Communications unit

• US 20050083177A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tagmaster AB
• Original Assignee: Tagmaster AB
• Inventors: Willgert, Mikael
• Application Number:
  US10/495,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• 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: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• 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: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A communications unit for identifying objects or persons. The unit includes a receiver/transmitter unit that is operable in accordance with the so-called Bluetooth communications system, and a transponder operable in accordance with the so-called RFID system. The transponder is integrated with the receiver/transmitter unit in a manner to enable components associated with the receiver/transmitter unit to be used also for transponder operation.

Claims

1. A communications unit for identifying objects or persons, said communications unit comprising:

a transponder operable in accordance with a RFID communications system;

a receiver/transmitter unit operable in accordance with a Bluetooth communications system;

wherein the transponder includes a modulator and is interconnected with the receiver/transmitter unit to enable components associated with the receiver/transmitter unit to also be used for transponder operation.

2. A communications unit according to claim 1, wherein the transponder is operatively connected with an antenna, a control system, and a battery, each of which is operatively connected with the receiver/transmitter unit.

3. A communications unit according to claim 1, wherein the transponder includes a battery for supplying current to a transponder control logic circuit.

4. A communications unit according to claim 2, including a power divider positioned connected between the antenna and each of the receiver/transmitter unit and the transponder.

5. A communications unit according to claim 2, including an electronic switch connected between the antenna and each of the receiver/transmitter unit and the transponder.

6. A communications unit according to claim 5, wherein said switch is controlled by a detector when transmitting from the communications unit, and wherein the detector is operable to ascertain whether a signal received by the antenna is a Bluetooth signal or an RFID signal.

7. A communications unit according to claim 1, wherein a sole specific component of the transponder is a transponder modulator operable to modulate and to reflect a received signal in the absence of a supply of fresh energy to a received signal.