Data carrier system

• US 5,929,778 A
• Filed: 11/09/1995
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rikagaku Kenkyushi, Rikagaku Kenkyusho, Sigma Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rikagaku Kenkyusho, Sigma Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Miyao, Sakae, Kotosaka, Shin-ya, Nakamura, Atsusi, Endo, Isao, Asama, Hajime, Kaetsu, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/555,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.49, 340/825.35, 340/505, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• 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

Abstract

A data carrier system allows data to be transmitted and received. The data is transmitted using weak radio waves of suitable frequencies, such as frequencies in a high frequency band (HF) or a very high frequency band (VHF). The transmitters and receivers need not physically contact each other, be located in any particular position, or be oriented in any particular direction. The data carrier system does not suffer deficiencies in electric power supply, and therefore there exists no need to exchange batteries. Individual transmitters and receivers are positively discriminated one from another. The receivers are in the form of a plurality of tags. The transmitters are in the form of a plurality of reader-writers. Both are controlled by microcomputers, and each tag is equipped with a secondary battery as the power source.

Claims

1. A data carrier system which performs transmission and reception of data in a non-contacting manner using weak radio waves, said system comprising:

a plurality of tags and a plurality of reader-writers;

each of said plurality of tags comprising;

a first microcomputer as a controller;

a battery as a first power source;

a first storing means for storing and retrieving data;

a first receiving means capable of receiving data transmitted from any reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers and any other tag of said plurality of tags;

a first transmitting means capable of transmitting data, stored in said first storing means, in a form of weak radio waves; and

a first write enabling means for directing said first storing means to store data;

each of said plurality of reader-writers comprising;

a second microcomputer as a controller;

a second storing means for storing and retrieving data;

a second receiving means capable of receiving data transmitted from any other reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or any tag of said plurality of tags;

a second transmitting means capable of transmitting data, stored in said second storing means, in a form of weak radio waves; and

a second write enabling means for directing said second storing means to store data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second transmitting means are capable of transmitting weak radio waves in a high frequency range.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second transmitting means are capable of transmitting weak radio waves in a very high frequency range.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means requests data stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means instructs that data be stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means requests data stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means instructs that data be stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means includes a code unique to a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or unique to a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means includes a code unique to a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or unique to a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of reader-writers further comprises a second power source.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first and second transmitting means are capable of transmitting weak radio waves in a high frequency range.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first and second transmitting means are capable of transmitting weak radio waves in a very high frequency range.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means requests data stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means instructs that data be stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means requests data stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means instructs that data be stored in a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said first transmitting means includes a code unique to a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or unique to a specific tag of said plurality of tags.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by said second transmitting means includes a code unique to a specific reader-writer of said plurality of reader-writers or unique to a specific tag of said plurality of tags.