Data transmission terminal and contactless data/power delivery method for use therewith

• US 6,222,880 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid, Eastmond, Bruce Charles, Rachwalski, Richard Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US08/940,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 375/339, 375/338, 375/239, 375/259, 375/295, 375/316, 375/309, 375/310, 375/311, 375/312, 329/313, 370/205, 340/825.58, 340/825.77, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 375/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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: H03K 7/04 Position modulation, i.e. PPM

Abstract

A data transmission system (200) includes a data transmission terminal (201) and a portable data device (203) that is remotely powered by the terminal. A method is provided for supplying power and data from the terminal (201) to the portable data device (203) using a carrier signal (401), including the step of identifying a slot location into which a modulation discontinuity (403-409) is introduced. The slot location is chosen within a modulation frame, which is based on n bits of the information signal to be transmitted, the number of slots in the frame varying between 1 and 2ⁿ. The modulation discontinuity (403-409) is introduced into the chosen slot location to produce an encoded data stream, which is then transmitted to the portable data device.

Claims

1. In a data transmission terminal for use in a data transmission system that includes a portable data device that is remotely powered by the terminal, a method of supplying a power signal and an information signal from the terminal to the portable data device via a carrier signal, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame, wherein the slot location is based on n bits of the information signal and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ;

introducing a modulation discontinuity in the slot location to produce an encoded data stream corresponding with the information signal and the power signal; and

transmitting the encoded data stream to the portable data device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of completely interrupting the carrier signal for an interruption period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interruption period spans substantially a full slot duration.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the interruption period spans a partial slot duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of partially dampening the carrier signal for a dampening period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the dampening period spans substantially a full slot duration.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the dampening period spans a partial slot duration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of phase-shifting the carrier signal within the slot location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of frequency-shifting the carrier signal within the slot location.

10. The card reader of claim 1, wherein n is greater than 2.

11. In a terminal for use in a data communication system that includes a card that is remotely powered by the terminal, a method of supplying data to the card using a carrier signal, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame, wherein the slot location is based on n bits of the data and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ;

modulating the carrier signal during a time corresponding to the slot location to produce an encoded data stream corresponding with the data; and

transmitting the encoded data stream to the card.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of supplying power to the card using the carrier signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of phase-shifting the carrier signal within the slot location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of frequency-shifting the carrier signal within the slot location.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of amplitude-shifting the carrier signal within the slot location.

16. The card reader of claim 11, wherein n is greater than 2.

17. A card reader that transmits a carrier signal to a card, which carrier signal includes a data component and a power component, comprising:

modulating means for modulating the carrier signal in accordance with the power component and the data component, wherein the carrier signal is modulated during a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame, wherein the slot location is based on n bits of the data stream and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ; and

wherein the carrier signal is interrupted within the slot location; and

transmission means for transmitting the modulated carrier signal to the card for reception and use thereby.

18. The card reader of claim 17, wherein the carrier signal comprises a 13.56 MHz signal.

19. The card reader of claim 17, wherein n is greater than 2.

20. In a data transmission terminal for use in a data transmission system that includes a portable data device that is remotely powered by the terminal, a method of supplying power and information from the terminal to the portable data device via a carrier, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame wherein the slot location is based on n-bits of the information and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ,

introducing a modulation discontinuity in the slot location to produce an encoded data stream; and

transmitting the encoded data stream to the portable data device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of completely interrupting the carrier for an interruption period.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the interruption period spans substantially a full slot duration.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the interruption period spans a partial slot duration.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of partially dampening the carrier for a dampening period.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the dampening period spans substantially a full slot duration.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the dampening period spans a partial slot duration.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of phase-shifting the carrier within the slot location.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of introducing comprises the step of frequency-shifting the carrier within the slot location.

29. In a terminal for use in a data communication system that includes a card that is remotely powered by the terminal, a method of supplying data to the card via a carrier, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame, wherein the slot location is based on n-bits of the data and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ;

modulating the carrier during a time corresponding to the slot location to produce an encoded data stream; and

transmitting the encoded data stream to the card.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of supplying power to the card via the carrier.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of phase-shifting the carrier within the slot location.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of frequency-shifting the carrier within the slot location.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of modulating comprises the step of amplitude-shifting the carrier within the slot location.

34. A card reader that transmits a carrier to a card, which carrier includes a data component and a power component, comprising:

a modulator for modulating the carrier in accordance with the data component,

wherein the carrier is modulated during a slot location within an n-bit modulation frame, wherein the slot location is based on n-bits of data and varies between 1 and 2ⁿ,

and wherein the carrier is shifted within the slot location; and

a transmitter for transmitting the modulated carrier to the card.

35. The card reader of claim 34, wherein the carrier frequency is 13.56 MHz.

36. The card reader of claim 34, wherein the card is powered by the carrier.

37. The card reader of claim 34, wherein the modulator employs one of frequency shifting, phase shifting, and amplitude shifting of the carrier within the slot location.