Interrogator

• US 8,000,375 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Masakazu, Murofushi, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Flores; Leon
• Application Number:
  US12/002,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 375/132, 375/133, 375/135, 375/136, 375/130, 375/134
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/71365 using continuous tuning of a single frequency source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference

Abstract

A hopping pattern setting section sets, as a frequency hopping pattern code, elements of a matrix in which all integers of “1” to “the number of frequencies to be used” appear only once and which is obtained by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “0” to “(the number of frequencies to be used)−1” to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “1” to “(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−1” appear only once. A frequency oscillation section converts the frequency hopping pattern code into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies to a transmission section and a reception section.

Claims

1. An interrogator which performs radio communication with a responder by a frequency hopping scheme, comprising:

hopping pattern setting means for setting, as a frequency hopping pattern code, elements of a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and for obtaining the frequency hopping pattern code by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once at pseudo random;

frequency oscillation means for converting the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting means into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies;

transmission means for modulating the unmodulated signal output by the frequency oscillation means by transmission data to output a modulated signal to an antenna; and

reception means for demodulating a modulated signal from the responder received by the antenna by the unmodulated signal output by the frequency oscillation means.

2. The interrogator according to claim 1, further comprising:

reception determination means for performing reception at the frequency converted from the frequency hopping pattern code on start-up to determine the presence/absence of a reception signal; and

transmission start means for starting transmission at a frequency at which the reception is performed when the reception determination means is determined that the reception signal is absent and to start transmission at a different frequency from the frequency at which the reception is performed when the reception determination means is determined that the reception signal is present.

3. The interrogator according to claim 2, further comprising:

hopping pattern storage means for storing, as frequency hopping pattern codes, a plurality of matrixes in each of which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and for obtaining by adding, as an offset, at least two of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once; and

pattern selection means for selecting a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of a plurality of types stored in the hopping pattern storage means on the basis of identification information unique to the interrogator,

wherein the hopping pattern setting means sets the frequency hopping pattern code selected by the pattern selection means.

4. The interrogator according to claim 3, wherein

the pattern selection means replaces data of a (predetermined number)th bit with data of (another number)th bit different from the (predetermined number)th bit in a plurality of bit data representing the identification information unique to the interrogator, and, on the basis of information obtained after the bits are replaced with each other, selects a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of the plurality of types stored by the hopping pattern storage means.

5. The interrogator according to claim 4, wherein

in a combination of bits to be replaced with each other, bits of combinations except for a combination of a first lower bit and a second lower bit are used.

6. The interrogator according to claim 3, wherein

the number of frequency hopping pattern codes stored in the hopping pattern storage means is equal to the number of frequencies to be used.

7. The interrogator according to claim 1, wherein

in the hopping pattern setting means, the matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once is

a matrix of remainders obtained by dividing α

ⁿ by q where q is the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used or the positive integer power of the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used, α

is a primitive element, and n is an integer of “

0”

to “

q−

2”

.

8. The interrogator according to claim 2, wherein

the transmission start means sets a frequency at which transmission is started when a reception signal is present to any frequency except for, of frequencies to be used, the frequency at which the reception is performed and a frequency adjacent to the frequency at which the reception is performed in a frequency hopping pattern.

9. The interrogator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a frequency conversion table in which data of frequencies to be used are stored in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

,

wherein the frequency oscillation means converts the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting means into a frequency with reference to the frequency conversion table.

10. The interrogator according to claim 9, further comprising:

frequency data storage means for storing the available frequencies in a low-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from lower frequencies and a high-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from higher frequencies and for storing data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

; and

frequency data set means for selecting any one of the data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and the data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group to set the data in the frequency conversion table.

11. The interrogator according to claim 1, further comprising:

hopping pattern storage means for storing, as frequency hopping pattern codes, a plurality of matrixes in each of which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and for obtaining by adding, as an offset, at least two of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once;

pattern selection means for selecting a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of a plurality of types stored in the hopping pattern storage means on the basis of identification information unique to the interrogator,

wherein the hopping pattern setting means sets the frequency hopping pattern code selected by the pattern selection means.

