Antenna module

An antenna module includes: a magnetic core; a first electric wire constituting a coil into which the magnetic core is inserted; a capacitor having first and second terminals and connected in series to the coil; a second electric wire connected to the capacitor; and a base including a capacitor accommodating portion and a core accommodating portion, wherein the capacitor accommodating portion has first and second accommodating portions, the first terminal and a connecting portion of the first electric wire are connected to each other in the first accommodating portion, the second terminal and a connecting portion of the second electric wire are connected to each other in the second accommodating portion, and a portion of an opposite side to the connecting portion in the first electric wire and the second electric wire constitute a harness.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application 2016-037343, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to an antenna module which is mounted on a door for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

As an antenna module built into an outside handle of a door on a vehicle, a technique described in JP 2008-211643A (Reference 1) is known.

The antenna module described in Reference 1 includes a magnetic core, a coil, a capacitor to which the coil is connected, a holding member to which the magnetic core is attached and which holds the capacitor a sealing body, a case in which these are accommodated, and two harnesses. The holding member includes a disposition portion which disposes the capacitor, and two harness terminals which support the two harnesses, respectively. A first harness is connected to a first harness terminal, and a second harness is connected to a second harness terminal. In addition, one end portion of the coil is connected to the first harness terminal and the other end portion of the coil is connected to one side terminal of the capacitor. The other side terminal of the capacitor is connected to the second harness terminal.

Such a connecting structure between a coil, a capacitor and a harness is assumed to include a holding member on which two harness terminals are provided.

SUMMARY

Thus, a need exists for an antenna module which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

An antenna module according to an aspect of this disclosure includes a magnetic core; a first electric wire which constitutes a coil into which the magnetic core is inserted; a capacitor which has a first terminal and a second terminal and which is connected in series to the coil; a second electric wire which is connected to the capacitor; and a base which includes at least a capacitor accommodating portion in which the capacitor is accommodated and a core accommodating portion in which the magnetic core is accommodated. The capacitor accommodating portion has a first accommodating portion which accommodates at least one portion of the first terminal of the capacitor and a connecting portion of the first electric wire and a second accommodating portion which accommodates at least one portion of the second terminal of the capacitor and a connecting portion of the second electric wire. The first terminal of the capacitor and the connecting portion of the first electric wire are connected to each other in the first accommodating portion. The second terminal of the capacitor and the connecting portion of the second electric wire are connected to each other in the second accommodating portion. A portion of an opposite side to the connecting portion in the first electric wire and the second electric wire constitute a harness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example of an application of an antenna module10will be illustrated. For example, the antenna module10is used as an antenna of a wireless device mounted on a vehicle.

The wireless device constitutes a portion of an entry system (system that is capable of locking and unlocking of a door for a vehicle through wireless communication). The wireless device includes a main body device, an antenna that sends and receives a wireless signal, and a portable device that performs wireless communication with the main body device through the antenna. For example, the main body device sends a request signal through the antenna and detects a position of the portable device based on reception of a response signal that is sent when the portable device receives the request signal. The antenna module10is used to an antenna of such a system.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the antenna module10is disposed in an outside handle1of the door for a vehicle. The outside handle1includes a grip portion2which includes a module accommodating chamber3in which the antenna module10is accommodated, a first projecting portion4which projects from an end portion of the grip portion2, and a second projecting portion5which projects from the other end portion of the grip portion2. The first projecting portion4is engaged to the door for a vehicle through a rotating shaft. The second projecting portion5is engaged to a bell crank disposed on a door side for a vehicle. The bell crank causes a looking mechanism (mechanism that controls locking of the door for a vehicle) which is mounted on the door for a vehicle to be operated by an operation thereof.

A harness17(harness that is constituted by a first electric wire13and a second electric wire14to be described below) of the antenna module10passes through an insertion hole provided to the outside handle1, is disposed in the door for a vehicle, and then is connected to the main body device or a relay device in the door for a vehicle. The relay device is a device that relays the main body device and the antenna module10.

