The present invention concerns a three-axis antenna, antenna unit and receiving device used in keyless entry systems for wireless operation of locking and unlocking automobile doors, for example.
Three axial windings are completed about one core in conventional three-axis antennas. A three-axis antenna that combines a two-axis antenna with a one-axis antenna is disclosed in the gazette of Japanese Kokai Publication 2003-92509. However, the thickness is increased in aforementioned structure because the winding in one axis overlaps the winding in the other axis in a two-axis antenna, which makes it unsuited for miniaturization in terms of height.
In contrast, aforementioned literature presents winding about a cross-shaped core as a two-axis antenna. The need for miniaturization in terms of height is addressed by providing an appropriate three-axis antenna using this.
Patent literature 1: Gazette of Japanese Kokai Publication 2003-92509
The issue to be resolved is the attainment of sensitivity without deviating in any of XYZ directions in an orthogonal coordinate system with windings about a cross-shaped core.
The three-axis antenna pursuant to the present invention is provided with a cross-shaped core having a pair of X-axis arms projecting in the X-axis direction and a pair of Y-axis arms projecting in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to aforementioned X-axis direction in an orthogonal coordinate system, said X-axis winding wire being completed about aforementioned X-axis arms and Y-axis winding wire being completed about aforementioned Y-axis arms, and Z-axis winding wire being provided in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of aforementioned X-axis arms and the head sections of aforementioned Y-axis arms, wherein aforementioned Z-axis winding wire is housed in a condition so as to cover the entire head surfaces of the X-axis arms and head surfaces of the Y-axis arms in aforementioned cross-shaped core.
Aforementioned X-axis winding wire and Y-axis winding wire in the three-axis antenna pursuant to the present invention each begin from the root section of an arm and extend toward the head section of the arm without encircling said head section. Each winding then spans to the head section of the other arm from which point it continues toward aforementioned root section.
A terminal is connected to each winding origin and each winding terminus of the X-axis winding wire, Y-axis winding wire and Z-axis winding wire in the three-axis antenna pursuant to the present invention. In addition, a terminal is connected to the center taps of the X-axis winding wire and the Y-axis winding wire for a total of eight terminals.
The antenna coil unit pursuant to the present invention is provided with a cross-shaped core having a pair of X-axis arms projecting in the X-axis direction and a pair of Y-axis arms projecting in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to aforementioned X-axis direction in an orthogonal coordinate system, said X-axis winding wire being wound about aforementioned X-axis arms and Y-axis winding wire being wound about aforementioned Y-axis arms, Z-axis winding wire provided in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of aforementioned X-axis arms and the head sections of aforementioned Y-axis arms, a case with a bottom housing aforementioned cross-shaped core and aforementioned Z-axis winding wire, the head section of aforementioned X-axis arm and the head section of aforementioned Y-axis arm each being retained when aforementioned cross-shaped core is set in aforementioned case with a bottom, and retaining tabs that determine the position in the Z-axis direction of the X-axis arm and aforementioned Y-axis arm, wherein aforementioned Z-axis winding wire is housed in aforementioned case with a bottom in a condition so as to cover the entire head surfaces of the X-axis arms and head surfaces of the Y-axis arms in aforementioned cross-shaped core.
A terminal is connected to each winding origin and each winding terminus of the X-axis winding wire, Y-axis winding wire and Z-axis winding wire in the antenna coil unit pursuant to the present invention. In addition, a terminal is connected to the center taps of the X-axis winding wire and the Y-axis winding wire for a total of eight terminals.
Aforementioned X-axis winding wire and Y-axis winding wire in the antenna coil unit pursuant to the present invention each begin from the root section of an arm and extend toward the head section of the arm without encircling said head section. Each winding then spans to the head section of the other arm from which point it continues toward aforementioned root section. A projection tab to catch the winding edge is attached to aforementioned retaining tab.