12. The interrogator according to claim 11, wherein

the pattern selection means replaces data of a (predetermined number)th bit with data of (another number)th bit different from the (predetermined number)th bit in a plurality of bit data representing the identification information unique to the interrogator, and, on the basis of information obtained after the bits are replaced with each other, selects a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of the plurality of types stored by the hopping pattern storage means.

13. The interrogator according to claim 12, wherein

in a combination of bits to be replaced with each other, bits of combinations except for a combination of a first lower bit and a second lower bit are used.

14. The interrogator according to claim 11, wherein

the number of frequency hopping pattern codes stored in the hopping pattern storage means is equal to the number of frequencies to be used.

15. The interrogator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a frequency conversion table in which data of frequencies to be used are stored in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

,

wherein the frequency oscillation means converts the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting means into a frequency with reference to the frequency conversion table.

16. The interrogator according to claim 15, further comprising:

frequency data storage means for storing the available frequencies in a low-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from lower frequencies and a high-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from higher frequencies and for storing data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

; and

frequency data set means for selecting any one of the data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and the data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group to set the data in the frequency conversion table.

17. The interrogator according to claim 1, wherein

in the hopping pattern setting means, the matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once is

a matrix of remainders obtained by dividing α

ⁿ by q where q is the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used or the positive integer power of the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used, α

is a primitive element, and n is an integer of “

0”

to “

q−

2”

.

18. An interrogator which performs radio communication with a responder by a frequency hopping scheme, comprising:

a sender which is configured to modulate an unmodulated signal by transmission data to output a modulated signal to an antenna;

a receiver which is configured to demodulate a modulated signal from the responder received by the antenna by the unmodulated signal;

a hopping pattern setting section having a hopping pattern table which is configured to set, as a frequency hopping pattern code, elements of a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and which is obtained by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once at pseudo random; and

a frequency oscillator which is configured to convert the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting section into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies to the sender and the receiver.

19. The interrogator according to claim 18, further comprising:

a controller which is configured to perform reception at the frequency converted from the frequency hopping pattern code on start-up to determine the presence/absence of a reception signal from the sender, to start transmission at a frequency at which the reception is performed when the controller is determined that the reception signal is absent, and to start transmission at a different frequency from the frequency at which the reception is performed when the controller is determined that the reception signal is present.

20. The interrogator according to claim 18, further comprising:

the hopping pattern table which is configured to store a plurality of matrixes in each of which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once as a frequency hopping pattern code; and

a pattern selection section which is configured to select a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of the plurality of types stored in the hopping pattern table on the basis of identification information unique to the interrogator to set the frequency hopping pattern code in the hopping pattern setting section.

21. A method of performing radio communication with a responder by a frequency hopping scheme, comprising:

storing, as a frequency hopping pattern code, to a memory elements of a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once;

obtaining the frequency hopping pattern code stored in the memory by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once at pseudo random;

converting the frequency hopping pattern code into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies;

modulating the unmodulated signal by transmission data to output a modulated signal to an antenna; and

demodulating a modulated signal from the responder received by the antenna by the unmodulated signal.

22. An interrogator which performs radio communication with a responder by a frequency hopping scheme, comprising:

hopping pattern setting section which sets, as a frequency hopping pattern code, elements of a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and obtains the frequency hopping pattern code by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once at pseudo random;

frequency oscillator which converts the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting section into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies;

transmitter which modulates the unmodulated signal output by the frequency oscillator by transmission data to output a modulated signal to an antenna; and

receiver which demodulates a modulated signal from the responder received by the antenna by the unmodulated signal output by the frequency oscillator.

23. The interrogator according to claim 22, further comprising:

reception determination section configured to perform reception at the frequency converted from the frequency hopping pattern code on start-up to determine the presence/absence of a reception signal; and

transmission start section configured to start transmission at a frequency at which the reception is performed when the reception determination section is determined that the reception signal is absent and to start transmission at a different frequency from the frequency at which the reception is performed when the reception determination section is determined that the reception signal is present.

24. The interrogator according to claim 23, further comprising:

hopping pattern storage which stores, as frequency hopping pattern codes, a plurality of matrixes in each of which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and obtains by adding, as an offset, at least two of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once; and

pattern selection section configured to select a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of a plurality of types stored in the hopping pattern storage on the basis of identification information unique to the interrogator,

wherein the hopping pattern setting section sets the frequency hopping pattern code selected by the pattern selection section.