First Embodiment

With reference toFIG. 3toFIG. 10, an example of an antenna module10will be illustrated.

A longitudinal direction, a vehicle width direction and a vertical direction of the antenna module10are defined based on disposition when the antenna module10is mounted on the outside handle1of the door for a vehicle. Specifically, “a front side” and “a rear side” of the antenna module10match with a front side and a rear side of a vehicle. “An inside” in the antenna module10indicates a direction that faces an inside of a vehicle in the vehicle width direction. “An outside” in the antenna module10indicates a direction opposite to the inside. In the antenna module10, “a top” indicates a top when the antenna module10is mounted on the outside handle1of the door for a vehicle. “A bottom” is a side opposite to “the top”.

As illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the antenna module10includes a base11, a capacitor12, a first electric wire13which includes a coil13b, a second electric wire14, and a magnetic core15. The magnetic core15has a rod shape and is inserted into the coil13b. The magnetic core15is made from ferrite, for example. The capacitor12and the coil13bare connected in series to each other. In other words, the antenna module10constitutes a series LC circuit. The capacitor12includes a main body portion12a, and two lead terminals that extend from the main body portion12a(hereinafter, two lead terminals are referred to as “a first terminal12b” and “a second terminal12c”).

The first electric wire13and the second electric wire14include conductors made from copper or the like, and coating layers coating the conductors. The coating layer has both insulation properties and waterproof properties. The conductors in both ends of the first electric wire13and the second electric wire14are exposed and one side ends thereof are connected to the capacitor12and the other side ends thereof are connected to a connector. Hereinafter, in the first electric wire13, the exposed conductor end which is connected to the capacitor12is referred to as “a connecting portion13a”.

The base11includes a portion in which the magnetic core15is accommodated (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a core accommodating portion20”) and a portion in which the capacitor12is accommodated (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a capacitor accommodating portion40”). The capacitor accommodating portion40is disposed on a front side of the core accommodating portion20. The base11is made from resin.

As illustrated inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the core accommodating portion20has a concave portion22in which the magnetic core15is accommodated. The first electric wire13is spirally wound around an intermediate side of a portion (hereinafter, it is simply referred to as “an intermediate portion21”) on which the magnetic core15is disposed on the core accommodating portion20. A portion around which the first electric wire13is wound becomes the coil13bdescribed above.

A guide groove21a(seeFIG. 4) which guides the first electric wire13in order to be spirally wound is provide to the intermediate portion21of the core accommodating portion20.

A first claw23is provided closer to a front side than the intermediate portion21in an outer surface (surface that faces the outside in the vehicle width direction) of the core accommodating portion20. A second claw24is provided closer to a rear side than the intermediate portion21in an outer surface of the core accommodating portion20. The first claw23and the second claw24are in contact with an inside surface3a(surface that faces an inside in the vehicle width direction; seeFIG. 2) of a contacting portion in the module accommodating chamber3.

A third claw25and a fourth claw26are provided to side surfaces (upper surface and low surface) in the core accommodating portion20. The third claw25and the fourth claw26are in contact with the side surfaces (upper surface or low surface) of the module accommodating chamber3. Each of the first claw23to the fourth claw26has elastic properties and is configured to be bent when proximal end portion thereof is in contact with the module accommodating chamber3. In this way, the antenna module10is held in the module accommodating chamber3in order not to generate position shift due to vibrations or shocks.

In addition, five guide claws (hereinafter, they are referred to as “a first guide claw31” to “a fifth guide claw35”, respectively) are provided in the core accommodating portion20in order to guide the first electric wire13. The first guide claw31to the fourth guide claw34project from one side surface of the core accommodating portion20, and the fifth guide claw35projects from the other side surface of the core accommodating portion20. Then, the first guide clew31is disposed closer to the rear side than the coil13band the second guide claw32to the fifth guide claw35are further disposed closer to the front side than the coil13b. In addition, the second guide claw32to the fourth guide claw34are disposed in the order of the second guide claw32, the third guide claw33, and the fourth guide claw34from the core accommodating portion20toward the capacitor accommodating portion40. The fifth guide claw35is disposed closer to the coil13bside than the second guide claw32in the longitudinal direction of the core accommodating portion20. The first guide claw31to the fifth guide claw35are configured in a hook shape so that the first electric wire13is hooked therein. For example, the first guide claw31to the fifth guide claw35are bent in a right angle shape or acute angle shape so that the first electric wire13is hooked therein.

