Internal antenna device

An internal antenna device for an entry system including a door having a mechanism to actuate a latch on said door, comprising:

• an antenna and sensor unit for communication with a portable external device, the antenna and sensor unit comprising an antenna, a lock sensor, and an unlock sensor;
• an outer shell member receiving the antenna and sensor unit therein, the outer shell member made of plastic with an outer face;
• wherein said antenna and sensor unit is sized and shaped to fit within the outer shell member;
• a base film deposited on a surface of the outer face of the outer shell member;
• a fully metallic thin film having a thickness in a range between 0.05 μm and 0.20 μm, said fully metallic thin film having an aesthetic appearance;
• wherein said fully metallic thin film is deposited on a surface of the base film opposing the surface of the outer face of the outer shell member such that loss of output signal of said antenna is minimized;
• and
• a protective film deposited on a surface of the metallic thin film opposing the surface of the base film.

An internal antenna device for an entry system of a vehicle including a door having a mechanism to actuate a latch of said door, said internal antenna device comprising:

• a sensor unit;
• a handle for receiving a sensor unit therein, said handle having a hollow structure and comprising a main body formed of plastic and an outer cover formed of plastic, said main body and said outer cover being configured to fit together to form the handle;
• said sensor unit adapted to fit inside said handle, said sensor unit comprising:
• a hollow case, and
• an antenna assembly comprising a circuit board and a bar antenna secured to a surface of the circuit board for communication with an external device, said antenna assembly disposed in said hollow case and protected by a polyurethane filler material formed in the hollow case by potting;
• a metallic thin film deposited on an outer surface of the outer cover by sputtering, said metallic thin film having a metallic appearance and having a thickness in a range between 0.05 μm and 0.20 μm such that loss of output signal of said antenna is minimized;
• and
• a protective film deposited on a surface of the metallic thin film by sputtering.