Microcomputer circuit for attenuating oscillations in a resonant circuit by reversing phase and feeding back resonant circuit output oscillation voltage

• US 5,226,167 A
• Filed: 04/06/1990
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Atsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrity, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/505,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 329/319, 332/107, 332/123, 332/159, 341/24, 341/181, 235/449, 455/114
• US Class Current: 332/107
• 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: 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: H04L 25/08 Modifications for reducing interference; Modifications for reducing effects due to line faults ; Receiver end arrangements for detecting or overcoming line faults

Abstract

A microcomputer for driving a resonant circuit includes a CPU for processing data, an input circuit for detecting an input signal and for transmitting it to the CPU, an output circuit for outputting an output signal from the CPU to the resonant circuit, and attenuation device for attenuating oscillation in the resonant circuit after the output signal from the CPU is turned off. In a non-contact IC card the resonant circuit is an antenna for sending and receiving data to and from the outside without contact.

Claims

1. A microcomputer circuit comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) for processing data, for selectively generating an output signal and for generating a suppression signal immediately after ending generation of the output signal;

a resonant circuit;

an output circuit for outputting the output signal from said CPU to said resonant circuit;

attenuation means connected to said output circuit and said CPU, responsive to the suppression signal for attenuating oscillations in said resonant circuit when said CPU generates the suppression signal, and including means for reversing the phase of an oscillation voltage from said resonant circuit and means for feeding back the reversed phase oscillation voltage from said means for reversing to said resonant circuit.

2. The microcomputer circuit according to claim 1 wherein said attenuation means includes a comparator for comparing the oscillation voltage from said resonant circuit with a reference voltage and for generating a comparator signal indicative of which of the oscillation voltage and reference voltage is larger, and a switch for feeding back the comparator signal to said resonant circuit when said CPU is generating the suppression signal.

3. The microcomputer circuit according to claim 2 wherein said comparator includes a differential circuit for sensing the oscillation voltage from said resonant circuit, a current mirror circuit connected as a load to said differential circuit, and a transistor connected to said current mirror circuit for determining the magnitude of the oscillation voltage fed back to said resonant circuit.

4. A non-contact integrated circuit (IC) card comprising:

antenna means for sending and receiving data;

a central processing unit (CPU) for processing data, for selectively generating a transmission signal, and for generating a suppression signal immediately after ending generation of the transmission signal;

a reception circuit for detecting a reception signal received by said antenna means and for transmitting the reception signal to said CPU;

a transmission circuit for transmitting the transmission signal from said CPU to said antenna means; and

attenuation means connected to said transmission circuit and said CPU, responsive to the suppression signal for attenuating oscillations in said antenna means when said CPU generates the suppression signal, and including means for reversing the phase of an oscillation voltage from said antenna means and means for feeding back the reversed phase oscillation voltage from said means for reversing to said antenna means.

5. The IC card according to claim 4 wherein said attenuation means includes a comparator for comparing the oscillation voltage from said antenna means with a reference voltage and for generating a comparator signal indicative of which of the oscillation voltage and the reference voltage is larger and a switch for feeding back the comparator signal to said antenna means when said CPU generates the suppression signal.

6. The IC card according to claim 5 wherein said comparator includes a differential circuit for sensing the oscillation voltage from said antenna means, a current mirror circuit connected as a load to said differential circuit, and a transistor connected to said current mirror circuit for determining the magnitude of the oscillation voltage fed back to said antenna means.