Remote access device having multiple inductive coil antenna

• US 6,563,474 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Qing, Walker, Keith A., Conner, Bruce D., Melkumov, Artem, Nantz, John S., Ghabra, Riad, King, Ronald O., Tang, Qingfeng, Honkanen, Matthew, Khreizat, Salman
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US10/050,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.708, 343/713, 343/728, 343/742, 343/787, 343/788, 343/842, 343/866, 343/867, 340/870.01, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 343/788
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2003/005 Magnetic cores for receiving several windings with perpendicular axes, e.g. for antennae or inductive power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2005/027 wound on formers for receiving several coils with perpendicular winding axes, e.g. for antennae or inductive power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 3/00 Cores, Yokes, or armatures magnetic materials H01F1/00; permanent magnets H01F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3241 particular used in keyless entry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

A remote access device which may comprise an antenna having a first inductor with a first axis, a second inductor with a second axis, and a third inductor with a third axis, where the first, second and third axes may be oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, respectively, such that the first inductor generates a first magnetic field associated with a first plane, the second inductor generates a second magnetic field associated with a second plane different than the first plane, and the third inductor generates a third magnetic field associated with a third plane different than the first and second planes. The remote access device preferably includes a single form for the first, second and third inductors, where the first, second and third inductors are each wound on the form.

Claims

1. A remote access device for use with an automotive vehicle, the remote access device comprising:

an antenna including a first inductor having a first axis, a second inductor having a second axis, and a third inductor having a third axis, wherein the first axis is non-parallel to the second axis such that the first inductor generates a first magnetic field associated with a first plane and the second inductor generates a second magnetic field associated with a second plane different than the first plane, and the third axis is non-parallel to the first and second axes such that the third inductor generates a third magnetic field associated with a third plane different than the first and second planes;

a battery for use in powering the antenna; and

a housing for the antenna;

wherein, to conserve battery power, the antenna is configured such that the first, second and third inductors can generate the first, second and third magnetic fields independently in combinations including one or more of the first, second and third magnetic fields.

2. The remote access device of claim 1 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

3. The remote access device of claim 2 further comprising a form for both the first and second inductors, wherein the first and second inductors are both wound on the form.

4. The remote access device of claim 3 wherein the form is overmolded into the housing.

5. The remote access device of claim 3 wherein the first and second inductors each have a core composed of material selected from the group consisting of air, ferrite and aluminum.

6. The remote access device of claim 1 for use in an active remote keyless entry system for a vehicle.

7. The remote access device of claim 1 for use in a passive remote keyless entry system for a vehicle.

8. The remote access device of claim 1 for use in a tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle.

9. The remote access device of claim 1 for use in a vehicle immobilizer system.

10. The remote access device of claim 1 for use in a garage door operating system.

11. The remote access device of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third axes are substantially perpendicular to each other, respectively.

12. The remote access device of claim 11 further comprising a form for the first, second and third inductors, wherein the first, second and third inductors are each wound on the form.

13. The remote access device of claim 12 wherein the form is overmolded into the housing.

14. The remote access device of claim 12 wherein the first, second and third inductors each have a core composed of material selected from the group consisting of air, ferrite and aluminum.

15. The remote access device of claim 1 further comprising a single form for both the first and second inductors, wherein the first and second inductors are both wound on the form.

16. The remote access device of claim 15 wherein the form is overmolded into the housing.

17. The remote access device of claim 1 further comprising a form for the first, second and third inductors, wherein the first, second and third inductor are each wound on the form.

18. The remote access device of claim 17 wherein the form is overmolded into the housing.

19. The remote access device of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third inductors are electrically connected in parallel.

20. The remote access device of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third inductors are electrically connected in series.

21. A remote transmitter for use with an automotive vehicle, the remote transmitter comprising:

an antenna including a first inductor having a first axis, a second inductor having a second axis, and a third inductor having a third axis, wherein the first axis is non-parallel to the second axis such that the first inductor generates a first magnetic field associated with a first plane and the second inductor generates a second magnetic field associated with a second plane different than the first plane, and the third axis is non-parallel to the first and second axes such that the third inductor generates a third magnetic field associated with a third plane different than the first and second planes;

a battery for powering the antenna; and

a housing for the antenna;

wherein, to conserve battery power, the antenna is configured such that the first, second and third inductors can generate the first, second and third magnetic fields independently in combinations including one or more of the first, second and third magnetic fields.

22. The remote transmitter of claim 21 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

23. The remote transmitter of claim 21 for use in an active remote keyless entry system for a vehicle.

24. The remote transmitter of claim 21 for use in a passive remote keyless entry system for a vehicle.

25. The remote transmitter of claim 21 for use in a tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle.

26. The remote transmitter of claim 21 for use in a vehicle immobilizer system.

27. The remote transmitter of claim 21 for use in a garage door operating system.

28. The remote transmitter of claim 21 wherein the first, second and third inductors are electrically connected in parallel.

29. The remote transmitter of claim 21 wherein the first, second and third inductors are electrically connected in series.