RFID tag reader/writer
First Claim
1. An RFID tag reader/writer communicable with an RFID tag circuit element which has an IC circuit portion storing predetermined information, and an antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and arranged to effect transmission and reception of information, said RFID tag reader comprising:
- an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion, for reading and writing said predetermined information, by communication with said RFID tag circuit element;
a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion;
a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using access information generated by said access-information generating portion;
a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; and
an antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency,wherein a frequency of the carrier wave to be generated by said carrier-wave generating portion is determined on the basis of a resonance frequency of the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located within a predetermined nearby communication area and the frequency of the carrier wave is adjusted so that the frequency of the carrier wave follows a change of the resonance frequency of the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element, where resonance frequency changes due to mutual coupling between the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element and the antenna of said RFID tag reader/writer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID tag reader/writer having a high degree of stability of communication with only a desired RFID tag. The frequency of a carrier wave to be transmitted from the RFID tag reader/writer is set on the basis of a resonance frequency of an antenna of the RFID tag located within a predetermined nearby communication area, which resonance frequency changes due to mutual coupling between the antenna of the RFID tag and an antenna of the RFID tag reader/writer. According to this setting, the RFID tag located within the nearby communication area has a high degree of sensitivity, and the RFID tag located outside the nearby communication area has a low degree of sensitivity, so that it is possible to effectively prevent an interference between the communication of the RFID tag reader/writer with the selected RFID tag and the communication of the reader/writer with the other or non-selected RFID tag.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. An RFID tag reader/writer communicable with an RFID tag circuit element which has an IC circuit portion storing predetermined information, and an antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and arranged to effect transmission and reception of information, said RFID tag reader comprising:
-
an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion, for reading and writing said predetermined information, by communication with said RFID tag circuit element; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; and an antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency, wherein a frequency of the carrier wave to be generated by said carrier-wave generating portion is determined on the basis of a resonance frequency of the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located within a predetermined nearby communication area and the frequency of the carrier wave is adjusted so that the frequency of the carrier wave follows a change of the resonance frequency of the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element, where resonance frequency changes due to mutual coupling between the antenna of said RFID tag circuit element and the antenna of said RFID tag reader/writer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is positioned such that said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is located in an area in which a radiation directivity of said device-side antenna is almost equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said device-side antenna is positioned such that an intensity of a radiation directivity of the tab-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located nearest to an outlet of said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is almost equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion are disposed such that an angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said RFID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is positioned such that said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is located in an area in which a sensitivity of said device-side antenna is relatively low; said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion are disposed such that an angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said REID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion.
-
-
16. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said device-side antenna is positioned such that a sensitivity of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is relatively low; said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion are disposed such that an angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said RFID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle not smaller than 60° and
not larger than 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion.
-
-
17. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to generate access information for obtaining access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a directional antenna for transmitting said access information generated by said access-information generating portion, to said tag-side antenna, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion, by non-contact radio communication with said tag-side antenna; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said directional antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion is spaced from said directional antenna in a direction of directivity of the directional antenna, while said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is spaced from said directional antenna in a direction opposite to said direction of directivity such that said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is located in an area in which a radiation sensitivity of the directional antenna is almost equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to generate access information for obtaining access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a directional antenna for transmitting said access information generated by said access-information generating portion, to said tag-side antenna, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion, by non-contact radio communication with said tag-side antenna; an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said directional antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information; and a shielding portion for reducing an intensity of a radio communication signal, wherein; said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion is spaced from said directional antenna in a direction of directivity of the directional antenna; said shielding portion is spaced from said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion in the direction of directivity of said directional antenna; and said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is spaced from said shielding portion in the direction of directivity of said directional antenna, and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion is disposed on the side of said micro strip antenna element, while a reflecting plate for reflecting the communication signal is disposed on the side of said base plate. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RED tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that an angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said RFID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said REID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion.
-
-
40. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFD tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said RFID tag information, wherein said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is positioned such that said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is located in an area in which a sensitivity of said device-side antenna is relatively low; said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that an angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said RFID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFD tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFD tag circuit-element holding portion.
-
-
41. An RFID tag reader/writer comprising:
-
an RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of RFID tag circuit elements such that the RFID tag circuit elements can be successively taken out, each of said plurality of RFID tag circuit elements including an IC circuit portion for storing desired information, and a tag-side antenna connected to the IC circuit portion and operable for transmission and reception of information; an access-information generating portion operable to obtain access to RFD tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave generating portion operable to generate a carrier wave for obtaining access to said RFID tag information of said IC circuit portion; a carrier-wave modulating portion operable to modulate the carrier wave generated by said carrier-wave generating portion, by using the access information generated by said access-information generating portion; a modulated-wave amplifying portion operable to amplify the carrier wave modulated by said carrier-wave modulating portion; a device-side antenna for transmitting an output of said modulated-wave amplifying portion to said IC circuit portion, for obtaining access to said RFID tag information, by non-contact radio communication with said IC circuit portion, by using a radio frequency in a UHF band; and an RFID tag circuit-element holding portion for holding each of said RFID tag circuit elements successively taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, in a predetermined accessible area in which said device-side antenna obtains access to said REID tag information, wherein said device-side antenna is positioned such that a sensitivity of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion is relatively low; said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that a plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of each of the RFID tag circuit elements accommodated in said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion, and a plane of polarization of said device-side antenna are inclined with respect to each other, said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and said device-side antenna are disposed such that an angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which is located at an outlet of said RFID tag accommodating portion and the plane of polarization of said tag-side antenna of one of the RFID tag circuit elements which has already been taken out from said RFID tag circuit-element accommodating portion and which is held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, andsaid RFID tag reader/writer further comprises a deflecting portion operable to change a direction of feeding of said RFID tag circuit elements, at a position between said outlet and said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion, such that the angle of about 90°
is formed between the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said REID tag circuit element located at said outlet and the plane of polarization of the tag-side antenna of said RFID tag circuit element held by said RFID tag circuit-element holding portion.
-
Specification