Contactless IC card reader and data reading method

• US 8,937,533 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Junro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATHEWS, CRYSTAL
• Application Number:
  US13/058,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• 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: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

A contactless IC card reader and a data reading method which are capable of improving data reading accuracy while preventing a decrease in processing speed. Specifically, in a contactless IC card reader which transmits signals composed of amplitude modulated carrier signals to a contactless IC card, the contactless IC card and reader communicate by means of an NRZ encoding method and an ASK modulating method for which the modulation depth has an arbitrary value. The contactless IC card reader is provided with a contactless control means which modulates/demodulates signals transmitted to/received from the contactless IC card, and a main control means which is electrically connected to the contactless control means and that controls the entire card reader. The modulation depth that is varied by the contactless control means based on the command sent from the main control means has multiple range widths with an arbitral value as the standard.

Claims

1. A contactless IC card reader configured to transmit signals composed of amplitude modulated carrier signals to a contactless IC card, comprising:

a loop antenna;

a contactless control means configured to modulate/demodulate signals transmitted to/received from the contactless IC card; and

a main control means which is electrically connected to the contactless control means and administers the control of the entire card reader;

wherein the contactless IC card reader is configured to communicate with the contactless IC card by means of an NRZ encoding method and by means of an ASK modulation method for which a modulation depth has an arbitrary value;

wherein the modulation depth is varied by the contactless control means based on a predetermined command sent from the main control means, the modulation depth having multiple range widths with the arbitrary value as a standard, and wherein the range widths are in the range from 8% to 14% with the arbitrary value of 10% as the standard;

wherein the contactless control means is configured to change the modulation depth by changing a register value associated with a circuit constant of a transmission output unit provided inside the contactless control means when the contactless control means receives the predetermined command to change the register value from the main control means;

wherein the register value is first set to N as a default wherein the default register value, N, depends on the property of the loop antenna and leads to a modulation depth having the arbitrary value; and

wherein the contactless control means is configured to change the register value from N to N+1, N+2, N−

1, and N−

2 in sequence.

2. A data reading method of a contactless IC card reader which transmits, via a loop antenna, signals composed of amplitude modulated carrier signals to a contactless IC card, wherein the contactless IC card communicates with the contactless IC card reader by means of an NRZ encoding method and by means of an ASK modulation method for which the modulation depth has an arbitrary value, wherein the contactless IC card reader being provided with a contactless control means configured to modulate/demodulate signals transmitted to/received from the contactless IC card and a main control means which is electrically connected to the contactless control means and which administers the control of the entire card reader, the method comprising:

a step in which, when communication between the contactless IC card and the contactless IC card reader fails, a predetermined command is sent from the main control means to the contactless means to change transmission output resistance register value from a default register value, N, to N+1, N+2, N−

1, and N−

2 in sequence wherein the default register value depends on the property of the loop antenna and leads to a modulation depth having the arbitrary value;

a step in which, the change of register value leads to a change in modulation depth; and

a step in which, when the communication is enabled between the contactless IC card and the contactless IC card reader, the register value at that point is registered as an ideal value in the contactless control means.