Press Release
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Intelligent Antenna Module for Connected Cars
Continental and antenna specialist Kathrein have developed the Intelligent Antenna
Module that simplifies wiring throughout the vehicle, takes up less space, improves
signal quality and enables optimum scalability.
Regensburg/Rosenheim, April 7, 2010. The new Intelligent Antenna Module is designed to
integrate multiple antennas as well as the corresponding transmission and reception
electronics into one unit. It enables wireless communication between the vehicle and its
outside environment as well as inside the passenger compartment for applications like
telephone, GPS, remote keyless entry, tire pressure monitoring system, WLAN, radio, TV or
future car-to-car communication. The antenna module links via a digital bus to various control
units in the vehicle, which process the data and make applications available to the user.
Continental and Kathrein, the world’s oldest antenna manufacturer, have designed the
Intelligent Antenna Module to solve several challenges currently presented by wireless
mobile communication. It lowers complexity, reduces costs and improves performance. Since
the electronics are located directly at the antenna, less wiring than today is required. The
system uses a single data bus connection to shuttle reception and transmission data
between the antenna module and the end devices instead of up to ten coaxial cables
required by conventional solutions. The concept is highly scalable. Tailored to the needs of
the car manufacturer, any mixture of coaxial and databus connections is possible which will
reduce the number of cables, connectors and elaborate intermediate amplifiers. With fewer
components, the cost and weight of the vehicle can be substantially reduced.
The Intelligent Antenna Module also boosts performance. Attenuation loss caused by coaxial
cables is eliminated. In addition, the complete analogue transmission chain, which is
sensitive to interference, is now integrated into one housing where it is shielded against
undesirable electromagnetic influences.
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Your contact:
Enno Pflug: +49 6196 87 2515
-2The Intelligent Antenna Module substantially reduces complexity. Currently radio receivers
and transmitters are spread over many control units inside the vehicle. For instance, it is
quite complicated for several applications in various control units to use one single piece of
information. If the location information from the GPS signal is needed by a navigation system
as well as by an eCall emergency call system, at present two GPS receivers and antennas
are typically required, since every vehicle that has a navigation system is not necessarily
equipped with an eCall system as well, and vice versa. The Intelligent Antenna Module
provides this information to all application centrally via the databus, and only one GPS
receiver is required.
Since most services use country-specific frequencies, there are country-specific variants of
many control units that feature radio electronics. In the future, it will be possible to relocate all
of these into the antenna module. This also alleviates the life cycle problem; radio standards
and wireless transmission technology, which are changing rapidly to keep pace with
entertainment electronics in particular, have to be implemented only in antenna electronics
that are designed especially for those functions. Up to now, this modification has been
complex and costly, and several control units containing many other components had to be
approved afterwards. This is no longer the case. And the coordination activities of the car
manufacturer are simplified since only one development partner has to adapt the electronics
to the new standards – the developer of the antenna module.
The intelligent antenna module helps automakers reduce energy consumption of air
conditioners with solar reflective glazing without sacrificing wireless performance. With
infrared reflecting metalized windows as offered today on selected vehicles the interior heats
up less, thus reducing the need for the air conditioner and CO2 emissions accordingly. In the
case of electric vehicles, the energy required to run the air conditioner reduces the cruising
range substantially, so in the future, metalized windows will be particularly beneficial for such
vehicles. However, metalized windows attenuate incoming and outgoing electromagnetic
waves significantly. This is where the Intelligent Antenna Module comes in. Radio signals
within the vehicle are transmitted and received with the internal antennas. Signals from and
to the outside are received with the external antennas.
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Your contact:
Enno Pflug: +49 6196 87 2515
-3Continental and Kathrein plan to integrate the Intelligent Antenna Module in the area of the
roof panel, at the front and rear window or in the trunk lid. Using today’s electronic
architectures, modern services in the future would be possible in the car only at high cost.
Thanks to its openness for various radio technologies, the Intelligent Antenna Module makes
it possible for car manufacturers to integrate the desired technologies into the system at very
reasonable prices. The user benefits from low operating costs since the appropriate
technology required for the respective situation is put to use. For instance in a downtown
area, the Intelligent Antenna Module in a parked vehicle uses the low priced WLAN to
connect to internet from a laptop or PDA instead of a costly UMTS.
In the cooperation with Kathrein, the core competencies of the two companies are put to use
in an ideal manner: Continental provides the mutual development team with know-how about
digital hardware and software as well as systems architecture and integration. As the global
market leader for antennas, Kathrein develops the antennas and analog electronics,
supported by Continental – which is the world leader when it comes to antenna structures for
keyless access control systems as well as tire pressure monitoring systems.
Continental and Kathrein are currently working with two customers to develop an intelligent
antenna module for volume production. Two further projects are in the advanced
development phase. In a few years, the first Intelligent Antenna Module will be able to
reliably link cars to the networked world. “Always On” will then not only apply to just other
areas of life, but life in the car as well, making the trip safer and more eco-friendly.
With sales of approximately €20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers
worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis,
instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental
contributes enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent
partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately
134,500 in 46 countries.
The Automotive Group with its three divisions Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €4.4 billion in
2009, 27,000 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €3.4 billion in 2009, 24,000 employees)
and Interior (sales of approximately €4.4 billion in 2009, 27,000 employees) achieved sales of
approximately €12 billion in 2009. The Automotive Group is present in more than 130 locations
worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it develops and produces
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Your contact:
Enno Pflug: +49 6196 87 2515
-4innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which cars provide individual
mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental responsibility and costefficiency.
The Chassis & Safety Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and -sensorics, washer
systems and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and
passive driving safety into ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division integrates innovative and efficient
system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and
diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators,
as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid and electric drives. Information
management is at the very heart of the Interior Division, which provides a range of products that
includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic car-entry systems,
tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control systems,
telematics solutions and cockpit modules and systems.
Enno Pflug
External Communication
Continental
Division Interior
Sodener Strasse 9
65824 Schwalbach am Taunus
Phone: +49 6196 87-2515 / Fax: -792515
enno.pflug@continental-corporation.com
www.continental-automotive.com
www.continental-corporation.com
Your contact:
Enno Pflug: +49 6196 87 2515
Contact data for Kathrein:
KATHREIN-Werke KG
Central Public Relations
Dipl.-Ing. FH Rudolf G. Sonnleitner
Anton-Kathrein-Straße 1-3
83004 Rosenheim, Germany
presse@kathrein.de
www.kathrein.de