LIN BUS remote control system

• US 8,334,758 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Original Assignee: Flextronics Automotive Inc
• Inventors: Baruco, Sam, Rabinovich, Victor, Matkiwsky, Yaroslaw, Bednarchuk, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ma, Kam
• Application Number:
  US12/422,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.5, 340/12.1, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3241 particular used in keyless entry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/26 with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength resonant loop antennas H01Q7/00

Abstract

A local interconnect network BUS remote control system, including a printed circuit board antenna for receiving wireless communications signals and transmitting them to at least one radio frequency module, the printed circuit board antenna including a digital layer; a power layer; a ground layer; a radio frequency layer; at least one radio frequency module mounted on the vehicle, the at least one frequency module in communication with the printed circuit board antenna for demodulating the wireless communication signals into local interconnect network signals; a local interconnect network BUS in communication with the at least one frequency module for receiving the local interconnect network signals; and a local interconnect network controller in communication with the local interconnect network BUS for receiving the local interconnect network signals.

Claims

1. A local interconnect network BUS remote control system, comprising:

a printed circuit board antenna for receiving wireless communications signals and transmitting them to at least one radio frequency module, the printed circuit board antenna having a first coverage pattern, the printed circuit board antenna comprising;

a digital layer;

a power layer;

a ground layer;

a radio frequency layer including a positive meander line antenna and a negative meander line antenna;

at least one radio frequency module mounted on the vehicle, the at least one frequency module in communication with the printed circuit board antenna for demodulating the wireless communication signals into local interconnect network signals;

a local interconnect network BUS in communication with the at least one frequency module for receiving the local interconnect network signals; and

a local interconnect network controller in communication with the local interconnect network BUS for receiving the local interconnect network signals, the local interconnect network controller including a voice recognition system, the local interconnect network controller configured to determine when a transponder/keyfob associated with a user is in the first coverage pattern based on communication with the printed circuit board antenna;

a microphone configured to receive sound in a second coverage pattern that substantially overlaps the first coverage pattern wherein the local interconnect network controller is further configured to receive communications over the local interconnect network BUS from the microphone and activate a vehicle system responsive to receiving a communication from the microphone and a determination that the FOB is in the first coverage pattern.

2. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a connection to a radio frequency receiver.

3. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a connection to a low noise amplifier.

4. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a via for connecting with a via in the ground layer.

5. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a first tuning element for tuning the positive meander line antenna and the negative meander line antenna.

6. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a second tuning element for tuning the positive meander line antenna and the negative meander line antenna.

7. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, further comprising:

the transponder/keyfob configured to generate the wireless communications signal in response to activation by a user.

8. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one radio frequency module operates with low frequency radio frequency signals between approximately 30 kHz and 300 kHz.

9. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one radio frequency module operates with ultrahigh radio frequency signals between approximately 300 MHz and 3,000 MHz.

10. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the local interconnect network BUS comprises a communications line and at least two power lines.

11. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system comprises one of electromechanical devices, control sliding doors, power tailgates, power windows, remote vehicle starters, power locks, car alarms, and panic functions.

12. A local interconnect network BUS remote control system, comprising:

a printed circuit board antenna for receiving wireless communications signals and transmitting them to at least one radio frequency module, the printed circuit board antenna having a first coverage pattern, the printed circuit board antenna comprising;

a digital layer;

a power layer;

a ground layer;

a radio frequency layer including a positive meander line antenna and a negative meander line antenna;

at least one radio frequency module mounted on the vehicle, the at least one frequency module in communication with the printed circuit board antenna for demodulating the wireless communication signals into local interconnect network signals;

a local interconnect network BUS in communication with the at least one frequency module for receiving the local interconnect network signals;

a local interconnect network controller in communication with the local interconnect network BUS for receiving the local interconnect network signals, the local interconnect network controller including a voice recognition system, the local interconnect network controller configured to determine when a transponder/keyfob associated with a user is in the first coverage pattern based on communication with the printed circuit board antenna;

at least one driver in communication of the local interconnect network controller for controlling at least one of electromechanical devices, control sliding doors, power tailgates, power windows, remote vehicle starters, power locks, car alarms, and panic functions

a microphone configured to receive sound in a second coverage pattern that substantially overlaps the first coverage pattern, wherein the local interconnect network controller is further configured to receive communications over the local interconnect network BUS from the microphone and activate the at least one driver responsive to receiving a communication from the microphone and a determination that the FOB is in the first coverage pattern.

13. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a connection to a radio frequency receiver.

14. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a connection to a low noise amplifier.

15. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a via for connecting with a via in the ground layer.

16. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a first tuning element for tuning the positive meander line antenna and the negative meander line antenna.

17. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency layer comprises:

a second tuning element for tuning the positive meander line antenna and the negative meander line antenna.

18. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, further comprising:

the transponder/keyfob configured to generate the wireless communications signal in response to activation by a user.

19. The local interconnect network BUS remote control system of claim 12, wherein the at least one radio frequency module operates with ultrahigh radio frequency signals between approximately 300 MHz and 3,000 MHz.