IC-tag read-write apparatus

• US 20070290864A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tatsuya Fujij
• Original Assignee: Tatsuya Fujij
• Inventors: Fujij, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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

Abstract

A radio data communication apparatus includes a circuit unit and at least one antenna unit. The circuit unit performs data read and write operations relative to an IC tag. Each antenna unit has an antenna and conducts a predetermined signal modulation to a first signal to be transmitted through the antenna by radio to a specific IC tag in the data write operation. Also, each antenna unit conducts a predetermined signal demodulation to a second signal received through the antenna from the specific IC tag in accordance with the data read operation. The antenna unit is arranged at a position separated from the circuit unit.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A radio data communication apparatus, comprising:

a circuit unit configured to perform a data read operation and a data write operation relative to an IC tag; and

at least one antenna unit, each antenna unit being arranged at a position separated from the circuit unit, and including

an antenna configured to transmit a first signal and receive a second signal, and

a signal modulation circuit configured to modulate a carrier wave and a data signal with a predetermined signal modulation to generate the first signal to be transmitted by radio transmission through the antenna to a specific IC tag in the data write operation, and conduct a predetermined signal demodulation to the second signal received from the specific IC tag in the data read operation.

40. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a carrier wave generation circuit configured to generate the carrier wave having a specific frequency; and

a control circuit configured to output the data signal to the signal modulation circuit, and control output of the carrier wave to the signal modulation circuit, to synchronize the carrier wave and the data signal.

41. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a control circuit configured to output a control signal;

a carrier wave generation circuit configured to generate a plurality of carrier waves having predetermined frequencies different from each other; and

a switch circuit configured to select and output, as said carrier wave, one of the plurality of carrier waves, in accordance with the control signal from the control circuit.

42. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store data representing communication frequencies and communication protocols pertinent to a plurality of IC tags,

wherein the control circuit determines, based on the data stored in the storage device, an appropriate carrier wave corresponding to said IC tag, and generates the control signal to control the switch circuit to output the appropriate carrier wave.

43. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 39, wherein in said predetermined signal modulation, said signal modulation circuit superimposes said data signal on said carrier wave.

44. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 39, wherein for each antenna unit, the antenna unit communicates with the circuit unit via a corresponding transmission path.

45. A radio data communication apparatus, comprising:

carrier wave generating means for generating a carrier wave having a specific frequency;

control means for outputting a data signal and controlling output of the carrier wave to synchronize the data signal to the carrier wave, and performing a data read operation and a data write operation relative to an IC tag; and

at least one antenna unit, each antenna unit being arranged at a position separated from the control means, and including

an antenna configured to transmit a first signal and receive a second signal, and

signal modulation means for modulating the carrier wave and the data signal with a predetermined signal modulation to generate the first signal to be transmitted by radio transmission through the antenna to a specific IC tag in the data write operation, and conduct a predetermined signal demodulation to the second signal received from the specific IC tag in the data read operation.

46. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

switching means, wherein

said control means outputs a control signal,

said carrier wave generation means generates a plurality of carrier waves having predetermined frequencies different from each other; and

said switching means selects and outputs, as said carrier wave, one of the plurality of carrier waves, in accordance with the control signal from the control means.

47. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:

storage means for storing data representing communication frequencies and communication protocols pertinent to a plurality of IC tags,

wherein the control means determines, based on the data stored in the storage device, an appropriate carrier wave corresponding to said IC tag, and generates the control signal to control the switching means to output the appropriate carrier wave.

48. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 45, wherein in said predetermined signal modulation, said signal modulation means superimposes said data signal on said carrier wave.

49. The radio data communication apparatus of claim 45, wherein for each antenna unit, the antenna unit communicates with the control means via a corresponding transmission path.