METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING THE POSITION OF A TRANSPONDER

• US 20140024391A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Assadi, Houssem, Levionnais, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 9,291,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag

Abstract

A terminal is provided, which has a near-field communication module suitable for receiving signals from a transponder fitted with a circuit presenting a load impedance. The terminal includes a receiver suitable for receiving a first signal relating to the load impedance of the transponder (T3). The terminal obtains a second signal from the first signal and determines a position indication of the terminal relative to the transponder and based on analysis of the second signal. The terminal delivers a third signal that is a function of the determined position indication.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a position of a terminal relative to a transponder fitted with a circuit presenting a load impedance, said terminal being suitable for receiving signals from the transponder, the method comprising:

a step of the terminal receiving a first signal relating to the load impedance of the transponder;

a step of obtaining a second signal from the first signal;

a step of determining a position indication about the position of the terminal relative to the transponder and based on analyzing the second signal; and

a step of delivering a third signal as a function of the position indication as determined.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the second signal includes a step of digitizing the first signal in order to obtain the second signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the position indication determined during the step for determining a position indication is a distance variation calculated using the following steps:

a first step of measuring a position indication of the terminal at a first instant;

a second step of measuring a position indication of the terminal at a second instant; and

a step of evaluating a distance variation from the first measurement (IP1) and the second measurement.

4. A terminal comprising:

a near-field communication device configured for receiving signals from a transponder fitted with a circuit presenting load impedance;

a receiver configured to enable the terminal to receive a first signal relating to the load impedance of the transponder;

obtaining means for obtaining a second signal from the first signal;

determination means for determining a position indication of the terminal relative to the transponder, based on analyzing the second signal; and

delivery means for delivering a third signal that is a function of the determined position indication.

5. A terminal according to claim 4, wherein the terminal includes digitizing means for digitizing the first signal in order to obtain the second signal.

6. A terminal according to claim 5, wherein the terminal includes evaluation means for evaluating a distance variation from a first measurement of a position indication of the terminal and a second measurement of a position indication of the terminal as measured at two distinct instants.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon and suitable for being implemented on a terminal, the program comprising code instructions that, when the program is executed by a processor, performs steps of a method of identifying a position of the terminal relative to a transponder fitted with a circuit presenting a load impedance, said terminal being suitable for receiving signals from the transponder, the method comprising:

a step of the terminal receiving a first signal relating to the load impedance of the transponder;

a step of obtaining a second signal from the first signal;

a step of determining a position indication about the position of the terminal relative to the transponder and based on analyzing the second signal; and

a step of delivering a third signal as a function of the position indication as determined.