Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-04-10
Phan, Tho (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Combined
C343S702000, C343S711000, C343S713000, C439S063000, C439S350000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215457
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a transmitter and/or receiver unit for an antitheft system of a motor vehicle. The unit has a printed circuit board carrying an electronic circuit and a plug-type connector with electrical contact elements which are electrically connected, at their printed circuit board ends, to the circuit via conductor tracks of the printed circuit board.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,524 (German patent No. DE 196 14 362 C1) describes a transmitter and receiver unit with a circuit on a printed circuit board. An associated antenna is embodied in the form of conductor tracks both on the upper side and on the underside of a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has, along the conductor tracks, through-plated holes through which the conductor tracks on the upper side are electrically connected to those on the lower side. The effective radiant surface of the antenna is thus increased.
The attachment of the printed circuit board, for example by clamping mounts in the region of the conductor tracks, can result in the conductor tracks of such an antenna being mechanically eroded in the course of time owing to shaking stresses by the mounts resting on the printed circuit board. The conductor tracks are then abraded and the antenna is then no longer effective, or can be used only to a limited degree, owing to its shortened electrical length. Furthermore, the antennas on the printed circuit board take up a very large amount of space. The printed circuit board layout has to be adapted to the antenna. In particular, electromagnetic compatibility has to be allowed for.
Japanese patent abstract JP 08222924 A discloses a plug-type connector which has a contact element that is not connected to other elements (an idle terminal). That contact element is used as a receiving antenna. However, the plug-type connector does not have any additional parts of an antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a transmitter and/or receiver unit, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which is simple and compact in its structural design.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a transmitter and/or receiver unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a printed circuit board carrying an electronic circuit and a plurality of conductor tracks;
a plug-type connector with a plurality of electrical contact elements each having a plug end and, distally from the plug end, a circuit board end electrically connected to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board;
at least one of the electrical contact elements being connected as an antenna of the transmitter and/or receiver unit; and
a lead connected to the plug end of the at least one electrical contact element and mounted in or on the plug-type connector, the lead and the at least one electrical contact element together forming an antenna of the transmitter and/or receiver unit.
In other words, the unit has a printed circuit board on which an electronic circuit is arranged. A plug-type connector is also mounted on the printed circuit board. The plug-type connector has electrical contact elements which are led through the housing of the plug-type connector. At least one electrical contact element of the plug-type connector is used as part of an antenna of the transmitter and/or receiver unit.
This has the advantage that an antenna does not need to be arranged on the printed circuit board. The space on the printed circuit board can thus be used for the components required for the circuit. Since the plug-type connector is present in any case, it is used to hold the antenna.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the plug-type connector comprises a plug housing and the lead is injection molded into the plug housing together with the contact elements.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the plug-type connector has a groove formed therein and the lead is embedded in the groove.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the plurality of electrical contact elements are mutually spaced apart by given spacing distances and a spacing distance between the at least one contact element connected to the lead and an adjacent the contact element is greater than a spacing distance between respective other the contact elements.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a transmitter and/or receiver unit for an antitheft system of a motor vehicle, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5476394 (1995-12-01), Zigler et al.
patent: 5565877 (1996-10-01), Du et al.
patent: 5844524 (1998-12-01), Kraicyzk et al.
patent: 5940046 (1999-08-01), Saleem
patent: 5973645 (1999-10-01), Zigler et al.
patent: 6022239 (2000-02-01), Wright
patent: 6043782 (2000-03-01), Dishart et al.
patent: 196 14 362 C1 (1997-07-01), None
Japanese Patent Abstract No. 08222924 A, dated Aug. 30, 1996.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Phan Tho
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
LandOfFree
Transmitter and / or receiver unit for an antitheft system... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Transmitter and / or receiver unit for an antitheft system..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Transmitter and / or receiver unit for an antitheft system... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2459249