Communication terminal and information processing system

• US 9,461,363 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Ikemoto, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US13/432,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

An information processing system includes a reader/writer, a communication terminal, and a wireless IC tag. The communication terminal includes an electric field-type first antenna unit, a magnetic field-type second antenna unit, and a connection unit electrically connecting the first and second antenna units and to each other, and is housed within a pen housing. The first antenna unit is coupled to an antenna of the reader/writer through an electric field, and the second antenna unit is coupled to the wireless IC tag through a magnetic field. By causing the second antenna unit to be adjacent to the wireless IC tag, the reader/writer and the wireless IC tag communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

a first antenna unit;

a second antenna unit;

a connection unit configured to electrically connect the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit to each other; and

a hand-held housing;

wherein each of the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit operates with a signal used in one information processing system; and

the signal received by the first antenna unit is transmitted from the second antenna unit, and the signal received by the second antenna unit is transmitted from the first antenna unit without using a battery; and

the first antenna unit is a far field dipole antenna wirelessly coupled to a reader/writer, and the second antenna unit is a near field loop antenna wirelessly coupled to a wireless IC tag;

and the first antenna unit is located at a trailing end portion of the hand-held housing and the second antenna unit is located at a leading end portion of the hand-held housing opposite to the trailing end portion of the hand-held housing;

wherein the first antenna unit, the second antenna unit, and the connection unit are housed in the hand-held housing.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit further includes a matching circuit.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is subjected to a direct current connection.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is coated by ferrite.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held housing has a cylindrical shape.

6. An information processing system comprising:

a reader/writer;

at least one communication terminal; and

a plurality of wireless IC tags;

wherein the at least one communication terminal includes a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, a connection unit configured to electrically connect the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit to each other, and a hand-held housing;

wherein the first antenna unit communicates with the reader/writer;

the second antenna unit communicates with one of the plurality of wireless IC tags; and

information stored in the one of the plurality of wireless IC tags is read using the reader/writer; and

the first antenna unit is a far field antenna wirelessly coupled to the reader/writer, and

the second antenna unit is a near field antenna wirelessly coupled to the one of the plurality of wireless IC tags;

the first antenna unit is located at a trailing end portion of the hand-held housing and the second antenna unit is located at a leading end portion of the hand-held housing opposite to the trailing end portion of the hand-held housing; and

the second antenna unit selectively communicates with the one of the plurality of wireless IC tags by placing the leading end portion of the hand-held housing closer to the one of the plurality of wireless IC tags than to remaining ones of the plurality of wireless IC tags;

wherein the first antenna unit, the second antenna unit, and the connection unit are housed in the hand-held housing.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one communication terminal includes a plurality of communication terminals.

8. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein an antenna of the reader/writer and the first antenna unit are disposed within the hand-held housing so as to face each other.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the antenna of the reader/writer is adapted to be attached and removed to and from the hand-held housing.

10. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the hand-held housing has a cylindrical shape.