JPS62294347A - Microwave data transmission equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a microwave data transmitter used for multiapplications by making the size and weight of a reply device small and light so as to eliminate problems relating to the installation of a reply device. CONSTITUTION:Since the reply device 2 requires a signal generator to send a carrier of a microwave band without fail in a conventional device, a power driver with a comparatively large capacity to drive the signal generator is provided. In reading the data information stored in a reply device 201, a microwave carrier of the 2nd frequency f2 from a questionnaire device 101 is modulated by a modulation signal and sent as a radio wave via a transmission antenna 14 end caught by a reception antenna 16 at the reply device 201 side and detected by a detector 18. Since the detection signal has a very low voltage, the voltage signal level is boosted up to a logic level of a signal processing unit 20 by a booster 19 and the signal is sent to the signal processing unit 20 at the increased level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microwave data transmission device that transmits and receives information using microwaves.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, there has been a microwave data transmission device having a structure shown in FIG. 2 for transmitting and receiving information using microwaves.

In Fig. 2, 1 is an interrogator and 2 is a transponder, and when the interrogator 1 interrogates the transponder 2 using a microwave signal,
The transponder 2 responds to the interrogator 1 with fixed information stored therein using a microwave signal. Inside the interrogator 1, there is a signal generator 3 that generates a microwave signal, a transmitting antenna 4 that receives a signal from the signal generator 3 and sends it into the air as a radio wave, and a signal that is sent from the transponder 2. a receiving antenna 5 that catches radio waves;
A demodulator 6 is provided for demodulating microwaves from the microwave. Inside the transponder 2 are a receiving antenna 7 that catches radio waves sent from the interrogator 1, a demodulator 9 that demodulates the microwaves from the receiving antenna 7, and a signal generator that generates carrier waves in the microwave band. a code generator 11 that permanently stores code information and generates a code information signal according to the output of the demodulator 9; A mixer 12 (or a modulator may be used) for mixing the code information signal and a transmitting antenna 8 for transmitting the output signal of the mixer 12 is provided.

In the conventional microwave data transmission device having the above configuration, a signal sent from the signal generator 3 of the interrogator 1 is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 4 of the interrogator 1 toward the transponder 2. This transmission signal is received by the receiving antenna 7 of the transponder 2, and then demodulated by the demodulator 9. This demodulated signal functions as a control signal for controlling the code generator 11 and signal generator 10. The demodulated signal sends a code information signal from the code generator 11 and a carrier wave in the microwave band from the signal generator 10 to the mixer 12. In the mixer 12, the carrier wave in the microwave band is sent to the code information signal. Modulated by information signals. The modulated signal subjected to this modulation is transmitted by the transmitting antenna 8 of the transponder 2 into the air toward the interrogator 1 as a radio wave. Interrogator 1
Then, the radio waves from the transponder 2 are received by the receiving antenna 5 and demodulated by the demodulator 6, thereby reading the fixed information stored in the transponder 2 in advance.

However, in the above-mentioned microwave data transmission device, the signal generator 10 for transmitting a carrier wave in the microwave band is always required in the transponder 2, and therefore the power required to drive this signal generator IO is relatively large. It was equipped with a capacity power supply drive device. For this reason, the device configuration of the transponder 2 has become complicated and large.

<Purpose> The present invention has been made in order to solve the various problems mentioned above.By making the transponder smaller and lighter, the problems associated with the installation of the transponder can be greatly improved, and the transponder can be used for a variety of purposes. The purpose is to provide a microwave data transmission device that can be used for

<Configuration of the Invention> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transmitting means for transmitting an unmodulated microwave signal of a first frequency to a microwave data transmission device, and a transmitting means for transmitting an unmodulated microwave signal of a first frequency to a microwave data transmission device. an interrogator comprising a receiving means for receiving a signal; a transmitting means for transmitting a modulated microwave signal of a second frequency different from the first frequency; detect a microwave signal of a certain frequency, apply modulation to the unmodulated microwave signal of a first frequency based on the data in the storage unit, and transmit the modulated microwave signal of the first frequency to the interrogator. The transponder includes a transmitting means for transmitting to the microwave signal and a changing means for changing the contents of the storage section based on the detection signal of the microwave signal of the second frequency.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the microwave data transmission device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a microwave data transmission device according to the present invention.

In the figure, 101 is an interrogator, and a transmitter/receiver 102 of the interrogator 101 includes a transmitting circuit for transmitting an unmodulated microwave signal of a first frequency fI and a receiving circuit for receiving a modulated microwave signal of a first frequency fl. and a transmitting circuit that transmits a modulated microwave signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave with the signal shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) having a second frequency f2 different from the first frequency fl. Be prepared. The interrogator 101 also transmits microwave radio waves of a first frequency f1 into the air (
Or in the air! 7) A transmitting/receiving antenna 13 for transmitting and receiving;
A transmitting antenna 14 that transmits microwave radio waves of the second frequency 12 into the air is connected.

Further, 201 is a transponder, and the transponder 201 includes a modulator 17 that modulates the unmodulated microwave signal of the first frequency 11 emitted from the interrogator 101 based on stored data; Second frequency 1 emitted from interrogator 101
A detector 18 for detecting the second microwave signal, an external voltage generator 19 consisting of a transformer or the like that boosts the detected output of the detector 18, and a signal processor 20 consisting of a C-MO5IC that performs various signal processing are provided. The transponder 201 also includes a transmitting/receiving antenna 15 that transmits and receives microwave radio waves of a first frequency f1 from the air (or to the air), and a receiving antenna that receives microwave radio waves of the second frequency f2 from the air. Antenna 16 is connected.