The first electric wire13is divided into the coil13b, a portion that extends from a rear side end of the coil13b(hereinafter, it is referred to as “a first extending portion13c”), and a portion that extends from a front side end of the coil13b(hereinafter, it is referred to as “a second extending portion13d”).

The first extending portion13cincludes the connecting portion13adescribed above. The first extending portion13cis firstly wired to be directed in the rear side direction and the extending direction thereof is reversed at the first guide claw31. Subsequently, the first extending portion13cis engaged to the second guide claw32, the third guide dew33, and the fourth guide claw34in this order and is guided to the second guide claw32, the third guide claw33, and the fourth guide claw34and thus the connecting portion13athereof is disposed on the first accommodating portion51of the capacitor accommodating portion40(seeFIG. 3toFIG. 7).

The second extending portion13dis engaged to the fifth guide claw35, the second guide claw32, the third guide claw33, and the fourth guide claw34in this order and is guided to the fifth guide claw35, the second guide claw32, the third guide claw33, and the fourth guide claw34and thus is guided to a guide claw47to be described below provided to the capacitor accommodating portion40(seeFIG. 3andFIG. 4). The second extending portion13dconstitutes a portion of the harness17.

With reference toFIG. 8toFIG. 10, the capacitor accommodating portion40will be described.

The capacitor accommodating portion40accommodates the capacitor12. Preferably, further, a land member16is disposed on the capacitor accommodating portion40(seeFIG. 9). The land member16is made from a metal plate (for example, copper plate) or a plate including a metal layer (for example, copper substrate). The land member16is used as a substrate for filling solder61which connects the terminal of the capacitor12with the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14.

The capacitor accommodating portion40includes a first accommodating portion51in which a portion of the first terminal12bof the capacitor12is accommodated, a second accommodating portion52in which a portion of the second terminal12eof the capacitor12is accommodated, and a third accommodating portion53in which the main body portion12aof the capacitor12is accommodated. Preferably, the land members16are disposed on the first accommodating portion51and the second accommodating portion52, respectively.

For example, the capacitor accommodating portion40includes a bottom wall41, and a peripheral wall42which is provided in order to surround the bottom wall41. A space having a box shape which is constituted by the bottom wall41and the peripheral wall42is divided into the first accommodating portion51, the second accommodating portion52and the third accommodating portion53, described above. A concave portion42aon which a proximal end of the first terminal12band a proximal end of the second terminal12care disposed is provided to a wall portion by which the first accommodating portion51and the second accommodating portion52are constituted in the peripheral wall42.

A partition wall43is provided between the first accommodating portion51and the second accommodating portion52. A first holding portion44in which the first terminal12band the first electric wire13are held is provided between the third accommodating portion53and the first accommodating portion51. A second holding portion45in which the second terminal12cand the second electric wire14are held is provided between the third accommodating portion53and the second accommodating portion52. Further, a projecting portion46that vertically projects from the bottom wall41is provided to the third accommodating portion53. The projecting portion46is inserted between a base of the first terminal12band a base of the second terminal12c(seeFIG. 9) and thus the main body portion12aof the capacitor12is positioned.

