Transponder communication device for the contactless communication with mobile transponders, including means for carrying out an operational test, and transponder constructed as an operational-test transponder

• US 6,259,353 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Breakwaters Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Staudinger, Max, Berger, Dominik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/078,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/573.2, 340/573.4, 340/10.2, 340/10.52, 340/10.6, 714/25, 342/44
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10465 the interrogation device being capable of self-diagnosis, e.g. in addition to or as part of the actual interrogation process testing of electrical circuits in general G01R31/28

Abstract

A transponder communication device interrogates an operational test transponder that is permanently within a receiving range of the transponder communication device. In response thereto, the operational test transponder sends operational test information to the transponder communication device. The transponder communication device checks whether received operational test information is valid, and generates an error signal if the received operational test information is invalid.

Claims

1. A transponder communication device for contactless communication with a mobile transponder:

the transponder communication device comprising;

interrogation means for generating interrogation information in response to which the mobile transponder, when in an active state, generate and transmit answer information;

transmission means for transmitting the interrogation information to the mobile transponder;

receiving means for receiving the answer information;

answer information detection means for detecting the presence of the mobile transponder depending on the occurrence of the answer information;

an operational test transponder detachably secured in the transponder communication device for testing the transponder communication device when mobile transponders are situated within a receiving range of the transponder communication device and the operational test transponder including means for generating and for transmitting operational test information to be received by the receiving means of the transponder communication device;

operational test information detection means connected to the receiving means and configured to detect received operational test information and configured to generate error information when the received operational test information deviates from valid operational test information.

2. A transponder communication device of claim 1, wherein the transponder communication device includes memory means for storing nominal operational test information to be applied to the operational-test-information detection means, the operational-test-information detection means being configured to compare the nominal operational test information with the received operational test information.

3. A transponder communication device of claim 1, wherein the means for generating operational test answer information are configured to generate answer information.

4. A transponder communication device of claim 1, wherein the operational test transponder includes switching means for activating and deactivating the operational test transponder.

5. A transponder communication device of claim 1, wherein the transponder communication device comprises a timing stage for generating activation information, the switching means using the activation information to activate the operational test transponder.

6. A transponder communication device of claim 1, wherein the operational test transponder is detachably mounted in the transponder communication device.

7. A transponder for contactless communication with a transponder communication device, which transponder is configured, when in an active state, to communicate with a transponder communication device,

the transponder including:

receiving means for receiving interrogation information transmitted by the transponder communication device;

interrogation information detection means for detecting received interrogation information;

answer means controllable by the interrogation information detection means to generate answer information in response to the detected interrogation information;

transmission means for transmitting the answer information;

means for generating operational test information to be transmitted to the transponder communication device by the transmission means.

9. A transponder as claimed in claim 7, comprising switching means for activating and deactivating the transponder.

8. A transponder of claim 8, wherein the means for generating operational test information are configured to generate answer information.

10. A transponder communication device comprising:

a transmitter;

a test transponder detachably secured in the transponder communication device for testing the transponder communication device and for transmitting test answer information in response to test interrogation information transmitted by the transmitter, the test transponder being permanently within a receiving range of the transponder communication device;

a receiver for receiving the test answer information;

detecting means for generating error information on the basis of a comparison of the received test answer information with nominal operational information.

11. A transponder communication device of claim 10, further comprising a memory circuit for storing the nominal operational information.

12. A transponder communication device of claim 10, wherein the test transponder comprises switching means for activating and deactivating the test transponder.

13. A transponder communication device of claim 12, wherein the transponder communication device comprises a timing stage for generating activation information in response to which the switching means activate the test transponder.

14. A transponder communication device of claim 10, wherein the test transponder is detachably mounted within the transponder communication device.

21. The transponder communication device of claim 10, wherein the transmitter automatically and periodically transmits test interrogation information to the test transponder.

15. A telephony device comprising:

a transponder communication device comprising

a transmitter;

a test transponder detachably secured in the transponder communication device for testing the transponder communication device and for transmitting test answer information in response to test interrogation information transmitted by the transmitter, the test transponder being permanently within a receiving range of the transponder communication device;

a receiver for receiving the test answer information;

detecting means for generating error information on the basis of a comparison of the received test answer information with nominal operational information.

16. A telephony device of claim 15 further comprising:

a telephony arrangement, and;

optical warning means for indicating a deactivation of the telephony arrangement by the detecting means in response to the error information.

17. A telephony device of claim 15, wherein the detecting means provides a telephone service station with the error information.

18. A test transponder comprising:

a receiver for receiving interrogation information from a transponder communication device;

answer means for generating answer information in response to the received interrogation information;

transmitting means for transmitting the answer information;

means for generating operational test information in response to test interrogation information from the transponder communication device, the test transponder being permanently within a receiving range of the transponder communication device.

19. A transponder of claim 18, wherein the answer means generate the operational test information.

20. A transponder of claim 18, further comprising switching means for activating and deactivating the transponder.