25. The interrogator according to claim 24, wherein

the pattern selection section configured to replace data of a (predetermined number)th bit with data of (another number)th bit different from the (predetermined number)th bit in a plurality of bit data representing the identification information unique to the interrogator, and, on the basis of information obtained after the bits are replaced with each other, select a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of the plurality of types stored by the hopping pattern storage.

26. The interrogator according to claim 25, wherein

in a combination of bits to be replaced with each other, bits of combinations except for a combination of a first lower bit and a second lower bit are used.

27. The interrogator according to claim 24, wherein

the number of frequency hopping pattern codes stored in the hopping pattern storage is equal to the number of frequencies to be used.

28. The interrogator according to claim 22, wherein

in the hopping pattern setting section, the matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once is

a matrix of remainders obtained by dividing α

ⁿ by q where q is the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used or the positive integer power of the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used, α

is a primitive element, and n is an integer of “

0”

to “

q−

2”

.

29. The interrogator according to claim 23, wherein

the transmission start section which sets a frequency at which transmission is started when a reception signal is present to any frequency except for, of frequencies to be used, the frequency at which the reception is performed and a frequency adjacent to the frequency at which the reception is performed in a frequency hopping pattern.

30. The interrogator according to claim 23, further comprising:

a frequency conversion table in which data of frequencies to be used are stored in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

wherein the frequency oscillator converts the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting section into a frequency with reference to the frequency conversion table.

31. The interrogator according to claim 23, further comprising:

frequency data storage which stores the available frequencies in a low-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from lower frequencies and a high-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from higher frequencies and for storing data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

; and

frequency data set section which selects any one of the data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and the data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group to set the data in the frequency conversion table.

32. The interrogator according to claim 22, further comprising:

hopping pattern storage which stores, as frequency hopping pattern codes, a plurality of matrixes in each of which all integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

appear only once and for obtaining by adding, as an offset, at least two of integers of “

0”

to “

(the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once;

pattern selection section which selects a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of a plurality of types stored in the hopping pattern storage on the basis of identification information unique to the interrogator,

wherein the hopping pattern setting section sets the frequency hopping pattern code selected by the pattern selection section.

33. The interrogator according to claim 32, wherein

the pattern selection section which replaces data of a (predetermined number)th bit with data of (another number)th bit different from the (predetermined number)th bit in a plurality of bit data representing the identification information unique to the interrogator, and, on the basis of information obtained after the bits are replaced with each other, selects a frequency hopping pattern code of one type from the frequency hopping pattern codes of the plurality of types stored by the hopping pattern storage.

34. The interrogator according to claim 33, wherein

in a combination of bits to be replaced with each other, bits of combinations except for a combination of a first lower bit and a second lower bit are used.

35. The interrogator according to claim 32, wherein

the number of frequency hopping pattern codes stored in the hopping pattern storage is equal to the number of frequencies to be used.

36. The interrogator according to claim 22, further comprising:

a frequency conversion table in which data of frequencies to be used are stored in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

,

wherein the frequency oscillator converts the frequency hopping pattern code set by the hopping pattern setting section into a frequency with reference to the frequency conversion table.

37. The interrogator according to claim 36, further comprising:

frequency data storage which stores the available frequencies in a low-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from lower frequencies and a high-frequency group obtained by extracting frequencies the number of which is the number of frequencies to be used from higher frequencies and for storing data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group in association with all the integers of “

1”

to “

the number of frequencies to be used”

; and

frequency data set section which selects any one of the data of the frequencies extracted as the low-frequency group and the data of the frequencies extracted as the high-frequency group to set the data in the frequency conversion table.

38. The interrogator according to claim 22, wherein

in the hopping pattern setting section, the matrix in which all integers of “

1”

to “

(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

or “

1”

to “

(positive integer power of a prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−

1”

appear only once is a matrix of remainders obtained by dividing α

ⁿ by q where q is the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used or the positive integer power of the prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used, α

is a primitive element, and n is an integer of “

0”

to “

q−

2”

.