Data communication apparatus functioning as ID tag and ID-tag reader and writer

• US 7,580,675 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Shinji, Kuriki, Shoji, Fujii, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US11/271,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.1, 340/571, 340/10.4, 340/572.5, 340/10.31, 340/10.2, 340/825.54, 340/825.34, 711/108, 711/207, 711/128
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A data communication apparatus includes an antenna, an analog front-end circuit, and a controller. The analog front-end circuit is connected between the antenna and the controller and includes first and second modulators, a driver, a demodulator, and an input switch. The first modulator modulates data to be transmitted to a read-write device as a response to a request from said read-write device and sends the modulated data to the antenna. The second modulation circuit modulates data to be transmitted to other ID tags. The driver amplifies an output from the second modulator to drive the antenna. The demodulator demodulates data sent from the other ID tags and ID-tag read-write devices. The input switch selectively inputs the data to the first or second modulator. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A data communication apparatus having an ID-tag function and an ID-tag read-write function, comprising:

a control circuit configured to generate data; and

an analog front-end circuit electrically connected between an antenna and the control circuit, the antenna being configured to receive a signal from other ID tags and to send a signal from the apparatus;

a first modulation circuit configured to modulate data to be transmitted to another ID-tag read-write device as a response to a request from said another ID-tag read-write device and to send the modulated data to the antenna;

a second modulation circuit configured to modulate data to be transmitted to other ID tags;

a driver circuit configured to amplify an output from the second modulation circuit to drive the antenna;

a demodulation circuit configured to demodulate data sent from the other ID tags and demodulate data from said another ID-tag read-write device; and

an input switch configured to selectively input data to one of the first and second modulation circuits, the data being sent from the control circuit to the analog front-end circuit.

2. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog front-end circuit further comprises a front-end control circuit configured to receive a command signal sent from the control circuit and to control the input switch in accordance with the command signal received.

3. The data communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the front-end control circuit controls activation of the driver circuit in accordance with the command signal received from the control circuit.

4. The data communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein the analog front-end circuit further comprises a power detector configured to receive a signal from the antenna when the antenna receives the signal from other read-write devices and to transmit a trigger signal to the control circuit to activate the control circuit.

5. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog front end circuit further comprises a signal input terminal to receive a command signal from the control circuit and is further configured to control the input switch in accordance with the command signal received.

6. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second modulation circuits and the demodulation circuit are formed in a single integrated circuit.

7. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog front-end circuit is formed in a single integrated circuit.

8. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog front-end circuit and the control circuit use a serial digital communication method to exchange data with each other.

9. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first modulation circuit uses a load modulation method and the second modulation circuit uses an amplitude shift keying modulation method.

10. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first modulation circuit and the demodulation circuit use a load modulation method.

11. The data communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication apparatus, under the ID-tag function, transmits first tag information in response to a first request from a wireless communication device for said first tag information, and under the ID-tag read-write function, transmits a second request for second tag information to another ID tag and receives said second tag information from said another ID tag in response to said second request.

12. The data communication apparatus of claim 11,

wherein said first modulation circuit modulates data corresponding to the first tag information, in response to said first request from said wireless communication device, and sends the modulated data to the antenna, and

wherein said second modulation circuit modulates data corresponding to said second request to said another ID tag.

13. The data communication apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the analog front-end circuit further comprises a power detector configured to detect an electromotive force generated at the antenna when the antenna receives said request from said read-write device, and transmits a trigger signal to activate the control circuit, and

wherein the control circuit transmits a command for instructing the analog front-end circuit to perform an ID tag function only when said analog front-end circuit is not performing an ID-tag read-write function.