EP1483768B1 - Remotely controlled device, particularly remotely controlled central lock for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote-control device, particularly a remote-control central lock for motor vehicles, comprising an electrical device which is preferably mounted in a housing and an antenna. The inventive remote-control device is further characterized by the following: the antenna is configured a) as a bendable antenna that is dimensionally stable in the bent shape, and/or b) as a stiff antenna, and/or c) as an antenna which is fixed to and maintained above a rigid and/or dimensionally stable base or housing; and the antenna is in a predefined position relative to the electrical device and/or the housing receiving or the base supporting said electrical device; and the electrical device and the antenna are embodied as a as a combined device in the form of an assembly operated as a single unit.

Description

The invention relates to a remote controllable central locking for motor vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.

As is known, such antenna arrangements are arranged for a radio-controlled locking system in a motor vehicle, for example in the region of a window opening.

But there are also other installation sites possible and conceivable. The manufacturer, the corresponding electronic devices are shipped housed with their components in a housing, together with an antenna. As a rule, the antenna is designed as a plug-in part which can be plugged into the housing. When installing the antenna is then usually laid in the form of a freiverlegbaren wire after the general state of knowledge in the vehicle that the best possible reception effect is realized.

From the EP-A1-1 201 514 A1 a remote controllable control unit has become known which comprises a housing with a removable cover. Inside, a wire spool is wound on an oblong cross-sectionally square rod, which serves as an antenna.

From the DE-A1-199 12 674 An arrangement comprising a receiver and a receiving antenna of a remote-controlled system is known to be known, wherein the receiver is formed on a printed circuit board and the receiving antenna forms an integral part of the conductor structure of the printed circuit board.

From the US-A-5 596 234 is a helical antenna for a remote-controlled system as known to remove.

A generic remote controllable central locking is from the DE 197 13 929 A1 known. It comprises a printed circuit board on which various antenna designs can be formed. On the circuit board itself, a metal housing for receiving the electronics is also provided. According to one embodiment, the antenna used may consist of an inverted-F antenna whose actual antenna conductor runs parallel to the printed circuit board at a distance therefrom. At the end of the parallel antenna rod once a short-circuit connection to the printed circuit board and at a distance to a perpendicular outgoing from the printed circuit board and arranged parallel to the printed circuit board antenna strip extending feed line is provided. The feed position can be adjusted by adjusting the feed line to adjust the input impedance can.

The use of an inverted-F antenna is basically in connection with an electrical device also from the US patent US 2001/0045909 R1 as known to remove. This antenna should be used in a mobile phone (mobile phone). The antenna is likewise arranged at a distance from a substrate, wherein a short-circuit line is provided between the antenna structure extending parallel to the substrate and the substrate itself, and at the end of the antenna structure, and a feed line is provided for this purpose.

Object of the present invention is to provide, starting from the penultimate prior art, an improved remote controllable central locking.

It has been shown that compared to the prior art, not only significantly improved reception performance in the device according to the invention are possible, but that, above all, no statistical "slip-ups" are to complain, so installation cases, in which under certain conditions, the reception performance compared to other motor vehicles drop significantly.

The solution according to the invention lies essentially in the fact that, in the case of a remotely controllable central locking according to the preamble of claim 1, an antenna is used which is formed from an inverted-F antenna which is provided as a conductive layer on a base plate designed as a printed circuit board. The base plate formed as a printed circuit board is stiff, so it consists of a dimensionally stable carrier. It is also possible that the antenna on the support (ie on the base plate consisting of a printed circuit board) in the form of a stripline arrangement (Stripline) is formed.

In addition, the actual antenna itself is not protected by the housing in which the remote central locking module is housed. As a result, on the one hand, the overall resulting size is smaller, which allows installation of the remote-controlled central locking in a small space available space in the motor vehicle.

In addition, the antenna is not connectable as a plug-in module to the central locking, but firmly and permanently connected to the central locking. As a result, a compact uniformly manageable unit is formed, in which the antenna comes to lie in a fixed spatial allocation to the module and therefore always the same installation conditions can be realized on site.

In a preferred embodiment, the antenna is formed along the carrier in a predetermined path along. The antenna can preferably be provided extending even around parts of the housing running around, for example in the manner of a U in plan view.

In summary, it can thus be stated that the remotely controllable central locking system for motor vehicles comprises an antenna which is formed on a carrier material, for example in the sense of a substrate, fixedly connected thereto, for example in the form of a stripline arrangement. The stripline may optionally be formed following different paths.

