Radio communication system

• US 20070090925A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Makoto, Matsugatani, Kazuoki
• Application Number:
  US11/455,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

A radio communication system includes: a communication control device; a radio tag for communicating with the communication control device; an antenna for transmitting an incident wave; and a first reflective plate for reflecting the incident wave as a first reflected wave. The radio tag is disposed between the antenna and the first reflective plate. The radio tag communicates with the communication control device in a region, in which the incident wave and the first reflected wave are overlapped. The first reflective plate reflects the incident wave in such a manner that the first reflected wave has a polarization different from a polarization of the incident wave.

Claims

1. A radio communication system comprising:

a communication control device for processing information through a radio communication;

a radio tag as an information media for communicating with the communication control device through the radio communication;

an antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave as an incident wave from the communication control device to the radio tag; and

a first reflective plate for reflecting the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the antenna as a first reflected wave, wherein the radio tag is disposed between the antenna and the first reflective plate, wherein

the radio tag communicates with the communication control device in a region, in which the incident wave and the first reflected wave are overlapped, and

the first reflective plate reflects the incident wave in such a manner that the first reflected wave has a polarization different from a polarization of the incident wave.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the incident wave is a linearly-polarized wave, and

the first reflected wave is a linearly-polarized wave.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein

the polarization of the first reflected wave is perpendicular to the polarization of the incident wave.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g, and

a distance between the metal slit and the metal plate is λ

g/4 in electric length.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the dielectric substrate includes a pair of through holes, in each of which a metal pillar is disposed so that the metal slit, a pair of the metal pillars and the metal plate provide a conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a capacitance and an inductance,

the capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a clearance of the metal slit,

the inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a length of the conductive loop, and

the capacitance and the inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the metal plate is 0 degree.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the incident wave is a linearly-polarized wave, and

the first reflected wave is a circularly-polarized wave.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g, and

a distance between the metal slit and the metal plate is λ

g/8 in electric length.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the dielectric substrate includes a pair of through holes, in each of which a metal pillar is disposed so that the metal slit, a pair of the metal pillars and the metal plate provide a conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a capacitance and an inductance,

the capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a clearance of the metal slit,

the inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a length of the conductive loop, and

the capacitance and the inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the metal plate is plus 90 degrees or minus 90 degrees.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the incident wave is a circularly-polarized wave,

the first reflected wave is a circularly-polarized wave, and

the first reflected wave has a direction of polarization rotation with respect to a propagation direction of the first reflected wave, the direction being equal to a direction of polarization rotation of the incident wave with respect to a propagation direction of the incident wave.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g, and

a distance between the metal slit and the metal plate is λ

g/4 in electric length.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the dielectric substrate includes a pair of through holes, in each of which a metal pillar is disposed so that the metal slit, a pair of the metal pillars and the metal plate provide a conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a capacitance and an inductance,

the capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a clearance of the metal slit,

the inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a length of the conductive loop, and

the capacitance and the inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the metal plate is 0 degree.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the incident wave is a circularly-polarized wave, and

the first reflected wave is a linearly-polarized wave.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g, and

a distance between the metal slit and the metal plate is λ

g/8 in electric length.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the metal slit,

the dielectric substrate includes a pair of through holes, in each of which a metal pillar is disposed so that the metal slit, a pair of the metal pillars and the metal plate provide a conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a capacitance and an inductance,

the capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a clearance of the metal slit,

the inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a length of the conductive loop, and

the capacitance and the inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the metal plate is plus 90 degrees or minus 90 degrees.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second reflective plate disposed on an opposite side of the first reflective plate so that the antenna and the tag are disposed between the first reflective plate and the second reflective plate, wherein

the second reflective plate reflects the first reflected wave as a second reflected wave, and

the second reflected wave has a polarization, which is different from the polarization of the first reflected wave.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein

the incident wave is a linearly-polarized wave,

the first reflected wave is a linearly-polarized wave,

the polarization of the first reflected wave is perpendicular to the polarization of the incident wave, and

