Electronic unit having identification information thereof

• US 7,259,679 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Ichiro, Shigekusa, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/128,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/686.2, 340/687, 340/686.1, 701 24- 35, 235/375
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

The electronic unit having identification information thereon includes a casing, an electronic circuit contained in the casing, a connector fitted to the casing, the connector including signal terminals connected to the electronic circuit, and an RFID tag having an antenna device and attached to the connector. The RFID tag stores the identification information and is configured to transmit a reply signal containing the identification information through the antenna device in response to a transmission request signal transmitted from outside and received by the antenna device.

Claims

1. An electronic unit having identification information thereon comprising:

a casing;

an electronic circuit contained in said casing;

a connector fitted to said casing, said connector including signal terminals connected to said electronic circuit; and

an RFID tag attached to said connector, wherein

said RFID tag having identification information and configured to transmit a reply signal containing said identification information in response to a transmission request signal transmitted from outside and received by said RFID tag,

said RFID tag has an antenna device and is configured to operate on power received by said antenna device for transmitting said reply signal when said RFID tag is not supplied with electricity from said electronic circuit,

said RFID tag includes a read only memory (ROM) storing said identification information, and

said electronic circuit is configured to read said identification information from said ROM in response to a notification request signal sent from outside through said signal terminals.

2. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is configured to generate said reply signal by modulating a carrier wave signal received through said antenna device with said identification information stored in said ROM.

3. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said connector includes connection terminals for connection between said electronic circuit and said RFID tag.

4. The electronic unit according to claim 3, wherein said RFID tag is supplied with electricity from said electronic circuit through said connection terminals.

5. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is configured to amplify a carrier wave signal received through said antenna device and generate said reply signal by modulating said amplifier carrier wave signal with said identification information stored in said ROM when said RFID tag is supplied with electricity from said electronic circuit.

6. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said connector has a mating portion housing said signal terminals, and said antenna device is located in said mating portion.

7. The electronic unit according to claim 6, wherein said antenna device is formed in one of side walls of said mating portion which are parallel to a longitudinal direction of said signal terminals.

8. The electronic unit according to claim 6, wherein said antenna device is formed in a front wall of said mating portion which is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said signal terminals.

9. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said antenna device includes a receiving/transmitting antenna.

10. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said antenna device includes a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna.

11. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said casing is made of a conductor and has a shape that totally encloses said electronic circuit except for an opening to which said connector is fitted.

12. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein said connector further includes a communication terminal for data communication between said electronic circuit and an external device, and a power terminal for supply of electricity to said electronic circuit.

13. The electronic unit according to claim 12, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to be connected to a network through said communication terminal.