The receiving device pursuant to the present invention is provided with a three-axis antenna that has a cross-shaped core having a pair of X-axis arms projecting in the X-axis direction and a pair of Y-axis arms projecting in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to aforementioned X-axis direction in an orthogonal coordinate system, said X-axis winding wire being wound about aforementioned X-axis arms and Y-axis winding wire being wound about aforementioned Y-axis arms, Z-axis winding wire provided in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of aforementioned X-axis arms and the head sections of aforementioned Y-axis arms and so as to cover the entire head surfaces of the X-axis arms and head surfaces of the Y-axis arms in aforementioned cross-shaped core, also with a first amplifier connected to a terminal that is connected to the winding origin and to the winding terminus of aforementioned X-axis, a second amplifier connected to a terminal that is connected to the winding origin and to the winding terminus of aforementioned Y-axis, a third amplifier connected to the terminal that is connected to the winding origin and to the winding terminus of aforementioned Z-axis, and a reception selection circuit that treats the output from aforementioned first to third amplifiers as received signals, wherein the terminal connected to the center taps of aforementioned X-axis winding wire and aforementioned Y-axis winding wire and the terminal connected to the winding origin edge of aforementioned Z-axis winding wire are grounded.
A terminal is connected to each winding origin edge and each winding terminus edge of the X-axis winding wire, Y-axis winding wire and Z-axis winding wire in the receiving device pursuant to the present invention. In addition, a terminal is connected to the center taps of the X-axis winding wire and the Y-axis winding wire for a total of eight terminals.
Aforementioned X-axis winding wire and Y-axis winding wire in the receiving device pursuant to the present invention each begin from the root section of an arm and extend toward the head section of the arm without encircling said head section. Each winding then spans to the head section of the other arm from which point it continues toward aforementioned root section.
The terminals to the center taps of the X-axis winding wire and the Y-axis winding wire are connected to the circuit board on which aforementioned first to third amplifiers are installed in the receiving device pursuant to the present invention.
The three-axis coil, antenna coil unit and receiving device pursuant to the present invention are provided with an X-axis winding wire that is wound about the X-axis arm and a Y-axis winding wire that is wound about the Y-axis arm of the cross-shaped core as well as a Z-axis winding wire provided in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of aforementioned X-axis arms and the head sections of aforementioned Y-axis arms, so as to cover the entire head surfaces of the X-axis arms and head surfaces of the Y-axis arms in aforementioned cross-shaped core, which means that the magnetic flux numbers entering the terminal of each arm from the Z-axis winding wire proximal to the head section of each arm are roughly equal, thereby attaining sensitivity without deviation concerning any of the XYZ axis winding wires.
The three-axis coil, antenna coil unit and receiving device pursuant to the present invention are provided with a Z-axis winding wire provided in a condition so as to cover the entire head surfaces of the X-axis arms and head surfaces of the Y-axis arms in the cross-shaped core, the X-axis winding wire and Y-axis winding wire each begin from the root section of an arm and extend toward the head section of the arm without encircling said head section. Each winding then spans to the head section of the other arm from which point it continues toward aforementioned root section. Thus, the potential becomes equal at the head section of a pair of X-axis arms and at the head section of a pair of Y-axis arm and the effects of the electric field due to the head section of aforementioned X-axis arm and to the head section of aforementioned Y-axis arm on the Z-axis winding wire provided in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of the X-axis arms and the head sections of the Y-axis arms are equal, thereby attaining sensitivity without deviation concerning the Z axis winding wire.
Miniaturization in terms of height can be attained since the windings do not overlap in the antenna coil unit and the receiving device pursuant to the present invention. The head section of the X-axis arm and the head section of the Y-axis arm are retained when the cross-shaped core is set in a case with a bottom, and a retaining tab that determines the position in the Z-axis direction of the X-axis arm and the Y-axis arm is provided. Consequently, the cross-shaped core, X-axis arm and Y-axis arm can be easily oriented in the vertical direction, and coupling of each arm can be avoided, thereby attaining sensitivity without deviation concerning any of the XYZ axis winding wires.
The objective of attaining sensitivity without deviation concerning any of the XYZ axis winding wires is realized by creating XY-axis winding wires about a cross-shaped core and by installing a Z-axis winding wire in a condition enclosing aforementioned cross-shaped core outside the head sections of the X-axis arms and the head sections of the Y-axis arms. Embodiments of the three-axis coil, antenna coil unit and receiving device pursuant to the present invention are explained below with reference to the appended figures. Those structures in each diagram that are identical are designated by the same notation and a duplicate explanation is omitted.