The first holding portion44includes a groove into which the first electric wire13is inserted (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a groove44afor the first electric wire”) and a groove into which the first terminal12bof the capacitor12is inserted (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a groove44bfor the first terminal). A groove width of the groove44bfor the first terminal is equal to or slightly less than a diameter of the first terminal12band the groove width thereof is widen toward an opening side (side opposite to the bottom wall41. Hereinafter, the same). A groove width of the groove44afor the first electric wire is equal to or slightly less than a diameter (a diameter of a portion that has a conductor and a coating resin layer) of the first electric wire13and the groove width thereof is widen toward the opening side. In addition, preferably, an extending direction (an extending direction of an intersecting line between a surface of one side of a pair of surfaces parallel to each other constituting the groove44aand a surface that is constituted by the bottom wall41with each other) of the groove44afor the first electric wire and an extending direction of the groove44bfor the first terminal intersect with each other. Further, an intersecting portion between the extending direction of the groove44afor the first electric wire and the extending direction of the groove44bfor the first terminal with each other is preferably in the first accommodating portion51(hereinafter, this structure is referred to as “a first intersecting structure”).

The second holding portion45includes a groove into which the second electric wire14is inserted (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a groove45afor the second electric wire”) and a groove into which the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is inserted (hereinafter, it is referred to as “a groove45bfor the second terminal”). A groove width of the groove45bfor the second terminal is equal to or slightly less than a diameter of the second terminal12cand the groove width thereof is widen toward the opening side. A groove width of the groove45afor the second electric wire is equal to or slightly less than a diameter of the second electric wire14and the groove width thereof is widen toward the opening side. In addition, preferably, an extending direction of the groove45afor the second electric wire and an extending direction of the groove45bfor the second terminal intersect with each other (seeFIG. 9). Further, an intersecting portion between the extending direction of the groove45afor the second electric wire and the extending direction of the groove45bfor the second terminal with each other is preferably in the second accommodating portion52(hereinafter, this structure is referred to as “a second intersecting structure”).

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the first terminal12bof the capacitor12is inserted into the groove44bfor the first terminal and a portion of the first terminal12bis disposed on the first accommodating portion51. A coating portion of the first electric wire13is inserted into the groove44afor the first electric wire and the connecting portion13ais disposed on the first accommodating portion51. Then, preferably, in the first intersecting structure described above, the first terminal12band the connecting portion13aof the first electric wire13are disposed to be intersected with each other.

In addition, in the same manner, the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is inserted into the groove45bfor the second terminal and a portion of the second terminal12cis disposed on the second accommodating portion52. A coating portion of the second electric wire14is inserted into the groove45afor the second electric wire and the connecting portion14ais disposed on the second accommodating portion52. Then, preferably, in the second intersecting structure described above, the second terminal12cand the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14are disposed to be intersected with each other.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the terminals12band12cof the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14are connected by soldering with each other. Preferably, the land member16is used in the soldering connection between the terminals12band12cof the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14with each other. For example, the connecting portion13aof the first electric wire13and the first terminal12bof the capacitor12are disposed to be intersected on the land member16with each other. Then, the solder61is filled in the land member16so that at least the intersecting portion is covered with the solder61. A soldering connection structure between the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14and the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is also the same as the soldering connection structure of the connecting portion13aof the first electric wire13and the first terminal12bof the capacitor12.

A sealing resin60seals between the connecting portions13aand14a(that is, the exposed connector end) of the electric wires13and14and the terminals of the capacitor12. Specifically, the sealing resin60is filled in the capacitor accommodating portion40and the entirety of the capacitor12is sealed with the sealing resin60(seeFIG. 3).

In addition, the guide claw47for winding the second electric ware14is provided in the capacitor accommodating portion40.

The guide claw47includes a base portion47awhich extends from the peripheral wall42to an outside (an opposite side to the peripheral wall42), a protruding portion47bthat extends from the base portion47a, and an escaping prevention portion47c. The protruding portion47bof the guide claw47is provided to approach to the portion of the peripheral wall42. Then, an end surface of the protruding portion47bis disposed near to the peripheral wall42, and a width length LA of a gap between a proximal end of the protruding portion47band the peripheral wall42is set to a distance into which the second electric wire14is enough to be inserted. The escaping prevention portion47cis provided to project from the base portion47aat the position which is spaced apart by a predetermined distance (for example, length which is two times of diameter of the second electric wire14) from the base of the base portion47a. Such an escaping prevention portion47cprevents the second electric wire14wound near to the base of the base portion47afrom escaping from the guide claw47.

