COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20180013596A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Hiroaki, Omae, Uichiro, Fujita, Hiroaki, Abe, Masayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,243,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• 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: H04B 1/59 Responders; Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/04 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0337 Selecting between two or more discretely delayed clocks or selecting between two or more discretely delayed received code signals

Abstract

A communication device according to the disclosure includes: a signal generator that generates, on the basis of the first signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal; a first modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal on the basis of the second signal; a second modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal; and a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a signal generator that generates, on a basis of a first signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal;

a first modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal on a basis of the second signal;

a second modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal; and

a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication controller selects, on a basis of an amplitude value of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the communication controller selects the second modulator on a condition that the amplitude value is larger than a predetermined value, and selects the first modulator on a condition that the amplitude value is smaller than the predetermined value.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein

the communication controller sets the predetermined value on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication controller selects, on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator.

6. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein

the communication partner modulates the first signal, and

the communication controller distinguishes the communication method on a basis of a degree of modulation of the first signal modulated by the communication partner.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a phase adjuster that adjusts a phase of the second signal on the basis of the first signal, wherein

the first modulator is configured to be able to modulate the first signal on the basis of the second signal the phase of which has been adjusted by the phase adjuster.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the signal generator includes a phase synchronization circuit.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the first modulator includes a first switch, and turning on of the first switch causes the second signal to be supplied to the coil.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the second modulator includes a second switch coupled to the coil.

11. A communication device, comprising:

a signal generator that generates, on a basis of a first signal received from a communication partner through a coil, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal;

a phase adjuster that adjusts a phase of the second signal on the basis of the first signal; and

a first modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal on a basis of the second signal the phase of which has been adjusted by the phase adjuster.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the second signal on a basis of an amplitude value of the first signal.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the phase of the second signal at a first phase value on a condition that the amplitude value is larger than a predetermined value, and sets the phase of the second signal at a second phase value on a condition that the amplitude value is smaller than the predetermined value.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the predetermined value on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, wherein

the phase adjuster sets the first phase value and the second phase value on the basis of the communication method with the communication partner.

16. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the second signal on a basis of a communication method with the communication partner.

17. The communication device according to claim 14, wherein

the communication partner modulates the first signal, and

the phase adjuster distinguishes the communication method on a basis of a degree of modulation of the first signal modulated by the communication partner.

18. The communication device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second modulator configured to be able to modulate the first signal; and

a communication controller that selects, on the basis of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from the first modulator and the second modulator, wherein

the phase adjuster adjusts the phase of the second signal on the basis of the first signal, on a condition that the communication controller has selected the first modulator.

19. A communication method, comprising:

allowing a coil to receive a first signal from a communication partner;

generating, on a basis of the first signal, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal; and

selecting, on the basis of the first signal, whichever modulator is to be operated, from a first modulator and a second modulator, the first modulator being configured to be able to modulate the first signal on a basis of the second signal, and the second modulator being configured to be able to modulate the first signal.

20. A communication method, comprising:

allowing a coil to receive a first signal from a communication partner;

generating, on a basis of the first signal, a second signal that synchronizes with the first signal;

adjusting a phase of the second signal on a basis of the first signal; and

allowing a first modulator to operate, the first modulator being configured to be able to modulate the first signal on a basis of the second signal the phase of which has been adjusted.