Wireless response device, image forming apparatus, and equipment

• US 7,515,046 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masao, Mizutani, Ryota, Iida, Kiyoshi, Funo, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/347,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 235/375, 235/385, 438 22- 25, 438/107, 438/108
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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

Abstract

A wireless response device comprises an antenna that receives a question signal, an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively, and an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;

a recording material accumulating unit that accumulates the recording material;

a transport unit that transports the recording material along a transport path from the recording material accumulating unit to the image forming unit;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided along the transport path, and is provided in a position where, due to the recording material passing the vicinity of the wireless response device, the external force applied to that wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on the wireless response device changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

2. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material;

a recording material accumulating unit that accumulates the recording material;

a transport unit that transports the recording material along a transport path from the recording material accumulating unit to the image forming unit;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided in the recording material accumulating unit in a position where, according to the amount of the recording material accumulated in the recording material accumulating unit, the external force applied to the wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on the wireless response device changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.

3. Equipment, comprising:

a movable portion;

a wireless response device, wherein the wireless response device is provided in a position where, according to a mobile state of the movable portion, the external force applied to the wireless response device changes, or the strength of light incident on the wireless response device changes; and

a transceiving unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the wireless response device,

wherein the wireless response device includes;

an antenna that receives a question signal;

an identification signal generating unit that generates a response signal for a question signal received by the antenna, and that operates passively; and

an impedance conversion unit provided between the antenna and the identification signal generating unit, whose impedance changes in response to the state of the environment.