Hyperfrequency system for remote data transmission

• US 5,081,458 A
• Filed: 02/07/1991
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compagnie De Signaux Et D'Equipements Electroniques
• Original Assignee: Compagnie De Signaux Et D'Equipements Electroniques
• Inventors: Meunier, Christian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US07/652,020
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 342/44, 342/51, 340/825.54, 340/572
• US Class Current: 342/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/025 involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• 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

Abstract

Hyperfrequency system for remote data transmission of the type comprises at least one reader (L) associated with a plurality of responders (R) with the reader (L) comprising means to generate a hyperfrequency wave which has a certain rectilinear polarization, while each responder (R) is fitted with a rectangular flat antenna for reemission (1) which is capable of receiving said hyperfrequency wave and reemitting it with orthogonal polarization and phase modulation at two stages representing the data to be transmitted to reader (L), characterized in that the phase modulation is achieved by two transistors (Qa, Qb) which are connected respectively to two adjacent corners (a, b) of antenna (1), these two transistors being alternately blocked and saturated at the rhythm of the data to be transmitted, by additional control signals originating in an appropriate processing unit (4) in order to short circuit alternately the corresponding corner of the antenna.

Claims

1. Hyperfrequency system for remote data transmission, of the type consisting of at least one reader (L) associated with a plurality/y of responders (R), with the reader (L) comprising means to generate a hyperfrequency wave with a certain rectilinear polarization, while each responder (R) is fitted with a rectangular flat antenna for reemission (1) capable of receiving said hyperfrequency wave and reemitting it with an orthogonal polarization with a phase modulation at two stages representing the data to be transmitted to the reader (L), characterized in that the phase modulation is obtained by two transistors (Qa, Qb) which are connected to the two adjacent corners (a, b) of antenna (1), respectively;

these two transistors being alternately blocked and saturated at the rhythm of the data to be transmitted, by additional control signals generated by an appropriate processing unit (4) to alternately short circuit the corresponding corner of the antenna.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat antenna (1) of responder (R) is made in the form of a printed circuit on an insulating substrate (2) whose backside which is entirely metallized constitutes reference plane (3).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the two transistors (Qa, Qb) consist of bipolar transistors whose emitter-collector junction is connected between the corresponding corners (a, b) of antenna (1) and reference plane (3), and whose base is connected to processing unit (4).

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the flat antenna (1) of responder (R) has a square shape and contains in its center a metallized pole (5) which forms an electrical connection between the active side of the antenna and reference plane (3) located on the back side.

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that reader (L) comprises means (12, 14) to modulate the amplitude of the hyperfrequency wave generated, while responder (R) comprises a second flat antenna (6) which is called the reception antenna which is associated with a nonlinear detection element (7), with the detection by the responder of this modulation of amplitude causing the activation of the processing unit (4).

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that reader (L) comprises in addition means (12, 14) to modulate the pulse of the generated hyperfrequency wave to transmit predetermined data to responder (R).

7. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the nonlinear detection element (7) consists of a Schottky diode.

8. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the non-linear detection element (7) consists of a Schottky diode.