JP2003224410A - Antenna unit for keyless entry of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna unit for keyless entry of a vehicle having proper workability in assembling. <P>SOLUTION: The antenna unit has an electrostatic capacitance sensor 1 for detecting the approach or contact of a driver to the vehicle, and an antenna 2 for changing to a communication state, when capacity variations are detected by the capacitance sensor 1, wherein the antenna 2 and a detecting electrode 3 of the capacitance sensor 1 are integrated via a connecting portion 4 made of synthetic resin for covering the whole length of the antenna 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle keyless entry antenna unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In constructing a keyless entry system, as a conventional example in which an antenna and a capacitance sensor 1 are arranged in an outside handle device which is an element exposed from the vehicle body, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-520337. The ones described in are known. In this conventional example, the electrostatic capacitance sensor uses an antenna housed inside the handle or a cover of the handle, which is plated with a conductive material, and the vehicle body as a detection electrode, and provides a gap between the antenna and the like and the vehicle body. The change in the capacitance due to the insertion of the hand is detected, and the antenna is transited to the communication state.

These antennas and transmission / reception circuits are preliminarily laminated and fixed on the constituent group support, and by fixing the constituent group support to the handle body, the handle device can be given a desired function. .

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional example, since the antenna is exposed and fixed to the component group support, there is no disconnection or breakage of the conductive wire during the component storage or assembly work. It is easy to occur and difficult to handle, and there is a problem that assembly workability is poor.

The present invention has been made to solve the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna unit for a keyless entry of a vehicle, which has a good assembling workability.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the above object is to detect a capacitance change by the capacitance sensor 1 for detecting the approach or contact of the driver to the vehicle, and the capacitance change detection by the capacitance sensor 1. And an antenna 2 that transits to a communication state when
This is achieved by providing a vehicle keyless entry antenna unit in which the antenna 2 and the detection electrode 3 of the capacitance sensor 1 are integrated via a synthetic resin connecting portion 4 that covers the antenna 2 over the entire length. It

Antenna unit A for keyless entry
Is a mobile terminal on the driver side, which is indispensable in a keyless entry system that performs ID confirmation from the vehicle side to the driver side by detecting the approach or contact of the driver to the vehicle and unlocks the door. An antenna 2 which is a unit of communication means with the device, a proximity sensor, or a contact detection sensor, and constitutes a part of the communication means, and a capacitance sensor 1 which operates as a proximity sensor or a contact detection sensor. The detection electrode 3 is integrated via a synthetic resin connecting portion that covers the antenna 2 over the entire length.

By constructing the antenna unit A in which the antenna 2 and the electrostatic capacity sensor 1 are integrated, only the appropriate control circuit is connected to the external connection line 7 drawn from the antenna unit A, and the keyless can be easily performed. It is possible to add the basic functions of the entry system to desired mechanical parts. Further, since the synthetic resin connecting portion 4 simultaneously functions as a cover for the antenna 2, the conductive wire 2a of the antenna 2 during transportation, storage, or assembly work,
Alternatively, the core 2b made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite around which the conductive wire 2a is wound can be prevented from being damaged.

The antenna unit A can be integrated by, for example, holding the antenna 2 and the detection electrode 3 by a case 4a formed in a predetermined shape in advance and then filling the gap with a sealing resin 4b or the like. However, if the antenna 2 and the detection electrode 3 are insert-molded during the injection molding of the synthetic resin connecting portion 4, the manufacturing efficiency is improved.

The wiring inside the antenna unit A is
In the antenna unit A, the antenna 2 and the capacitance sensor 1 which are individually packaged by a holder or a case are directly connected via the synthetic resin connecting portion 4,
Although the input / output line from each package may be drawn out as it is, a substrate accommodating portion 5 is formed in the synthetic resin connecting portion 4, a wiring pattern is formed in the substrate accommodating portion 5, and a transmission / reception circuit, if desired, or When the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit of the electrostatic capacitance sensor 1 is mounted, packaging of each component becomes unnecessary, and cost can be reduced.

The above antenna unit A includes the detection electrode 3
Can be housed in the handle 8 along the outer wall surface of the handle 8 facing the door panel 9 and used as a vehicle door outside handle device. In order to incorporate the antenna unit A into the outside handle device, the antenna unit A is formed into an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape so that it can be accommodated in the grip portion of the handle 8, and the antenna unit A can be brought into contact with the handle 8 of the outside handle device. Alternatively, when an approach is detected by the detection electrode 3, the antenna 2 transits to the communication state and communicates with the portable device of the driver outside the vehicle.

In this case, if the antenna unit A is provided with a switch 10 for generating a door locking operation signal,
The driver can perform the locking operation only by operating the switch 10 when leaving the vehicle, and the usability is improved.

