Wireless response device, image forming apparatus, and equipment

• US 20060273904A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masao, Mizutani, Ryota, Iida, Kiyoshi, Funo, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

A wireless response device comprises an antenna that receives a question signal, an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively, and an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

Claims

1. A wireless response device, comprising:

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

2. The wireless response device according to claim 1, wherein the impedance conversion unit includes at least any one of a variable capacitor whose capacitance changes according to external force, a variable inductor whose inductance changes according to external force, and a variable resistor whose resistance changes according to external force or light irradiation.

3. The wireless response device according to claim 1, wherein wireless response device outputs a multilevel signal in response to the amount of change in impedance in the impedance conversion unit.

4. The wireless response device according to claim 1, wherein the identification signal generating unit includes any of a SAW-ID tag, RF-ID tag, and delay line.

5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;

a recording material accumulating unit that accumulates the recording material;

a transport unit that transports the recording material along a transport path from the recording material accumulating unit to the image forming unit;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided along the transport path, and is provided in a position where, due to the recording material passing the vicinity of that wireless response device, the external force applied to that wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on that response apparatus changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

6. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;

a recording material accumulating unit that accumulates the recording material;

a transport unit that transports the recording material along a transport path from the recording material accumulating unit to the image forming unit;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided in the recording material accumulating unit in a position where, according to the amount of the recording material accumulated in the recording material accumulating unit, the external force applied to that wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on that response apparatus changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

7. Equipment, comprising:

a movable portion;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided in a position where, according to the mobile state of the movable portion, the external force applied to that wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on that response apparatus changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.