Contactless data communication system, and contactless identification tag

• US 20050128084A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hoshina, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

As a contactless identification tag is removed from a commercial product, a section to be detected is cut and separated from a removal detection circuit section composing the contactless identification tag and remains on the commercial product. When a detection section judges that the section to be detected is removed from the contactless identification tag, the contactless identification tag changes functions.

Claims

1. A contactless data communication system comprising:

a reader/writer device; and

a contactless identification tag, wherein;

the reader/writer device is equipped with a data communication section that is capable of data communications with the contactless identification tag, and an electromagnetic wave transmission section for power supply that transmits an electromagnetic wave for power supply to the contactless identification tag at the time of data communications by the data communication section, and

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a driving power generation section that generates a driving power from the electromagnetic wave for power supply transmitted from the reader/writer device, a section to be detected provided at a portion of the contactless identification tag, a detection section that detects a change occurred at the section to be detected, and a function changing section that changes functions of the contactless identification tag when the detection section detects that a change occurs in the section to be detected.

2. A contactless data communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the detection section is equipped with a voltage monitoring circuit that is capable of monitoring voltage, wherein a wiring of a circuit composing the contactless identification tag is connected to the voltage monitoring circuit, and the wiring is cut when a change occurs in the section to be detected of the contactless identification tag, and detects a voltage value that changes by the cut of the wiring.

3. A contactless data communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a mounting section that is capable of mounting the contactless identification tag to a specified object, and the detection section is composed such that the section to be detected is removed off the contactless identification tag when the contactless identification tag is removed from the specified object, and makes a detection when the section to be detected is removed from the contactless identification tag.

4. A contactless data communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the function changing section is equipped with a function restriction section that restricts the functions of the contactless identification tag.

5. A contactless data communication system according to claim 4, wherein:

the function restriction section stops responses from the contactless identification tag to the reader/writer device.

6. A contactless data communication system according to claim 4, wherein:

the function restriction section restricts a range of the functions that can be executed by a command from the reader/writer device.

7. A contactless data communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a storage section that stores an access communication content from the reader/writer device when the functions are restricted.

8. A contactless data communication system according to claim 4, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a display section that displays an access communication content from the reader/writer device when the functions are restricted.

9. A contactless data communication system according to claim 8, wherein:

the display section is equipped with a display device having a memory property.

10. A contactless data communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the function changing section is equipped with a function adding section that adds a function to the contactless identification tag.

11. A contactless identification tag that is used for the contactless data communication system recited in claim 1, the contactless identification tag comprising:

a driving power generation section that generates a driving power from an electromagnetic wave for power supply transmitted from the reader/writer device, a section to be detected provided at a portion of the contactless identification tag, a detection section that detects a change occurred at the section to be detected, and a function changing section that changes functions of the contactless identification tag when the detection section detects that a change occurs in the section to be detected.

12. A contactless identification tag according to claim 11, wherein:

the detection section is equipped with a voltage monitoring circuit that is capable of monitoring voltage, wherein a wiring of a circuit composing the contactless identification tag is connected to the voltage monitoring circuit, and the wiring is cut when a change occurs in the section to be detected of the contactless identification tag, and detects a voltage value that changes by the cut of the wiring.

13. A contactless data communication system according to claim 11, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a mounting section that is capable of mounting the contactless identification tag to a specified object, and the detection section is composed such that the section to be detected is removed off the contactless identification tag when the contactless identification tag is removed from the specified object, and makes a detection when the section to be detected is removed from the contactless identification tag.

14. A contactless identification tag according to claim 11, wherein:

the function changing section is equipped with a function restriction section that restricts the functions of the contactless identification tag.

15. A contactless identification tag according to claim 14, wherein:

the function restriction section stops responses from the contactless identification tag to the reader/writer device.

16. A contactless identification tag according to claim 14, wherein:

the function restriction section restricts a range of the functions that can be executed by a command from the reader/writer device.

17. A contactless identification tag according to claim 14, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a storage section that stores an access communication content from the reader/writer device when the functions are restricted.

18. A contactless identification tag according to claim 14, wherein:

the contactless identification tag is equipped with a display section that displays an access communication content from the reader/writer device when the functions are restricted.

19. A contactless identification tag according to claim 18, wherein:

the display section is equipped with a display device having a memory property.

20. A contactless identification tag according to claim 11, wherein:

the function changing section is equipped with a function adding section that adds a function to the contactless identification tag.