RF tag, RF tag reader, and pulse code key detecting circuit, and RF tag system using them

• US 8,559,486 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitoshi Kitayoshi
• Original Assignee: Hitoshi Kitayoshi
• Inventors: Kitayoshi, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khai
• Application Number:
  US12/530,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20100245052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/224, 375/228, 340/572.2, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

An RF tag system is provided, in which in addition to a method of easily sending back MPSK modulated sub-carrier signals on the RF tag side, communication protocols and circuit systems for accurately demodulating modulated waves on the RF tag reader side can be implemented, data transmission from an RF tag to an RF tag reader can be realized over a long operating distance at high speed, and an RF tag can be operated for a long lifetime.

Claims

1. An RF tag system for conducting radio communications between an RF tag reader and an RF tag using radio waves of VHF band or above (30 MHz or above), comprising:

the RF tag configured as at least one of a remote start RF tag and a scheduled start RF tag, and

the RF tag reader, the RF tag reader being constructed and arranged to send a tag activating command including RF tag ID code of an RF tag on the other end of communications in ASK modulation mode by using a CW radio wave at a query carrier frequency fo, and receiving a response signal as a return information, which is superimposed on a sub-carrier signal frequency-offset by a frequency fs from the query carrier frequency fo, from the RF tag,

wherein the remote start RF tag includes a resonant stub voltage multiplier circuit that detects a query from the RF tag reader and a pulse code key detecting circuit that determines whether a pulse width is within a certain range,

wherein the scheduled start RF tag includes a resonant stub voltage multiplier circuit that detects a query from the RF tag reader and a demodulation circuit that is driven by a timer at regular time intervals, and

wherein the RF tag reader includes a quadrature and compensation circuit that directly conducts quadrature detection by the query carrier frequency fo and then corrects detection error, and a generating circuit that samples signals at a frequency 4 fs in order to obtain an MPSK demodulated signal from a detection signal.

2. The RF tag system according to claim 1:

wherein in the pulse code key detecting circuit at least two sets of time constant circuits for charge and discharge and two sets of comparators connected to outputs of the time constant circuits for charge and discharge have charge times t1 and t3 and discharge times t2 and t4, respectively, with reference to an input pulse, where t3>

t1>

t4>

t2, and an AND of outputs of two sets of the comparators and an input pulse signal is obtained,

wherein an AND output pulse t2 is obtained to determine whether a pulse width of an external input is within a certain range, only when an input pulse width PW is between t1<

PW<

t3,

wherein at this time, power to drive the comparators and the AND is obtained from the input pulse signal,

wherein a pulse width can be determined only with an external input signal having an electric power of a few μ

W, with no use of an additional power supply.

3. The RF tag system according to claim 1:

wherein in the pulse code key detecting circuit at least two sets of time constant circuits for charge and discharge, and two sets of comparators connected to outputs of the time constant circuits for charge and discharge have charge times t1 and t3 and discharge times t2 and t4, respectively, with reference to an input pulse, where t3>

t1>

t4>

t2, and an AND of outputs of two sets of the comparators and an input pulse signal is obtained,

wherein an AND output pulse t2 is obtained to determine whether a pulse width of an external input is within a certain range, only when an input pulse width PW is between t1<

PW<

t3,

wherein at this time, power to drive the comparators and the AND is externally fed by using a battery and like,

wherein a width of an external input pulse of an input signal having an electric power of 0.1 μ

W or below.

4. The RF tag system according to claim 1:

wherein the quadrature and compensation circuit samples I(t) and Q(t) signals, which are received signals directly subjected to quadrature detection by the query carrier frequency fo, at a sampling frequency 4 fs corresponding to the predetermined frequency fs, and corrects detection error of the I(t) and Q(t) signals,

wherein the return information from the RF tag is demodulated highly accurately.