The second electric wire14is supported to the capacitor accommodating portion40by winding around the guide claw47. Then, the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14is connected by soldering the second terminal12cof the capacitor12disposed on the second accommodating portion52as described above.

An extending portion which extends from a portion engaged to the guide claw47in the second extending portion13dof the first electric wire13, and an extending portion which extends from a portion wound around the guide claw47in the second electric wire14constitute the harness17. A connector is attached to a distal end portion of the harness17.

An operation of the antenna module10will be illustrated.

The antenna module of the related art is constituted by the coil and a different member from the harness. Then, one side end portion of the coil is directly connected to the electric wire of one side which constitutes the harness or is connected via a conductor component. In contrast, in the antenna module10having the configuration described above, the first electric wire13includes a coil13band a second extending portion13dwhich extends from the coil13b, and the second extending portion13dacts as an electric wire constituting the harness17. In this way, a connecting structure between the coil and the harness which was present in the structure of the related art is not present in the antenna module10configured as described above. Accordingly, the structure of the antenna module10configured as described above is simple compared to the structure of the related art.

An effect of the antenna module10will be illustrated.

(1) In the embodiment as described above, the antenna module10includes the first electric wire13which has the coil13b. Then, the first terminal12bof the capacitor12and the connecting portion13aof the first electric wire13are connected in the first accommodating portion51. In addition, the second extending portion13dof the first electric wire13(that is, a portion opposite to the connecting portion13ain the first electric wire13) and the second electric wire14constitute the harness17. In this way, the structure of the antenna module10of the present embodiment is simple compared to the structure of the antenna module of the related art.

(2) In the embodiment as described above, the first holding portion44is provided between the third accommodating portion53and the first accommodating portion51. The first holding portion44holds the first terminal12bof the capacitor12and the first electric wire13. The second holding portion45is provided between the third accommodating portion53and the second accommodating portion52. The second holding portion45holds the second terminal12cof the capacitor12and the second electric wire14. According to the configuration, when connecting by soldering, there is no need to hold the terminal of the capacitor12and the electric wire by a hand. In other words, this configuration contributes to simplification of the manufacturing process.

For example, as described above, the first holding portion44includes a groove44bfor the first terminal in which the first terminal12bof the capacitor12is clamped and a groove44afor the first electric wire in which the first electric wire13is clamped. The second holding portion45includes a groove45bfor the second terminal in which the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is clamped and a groove45afor the second electric wire in which the second electric wire14is clamped.

(3) Further, preferably, the extending direction of the groove44bfor the first terminal and the extending direction of the groove44afor the first electric wire are intersected with each other and the extending direction of the groove45bfor the second terminal and the extending direction of the groove45afor the second electric wire are intersected with each other. According to the configuration, the terminals of the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14are connected to each other well. Particularly, in a case where the terminals of the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14are connected by soldering, there is an advantage that soldering operation is simplified since both the terminals of the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14are likely to be filled with solder61.

(4) In addition, the capacitor accommodating portion40is filled with the sealing resin60. By this, water is prevented from being attached to the capacitor12and the connecting portions13aand14aof the electric wires13and14and, as a result, the first terminal12band the second terminal12cof the capacitor12, the first electric wire13, the second electric wire14, and the connecting portions13aand14athereof are prevented from being degraded from by oxidation.

(5) In the embodiment, the second electric wire14is wound around the guide claw47of the capacitor accommodating portion40.

