Antenna apparatus for vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- a first antenna located in a steering wheel of the vehicle or in a column switch adapted to be attached to a steering column of the vehicle;
a remote transmitter that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having a preselected frequency from a location outside the vehicle;
an interior transmitter located inside the vehicle that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having the same frequency as the radio wave signal transmitted by the remote transmitter; and
the first antenna being configured and arranged to receive the encoded radio wave signals transmitted by the remote transmitter outside the vehicle and the interior transmitter inside the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna apparatus for a keyless entry device is also used for receiving a radio wave transmitted by a remote control unit within a vehicular compartment. The keyless entry device and the remote control unit are configured to generate respective radio waves having a common frequency. Both radio waves can be received by at least one antenna of a column switch and a steering wheel. The antennas are placed distant from the steering shaft and common ground pattern to improve transmitting and receiving sensitivity.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An antenna apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first antenna located in a steering wheel of the vehicle or in a column switch adapted to be attached to a steering column of the vehicle; a remote transmitter that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having a preselected frequency from a location outside the vehicle; an interior transmitter located inside the vehicle that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having the same frequency as the radio wave signal transmitted by the remote transmitter; and the first antenna being configured and arranged to receive the encoded radio wave signals transmitted by the remote transmitter outside the vehicle and the interior transmitter inside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10)
-
-
6. An antenna apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first antenna located in a steering wheel of the vehicle; and a second antenna located in a column switch; wherein the first and second antennas are configured and arranged to receive radio waves of a preselected frequency generated by at least one of a remote transmitter outside the vehicle and an interior transmitter inside the vehicle; and further comprising first and second common ground patterns associated with the first and second antennas, respectively, wherein the antennas are located at a preselected distance from the common ground patterns with which they are associated. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
-
9. An antenna apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:
-
a first antenna located in a steering wheel of the vehicle; and a second antenna located in a column switch; wherein the first and second antennas are configured and arranged to receive radio waves of a preselected frequency generated by at least one of a remote transmitter outside the vehicle and an interior transmitter inside the vehicle; further comprising a transceiver circuit coupled to receive a control signal from a microcomputer and configured and arranged to demodulate the control signal for output using at least one of the first and second antennas; and wherein the microcomputer is configured and arranged to receive an input signal from the transceiver circuit and, in response to the input signal, provide the control signal to the transceiver.
-
-
11. A remote control arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a keyless entry transmitter that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having a preselected frequency from a location outside the vehicle; a first interior transmitter located inside the vehicle that transmits an encoded radio wave signal having the same frequency as the radio wave signal transmitted by the keyless entry transmitter; and a first antenna located in a steering wheel of the vehicle or in a column switch adapted to be attached to a steering column of the vehicle, said first antenna being configured and arranged to receive the encoded radio wave signals transmitted by the remote transmitter outside the vehicle and the first interior transmitter inside the vehicle and to communicate the signals to a transceiver circuit for controlling a vehicular load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification