Abstract: A near-field communication (NFC) entry device provides 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 passively harvests energy from a battery powered mobile device via the inductor coil and stores the energy in the capacitor. 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. A standby battery may be used when the capacitor is insufficiently charged.

Abstract: A rain detector for use with an automotive vehicle. The rain detector includes a capacitance sensor mounted to the inside surface of a windshield. The sensor includes at least two output lines which vary in capacitance as the function of magnitude of rain on the outside surface of the windshield. A programmed microcontroller receives the sensor output lines as analog input signals and then compares the magnitude of the capacitance with a threshold capacitance. In the event that the sensed capacitance exceeds the threshold capacitance, indicative of raindrops on the outside surface of the windshield, the microcontroller generates an output signal to the wiper control circuitry of the vehicle to activate the windshield wiper system.