Arrangement for a vehicle for allowing contactless communication between the vehicle and a mobile communication device

EP4670281A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-12-31HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2024706027
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-02-22
Filing Date
2024-02-15
Publication Date
2025-12-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing contactless communication systems in vehicles face challenges in ensuring reliability and sensitivity, particularly in authenticating and unlocking vehicles using mobile devices like smartphones or NFC cards, due to limitations in electronics production.

Method used

An arrangement with an electronic processing device and antenna, integrated with a filter arrangement and electrical taps, allows for improved signal reception and evaluation, enabling flexible antenna placement and redundant communication methods, enhancing sensitivity and reliability through differential signal transmission and resonant circuit design.

Benefits of technology

This solution significantly improves the sensitivity and reliability of contactless communication, allowing for secure authentication and unlocking of vehicles, even without a door handle, while reducing power consumption and electromagnetic interference.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (200) for a vehicle (10) for allowing contactless communication between the vehicle (10) and a mobile communication means (20), preferably for NFC communication between the vehicle (10) and a mobile identification transmitter (20), said arrangement comprising: - an electronic processing device (210) which is designed to transmit and receive a communication signal via an antenna (220); and - a filter arrangement (300) for filtering signals outside a frequency range for contactless communication, the filter arrangement (300) comprising a first resonant circuit (310), which is electrically connected to the processing device (210), and a second resonant circuit (320) in which the antenna (220) is integrated.
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Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Arrangement for a vehicle for contactless communication between the vehicle and a mobile communication device

[0003] The present invention relates to an arrangement according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing the arrangement.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] It is known from the prior art that contactless communication can be used in vehicles, for example, for authentication and unlocking the vehicle. This typically involves holding a mobile communication device such as a smartphone or an NFC card against an antenna integrated into a vehicle door handle so that the necessary data can be transmitted.

[0006] However, when manufacturing electronics for communication, it is often a challenge to ensure sufficient reliability and sensitivity.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to enable improved reliability and / or sensitivity in communication.

[0009] The subject matter of the invention is an arrangement having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 15. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the arrangement according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates in particular to an arrangement, preferably an electronic arrangement and / or circuit arrangement, for a vehicle for contactless communication between the vehicle and a mobile communication means, preferably for NFC communication of the vehicle with a mobile device such as an identification transmitter and / or smartphone and / or an NFC card. The mobile communication means can thus be designed as a mobile radio device such as a smartphone or as a card. In order to enable authentication on the vehicle, the communication means can further comprise security information such as a secret key or the like. The communication can be provided to initiate unlocking of the vehicle and / or opening of a vehicle door and / or the like, in particular based on the authentication on the vehicle.Accordingly, the arrangement according to the invention can also be part of a security and / or opening and / or unlocking system of the vehicle, which can also be protected as such. Furthermore, the communication can serve for the data transfer required for the aforementioned applications. For this purpose, information to be transmitted, such as security information, can be stored in a data memory of the communication means and read out by an electronic chip of the communication means and—if necessary, actively—transmitted to the arrangement according to the invention. A system comprising the communication means and the arrangement according to the invention can also be protected.

[0011] The arrangement according to the invention may comprise an electronic processing device which is designed to generate and / or transmit and / or receive a communication signal via an antenna.

[0012] Furthermore, the arrangement according to the invention can comprise a filter arrangement for filtering, preferably bandpass filtering, signals outside a frequency range for contactless communication. For this purpose, the filter arrangement can comprise a first resonant circuit, which is preferably electrically connected to the processing device. The filter arrangement can also comprise a second resonant circuit, into which the antenna is preferably integrated. The resonant circuits can electrically couple the processing device to the antenna.

[0013] According to the invention, at least one electrical tap can be provided in the first resonant circuit in order to transmit the communication signal from this tap to at least one receiving terminal of the processing device for reception, and preferably to decouple it for reception in this way. This can have the advantage that the tap in the first resonant circuit, in particular upstream of a coupling capacitor, significantly improves the sensitivity and reliability of the reception and evaluation of the communication signal by the processing device.

[0014] It is conceivable that the processing device and the antenna are provided on different circuit boards of the arrangement. In other words, the arrangement according to the invention can be designed in several parts and preferably have at least or exactly two structurally separate circuit boards. It is also possible for each of the circuit boards to be accommodated in its own housing and / or to be surrounded by electrical and / or moisture insulation and / or a potting compound. In order to nevertheless enable an electrical connection between the antenna and the processing device, a transmission means can be provided, in particular for transmitting the communication signal. The transmission means can be designed to electrically connect the circuit boards to one another. In this case, the transmission means can be designed to arrange the antenna on the vehicle in a spatially flexible manner and at a distance from the processing device.In other words, the transmission means can be designed to arrange the antenna at a flexible and / or variable distance from the processing device on the vehicle. This allows for a significant improvement in the flexibility of installation on the vehicle, so that the positioning of the antenna is no longer limited to the door handle. Rather, it can be provided that the vehicle operates without a door handle and / or that the door can be opened using communication.

