Pocket-portable radio code signal transmitter for automotive keyless entry system

• US 5,111,199 A
• Filed: 06/26/1990
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hirano, Motoki, Tomoda, Takahisa, Nakano, Kinichiro, Takeuchi, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/542,786
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/95, 455/100, 455/128, 370/112, 235/375, 235/487, 235/382, 235/492, 235/380, 361/398, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/13.32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

A radio signal transmitter for use in an automotive keyless entry system, is resistant to damage even when subject bending stresses. The radio code transmitter has a thin housing. A substrate for a transmitter circuit is housed within the thin internal space of the housing. A plurality of circuit components making up the transmitter circuit are mounted on the substrate. The circuit components are arranged in such a manner that relatively large components are near the edges of the substrate and relatively small components are nearer the center of the substrate.

Claims

1. A pocket-portable transmitter for an automotive keyless entry system, said transmitter comprising:

a substantially box-shaped housing including first parallel edge portions having a given length and second parallel edge portions having a length less than the length of said first parallel edge portions;

a flexible substrate within said housing;

a first group of relatively large circuit components, said first group of relatively large circuit components including a microprocessor;

a second group of relatively small circuit components, said small circuit components located on central portions of said substrate, longitudinal axes of said small components being aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said substrate; and

an antenna mounted on a peripheral edge wall portion of said housing, said wall portion being perpendicular to said substrate; and

wherein

at least one of said relatively large circuit components is located on said substrate adjacent to one of said second parallel edge portions.

2. A transmitter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is made of a synthetic resin and is elastically deformable in response to bending forces exerted on said housing.

3. A transmitter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said relatively large circuit components are arranged on adjacent corners of said substrate.

4. A transmitter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first group of relatively large circuit components includes a battery.

5. A transmitter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said battery and said microprocessor are located in corners of said substrate.

6. A transmitter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second group of relatively small circuit components includes a resistor and a transistor.