Noncontacting IC card system and gate facility and antenna mechanism

• US 5,661,286 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric Semiconductor Software Company Limited
• Inventors: Fujioka, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/541,449
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 342/51, 235/380, 235/382, 235/392, 235/384, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 343/841
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A noncontacting IC card system occupying a relatively small area without requiring a provision for a dead zone or unnecessary communication area outside a gate. A transmitting antenna 11 is provided between two contiguous gates i.e., on the inner sides of the gates, and receiving antennas are provided respectively toward the sides opposite to the transmitting antenna of the gates i.e., on the outer sides of the gates. It is thereby not necessary to provide a dead zone between the gates and an unnecessary communication area does not occur outside the gate.

Claims

1. A noncontacting IC card system comprising:

a single transmitter provided between two contiguous gates;

receiving means provided on each of said two contiguous gates directed toward said single transmitter;

at least one noncontacting IC card for communicating with said single transmitter and receiving means on each of said two contiguous gates; and

control means connected to said single transmitter and said receiving means for controlling communication with said noncontacting IC card and data processing.

2. The noncontacting IC card system according to claim 1, wherein said single transmitter comprises a transmitting antenna provided between said two contiguous gates and said receiving means comprises respective receiving antennas provided on said two contiguous gates directed toward said transmitting antenna.

3. The noncontacting IC card system according to claim 1, wherein said single transmitter comprises a transmitting antenna provided between said two contiguous gates and said receiving means comprises a receiving antenna provided on one side of said two contiguous gates and having a receiving area covering said two contiguous gates, said system further comprising gate discriminating means for detecting a gate having said noncontacting IC card therein based on receiving a signal from said noncontacting IC card.

4. The noncontacting IC card system according to claim 3, wherein said gate discrimination means comprises a voltage detection circuit connected to said receiving antenna.

5. The noncontacting IC card system according to claim 1, wherein said single transmitter said and receiving means respectively comprise antennas, said system further comprising an insulating antenna mounting support for mounting said antennas.

6. A gate facility for processing a noncontacting IC card passing the gate, said gate facility comprising:

a single transmitter provided between two contiguous gates;

receiving means provided on the gates directed toward said single transmitter; and

control means connected to said transmitting means and said receiving means for communications with said noncontacting IC card and data processing.

7. The gate facility according to claim 6, wherein said single transmitter comprises a transmitting antenna provided between said two contiguous gates and said receiving means comprises respective receiving antennas provided on said two contiguous gates directed toward said transmitting antenna.

8. The gate facility according to claim 6, wherein said single transmitter comprises a transmitting antenna provided between said two contiguous gates and said receiving means comprises a receiving antenna provided on one side of said two contiguous gates and having a reception area covering said two gates, said gate facility further comprising gate discriminating means for detecting a gate having a noncontacting IC card therein in response to receiving voltage a signal from the noncontacting IC card.

9. The gate facility according to claim 8, wherein said gate discrimination means comprises a voltage detection circuit connected to said receiving antenna.

10. The gate facility according to claim 6, wherein said single transmitter and said receiving means respectively comprise antennas, said gate facility further comprising an insulating antenna mounting support for mounting said antennas.