Reader/writer device for noncontact IC card, communication system and noncontact communication method

• US 8,056,804 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Anzai, Jun, Tando, Katsuhiko, Horiuchi, Yasuhide
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US12/514,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20100059590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 235/380, 235/451, 235/492, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A reader/writer device performs noncontact communication with a noncontact IC card section (400) to which power is supplied from a power storage section (310) of a portable terminal (300) whereupon the card section is mounted. In the reader/writer device (100), a noncontact communication section (110) transmits and receives information to and from the IC card section (400) by noncontact communication, and a noncontact charging section (120) supplies power to the power storage section (310) in noncontact manner. When noncontact communication with the IC card section (400) cannot be performed by controlling the noncontact communication section (110), a contactless communication/charging control section (130) controls the noncontact charging section (120) to charge the power storage section (310) of the portable terminal (300) in noncontact manner, then, controls the noncontact communication section (110) again to perform noncontact communication.

Claims

1. A contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus that carries out contactless communication with a contactless type integrated circuit card, the contactless type integrated circuit card not having a built-in power source and receiving a supply of power from a power storage section in a portable terminal in which the contactless type integrated circuit card is mounted, the contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus comprising:

a contactless communication section that sends and receives information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by the contactless communication;

a contactless charging section that supplies the power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner;

a detection section that detects a state of the contactless communication; and

a control section that controls switching between the contactless communication section and the contactless charging section based on a detection result in the detection section to select between sending and receiving the information by the contactless communication, and supplying the power in the contactless manner,

wherein, when the contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card using the contactless communication section is not possible, the control section controls the contactless charging section to charge the power storage section in the portable terminal and then controls the contactless communication section again to carry out the contactless communication.

2. The contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section is a secondary battery.

3. The contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage section is a capacitor.

4. A communication system comprising a portable terminal mounting a contactless type integrated circuit card, and a contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus that carries out contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card, the contactless type integrated circuit card not having a built-in power source,

the portable terminal comprising:

a power storage section, which is a power source of the portable terminal and which supplies power to the contactless type integrated circuit card, and

the contactless type integrated circuit card reader/writer apparatus comprising;

a contactless communication section that sends and receives information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by the contactless communication;

a contactless charging section that supplies the power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner;

a detection section that detects a state of the contactless communication; and

a control section that controls switching between the contactless communication section and the contactless charging section based on a detection result in the detection section to select between sending and receiving the information by the contactless communication and supplying the power in the contactless manner,

wherein, when the contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit card using the contactless communication section is not possible, the control section controls the contactless charging section to charge the power storage section in the portable terminal and then controls the contactless communication section again to carry out the contactless communication.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the power storage section is a secondary battery.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the power storage section is a capacitor.

7. A contactless communication method for carrying out contactless communication with a contactless type integrated circuit card, the contactless type integrated circuit card not having a built-in power source and receiving a supply of power from a power storage section in a portable terminal in which the contactless type integrated circuit card is mounted, the contactless communication method comprising:

sending and receiving information to and from the contactless type integrated circuit card by the contactless communication;

supplying the power to the power storage section in the portable terminal in a contactless manner;

detecting a state of the contactless communication; and

controlling switching between the sending and receiving of the information by the contactless communication and the supplying of the power in the contactless manner based on a detection result of the state of the contactless communication, to select between the sending and receiving of the information by the contactless communication, and the supplying of the power in the contactless manner;

wherein when the contactless communication with the contactless type integrated circuit is not possible, the method further comprises;

performing the supplying of the power in the contactless manner to the power storage section in the portable terminal; and

carrying out the contactless communication again after the performing of the supplying of the power in the contactless manner.