the second reflected wave is a circularly-polarized wave.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a first metal slit, a first dielectric substrate and a first metal plate,

the first dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the first metal slit and the first metal plate,

the first metal slit faces the radio tag,

the first metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the first metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the first metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the first dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g₁,

a first distance between the first metal slit and the first metal plate is λ

g₁/4 in electric length,

the second reflective plate includes a second metal slit, a second dielectric substrate and a second metal plate,

the second dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the second metal slit and the second metal plate,

the second metal slit faces the antenna,

the second metal slit transmits a first part of the first reflected wave having a third vector component tilted from the polarization of the first reflected wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the first reflected wave having a fourth vector component perpendicular to the third vector component of the first reflected wave,

the second metal plate reflects the first part of the first reflected wave, which is transmitted through the second metal slit,

the third vector component of the first part of the first reflected wave has a wavelength in the second dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g₂, and

a second distance between the second metal slit and the second metal plate is λ

g₂/8 in electric length.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a first metal slit, a first dielectric substrate and a first metal plate,

the first dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the first metal slit and the first metal plate,

the first metal slit faces the radio tag,

the first metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component tilted from the polarization of the incident wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the first metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the first metal slit,

the first dielectric substrate includes a pair of first through holes, in each of which a first metal pillar is disposed so that the first metal slit, a pair of the first metal pillars and the first metal plate provide a first conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a first capacitance and a first inductance,

the first capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a first clearance of the first metal slit,

the first inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a first length of the first conductive loop,

the first capacitance and the first inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the first metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the first metal plate is 0 degree,

the second reflective plate includes a second metal slit, a second dielectric substrate and a second metal plate,

the second dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the second metal slit and the second metal plate,

the second metal slit faces the antenna,

the second metal slit transmits a first part of the first reflected wave having a third vector component tilted from the polarization of the first reflected wave by 45 degrees, and reflects a second part of the first reflected wave having a fourth vector component perpendicular to the third vector component of the first reflected wave,

the second metal plate reflects the first part of the first reflected wave as a part of the second reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the second metal slit,

the second dielectric substrate includes a pair of second through holes, in each of which a second metal pillar is disposed so that the second metal slit, a pair of the second metal pillars and the second metal plate provide a second conductive loop,

the second reflective plate has a second capacitance and a second inductance,

the second capacitance of the second reflective plate is defined in accordance with a second clearance of the second metal slit,

the second inductance of the second reflective plate is defined in accordance with a second length of the second conductive loop, and

the second capacitance and the second inductance of the second reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the third vector component of the first part of the first reflected wave transmitted through the second metal slit and the third vector component of the part of the second reflected wave reflected on the second metal plate is plus 90 degrees or minus 90 degrees.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein

the incident wave is a circularly-polarized wave,

the first reflected wave is a circularly-polarized wave,

the first reflected wave has a direction of polarization rotation with respect to a propagation direction of the first reflected wave, the direction being equal to a direction of polarization rotation of the incident wave with respect to a propagation direction of the incident wave, and

the second reflected wave is a linearly-polarized wave.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a first metal slit, a first dielectric substrate and a first metal plate,

the first dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the first metal slit and the first metal plate,

the first metal slit faces the radio tag,

the first metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the first metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave, which is transmitted through the first metal slit,

the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave has a wavelength in the first dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g₁,

a first distance between the first metal slit and the first metal plate is λ

g₁/4 in electric length,

the second reflective plate includes a second metal slit, a second dielectric substrate and a second metal plate,

the second dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the second metal slit and the second metal plate,

the second metal slit faces the antenna,

the second metal slit transmits a first part of the first reflected wave having a third vector component, and reflects a second part of the first reflected wave having a fourth vector component perpendicular to the third vector component of the first reflected wave,

the second metal plate reflects the first part of the first reflected wave, which is transmitted through the second metal slit,

