Communication system and communication apparatus

• US 7,894,770 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Washiro, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US11/838,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 343/745, 343/747, 343/750, 343790-792, 343/850, 343/853, 343/857, 343/858, 343/860
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/085 Coaxial-line/strip-line transitions
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A communication system includes the following elements: a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate an RF signal for transmitting data and an electric-field-coupling antenna configured to transmit the RF signal as an electrostatic field; a receiver including an electric-field-coupling antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the RF signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna; and a surface-wave propagation medium configured to provide a surface-wave transmission line to transmit a surface wave emanating from the electric-field-coupling antenna of the transmitter with low propagation loss.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate a radio-frequency signal for transmitting data and an electric-field-coupling antenna configured to transmit the radio-frequency signal as an electrostatic magnetic field;

a receiver including an electric-field-coupling antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the radio-frequency signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna; and

a surface-wave propagation medium configured to provide a surface-wave transmission line to transmit a surface wave emanating from the electric-field-coupling antenna of the transmitter with low propagation loss,

wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a plurality of separate dielectrics or magnetic bodies.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency signal is an ultra-wideband signal using an ultra-wideband.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a dielectric with a dielectric constant ∈

greater than a dielectric constant ∈

₀ of air.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a dielectric whose dielectric constant becomes greater toward an inner part thereof.

5. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the surface-wave transmission line is embedded in another dielectric with a lower dielectric constant.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a magnetic body with a magnetic permeability μ

greater than a magnetic permeability 82 ₀ of air.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a magnetic body whose magnetic permeability becomes greater toward an inner part thereof.

8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the surface-wave transmission line is embedded in another magnetic body with a lower magnetic permeability.

9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver rectifies the radio-frequency signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna and generates electric power.

10. A communication apparatus, comprising:

an apparatus casing;

a communication circuit unit configured to output a radio-frequency signal for transmitting data, the communication circuit unit being accommodated in the apparatus casing;

a resonating section configured to allow the radio-frequency signal output from the communication circuit unit to resonate at a desired frequency, the resonating section being accommodated in the apparatus casing;

a coupling electrode having a central portion connected to the resonating section, the coupling electrode being accommodated in the apparatus casing; and

a surface-wave transmission line disposed in front of the coupling electrode, wherein the surface-wave transmission line captures an electromagnetic field generated in the vicinity of a front side of the coupling electrode and transmits the captured electromagnetic field as a surface wave at an interior of the surface-wave transmission line.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the surface-wave transmission line captures a surface wave emanating from the coupling electrode and guides the surface wave to a desired region of a surface of the casing.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resonating section includes a series inductor and a parallel inductor.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate a radio-frequency signal for transmitting data and an electric-field-coupling antenna configured to transmit the radio-frequency signal as an electrostatic magnetic field;

a receiver including an electric-field-coupling antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the radio-frequency signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna; and

a surface-wave propagation medium configured to provide a surface-wave transmission line to transmit a surface wave emanating from the electric-field-coupling antenna of the transmitter with low propagation loss,

wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a dielectric with a dielectric constant ∈

greater than a dielectric constant ∈

₀ of air, and the dielectric ∈

constant becomes greater toward an inner part of the transmission line.

14. A communication system, comprising:

a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate a radio-frequency signal for transmitting data and an electric-field-coupling antenna configured to transmit the radio-frequency signal as an electrostatic magnetic field;

a receiver including an electric-field-coupling antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the radio-frequency signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna; and

a surface-wave propagation medium configured to provide a surface-wave transmission line to transmit a surface wave emanating from the electric-field-coupling antenna of the transmitter with low propagation loss,

wherein the surface-wave transmission line includes a magnetic body with a magnetic permeability μ

greater than a magnetic permeability μ

₀ of air, and the magnetic permeability μ

becomes greater toward an inner part of the magnetic body.