Backscatter communication system with reflector for transmitting a modulated signal to a reader

• US 8,164,455 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Kunio
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/370,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication system of a backscatter type, the communication system including: a reflector for transmitting data by a reflected wave formed by subjecting a non-modulated wave to a modulation process; and a reflected wave reader for reading the data from the modulated reflected wave signal from the reflector.

Claims

1. A communication system of a backscatter type, the communication system comprising:

a reflector that transmits data by a reflected wave formed by subjecting a non-modulated wave to a modulation process; and

a reflected wave reader that reads the data from the modulated reflected wave from the reflector, wherein,

the reflector includes;

an antenna that receives a radio wave coming from a transfer destination;

a phase controller that controls a phase of the reflected wave with respect to the radio wave received by the antenna according to transmission data;

an amplitude controller that controls the reflected wave controlled in phase by the phase controller in an amplitude direction according to the transmission data;

a signal line formed by connecting an antenna switch formed by one of a diode and a gallium arsenide field-effect transistor and a λ

/4 (where λ

is a wavelength being used) phase shifter, the antenna switch and the λ

/4 phase shifter being connected between the antenna and a ground, and connecting a variable high-frequency attenuator between the antenna and the antenna switch,

the reflector performs data transmission by a multilevel phase-modulated reflected wave signal, and

the reflected wave reader transmits the non-modulated wave, and subjects the multilevel phase-modulated reflected wave signal from the reflector to a demodulation process.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the phase controller creates a high-frequency open and a high-frequency short by performing on/off control on the antenna switch according to a bit image of the transmission data, and controls the phase of the reflected wave by 180 degrees.

3. The communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the amplitude controller controls an amount of attenuation of the reflected wave by changing a control voltage to the variable high-frequency attenuator to a plurality of levels according to the bit image of the transmission data.

4. A communication device for communicating data by a backscatter system using reflection of a received radio wave, the communication device comprising:

an antenna for receiving a radio wave coming from a transfer destination;

a phase controller that controls a phase of a reflected wave with respect to the radio wave received by the antenna according to transmission data; and

an amplitude controller that controls the reflected wave controlled in phase by the phase controlling means in an amplitude direction according to the transmission data, wherein,

the phase controller includes a first antenna switch formed by one of a diode and a gallium arsenide FET and a λ

/4 (where λ

is a wavelength being used) phase shifter,

the antenna switch and the λ

/4 phase shifter being connected between the antenna and a ground, and

the phase controller creates a high-frequency open and a high-frequency short by performing on/off control on the antenna switch according to a bit image of the transmission data, and controls the phase of the reflected wave by 180 degrees.

5. The communication device according to claim 4,

wherein the amplitude controller includes a variable high-frequency attenuator loaded between the antenna and the antenna switch, and controls an amount of attenuation of the reflected wave by changing a control voltage to the variable high-frequency attenuator to a plurality of levels according to the bit image of the transmission data.

6. The communication device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first signal line for an I-axis, the first signal line branching off from the antenna via a distributor, and the first signal line being formed by connecting the first antenna switch and the λ

/4 first phase shifter between the antenna and a ground and connecting a first variable high-frequency attenuator between the antenna and the first antenna switch; and

a second signal line for a Q-axis, the second signal line having a phase difference of 90 degrees in both ways with respect to the first signal line, the second signal line being formed by connecting a second antenna switch and a λ

/4 second phase shifter between the antenna and the ground and connecting a λ

/8 phase shifter and a second variable high-frequency attenuator between the antenna and the second antenna switch, wherein,

the phase controller creates a high-frequency open and a high-frequency short by performing on/off control on the first antenna switch and the second antenna switch according to a bit image of the transmission data, and controls each of phases of respective reflected waves from the first signal line and the second signal line by 180 degrees, and

the amplitude controller controls an amount of attenuation of the reflected waves by changing a control voltage to the variable high-frequency attenuators to a plurality of levels according to the bit image of the transmission data, whereby a multilevel QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) signal is generated.

7. A communication system of a backscatter type, the communication system comprising:

a reflector that transmits data by a reflected wave formed by subjecting a non-modulated wave to a modulation process; and

a reflected wave reader that reads the data from the modulated reflected wave from the reflector, wherein,

the reflector includes;

an antenna that receives a radio wave coming from a transfer destination;

a phase controller that controls a phase of the reflected wave with respect to the radio wave received by the antenna according to transmission data;

an amplitude controller that controls the reflected wave controlled in phase by the phase controller in an amplitude direction according to the transmission data;

a first signal line for an I-axis, the first signal line branching off from the antenna via a distributor, and the first signal line being formed by connecting a first antenna switch and a λ

/4 (where λ

is a wavelength being used) first phase shifter between the antenna and a ground and connecting a first variable high-frequency attenuator between the antenna and the first antenna switch, and

a second signal line for a Q-axis, the second signal line having a phase difference of 90 degrees in both ways with respect to the first signal line, the second signal line being formed by connecting a second antenna switch and a λ

/4 second phase shifter between the antenna and the ground and connecting a λ

/8 phase shifter and a second variable high-frequency attenuator between the antenna and the second antenna switch,

the reflector performs data transmission by a multilevel phase-modulated reflected wave signal, and

the reflected wave reader transmits the non-modulated wave, and subjects the multilevel phase-modulated reflected wave signal from the reflector to a demodulation process.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein,

the phase controller creates a high-frequency open and a high-frequency short by performing on/off control on the first antenna switch and the second antenna switch according to a bit image of the transmission data, and controls each of phases of respective reflected waves from the first signal line and the second signal line by 180 degrees, and

the amplitude controller controls an amount of attenuation of the reflected waves by changing a control voltage to the variable high-frequency attenuators to a plurality of levels according to the bit image of the transmission data, whereby a multilevel QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) signal is generated.