EP1899903A2

EP1899903A2 - Circuit for executing a data transfer

Info

Publication number: EP1899903A2
Application number: EP06762279A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Richter
Original assignee: Ident Technology AG
Current assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Also published as: WO2007000353A2; DE102006029919A1; WO2007000353A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit for executing a signal transmission used for the transfer of data. The aim of the invention is to provide solutions that offer other possibilities and advantages to the user in terms of the execution of a data transfer compared to the previous concepts, and to offer such user and system advantages by largely reverting to circuit concepts known per se and circuit components obtained therefrom. To this end, a circuit device for executing a data transfer is provided with a first interface system for receiving a signal event transmitted on the electromagnetic path in the region of the first interface system, and a signal processing circuit which is coupled to the first interface system and used to generate an output signal sequence based on the received signal event. The invention is characterised by a second interface system for receiving a signal event transmitted on the field-electric (quasistatic) path in the region of the second interface system, the second interface system being functionally integrated into the first interface system.

Description

Circuit device for processing a data transfer

The invention is directed to a circuit device for processing a signal transmission serving for the transfer of data.

For the implementation of such data transfer operations integrated modules for receiving using electromagnetic waves emitted data in great variety as commercially available standard elements are available. These include, in particular, infrared receivers with integrated decoders, as known from infrared remote controls in entertainment devices, or time-signal receivers in the LF band (e.g., DCF) for radio-controlled clocks. The telephone technology knows DTMF decoders, which can be excited inductively coupled with in each case two different tones, number sequences and switching signals can output. Special modules are also used in transponder technology, for example, to decode them upon arrival of electromagnetic signals and / or to trigger evaluation circuits such as microcontrollers from a power-saving sleep state. An example here are circuits that are used in tire pressure sensors of motor vehicles. Similar devices are also used in active transponders to activate them as needed.

The components mentioned above are available in a wide variety of designs and suitability for required wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum - from light to the gigahertz range.

The invention has for its object to provide solutions that offer further opportunities and user benefits in terms of handling a data transfer over the previous concepts. Furthermore, the invention is also based on the object of providing such user or system advantages with extensive recourse to known circuit concepts and circuit components available for this purpose. According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a circuit device for carrying out a data transfer with a first interface system for receiving a signal event transmitted by electromagnetic means into the region of the first interface system, and a signal processing circuit coupled to the first interface system for generating a signal on the received signal event based Ausgangssignalsequeήz, characterized by a second interface system for receiving a field electrical (quasi-static) path in the region of the second interface system spent signal event, wherein the second interface system is functionally integrated into the first interface system.

Preferably, the second interface system is integrated into the first interface system in such a way that the signal events recorded by the second interface system are accomplished via a port structure of the signal processing circuit serving to couple the first interface device.

Preferably, a switch function is realized via one of the two interface systems, which temporarily gives priority to a signal variant.

It is also possible to couple the two interface systems via a switch device, wherein the switching state of the switch device is determined by features of the signal event received via an interface device, or both interface systems.

The signal processing circuit according to a particular aspect of the invention is preferably realized by standard components designed with regard to the signal evaluation of reception events of the first interface system.

The two interface systems can be integrated in a mobile phone. The mobile telephone may be designed and configured such that for the function release, the communication cost booking, and / or the User identification information obtained via the second interface system.

The transfer of the intended for transmission via the second interface system signal events in its reception area can be done by coupling appropriate signal events in a user, or its near field on field electrical paths.

By an additional wiring such building blocks can be supplied to another, convenient for the user use. In this case, their intended use is not affected, so that an additional benefit arises from the invention. The invention is to be settled in the area of near field communication and should therefore be used in the field of action of people who perform self-determined, selective actions that are to be recognized and further processed in electronic systems. The spectrum of these activities ranges from entertainment, games, the initiation of opening, closing and switching operations, presence or absence detection of people, animals or objects to the transmission of biological signals in the medical field. Also, the invention can be usefully used where there is an increased security claim, which should be met under certain circumstances over several different transmission systems and / or channels.

