Reader-writer terminal device for contactless IC card, communication system and contactless data carrier

• US 7,255,283 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Honma, Tomoyuki, Kodama, Seiki, Akaida, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/042,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/451, 235/486, 235/380, 235/487, 235/375, 340/10.1, 340/10.4
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 transmission circuit transmits a command to a contactless IC card. A receiving circuit receives a transmission signal from the IC card and an amplifying circuit in the receiving circuit amplifies the reception signal. An impedance element to which the reception signal is applied is provided at a preliminary stage of the amplifying circuit. The impedance element is controlled so that the impedance thereof is lowered, and an input signal to be input into the amplifying circuit is muted.

Claims

1. A reader-writer terminal device for a contactless IC card, comprising:

a transmission circuit configured to transmit a command to the IC card via an antenna; and

a receiving circuit configured to receive a transmission signal from the IC card, the receiving circuit has an amplifying circuit to amplify a reception signal, lowers an impedance of an impedance element which is disposed in the amplifying circuit and to which the reception signal is applied, and mutes an input signal into the amplifying circuit during a command transmission period in which the transmission circuit transmits the command.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit includes a switching element connected in parallel with the impedance element and controlled in response to a control signal.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the switching element is composed of a MOS transistor in which a source-drain path is connected in parallel with the impedance element, and a mute signal is supplied to a gate electrode.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be continuously brought into an ON state during a command transmission period.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be temporarily brought into an ON state during a period before receiving a response corresponding to the command.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit further comprising:

a detecting circuit configured to detect the reception signal received at the antenna;

a low pass filter circuit connected to the detecting circuit to supply its output to the amplifying circuit; and

a digitization circuit which is connected to the amplifying circuit and digitizes an output from the amplifying circuit to generate reception data.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a contactless IC card configured to receive a command and transmits a response; and

a reader-writer terminal device including a transmission circuit configured to transmit the command to the IC card via an antenna, and a receiving circuit configured to receive a transmission signal from the IC card, the receiving circuit has an amplifying circuit to amplify a reception signal, lowers an impedance of an impedance element which is disposed in the amplifying circuit and to which a reception signal is applied, and mutes an input signal into the amplifying circuit during a command transmission period in which the transmission circuit transmits the command.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the receiving circuit includes a switching element connected in parallel with the impedance element and controlled in response to a control signal.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the switching element is composed of a MOS transistor in which a source-drain path is connected in parallel with the impedance element, and a mute signal is supplied to a gate electrode.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be continuously brought into an ON state during a command transmission period.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be temporarily brought into an ON state during a period before receiving the response corresponding to the command.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the receiving circuit further comprising:

a detecting circuit configured to detect the reception signal received at the antenna;

a low pass filter circuit connected to the detecting circuit to supply its output to the amplifying circuit; and

a digitization circuit which is connected to the amplifying circuit and digitizes an output from the amplifying circuit to generate reception data.

13. A contactless data carrier, comprising:

a reader-writer terminal device including a transmission circuit configured to transmit a command via an antenna, and a receiving circuit configured to receive a reception signal received at the antenna, the receiving circuit has an amplifying circuit to amplify the reception signal, lowers an impedance of an impedance element which is disposed in the amplifying circuit and to which the reception signal is applied, and mutes an input signal into the amplifying circuit during a command transmission period in which the transmission circuit transmits the command; and

a contactless IC card which is connected to the antenna, receives the command via the antenna and transmits a response corresponding to the command from the antenna.

14. The data carrier according to claim 13, wherein the receiving circuit includes a switching element connected in parallel with the impedance element and controlled in response to a control signal.

15. The data carrier according to claim 14, wherein the switching element is composed of a MOS transistor in which a source-drain path is connected in parallel with the impedance element, and a mute signal is supplied to a gate electrode.

16. The data carrier according to claim 14, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be continuously brought into an ON state during a command transmission period.

17. The data carrier according to claim 14, wherein the switching element is controlled by the control signal to be temporarily brought into an ON state during a period before receiving the response corresponding to the command.

18. The data carrier according to claim 14, wherein the receiving circuit further comprising:

a detecting circuit configured to detect the reception signal received at the antenna;

a low pass filter circuit connected to the detecting circuit to supply its output to the amplifying circuit; and

a digitization circuit which is connected to the amplifying circuit and digitizes an output from the amplifying circuit to generate reception data.