JP5647017B2 - Cradle device and wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cradle device used as a place for placing a communication terminal, and a wireless communication device including the cradle device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a kind of electronic key system for a vehicle, a cellular phone key system has been devised in which a vehicle ID code is registered in a cellular phone and the cellular phone is used as a vehicle key (see Patent Document 1, etc.). For this system, for example, near field communication technology (communication distance of about 10 cm) such as NFC (Near Field Communication) is applied.

  In the case of a mobile phone key system, an in-vehicle reader / writer is provided as a communication device that performs ID verification with a mobile phone located outside the vehicle, and an in-vehicle reader / writer is provided as a communication device that performs ID verification with a mobile phone brought into the vehicle. For example, if ID verification is established by holding the mobile phone from the outside of the vehicle through the door glass to the reader / writer outside the vehicle, the door lock is unlocked and unlocked. Engine start operation is permitted.

JP 2008-206297 A

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 16, the cellular phone has a structure in which a substrate 82 is accommodated in a telephone main body 81 and an antenna 83 for short-range wireless communication is disposed on one side of the substrate 82. Therefore, if the cellular phone is held over the reader / writer antenna 84 with the antenna 83 facing in the opposite direction, the magnetic field radiated as a radio wave from the reader / writer vortexes on the ground metal plate 85 of the substrate 82 as shown in FIG. A current is generated, and an eddy current generates a magnetic field in the opposite direction that cancels the radio wave of the reader / writer, and communication is not established.

  For this reason, since the front and back sides of the mobile phone exist, when the mobile phone is held over the reader / writer, the orientation of the mobile phone must be taken into consideration. Therefore, when communicating with a reader / writer using a mobile phone, there is a problem that the orientation of the front and back of the mobile phone is troublesome.

  The objective of this invention is providing the cradle apparatus and radio | wireless communication apparatus which can improve the convenience at the time of performing near field communication with a communication terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, when the communication terminal is stored in a storage unit provided in the main body, which is a place for the communication terminal, short-range wireless communication is performed with the communication terminal. A cradle device, which is capable of short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal, includes an antenna that has a shape that sandwiches the storage portion from both sides by folding a continuous antenna element into a U-shape. This is the gist.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, since the antenna of the cradle device is shaped so as to sandwich the storage portion from both sides, the antenna of the communication terminal can be used as the antenna of the cradle device regardless of which side of the front or back the communication terminal is stored. Opposing position state. Therefore, the communication terminal can be accommodated in the cradle device without worrying about the front and back of the communication terminal, and the convenience when the user attaches the communication terminal to the cradle device can be improved.

  The gist of the present invention is that the antenna is a primary antenna that is connected to a communication control circuit and operates on the main communication side. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a cradle device that can perform wireless communication with a communication terminal.

  In the present invention, a cradle device of a retrofit type that can be retrofitted to a pedestal part having a primary antenna and has a secondary antenna as the antenna that can relay radio waves to the primary antenna, When the retrofit cradle device is not installed, the communication terminal is directly brought close to the primary antenna to perform the short-range wireless communication. When the retrofit cradle device is installed on the pedestal portion, the retrofit cradle device is installed. When the communication terminal is stored in a cradle, the short-range wireless communication is performed by relaying radio waves by the secondary antenna. According to this configuration, the user who does not need the cradle device is not provided with the cradle device in the pedestal portion, and is configured to use the communication terminal in communication close to the primary antenna. On the other hand, a user who needs a cradle device is provided with a retrofit cradle device on the base, and when the communication terminal is housed in the cradle device, the secondary antenna provided in the retrofit cradle device is used to relay radio waves for communication. Form. Therefore, it is possible to take a usage mode according to the user's request, so that convenience can be improved.

  The gist of the present invention is that the antenna has a shape obtained by folding a simple annular antenna element. According to this configuration, the antenna can be manufactured by simply folding the annular antenna element wire, so that the antenna of this configuration can be manufactured by a simple process.

  The gist of the present invention is that the antenna has a shape in which an annular antenna element crossed at the center is folded at the intersection. According to this configuration, if the annular antenna wires are crossed at the center and folded at the crossing portion, the current flows in the same direction in one antenna portion and the other antenna portion that can be folded back. It becomes a flowing loop. Therefore, when a current is passed through each antenna unit, the radio waves generated in each antenna unit are both directed in the same direction, so the possibility that the magnetic fields cancel each other is reduced. Therefore, communication reliability can be ensured.

