Transmitter and a method for transmitting data

• US 6,967,573 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SATO Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ilamon Pty. Ltd., Parakan Pty. Ltd., Magellan Technology Pty. Ltd (SATO Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Littlechild, Stuart Colin, Murdoch, Graham Alexander Munro
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/611,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/506, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.73, 340/825.77
• US Class Current: 340/505
• 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: H03C 3/00 Angle modulation H03C5/00, H03C7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A transmitter or a method for transmitting data from a first antenna imposes a low level phase modulation, for example of less than 90°, on a carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal, preferably having a carrier frequency and sidebands, and the sidebands may be substantially lower in amplitude than the carrier frequency. The method may be used in an identification system, for example for identifying luggage or other items. In another aspect of an apparatus or method for transmitting data, a phase modulation may be imposed on a carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier and sidebands, where the amount of phase modulation being selected is such that the amplitude of the sidebands is substantially lower than that of the carrier. Phase modulation may be imposed by a mixer.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data from a first antenna, said method including the steps of:

providing a carrier signal;

imposing a phase modulation of less than 90°

on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier frequency and sidebands, the sidebands being substantially lower in amplitude than the carrier frequency; and

providing the modulated signal to said first antenna for transmission.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the step of receiving the modulated signal with a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data signal.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first signal is used to power the receiver means.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein both the first and second antennas have a high Q factor.

5. A method according to claim 1 including the step of deriving the modulated signal from the sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is modulated with the data signal.

6. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

oscillator means for providing a carrier signal; and

mixing means for imposing a phase modulation of less than 90°

on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal, the mixing means also providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission, wherein the modulated signal has a carrier frequency and sidebands, the sidebands being substantially lower in amplitude than the carrier frequency.

7. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the modulated signal is received by a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data signal.

8. A transmitter according to claim 7 wherein the first signal is used to power the receiver means.

9. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein both the first and second antennas have a high Q factor.

10. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the modulated signal includes the sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is modulated with the data signal.

11. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the antenna is a tunable coil.

12. An identification system including a transmitter as defined in claim 6.

13. A method for transmitting data from a first antenna, said method including the steps of:

providing a carrier signal;

imposing a phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier and sidebands, the amount of phase modulation being selected such that the amplitude of the sidebands is substantially lower than that of the carrier; and

providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

14. A system according to claim 13 for identifying luggage.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 10 dB below the carrier amplitude.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 40 dB below the carrier amplitude.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 60 dB below the carrier amplitude.

18. A method according to claim 13 including the step of receiving the modulated signal with a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data signal.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the first signal is used to power the receiver means.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein both the first and second antennas have a high Q factor.

21. A method according to claim 13 including the step of deriving the modulated signal from the sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is modulated with the data signal.

22. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

oscillator means for providing a carrier signal; and

mixing means for imposing a phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier and sidebands, the amount of phase modulation being selected such that the amplitude of the sidebands is substantially lower than that of the carrier, the mixing means also providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

23. A transmitter according to claim 22 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 10 dB below the carrier amplitude.

24. A transmitter according to claim 23 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 40 dB below the carrier amplitude.

25. A transmitter according to claim 24 wherein the phase modulation is selected such that the sidebands are greater than 60 dB below the carrier amplitude.

26. A transmitter according to claims 22 wherein the modulated signal is received by a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data signal.

27. A transmitter according to claim 26 wherein the first signal is used to power the receiver means.

28. A transmitter according to claim 22 wherein both the first and second antennas have a high Q factor.

29. A transmitter according to claim 22 wherein the modulated signal includes the sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is modulated with the data signal.

30. A transmitter according to claim 22 wherein the antenna is a tunable coil.

31. An identification system including a transmitter according to claim 22.

32. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

an oscillator for providing a carrier signal; and

a mixer for imposing a phase modulation of less than 90°

on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal, the mixer also providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission, wherein the modulated signal has a carrier frequency and sidebands, the sidebands being substantially lower in amplitude than the carrier frequency.

33. A system according to claim 32, configured for identifying luggage.

34. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

an oscillator for providing a carrier signal; and

a mixer for imposing a phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier and sidebands, the amount of phase modulation being selected such that the amplitude of the sidebands is substantially lower than that of the carrier, the mixer also providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

35. A method for transmitting data from a first antenna, said method including the steps of:

providing a carrier signal;

imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal; and

providing the modulated signal to said first antenna for transmission.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of imposing a low level phase modulation includes the step of imposing a phase modulation of less than 90°

on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal having a carrier frequency and sidebands.

37. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

oscillator means for providing a carrier signal; and

mixing means for imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal, the mixing means also providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

38. The transmitter of claim 37 wherein the low level phase modulation is less than 90°

and wherein the modulated signal has a carrier frequency and sidebands.