Retaining tab 4 that retains each head section 22aa, 22bb, 23aa, 23bb is shown in
Aforementioned retaining tab 4 is disposed in the concave section formed in convex member 12 that is formed at the bottom of case 1. Cross-shaped core 2 is housed as shown in
Z-axis winding wire is provided in a condition so as to uniformly cover the head surfaces of X-axis arms 22a, 22b and the head surfaces of Y-axis arms 23a, 23b in cross-shaped core 2 (Z-axis winding wire uniformly provided in the portions corresponding to the head sections and in the vertical direction). The magnetic flux number passing through each of the head sections 22aa, 22bb, 23aa, 23bb and part of the corresponding Z-axis winding wire (portion corresponding to aforementioned head section) is roughly the same figure at head section 22aa and at head section 22bb, as shown in
The following structure is adopted in this embodiment. X-axis winding wire 24 is wound about X-axis arms 22a, 22b and Y-axis winding wire 25 is wound about Y-axis arms 23a, 23b in cross-shaped core 2, as shown in
When winding reaches the boundary section with head section 22aa, as shown by the arrows denoting the winding in
When winding is continued, it returns to winding origin S shown in
The end of X-axis winding wire 24 is caught by projection tab 43 of retaining tab 4 corresponding to head sections 22aa, 22bb, respectively. The edge of this coil is connected by soldering to the terminals that extend from external terminals 31-38 to the vicinity of projection tab 43. Similarly, the end of Y-axis winding wire 25 is caught by projection tab 43 of retaining tab 4 corresponding to head sections 23aa, 23bb, respectively. The edge of this coil is connected by soldering to the terminals that extend from external terminals 31-38 to the vicinity of projection tab 43.
Z-axis winding wire 26 is wound about an empty core in a virtually square shape, as shown in
The edges of external terminals 35, 36 that are installed on the outside of case 1 protrude near the position where Z-axis winding wire 26 is disposed in case 1, and each end of Z-axis winding wire 26 is connected. In addition, the edges of external terminals 37, 38 that are installed on the outside protrude near cross-shaped core 2 that is disposed at the bottom of case 1, and are connected to the center taps of X-axis winding wire 24 and Y-axis winding wire 25.
A completed diagram of the three-axis antenna presents the structure in the planar figure that is
First amplifier 81 is provided with capacitor C1 that is connected between two input terminals, second amplifier 82 is provided with capacitor C2 that is connected between two input terminals, and third amplifier 83 is provided with capacitor C3 that is connected between two input terminals. Reception selection circuit 84 that is provided treats the output from aforementioned first to third amplifiers 81 to 83 as received signals. In short, reception selection circuit 84 compares the output levels of amplifiers 81 to 83, selects the signal having the greater output level and outputs it to the processing circuit of the received signal. Terminals 37 and 38 that are connected to the center taps XC, YC of X-axis winding wire 24 and Y-axis winding wire 25 as well as terminal 35 that is connected to winding origin edge ZS of Z-axis winding wire 26 are grounded by common connection to the circuit board side. The suffixes of these connections XC, YC, ZS are represented by CCS. Thus, the grounding of center taps XC, YC with the terminal connected to winding terminus ZF of Z-axis winding wire 26 would be represented as CCF.
Thus, the connection of either edge XS, XF with either edge YS, YF and with either edge ZS, ZF without using center taps XC, YC with X-axis winding wire 24 and Y-axis winding wire 25 would be the connections represented by SSS, FFF, FFS, FSF, FSS, SFF, SFS, SSF. Comparative trials of these eight types of received sensitivity characteristics with the received sensitivity characteristics of aforementioned CCS show that the CSS connection provides the highest peak value and that the characteristics are arranged according to the peak frequency in the XYZ axes. In short, this indicates that characteristics having no deviation in three axes are obtained.
The structure shown in
An antenna coil unit provided with six external terminals can be implemented by incorporating capacitors C1 to C3 in case 1. In addition, an antenna coil unit that incorporates amplifiers 81 to 83 in case 1 can also be implemented. Furthermore, six terminals can be completed by collecting in one terminal each terminus of each winding wire connected to the ground.
Retaining tab 4 in
Fan shaped convex member 12 in case 1 shown in
Winding as shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-071481 | Mar 2004 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10592428 | Sep 2006 | US |
Child | 12461910 | US |