  In the present invention, in a wireless communication device in which a communication master and its communication terminal perform communication by short-range wireless communication, a pedestal portion provided as a retrofit portion of the cradle device on the communication master, and a pedestal portion The communication terminal can be stored in a storage unit provided in the primary antenna and itself, and a secondary antenna capable of relaying radio waves to the primary antenna is retrofitted to perform near field communication with the communication terminal. The secondary antenna has a U-shape by folding a continuous antenna element wire into a U shape, and the post cradle device is installed on the pedestal portion. If not, the communication terminal is directly brought close to the primary antenna to perform the short-range wireless communication, and the cradle device is attached to the pedestal portion. When being installed, when the housing the communication terminal to the retrofit cradle, and summarized in that relays radio waves by the secondary antenna to perform the short-range wireless communication.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the convenience at the time of performing near field communication with a communication terminal can be improved.

The block diagram of the short-distance collation system of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view in the vehicle which shows the installation state of a cradle apparatus. The perspective view which shows the antenna shape of a cradle apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows each antenna shape of a mobile telephone and a cradle apparatus. The procedure figure explaining how to manufacture an antenna. Explanatory drawing which shows the electric current which flows into the antenna of a cradle apparatus. (A) State diagram when the front-facing mobile phone is inserted into the cradle device, (b) State diagram when the back-facing mobile phone is inserted into the cradle device. The procedure figure explaining the manufacturing method of the antenna of 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the electric current which flows into the antenna of a cradle apparatus. The state diagram when the mobile phone is inserted into the cradle device. The schematic diagram of the retrofit cradle device of a 3rd embodiment. The perspective view which shows the antenna shape of a retrofit cradle apparatus. The equivalent circuit diagram of a short-distance collation system. The operation | movement figure when communicating without using a retrofit cradle apparatus. The operation | movement figure when communicating using a retrofit cradle apparatus. Schematic diagram of a conventional reader / writer. Explanatory drawing which shows the principle by which the magnetic field for communication is negated.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of a cradle device and a wireless communication device embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is provided with a short-distance collation system 3 that performs ID collation with a mobile phone 2 that can be used as a vehicle key by short-distance wireless communication. The mobile phone 2 can be used as a vehicle key by, for example, accessing a server or the like via the Internet and downloading an ID code. For near field communication, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication) is used. The mobile phone 2 corresponds to a communication terminal.

  The vehicle 1 includes an out-of-vehicle reader / writer 4 that performs short-distance collation (external short-distance collation) with a mobile phone 2 outside the vehicle, and an in-vehicle reader / writer 5 that performs short-distance collation (in-vehicle short-distance collation) with the mobile phone 2 in the vehicle. Is provided. These reader / writers 4 and 5 can transmit and receive HF band radio waves, and perform wireless communication with the mobile phone 2 within a communication range of 10 cm or less. The reader / writers 4 and 5 can simultaneously execute transmission and reception of radio waves by detecting the received radio waves based on the change in waveform of the transmission radio waves. The in-car reader / writer 5 corresponds to a communication master.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with a reader / writer ECU 6 that comprehensively controls short-distance collation, a door lock device 7 that manages the locking and unlocking of the door lock, and an engine starter 8 that manages the operation of the engine. 9 is connected. The reader / writer ECU 6 is connected to an outside communication antenna 11 via a communication circuit 10 and is connected to an in-vehicle communication antenna 13 via a communication circuit 12. Each of the antennas 11 and 13 includes a resonance circuit including an inductance 15 generated by winding a plurality of antenna wires 14 shown in FIG. 3 and a resonance capacitor 16. The ID code of the mobile phone 2 is registered in the memory (not shown) of the reader / writer ECU 6. The reader / writer ECU 6 corresponds to a control circuit.

  The mobile phone 2 is provided with a key control unit 17 that performs ID collation with the reader / writers 4 and 5 through short-range wireless communication. The key control unit 17 is a short-range wireless communication module, for example, and has a structure independent of the telephone function of the mobile phone 2. There are two types of short-range wireless communication modules: one that activates radio waves transmitted from the vehicle 1 using a power source (card mode) and one that activates with its own battery (independent mode). Hereinafter, the case of the card mode will be described.

  In the card mode, the key control unit 17 does not have a power supply itself, and operates using the power radio wave Sv radiated from the reader / writers 4 and 5 as a power supply. The ID code of the cellular phone 2 is registered in the memory (not shown) of the key control unit 17. In the case of the independent mode, it is activated when the magnetic field of the reader / writers 4 and 5 is detected, and authentication is executed.

