Communications system for a combat vehicle

The present invention relates to a communication device in a combat vehicle with at least a transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna and a plurality of communication terminals, which is greater than the number of transmit antennas or receiving antennas.

In recent times, there is also in the military Region a steadily increasing demand for communication. For this reason, modern combat vehicles equipped with a plurality of communication terminals. These are used both for the transmission of general information as well as for individual Communication between system components selected (Data terminals or callers). as a result the statistical independence of the data to thereby be transferred is no fixed scheme for data traffic between various communication systems available. Therefore, there is the requirement that in principle, a parallel operation of all communication terminals, - Where appropriate, in the same frequency band - Must be guaranteed. According to the current State of development is at present fighting vehicles for each communication terminal a own antenna provided. But it arises the problem that often a plurality of antennas on must be located on the same vehicle. As an extreme case only sees combat vehicles of the latest Generation is that under certain circumstances six required or more antennas for the realization of all would require communication paths. The need the presence of such a large number of antennas with a frequency of high technical approach sufficient distance from one another is, however, spatially in direct contrast to the demand small but extremely mobile systems high combat effectiveness. the situation is particularly exacerbated in some these combat vehicles or by the additional presence radar antennas, as well as the pivotable Weapons need an azimuthal space, in which no antenna can be disposed of or Antennas for determining the vehicle coordinates in the Room.

There is therefore a demand for a coupling as many communication terminals to a minimum of antennas. An ideal solution would be here Reduction in the number of antennas required on a depending benutztem frequency band. This ideal solution is but not technically feasible, since the function then the individual devices no longer under all ensuring possible operating conditions can. The devices "stuff" to each other.

The invention is based on the object of a communication device the outset and in the Patent claim 1 mentioned features in such a way that it has a minimum of antennas, typically two Antennas requires the combat vehicle.

This object is inventively with the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a concept in which only an antenna for the transmit path and an antenna is necessary for the receive path. These strong reduction of the number of antennas is through the use a functional unit enables that as a Signal path matrix containing control logic operates. This module switches the RF signal path of each Communication terminals, so for example, Radios, depending on the operating state thereof (Sending or receiving) either on an a power combiner Transmit path or the receive case containing containing a one level distribution Receive path. In this case can for switching over the signal path matrix in the required operating status signals be used also in the communication terminals make the appropriate change. Alternatively, the control signals may also Signals are synthesized, the external to the radio available, however, cause no Influence on the switching of the operating states exercise "sending" and "receiving". As a consequence of Switching, there are therefore in no case a "Corking" of the receiver even in the case that, for same time are other devices on the air. There the communication terminals in this concept normally should work with less power, gives at the transmitting antenna a slight performance deficit. However, this deficit can be very simple dimensioned - by a corresponding amplifier be -kompensiert as transmission amplifiers. The essential Advantage of the operation of devices with reduced Transmit power is to reduce the total power in the module power combiner transmission path and thus the additional protection of the receiver input stage. In principle, the dimensioning However, the antenna control carried out so that Still no damage to the communications terminals arises when all at their nominal proposed transmission power. In the case of the reception operation one or more devices is the switching of the Signal path matrix for these devices in Mode Receive made. This is the RF path of the respective Device with the Level Distribution receive path connected, that is, switched to the receiving antenna. At this point, one has to consider that both through the power sharing as well as through the grant made filter unit, a reduction of Receiver input power relative to the antenna base given is. But this can also be used a receiving amplifier are compensated.

One advantage of the communication device according to the invention consists in the fact that also the required Transport capacity for a possibly remote Antenna operating in the communication device according to the invention is significantly lower and therefore is easier to implement than conventional Institutions.

The communication device according to the invention is In principle, with a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna out. but it is also possible in principle, provide multiple transmit antennas. A second Transmitting antenna enables effective power distribution, when multiple transmitters operate simultaneously. Furthermore, this variant of the concept offers an increased Degree of redundancy, resulting from the increased Antenna resources. This redundancy due However, an increased effort in the control logic, because as a result of several available transmission antennas always optimal for the respective system state Allocation of emission units to the existing Antennas must be determined.

Whatever the constellation in the transmission branch also possible the use of a plurality of receiving antennas. Of particular interest is such a Option at additional conditions which the exploitation can appear advantageous of space diversity. Examples include applications in regions with a variety geologically related reflectors or areas of high density of development called. though arises again the need for complex (intelligent) control logic. Also in this case is an increased redundancy available.

In the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings An embodiment for a communication device explained in more detail according to the invention.

In the drawings:<sl><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a communication device with a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna and N radios;</li><li>FIG. 2 is also a block diagram showing a more detailed Representation of the control logic of the device of FIG. 1.</li></sl>

The communication device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is to at installation and in one, the rest not shown, combat vehicle, for example, a battle tank, thought.

There are a number of radio devices F1, F2, F3 to FN present, as well as a transmitting antenna 4 and a receive antenna . 5

The RF signal paths "S / E" signal of the radio devices are connected to a unit 8 "control logic / signal path matrix" the outgoing and of the radios Control signals are supplied.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the unit 8, are not precisely illustrated in the rest, the signal matrix forming, controllable high-frequency switch 8.1, as well as a specially programmed microcontroller 8.3, to which a configuration data memory 8.4 is connected, and an electronics 8.2 with a control part and a supply part.

The microcontroller 8.3 determined on the basis of the current requirements and resources of the system - Stored in the configuration data storage 8.4 - signal theory using approaches and physical laws, the optimum combination of Subscriber units (F1, F2, F3 to FN) available to the Antennas, so the transmission antenna 4 and the This is 5th controlled receiving antenna of the of the radios outgoing control signals, each signal, whether the device in question in the operating state "Send" or in the operating state "Receive" is. The calculated by the microcontroller 8.3 Link data to the control part of the 8.2 Electronics supplied. Within the control part carried out the production of the corresponding signals for controlling the high-frequency switch 8.1 in the signal path matrix. This will be the Wireless devices F1, F2, F3 to FN either the Assembly 9 "power combiner transmission path" and a Transmission amplifier 6 to the transmit antenna 4, or the assembly 10 "Level Distribution / receive path" and the receiver amplifier 7 to the receiving antenna 5 connected.

The supply of the electronics 8.2, both the necessary DC power of the entire antenna control and the required voltages for Antennenanpaßnetzwerke and amplifiers available.