Wireless IC tag, wireless IC tag system and operation method for wireless IC tag

• US 20090109001A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Kazuki, Yamamoto, Masaaki, Yamazoe, Takanori
• Application Number:
  US12/222,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• 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 wireless IC tag system according to the present invention is provided with a wireless IC tag, a reader/writer device and a high-frequency signal output device. The reader/writer device outputs a first high-frequency signal. The high-frequency signal output device outputs a second high-frequency signal only during a period when the reader/writer device outputs the first high-frequency signal. The wireless IC tag is provided with an antenna, a power supply circuit and a communication circuit. The antenna receives the first and second high-frequency signals. The power supply circuit generates a power supply voltage from the first and second high-frequency signals. The communication circuit transmits and receives an information signal to and from the reader/writer device by utilizing the first high-frequency signal.

Claims

1. A wireless IC tag comprising:

an antenna;

a power supply circuit; and

a demodulation circuit,

wherein the antenna receives a first radio wave obtained by amplitude modulating a carrier wave having a first frequency by an information signal and a second radio wave having a second frequency,

wherein the power supply circuit generates a power supply voltage from a signal induced in the antenna by the first radio wave and the second radio wave, and

wherein the demodulation circuit demodulates the information signal from the signal.

2. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1,

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to a frequency band defined by the same standard specification, and

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to respectively different channels.

3. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1,

wherein radio waves of a plurality of channels within a frequency band from 860 MHz to 960 MHz are received by the one antenna.

4. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1,

wherein an electric field strength of the first radio wave reaching the wireless IC tag is higher than an electric field strength of the second radio wave.

5. A wireless IC tag system comprising:

a wireless IC tag;

a first transmitting device for transmitting a first radio wave obtained by amplitude modulating a carrier wave having a first frequency by an information signal to the wireless IC tag; and

a second transmitting device for transmitting a second radio wave having a second frequency to the wireless IC tag,

wherein the wireless IC tag has an antenna, a power supply circuit and a demodulation circuit,

wherein the antenna receives the first radio wave and the second radio wave,

wherein the power supply circuit generates a power supply voltage from a signal induced in the antenna by the first radio wave and the second radio wave, and

wherein the demodulation circuit demodulates the information signal from the signal.

6. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to a frequency band defined by the same standard specification, and

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to respectively different channels.

7. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein radio waves of a plurality of channels within a frequency band from 860 MHz to 960 MHz are received by the one antenna.

8. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein an electric field strength of the first radio wave reaching the wireless IC tag system is higher than an electric field strength of the second radio wave.

9. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein an output level and a frequency of the second radio wave are controlled by a control signal from outside.

10. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein the second transmitting device has a detection circuit for detecting presence and absence of transmission of the first radio wave from the first transmitting device,

wherein the second transmitting device starts transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is transmitted, and

wherein the second transmitting device stops transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is not transmitted.

11. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein the second transmitting device has a detection circuit for detecting presence and absence of transmission of the first radio wave from the first transmitting device,

wherein the second transmitting device starts transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is transmitted, and

wherein the second transmitting device stops transmitting the second radio wave when a predetermined time has elapsed after starting transmission of the second radio wave.

12. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5,

wherein a control signal from the first transmitting device controls start and stop of transmission of the second radio wave from the second transmitting device.

13. The wireless IC tag system according to claim 5, further comprising a control device,

wherein the control device controls start and stop of transmission of the second radio wave from the second transmitting device.

14. An operation method for a wireless IC tag,

wherein, to a wireless IC tag that receives a first radio wave having a first frequency and a second radio wave having a second frequency by an antenna, generates a power supply voltage from a signal induced in the antenna and demodulates an information signal from the signal, a first radio wave obtained by amplitude modulating a carrier wave having the first frequency by the information signal is transmitted from a first transmitting device, and

wherein a second radio wave having the second frequency is transmitted from a second transmitting device to the wireless IC tag.

15. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to a frequency band defined by the same standard specification, and

wherein the first frequency and the second frequency belong to respectively different channels.

16. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein radio waves of a plurality of channels within a frequency band from 860 MHz to 960 MHz are received by the one antenna.

17. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein an output level and a frequency of the second radio wave are controlled by a control signal from outside.

18. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein the second transmitting device has a detection circuit for detecting presence and absence of transmission of the first radio wave from the first transmitting device,

wherein the second transmitting device starts transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is transmitted, and

wherein the second transmitting device stops transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is not transmitted.

19. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein the second transmitting device has a detection circuit for detecting presence and absence of transmission of the first radio wave from the first transmitting device,

wherein the second transmitting device starts transmitting the second radio wave when the detection circuit detects that the first radio wave is transmitted, and

wherein the second transmitting device stops transmitting the second radio wave when a predetermined time has elapsed after starting transmission of the second radio wave.

20. The operation method for a wireless IC tag according to claim 14,

wherein a control signal from the first transmitting device controls start and stop of transmission of the second radio wave from the second transmitting device.