ANTENNA DEVICE

• US 20140210487A1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: OHARA, Masahiro, ISHIHARA, Hirotaka
• Application Number:
  US14/165,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/629
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

An antenna device includes a sensor electrode having a capacitance configured to change upon an object approaching or contacting the sensor electrode, a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor electrode, an antenna section, and a substrate having the sensor circuit mounted thereon and having the sensor electrode fixed thereto. The sensor circuit is configured to detect the capacitance. The substrate is inserted into the antenna section. This antenna device allows components to be easily positioned during assembly.

Claims

1. An antenna device comprising:

a sensor electrode having a capacitance configured to change upon an object approaching or contacting the sensor electrode;

a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor electrode, the sensor circuit being configured to detect the capacitance;

an antenna section including a core and a coil wound around the core; and

a substrate having the sensor circuit mounted thereon and having the sensor electrode fixed thereto, the substrate being inserted into the antenna section.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1,

wherein the substrate includes:

a mounting section having the sensor circuit mounted thereon; and

an antenna insertion section extending from an end surface of the mounting section to an inside of the antenna section,

wherein the end surface of the mounting section has a width larger than a width of the antenna insertion section to provide a step section, and

wherein the antenna section contacts the step section of the end surface of the mounting section.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1,

wherein the substrate includes:

a mounting section having the sensor circuit mounted thereon;

an antenna insertion section extending from an end surface of the mounting section to an inside of the antenna section; and

a tip end provided at an end of the antenna insertion section opposite to the mounting section, and

wherein the antenna section is provided between the tip end section and the mounting section.

4. The antenna device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor electrode has a circuit connection protrusion and a ground protrusion connected to a ground of the sensor circuit, and

wherein the sensor circuit is configured to detect the capacitance based on a signal input through the circuit connection protrusion.

5. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor electrode has a slit therein.