Wireless communication method

• US 20080258918A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shionoiri, Yutaka, Kato, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication method in the case where communication of a wireless signal from a communication device to a semiconductor device can be ensured, communication of a wireless signal can be ensured without using a repeater even when communication of a wireless signal from a semiconductor device to a communication device is difficult due to an external factor such as an obstacle. A plurality of semiconductor devices operate in selectively switching between a first state in which the first wireless signal transmitted from the communication device is received and a second state in which the second wireless signal transmitted from the semiconductor device is received. The semiconductor device in the second state receives the second wireless signal from the semiconductor device in the first state and transmits to the communication device the second wireless signal including detection data for indicating that the second wireless signal is received.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method in which a first wireless signal transmitted from a communication device is received by a plurality of semiconductor devices including at least a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device and thus a second wireless signal is transmitted to the communication device from the plurality of semiconductor devices, comprising:

selectively switching a first state and a second state in the plurality of semiconductor devices including the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device in response to the first wireless signal transmitted from the communication device; and

transmitting the second wireless signal including detection data indicating that the second wireless signal is received from the first semiconductor device in the first state to the communication device from the second semiconductor device in the second state,

wherein the first state is a state in which the first wireless signal transmitted from the communication device is received, and

wherein the second state is a state in which the second wireless signal transmitted from the plurality of semiconductor devices is received.

2. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein power for transmitting the second wireless signal including detection data to the communication device is obtained by receiving the first wireless signal from the communication device.

3. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device outputs a first instruction for transmitting data stored in the plurality of semiconductor devices to the communication device and a second instruction for selectively switching between the first state and the second state of the plurality of semiconductor devices.

4. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor devices which are attached to an article transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from the communication device.

5. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor devices is formed of a thin film transistor and attached to an article.

6. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is connected to an external power source.

7. A wireless communication method in which a first wireless signal transmitted from a communication device is received by a plurality of semiconductor devices including at least a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device and thus a second wireless signal is transmitted to the communication device from the plurality of semiconductor devices, comprising:

selectively switching a first state and a second state in the plurality of semiconductor devices including the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device in response to the first wireless signal transmitted from the communication device;

storing data of the second wireless signal from the first semiconductor device in the first state in a storage element included in the second semiconductor device in the second state; and

transmitting data stored in the storage element as the second wireless signal to the communication device when the second semiconductor device receives the first wireless signal from the communication device,

wherein the first state is a state in which the first wireless signal transmitted from the communication device is received, and

wherein the second state is a state in which the second wireless signal transmitted from the plurality of semiconductor devices is received.

8. The wireless communication method according to claim 7, wherein the communication device outputs a first instruction for transmitting data stored in the plurality of semiconductor devices to the communication device, a second instruction for selectively switching between the first state and the second state of the plurality of semiconductor devices, and a third instruction for reading data from any one of the plurality of semiconductor devices, which stores data in the storage element.

9. The wireless communication method according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor devices which are attached to an article transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from the communication device.

10. The wireless communication method according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor devices is formed of a thin film transistor and attached to an article.

11. The wireless communication method according to claim 7, wherein the communication device is connected to an external power source.