Patent attributes
A near-field communication (NFC) entry device is provided for remote keyless entry (RKE) into an enclosure having an RKE control unit, a door, and a door actuator. The NFC entry device includes a housing and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The housing mounts to the enclosure. The PCBA is enclosed within a cavity of the housing, and includes first and second surfaces, an RF antenna and an inductor coil connected to the first surface, and an NFC communication chipset connected to the second surface. The NFC entry device is characterized by an absence of a cellular battery, and passively harvests energy from a smartphone or other battery powered mobile device via the inductor coil. The passively harvested energy is used to communicate a control signal to the RKE control unit, via the RF antenna, which activates the door actuator.