To the input of one of the above-mentioned components can be connected directly or indirectly, a sensitive element which is able to receive an alternating electric field. This sensor element, which can be embodied as wire-shaped, flat or spherical, acts like a plate of a capacitor. This is so high impedance for the input of the block that it can not affect the original function of the block. If, with the aid of another capacitor plate, an alternating electric field with impressed data is brought into the vicinity of the sensitive additional input, the module can receive and decode this data as if it came into it via the intended path (electromagnetic). The feeding surface can be, for example, the hand of a user who approaches the sensitive surface. parasitic Capacities between the circuits, the use and the ground form the feedback required for a closed AC circuit.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. It shows:

Figuri a schematic representation to explain the coupling of a

Signal event to a user based on quasi-static field-electrical interaction effects;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a system according to the invention with a first interface system embodied as an IR receiver system and a second interface system for data reception integrated therein, for the purpose of data reception of a modulated E field;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a system according to the invention with a first receiving system designed as a radio receiving system and a second interface system for receiving data by means of a modulated E-field;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the concept of the present invention by reference to a device typically used for electromagnetic signal transfer (e.g., MT8870DDTMF);

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a further variant of a circuit according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram for illustrating the concept according to the invention with the inclusion of an operational amplifier for coupling the signals received by the second interface system into the circuit area to be assigned to the first interface system; FIG. 7 shows a further schematic representation for illustrating the concept according to the invention for coupling in the signals received by the second interface system in the circuit area to be assigned to the first interface system;

In order to transmit a data-modulated, electrical alternating field, this must first be generated. This takes place in the form of a transmission module carried by the user (FIG. 1). The transmission module contains at least one generator which can generate the frequency required by the electromagnetic data reception block as a carrier and a mixing device with which data can be modulated onto this carrier. In this case, all known modulation methods are applicable, with the proviso that the corresponding receiving module can decode them. Such an alternating field modulated in this way with data can be transmitted directly or capacitively to the skin of a user and forms a sort of synthetic aura via them. If this aura comes close to a capacitive receiving surface (wire, ball, brush), a downstream decoder, which is selected from standard components, can receive and decode them with sufficient signal strength and feed them to an evaluation unit. Thus, it is possible to perform a selective signal transfer controlled by a user. If the signal level at this additional input decreases again, z. B. when removing the user or item or when data transfer is completed, the input of the block is free again for the intended use. This results in many applications, some of which will be described below. Of particular importance is the simplicity of the circuit structure, which promises the added benefit and increased comfort. Of particular importance is that the execution of such a circuit for a variety of electromagnetic receiving modules is almost always the same and thus has a high degree of efficiency, because the circuits constructed with this standard IC require only small additional costs and low technical complexity. Of course, the additional circuit according to the invention also completely replace the intended original data input function of the mentioned (and similar) components! A first exemplary embodiment

To the input of an infrared detector (Figure 2), for example of the type U2538B (TEMIC), a wire (or in addition to this one surface) is connected. With a generator, a modulated data signal (in this case ASK) is impressed on the skin of a test subject at the frequency controlled for this component. If it approaches the wire (or the surface) by hand, the corresponding signals appear as decoded data at the output of the block. When a data telegram is used, it becomes visible. The same happens according to Fig. 3 in use e.g. with the transponder wake up module ATA 5283 (ATMEL), or according to Fig. 4 with a DTMF decoder e.g. of type MT8870D. The intended function of the blocks is retained. The circuit complexity for coupling in an additional alternating electric field appears very low, the additional can be limited to overvoltage (for example with protective diodes). In another embodiment, the sensitivity at the input may be e.g. be increased by a field effect transistor, as shown in FIG. 5. A further embodiment shows the possibility of an impedance matching by an operational amplifier connected as a voltage follower (FIG. 6).

A first advantageous application example

The ATA 8283 module is housed in a vehicle tire to activate a pressure gauge. On the basis of the additional wiring according to the invention, a technician can now introduce an impressed capacitive alternating field via this module into the circuit from the outside, which can permanently store, for example, assembly time, time, date, fitter, air pressure, etc. The fitter carries in body near a module which provides an oscillator in the previously described form and a possibility of mixing identification numbers and time and date signals. These signals are transmitted capacitively to the technician's skin and form a synthetic aura. When handling the tire this aura (the electric data-modulated alternating field) in the vicinity of the additional sensor input according to the invention and causes the desired effect.