[0013]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. The outside handle device is formed by mounting the handle 8 on a handle base 11 fixed to a vehicle door panel 9. By rotating the handle 8 around the pivot 11a with the handle base 11, the operating portion 12 connected to a door lock device (not shown) disposed inside the door is operated and the door lock device is released.

The handle base 11 is provided with an auxiliary lock 13 and a lock switch 14 which can be operated by a key plate. By operating the auxiliary lock 13, the door lock device can be locked and unlocked, and when the lock switch 14 is pressed, the door lock can be obtained. The device can be locked.

The handle 8 of the handle device is provided with a hinge connecting portion 8b at one end thereof to the handle base 11 and is formed to be long in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle length direction), and the arm having the hinge connecting portion 8b is formed. It has a handle body 8a made of synthetic resin including a portion 8c. A recessed groove that opens toward the door panel 9 is provided in almost the entire region of the handle body 8a except for the arm portion 8c. After the antenna unit A is housed in the recessed groove, a synthetic resin cover 15 is provided. Is blocked by. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15a is the cover 15
2 shows a fastener for fixing the to the handle body 1c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna unit A has a holder 2c at its base end, an antenna 2 in which a conductive wire 2a is wound around a core 2b made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite or ceramic, and an electrostatic capacitance. The detection circuit is sealed in the package 3a, and the electrostatic capacitance sensor 1 has a metal-made detection electrode 3 such as a plate-shaped stainless steel protruding from the package 3a and a case 4a. The case 4a is an injection-molded product made of a synthetic resin material having a tubular shape with one end open, and the opening end is formed with a wide mouth.

The antenna 2 has a holder 2c on the opening end side.
And the whole is inserted into the case 4a, and the electrostatic capacity sensor 1 includes the package 3a and the antenna 2
It is housed in the case 4a by overlapping with the holder 2c of
The capacitance sensor 1 in the state of being housed in the case 4a
The detection electrode 3 of No. 2 protrudes from the case 4a through the electrode insertion opening 4c formed in the case 4a. Furthermore, the lead wire 1 drawn from the package 3a and the holder 2c.
6 are grouped together to form an external connection line 7 for the case 4a.
It is pulled out to the outside, and then the sealing resin 4 is placed in the case 4a.
b is filled and solidified.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in the antenna unit A, the capacitance sensor 1 and the antenna 2 are integrated by being packaged by the synthetic resin connecting portion 4 formed of the case 4a and the sealing resin 4b. Therefore, as described above, this antenna unit A
After fixing to the handle body 8a, the handle 8 can be used as a constituent member of the keyless entry system simply by connecting the external connection line 7 to the control section inside the vehicle.

When a human body approaches the handle 8 or touches the handle 8 to open the door in the state where the handle 8 is assembled, a change in the electrostatic capacitance of the detection electrode 3 is caused in the package 3a. It is detected by the capacitance detection circuit and input to the control unit. Upon receipt of the detection signal, the control unit drives the communication circuit to emit a communication radio wave from the antenna 2 to communicate with the mobile terminal device on the driver side, and it is confirmed that the IDs of the mobile terminal devices match. And unlock the locking device. Even if a large force is applied to the handle 8 at the time of opening the door, the antenna 2 covered by the synthetic resin connecting portion 4 will not be overstressed. It will not be damaged. Further, when the driver goes out of the vehicle and presses the lock switch 14 arranged on the handle base 11, the lock device shifts to a locked state.

FIG. 4A shows a modification of FIG. In addition,
In the description of the present modification and the following embodiments, constituent elements that are substantially the same as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

This modification shows a case where the lock switch 14 is arranged on the antenna unit A side, and a switch holding portion 4d is formed in advance on the case 4a. The switch 10 functioning as the lock switch 14 is housed in the switch holding portion 4d, and then the case 4a is formed by an adhesive or the like.
Fixed to the handle 8 and fixed to the handle 8
The switch 10 is on the front side and the detection electrode 3 is on the door panel 9 side.
Are placed.

Note that the switch 10 can also be constituted by a capacitance type touch sensor as shown in FIG. 4B, and in this case, the touch sensor and the circuit portion of the capacitance sensor 1 are provided. If they are sealed in the same package 3a in advance, the molding workability is improved. In addition, in FIG. 4B, reference numeral 10a indicates a detection electrode of the touch sensor.

FIG. 5 shows still another modification. In this modified example, the capacitance sensor 1 and the antenna 2 are provided in the case 4
Instead of being connected via a, they are set in a molding die and directly insert-molded. By molding, the synthetic resin for molding functions as the synthetic resin connecting portion 4,
The antenna unit A is integrated.