[0015] It is further conceivable for the contactless communication to be provided as backup communication and thus as secondary communication in addition to the vehicle's primary communication. The primary communication can be implemented, for example, as UWB (ultra-wideband) or Bluetooth communication. Furthermore, the primary communication can differ from the backup communication in terms of communication technology. In particular, the backup and primary communication can redundantly provide the same function, e.g., authentication and / or unlocking and / or door opening on the vehicle. The processing device and the antenna of the arrangement according to the invention can be provided exclusively for backup communication. The primary and backup communication can use different antennas.

[0016] The vehicle is designed, for example, as a motor vehicle, preferably as a passenger car and / or a truck. Furthermore, the vehicle can be designed as an autonomous and / or door-handle-less vehicle. It is possible for the arrangement according to the invention to be designed for attachment to a driver's and / or passenger door of the vehicle.

[0017] Furthermore, it is optionally possible within the scope of the invention for the transmission medium to be designed as a cable with twisted wire pairs, preferably as a twisted pair cable, more preferably as an unshielded twisted pair cable. This enables particularly advantageous transmission of the communication signal in terms of quality and EMC properties by the transmission medium. Alternatively, the cable can also be designed as a coaxial cable, if necessary. It is also advantageous if the transmission medium has a length of between 0.1 m and 2 m, preferably between 0.5 m and 1.5 m, more preferably between 0.75 m and 1 m. This enables flexible arrangement of the antenna, e.g. on a vehicle door.

[0018] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it can be provided that the electrical tap is electrically connected to at least one coupling capacitor. In this case, the first resonant circuit and the second resonant circuit can be coupled to one another via the at least one coupling capacitor in order to convert the communication signal from a first signal form in the first resonant circuit into a second signal form in the second resonant circuit, and / or to transform the communication signal from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, in particular an antenna voltage applied to the antenna. The tap can be designed to tap the communication signal for reception in the first signal form and / or at the first voltage level. It is preferably possible for the first voltage level to be lower than the second voltage level, and preferably for the second voltage level to be at least twice the first voltage level.Advantageously, the invention can provide that the first voltage level has a peak-to-peak value in the range from 5 V to 35 V, preferably in the range from 7 V to 22 V, and the second voltage level has a peak-to-peak value in the range from 20 V to 100 V, preferably 40 V to 60 V. The first voltage level can optionally be provided or measured in the first resonant circuit and / or the second voltage level in the second resonant circuit.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, it can preferably be provided that a dividing arrangement, preferably in the form of a voltage divider, is provided at the respective receiving terminal in order to reduce the electrical voltage tapped at the electrical tap and provide it in reduced form at the receiving terminal. The respective voltage divider can be designed to provide the electrical voltage at the receiving terminal at a maximum of 5 V, in particular a maximum of 3 V, preferably at a level of substantially 2.8 V. The respective voltage divider can, for example, comprise two resistors or two capacitors.

[0020] Optionally, it can be provided that the arrangement according to the invention is designed to transmit and receive the communication signal differentially between the processing device and the antenna, preferably by an at least partially symmetrical circuit design of the arrangement according to the invention or of the filter arrangement. For this purpose, the electrical tap can be provided symmetrically in the first resonant circuit, preferably in order to couple out the communication signal symmetrically. In other words, two taps can be provided in order to decouple the communication signal in pairs on the symmetrical strands of the arrangement. Differential transmission refers in particular to a method of signal transmission in which a signal is divided into a positive and negative component, which are transmitted via separate lines (the symmetrical strands).This method is robust against disturbances and interference and improves the transmission quality of the signal.

[0021] It is also optionally conceivable for at least one first and one second receiving port of the processing device to be provided as the at least one receiving port. In this case, at least one first and one second receiving port can be provided in the first resonant circuit as the at least one electrical tap. Furthermore, the first tap can be electrically connected to the first receiving port via a first voltage divider, and the second tap can be electrically connected to the second receiving port via a second voltage divider, in order to differentially transmit the communication signal to the receiving ports of the processing device for reception.

[0022] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is conceivable for the respective tap to be additionally electrically connected to a respective transmit terminal of the processing device via a respective low-pass filter, preferably an RLC low-pass filter, and / or for the respective tap to be additionally electrically connected to the second resonant circuit via a respective coupling capacitor. The coupling capacitor can also act as part of the second resonant circuit and, if necessary, also contribute to the conversion of the signal shape and / or the voltage level of the communication signal.

