# US 2018/0027367 A1 · Communication system

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- Number: US 2018/0027367 A1
- Document ID: US20180027367A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/654,141
- Filed: 2017-07-19
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tomoya Hagihara; Arata Isobe; Fuyuto Takeyama; Yosuke Shimizu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027367A1

## CPC

- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04M 1/6091: {including a wireless interface}
- H04W 4/00: Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A communication system 20 includes a short-range wireless communication device 45 installed in a vehicle 10. The short-range wireless communication device 45 is a device capable of performing short-range wireless communication with a portable communication terminal 46. The short-range wireless communication device 45 is provided in the vicinity of a surface 12c of an instrument panel 12. A first groove portion 35 and a second groove portion 36 are formed in the surface 12c of the instrument panel 12, in the vicinity of the short-range wireless communication device 45.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A communication system installed in a vehicle, the communication system comprising:
a short-range wireless communication device provided in a vicinity of a surface of an instrument panel of said vehicle and configured to perform short-range wireless communication with a portable communication terminal which is held by a user in front of the short-range wireless communication device, wherein
said instrument panel has a groove portion formed on the surface of said instrument panel, which is in a vicinity of said short-range wireless communication device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said groove portion is formed in a position sandwiching said short-range wireless communication device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The communication system according to claim 2, wherein said groove portion is formed such that said groove portion surrounds said short-range wireless communication device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The communication system according to claim 2, wherein:
said groove portion comprises a first groove portion and a second groove portion; and
said first groove portion and said second groove portion are arranged substantially parallel to each other in the vicinity of said short-range wireless communication device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The communication system according to claim 2, wherein
said groove portion comprises a first groove portion and a second groove portion,
said instrument panel comprises at least a first instrument panel member, a second instrument panel member in contact with said first instrument panel member, and a third instrument panel member in contact with said second instrument panel member,
said first groove portion is formed at a border between said first instrument panel member and said second instrument panel member, and
said second groove portion is formed at a border between said second instrument panel member and said third instrument panel member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein
said short-range wireless communication device is provided on a passenger's seat side in a width direction of said vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The communication system according to claim 6, wherein
said short-range wireless communication device has a transceiver portion configured to transmit and receive short-range wireless communication signals, and a connector portion configured to connect with an onboard device of said vehicle; and
said transceiver portion is located at a driver's seat side of said short-range wireless communication device in the width direction of said vehicle, while said connector portion is located at a passenger's seat side of said short-range wireless communication device in the width direction of said vehicle.