Remote energy supply process and system for an electronic information carrier

• US 6,639,872 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claus Rein
• Original Assignee: Claus Rein
• Inventors: Rein, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/581,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 367/133, 367/140, 340/825.06, 310/318, 310/319
• US Class Current: 367/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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 7/02 by pneumatic or hydraulic means, e.g. sensing punched holes with compressed air; by sonic means ; by ultrasonic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

Remote energy supply process and system for an electronic information carrier. Known processes and devices do not allow supplying energy wirelessly to an information carrier arranged inside a thick-walled and/or metallic body because energy radiation based on electromagnetic waves hardly penetrates, if at all, such bodies and contactlessly transmitted ultra-sound does not effectively penetrate them. The system consists of a basis apparatus fitted with an acoustic transmission unit in loose connection by a superficial body contact with a functional object. The information carrier is located inside this functional object, in an acoustically solid connection therewith. This creates a closed, acoustically well coupled total system which ensures an effective energy and information transmission by acoustic means. The invention is applicable for the transmission of codes and information in the electronic entry/access authorization field and product identification.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting energy and information via ultrasound between a base device and an electronic information carrier containing stored information and being fixed to a functional article with an acoustical coupling, the method comprising the steps of:

providing ultrasonic transmitting and receiving units in the base device and in the information carrier;

temporarily contacting the base device to the functional article via contact areas, so that ultrasonic transmission is provided between the base device and the functional article and whereby an ultrasonic field is created in the functional article, which provides energy to switch on the information carrier for providing an operating state;

causing ultrasonic information transmission between the information carrier and the base device, and wherein the functional article operates as a key.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the information carrier characteristic of the functional article.

3. An arrangement for transmitting energy and information via ultrasound, the arrangement comprising:

a base device;

a functional article;

an electronic information carrier being arranged on or in the functional article;

the base device and the information carrier comprise ultrasonic transmitting and receiving units, wherein the base device includes an acoustic transmitting unit which is formed such as to provide a temporary contact with the functional article, and wherein the information carrier contains information in the form of marking and/or codes, characteristic of the functional article, and wherein the functional article operates as a key.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the information carrier comprises elements and dimensions of a micro system.

5. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the information carrier is formed as a compact body including components that comprise the information carrier.

6. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the information carrier is a hollow capsule containing electronic components.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the hollow capsule is made of metal.

8. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the hollow capsule is made of an organic material selected form one of polymeric plastic glass, cermet, stone, mineral or precious stone and composites.

9. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the information carrier has an outside including at least two metallic contacts electrically connected to the electronic components transmitting both electric energy and information.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the functional article has an outside including at least two metallic contacts electrically connected to the contacts of the information carrier thereby permitting a transmission of both electric energy and information to said information carrier.

11. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit has an outside on which two contacts are formed and wherein the functional article includes an outside provided with metallic elements which are formed such as to engage with the contacts of the transmitting unit.