[0023] According to a further advantage, it can be provided that the processing device has at least two transmit ports and at least two receive ports, which are electrically connected to the antenna via at least one transmission path in order to transmit the communication signal differentially between the processing device and the antenna. Furthermore, it can be advantageous within the scope of the invention for the processing device to be designed to evaluate an amplitude and / or phase change of the communication signal received at the receive port in order to determine data transmitted by the communication. In particular, this achieves the advantage that the communication signal is tapped at a location where the amplitude and / or phase change can be detected particularly sensitively.

[0024] It may also be possible for the electrical tap to be simultaneously designed as a measuring and / or calibration point for designing the filter arrangement in order to parameterize the filter arrangement at least partially based on a physical or simulated current measurement at the measuring and / or calibration point, preferably in order to adjust a frequency response of the filter arrangement with regard to an amplitude and / or a current consumption of the filter arrangement, preferably in order to adjust a local minimum (in particular a current notch) in the frequency response of the measured current and / or the current consumption (in particular power consumption) around a center frequency of the filter arrangement. The current measurement can be carried out, for example, as a measurement of an electrical current through a resistance element of the low-pass filter of the first resonant circuit.

[0025] It may also be possible for the filter arrangement to be designed such that, in the frequency response of the filter arrangement, the current consumption exhibits a local minimum essentially around a center frequency of the filter arrangement. This has the advantage that power consumption can be significantly reduced in the relevant frequency range for the communication signal.

[0026] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is conceivable for the filter arrangement to be designed such that a magnitude frequency response of the filter arrangement in the passband is designed with a substantially symmetrical curve around a center frequency of the filter arrangement. It is also possible for the magnitude frequency response of the filter arrangement in the passband to be set with a curve such that the bandwidth of the filter arrangement is at least 1 MHz, preferably at least 2 MHz, more preferably at least 3 MHz, particularly preferably at least 4 MHz. Furthermore, it is conceivable for a coupling factor to be substantially equal to an attenuation of the filter arrangement, preferably a normalized coupling factor to be set to substantially 1.

[0027] Advantageously, within the scope of the invention, it can be provided that the resonant circuits are each designed as a low-pass filter, and preferably at least one or both of the resonant circuits each comprise a resistance element and / or a coil element and / or a capacitor element. The resistance element can be designed as an electrical resistor and / or the coil element as an inductor, each of which can optionally be designed as discrete electronic components.

[0028] A further advantage can be achieved within the scope of the invention if the processing device is designed for connection to an authentication and / or door opening device for the vehicle in order to initiate, on the basis of the received communication signal, an automatic movement of a vehicle door from a closed position to an open position in order to thereby release a gap for further manual opening of the vehicle door, wherein the arrangement is preferably arranged at least partially on the vehicle door. The movement can be enabled, for example, by a motor which is operatively connected to the vehicle door. The connection of the processing device to the authentication and / or door opening device can be enabled, for example, via a corresponding interface of the processing device, preferably wired or wireless.It is conceivable that the authentication and / or door-opening device can be triggered by the processing device based on the received communication signal to control the movement of the vehicle door. This may require authentication, during which the received communication signal may be cryptographically evaluated by the authentication and / or door-opening device.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method for producing an arrangement according to the invention, comprising the following steps:

[0030] Providing at least part of the arrangement,

[0031] Measuring and / or simulating at least part of the arrangement in order to determine a frequency response of the filter arrangement,

[0032] Design of the filter arrangement for filtering the communication signal based on the measurement and / or simulation.

[0033] The method according to the invention thus brings with it the same advantages as have been described in detail with reference to an arrangement according to the invention. The measurement can be carried out, for example, using known measurement technology methods for determining an electric current and / or a voltage and / or a power. The result of the measurement or simulation can then be used in the design of the electronic components of the filter arrangement. For this purpose, for example, a simulation or measurement of the frequency response of the filter arrangement can be carried out with different parameterization of the components in order to arrive at the desired frequency response. Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show:

[0034] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle and a vehicle door with an arrangement according to embodiments of the invention,

[0035] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement according to embodiments of the invention in a plan view,

[0036] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary frequency response of an arrangement according to embodiments of the invention,

[0037] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a method according to embodiments of the invention,

[0038] Fig. 5 is a schematic and simplified circuit diagram of an arrangement according to embodiments of the invention.

[0039] In the following figures, identical reference numerals are used for the same technical features, even in different embodiments.

[0040] 1 and 2 as well as Fig. 5 show, according to embodiments of the invention, an arrangement 200 for a vehicle 10 for contactless communication between the vehicle 10 and a mobile communication means 20. Furthermore, an electronic processing device 210 of the arrangement 200 can be provided, which is designed to transmit and receive a communication signal via an antenna 220. This can mean that the processing device 210 is capable of generating (and receiving) an electrical signal by which the antenna is controlled in order to output an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field can then be influenced by the mobile communication means 20 for communication and in particular for data transmission. The processing device 210 is designed, for example, as an integrated circuit. For this purpose, a so-called "NFC reader," for example, can be used as the processing device 210.

