Authentication reader for motor vehicle opening element

Abstract

Disclosed is an authentication reader intended to be installed on a motor vehicle opening element, the reader including a microcontroller, at least one transmitter, at least one matching circuit and a single antenna, called primary antenna, characterized by a working frequency. The matching circuit includes switching element able to switch the matching circuit between a first mode, in which the matching circuit makes it possible to match the primary antenna to a secondary antenna of an authentication device whose resonant frequency is lower than the working frequency, and a second mode, in which the matching circuit makes it possible to match the primary antenna to a secondary antenna of an authentication device whose resonant frequency is higher than the working frequency.

Claims

1. An authentication reader (1B-1, 1B-2) for a motor vehicle opening element, said authentication reader (1B-1, 1B-2) comprising: a microcontroller (10B); at least one transmitter (20B); at least one matching circuit (30B-1, 30B-2); and a single primary antenna (L4) characterized by a working frequency, the matching circuit (30B-1, 30B-2) comprising switching means (M1; I1, I2) able to switch said matching circuit (30B-1, 30B-2) between a first mode in which the matching circuit (30B-1, 30B-2) permits the primary antenna (L4) to match a secondary antenna of an authentication device (2-1, 2-2) having a resonant frequency lower than the working frequency, and a second mode in which the matching circuit (30B-1, 30B-2) permits the primary antenna (L4) to match a secondary antenna of an authentication device (2-1, 2-2) having a resonant frequency higher than the working frequency, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) comprises: a first branch (B1) connected to the transmitter (20B) via a first input terminal (E11) and to the primary antenna (L4) via an output terminal (S11) and comprising a first capacitor (C7), the primary antenna (L4) also being connected to ground (M), the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprising a second capacitor (C8) connected to the output terminal (S11) and to the ground (M), and a second branch (B2) connected to the transmitter (20B) via a second input terminal (E21) and to the primary antenna (L4) at the output terminal (S11) and comprising a first capacitor (010), the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprising a second capacitor (C11) connected to the output terminal (S11) and to the ground (M), and wherein the switching means are in the form of a switching branch connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) and comprising a switching capacitor (C13) connected in series with a switch (M1).

2. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch (M1) is commanded by the microcontroller (10B) or by the transmitter (20B).

3. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first branch (B1) furthermore comprises an inductor (L5), connected between the first input terminal (E11) and the first capacitor (C7), and a third capacitor (C9), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L5) and of the first capacitor (C7) and the ground (M).

4. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second branch (B2) furthermore comprises an inductor (L6), connected between the second input terminal (E21) and the first capacitor (C10), and a third capacitor (C12), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L6) and of the first capacitor (C10) and the ground (M).

5. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

6. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one opening element, said opening element comprising an authentication reader (1B) as claimed in claim 1.

7. An authentication system (0) for locking or unlocking at least one opening element of a motor vehicle, said system (0) comprising at least one authentication device (2-1, 2-2) and a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6.

8. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first branch (B1) furthermore comprises an inductor (L5), connected between the first input terminal (E11) and the first capacitor (C7), and a third capacitor (C9), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L5) and of the first capacitor (C7) and the ground (M).

9. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second branch (B2) furthermore comprises an inductor (L6), connected between the second input terminal (E21) and the first capacitor (C10), and a third capacitor (C12), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L6) and of the first capacitor (C10) and the ground (M).

10. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second branch (B2) furthermore comprises an inductor (L6), connected between the second input terminal (E21) and the first capacitor (010), and a third capacitor (C12), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L6) and of the first capacitor (010) and the ground (M).

11. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

12. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

13. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

14. A motor vehicle comprising at least one opening element, said opening element comprising an authentication reader (1B) as claimed in claim 2.

15. A motor vehicle comprising at least one opening element, said opening element comprising an authentication reader (1B) as claimed in claim 3.

16. A motor vehicle comprising at least one opening element, said opening element comprising an authentication reader (1B) as claimed in claim 4.

17. A motor vehicle comprising at least one opening element, said opening element comprising an authentication reader (1B) as claimed in claim 5.

18. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second branch (B2) furthermore comprises an inductor (L6), connected between the second input terminal (E21) and the first capacitor (C10), and a third capacitor (C12), connected between the center tap of said inductor (L6) and of the first capacitor (C10) and the ground (M).

19. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

20. The authentication reader (1B-1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the matching circuit (30B-1) furthermore comprises a resistor (R3) connected in parallel with the primary antenna (L4) between the output terminal (S11) and the ground (M).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a reader from the prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the system according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of the reader according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the reader according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the method according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a first operating mode of the reader from FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a second operating mode of the reader from FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 2 schematically shows a near-field communication authentication system 0 according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) In this example, the system 0 comprises a first authentication device 2-1, for example a passive near-field communication fob, and a second authentication device 2-2, for example an active near-field communication smartphone. The system 0 also comprises an authentication reader 1B-1, 1B-2 installed in an opening element of a motor vehicle (not shown), for example in a door or a trunk, in particular in a door handle.

