Information medium

• US 4,641,374 A
• Filed: 08/10/1984
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Oyama, Masumi
• Primary Examiner(s): ORSINO JR, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US06/639,422
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 455/606, 455/607, 455/617, 455/603, 340/505, 340/572, 367/2, 343/6.5 R, 343/6.5 SS, 343/6.5 LC, 343/6.8 LC, 343/6.8 R
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• 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: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

An information medium used for receiving/delivering information from/to an exterior device, which includes a receiver circuit for receiving a modulated input signal from the exterior device, a demodulator for demodulating the modulated input signal to provide specific information, a decoder for decoding the specific information to provide a decoded instruction, a memory for storing given data, a controller for controlling a write or read operation of the memory in accordance with the contents of the decoded instruction, a modulator for generating a modulated signal which corresponds to data read-out from the memory, a transmitter circuit for delivering to the exterior device a transmission signal corresponding to the modulated signal, a battery for generating electric power, and a switch circuit for selectively supplying the electric power to any of the receiver circuit, demodulator, modulator and transmitter circuit. The selection of the switch circuit for the power supply depends on the contents of the specific information.

Claims

1. An information medium used for receiving/delivering information from/to an exterior device, comprising:

receiver means for receiving a modulated input signal from the exterior device;

demodulator means coupled to said receiver means for demodulating said modulated input signal to provide specific information which is formed of a binary signal having a given bit pattern;

decoder means coupled to said demodulator means for decoding said specific information to provide a decoded instruction corresponding to whatever binary signal is provided by said demodulator;

memory means for storing given data;

control means coupled to said decoder means and memory means, for controlling a write or read operation of said memory means in accordance with the contents of said decoded instruction;

battery means for generating electric power; and

switch means coupled to said decoder means and battery means, for selectively activating any of said receiver means, demodulator means, memory means and control means by said electric power;

the selection of said switch means for the power supply depending on the contents of said specific information.

2. An information medium according to claim 1, further comprising:

modulator means coupled to said control means for generating a modulated signal which corresponds to data read-out from said memory means; and

transmitter means coupled to said modulator means for delivering to the exterior device a transmission signal which corresponds to said modulated signal;

and wherein said switch means has a function for selectively supplying said electric power to any of said receiver means, demodulator means, modulator means and transmitter means;

the selection of said switch means for the power supply depending on the contents of said specific information.

3. An information medium according to claim 1, wherein said memory means includes a RAM.

4. An information medium according to claim 1, wherein said memory means includes an EPROM.

5. An information medium according to claim 1, wherein said modulated input signal is a radio wave.

6. An information medium according to claim 1, wherein said modulated input signal is a sonic wave.

7. An information medium according to claim 1, wherein said modulated input signal is light.

8. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein said transmission signal is a radio wave.

9. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein said transmission signal is a sonic wave.

10. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein said transmission signal is light.

11. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein each of said modulated input signal and transmission signal is a radio wave, and said receiver means and transmitter means commonly include an antenna for receiving and delivering the radio wave.

12. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein each of said modulated input signal and transmission signal is a sonic wave, and said receiver means and transmitter means commonly include an electric/sonic converter for receiving and delivering the sonic wave.

13. An information medium according to claim 2, wherein each of said modulated input signal and transmission signal is light,

and wherein said receiver means includes a light-to-electric converter for receiving the modulated input signal light, and said transmitter means includes an electric-to-light converter for delivering or emitting the transmission signal light.