• Es ist nur noch ein einziges gemeinsam handhabbares Kombigerät notwendig, bestehend aus der eigentlichen, die elektronischen Komponenten umfassenden Zentralverriegelung, z.B. dem Empfänger und der Antenne. Dadurch verkürzt sich auch die Einbauzeit vor Ort.
• Insgesamt lässt sich ein kompakter Aufbau erzielen, insbesondere dann, wenn die Antenne um das Gehäuse der fernsteuerbaren Zentralverriegelung gebogen verlegt ausgebildet ist.
• Die Verbindung zwischen Antennengehäuse und Antennenelement ist ohne zusätzliche Steckverbindung bzw. als HF-Leitung ausgebildet, wodurch zusätzliche Verluste vermieden werden und auch die Ausfallwahrscheinlichkeit durch ein defektes Kabel oder einen defekten Stecker verringert wird.
• Ferner ergibt sich eine definierte Lage der Antenne und somit eine gleichbleibende elektrische HF-Eigenschaft gegenüber herkömmlichen Lösungen.
• Darüber hinaus lassen sich durch die fernsteuerbare Zentralverriegelung auch Klappergeräusche der Antenne vermeiden, da die Antenne bei Vibrationen des Fahrzeuges nicht gegen Karosserieteile des Fahrzeuges anschlagen kann.
• Schließlich ist aber auch keine weitere HF-Leitung im Kabelbaum notwendig.

By the present invention, some important advantages can be realized:

• It is only necessary a single combi device to handle together, consisting of the actual, the electronic components comprehensive central locking, such as the receiver and the antenna. This also shortens the installation time on site.
• Overall, a compact design can be achieved, especially when the antenna is designed to be bent around the housing of the remote-controlled central locking system.
• The connection between the antenna housing and antenna element is formed without additional plug connection or as an RF line, whereby additional losses are avoided and the probability of failure is reduced by a defective cable or a defective connector.
• Furthermore, there is a defined position of the antenna and thus a constant electrical RF characteristic over conventional solutions.
• In addition, can be avoided by the remote controllable central locking and rattling noise of the antenna, since the antenna can not strike against body parts of the vehicle during vibration of the vehicle.
• Finally, however, no further HF line in the wiring harness is necessary.

Figur 1 :

eine schematische perspektivische Darstel- lung des Grundaufbaus einer Antenne, wie er grundsätzlich im Zusammenhang mit dem in Figur 4 erläuterten erfindungsgemäßen Antennentyp in Betracht kommt;

Figur 2 :

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung eines abgewandelten Ausführungsbeispieles, wie es grundsätzlich für die anhand von Figur 4 erläuterte erfindungsgemäße Anten- ne in Betracht kommt;

Figur 3 :

eine schematische Direktansicht auf ein gegenüber Figur 2 nochmals geringfügig ab- gewandeltes Ausführungsbeispieles, wie es grundsätzlich für den anhand von Figur 4 erläuterten erfindungsgemäßen Antennentyp in Betracht kommt;

Figur 3a :

eine Seitenansicht eines zu Figur 3 leicht abgewandelten Beispiels zur Verdeutli- chung, wie der anhand von Figur 4 erläu- terte erfindungsgemäße Antennentyp grund- sätzlich realisierbar ist;

Figur 3b :

ein nochmals gegenüber Figur 3a leicht ab- gewandeltes Beispiel zur Verdeutlichung, wie der anhand von Figur 4 erläuterte er- findungsgemäße Antennentyp grundsätzlich realisierbar ist;

Figur 4 :

eine erfindungsgemäße inverted-F-Antenne in schematischer Draufsicht;

Figur 5 :

ein grundsätzliches Beispiel einer struk- turförmigen Antenne, die nicht zur Erfin- dung gehört, lediglich zur Verdeutlichung, dass eine erfindungsgemäße inverted-F-An- tenne auf einer Leiterplatine als Träger vorgesehen sein kann; und

Figur 6 :

ein schematisch wiedergegebenes Beispiel zur Verdeutlichung, dass für eine anhand von Figur 4 erläuterte erfindungsgemäße inverted-F-Antenne auch eine sich über alle Seiten über das Gehäuse hinweg er- streckende Grundplatte verwendet werden kann.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures in detail. Showing:

FIG. 1:

a schematic perspective view of the basic structure of an antenna, as in principle in connection with the in FIG. 4 the inventive type of antenna is considered;

FIG. 2:

a further perspective view of a modified embodiment, as it is in principle for the basis of FIG. 4 explained inventive antenna ne comes into consideration;

FIG. 3:

a schematic direct view of one opposite FIG. 2 Again slightly abge- converted embodiment, as it is in principle for the basis of FIG. 4 the inventive type of antenna is considered;

FIG. 3a:

a side view of an FIG. 3 slightly modified example for clarification, as the basis of FIG. 4 explained antenna type according to the invention is basically feasible;

FIG. 3b:

another over FIG. 3a slightly modified example for clarification, as the basis of FIG. 4 explained inventive antenna type is basically feasible;

FIG. 4:

an inventive inverted-F antenna in a schematic plan view;

FIG. 5:

a basic example of a structurally-shaped antenna, which does not belong to the invention, merely to illustrate that an inverted-F antenna according to the invention can be provided on a printed circuit board as a carrier; and

FIG. 6:

a schematically reproduced example to illustrate that for a based on FIG. 4 explained inverted-F antenna according to the invention can also be used over all sides over the housing extending away base plate.

In FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a combination device 1 shown, which represents a remote controllable central locking.