(10) With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the reader 1B-1, 1B-2 comprises a microcontroller 10B, a transmitter 20B, a matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 and a single antenna, called primary antenna (L4), characterized by a working frequency, for example 13.56 MHz. It will be noted that the microcontroller 10B and the transmitter 20B may be separate physical entities or be implemented by the same physical entity.

(11) The matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 comprises switching means able to switch said matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 between a first mode, in which the matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 makes it possible to match the primary antenna L4 to a secondary antenna of an authentication device 2-1, 2-2 whose resonant frequency is lower than the working frequency, and a second mode, in which the matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 makes it possible to match the primary antenna L4 to a secondary antenna of an authentication device 2-1, 2-2 whose resonant frequency is higher than the working frequency.

(12) FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show two embodiments of the authentication reader 1B-1, 1B-2 according to the invention.

(13) First of all, in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the matching circuit 30B-1 comprises a first branch B1 and a second branch B2. The first branch B1 is connected firstly to the transmitter 20B via a first input terminal E11 and secondly to the primary antenna L4 via an output terminal S11. The second branch B2 is connected firstly to the transmitter 20B via a second input terminal E21 and secondly to the primary antenna L4 at the output terminal S11. The primary antenna L4 is connected between the output terminal S11 and ground M.

(14) The first branch B1 first of all comprises an inductor L5 connected firstly to the first input terminal E11 and secondly to a first capacitor C7, the first capacitor C7 also being connected to the output terminal S11. A second capacitor C8 is connected between the output terminal S11 and ground M. A third capacitor C9 is connected between the center tap of the inductor L5 and the first capacitor C7 and ground M. The inductor L5 and the third capacitor C9 (which are optional) advantageously form an LC filter making it possible to reject low-frequency and high-frequency signals.

(15) The second branch B2 first of all comprises an inductor L6 connected firstly to the second input terminal E21 and secondly to a first capacitor C10, the first capacitor C10 also being connected to the output terminal S11. A second capacitor C11 is connected between the output terminal S11 and ground M. A third capacitor C12 is connected between the center tap of the inductor L6 and the first capacitor C10 and ground M. The inductor L6 and the third capacitor C12 (which are optional) advantageously form an LC filter making it possible to reject low-frequency and high-frequency signals.

(16) In this example, the matching circuit 30B-1 furthermore comprises a resistor R3 connected between the output terminal S11 and ground M, that is to say connected in parallel with the primary antenna L4. This resistor R3 makes it possible to adjust the quality factor of the primary antenna L4.

(17) In this first embodiment, the switching means are in the form of a switching branch connected in parallel with the primary antenna L4 (and therefore also with the resistor R3) and comprising a switching capacitor C13 connected in series with a two-position switch M1

(18) (open or closed). In this example, the switch M1 is a MOSFET transistor, but any other suitable type of switch could be used. One of the microcontroller 10B or the transmitter 20B is configured so as to command the switch M1 periodically, for example every 200 ms.

(19) The values of the components of the matching circuit 30B-1, in particular of the capacitors C7, C8, C10 and C11, are chosen such that the primary antenna L4 is matched to a secondary antenna whose resonant frequency is lower than the working frequency when the switch M1 is in one position, and matched to a secondary antenna whose resonant frequency is higher than the working frequency of the primary antenna L4 when the switch M1 is in its other position (for example the switch M1 is closed when the input terminal E11 is active).

(20) For example:

(21) L4=1 H

(22) L5=220 nH

(23) L6=1.5 H

(24) C7=36 pF

(25) C8=9 pF

(26) C9=100 pF

(27) C10=22 pF

(28) C11=76 pF

(29) C12=100 pF

(30) C13=12 pF

(31) R3=2 k

(32) In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the switching means comprise a first two-position switch I1 and a second two-position switch I2, for example of MOSFET transistor type.

(33) The first switch I1 is able to switch between a first connection point P1 and a second connection point P2.

(34) Similarly, the second switch I2 is able to switch between a first connection point P3 and a second connection point P4.

(35) One of the microcontroller 10B or the transmitter 20B is configured so as to command the first switch I1 and the second switch I2 simultaneously and periodically, for example every 200 ms.

(36) The matching circuit 30B-2 is connected firstly to the transmitter 20B at an input terminal E12 and secondly to the primary antenna L4 at an output terminal S12.

(37) The matching circuit 30B-2 first of all comprises an inductor L7 connected firstly to the input terminal E12 and secondly to the first switch I1.

(38) The first connection point P1 of the first switch I1 is connected to a first capacitor C16, which is also connected to the first connection point P3 of the second switch I2.

(39) The matching circuit 30B-2 comprises a second capacitor C17 and a third capacitor C18. The second capacitor C17 is connected firstly to the first capacitor C16, at the first connection point P3 of the second switch I2, and secondly to the third capacitor C18, at the second connection point P4 of the second switch I2, the third capacitor C18 also being connected to ground M.

(40) The matching circuit 30B-2 furthermore comprises a fourth capacitor C19, connected between the first connection point P1 and the second connection point P2 of the first switch I1, and a fifth capacitor C20, connected between the second connection point P2 of the first switch I1 and ground M.

