Noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with antenna

• US 20040266486A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Takashi, Yoshinaga, Hiroshi, Tanaka, Masahiko, Deguchi, Futoshi, Haruyama, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna that does not require the limitation of an installation location and the adjustment of a resonance frequency of the antenna, is convenient in installation, is provided with a stable characteristic, is small-sized and low-priced. To achieve the object, the invention is provided with a loop antenna that supplies electric power and send data to a noncontact IC card by electromagnetic induction and acquires receive data from the noncontact IC card by load fluctuation, a magnetic body arranged closely at the back of the loop antenna, a first metallic plate arranged on the back side of the magnetic body and a second metallic plate arranged on the back side of the first metallic plate and larger than the first metallic plate in size.

Claims

1. A noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna, comprising:

a loop antenna, which supplies electric power and send data to a noncontact IC card by electromagnetic induction and acquires receive data from the noncontact IC card by load fluctuation;

a magnetic body, arranged closely at the back of the loop antenna;

a first metallic plate, arranged on the back side of the magnetic body; and

a second metallic plate, arranged on the back side of the first metallic plate and larger than the first metallic plate in size.

2. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is a loop.

3. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 2, wherein:

the width W2 of the magnetic body is substantially equal to or equivalent to the double or 3 to 5 times of the diameter or the width W1 of the loop antenna.

4. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

the outside diameter of the magnetic body and the outside dimension of the first metallic plate are substantially equalized.

5. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

the size of the second metallic plate is equal to or exceeds at least 1.1 times of the size of the first metallic plate.

6. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

a first spacer made of insulating material is provided between the magnetic body and the first metallic plate.

7. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 6, wherein:

the first spacer is arranged in the shape of a loop.

8. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 6, wherein:

the first spacer is made of resin.

9. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

a second spacer made of insulating material is provided between the first metallic plate and the second metallic plate.

10. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 9, wherein:

the second spacer is arranged in the shape of a loop.

11. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 9, wherein:

the second spacer is made of resin.

12. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

the second spacer made of insulating material is provided between the first metallic plate and the second metallic plate; and

a noncontact IC card reading/writing circuit is housed in a spatial part inside the second spacer.

13. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 1, wherein:

a side wall planted on the back side is provided to the periphery of the first metallic plate.

14. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claims 1, wherein:

a side wall planted on the front side is provided to the periphery of the second metallic plate.

15. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claims 1, wherein:

the loop antenna, the magnetic body, the first metallic plate and the second metallic plate are arranged in a case composed of a first case made of resin and a second case made of resin.

16. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 15, wherein:

a first convex portion is provided inside a side wall of the first case made of resin;

a concave sealing member that wraps the convex portion is provided;

a second convex portion is provided between the side wall and the first convex portion; and

waterproof structure is acquired by inserting a screw into a fitting part provided to the second convex portion via a hole provided outside the first convex portion and screwing on the second metallic plate.

17. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 12, wherein:

the loop antenna and the noncontact IC card reading/writing circuit are electrically connected via an opening formed through the first metallic plate.

18. The noncontact IC card reader/writer integrated with an antenna according to claim 17, wherein:

metallic wire or a metallic plate is used for the connection.