Other exemplary applications

Rg. 7, shows the possibility to open a locked door when approaching by stopping a transponder. As a second key, the user carries with him a donor circuit according to the invention, which emits a further identification signal via the aforementioned additional input. For example, it would be possible to determine on which side of the door a user is located and to increase the security of the circuit or design considerably. Another exemplary implementation is possible with the infrared module U2538B. An operator feeds a data-modulated light pulse into the frequency of the receiving module from a handheld terminal. This light pulse is modulated with identification data. At the same time, the handset (in the manner described above) applies a data signal in the form of a data-modulated electric field to the skin of the operator. Thus, it can be easily determined whether the operator emits this light pulse in the immediate vicinity or from a certain distance to the receiver. Since both emitter devices are located in the same handset, circuitry can be used to ensure that the delivery of the identifying data impulses is to be alternately to light (electromagnetic wave) or via the skin (capacitive alternating field). Particularly useful, the invention can be found in motor vehicles use.

Use in motor vehicles

A start button of a vehicle should be triggered by a transponder. The launch of the vehicle should only be done when the person sitting on the driver's seat. According to the invention, an electric field is impressed under the driver's seat on the skin of the driver, which is modulated with identifiable data. When approaching with the transponder to the start button, in addition to the transponder data and the pulse or intermittent output data of Seat detection or seat occupancy recognition mitübertrag so that it is ensured that at the moment of starting, this was done by the driver. Similarly, the passenger or even people in the back seat can also receive an imprinted identifier to determine who operates certain buttons in the vehicle. This operation can then be done according to the invention without a transponder, which can have other effects on the switching functions.

It is often the case that the electromagnetic data receivers are supplied with energy by the electromagnetic carrier wave of a transmitter, which allows them to work and thus manage without an additional own power supply (passive transponder principle). According to the invention, this capability can be used to supply energy to an electromagnetic data receiving module via a magnetic wave, but to allow the actual information to be capacitive when approaching through the auxiliary input according to the invention. This is done in a simple way, since the supplying electromagnetic wave then contains no modulated data signal, while this is very well the case with the capacitive alternating field. This seems particularly interesting for use in door closers which, by their very nature, can not be supplied with stationary energy because they are in a moving door. Using a kind of transformer bridge, this module could be constantly supplied with energy. When approaching a person with an identification transmitter on the body (Fig. 1) then the alternating electric field would be fed capacitively (of course, with authentication data), decoded and lead to the opening of the door. This also seems very advantageous in relation to the small dimensions of today's door locks. Since the transmitted signals may contain arbitrary data, it is possible to transmit sensibility data of human bodies as they approach the circuit according to the invention, e.g. Heartbeat, ECG, EEG, pulse, temperature, respiration etc.

One embodiment of this is, for example, that a security guard with a patch near the heart is applied, which is able to record his heart rate and skin resistance (possibly breathing) and modulated on a carrier frequency again capacitively attributed to the skin of the guard. Does the security guard now his round, eg with usual Transpondertags, which he Control points holds, in addition to this identification number of the day at the same time data additionally transmitted, in addition to a biological statement on the condition of the security guard can also contain an ID number. If this transponder, which could be on a keychain, now stolen, it is not possible for third parties to deliver a satisfactory control signal on this door, as a downstream electronics can determine the elimination of the information specific to the security guard. If the guard were forced by force of arms to do his tour exactly, he can do so, but due to human behavior in stress he will only be able to do so with increased heart rate, sweating and thus reduced skin resistance and irregular breathing, which is his fear can reflect. This emotional behavior is detected by the additional input of the circuit according to the invention and communicated to the controller, so that a silent alarm can occur. Ideally, a deart application according to the invention also for flight personnel, since all persons of the crew are in a raid of terrorists alike in a state of shock, which must be decodable, without recognizing is.t how the transmission to switching elements has been done.

Use of the invention in telephones, in particular mobile telephones

The mobile phone is the trend towards near field communication (NFC), the mobile phone an electromagnetic data receiver is to be housed, which is to be held on transponder chips, etc. or other electromagnetic data sources and as a result of this approach special information on the phone system the mobile phone user acoustically and or audiovisual. With the aid of the invention, it is now possible to hold the phone in one hand and to touch objects with the other hand or to approach those who have small encoders in the form of oscillators with aufmodulierten ID numbers. These can be small stickers glued on product plots. When approaching by hand, the data-modulated alternating field is first fed to the skin of the consumer and then into the cell phone he is holding to the auxiliary input of the original electromagnetic data receiver circuit. The information can thus be given when a consumer chooses a product and deliberately touches on it To get information. This forms a special form of "selfscanning" that has been rejected by consumers in the past, as it is well-known that barcode or infrared or Bluetooth systems have not prevailed in the retail sector because a consumer prefers to handle the goods rather than bringing readers to them Problem in an advantageous manner, without affecting the actual function of the data receiver.

