Communication device and communication method

• US 10,243,767 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Hiroaki, Omae, Uichiro, Fujita, Hiroaki, Abe, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Kenneth T
• Application Number:
  US15/545,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/59 Responders; Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/04 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0337 Selecting between two or more discretely delayed clocks or selecting between two or more discretely delayed received code signals

Abstract

A communication device according to the disclosure includes: a signal generator that generates, on the basis of the first signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal; a first modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal on the basis of the second signal; a second modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal; and a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a signal generator that generates, on a basis of a reception signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a transmission signal that synchronizes with the reception signal;

a first modulator configured to modulate the transmission signal;

a second modulator configured to modulate the reception signal; and

a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the reception signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication controller selects, on a basis of an amplitude value of the reception signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the communication controller selects the second modulator on a condition that the amplitude value is larger than a predetermined value, and selects the first modulator on a condition that the amplitude value is smaller than the predetermined value.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein

the communication controller sets the predetermined value on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein

the communication partner modulates the reception signal, and

the communication controller distinguishes the communication method on a basis of a degree of modulation of the reception signal modulated by the communication partner.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication controller selects, on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the signal generator includes a phase synchronization circuit.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the first modulator includes a first switch, and turning on of the first switch causes the transmission signal to be supplied to the coil.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the second modulator includes a second switch coupled to the coil.

10. A communication device, comprising:

a signal generator that generates, on a basis of a reception signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a transmission signal that synchronizes with the reception signal;

a phase adjuster that adjusts a phase of the transmission signal on the basis of the reception signal; and

a first modulator configured to modulate the transmission signal;

a second modulator configured to modulate the reception signal; and

a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the reception signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the transmission signal on a basis of an amplitude value of the reception signal.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the phase of the transmission signal at a first phase value on a condition that the amplitude value is larger than a predetermined value, and sets the phase of the transmission signal at a second phase value on a condition that the amplitude value is smaller than the predetermined value.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the predetermined value on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the first phase value and the second phase value on the basis of the communication method with the communication partner.

15. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein

the communication partner modulates the reception signal, and

the phase adjuster distinguishes the communication method on a basis of a degree of modulation of the reception signal modulated by the communication partner.

16. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the transmission signal on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

17. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the transmission signal on the basis of the reception signal, on a condition that the communication controller has selected the first modulator.

18. A communication method, comprising:

receiving, with a coil, a reception signal from a communication partner;

selecting, with a communication controller, one of a first modulator or a second modulator based on the reception signal, the first modulator being configured to modulate a transmission signal, and the second modulator being configured to modulate the reception signal; and

responsive to selecting the first modulator, generating, with a signal generator, the transmission signal based on the reception signal, the transmission signal being synchronized with the reception signal.

19. A communication method, comprising:

receiving, with a coil, a reception signal from a communication partner;

selecting, with a communication controller, one of a first modulator or a second modulator based on the reception signal, the first modulator being configured to modulate a transmission signal, and the second modulator being configured to modulate the reception signal;

responsive to selecting the first modulator, generating, with a signal generator, the transmission signal based on the reception signal, the transmission signal being synchronized with the reception signal;

adjusting a phase of the transmission signal based on the reception signal; and

modulating, with a first modulator, the transmission signal having an adjusted phase.