[0041] The communication can be implemented as near-field communication (NFC). Accordingly, the communication signal can be an NFC signal. In this case, the communication can be based on an electromagnetic field being generated and, in particular, used to transmit data by means of the communication. The mobile communication means 20, as an NFC-capable communication means, can be capable of influencing (i.e., detuning) at least one resonant circuit of the arrangement 200 by means of inductive coupling and thereby carrying out the data transmission. The processing device 210 can detect this influence and evaluate it, for example, with regard to the detuning and a modulation of the electrical properties such as the amplitude and / or phase of the communication signal. The transmitted data can be determined on the basis of this evaluation.For influencing and / or modulating the communication signal, for example, load modulation and / or amplitude shift keying (ASK) and / or modulation of the amplitude and phase of an electrical voltage at the antenna 220 can be used.

[0042] Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, that the arrangement 200 can be arranged at least partially on a vehicle door 11. It can be seen that the processing device 210 and the antenna 220 can also be arranged spatially separated at different positions on the vehicle 10. Thus, it is also possible for the antenna 220 to be mounted outside the vehicle door 11, e.g., on a B-pillar 12, and the processing device 210 to be mounted inside the vehicle door. In this case, a connection for electrical signal transmission is still possible via a transmission means 240, which is designed, for example, as an electrical cable.

[0043] In Fig. 2 it can be seen that the processing device 210 and the antenna 220 can be provided on different circuit boards 251, 252, which are electrically connectable or connected to one another by the transmission means 240. This makes it possible for the antenna 220 to be arranged spatially flexibly and at a distance, i.e. in particular with a flexible distance, from the processing device 210 on the vehicle 10. For example, according to Fig. 1, the antenna 220 can be arranged on the B-pillar 12 of the vehicle 10 and the processing device 210 can be arranged spatially separated therefrom in the interior of the vehicle door 11 or alternatively on another vehicle component. The antenna 220 can be formed on the second circuit board 252 as a PCB antenna, i.e. in particular as a printed antenna or as an antenna in the form of conductor tracks on the circuit board.

[0044] The mobile communication means 20 can be configured as an identification transmitter 20 and thus be capable of performing identification and / or authentication on the vehicle 10. "Mobile" can refer to the fact that the communication means 20 is portable and can thus be carried by a user, for example. Specifically, the mobile communication means 20 can be configured as a mobile identification transmitter 20, such as an NFC card and / or a smartphone.

[0045] The mobile communication means 20 can have security information, e.g., stored in a non-volatile manner, which is transmitted via the communication to the vehicle 10 and evaluated there based on the communication signal. For example, for this purpose, the processing device 210 of the arrangement 200 is connected to an authentication and / or door opening device 30, shown schematically in Fig. 1, for signal and / or data transmission. This enables authentication based on the received communication signal and / or, upon successful authentication, unlocking of the vehicle 10 and / or movement of the vehicle door 11 from a closed position 41 to an open position 42 (the latter is visualized by the door 11 in this position as a dashed line). The movement can occur to the extent that a gap 45 is released for further manual opening of the vehicle door 11.This has the further advantage that a door handle for the vehicle door 11 can be dispensed with. The gap 45 can be understood, in particular, as a door gap into which a hand can be inserted to grip and move the door 11. For this purpose, a gripping device for the vehicle door 11 can also be provided in the exposed gap 45, which, for example, replaces a door handle and / or enables comfortable gripping of the door 11. In particular, the gripping device can be designed such that a rounded surface is provided for gripping.

[0046] To enable a flexible arrangement of the antenna 220 with respect to the arrangement of the processing device 210, while simultaneously achieving favorable EMC (electromagnetic compatibility, i.e., in particular, the lowest possible radiation of an electromagnetic field) properties, the transmission means 240 can be designed as a cable with twisted wire pairs, preferably as a twisted-pair cable, preferably as an unshielded twisted-pair cable. Another alternative is to design the transmission means 240 as a coaxial cable. However, a twisted-pair cable has a particularly positive electrical configuration for the intended application, as shown in further detail in Fig. 5.

[0047] Furthermore, it is possible to provide a filter arrangement 300 for filtering, and preferably bandpass filtering, the communication signal. The filter arrangement 300 is shown in further detail in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5. The transmission means 240 and preferably at least partially the antenna 220 can be part of the filter arrangement 300. In particular, this relates to electrical properties such as an inductance and / or a capacitance of the transmission means 240 and preferably of the antenna 220, which can thus be regarded as parameters of the filter arrangement 300. Thus, it is possible to parameterize the filter arrangement 300 using these electrical properties and / or to influence a center frequency and / or cutoff frequencies and / or a bandwidth of the filter arrangement 300.The filter arrangement 300 can be designed for filtering, i.e., in particular, attenuating and / or suppressing, signals outside a frequency range for contactless communication, e.g., as a bandpass filter. For this purpose, the center frequency can particularly preferably be substantially 13.56 MHz and / or the bandwidth can be at least 1.8 MHz, in particular at least 2 MHz.

