WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130260803A1
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: IKEMOTO, Nobuo, ISHINO, Satoshi, KATO, Noboru
• Granted Patent: US 9,161,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes a plurality of communication devices, and a communication terminal that is a separate structure from the plurality of communication devices. Each of the communication devices includes a coupling portion to be coupled with the communication terminal, a power source, and a signal processing section arranged to process a signal received and a signal to be sent. The communication terminal includes neither a power source nor a signal processing section, and the communication terminal includes a coupling portion to be coupled with the coupling portion of each of the communication devices, an antenna arranged to send and receive radio waves, and a connector arranged to connect the coupling portion and the antenna to each other.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices; and

a communication terminal that is a separate structure from the plurality of communication devices;

wherein

each of the plurality of communication devices includes a coupling portion arranged to be electrically coupled with the communication terminal, a power source, and a signal processing section arranged to process a signal received and a signal to be sent;

the communication terminal includes a coupling portion arranged to be electrically coupled with the coupling portion of each of the plurality of communication devices, an antenna arranged to send and receive radio waves, and a connector arranged to connect the coupling portion and the antenna to each other, the communication terminal including neither a power source nor a signal processing section; and

when the coupling portion of the communication terminal is coupled with the coupling portion of a specified one of the plurality of communication devices, the communication terminal receives a signal from the specified one of the plurality of communication devices at the coupling portion thereof and sends the signal through the antenna, and/or receives a signal at the antenna and sends the signal to the specified one of the plurality of communication devices through the coupling portion thereof.

2. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal is arranged to be coupled with the coupling portion of each of the plurality of communication devices by at least one of magnetic coupling, capacitive coupling, electric-field coupling, electromagnetic coupling, or direct contact coupling.

3. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal includes a matching circuit.

4. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of communication devices are terminal devices;

and

the wireless communication system further includes abase unit that includes a single antenna and that is communicable with one of the plurality of communication devices of which the coupling portion is coupled with the coupling portion of the communication terminal through the antenna.

5. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

at least two of the communication terminals are provided;

and

at least two of the plurality of communication devices of which the coupling portions couple with the coupling portions of the at least two communication terminals are communicable with each other.

6. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing section of each of the plurality of communication devices includes a central processing unit and an RF circuit.

7. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of the coupling portion of the communication terminal with the coupling portion of a specified one of the plurality of communication devices is magnetic coupling.

8. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a pen-shaped communication terminal to be held by an operator.

9. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the power source of each of the plurality of communication devices includes a battery.

10. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the signal has a frequency in one of the HF band or the UHF band.

11. A wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the base unit includes a body including a signal processing circuit, and the antenna is connected to the body by a signal line.

12. A wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the antenna is an electric-field antenna.

13. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal includes a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical housing in which the coupling portion and the antenna of the communication terminal are disposed.

14. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna of the communication terminal is an electric-field dipole antenna.

15. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices includes a clock circuit, a logic circuit, and a memory circuit in which necessary information is stored.

16. A wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein the matching circuit includes at least one inductance and at least one capacitance.

17. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal has a loop shape.

18. A wireless communication system according to claim 17, wherein 17, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal includes approximately two turns.

19. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal includes two planar portions arranged to function as a capacitively-coupled antenna or an electric-field antenna.

20. A wireless communication system according to claim 19, wherein the coupling portion of the communication terminal further includes a line connecting the two planar portions to one another.