Communications: electrical – Selective – Interrogation response
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-20
2001-05-15
Zimmerman, Brian (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Interrogation response
C340S010100, C340S010200, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S572700, C307S010500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232871
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel and having a transponder communication device, which device is designed for the contactless communication with at least one transponder, which transponder causes control information to be supplied to the motor vehicle, and having a transmission coil adapted to receive transponder signals which each contain at least one type of control information, which coil is arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle, is mechanically connected to a part of the motor vehicle and is electrically connected to the transponder communication device, which device is adapted to detect identification information representing at least a part of a received transponder signal.
Such a motor vehicle of the type defined in the opening paragraph is known from, for example, the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,392 A. In this known motor vehicle the transmission coil is accommodated in a cavity of the driver's door of the motor vehicle. This location gives rise to some problems, such as the fact that the transmission coil is exposed to a comparatively strong extent to the effects of moisture and, in some cases, to temperature effects, that a comparatively long and intricate arrangement of the connecting leads between the transmission coil and the transponder-communication device is required, and that the transmission coil and the connecting leads are likely to be damaged in the event of an accident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to preclude the aforementioned problems and to improve a motor vehicle of the type defined in the opening paragraph in a simple manner. In order to achieve this object in a motor vehicle of the type defined in the opening paragraph, the transmission coil is mechanically connected to the peripheral ring portion of the steering wheel and has a ring shape adapted to the ring part. As a result of this, it is achieved in a very simple and cheap manner that the transmission coil is hardly exposed to unfavorable environmental influences, that the transmission coil is arranged in the motor vehicle in a well protected manner, and that the connecting leads between the transmission oil and the transponder-communication device can be simple and comparatively short. As a result of the mechanical connection of the transmission coil to the peripheral ring portion of he steering wheel it is further achieved that the transmission coil has a larger diameter corresponding to the diameter of the peripheral ring portion and consequently has a larger magnetic-flux linkage area, so that the transmission coil has the advantage of a high transmission field strength and a high reception sensitivity and, consequently, a contactless communication is also possible with a transponder situated outside the motor vehicle. Moreover, the ring shape of the transmission coil has the advantage that a homogeneous field configuration is obtained in the case of transmission by means the transmission coil. A further advantage of the mechanical connection of the transmission coil to the peripheral ring portion of the steering wheel is that the transmission coil is thus positioned correctly with respect to the driver, thus guaranteeing a particularly good contactless communication with a transponder present in the driver's clothing. Owing to the comparatively large diameter of the transmission coil connected to the peripheral ring portion of the steering wheel it is further achieved that a proper contactless communication is also possible with a transponder situated in a backseat area. It is to be noted that such a transponder, by means of which the motor vehicle can be controlled with the aid of control information, i.e. by means of which for example the authorization to use the motor vehicle can be verified or detected, can take the form of a credit card or a key. Moreover, it is to be noted that the transpondercommunication device and the transmission coil may form part of an authorization verification system by means of which the authorization to use the motor vehicle can be verified, which authorization verification system can be designed as an access control system by means of which the access through at least one door to a a space in the motor vehicle can be controlled, but also as a start control system by means of which it is possible to control starting of the engine of the motor vehicle.
It is to be noted that it is known per se to arrange or accommodate transmission coils or antennas at various locations in a motor vehicle. This can be, for example, at the location of the wind-shield at the front but also at the location of the rear window of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, this can be at the location of the steering column of a motor vehicle and in the driver's seat or in the co-driver's seat. It is also know to arrange an antenna or a transmission coil at the location of the roof of a motor vehicle.
In a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the transmission coil has been molded into the peripheral ring portion of the steering wheel. In this way, a particularly well-protected mounting of the transmission coil is achieved.
In a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention it has further proved to be very advantageous if the transmission coil has two connecting leads, which each extend from the peripheral ring portion of the steering wheel to a hub portion of the steering wheel through at least one spoke of the steering wheel. In this way, a very simple electrically conductive connection between the transmission coil and the transponder-communication device is possible.
The above-mentioned as well as further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the embodiment described hereinafter by way of example and will be elucidated by means of this embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4973958 (1990-11-01), Hirano et al.
patent: 5134392 (1992-07-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5382948 (1995-01-01), Richmond
patent: 5596234 (1997-01-01), Umeda et al.
patent: 5867093 (1999-02-01), Dodd et al.
patent: 5869908 (1999-02-01), Moczygemba et al.
patent: 5929769 (1999-07-01), Garnault
Dalencourt Yves
U. S. Philips Corporation
Zimmerman Brian
LandOfFree
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