[0048] The filter arrangement 300 can further be configured as a bandpass filter by having a first resonant circuit 310 and a second resonant circuit 320. The resonant circuits 310, 320 can be connected to one another via at least one coupling capacitor. This can also mean that the at least one coupling capacitor is part of the second resonant circuit 320 and electrically couples the second resonant circuit 320 to the first resonant circuit 310. Furthermore, one of the resonant circuits 310, 320, in particular the second resonant circuit 320, preferably at least partially the at least one coupling capacitor, can be designed to convert a square-wave signal into a sine-wave signal. Accordingly, the communication signal can first be generated by the processing device 210 as a square-wave signal, and then, based on the signal conversion, the antenna 220 can be driven by a sine-wave signal.

[0049] In Fig. 5, the first resonant circuit 310 is formed, by way of example, in a differential configuration by the inductors LR1, LR2 and the resistors RR1, RR2 (the symbols are represented uniformly, regardless of whether the components represented thereby are resistors, capacitors, or coils; coils can also be referred to as inductances). The inductors LR1, LR2 and the resistors RR1, RR2, as well as the coupling capacitors CK1, CK2 and CK1', CK2', can be provided as discrete components. The second resonant circuit 320 can be formed by the capacitor C and, if appropriate, the resistor R and / or the inductor L, wherein the resistor R and the inductor L can, if appropriate, not be provided as discrete components but as electrical properties of the antenna 220. It is also possible for the electrical properties of the transmission medium 240 to be used to form the second resonant circuit 320.Furthermore, it is conceivable that at least part of the second resonant circuit 320 is also provided on the first circuit board, in particular as discrete components. Various variants are conceivable for the arrangement of the at least one coupling capacitor CK1,CK2 or CK1',CK2'. The following assumes, for example, differential signal transmission and, accordingly, two coupling capacitors. For this purpose, the processing device 210 can have at least two transmit terminals 255 and at least two receive terminals 254 (see Fig. 2), which are electrically connected to the antenna 220 via at least one transmission path 256.

[0050] According to a first variant, the first resonant circuit 310 can be provided on a first 251 of the circuit boards 251, 252, and the second resonant circuit 320 and the coupling capacitors CK1', CK2' can be provided on a second 252 of the circuit boards 251, 252. This variant is illustrated in Fig. 5 such that instead of the capacitors CK1, CK2 shown in solid lines on the first circuit board 251, the capacitors CK1', CK2' shown in dashed lines on the second circuit board 252 are used (the capacitors CK1, CK2 are thus not required in this variant). This has the advantage that a lower voltage is applied to the transmission means 240, and the voltage and signal conversion only takes place at the antenna 220 after the communication signal has been transmitted via the transmission means 240.

[0051] According to a further variant, the first resonant circuit 310 can be formed on a first 251 of the circuit boards 251, 252, and the second resonant circuit 320 can be formed at least partially by the transmission means 240. The coupling capacitors CK1, CK2 can be provided on the first 251 of the circuit boards 251, 252 (in this case, the capacitors CK1', CK2' shown in the dashed line are not required). This has the advantage that the attachment of the coupling capacitors CK1', CK2' and possibly even the attachment of discrete components to the second circuit board 252 can be dispensed with entirely. This enables a structurally simpler and more generic design of the second circuit board 252.

[0052] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary frequency response G of the filter arrangement 300 for an amplitude A and a current consumption I (i.e., the current consumption). The amplitude A can be determined, for example, by a voltage measurement of the electrical voltage at the terminals 253 (e.g., at points P1 and P2 in Fig. 5) and / or the current consumption I by a current measurement of the electrical current I through the resistor RR1 (e.g., at point PT in Fig. 5) for different frequencies f. It can be seen that the filter arrangement 300 can be designed such that the absolute frequency response G of the filter arrangement 300, i.e.the illustrated curve V of the amplitude A: is designed in the passband D with a substantially symmetrical curve V around a center frequency FO of the filter arrangement 300, and / or is set in the passband D with a curve V such that the bandwidth B of the filter arrangement 300 is at least 1 MHz, preferably at least 2 MHz, more preferably at least 3 MHz, particularly preferably at least 4 MHz, and / or has a substantially constantly falling or constantly rising curve V around a center frequency FO of the filter arrangement 300.

[0053] The described properties of the filter arrangement 300 have the advantage that the set passband D and / or the bandwidth B has a tolerance for frequency deviations. It is also possible for a coupling factor of the filter arrangement 300 to be substantially equal to an attenuation of the filter arrangement 300, preferably a standardized coupling factor set to substantially 1. The standardized coupling factor is defined in particular as the ratio of the coupling factor to the attenuation. This enables a particularly advantageous frequency response and thus filtering that is robust with respect to component tolerances.