Extended functional possibilities of the solution according to the invention

In addition, it is possible to change an electromagnetic data receiver by changing its reception frequency, which is simple (see Fig. 4) e.g. by an additional capacitor (Cx) can be set to a different reception frequency for the fed by the alternating electric field data signal. This is useful in sequential circuits, where an electromagnetic data receiver is first activated by an alternating field signal to then switch to its intended function. Of course, this process is also reversible. This application according to the invention can also be used in bidirectionally operating systems.

Investigation and use of suitable building blocks

Suitable electromagnetic data receiver, which can be applied without much effort by the circuit according to the invention, there are in abundance. By way of example may be mentioned: decoding modules for DCF time signals, as known from radio clocks and other AM or FM data receiver, activation modules for transponder systems (wake-up sequence) or transponder base stations and other forms of transponder readers, in particular with Coils and capacitors can form a selective element at the input, DTMF devices capable of converting two- or multi-tone frequencies into switching operations when they appear at the input at a suitable level. Normally these components are also magnetically coupled, sometimes they have an acoustic input. Such a device can also be used by the circuit according to the invention. It is even possible to record voice or sound signals on the encoder side and via the thus modulated alternating electric field supply the inventive additional input of the data receiving block. Especially this additional feature could be of particular importance for mobile phones, as can be used without much effort, the already existing technology to much enhanced comfort and security features.

Of particular importance is that so far, the mentioned electromagnetic data receiving blocks have always been used only their intended use, because it is absolutely new that they can be fed without any additional use, the state-of-the-art and current near-field communication and data transfer over the skin in personal area networks comfortably supported. This is also of particular economic importance, since the cost of electronic devices are increasingly falling and no increased effort for such comfort features must be operated when the circuit according to the invention is used and the block is available as an added benefit. In addition to check cards, the design and execution of the donors also offers key rings, accommodation in portable entertainment devices and mobile telephones. In many cases, they also have the opportunity to generate the required signals. For example, it is possible for a microcontroller to generate and output a modulated frequency (e.g., PWM). This is of particular importance since such signals may contain information that has been fed through the device, e.g. in the case of a mobile telephone which downloads data identifying via its network, it capacitively imprints it on the skin of a user who can then feed this information back into a local area of the electromagnetic data receiver acted upon by the invention. This can be done during a self-determined, selective action and also requires no additional effort from the user, which therefore seems most comfortable.

Claims

claims

A circuit arrangement for processing a data transfer with a first interface system for receiving a signal event transmitted by electromagnetic means into the region of the first interface system, and a signal processing circuit coupled to the first interface system for generating an output signal sequence based on the received signal event, characterized by a second interface system for receiving a signal event which has been transmitted in the region of the second interface system on a field-electric (quasi-static) path, wherein the second interface system is functionally integrated in the first interface system.

2. Circuit device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second interface system is integrated into the first interface system in such a way that the signal events recorded by the second interface system are accomplished via a port structure of the signal processing circuit serving to couple the first interface device.

3. Circuit device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeicnnet that over one of the two interface systems, a switch function is realized, which temporarily gives priority to a signal variant.

4. Circuit device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two interface systems are coupled via a switching device and the switching state of the switch device is determined by features of an interface device, or both interface systems received signal event.

5. Circuit device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the signal processing circuit is realized by with regard to the signal evaluation of reception events of the first interface system standard components.

6. Circuit device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the two interface systems are integrated into a mobile phone.

7. Circuit device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mobile phone is designed and configured such that information used for the function release, the communication cost accounting, and / or the user identification is obtained via the second interface system.

8. Circuit device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transfer of provided for transmission via the second interface system signal events in the receiving area by coupling corresponding signal events in a user, or its vicinity is carried out by field electrical means.

9. A mobile communication device, in particular a mobile telephone with a first interface system for carrying out a data transfer based on electromagnetic interaction effects (radio-based) and a second interface system for carrying out a data transfer based on field-electrical interaction effects, wherein the device is designed and configured such that on the basis of the second interface system received information of the information content of the processed via the first interface system data transfer is determined.

10. A mobile telephone according to claim 9, characterized in that in dependence on the information content of the signals provided via the second interface system, a function activation, a user identification, and / or a user profile information, and / or a booking data information is obtained.