the third vector component of the first part of the first reflected wave has a wavelength in the second dielectric substrate, which is defined as λ

g₂, and

a second distance between the second metal slit and the second metal plate is λ

g₂/8 in electric length.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a first metal slit, a first dielectric substrate and a first metal plate,

the first dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the first metal slit and the first metal plate,

the first metal slit faces the radio tag,

the first metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the first metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the first metal slit,

the first dielectric substrate includes a pair of first through holes, in each of which a first metal pillar is disposed so that the first metal slit, a pair of the first metal pillars and the first metal plate provide a first conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a first capacitance and a first inductance,

the first capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a first clearance of the first metal slit,

the first inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a first length of the first conductive loop,

the first capacitance and the first inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the first vector component of the first part of the incident wave transmitted through the first metal slit and the first vector component of the part of the first reflected wave reflected on the first metal plate is 0 degree,

the second reflective plate includes a second metal slit, a second dielectric substrate and a second metal plate,

the second dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the second metal slit and the second metal plate,

the second metal slit faces the antenna,

the second metal slit transmits a first part of the first reflected wave having a third vector component, and reflects a second part of the first reflected wave having a fourth vector component perpendicular to the third vector component of the first reflected wave,

the second metal plate reflects the first part of the first reflected wave as a part of the second reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the second metal slit,

the second dielectric substrate includes a pair of second through holes, in each of which a second metal pillar is disposed so that the second metal slit, a pair of the second metal pillars and the second metal plate provide a second conductive loop,

the second reflective plate has a second capacitance and a second inductance,

the second capacitance of the second reflective plate is defined in accordance with a second clearance of the second metal slit,

the second inductance of the second reflective plate is defined in accordance with a second length of the second conductive loop, and

the second capacitance and the second inductance of the second reflective plate are determined in such a manner that a phase difference between the third vector component of the first part of the first reflected wave transmitted through the second metal slit and the third vector component of the part of the second reflected wave reflected on the second metal plate is plus 90 degrees or minus 90 degrees.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the first reflective plate includes a metal slit, a dielectric substrate and a metal plate,

the dielectric substrate is sandwiched between the metal slit and the metal plate,

the metal slit faces the radio tag,

the metal slit transmits a first part of the incident wave having a first vector component, and reflects a second part of the incident wave having a second vector component perpendicular to the first vector component,

the metal plate reflects the first part of the incident wave as a part of the first reflected wave, the first part which is transmitted through the metal slit, and

the first part of the incident wave reflected on the metal plate and the second part of the incident wave reflected on the metal slit provide the first reflected wave in such a manner that the first part of the incident wave and the second part of the incident wave are synthesized in order to have the polarization of the first reflected wave different from the polarization of the incident wave.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein

a distance between the metal slit and the metal plate is determined to have the polarization of the first reflected wave different from the polarization of the incident wave.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein

the dielectric substrate includes a pair of through holes, in each of which a metal pillar is disposed so that the metal slit, a pair of the metal pillars and the metal plate provide a conductive loop,

the first reflective plate has a capacitance and an inductance,

the capacitance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a clearance of the metal slit,

the inductance of the first reflective plate is defined in accordance with a length of the conductive loop, and

the capacitance and the inductance of the first reflective plate are determined in order to have the polarization of the first reflected wave different from the polarization of the incident wave.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the radio tag is mounted on a package, which is transported by a conveyor, and

the antenna is disposed on one side of the conveyor, and the first reflective plate is disposed on the other side of the conveyor.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the radio tag is mounted on a package, which is transported by a conveyor,

the package with the radio tag is disposed on the reflective plate so that the package together with the radio tag and the reflective plate are transported by the conveyor, and

the antenna is disposed over the conveyor so that the incident wave is emitted from the antenna toward the conveyor.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the radio tag is mounted on a book, which is stored in a bookshelf,

the reflective plate is disposed on a back of the bookshelf, and

the communication control device with the antenna is transported by a person, who checks the book in the bookshelf.