Circuit board assembly with integral antenna

A circuit board assembly for use in a vehicle immobilizer system, comprising:

• at least one multi-layer printed circuit board for mounting in an interior portion of the vehicle, said at least one multi-layer printed circuit board having an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture being defined by an interior wall of said multi-layer printed circuit board;
• an antenna trace disposed on said multi-layer printed circuit board proximate to said interior wall defining said aperture;
• at least one passive component, an immobilizer chip, and a microprocessor disposed on said at least one multi-layer printed circuit board and in communication with said antenna trace;
• and
• an ignition switch assembly extending through said aperture of said multi-layer printed circuit board, said ignition switch assembly operable to receive a key having a transponder disposed thereon, said antenna trace operable to alternately transmit a signal to and receive a signal from said transponder when said key is positioned in said ignition switch assembly.

A circuit board assembly for use in an immobilizer system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first printed circuit board for mounting to a mounting surface in an interior of said vehicle;
• an antenna trace printed on said first printed circuit board;
• a second printed circuit board separate from said first printed circuit board and having at least one passive component attached thereto, said one at least passive component in communication with said antenna trace;
• and
• a first lead of said antenna trace connected to a first metal bar, and a second lead of said antenna trace connected to a second metal bar, said first and second metal bars connected to said first printed circuit board and said second printed circuit board for providing a connection between said second printed circuit board and said antenna trace of said first printed circuit board, said first and second metal bars being capable of bending for orienting said first printed circuit board in a different plane than said second printed circuit board.