device as a side-effect of performing the primary function, the method comprising: receiving a data signal; generating a control signal in dependence on the data signal; and outputting the control signal to control operation of the electrical device such that the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device as a side-effect of performing the primary function comprises a modulated signal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising selectively activating and deactivating the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising controlling an operating mode of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising changing one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to modify properties of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when generating the modulated signal.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising changing one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to change an amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation when generating the modulated signal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising changing one or more operating parameter of the electrical device to adjust a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation when generating the modulated signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising controlling the electrical device to vary an amplitude and/or frequency and/or phase of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation to generate the modulated signal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the data signal comprises an emergency signal.

19-21. (canceled)

22. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: enabling control strategies to reduce the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when not controlling operation of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal; and inhibiting the control strategies which reduce the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when controlling operation of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

23. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic processor is operable to enable control strategies to reduce the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when not outputting the control signal to control operation of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal; and to inhibit the control strategies which reduce the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electrical device when outputting the control signal to control operation of the electrical device to generate the modulated signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle incorporating a wireless communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of operation of the wireless communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] A wireless communication system 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The wireless communication system 1 is intended for use in a first vehicle 2. The first vehicle 2 in the present embodiment is an off-road vehicle, such as a utility vehicle or a sports utility vehicle (SUV), comprises an internal combustion engine 3. It will be appreciated that the wireless communication system 1 may be implemented in other types of vehicle.

[0038] The first vehicle 2 includes a plurality of on-board electrical systems each having a dedicated primary function. When the on-board electrical systems are energized to perform their respective primary functions, electromagnetic radiation is generated. As described herein, the wireless communication system 1 is configured to control operation of one or more of said electrical system to generate an electromagnetic signal comprising a modulated signal S.sub.MOD. In the present embodiment, the on-board electrical systems include an electric traction machine 4, an alternator 5 and a windshield heater 6. The electric traction machine 4 forms part of the vehicle drivetrain and has a primary function of generating a tractive force to propel the first vehicle 2. The wireless communication system 1 is configured to control operation of the electric traction machine 4 to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. The electric traction machine 4 is thereby operated to provide a secondary function.

[0039] The wireless communication system 1 comprises a modulator 7 for receiving a data signal S1 from one or more input device 8. The input device 8 may be a microphone for generating an audio signal; or a global positioning system (GPS) for providing geographic location information. The modulator 7 comprises at least one first electronic processor 9 connected to one or more memory device 10. A set of computational instructions is stored on said memory device 10. When executed, the computational instructions cause the at least one first electronic processor 9 to output a control signal S2 to a commutation controller (inverter) 11. The at least one first electronic processor 9 may implement a low bandwidth communication protocol, such as PSK31 or WSPR, to convert the data signal S1 into a coded signal embedded in the control signal S2. A proprietary communication protocol could be implemented using suitably configured encoders and decoders.

[0040] The commutation controller 11 is connected to the electric traction machine 4 and to an energy storage device 12 in the form of a battery. The commutation controller 11 controls the supply of electrical energy from the energy storage device 12 to the electric traction machine 4. When the electric traction machine 4 is energised to perform its primary function, electromagnetic radiation is generated. The electromagnetic radiation is a by-product of operating the electric traction machine 4. By controlling operation of the commutation controller 11 in dependence on the control signal S2, the wireless communication system 1 utilises the generated electromagnetic radiation to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. One or more of the amplitude, frequency and phase of the electromagnetic radiation is varied in dependence on the data signal S1 to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD.

[0041] The wireless communication system 1 may be configured to modify one or more operating parameters of the electric traction machine 4 and/or the modulator 7 when transmitting the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. The generated electromagnetic radiation may cause interference, for example with wireless communication systems. It is known to use specific techniques for reducing electromagnetic radiation generated from electric circuits, such as dithering Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals and softening edges of digital signals such as may bus wiring. Similarly, control strategies may be implemented to reduce the emission of electromagnetic radiation by the electric traction machine 4. The at least one first electronic processor 9 is configured to control the commutation controller 11 to alter one or more operating parameter of the electric traction machine 4 to modify the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. For example, the control strategies implemented by the commutation controller 11 to reduce the electromagnetic radiation generated when the electric traction machine 4 performs its primary function may be inhibited or suppressed by the modulator 7 when the electric traction machine 4 is used to transmit the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. Indeed, one or more operating parameters of the electric traction machine 4 and/or the modulator 7 may be modified to increase the electromagnetic radiation generated for transmission purposes. By changing the operation of the electric traction machine 4, the power of the modulated signal S.sub.MOD may be changed, for example to boost the transmission range. Alternatively, or in addition, operation of the electric traction machine 4 may be controlled to generate electromagnetic radiation at a specific frequency for transmission purposes.