[0054] Furthermore, it can be seen in the frequency response of the current I in Fig. 3 that a current notch can be provided in the region of the center frequency F0 of the filter arrangement 300. The current notch can be designed as a local minimum in the frequency response of the current I. In other words, the filter arrangement 300 can be designed such that, in the frequency response of the filter arrangement 300, a current consumption I has a local minimum substantially around a center frequency F0 of the filter arrangement 300. The local minimum can, for example, be a minimum for the frequency range between the lower cutoff frequency G1 and the upper cutoff frequency G2. The lower and upper cutoff frequencies each have, for example, a difference of at least 500 kHz or at least 1 MHz or at least 2 MHz or at least 5 MHz from the center frequency F0. The measured current consumption I at the center frequency F0 is, for example, below 0.5 A, preferably below 0.1 A or below 0.06 A.The described design of the filter arrangement 300 has the advantage that the power consumption of the arrangement 200 is very low according to embodiments of the invention. This also allows the transmission means 240 to be longer without the performance and / or quality and / or reliability of the arrangement 200 being excessively impaired. The transmission means 240 can, for example, have a length of 0.1 m to 2 m, preferably 0.5 m to 1.5 m, more preferably 0.75 m to 1 m. For the design of the filter arrangement 300 described above, for example, an electrical tap 265 shown in Fig. 5 and thus in particular the point PT or P2' can be used simultaneously as a measuring and / or calibration point. For this purpose, the filter arrangement 300 can be parameterized based on a current measurement at the measuring and / or calibration point.Preferably, the current measurement can be performed while simultaneously varying the frequency f in order to detect a frequency response with regard to an amplitude and / or a current consumption of the filter arrangement 300 and to adjust it by changing the parameters for the filter arrangement 300. For this purpose, for example, the amplitude A shown in Fig. 3 can be determined by a voltage measurement of the electrical voltage at the terminals 253 (e.g., at points P1 and P2 in Fig. 5) and / or the current consumption I can be determined by a current measurement of the electrical current I through the resistor RR1 (e.g., at point PT in Fig. 5). Since the tap 265, as will be described in more detail below, can be provided for receiving the communication signal, the described measurement has the advantage that it is measured or calibrated directly at the point at which the communication signal is also tapped for reception.This can improve the sensitivity when evaluating the communication signal.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows that various variants are also possible for receiving the communication signal by the processing device 210. At least one receive port 254 and at least one transmit port 255 of the processing device 210 can be provided. For differential reception of the communication signal, the ports Rx1 and Rx2 of the processing device 210 can be used as receive ports 254, analogous to the transmit ports Tx1, Tx2.

[0056] Furthermore, it is possible for at least one electrical tap 265 to be provided—in particular in the first resonant circuit 310—in order to transmit the communication signal from it for reception to the at least one receiving terminal 254 of the processing device 210. The respective tap 265 can be designed, for example, as a conductor track and / or a contact point and / or as an electrical connection that represents a node in the circuit structure. For the tap 265 of the communication signal, at least one and, in a differential structure, at least two voltage dividers 260 can be provided, which are provided in Fig. 5 by the components C1, C3 and C2, C4, respectively. The components can, for example, be resistors to form an ohmic voltage divider 260, or capacitors to form a capacitive voltage divider 260.In this way, the communication signal can be adjusted and preferably reduced in terms of voltage and / or current so that it can be evaluated at the processing device 210 with regard to its electrical properties such as amplitude and phase. The position of the tap 265 of the communication signal by the respective voltage divider 260 can have a decisive influence. Fig. 5 shows the points P1 and P2, which are considered as possible voltage taps (dashed line, whereby the connection of PT and P2' to the corresponding voltage divider 260 via the solid line is omitted). This corresponds to a tap (from the perspective of the processing device 210) after the coupling capacitors CK1, CK2, i.e., on the antenna side or in the second resonant circuit 320.However, it has surprisingly proven advantageous to place the tap 265 at points PT and P2', i.e., upstream of the coupling capacitors CK1, CK2, or in the first resonant circuit 310 (in this case, the connection of points P1, P2 to the corresponding voltage divider 260 according to the dashed lines is omitted). Optionally, the tap 265 is thus located at the same point or the same potential at which the current measurement for adjusting the filter arrangement 300 is performed and the current notch in the frequency response is provided. This has been found to enable particularly sensitive detection of the communication signal at the processing device 210, particularly with regard to detecting phase changes.

[0057] Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows that the antenna 220, preferably the entire circuit board 252 of the antenna 220, can be designed to be floating with respect to an electrical reference potential, in particular ground. This has the advantage that the supply of a ground line to the second circuit board 252 can be omitted, thus simplifying the design.

