Wiress Transponder and Image Forming Device

• US 20070268112A1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless transponder comprising: a receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal; an input converter unit that converts into an acoustic wave the electromagnetic input signal received by the receiver unit; a delay unit provided in a direction in which an acoustic wave generated by the input converter unit propagates; an output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the acoustic wave which has propagated inside the delay unit; and a transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the output converter unit.

Claims

1. A wireless transponder comprising:

a receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal;

an input converter unit that converts into an acoustic wave the electromagnetic input signal received by the receiver unit;

a delay unit provided in a direction in which an acoustic wave generated by the input converter unit propagates;

an output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the acoustic wave that has propagated inside the delay unit; and

a transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the output converter unit.

2. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiver unit and the transmitter unit has an antenna having a coil that is wound a plurality of turns around a ferrite magnet so as to comply with a matching condition within a predetermined frequency range.

3. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the input converter unit and the output converter unit has a piezoelectric element.

4. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, wherein the delay unit is a medium characterized in that at least one of phase, frequency, and amplitude of the acoustic wave propagating inside the delay unit changes depending on a physical or chemical value of an external environment.

5. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, further comprising

a reflector unit that reflects the acoustic wave propagating through the delay unit, wherein

the input converter unit functions also as the output converter unit.

6. The wireless transponder according to claim 4, wherein

the delay unit includes delay units of a plurality of types, and

each of the delay units of the plurality of types is a medium characterized in that at least one of phase, frequency, and amplitude of the acoustic wave propagating inside the delay unit changes depending on a physical or chemical value of the external environment.

7. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit and the transmitter unit are matched with an electromagnetic wave of a frequency lower than 150 kHz.

8. The wireless transponder according to claim 1, further comprising an opening in the delay unit.

9. An image forming device comprising:

the wireless transponder according to claim 8;

a recording material conveyor path that extends through the opening; and

a detector unit that detects whether a recording material has passed beyond a position corresponding to an inside of the opening, on the recording material conveyor path, based on a response signal from the wireless transponder.

10. A wireless transponder comprising:

an input unit including

a receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal, and

an input converter unit that converts into an acoustic wave an electromagnetic input signal received by the receiver unit; and

an output unit provided at a predetermined distance from the input unit, the output unit including

an output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the acoustic wave which has been propagated from the input unit, and

a transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the output converter unit.

11. A wireless transponder group comprising:

a first wireless transponder including

a first receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal,

a first input converter unit that converts into a first acoustic wave the electromagnetic input signal received by the first receiver unit,

a first delay unit provided in a direction in which the first acoustic wave generated by the first input converter unit propagates,

a first output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the first acoustic wave which has propagated inside the first delay unit, and

a first transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the first output converter unit; and

a second wireless transponder including

a second receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal,

a second input converter unit that converts into a second acoustic wave the electromagnetic input signal received by the second receiver unit,

a second delay unit provided in a direction in which the second acoustic wave generated by the second input converter unit propagates,

a second output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the second acoustic wave which has propagated inside the second delay unit, and

a second transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the second output converter unit.