When the end of the harness17is connected to another device, there is a fear that the harness17is pulled. When the harness17is pulled, stress is applied to a soldering connection portion between the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14and the second terminal12cof the capacitor12through the second electric wire14. Therefore, there is a fear that cracking (cracking of solder61) or peeling (peeling between the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14and solder61or peeling of the sealing resin60) is generated in the soldering connection portion. At this point, according to the configuration described above, when the harness17is pulled, since a portion wound around the guide claw47comes to tighten in the second electric wire14, a force is unlikely to be applied to a portion from the guide claw47to the second terminal12cof the capacitor12in the second electric wire14and a stress applied to the soldering connection portion between the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14and the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is reduced. Therefore, cracking or peeling of the solder61, or peeling of resin is prevented from generating at the soldering connection portion due to pulling of the harness17. When a force is applied to the first electric wire13, since the coil13bis tightened, a stress is unlikely to generate on the soldering connection portion between the connecting portion13aof the first electric wire13and the first terminal12bof the capacitor12.

(6) In addition, in the present embodiment, the base11is configured as an integral component with the capacitor accommodating portion40and the core accommodating portion20. Therefore, the antenna module10has a less number of components compared to being configured as separated bodies, and has an advantage in terms of component management.

Second Embodiment

With reference toFIG. 11andFIG. 12, another example of an antenna module110will be illustrated.

The antenna module110according to the present embodiment is different from the antenna module10according to the first embodiment in that base111is divided into a portion that includes the core accommodating portion20and a portion that includes the capacitor accommodating portion40. Hereinafter, this point will be described. In the present embodiment, the same structures as those in the antenna module10according to the first embodiment will be described while being denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the antenna module10according to the first embodiment.

The base111is constituted by a first member120which includes a portion (core accommodating portion20) in which the magnetic core15is accommodated and a second member130which includes a portion (capacitor accommodating portion40) in which the capacitor12is accommodated.

As illustrated inFIG. 12A, the first member120includes a first engaging portion121to which the second member130is engaged. The first engaging portion121includes a through hole122and projects to the second member130side in the first member120.

As illustrated inFIG. 12B, the second member130includes a second engaging portion131which engages to the first engaging portion121of the first member120.

The second engaging portion131is provided to project to the first member120side in the second member130. For example, the second engaging portion131is constituted by an engaging claw132which is inserted into the through hole122of the first engaging portion121and a contacting portion133which is disposed on a periphery of the engaging claw132. The engaging claw132has a barb portion132a. The barb portion132ais engaged to the peripheral portion of the through hole122in the first engaging portion121. When the engaging claw132is inserted into the through hole122, the barb portion132ais in contact with one side surface of the first engaging portion121and the contacting portion133is in contact with another surface side (a side surface opposite to the one side surface) of the first engaging portion121. According to the structure, engagement between the first engaging portion121and the second engaging portion131is unlikely to be deviated.

In the present embodiment, a concave portion142awhich separately holds the first terminal12band the second terminal12cof the capacitor12is provided in the second member130. Therefore, the first terminal12bis positioned at a predetermined place of the first accommodating portion51and, in addition, the second terminal12cis positioned at a predetermined place of the second accommodating portion52. In addition, in this embodiment, a guide claw147which guides the second electric wire14includes a base portion147aand a protruding portion147bthat extends from the base portion147a. The base portion147aextends from a portion of a main body portion12aside of the capacitor12in a peripheral wall142which constitutes the capacitor accommodating portion40. The protruding portion147bextends toward a portion of the terminal side of the capacitor12in the peripheral wall142.

The antenna module110described above can obtain the following effects.

The base111is configured to be coupled by engagement with the first member120which includes a structure similar to that of the core accommodating portion20and the second member130which includes a structure similar to that of the capacitor accommodating portion40. Therefore, assembly of the first member120and assembly of the second member130can be performed at a different place from each other or can be performed concurrently. The first member120is assembled by operation of attaching a magnetic core15to the corresponding portion of the core accommodating portion20and then winding the first electric wire13around the magnetic core15. The second member130is assembled by operation of disposing the capacitor12on the corresponding portion of the capacitor accommodating portion40and then connecting the second terminal12cof the capacitor12and the connecting portion14aof the second electric wire14to each other.