[0058] A further special feature of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is the possible integration of the at least one tap 265 into the first resonant circuit 310. The differential signal transmission provided in the example shown is made possible by the circuitry symmetry of the arrangement 200. Therefore, the at least one receive terminal 254 can comprise at least or exactly a first Rx1 and a second Rx2 receive terminal 254 of the processing device 210. Accordingly, at least or exactly a first PT and a second P2' tap 265 can be provided in the first resonant circuit 310 as the at least one electrical tap 265. The two electrical taps 265 can be electrically connected to different coupling capacitors CK1,CK2.The first tap PT can further be electrically connected to the first receive terminal Rx1 via a first voltage divider C1, C3, and the second tap P2' can be electrically connected to the second receive terminal Rx2 via a second voltage divider C2, C4, in order to differentially transmit the communication signal for reception to the receive terminals 254 of the processing device 210. The respective tap 265 can additionally be electrically connected to a respective transmit terminal Tx1, Tx2 of the processing device 210 via a respective low-pass filter LR1, RR1, LR2, RR2, preferably an RLC low-pass filter.

[0059] Furthermore, the first resonant circuit 310 and the second resonant circuit 320 can be coupled to one another via the at least one coupling capacitor CK1.CK2 in order to convert the communication signal from a first signal shape in the first resonant circuit 310 into a second signal shape in the second resonant circuit 320, and / or to transform the communication signal from a first voltage level to a second voltage level. The respective tap 265 can be designed to tap the communication signal for reception in the first signal shape and / or at the first voltage level. The first signal shape can essentially correspond to a square-wave signal and the second signal shape can essentially correspond to a sinusoidal signal, and / or the first voltage level can have a peak-to-peak value in the range from 5 V to 15 V, preferably in the range from 7 V to 12 V, and the second voltage level can have a peak-to-peak value in the range from 20 V to 80 V, preferably 40 V to 60 V.

[0060] Fig. 5 also shows the arrangement of the components, preferably capacitors, CP3 and CP4 on the first circuit board 251. These can also be part of the filter arrangement 300. An alternative positioning of these components on the second circuit board 252 for the same function is shown in dashed lines as CP3' and CP4'. In both cases, the connection to a ground or reference potential is optional, also shown in dashed lines.

[0061] Fig. 4 illustrates a method 100 for manufacturing an arrangement 200 according to embodiments of the invention. According to a first method step 101, at least a portion of the arrangement 200, e.g., a filter arrangement 300, can be provided. Subsequently, according to a second method step 102, at least one or the portion of the arrangement 200 can be measured and / or simulated to determine a frequency response of the filter arrangement 300. A third method step 103 then enables the filter arrangement 300 to be designed for filtering the communication signal based on the measurement and / or simulation.

[0062] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of example. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided they are technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0063] vehicle

[0064] door

[0065] B-pillar

[0066] Means of communication, identification devices

[0067] Authentication device closed position open position

[0068] gap

[0069] Manufacturing process

[0070] Assembly process

[0071] arrangement

[0072] processing device

[0073] antenna

[0074] transmission means first circuit board second circuit board

[0075] Connection

[0076] Reception connections

[0077] Transmission connections

[0078] Transmission path

[0079] voltage divider

[0080] Tap

[0081] Filter arrangement 310 first resonant circuit

[0082] 320 second resonant circuit

[0083] 251 ,252 printed circuit boards f frequency

[0084] A Amplitude

[0085] B bandwidth

[0086] D Passband

[0087] F0 center frequency

[0088] G Magnitude frequency response

[0089] G1 lower limit frequency

[0090] G2 upper limit frequency

[0091] I Current

[0092] CK1.CK2 coupling capacitor

[0093] S current notch

[0094] V Course

Claims

Claims 1. An arrangement (200) for a vehicle (10) for contactless communication between the vehicle (10) and a mobile communication means (20), preferably for NFC communication of the vehicle (10) with a mobile identification transmitter (20), comprising: an electronic processing device (210) designed to transmit and receive a communication signal via an antenna (220), a filter arrangement (300) for filtering signals outside a frequency range for contactless communication, wherein the filter arrangement (300) has a first resonant circuit (310) which is electrically connected to the processing device (210), and a second resonant circuit (320) in which the antenna (220) is integrated, characterized in that at least one electrical tap (265) is provided in the first resonant circuit (310),to transmit the communication signal therefrom for reception to at least one receiving terminal (254) of the processing device (210).

2. Arrangement (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical tap (265) is electrically connected to at least one coupling capacitor (CK1.CK2), wherein the first resonant circuit (310) and the second resonant circuit (320) are coupled to one another via the at least one coupling capacitor (CK1.CK2) in order to convert the communication signal from a first signal form in the first resonant circuit (310) into a second signal form in the second resonant circuit (320), and / or to transform the communication signal from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, wherein the tap (265) is designed to tap the communication signal for reception in the first signal form and / or in the first voltage level.