  When the vehicle 1 is parked, if the mobile phone 2 is held over the reader / writer 4 outside the vehicle, the key control unit 17 is activated using the power radio wave Sv intermittently transmitted from the reader / writer 4 outside the vehicle as the ID signal. Send Sid. The ID signal Sid includes an ID code for short distance verification. When the reader / writer ECU 6 receives the ID signal Sid at the outside reader / writer 4, the reader / writer ECU 6 performs the outside near field collation using the ID code registered in the reader / writer ECU 6. Permit or execute door lock / unlock by.

  When door opening / closing is detected by a courtesy switch (not shown), the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 starts intermittent transmission of the electric power wave Sv instead of the in-vehicle reader / writer 4. Then, when the mobile phone 2 is held over the in-car reader / writer 5, in-car short-distance collation is started. When the reader / writer ECU 6 confirms that the in-vehicle short-distance collation is established, the reader / writer ECU 6 permits the vehicle power supply transition operation and the engine start operation by the push momentary engine switch 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a cradle device 19 is provided as a place for placing the mobile phone 2 in a center console or the like in the vehicle. The cradle device 19 incorporates an in-vehicle communication antenna 13 (a primary antenna of the in-vehicle reader / writer 5). For this reason, when the mobile phone 2 is set in the cradle device 19, the mobile phone 2 automatically performs in-vehicle short-distance collation with the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 at the time of setting. The primary antenna is an antenna that is connected to the reader / writer ECU 6 and operates on the main communication side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cradle device 19 is provided with a cradle body 20 having a bottomed box shape. The cradle body 20 has an opening formed with a storage portion 21 for storing the mobile phone 2. The cradle body 20 is attached to the center console in such a direction that the opening of the storage portion 21 faces the rear of the vehicle body. The cradle main body 20 corresponds to the main body portion.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cradle body 20 includes five walls, and in this example, these are a bottom wall 20a, an upper wall 20b, and side walls 20c to 20e. The side walls 20d and 20e are each provided with a pair of cutout portions 22 so that the mobile phone 2 can be inserted into the storage portion 21 from the side. The storage portion 21 is formed in a space surrounded by the bottom wall 20a, the upper wall 20b, and the side walls 20c to 20e.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cellular phone 2 is provided with a substrate 23 on which an IC, various devices, and the like are mounted, an antenna 24 is provided on one surface of the substrate 23, and a ground metal plate 25 is provided on the other surface. Is provided. By the way, when performing short-distance wireless communication with the reader / writer using the mobile phone 2, if the ground metal plate 25 faces the reader / writer antenna, an eddy current is generated in the ground metal plate 25 by a magnetic field radiated as a radio wave from the reader / writer. The magnetic field which generate | occur | produces and cancels an electromagnetic wave by the cause of this eddy current generate | occur | produces in the ground metal plate 25, and there exists the present condition where communication is not materialized. Therefore, the mobile phone 2 has front and back sides, and when the mobile phone 2 communicates with the reader / writer, it is necessary to point the antenna 24 toward the antenna side of the reader / writer.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 is formed in a substantially U shape so as to sandwich the storage portion 21. This is to enable the mobile phone 2 to communicate with the in-car reader / writer 5 regardless of whether the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the cradle device 19 in either direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 is formed by turning back a loop antenna in which a plurality of antenna wires 14 are wound in a loop shape at the center.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of the present example includes a first antenna portion 26 disposed on the bottom wall 20a, a second antenna portion 27 disposed on the upper wall 20b, and a side wall. A third antenna unit 28 arranged at 20c is provided. The antenna axis L1 of the first antenna unit 26 and the antenna axis L2 of the second antenna unit 27 are oriented perpendicular to the direction when the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the cradle device 19.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each end of the antenna element wire 14 is formed as terminals 29 and 30 to the communication circuit 12. One of the terminals 29 and 30 is formed as a power supply terminal 29 and the other is a ground terminal 30, and the resonance capacitor 16 is connected to either of them. The resonance capacitor 16 may be provided at both terminals 29 and 30.