Another Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the groove44afor the first electric wire and the groove44bfor the first terminal are provided in the first holding portion44. However, the grooves44aand44bcan be formed into one groove. Specifically, a common groove into which the first electric wire13and the first terminal12bare inserted can be provided in the first holding portion44. For example, the width of the common groove is configured to be narrow toward the bottom wall41and one having small diameter among the first electric wire13and the first terminal12bis disposed on the bottom wall41side. For the second holding portion45, it may be changed similarly to the modified example of the first holding portion44.

In the first embodiment and in the second embodiment, the antenna modules10and110are built into the outside handle1. However, the disposition is not limited thereto. For example, the antenna modules10and110can be disposed on a door for a vehicle and an entrance of a vehicle.

(1) An antenna module according to an aspect of this disclosure includes a magnetic core; a first electric wire which constitutes a coil into which the magnetic core is inserted: a capacitor which has a first terminal and a second terminal and which is connected in series to the coil; a second electric wire which is connected to the capacitor; and a base which includes at least a capacitor accommodating portion in which the capacitor is accommodated and a core accommodating portion in which the magnetic core is accommodated. The capacitor accommodating portion has a first accommodating portion which accommodates at least one portion of the first terminal of the capacitor and a connecting portion of the first electric wire and a second accommodating portion which accommodates at least one portion of the second terminal of the capacitor and a connecting portion of the second electric wire. The first terminal of the capacitor and the connecting portion of the first electric wire are connected to each other in the first accommodating portion. The second terminal of the capacitor and the connecting portion of the second electric wire are connected to each other in the second accommodating portion. A portion of an opposite side to the connecting portion in the first electric wire and the second electric wire constitute a harness. According to this configuration, there are fewer connecting points and the structure thereof is simple compared to the antenna module of the related art.

(2) In the antenna module, the capacitor accommodating portion may include a third accommodating portion in which a main body portion of the capacitor is accommodated, in addition to the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion, and a first holding portion in which the first terminal of the capacitor and the first electric wire are held is provided between the third accommodating portion and the first accommodating portion and a second holding portion in which the second terminal of the capacitor and the second electric wire are held is provided between the third accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion. According to this configuration, when connecting there is no need to hold the terminal of the capacitor and the electric wire by a hand. In other words, this configuration contributes to simplification of the manufacturing process thereof.

(3) In the antenna module, the first holding portion may include a groove for the first terminal in which the first terminal of the capacitor is clamped and a groove for the first electric wire in which the first electric wire is clamped, and the second holding portion may include a groove for the second terminal in which the second terminal of the capacitor is clamped and a groove for the second electric wire in which the second electric wire is clamped. According to this configuration, the first terminal and the second terminal of the capacitor and the first electric wire and the second electric wire are held by a simple structure.

(4) In the antenna module, an extending direction of the groove for the first terminal and an extending direction of the groove for the first electric wire may intersect with each other and an extending direction of the groove for the second terminal and an extending direction of the groove for the second electric wire may intersect with each other. According to this configuration, the terminal of the capacitor and a connecting portion of the electric wire are connected to each other well.

(5) In the antenna module, the capacitor accommodating portion may be filled with sealing resin. According to this configuration, water is prevented from adhering to the capacitor and the connecting portion of the electric wire.

(6) In the antenna module, the capacitor accommodating portion may include a guide claw which guides the second electric wire, and the second electric wire may be wound around the guide claw. According to this configuration, due to the tension of the second electric wire, stress applied to a connecting portion between the connecting portion of the second electric wire and the second terminal of the capacitor is reduced.

(7) In the antenna module, the base may be configured as an integral component with respect to the capacitor accommodating portion and the core accommodating portion, and the antenna module may have a fewer number of components as compared to when being configured as separate bodies.

(8) In the antenna module, the base may include a first member which includes the core accommodating portion and a second member which includes the capacitor accommodating portion, and the first member and the second member may be coupled to each other by engaging.

The antenna module has a simple structure.