(41) The inductor L7, the fourth capacitor C19 and the fifth capacitor C20 (which are optional) advantageously form an LC filter making it possible to reject low-frequency and high-frequency signals.

(42) In this example, the matching circuit 30B-2 furthermore comprises a resistor R4 connected between the output terminal S12 and ground M, that is to say connected in parallel with the primary antenna L4. This resistor R4 makes it possible to reject low-frequency and high-frequency signals.

(43) The values of the components of the matching circuit 30B-2, in particular of the capacitors C16, C17 and C18, are chosen such that the primary antenna L4 is matched to a secondary antenna whose resonant frequency is lower than the working frequency when the first switch I1 and the second switch I2 are in a first configuration, and matched to a secondary antenna whose resonant frequency is higher than the working frequency of the primary antenna L4 when the first switch I1 and the second switch I2 are in a second configuration, as will be described below.

(44) For example:

(45) The capacitors C19 in series with C20 have an equivalent capacitance of 180 pF

(46) The capacitors C16 in series with C17 have an equivalent capacitance of 74 pF

(47) C18=258 pF

(48) C20=1 nF

(49) The capacitors C19 in series with C16 have an equivalent capacitance of 234 pF

(50) The capacitors C17 in series with C18 have an equivalent capacitance of 153 pF

(51) R4=3.3 K

(52) L4=0.78 H

(53) L7=220 nH

(54) The invention will now be described in terms of the implementation thereof with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

(55) With reference first of all to FIG. 5, the implementation of the invention consists in the microcontroller 10B commanding the transmitter 20B such that it generates at least one electric current in the matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 allowing the primary antenna L4 to alternately send a first electrical signal to the secondary antenna of an authentication device 2-1, 2-2 in a step E1 during which the matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 operates in a first mode, and a second electrical signal to the secondary antenna of an authentication device 2-1, 2-2 in a step E2 during which the matching circuit 30B-1, 30B-2 operates in a second mode, the first mode and the second mode being defined by the position of the switching means.

(56) In a first mode of implementation relating to the first embodiment of the reader 1B-1 (cf. FIG. 3), the microcontroller 10B or the transmitter 20B commands the switch M1 so that it is alternately open or closed, such that the matching circuit 30B-1 makes it possible to alternately match the primary antenna L4 to two types of secondary antennas, as explained above.

(57) In a second mode of implementation relating to the second embodiment of the reader 1B-2 (cf. FIG. 4), the microcontroller 10B or the transmitter 20B commands the first switch I1 and the second switch I2 simultaneously and periodically such that the matching circuit 30B-2 operates alternately in a first mode or in a second mode.

(58) With reference to FIG. 6, which illustrates the operation of the circuit of the second embodiment of the reader 1B-2, the first mode is defined by the position of the first switch I1 in which the inductor L7 is connected to the first capacitor C16 and by the position of the second switch I2 in which the center tap P1 of the second capacitor C17 and of the third capacitor C18 (i.e. corresponding to the second connection point P4 of the second switch I2) is connected to the output terminal S12.

(59) In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the matching circuit 30B-2 comprises: the LC filter consisting of the inductor L7 and a branch where the fourth capacitor C19 and the fifth capacitor C20 are in series and connected to ground M, the first capacitor C16 and the second capacitor C17 connected in series firstly to the inductor L7 (via the first switch I1 and the point P1) and secondly to the output terminal S12 (via the second switch I2 and the point P4), the third capacitor C18, the resistor R4 and the primary antenna L4, all three of them connected in parallel between the output terminal S12 and ground M.

(60) With reference to FIG. 7, the second mode is defined by the position of the first switch I1 in which the inductor L7 is connected to the center tap P2 between the fourth capacitor C19 and the fifth capacitor C20 and by the position of the second switch I2 in which the center tap of the first capacitor C16 and of the second capacitor C17 (i.e. corresponding to the second connection point P3 of the second switch I2) is connected to the output terminal S12.

(61) In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the matching circuit 30B-2 comprises: the LC filter consisting of the inductor L7 and the fifth capacitor C20, the fourth capacitor C19 and the first capacitor C16 connected in series firstly to the inductor L7 (via the first switch I1 and the point P2) and secondly to the output terminal S12 (via the second switch I2 and the point P3), a branch (comprising the second capacitor C17 and the third capacitor C18 connected in series), the resistor R4 and the primary antenna L4, all three of them connected in parallel between the output terminal S12 and ground M.

(62) Alternately using the two modes advantageously makes it possible to match the primary antenna L4 alternately to a secondary device antenna 2-1, 2-2 operating at a resonant frequency lower than the working frequency of the primary antenna L4 and to a secondary device antenna 2-1, 2-2 operating at a resonant frequency higher than the working frequency of the primary antenna L4. The switching frequency between the first mode and the second mode is chosen so as to allow rapid detection of one or the other type of device 2-1, 2-2 (switching may for example be performed several times per second).