Patent Application

App. No. 11/513,960

Abstract

Claims (26)

1 . A vehicle-based communication system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a vehicle-based electronic control unit disposed within an interior structure of said vehicle for passively controlling entry to said vehicle, at least a portion of said vehicle-based electronic control unit and at least a portion of said interior structure being unshielded at low electromagnetic frequencies;

a housing for enclosing said vehicle-based electronic control unit;

a transmitter disposed within said electronic control unit for generating a wake-up signal; and

a single antenna integrated within said electronic control unit for transmitting said wake-up signal to a respective portable communication device exterior of said vehicle, said wake-up signal challenging said respective portable communication device for determining a presence of said portable communication device for allowing access to said vehicle.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said single antenna is integrated on a printed circuit board of said electronic control unit.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said single antenna is a low frequency (LF) antenna and said wake-up signal is a LF signal.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within an interior passenger compartment of said vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 4 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within a center console instrument panel.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein said electronic control unit is centrally disposed within said center console instrument panel.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within said engine compartment.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed with said trunk.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within a vehicle door panel.

10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a RF receiver coupled to said single antenna wherein said single antenna receives RF signals.

11 . A passive entry system for a vehicle comprising:

a portable communication device carried by a user;

a housing mounted within said vehicle;

a vehicle-based electronic control unit mounted in said housing for communicating with said portable communication device, at least a portion of said vehicle-based electronic control unit and at least a portion of said interior structure being unshielded at low electromagnetic frequencies, said electronic control unit comprising:

a printed circuit board including a controller, transmitter, and receiver for communicating with said portable communication device; and

a single antenna integrated within said electronic control unit for broadcasting a wake-up signal to said portable communication device.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein said single antenna is integrated on a printed circuit board of said electronic control unit.

13 . The system of claim 11 wherein said single antenna is a low frequency (LF) antenna and said wake-up signal is a LF signal.

14 . The system of claim 11 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within an interior passenger compartment of said vehicle.

15 . The system of claim 14 wherein said electronic control unit is disposed within a center console instrument panel.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein said electronic control unit is centrally disposed within said center console instrument panel.

17 . The system of claim 11 further comprising a RF receiver coupled to said single antenna wherein said single antenna receives RF signals.

Assignments (9)