Vehicle Door Handle Antenna Layout for Wider NFC-UWB Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of an NFC antenna in a vehicle's door handle reduces the space available for ultra-wideband antennas and requires precise positioning of a user's portable equipment for communication, leading to ergonomic issues and reduced communication area.
Innovation Solution
A device with two near-field communication antennas surrounding ultra-wideband antennas, arranged on either side of the center, within a receptacle defined by the NFC antenna windings, connected to a printed circuit with ground planes, allowing for increased space and improved communication area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an NFC antenna is integrated into the door handle, then the vehicle can communicate with discharged portable equipment, but the space available for ultra-wideband antennas and electronics is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the ultra-wideband antenna inside the receptacle defined by the NFC antenna windings, creating a nested configuration where one antenna system is positioned within the spatial envelope of the other. This allows both NFC and ultra-wideband functionality to coexist in the limited door handle space without requiring separate dedicated volumes for each antenna type.
2Ease of manufacture
If the NFC reader is positioned at a precise location on the handle, then the NFC antenna can be integrated, but the user must bring portable equipment close to this precise location, reducing ergonomics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional receptacle space within the door handle structure where the ultra-wideband antenna is positioned. This spatial configuration allows the NFC communication area to be distributed throughout the receptacle volume rather than confined to a single precise two-dimensional location on the handle surface, giving users more flexibility in how they position their portable equipment.
3Area of stationary object
If two ultra-wideband antennas are integrated to cover a wide area, then communication coverage is improved, but the space for NFC antenna and electronics is further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spatial envelopes of the NFC antenna and ultra-wideband antennas by positioning the ultra-wideband antenna within the receptacle defined by the NFC windings. This merging of spatial configurations allows the system to achieve wide-area coverage with ultra-wideband antennas while maintaining NFC functionality, without requiring separate dedicated spaces that would consume additional volume in the door handle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the space allocation for electronics and provides a more homogeneous communication area around the vehicle, minimizing electromagnetic disturbances and improving ultra-wideband antenna performance.
Implementation Method 1
it is able to charge the battery of the item of portable equipment through electromagnetic induction
Data Source
AI summary
A device for activating a vehicle function. The device being intended to be housed on board a vehicle and includes at least one ultra-wideband communication antenna and at least one near-field communication antenna in order to communicate with an item of portable equipment carried by a user. The function being activated based on a location of the item of equipment with respect to the vehicle and on an authentication of the item of equipment. The windings of the near-field communication antenna delimit a perimeter of a receptacle in which the ultra-wideband communication antenna is located.