Also, the switch 10 is attached to the antenna unit A.
When arranging, the switch holding portion 4d shown in FIG. 4A can be formed at the time of molding, and the switch 10 can be fixed to the switch holding portion 4d after molding.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a capacitance type touch sensor can be used as the switch 10. In this case, if the detection electrode 10a of the touch sensor and the package 3a of the touch sensor are shared, molding workability is improved.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the antenna 2 and the capacitance sensor 1 are integrated with the antenna body without the package 3a and the holder 2c, and only the detection electrode 3 of the capacitance sensor 1 by the molding synthetic resin. It At the time of integral molding with the molding resin, the substrate housing portion 5 is formed in the molded portion (the synthetic resin connecting portion 4), and the mounting substrate 6 is housed in the substrate housing portion 5.

The mounting substrate 6 is electrically connected to the detection electrode 3 and the like via the antenna 2 exposed on the inner wall of the substrate accommodating portion 5 at the time of molding, and the lead portion 17 to the detection electrode 3, and leads of the antenna 2 main body. The portion 17 is connected to the external connection line 7 by a pattern wiring or the like formed on the mounting substrate 6. As shown in FIG. 6B, the molded portion 4 is formed with a cable lead-out portion 4e having a shape in which the wall surface of the substrate housing portion 5 is cut out. Further, a capacitance detection circuit is mounted on the mounting substrate 6, and the lead portion 17 of the detection electrode 3 is provided.
Is connected to the input terminal of the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit and is drawn out of the antenna unit A via the external connection line 7 connected to the output terminal side.

The mounting substrate 6 accommodated in the substrate accommodating portion 5 as described above is sealed with the potting resin 18 or the like filled in the substrate accommodating portion 5, and water drops on the pattern,
The adhesion of dust is prevented.

Although the case where the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit is formed on the mounting substrate 6 has been described with reference to FIG. 6, the mounting substrate 6 is used only as a simple wiring substrate and the electrostatic capacitance detection circuit is used for other parts. It is also possible to arrange the transmitter / receiver circuit on the mounting substrate 6 or to incorporate the transmission / reception circuit and the entire control unit on the mounting substrate 6.

Further, in the figure, the detection electrode 3 is shown to be completely covered by the molded portion 4, but FIG.
It can also be exposed from the molded portion 4 as shown in (a). Further, in order to arrange the switch 10 on the antenna unit A, as shown in FIG. 7B, a switch holding portion 4d is formed on the molded portion 4 and the switch 10 is fixed in the switch holding portion 4d. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7C, a capacitance type touch sensor can be integrally molded with the molded portion 4.
In the modification shown in FIG. 7C, the capacitance detection circuit of the touch sensor is mounted on the mounting board 6.

Although the antenna unit A is fixed to the handle body 8a by the cover in the above description, as shown in FIG. 8, the antenna unit A is directly fixed to the handle body 8a and the synthetic resin connecting portion 4 is used. Can be exposed on the wall surface of the handle 8 facing the door panel 9.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a keyless entry antenna unit for a vehicle, which has a good assembling workability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a handle device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a handle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an antenna unit, (a) is an exploded perspective view, and (b) is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, (a)
Is a cross-sectional view, and (b) is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the substrate housing portion.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Capacitance sensor 2 antenna 3 detection electrodes 4 Synthetic resin connection 5 Substrate housing 6 mounting board 7 External connection line 8 handles 9 door panels 10 switches A antenna unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuo Tsukada             1-6-8 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa               Alpha Technical Center Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2E250 AA21 BB08 BB23 CC20 FF24                       FF36 HH01 JJ03 KK03 LL01                       PP12 SS05 TT04                 3D020 BA13 BC06 BD02 BD05 BE01                 5J047 AA01 AA05 AA09 AA10 AA12                       AA13 AB11 EA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An antenna comprising: a capacitance sensor for detecting a driver's approach or contact with a vehicle; and an antenna which transitions to a communication state when a capacitance change is detected by the capacitance sensor. An antenna unit for vehicle keyless entry in which the detection electrode of the capacitance sensor and the detection electrode of the capacitance sensor are integrated via a synthetic resin connecting portion that covers the entire length of the antenna. 2. The antenna unit for keyless entry of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the antenna and the detection electrode are insert-molded at the time of injection molding of a synthetic resin connecting portion. 3. The wiring to the antenna and the capacitance sensor is distributed from a mounting substrate sealed in a substrate accommodating portion formed in the synthetic resin connecting portion, and the mounting substrate is made of synthetic resin. The antenna unit for keyless entry of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an external connection line to the outside of the connecting portion is provided. 4. A door out of a vehicle in which the keyless entry antenna unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3 is housed in the handle so that the detection electrodes are along the outer wall surface of the handle facing the door panel. Side handle device. 5. The door outside handle device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the keyless entry antenna unit includes a switch for generating a door locking operation signal.