IC tag read-write apparatus and antenna unit thereof

• US 7,701,349 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawahata, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/641,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/825, 340/10.51, 340/10.2, 340/10.42, 340/10.4, 340/933, 455/39, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

An IC tag read-write apparatus includes a control circuit, a transmission link, and a plurality of antenna units. The control circuit controls data relative to an outgoing carrier wave and an incoming carrier wave. The antenna units correspond to a plurality of IC tags. Each of the antenna units includes a modem, a first antenna, and an indication circuit. The modem is connected to the control circuit through the transmission link and modulates the carrier wave based on the data in a data writing operation and demodulates the incoming carrier wave in a data reading operation. The first antenna sends the modulated carrier wave by air to a second antenna of a corresponding one of the IC tags. The indication circuit generates property information with respect to the antenna unit.

Claims

1. An IC tag read-write apparatus, comprising:

a control circuit configured to control data relative to an outgoing carrier wave and an incoming carrier wave;

a transmission link; and

a plurality of antenna units corresponding to a plurality of IC tags, each one of the plurality of antenna units including;

a modem connected to the control circuit through the transmission link and configured to modulate the carrier wave based on the data in a data writing operation and to demodulate the incoming carrier wave in a data reading operation;

a first antenna configured to send the modulated carrier wave by air to a second antenna of a corresponding one of the plurality of IC tags; and

an indication circuit configured to generate property information with respect to the antenna unit,

wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate with the plurality of IC tags via the corresponding plurality of antenna units and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the plurality of antenna units.

2. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 1, wherein the property information includes a status of usage of the antenna unit, and the indication circuit sends an indication signal representing the status of usage of the antenna unit to the control circuit.

3. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication circuit includes a switch, and sends the indication signal representing the status of usage of the antenna unit to the control circuit by manually turning on the switch.

4. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication circuit sends the indication signal representing the status of usage of the antenna unit to the control circuit by performing a switching in response to an external input signal.

5. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of signal lines independently connecting the plurality of antenna units to the control unit, wherein the indication circuit sends the indication signal representing the status of usage of the antenna unit to the control circuit through a corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines.

6. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication circuit sends the indication signal representing the status of usage of the antenna unit to the control circuit via the modem and the transmission link.

7. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 6, wherein the modem includes an input port for receiving the indication signal sent from the indication circuit.

8. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 1, wherein the property information includes a status of the antenna unit, and the indication circuit generates and displays the property information in response to an input control signal.

9. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 8, wherein the indication circuit receives the input control signal from the control circuit.

10. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indication circuit further includes a light-emitting element configured to light on in response to the input control signal sent from the control circuit via the corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines.

11. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of signal lines independently connecting the plurality of antenna units to the control unit, wherein the indication circuit receives the input control signal from the control unit via a corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines.

12. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indication circuit receives the input control signal from the control unit via the transmission link and the modem.

13. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 12, wherein the modem is integrated in one chip having an output port.

14. An IC tag read-write apparatus, comprising:

a control circuit configured to control data relative to an outgoing carrier wave and an incoming carrier wave;

a transmission link; and

a plurality of antenna units corresponding to a plurality of IC tags, each one of the plurality of antenna units including;

a modem connected to the control circuit through the transmission link and configured to modulate the carrier wave based on the data in a data writing operation and to demodulate the incoming carrier wave in a data reading operation;

a first antenna configured to send the modulated carrier wave by air to a second antenna of a corresponding one of the plurality of IC tags; and

a filter circuit including a plurality of analog filters having properties different from each other and configured to selectively connect one of the plurality of analog filters to the modem on an exclusive basis in response to an input control signal,

wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate with the plurality of IC tags via the corresponding plurality of antenna units and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the plurality of antenna units.

15. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 14, wherein the input control signal is sent from the control circuit.

16. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of signal lines independently connecting the plurality of antenna units to the control unit, wherein the filter circuit receives the input control signal from the control unit via a corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines.

17. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 15, wherein the filter circuit receives the input control signal from the control unit via the transmission link and the modem.

18. The IC tag read-write apparatus of claim 15, wherein the modem is integrated in one chip having a first port for connecting the first antenna, a second port for connecting the transmission link, and a third port for connecting the filter circuit.

19. An antenna apparatus for use in an IC tag read-write apparatus having a control circuit and a transmission link, the antenna apparatus comprising:

a plurality of antenna units corresponding to a plurality of IC tags, each one of the plurality of antenna units including;

a modem connected to the control circuit through the transmission link and configured to modulate the carrier wave based on the data in a data writing operation and to demodulate the incoming carrier wave in a data reading operation;

a first antenna configured to send the modulated carrier wave by air to a second antenna of a corresponding one of the plurality of IC tags; and

a filter circuit including a plurality of analog filters having properties different from each other and configured to selectively connect one of the plurality of analog filters to the modem on an exclusive basis in response to an input control signal,

wherein the plurality of antenna units are configured to allow the control circuit to communicate with the plurality of IC tags via the plurality of antenna units and wherein the plurality of antenna units are configured to be controlled by the control circuit.

20. The antenna apparatus of claim 19, wherein the modem is integrated in one chip having a first port for connecting the first antenna, a second port for connecting the transmission link, and a third port for connecting the filter circuit.