This combined device 1 consists of an electrical device 3, ie in the illustrated embodiment of a remote central locking module 3, which is usually constructed in a housing 5 or on a support 5 'fixed. In addition, the combination device 1 comprises an antenna 7, which in the embodiment shown in a schematic plan view FIG. 1 may consist of a wire, a strand or a pipe, hollow tube, etc. The antenna 7 is preferably plug-free in the electrical device. 3 led in and contacted there electrically.

The entire arrangement of the electrical device 3 with its housing 5, which may also be formed as a housing shell 5 is provided with the antenna 7 on a common base plate 5 ', ie generally on a support 5' or mounted. This ensures that the antenna 7, even if it would consist of a deformable wire or a strand, can be permanently arranged by fixed on the support or the base plate 5 'fixings 9 in fixed and in the embodiment straight alignment.
This results in a total uniform and jointly manageable unit 13 for the combi unit 1 consisting of the actual electrical device component 3 and the permanent position and assignment permanently positioned antenna. 7

This assembly 13 can then be installed in a motor vehicle accordingly, wherein via a terminal 15 on the housing 5, a corresponding electrical connection for the output of the demodulated data signal is available, to ultimately e. to operate the central locking.

Based on FIG. 2 is shown in a schematic perspective view of a modified embodiment. This results in a particularly compact construction arrangement with comparatively long-dimensioned antenna element 7 in that the antenna element 7 is guided from an exit point 19 relative to the electrical device 3 in plan view in a quasi U-shape around the housing 5, namely with the formation of two approximately 90 ° forming buckling or deflection points 21.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier 5 'or the base plate 5' may also be part of a cover for the housing 5 for receiving the electrical device 3. The carrier 5 'or the base plate 5' is then dimensioned larger in plan view than the actual housing 5 or the housing shell 5. As in FIG. 3 is indicated, this results in a laterally over the housing shell 5 projecting portion 5 "of the support 5 'or the base plate 5', about which now again the antenna 7, for example, in the form of a wire or a strand fixed prepositioned can be laid again holding-fixing nipple 9 or webs 9 provided so that the wire is inserted here and kept permanently fixed.

In the schematic plan view according to FIG. 3 It is shown that the antenna element, for example, can still be laid at least once again by a certain distance along a further kink 21 on the front side of the housing.

In the FIGS. 3a and 3b is a variation too FIG. 3 shown. In FIG. 3 namely, the antenna 7 is laid substantially on the longitudinal side of the housing 5 parallel to this side of the housing on the support or base plate 5 '. In FIG. 3a is a side view of the housing along the arrow 10 in FIG FIG. 3 reproduced, but with that deviation too FIG. 3 in that the antenna 7 is laid on the upper side of the housing 5 along the upper side. In the example according to FIG. 3b The antenna is routed to the bottom of the case, as well In these cases, in turn, corresponding nipples or webs 9 are provided for fixing the antenna or the antenna strand.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 an inverted-F antenna 7 has been used, otherwise the laying of the antenna element 7 largely according to this example Figures 2 and 3 equivalent.

Based on FIG. 5 It is shown that, for example, on the base plate 5 ', ie on the support 5', which consists of a printed circuit board, the antenna 7 may also be formed as a strip conductor element or as a back-loaded conductive antenna element, which may have a variety of shapes. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 is a rectangular basic structure, selected comparable to a meandering structure.

Based on FIG. 6 a modified embodiment is shown, in which the base plate 5 'extends on all sides over the housing 5 away, so that on this base plate 5' and a dipole antenna 7 can be grown.

Thus, the device according to the invention ultimately comprises an inverted-F antenna, as basically based on FIG. 4 is explained, but in deviation to FIG. 4 as based on FIG. 5 basically described, is formed as a stripline arrangement or as by etching back-loaded conductive antenna element.

Claims (4)

1. Remote-controllable central locking system for motor vehicles, having a remote central locking module (3) and having an antenna (7) which is connected thereto, having the following features:

   - the antenna (7) is located in a predefined position relative to the support (5') holding the remote central locking module (3),

   - the antenna (7) is fixed on the support (5') and held thereby,

   - the support (5') consists of a dimensionally stable base plate (5')

   - the remote central locking module (3) and the antenna (7) are constructed as a component which can be handled as a unit, in the form of a combination device (1),

   - the antenna (7) is formed from an inverted F antenna, and

   - the inverted F antenna is constructed so as to extend in a position parallel to the base plate (5'),
   characterised by the following further features:

   - the inverted F antenna is constructed as a strip transmission line arrangement or as a residual conductive layer on the base plate (5') consisting of a printed circuit board, and

   - the support (5') formed as a base plate (5') projects beyond a housing (5) which is provided and in which the remote central locking module (3) is accommodated, the inverted F antenna (7) being provided on the portion of the support (5') which projects beyond the housing (5).
2. Remote-controllable central locking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the antenna (7) and the remote central locking module (3) are permanently interconnected without plug-type contacts.
3. Remote-controllable central locking system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that, as seen in a plan view, the inverted F antenna (7) comprises an antenna portion which is laid in a U-shape around at least parts of the housing (5) with spacing therefrom.
4. Remote-controllable central locking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support (5') consists of a printed circuit board.

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