Waymo LLC

Sharon Wang

Sangram Patil

Dieter Statezni

Example embodiments described herein relate to enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular telematics control unit (TCU) that includes antennas, radios, and other components positioned internally within a housing configured to couple to a vehicle. The TCU may include a first cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a first cellular network using a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna and a second cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a second cellular network using a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna. The TCU also includes a Wi-Fi radio coupled to a set of antennas and configured to provide a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the housing is coupled to the vehicle and one or more Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radios coupled to an antenna.

Enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular telematics control unit

Example embodiments described herein relate to a modular telematics control unit (TCU) with directional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and techniques for using the modular TCU with directional BLE. A modular TCU may include a housing configured to couple to a vehicle and a set of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radios. Each BLE radio is coupled to a corresponding BLE antenna configured for omnidirectional operation. The set of BLE radios and BLE antennas are located within the housing. The modular TCU also includes a heat sink located within the housing and positioned proximate the BLE antennas such that the heat sink limits operation for each BLE antenna to a particular direction extending away from the housing. In some instances, a vehicle computing system may use BLE to detect a device and perform operations based on the location of the device relative to the vehicle.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Sharon Wang