Device for the contactless transmission of data to mobile data carriers with system for preventing too close an approach

• US 6,115,583 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hani-Prolectronh AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Brummer, Wolfgang, Elbinger, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US09/035,009
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556, 455/558, 455/90, 455/575, 455/128, 455/129, 455/41, 340/825.54, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• 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

Abstract

A device for contactless transmission of at least data to mobile data carriers, in particular chip cards, via an electromagnetic field. The device includes an antenna (3) for emitting data to and/or receiving data from the mobile data carriers (15), an antenna field area (1) at least for covering the antenna (3), and spacers (5, 7). The antenna field area is bounded by edge regions and the spacers are located on at least one of the edge regions of the antenna field area (1). The spacers are configured to prevent areas of the human chest, back and pelvis from approaching too close to the antenna field area. They can be configured, e.g., as bows arranged at least on two opposite side edges (17, 19) of the antenna field area. Alternately, the device can be fashioned with a well (13) for holding the antenna field area or with at least one elevation (25, 27) on at least one edge region of the antenna field area in lieu of or in addition to the spacers. The invention thereby, for example, prevents an impermissibly close approach of sensitive body parts such as the chest, back and pelvis to the antenna field area, which might otherwise inappropriately affect electronic implants and the like.

Claims

1. A device for contactless transmission of at least data via an electromagnetic field, comprising:

a) an antenna for transmitting the data at least uni-directionally between the device and a mobile data carrier, said antenna having a first surface area,

b) an antenna field area covering said antenna and extending beyond said antenna to cover a second surface area that is not dimensioned in accordance with any dimension of the mobile data carrier, said antenna field area being bounded by edge regions and defining an open air space extending outward from said antenna field area, and

c) at least one spacer, which is located on at least one of the edge regions of said antenna field area and is configured to prevent areas of a human trunk from approaching said antenna field area within an effective vicinity of the electromagnetic field.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna is configured to emit data to the mobile data carrier.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna is configured to receive data from the mobile data carrier.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna is configured to transmit energy to the mobile data carrier.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second spacer located on another one of the edge regions opposite the one edge region on which the one spacer is located, such that said antenna is disposed substantially equidistant between the one edge region and the other edge region.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer is configured as a bow.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer is configured as a longitudinal screen.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer is configured as a longitudinal wedge.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein two of said spacers are arranged respectively on at least two opposite edge regions of said antenna field area.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total surface area of said antenna field area is at least nine times as large as the surface area of said antenna.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer is configured as a well into which said antenna field area is recessed.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer is configured as an elevation extending up from a surface of the one edge region of said antenna field area.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein two of said spacers, each configured as an elevation, are arranged respectively on opposite edge regions of the antenna field area along a line of symmetry.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface area is at least nine times as large as the first surface area.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface area is at least four times as large as the first surface area.

16. A system for communicating data, comprising:

a mobile data memory; and

a stationary unit comprising;

(a) an antenna configured for at least one of (a1) transmitting data to said memory inductively over a predetermined, limited range, and (a2) receiving data from said memory inductively over a predetermined, limited range; and

(b) distancing means defining a gap and straddling said antenna;

wherein;

said antenna is recessed within or behind the gap;

the gap extends in a plane beyond said antenna to cover a surface area that is not dimensioned in accordance with any dimension of said mobile data memory;

said distancing means project, relative to said antenna, by a projection distance that is at least substantially equal to the predetermined, limited range; and

the gap defines a space open for receiving said mobile data memory in any orientation yet insufficient for receiving a torso of an adult human body.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said memory is a hand-held, substantially rectangular card.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said memory is a chip card.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said stationary unit further comprises:

(c) a sealing layer covering said antenna; and

wherein said sealing layer is recessed within or behind the gap.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said distancing means project from said stationary unit.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein the gap defines a space sufficient for receiving at least a portion of an adult human hand yet insufficient for receiving a torso of a human adolescent.

22. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the surface area of the gap is at least four times as large as the surface area of said antenna.

23. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the surface area of the gap is at least nine times as large as the surface area of said antenna.

24. A device for wireless transmission of data, comprising:

a) an antenna for transmitting the data at least uni-directionally between the device and a mobile data carrier,

b) an antenna field area bounded by edge regions and covering the antenna, wherein said antenna field area has a total surface area that is dimensioned without adaptation to any dimension of the mobile data carrier, and

c) at least two spacers projecting from the edge regions and projecting, relative to said antenna field area, by a given distance, wherein said spacers define, together with said antenna field area, a three dimensional, uninterrupted air space, and wherein said spacers are configured to prevent an adult human torso from approaching said antenna field area substantially closer than the given distance.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein said spacers are configured to prevent a torso of a human adolescent from approaching said antenna field area substantially closer than the given distance.

26. The device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the total surface area of said antenna field area is at least four times as large as the surface area of said antenna.