Assistance for positioning a transponder
First Claim
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1. A method to assist a user to position an electromagnetic transponder with respect to a terminal, comprising:
- storing a no-load value representing a current in an oscillating circuit of the terminal when no transponder is in a field of the terminal;
periodically determining an immediate load value representing an immediate current in the oscillating circuit of the terminal;
repeatedly calculating a ratio between the no-load value and the immediate load value;
determining whether the distance between a transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient;
communicating information to the user based on the act of determining whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for assisting with positioning of an electromagnetic transponder by a user with respect to a terminal, wherein: a first value of the current in an oscillating circuit of the terminal is periodically measured; a second value of a ratio between a no-load value of this current, stored when no transponder is in the field of the terminal, and the first value, is calculated; and pieces of information intended for the user are controlled according to said second value.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method to assist a user to position an electromagnetic transponder with respect to a terminal, comprising:
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storing a no-load value representing a current in an oscillating circuit of the terminal when no transponder is in a field of the terminal; periodically determining an immediate load value representing an immediate current in the oscillating circuit of the terminal; repeatedly calculating a ratio between the no-load value and the immediate load value; determining whether the distance between a transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient; communicating information to the user based on the act of determining whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A terminal to read an electromagnetic transponder, comprising:
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an inductive circuit; a measurement circuit coupled to the inductive circuit and arranged to measure current flowing in the inductive circuit; a storage circuit and a control circuit, the control circuit arranged to; store a no-load value representing a current in the inductive circuit when no transponder is in an inductive field produced by the inductive circuit; repeatedly produce an immediate load value representing an immediate current in the inductive circuit; and based on a mathematical combination of the no-load value and the immediate load value, determine whether a distance between a transponder and the terminal is too large, too small, or sufficient; and
an output circuit to communicate information to a user representing the determination of whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A terminal device, comprising:
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an oscillating means for coupling a terminal to a transponder; a memory means for storing a no-load value representative of a current in the oscillating means when no transponder is proximate to the oscillating means; a measurement means for repeatedly determining an immediate load value representative of an immediate current in the oscillating circuit; a control circuit, the control circuit arranged to; calculate, upon each determination of the immediate load value, a ratio between the no-load value and the immediate load value; and determine whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient; and an output means for communicating information to the user based on determining whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal is too far, too close, or sufficient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification