Electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus

• US 6,650,213 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
• Inventors: Sakurai, Yuji, Nishimoto, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M.
• Application Number:
  US10/297,100
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 335/296, 335/299, 310/90.5, 361/139, 361/143, 361/152, 361/160, 361/170, 361/206, 361/209, 361/210
• US Class Current: 335/296
• 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
• 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: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side

Abstract

An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus adapted for use as a feeder system for supplying electric power to a spherical semiconductor (10) having a coil (11) on the surface thereof by electromagnetic-induction coupling by means of the coil and/or a data communication system for transferring information signals to and from the spherical semiconductor through the coil. The apparatus comprises a coil array (22) including a plurality of coil elements (21) symmetrically two-dimensionally arranged in the longitudinal and transverse directions, for example, on a given plane, and a magnetic field control element (24) for controlling the respective polarities and phases of magnetic fields generated by means of the individual coil elements of the coil array, thereby changing the respective directions of magnetic fields in a region near the coil array to which the spherical semiconductor is guided. The magnetic field control element drives a plurality of coil elements in phase, thereby generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the coil plane of the coil array, and drives the coil elements in predetermined sets of the coil array out of phase, thereby generating a magnetic field parallel to the coil surface of the coil array or inclined at a given angle to the coil plane.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus for supplying electric power to a spherical semiconductor (10) having a coil (11) on the surface thereof by electromagnetic-induction coupling by means of said coil and/or transferring information signals to and from said spherical semiconductor through said coil, comprising:

a coil array (22) including a plurality of coil elements (21) two-dimensionally arranged on a given plane; and

a magnetic field control element (24) for controlling the respective polarities and phases of magnetic fields generated by means of said individual coil elements of the coil array, thereby changing the respective directions of magnetic fields in a region near said coil array to which said spherical semiconductor is guided.

2. An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic field control element successively changes in given cycles the directions of the magnetic fields in the region near said coil array to which said spherical semiconductor is guided.

3. An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic field control element monitors a response from said spherical semiconductor, and changes the directions of the magnetic fields in the region near said coil array to which said spherical semiconductor is guided when no response is obtained from said spherical semiconductor in a given period.

4. An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic field control element drives a plurality of coil elements of said coil array in phase, thereby generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane on which said plurality of coil elements are two-dimensionally arranged, in the region near said coil array to which said spherical semiconductor is guided, and drives the coil elements in predetermined sets of said coil array out of phase, thereby generating a magnetic field parallel to or inclined with respect to the plane on which said plurality of coil elements are two-dimensionally arranged, in the region near said coil array to which said spherical semiconductor is guided.

5. An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coil array includes a plurality of coil elements symmetrically arranged in the longitudinal and transverse directions on said given plane.