3. Arrangement (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first signal shape substantially corresponds to a square wave signal and the second signal shape substantially corresponds to a sinusoidal signal, and / or that the first voltage level is lower than the second voltage level, preferably the second voltage level corresponds to at least twice the first voltage level, and / or that the first voltage level has a peak-to-peak value in the range from 5 V to 35 V, preferably in the range from 7 V to 22 V, and the second voltage level has a peak-to-peak value in the range from 20 V to 100 V, preferably 40 V to 60 V.

4. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dividing arrangement (260), preferably in the form of a voltage divider (260), is provided at the respective receiving connection (254) in order to reduce the electrical voltage tapped at the electrical tap (265) and to provide it in reduced form at the receiving connection (254), wherein the voltage divider (260) is preferably designed to provide the electrical voltage at the receiving connection (254) at a maximum of 5 V, in particular a maximum of 3 V, preferably at a level of substantially 2.8 V.

5. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement (200) is designed to transmit and receive the communication signal differentially between the processing device (210) and the antenna (220), preferably by a circuitry that is at least partially symmetrical, wherein the electrical tap (265) is provided symmetrically in the first resonant circuit (310) for this purpose in order to couple out the communication signal symmetrically.

6. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least or exactly a first (Rx1) and a second (Rx2) receive terminal (254) of the processing device (210) are provided as the at least one receive terminal (254), wherein at least or exactly a first (PT) and a second (P2') tap (265) are provided in the first resonant circuit (310) as the at least one electrical tap (265), wherein the first tap (PT) is electrically connected to the first receive terminal (Rx1) via a first voltage divider (C1, C3) and the second tap (P2') is electrically connected to the second receive terminal (Rx2) via a second voltage divider (C2, C4) in order to differentially transmit the communication signal for reception to the receive terminals (254) of the processing device (210).

7. Arrangement (200) according to claim 6, characterized in that the respective tap (265) is additionally electrically connected to a respective transmit terminal (Tx1, Tx2) of the processing device (210) via a respective low-pass filter (LR1, RR1, LR2, RR2), preferably an RLC low-pass filter, and in that the respective tap (265) is additionally electrically connected to the second resonant circuit (320) via a respective coupling capacitor (CK1, CK2).

8. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing device (210) has at least two transmitting ports (255) and at least two receiving ports (254) which are electrically connected to the antenna (220) via at least one transmission path (256) in order to transmit the communication signal differentially between the processing device (210) and the antenna (220).

9. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing device (210) is designed to evaluate an amplitude and / or phase change of the communication signal received at the receiving terminal (254) in order to determine data transmitted by the communication.

10. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical tap (265) is simultaneously designed as a measuring and / or calibration point for designing the filter arrangement (300) in order to parameterize the filter arrangement (300) at least partially on the basis of a physical or simulated current measurement at the measuring and / or calibration point, preferably in order to set a frequency response with regard to an amplitude (A) and / or a current consumption (I) of the filter arrangement (300), preferably in order to set a local minimum in the frequency response of the measured current around a center frequency (F0) of the filter arrangement (300).

11. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter arrangement (300) is designed such that in the frequency response of the filter arrangement (300) a current consumption (I) has a local minimum substantially around a center frequency (F0) of the filter arrangement (300).

12. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter arrangement (300) is designed such that an absolute frequency response (G) of the filter arrangement (300) in the passband (D) is designed with a substantially symmetrical curve (V) around a center frequency (F0) of the filter arrangement (300), and / or that the absolute frequency response (G) of the filter arrangement (300) in the passband (D) is set with a curve (V) such that the bandwidth (B) of the filter arrangement (300) is at least 1 MHz, preferably at least 2 MHz, more preferably at least 3 MHz, particularly preferably at least 4 MHz.

13. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resonant circuits (310,320) are each designed as a low-pass filter, and preferably at least one or both of the resonant circuits (310,320) each have a resistance element (RR1.RR2) and / or a coil element (LR1.LR2) and / or a capacitor element.

14. Arrangement (200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing device (210) is designed for connection to an authentication and / or door opening device (30) for the vehicle (10) in order to initiate, on the basis of the received communication signal, an automatic movement of a vehicle door (11) from a closed position (41) to an open position (42), in order to thereby release a gap (45) for a manual further opening of the vehicle door (11), wherein preferably the arrangement (200) is arranged at least partially on the vehicle door (11).

15. A method (100) for producing an arrangement (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: Providing (101) at least part of the arrangement (200), Measuring and / or simulating (102) at least part of the arrangement (200) in order to determine a frequency response of the filter arrangement (300), Designing (103) the filter arrangement (300) for filtering the communication signal on the basis of the measurement and / or simulation.