Transponder for transmitting processed data to a base station over large distances and at a high data transfer rate

• US 6,198,382 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Czar, Bernhard, Eber, Wolfgang, Berger, Dominik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, Matsuichiro
• Application Number:
  US09/132,399
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.44, 340/10.34, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 340/10.5, 455/343
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• 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

Abstract

A transponder has a memory, a data processor, a transmit memory and a transmission circuit. The memory stores data. In a transmit mode of the transponder, the data processor is operable in a normal-energy mode and an energy-saving mode. When the data processor is in the normal-energy mode, the data processor retrieves the data from the memory and processes the data, and the processed data is stored in the transmit memory. Thereafter, the data processor is controlled from the normal-energy mode to the energy-saving mode, and the transmission circuit reads out the stored processed data from said transmit memory and transmits the read out stored processed data to a base station. Transponder for transmitting processed data to a base station over large distances and at a high data transfer rate.

Claims

1. A transponder for transmitting processed data to a base station, the transponder comprising memory means from which data are readable, data processing means which are operable, in a transmit mode of the transponder, in a normal-energy operating mode and in an energy-saving mode, to which data processing means data read out from the memory means are applicable in order to process the data and by which data processing means processed data are deliverable, and transmission means by which the data corresponding to the processed data delivered by the data processing means are transmitted to the base station, the data processing means, when the transponder is in the transmit mode, being controllable from the normal-energy mode to the energy-saving mode, the transponder further comprising transmit memory means which is readable and writeable, the transmit memory means storing the processed data when the data processing means in the normal-energy mode before the processed data are transmitted, control means for controlling the data processing means from the normal-energy mode of operation to the energy-saving mode of operation after the processed data have been stored in the transmit memory means and before the processed data are sent, a transmission circuit configured to read out the stored processed data from the transmit memory means and to deliver the read out stored processed data to the transmission means for transmission to the base station, the data processing means being in the energy-saving mode during the transmission.

2. A transponder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a transmission behavior of the transmission circuit is controllable and the transmission circuit is supplied with control data by the data processing means the control data controlling the transmission behavior and the transmission circuit being arranged for reading the processed data from the transmit memory means in accordance with the control data.

3. A transponder as claimed in claim 2, wherein a part of the transmission circuit is arranged as further control means by which the data processing means is controlled back from the energy-saving mode to the normal-energy mode.

4. A transponder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data processing means is a microcomputer.

5. A transponder as claimed in claim 4, wherein a part of the microcomputer is arranged as control means.

6. A transponder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder is a passive transponder which derives the energy it needs in the transmit mode from a received signal.

7. A transponder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data processing means when in the energy-saving mode is completely deactivated with the exception of normal-energy activating means comprised therein.

8. A transponder comprising:

a memory storing data;

a data processor, in a transmit mode of said transponder said data processor being operable in a normal-energy mode and an energy-saving mode, said data processor being controlled to retrieve said data from said memory and to process said data when said data processor is in said normal-energy mode;

a transmit memory controlled to store said processed data when said data processor is in said normal-energy mode, the data processor being controlled from said normal-energy mode to said energy-saving mode after storage of said processed data; and

a transmission circuit configured to read out said stored processed data from said transmit memory and to transmit said read out stored processed data to a base station, said stored processed data being read out when said data processor is in said energy-saving mode.

9. A transponder as claimed in claim 8, wherein in said normal-energy mode said data processor is clocked at a substantially higher clock rate than in said energy-saving mode.