[0042] The modulated signal S.sub.MOD is transmitted at a frequency in a medium wave (MW) band or below (less than approximately 2 MHz). The MW band in Europe ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz, using channels spaced every 9 kHz. The MW band in North America ranges from 535 kHz to 1705 kHz, using 10 kHz spaced channels. The inherent electromagnetic properties allow the modulated signal S.sub.MOD to be transmitted over long distances. The modulated signal S.sub.MOD may penetrate ground obstacles (denoted generally by a reference numeral 13). In favourable conditions, the modulated signal S.sub.MOD may reflect off the ionosphere to provide extended coverage (provided the receiver has sufficient selectivity). This type of communication is known as Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS). The bandwidth is restricted and this limits the achievable data exchange rate, for example the PSK31 protocol allows baud rates of 31 (bits per second) and below.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the modulated signal S.sub.MOD is received by a receiver 14. The receiver 14 comprises at least one second electronic processor (not shown) and a second memory device (not shown). The receiver 14 is connected to an antenna 15 configured to receive medium wave (MW) band transmissions. A set of computational instructions is stored on the second memory device. When executed, the computational instructions cause the second memory device to decode the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. The modulated signal S.sub.MOD is received by the receiver 14 and decoded by the at least one second electronic processor to extract the information from the one or more input device 8. The receiver 14 may be a dedicated unit or may be incorporated into a radio receiver, for example a medium wave (AM) tuner. The decoding software may be implemented on a software controlled tuner. The PSK31 low bandwidth communication protocol may decipher the modulated signal S.sub.MOD from the noise base. In the present embodiment, the receiver 14 is incorporated into a second vehicle 18 to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. The receiver 14 is coupled to output means 19 for outputting the decoded signal. The output means 19 can, for example, comprise a loudspeaker or a display. Alternatively, the output means 19 may provide alternate data usage, for example onward transmission of the signal. It will be understood that the wireless communication system 1 may also provide vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication, for example to communicate with a base station or fixed receiver.

[0044] The operation of the wireless communication system 1 will now be described. The input device 8 is used to generate the data signal S1. The at least one first electronic processor 9 converts the data signal S1 into a coded signal which is embedded in the control signal S2 output to the commutation controller 11. The commutation controller 11 controls the electric traction machine 4 in dependence on the control signal S2. In particular, the commutation controller 11 activates the electric traction machine 4 such that the electromagnetic radiation generated forms the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. The modulated signal S.sub.MOD is received by the receiver 14 and decoded by the at least one second electronic processor. The information conveyed by the data signal S1 is thereby transmitted as a function of operation of the electric traction machine 4.

[0045] The wireless communication system 1 may operate when the first vehicle 2 is stationary. The vehicle driveline may be configured to disengage the electric traction machine 4 such that a tractive force is not transmitted to the drive wheels. For example, a clutch disposed in the vehicle driveline may be operated to disengage the electric traction machine 4. Alternatively, or in addition, the wireless communication system 1 may operate when the first vehicle 2 is moving. The first vehicle 2 could utilise the internal combustion engine to provide a tractive force and activate the electric traction machine 4 to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. Alternatively, the electric traction machine 4 may generate a tractive force whilst generating the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. The control signal S2 may be configured to modify an operating mode or characteristic of the electric traction machine 4 to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD.

[0046] The wireless communication system 1 has particular application in operating as an emergency beacon to transmit an emergency signal. By transmitting the modulated signal S.sub.MOD in the medium wave (MW) band, the wireless communication system 1 may provide OOS communications with the second vehicle 18 or infrastructure. The emergency signal may be a coded signal, for example using Morse code to transmit and SOS signal, or may comprise an audio signal.

[0047] The wireless communication system 1 has been described as a transmitter. It will be appreciated that the wireless communication system 1 may comprise a receiver to enable two-way communication. The receiver 14 could be duplicated in the first vehicle 2. The receiver 14 can, for example, be incorporated into a tuner in the first vehicle 2.

[0048] It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the wireless communication system 1 described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the input device 8 could be a cellular telephone connected to the first vehicle 2 over a wireless network, such as a Bluetooth (RTM) coupling.

[0049] The wireless communication system 1 has been described as controlling the electric traction machine 4 to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. It will be appreciated that other electrical systems on the first vehicle 2 may be activated to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. For example, the modulator 7 may be configured to control the vehicle alternator, heated windshield to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD. In certain embodiments, more than one of said electrical systems may be operated to generate the modulated signal S.sub.MOD.

[0050] The wireless communication system 1 may be activated by a user, for example by activating an emergency beacon. Alternatively, or in addition, the wireless communication system 1 could be activated automatically, for example in the event of a vehicle system detecting a collision.