Next, the operation of the above microwave data transmission device will be explained in detail.

When reading data information held in the transponder 201, first, a microwave carrier wave of a second frequency f2 is modulated by the modulation signal shown in FIG. Ru. Note that this transmission may be performed all the time, and the transponder 201 may be activated when the transponder 201 approaches the interrogator 101 and the electric field strength of the radio waves that the transponder 201 catches becomes sufficient. The modulation signal ' shown in FIG. 3 is a signal with a pulse waveform ((a) in the figure) or an alternating current waveform such as a sine wave ((1) in the figure). The radio wave transmitted by the transmitting antenna 14 is caught by the receiving antenna 16 on the transponder 201 side, and the caught signal is detected by the detector 18. Since this detected signal has a very low voltage, it is guided to the booster 19, where the voltage signal level is increased by the logic level (v) of the signal processor 20, and sent to the signal processor 20 in that state. This signal processor 20 is in a standby state when not receiving a signal from the interrogator 101.

This standby state refers to a state in which power is consumed to the minimum extent necessary to hold information in the internal RAM, and many circuits are not functional in that they are not supplied with power.

Under such a state, when the signal processor 20 receives the modulated signal shown in FIG. 3 as an interrupt, the signal processor 20 shifts to the operating state upon this detection. The CPU in the signal processor 20 then sends the data information stored in the RAM to the modulator 17.

As a result, the modulator 17 modulates the unmodulated carrier wave of the first frequency 11 emitted from the interrogator 101 using the data information. This modulated wave is radiated from the transmitting/receiving antenna 15 toward the interrogator 101, and is received by the interrogator 101 at its transmitting/receiving antenna 13. and transceiver 102
The received wave is detected and the data information stored inside the signal processor 20 is extracted.

Next, when it is desired to change the data information held in the transponder 201, the operation is performed as follows.

In the same way as when reading the data information held in the transponder 201, the second frequency
The two microwave carrier waves are modulated by the modulation signal shown in FIG. 3 and transmitted as radio waves via the transmitting antenna 14. This transmitted radio wave is transmitted to the receiving antenna 16 on the transponder 201 side.
The detected signal is detected by the detector 18. This detection signal is boosted ftf1
9, the signal is raised at the logic level of the signal processor 20 and sent to the signal processor 20 in that state. When the signal processor 20 receives a signal from the interrogator 101 as described above, it is in a standby state, and when the signal processor 20 receives the modulated signal shown in FIG. transitions to operational state. This transition is performed as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, a switch circuit 21f is provided between the external pressure generator 19 and the signal processor 20. In the standby state, the switch 22 of the switch circuit 21 is set to the interrupt signal processing circuit side (interrupt signal input terminal 23). In this state, when the modulator signal shown in FIG. switch to the signal input terminal 24 side. In this case, the modulation signal includes a signal (rewrite signal) for rewriting data information stored in the RAM inside the signal processor 20 after the signal for interrupting. Therefore, this rewriting signal passes through the switch circuit 21 and the signal input terminal 24 to the signal processor 20.
will be introduced in The data information stored in the internal RAM is rewritten based on the rewriting signal introduced by the signal processor 20.

In the above embodiment, antennas for the first frequency fl and the second frequency f2 were provided in the interrogator] 01 and the transponder 201, respectively, but by making the values of the frequencies of fl and f2 close to each other, the antennas can also be used. However, it may be used as a type of antenna. Furthermore, although the detected signal of the radio wave at the second frequency 12 from the interrogator 101 was made to function as an interrupt to the CPU in the signal processor 20, the detected signal was made to function as a control signal for the power switch, and the detected signal was made to function as a control signal for the power switch. The CPU in the signal processor 20 may be started up by the operation of the signal processor 20.

The microwave data transmission device having the above configuration can be applied to production control in a factory, warehouse management, gate control in a parking lot, or entry/exit control by having a person carry a transponder. For example, when using it for production control in a factory, a transponder is attached to each part, with individual data such as the part code number, processing procedure, transport route, etc. of the parts on the production line input into memory in advance. Interrogators should be installed at major points on the production line. The interrogator transmits microwaves to transponders installed in each component flowing on the production line, reads the internal data as described above, and outputs a control signal to control the flow of the line. Since microwaves pass through plastics, wood, etc., there is no need to install a transponder on the surface of each part. - <Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention described above, the power consumption of the transponder can be reduced, and even if the transmission power of the interrogator is small, it is possible to transmit a signal to the transponder, making it easier to handle. It can be used in a wide range of fields.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a microwave data transmission device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional microwave data transmission device, FIG. 3 is a signal waveform diagram, and FIG. 1 shows a partial block configuration diagram of an embodiment of a microwave data transmission device according to the present invention. FIG. In the figure 15: Transmitting/receiving antenna 16: Receiving antenna 17: Modulator 18: Detector 19: Booster
20: Signal processor 201: Responder agent Patent attorney Takeshi Sugiyama (and 1 other person) 4 Figure 2' Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Transmitting means for transmitting an unmodulated microwave signal of a first frequency, receiving means for receiving a modulated microwave signal of a first frequency, and the first frequency an interrogator comprising transmitting means for transmitting a modulated microwave signal at a separate second frequency; and detecting the microwave signal at the second frequency transmitted from the interrogator, a transmitting means for applying modulation to the modulated microwave signal based on data in the storage unit and transmitting the modulated microwave signal of the first frequency to the interrogator; A microwave data transmission device comprising: a transponder equipped with a changing means for changing the contents of the storage section based on a detection signal of a microwave signal of a frequency.