Next, the operation of the cradle device 19 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 6, the communication circuit 10 activates the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 by applying a voltage to the power supply terminal 29 when performing in-vehicle near-field verification. When a voltage is applied to the power supply terminal 29, a current flows through the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, and transmission of the electric power radio wave Sv is started from the in-vehicle communication antenna 13.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, in the first antenna unit 26, a clockwise magnetic field is generated in the antenna element group on the left side of the paper, and a counterclockwise magnetic field is generated in the antenna element group on the right side of the page. . Therefore, the first antenna unit 26 generates a magnetic field Ha in a direction inward from the bottom wall 20a side of the cradle body 20 as a magnetic field for short-range wireless communication. On the other hand, in the second antenna unit 27, a counterclockwise magnetic field is generated in the antenna element group on the left side of the paper, and a clockwise magnetic field is generated in the antenna element group on the right side of the paper. Therefore, the second antenna unit 27 generates a magnetic field Hb in the direction from the upper wall 20b side of the cradle body 20 inward as a magnetic field for short-range wireless communication.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, when the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the storage portion 21 of the cradle device 19 with the antenna 24 facing the bottom wall 20a, that is, the mobile phone 2 is faced up to the cradle. When set in the device 19, the antenna 24 faces the first antenna unit 26. Therefore, since the antenna 24 of the mobile phone 2 can receive the magnetic field Ha, it is possible to perform short-range wireless communication via the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 and the first antenna unit 26.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, when the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the storage portion 21 of the cradle device 19 with the antenna 24 facing the upper wall 20b, that is, the mobile phone 2 is turned face down. When the cradle device 19 is set, the antenna 24 faces the second antenna unit 27. Therefore, since the antenna 24 of the mobile phone 2 can receive the magnetic field Hb, it is possible to perform near field communication via the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 and the second antenna unit 27.

  As described above, in this example, since the antenna shape of the in-car reader / writer 5 is a U-shape sandwiching the storage portion 21 from both sides, the in-car reader / writer 5 is provided with antennas on both sides of the storage portion 21. For this reason, even if the cellular phone 2 is inserted into the cradle device 19 with the front or back side facing, the cellular phone 2 and the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 can execute short-distance wireless communication. Therefore, when the user sets the mobile phone 2 in the cradle device 19, it is not necessary to care about the direction of the front and back, so that convenience can be improved.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of the cradle device 19 has a U-shape sandwiching the storage portion 21 from both sides, the mobile phone 2 can be placed on the cradle device 19 with the front or back side facing the mobile phone. The second antenna 24 is in a position facing the in-vehicle communication antenna 13. Therefore, since it can be set in the cradle device 19 without worrying about the front and back of the mobile phone 2, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  (2) Since the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of the cradle device 19 is formed by bending one annular loop antenna at the center, for example, the structure of the cradle device 19 is simplified compared to the case where two antennas are used. be able to. In addition, since only one antenna is required, the component cost can be kept low.

  (3) Since the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of the cradle device 19 is a primary antenna, it is possible to provide the cradle device 19 that can perform short-range wireless communication with the mobile phone 2 itself.

  (4) When the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 is manufactured, one annular loop antenna is prepared, and this is simply folded back at the center to manufacture the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 having the shape of this example. Therefore, the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of this example can be manufactured by a simple process.

  (5) Since the notches 22 are provided in the side walls 20d and 20e of the cradle body 20, the mobile phone 2 can be inserted into the storage portion 21 from the side. Therefore, the mobile phone 2 can be easily set on the cradle device 19.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the antenna shape of the in-car reader / writer 5 described in the first embodiment is changed to another shape. Therefore, the same portions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof is omitted, and only different portions are described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of this example has a shape in which the antenna element wires 14 intersect at the center and are folded back at the center. Therefore, although the first antenna portion 26 and the second antenna portion 27 of this example have the same shape as that of the first embodiment, the third antenna portion 28 has a shape in which the antenna wires 14 intersect.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when a current is passed through the in-vehicle communication antenna 13, each of the first antenna portion 26 and the second antenna portion 27 has a clockwise magnetic field on the antenna element group on the left side of the drawing. And a counterclockwise magnetic field is generated in the antenna element group on the left side of the drawing. Accordingly, the first antenna unit 26 and the second antenna unit 27 generate magnetic fields Ha and Hb in the same direction from the first antenna unit 26 toward the second antenna unit 27, respectively.

  For this reason, the antenna 24 of the mobile phone 2 can receive the magnetic field radiated from the cradle device 19 regardless of whether the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the cradle device 19 in either direction. Therefore, since the mobile phone 2 can be set in the cradle device 19 without worrying about the front and back, convenience can be ensured in this case as well.

