Remote key with an external loop antenna

Abstract

A remote key is provided with an electronic wiring arrangement for generating and processing signals. The remote key includes a first antenna for transmitting and/or receiving the signals, and a wiring carrier on which the antenna is formed as a track. The remote key also includes a housing in which the wiring carrier, the first antenna and the electronic wiring arrangement are arranged. The housing comprises a second antenna.

Claims

1. A remote key comprising: an electronic wiring arrangement for generating and processing signals; a first antenna for transmitting and/or receiving the signals; a wiring carrier on which the first antenna is formed as a track; a housing having an upper side and a lower side fitted together to form a recessed channel at a boundary between the upper side and the lower side and to form an interior region in which the wiring carrier, the first antenna, and the electronic wiring arrangement are arranged; a second antenna including: a first metal part formed from a first diecast; a second metal part formed from a second diecast; wherein the first metal part and the second metal part are assembled together to form a band-like structure; and wherein the first metal part and the second metal part are positioned and located within the recessed channel.

2. The remote key in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are inductively coupled.

3. The remote key in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna are external loop antennas.

4. The remote key in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second antenna features a metal coating on a plastic part of the housing or at least one coating on at least one plastic part.

5. The remote key in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second antenna is a metal part or features at least one metal part.

6. The remote key in accordance with claim 5, wherein the metal part is a housing part.

7. The remote key in accordance with claim 5, wherein the metal part(s) of the second antenna are embedded or inserted in one or more plastic parts of the housing.

8. The remote key in accordance with claim 3, wherein the external loop antenna features a slot.

9. The remote key in accordance with claim 1, wherein the remote key features buttons for operation.

10. The remote key in accordance with claim 1, wherein the recessed channel includes a depth, and wherein a thickness of the second antenna is less than or the equal to the depth of the recessed channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a remote key in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a second antenna of a remote key in accordance with the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a remote key in accordance with the invention with the second antenna from FIG. 2 without battery compartment cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) A remote key F in accordance with the invention features a circuit carrier 1 on which a wiring arrangement is arranged (not shown). The wiring carrier 1 also provides for a first Antenna 2 in addition to the wiring arrangement. The first antenna 2 is formed by a track printed onto circuit carrier 1. Antenna 2 is an external loop antenna.

(6) The circuit carrier 1 is surrounded by a housing 3. A second antenna 4 is provided for in the housing 3. The latter is inductively coupled to the first antenna 2 in such a way that the first antenna 2 can transfer energy and signals to the second antenna 4 so that the second antenna 4 can transmit the signals into the environment of the radio key and so that the second antenna 4 can transmit signals to the first antenna 2 received from the environment by the second antenna 4.

(7) As shown in FIG. 2, the second antenna can be a band-like structure made of two zinc diecast metal parts connected to each other. These can be inserted between an upper part and a lower part of the housing and form a circumferential mantle area of the housing of a remote key in accordance with the invention that is shown in FIG. 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(8) F Remote keys 1 Circuit carrier 2 First antenna 3 Housing 4 Second antenna 5 Slot for adjusting resonance of the housing element