READER/WRITER DEVICE FOR NONCONTACT IC CARD, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND NONCONTACT COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20100059590A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tandou, Katsuhiko, Anzai, Jun, Horiuchi, Yasuhide
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A reader/writer device performs noncontact communication with a noncontact IC card section (400) to which power is supplied from a power storage section (310) of a portable terminal (300) whereupon the card section is mounted. In the reader/writer device (100), a noncontact communication section (110) transmits and receives information to and from the IC card section (400) by noncontact communication, and a noncontact charging section (120) supplies power to the power storage section (310) in noncontact manner. When noncontact communication with the IC card section (400) cannot be performed by controlling the noncontact communication section (110), a contactless communication/charging control section (130) controls the noncontact charging section (120) to charge the power storage section (310) of the portable terminal (300) in noncontact manner, then, controls the noncontact communication section (110) again to perform noncontact communication.

Claims

1. A contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus that carries out contactless communication with a contactless type integrated circuit card, the contactless type integrated circuit card not having a built-in power source and receiving a supply of power froth a power storage section in a portable terminal in which the contactless type integrated circuit card is mounted, the contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus comprising:

a contactless communication section that sends and receives information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by contactless communication;

a contactless charging section that supplies power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner;

a detection section that detects a state of contactless communication; and

a control section that controls switching between the contactless communication section and the contactless charging section based on the detection result in the detection section to select between sending and receiving information by the contactless communication, and supplying power in a contactless manner,

wherein, when contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card using the contactless communication section is not possible, the control section controls the contactless charging section to charge the power storage section in the portable terminal and then controls the contactless communication section again to carry out contactless communication.

2. The reader/writer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section is a secondary battery.

3. The reader/writer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section is a capacitor.

4. A communication system comprising a portable terminal mounting a contactless type integrated circuit card that does not have a built-in power source, and a contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus that carries out contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card,

the portable terminal comprising a power storage section, which is a power source of the portable terminal and which supplies power to the contactless type integrated circuit card,

the reader/writer apparatus comprising:

a contactless communication section that sends and receives information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by contactless communication;

a contactless charging section that supplies power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner;

a detection section that detects a state of contactless communication; and

a control section that controls switching between the contactless communication section and the contactless charging section based on the detection result in the detection section to select between sending and receiving information by the contactless communication and supplying power in a contactless manner,

wherein, when contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card using the contactless communication section is not possible, the control section controls the contactless charging section to charge the power storage section in the portable terminal and then controls the contactless communication section again to carry out contactless communication.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the power storage section is a secondary battery.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the power storage section is a capacitor.

7. A contactless communication method for carrying out contactless communication with a contactless type integrated circuit card that does not have a built-in power source and receives a supply of power from a power storage section in a portable terminal in which the contactless type integrated circuit card is mounted, the contactless communication method comprising:

a contactless communication step sending and receiving information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by contactless communication;

a contactless charging step of stopping the contactless communication when contactless communication is not possible and supplying power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner; and

carrying out contactless communication again after performing the contactless power supply.