Contactless data transmission system and method for contactless data transmission

• US 6,836,208 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Kuttruff, Jürgen, Reiner, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/918,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.5, 340/825.22
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• 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

Abstract

A contactless data transmission system having a transponder and a write/read station, between which data can be exchanged by a HF signal. The transponder includes a receiver unit having a receiving interface for accepting the HF signal and having an output terminal providing a data signal formed from the HF signal. The receiver unit has means for receiving and processing at least two differently modulated and/or encoded HF signals. The transponder also includes a processing unit having a first input terminal that is connected to the output terminal of the receiver unit. The transponder also includes a detection unit for providing a control signal dependent on the performance of the received HF signal. The receiver unit and/or the processing unit can be controlled or driven dependent on the control signal.

Claims

1. A contactless data transmission system, comprising:

a transponder; and

a write/read station for generating HF signals to exchange data with said transponder, said write/read station including a receiver/transmitter device;

said transponder including;

a receiver unit including a receiving interface for receiving the HF signals generated by said write/read station and for thereby obtaining received HF signals, said receiver unit having an output terminal for providing data signals that are formed from the received HF signals, said receiver unit including a device for receiving and processing at least two signals selected from the group consisting of differently modulated ones of the received HF signals and differently encoded ones of the received HF signals;

a processing unit including a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said receiver unit;

a detection unit for providing a control signal dependent on a performance of the received HF signal;

a transmission unit that is driven dependent on the control signal, said transmission unit for generating a HF signal that is selected from the group consisting of a signal that is modulated in a first manner, a signal that is modulated in a second manner, a signal that is encoded in a first manner, and a signal that is encoded in a second manner; and

a unit selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit and said processing unit is driven dependent on the control signal; and

said receiver/transmitter device receiving the HF signal generated by said transmission unit for obtaining a write/read station received signal, said receiver/transmitter device also generating the HF signals to exchange the data with said transponder; and

said HF signals generated by said receiver/transmitter device being signals selected, in dependence on the write/read station received signal, from the group consisting of differently modulated HF signals and differently encoded HF signals.

2. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said processing unit includes an output terminal for providing a data signal having information;

said transmission unit includes an input terminal that is connected to said output terminal of said processing unit for accepting the data signal having the information;

said transmission unit includes a device for generating at least two different HF signals from the data signal having the information, the at least two different HF signals are selected from the group consisting of differently modulated HF signals and differently encoded HF signals; and

said transmission unit includes a transmitting interface for transmitting the at least two different HF signals.

3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said detection unit is connected directly to a component selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit and said transmission unit for driving the selected component.

4. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said detection unit is connected to said processing unit for supplying the control signal to said processing unit; and

said processing unit is connected to a component selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit and said transmission unit for driving the selected component.

5. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said receiver unit includes at least two signal processing units defining a first signal processing unit and a second signal processing unit;

said first signal processing unit includes components;

said second signal processing unit includes components; and

said components of said first signal processing unit and said components of said second signal processing unit together include at least one receiver, at least one demodulator, and at least one decoder.

6. The data transmission system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said components of said first signal processing unit and at least one of said components of said second signal processing unit is driven in dependence on the control signal.

7. The data transmission system according to claim 5, wherein a component selected from the group consisting of said receiver, said demodulator, and said decoder is shared between said at least two signal processing units.

8. The data transmission system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said components of said first signal processing unit and at least one of said components of said second signal processing unit is driven in dependence on the control signal.

9. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said receiver unit includes an output terminal; and

said detection unit is connected to said output terminal of said receiver unit.

10. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said receiver unit includes at least one voltage regulator for providing a supply voltage; and

said detection unit is connected to said voltage regulator.

11. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said receiver unit has a bandwidth that is adjustable in dependence on the control signal.

12. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein:

said transmission unit includes two signal processing units defining a first signal processing unit and a second signal processing unit;

said first signal processing unit includes components;

said second signal processing unit includes components; and

said components of said first signal processing unit and said components of said second signal processing unit together include at least one encoder, at least one modulator, and at least one transmitter.

13. The data transmission system according to claim 12, wherein a component selected from the group consisting of said encoder, said modulator, and said transmitter is shared between said at least two signal processing units.

14. A method for operating the data transmission system according to claim 1, which comprises:

acquiring a receiving field strength at said transponder;

generating the control signal in said transponder dependent on a receiving field strength; and

adjusting a modulation type in said transmission unit of said transponder, in dependence on the control signal in said transponder.

15. A contactless data transmission system, comprising:

a transponder; and

a write/read station for generating HF signals to exchange data with said transponder, said write/read station including a receiver device;

said transponder including;

a receiver unit including a receiving interface for receiving the HF signals generated by said write/read station and for obtaining received HF signals, said receiver unit having an output terminal for providing data signals formed from the received HF signals, said receiver unit including a device for receiving and processing at least two signals selected from the group consisting of differently modulated ones of the received HF signals and differently encoded ones of the received HF signals;

a processing unit including a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said receiver unit;

a detection unit for providing a control signal dependent on a performance of the received HF signal;

a transmission unit driven dependent on the control signal, said transmission unit for generating a HF signal selected from the group consisting of a signal modulated in a first manner, a signal modulated in a second manner, a signal encoded in a first manner, and a signal encoded in a second manner; and

a unit selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit and said processing unit being driven dependent on the control signal;

said receiver device receiving the HF signal generated by said transmission unit of said transponder and for obtaining a write/read station received signal having an error rate; and

said write/read station including a device evaluating the error rate of the write/read station received signal and generating signals selected, in dependence on the error rate, from the group consisting of differently modulated HF signals and differently encoded HF signals.

16. A method for operating the data transmission system according to claim 15, which comprises:

acquiring a receiving field strength at said transponder;

generating the control signal in said transponder dependent on a receiving field strength; and

adjusting a modulation type in said transmission unit of said transponder, in dependence on the control signal in said transponder.

17. A contactless data transmission system, comprising:

a transponder; and

a write/read station for generating HF signals to exchange data with said transponder, said write/read station including a receiver unit;

said transponder including;

a receiver unit including a receiving interface for receiving the HF signals generated by said write/read station and for obtaining received HF signals, said receiver unit having an output terminal for providing data signals formed from the received HF signals, said receiver unit including a device for receiving and processing at least two signals selected from the group consisting of differently modulated ones of the received HF signals and differently encoded ones of the received HF signals;

a processing unit including a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said receiver unit;

a detection unit for providing a control signal dependent on a performance of the received HF signal;

a transmission unit driven dependent on the control signal, said transmission unit for generating a HF signal selected from the group consisting of a signal modulated in a first manner, a signal modulated in a second manner, a signal encoded in a first manner, and a signal encoded in a second manner; and

a unit selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit and said processing unit being driven dependent on the control signal;

said receiver unit receiving the HF signal generated by said transmission unit of said transponder and for obtaining a write/read station received signal;

said write/read station including a processing unit preceded by said receiver unit;

said write/read station including a detection unit for providing a control signal dependent on a performance of the received write/read signal; and

a unit selected from the group consisting of said receiver unit of said write/read station and said processing unit of said write/read station being driven in dependence on the control signal from the detection unit of said write/read station.

18. A method for operating the data transmission system according to claim 17, which comprises:

acquiring a receiving field strength at said transponder;

generating the control signal in said transponder dependent on a receiving field strength; and

adjusting a modulation type in said transmission unit of said transponder, in dependence on the control signal in said transponder.