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System for obtaining information about a vehicle or a component therein includes sensors fixed to a frame of the vehicle and arranged to generate and transmit a signal upon receipt and detection of a radio frequency (RF) signal and a multi-element, switchable directional antenna array. Each antenna

System for obtaining information about a vehicle or a component therein includes sensors fixed to a frame of the vehicle and arranged to generate and transmit a signal upon receipt and detection of a radio frequency (RF) signal and a multi-element, switchable directional antenna array. Each antenna element is directed toward a respective sensor and transmitter RF signals toward that sensor and receive return signals therefrom. A control mechanism controls transmission of the RF signals from the antenna elements, e.g., causes the antenna elements to be alternately switched on in order to sequentially transmit the RF signals and receive the return signals from the sensors.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle, comprising: a frame defining a passenger compartment; at least one component coupled to said frame; and a system for obtaining information about the vehicle or said at least one component, said system comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged on a fixed par

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle, comprising: a frame defining a passenger compartment; at least one component coupled to said frame; and a system for obtaining information about the vehicle or said at least one component, said system comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged on a fixed part of said frame, each of said sensors being arranged to sense a property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component and generate and wirelessly transmit a signal based on the sensed property or condition and upon receipt and detection of a radio frequency signal; and a multi-element, switchable directional antenna array arranged on the vehicle, each of said antenna elements being directed toward a respective one of said sensors and arranged to wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals toward said respective sensor and receive return signals wirelessly transmitted from said sensors, the return signals from said sensors being processed after reception by said antenna array into information about the property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component sensed by said sensors. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the transmission of the RF signals from said antenna elements. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said control means are arranged to cause said antenna elements to be alternately switched on in order to sequentially transmit the RF signals therefrom and receive the return signals from said sensors. 4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said control means are arranged to cause said antenna elements to transmit the RF signals simultaneously and space the return signals from said sensors via a delay line in circuitry from each of said antenna elements such that each return signal is spaced in time in a known manner without requiring switching or phase changing of said antenna elements. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said array is centrally located relative to said sensors. 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said array is configured to be offset relative to said sensors such that the return signals are spaced in time due to varying distances from said array to each of said sensors, the return signals having a different phase and being separable by the phase difference. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensors are weight sensors and/or fluid level sensors. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of said sensors is a surface acoustic wave (SAW) or radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor. 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein each of said sensors is arranged to operate on a different frequency than the other of said sensors, said antenna elements being controlled by control circuitry to send a chirp sweep frequency, or frequency hoping signal such that the return signals are separated in frequency domain. 10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein each of said antenna elements is arranged to transmit an identification signal to permit separation of the return signals. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said sensors are SAW or RFID sensors, the identification signal is an alpha-numerical character string or being obtained by providing each of said SAW or RFID sensors with a different length SAW substrate or electronic delay to thereby cause a different delay which permits signal separation. 12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said array is a smart antenna array. 13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of said antenna elements is a distributed loaded monopole antenna, a plasma antenna, a dielectric antenna or a nanotube antenna. 14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises a seat in which an occupant of the vehicle sits during use of the vehicle, said sensors including a seat position sensor connected to said seat for sensing a fore and aft position of said seat whereby the position of said seat is the property or condition of said at least one component being sensed by said sensor. 15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises a door of the vehicle, said sensors including a door status sensor arranged to determine whether said door is open or closed, whereby the status of said door is the property or condition of said at least one component being sensed by said sensor. 16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises a window of the vehicle, said sensors including a window open sensor arranged to determine whether said window is open or closed, whereby the status of said window is the property or condition of said at least one component being sensed by said sensor. 17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control means are arranged to process the return signals from said sensors after reception by said antenna array into information about the property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component sensed by said sensors, further comprising means for utilizing the information about said components which are coupled to said control means and comprise at least one of a display unit for displaying the information to an occupant of the vehicle, a telematics unit for wirelessly transmitting the information to a location remote from the vehicle and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one said components based on the information. 18. A vehicle, comprising: a frame defining a passenger compartment; at least one component coupled to said frame; and a system for obtaining information about the vehicle or said at least one component, said system comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged on a fixed part of said frame, each of said sensors being arranged to sense a property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component and generate and wirelessly transmit a signal based on the sensed property or condition and upon receipt and detection of a radio frequency signal; and first and second antennas arranged on the vehicle, each of said first and second antennas being arranged to wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals toward said sensors from a different direction and receive return signals from all of said sensors at a different time and different amplitude or phase, each of the return signals being separable by looking at the return signals from both said first and second antennas since each of the return signals is received differently based on its angle or time of arrival or phase, the return signals from said sensors being processed after reception by said antenna array into information about the property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component sensed by said sensors. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising control means coupled to said first and second antennas for separating the return signals from said first and second antennas based on the angle of arrival of the return signals. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said control means are arranged to process the return signals from said sensors after reception by said antenna array into information about the property or condition of the vehicle or said at least one component sensed by said sensors, further comprising means for utilizing the information about said components which are coupled to said control means and comprise at least one of a display unit for displaying the information to an occupant of the vehicle, a telematics unit for wirelessly transmitting the information to a location remote from the vehicle and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one said components based on the information.