Antenna device and method of antenna configuration

• US 9,252,484 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Kessler, Sebastien, Cheikh, Mohamed, Takacs, Alexandru
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US14/362,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20140320375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 343/860, 343/867, 343/745, 455/571, 455/550
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A communication antenna device (D), on board a motor vehicle, for communicating with an antenna of a portable device, includes:

• • a communication antenna (A) including a first part (A1) having a maximum number of primary windings (E1_MAX) and a second part (A2) having a maximum number of secondary windings (E2_MAX),
  • a microcontroller (10) electrically connected to the antenna (A),
  • a first switching element (M1), for connecting the first part and/or the second part to the microcontroller (10),
  • a second switching element (M2), for connecting a determined number of primary windings (E1_i) of the first part to the microcontroller (10),
  • a third switching element (M3), for connecting a determined number of secondary windings (E2_j) of the second part to the microcontroller (10), and
  • elements for controlling (20) the first, second and third switching elements.

Claims

1. A communication antenna device (D), on board a motor vehicle, for communicating with an antenna of a portable device, said antenna device (D) including:

a communication antenna (A) including at least two parts, a first part (A1), comprising a maximum number of primary windings (E1_MAX) and a second part (A2) comprising a maximum number of secondary windings (E2_MAX),

a microcontroller (10) electrically connected to said antenna (A),

said antenna device (D) being characterized in that it further includes;

at least one first switching means (M1), located between the microcontroller (10), the first part (A1) and the second part (A2), for connecting the first part (A1) and/or the second part (A2) to the microcontroller (10),

at least one second switching means (M2), located between the microcontroller (10), and each primary winding (E1_i) of the first part (A1) for connecting a determined number of primary windings (E1_i) of the first part (A1) to the microcontroller (10), and

at least one third switching means (M3), located between the microcontroller (10), and each secondary winding (E2_j) of the second part (A2) for connecting a determined number of secondary windings (E2_j) of the second part (A2) to the microcontroller (10),

means of controlling (20) the first, second and third switching means (M1, M2, M3).

2. The antenna device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first switching means (M1) includes a first set of switches (S_A1) located between the first antenna part (A1) and the microcontroller (10), and a second set of switches (S_A2) located between the second antenna part (A2) and the microcontroller (10), in order to connect the first part (A1) and/or the second part (A2) respectively to the microcontroller (10).

3. The antenna device (D) according to claim 2, characterized in that the two sets of switches (S_A1, S_A2) are each electrically connected to a matching element in order to match a communication frequency to the first part (A1) and the second part (A2).

4. The antenna device (D) according to claim 3, characterized in that the matching elements are capacitors (C1, C2).

5. The antenna device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second switching means (M2) and the third switching means (M3) each comprise a plurality of switches (S1₁, S1₂, . . . S1_i, . . . S1_MAX, S2₁, S2₂, . . . S2_i, . . . S2_MAX), each switch being located between the microcontroller (10) and a primary winding and a secondary winding respectively (E1₁, E1₂, . . . E1_i, . . . E1_MAX, E2₁, E2₂, . . . E1_i, . . . E2_MAX) in order to connect said primary winding and/or said secondary winding (E1₁, E1₂, . . . E1_i, . . . E1_MAX, E2₁, E2₂, . . . E2_i, . . . E2_MAX) to the microcontroller (10).

6. The antenna device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (A) is an NFC type near field communication antenna.

7. A hands-free device for access to a vehicle, characterized in that it includes the antenna device (D) according to claim 1.

8. A device for charging portable equipment, characterized in that it includes the antenna device (D) according to claim 1.

9. A method of configuring a communication antenna (A), using the antenna device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes the following steps:

Step 90;

determination by the microcontroller (10) of the antenna part or parts (A1, A2) to be connected to said microcontroller (10),

Step 100;

connection of the part and/or parts (A1, A2) of the antenna (A) determined during the preceding step, to the microcontroller (10), via the first switching means (M1) and control means (20),

connection to the microcontroller (10) of an initial number of windings (E1_i, E2_j) of the part and/or parts (A1, A2) of the antenna (A) connected during the preceding step, via the second switching means (M2) and/or the third switching means (M3) and control means (20),

Step 110;

communication test between the antenna (A) and an antenna of a portable device, if communication is successful;

Step 300;

the antenna is configured,

otherwise if the communication has failed, and

Step 120;

if the number of windings (E1_i, E2_j) is less than the maximum number of windings (E1_MAX, E2_MAX), then,

Step 130;

incrementation of the number of windings (E1_i+1, E2_j+1) connected to the microcontroller (10) via the second and third switching means (M2, M3) and control means (20), and repetition of steps 110 to 130,

otherwise, if the number of windings (E1_i+1, E2_j+1) connected to the microcontroller (10) is equal to the maximum number of primary and/or secondary windings (E1_MAX, E2_MAX), then;

repetition of steps 90 to 130 with the antenna parts (A1, A2) which have not been connected to the microcontroller (10),

if during step 90 all the antenna parts have been connected then,

Step 200;

end of the configuration method.

10. A motor vehicle including an antenna device (D) according to claim 1.