  Further, since the magnetic field Ha and the magnetic field Hb are directed in the same direction, the possibility that these magnetic fields Ha and Hb cancel each other is reduced. Therefore, communication feasibility between the mobile phone 2 and the cradle device 19 can be ensured.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, in addition to (1) to (3) and (5) described in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(6) The in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of this example is formed by intersecting annular loop antennas at the center and turning back at the intersecting portion. For this reason, since the magnetic fields Ha and Hb generated in the first antenna unit 26 and the second antenna unit 27 are both directed in the same direction, the possibility that these magnetic fields Ha and Hb cancel each other is reduced. Therefore, the reliability of short-range wireless communication can be ensured.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that the cradle device is a retrofit type, and only the parts that are different from this example will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a pedestal 35 is provided on the center console in the vehicle as a place where the mobile phone 2 is held. The pedestal 35 incorporates a primary antenna 36 of the in-car reader / writer 5. The primary antenna 36 is composed of a loop antenna in which a plurality of antenna wires are wound in a ring shape, and the antenna axis L <b> 3 is perpendicular to the upper surface of the pedestal portion 35.

  On the upper surface of the pedestal portion 35, a cradle device 19 as a place for placing the mobile phone 2 can be retrofitted. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the retrofitting cradle device 19 incorporates a secondary antenna 37 that can be magnetically coupled to the primary antenna 36 of the pedestal portion 35. The secondary antenna 37 refers to an antenna that cannot communicate by itself but can communicate via the primary antenna 36. The secondary antenna 37 includes a resonance circuit including an inductance 38 and a capacitor 39. That is, the secondary antenna 37 has the same antenna shape as the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 of the first embodiment except that the resonance capacitor 39 is connected between the terminals 29 and 30. Further, the retrofitting cradle device 19 has the same outer shape as that of the cradle body 20 of the first embodiment.

  The retrofit cradle device 19 can be attached to the pedestal portion 35 by, for example, a snap fit structure. When the retrofitting cradle device 19 is attached to the pedestal portion 35, the primary antenna 36, the first antenna portion 26 of the secondary antenna 37, and the second antenna portion 27 of the secondary antenna 37 are stacked in the vertical direction. The

Next, a usage pattern of the retrofitting cradle device 19 in this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
First, as shown in FIG. 14, the user who does not need the retrofitting cradle device 19 does not attach the retrofitting cradle device 19 to the pedestal 35 and leaves it as it is. At this time, when the in-vehicle short-distance collation is performed with the mobile phone 2, the mobile phone 2 is directly held over the primary antenna 36 of the pedestal portion 35. Therefore, the mobile phone 2 receives the magnetic field radiated from the primary antenna 36, and the mobile phone 2 executes in-vehicle near-field verification with the in-vehicle reader / writer 5. In FIG. 14, the magnetic field is weak in the central portion of the mobile phone 2 because the magnetic field is attenuated by the metal in the mobile phone 2.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the user who needs the retrofit cradle device 19 attaches the retrofit cradle device 19 to the pedestal portion 35. At this time, when a magnetic field is radiated from the primary antenna 36, the primary antenna 36 and the secondary antenna 37 are magnetically coupled by this magnetic field, and the magnetic field radiated from the primary antenna 36 is relayed by the secondary antenna 37. Radiated. Therefore, when the mobile phone 2 is inserted into the retrofitting cradle device 19, the mobile phone 2 and the in-vehicle reader / writer 5 perform in-vehicle near-field collation by the magnetic field relayed by the secondary antenna 37. At this time, as shown in the figure, the magnetic fields generated in the first antenna unit 26 and the second antenna unit 27 are considered to take opposite directions.

  As described above, in this example, since the cradle device 19 can be retrofitted, it is possible to determine whether or not the cradle device 19 is installed according to the user's request. Therefore, for users who do not need the cradle device 19, the primary antenna 36 itself is used as the in-car reader / writer 5 without attaching the cradle device 19. , And the cradle device 19 can be used as the in-car reader / writer 5. For this reason, it becomes possible to respond to a user's request exactly.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, in addition to (1), (2), (4) and (5) described in the first and second embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.
(7) The retrofit cradle device 19 can deal with each user who needs or does not need the cradle device 19. Therefore, since it is possible to take a usage mode according to the user's request, it is possible to select a side that is easy for the user to use. For this reason, user convenience can be improved.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
In each embodiment, a switch that detects that the mobile phone 2 is set in the cradle device 19 is provided in the cradle device 19, and short-range wireless communication is started when the switch detects the mobile phone 2. Also good.

-In each embodiment, the antenna used as the foundation of the antenna 13 for in-vehicle communication is not limited to a loop antenna, For example, other antennas, such as a bar antenna, can be used.
-In each embodiment, the arrangement | positioning location of the cradle apparatus 19 is not limited to an in-vehicle center console, For example, it is good also as a center cluster. Further, the orientation of the cradle device 19 can be changed as appropriate.

  -In each embodiment, it is not limited to the 1st antenna part 26 being arrange | positioned at the bottom wall 20a, and the 2nd antenna part 27 being arrange | positioned at the top wall 20b. For example, the first antenna unit 26 may be disposed on the side wall 20d, and the second antenna unit 27 may be disposed on the side wall 20e.

  In the first embodiment, the cradle device 19 is not limited to the case where only the in-vehicle communication antenna 13 is incorporated. For example, the reader / writer ECU 6 and the communication circuit 12 may be incorporated.

-In 3rd Embodiment, the attachment structure to the base part 35 of the cradle apparatus 19 is not limited to a snap fit structure, For example, you may attach with an adhesive agent.
-In 3rd Embodiment, the shape of the base part 35 is not limited to the shape which takes a one step higher position with respect to the circumference | surroundings, For example, the shape of the circumference | surroundings and a plane may be sufficient.

-In each embodiment, a communication terminal is not limited to the mobile telephone 2, For example, you may use other terminals, such as an IC card.
-In each embodiment, the shape of the cradle apparatus 19 is not limited to the shape which one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped opened, For example, it is good also as a shape where a part of upper surface opens.

-In each embodiment, near field communication is not limited to communication according to NFC, The thing of another system can be used.
-In each embodiment, the frequency used by short-range wireless communication is not limited to HF, For example, LF etc. may be used.

-In each embodiment, the communication distance of near field communication is not limited to about 10 cm, and may be other than this.
-In each embodiment, the vehicle 1 is not limited to mounting only the short-distance collation system 3, For example, the electronic key system may be attached. The electronic key system is a type of key system that uses an electronic key that wirelessly transmits an ID code as a vehicle key. From an electronic key side, a key operation-free system that performs ID collation triggered by communication from the vehicle 1 side. There is a wireless key system that performs ID collation triggered by the communication.

-In each embodiment, the cradle apparatus 19 of this example is applicable also to vehicle outside short distance collation.
In each embodiment, the cradle device 19 is not limited to being used in a vehicle, and may be applied to other devices and devices.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Mobile phone as communication terminal, 5 ... In-car reader / writer as communication master, 6 ... Reader / writer ECU as control circuit, 13 ... In-car communication antenna constituting antenna (primary antenna), 14 ... Antenna wire , 19... Cradle device (retrofitted cradle device), 20... Cradle main body as a main body portion, 21... Storage portion, 35 .. pedestal portion, 36 .. primary antenna, 37.

Claims (6)

A cradle device that is a place where a communication terminal is placed and that, when the communication terminal is stored in a storage unit provided in a main body, performs near field communication with the communication terminal,
A cradle comprising an antenna that is capable of short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal and that has a shape that sandwiches the storage portion from both sides by folding a continuous antenna element into a U shape. apparatus. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a primary antenna that is connected to a communication control circuit and operates on a main communication side. A retrofit cradle device that can be retrofitted to a pedestal having a primary antenna and has a secondary antenna as the antenna that can relay radio waves to the primary antenna,
When the cradle device is not installed in the pedestal portion, the communication terminal is directly brought close to the primary antenna to perform the short-range wireless communication, and the cradle device is installed in the pedestal portion. It is when the housing the communication terminal to the retrofit cradle, cradle apparatus according to claim 1 which relays radio waves by the secondary antenna and executes the short-range wireless communication. The cradle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna has a shape obtained by folding a simple annular antenna wire. The cradle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna has a shape in which an annular antenna element intersects at the center and is folded back at the intersection. In a wireless communication apparatus in which a communication master and its communication terminal perform communication by short-range wireless communication,
A pedestal portion provided as a retrofit portion of the cradle device in the communication master;
A primary antenna provided on the pedestal,
The communication terminal can be stored in a storage unit provided in itself, and a post-installation cradle device that performs short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal by a secondary antenna that can relay radio waves to the primary antenna is provided. ,
The secondary antenna takes a shape that sandwiches the storage portion from both sides by folding a continuous antenna element wire into a U shape.
When the post cradle device is not installed on the pedestal portion, the short distance wireless communication is performed by bringing the communication terminal directly close to the primary antenna, and the post cradle device is installed on the pedestal portion. When the communication terminal is stored in the retrofit cradle, the wireless communication device performs the short-range wireless communication by relaying a radio wave by the secondary antenna.

Images