JP2000261231A - Antenna device and non-contact ic card reader device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent plural times of charge reception from an IC card due to plural times of electromagnetic coupling between the antenna face of a card reader and an IC card in the movement of the IC card along the antenna face of the card reader. SOLUTION: Pattern of antenna coils 16B of a card reader 1 is formed so that their intervals may be d4, d3, d2, and d1 (d4>d3>d2>d1) in order from the peripheral part toward a center part 01. Thus, an oscillating magnetic field generated from an antenna substrate 16A of the card reader 1 is canceled in patterns 161 to 163 of antenna coils because antenna coils in these patterns are coarsely arranged (figure (b)), and the intensity of the magnetic field there is weak as shown by a section D1 (figure (c)). Consequently, an IC card 2 is not electromagnetically coupled to the card reader 1. In a pattern 164 of antenna coils closely arranged on the side of the center part 01, the intensity of the magnetic field is strong as shown by a section D2 (figure (c)) because the magnetic field in a certain direction is generated in the center part 01, and the card 2 is electromagnetically coupled to the card reader only in this section D2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antenna device and a non-contact IC card reader wirelessly connected to a non-contact IC card via the antenna device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vending machines and the like have been selling goods by using IC cards storing value information. In many cases, a non-contact type of such an IC card and an IC card reader provided in a vending machine and reading and writing value information of the IC card are electromagnetically coupled to each other via an antenna.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an upper surface of an antenna pattern of an IC card reader, and shows an antenna coil 16B.
Are formed on the antenna substrate at a fixed interval d1 on four sides around the point O1 at a fixed distance d from the center point O1.

Here, the antenna substrate 16A shown in FIG.
In the sectional view of FIG.
1, the direction of the current flowing through the antenna coil 16B is defined as the direction from the front surface to the back surface, and the direction of the current flowing through the portion 16B2 of the antenna coil 16B is defined as
From the antenna of the card reader, a counterclockwise magnetic field H is generated around the portion 16B1 of the antenna coil 16B and a clockwise magnetic field H is generated around the portion 16B2 of the antenna coil 16B.

When an IC card 2 having a similar antenna pattern is placed on the antenna pattern of such an IC card reader, an antenna coil (not shown) of the IC card 2 is generated by the IC card reader as shown in FIG. And a current is induced in the antenna coil of the IC card 2 by the magnetic field.

Power is supplied from the IC card reader to the IC card 2 by such electromagnetic induction. When the IC card 2 to which power is supplied subsequently transmits a data transmission request from the IC card reader, the IC card 2 transmits data such as value information stored therein to the IC card reader,
When the balance of the value information transmitted from the card reader via the antenna coil 16B is received, the balance data is stored and the value information is rewritten.

[0007]

By the way, the IC card 2 is placed on the antenna substrate 16A of the IC card reader as shown in FIG.
When the IC card 2 is moved in the horizontal direction as shown in (a), the IC card 2 receives a magnetic field in the downward direction in the figure from the IC card reader side, receives a magnetic field in the upward direction at the position,
Further, the position receives a downward magnetic field. For this reason,
When the IC card 2 exists at each of the positions 1 to 5, the IC card 2 can perform data communication by electromagnetically coupling with the IC card reader side.

On the other hand, when the IC card 2 is located at a position as shown in FIG. 5B, the IC card reader receives a magnetic field of the same intensity from both the upper side and the lower side in FIG. The magnetic field received from the card reader is canceled. Therefore, when the IC card 2 is located at the position shown in FIG. 5B, data communication with the IC card reader cannot be performed.

Therefore, when the IC card 2 is slowly moved in the order of →→→→ in FIG.
As described above, the card 2 can communicate with the IC card reader at three positions in the drawing, and read / write is performed from the IC card reader side. Therefore, this I
In the case where the price (value information) of the purchased article is deducted by performing the data communication as described above with the IC card reader provided in the vending machine, for example, one vending machine is provided to the user. In contrast, the vending machine's IC card reader causes a problem that value information equivalent to the purchase price of up to three items is deducted from the user's IC card. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems when the IC card is moved along the antenna arrangement surface of the IC card reader, and to improve the reliability of the IC card reader.

[0010]

In order to solve such a problem, an antenna device according to the present invention is characterized in that an antenna coil pattern is formed as an arrangement pattern in which a strong oscillating magnetic field is generated at only one point. Can be Also, the antenna coil pattern is formed with a close arrangement interval on the center side and a coarse arrangement interval on the peripheral side. In addition, the first distance from the center is a first position having a first distance.
The pattern of the antenna coil, which is formed in a loop at intervals of and generates an oscillating magnetic field based on the energization, is set to a second position having a second distance whose distance from the center is shorter than the first distance and a first distance. Between the first and second positions having a second distance longer than the first distance and having a third distance shorter than the second distance from the center. Then, they are formed at the first interval. In this case, the antenna coil pattern may be formed so that the arrangement interval is sequentially reduced from the first position to the second position. Here, the second interval is approximately 20 times the first interval. Also, the present invention comprises an antenna substrate and a first antenna coil pattern formed in a loop on the antenna substrate and generating an oscillating magnetic field based on energization. In an IC card reader device wirelessly connected to an IC card having a pattern of a second antenna coil for generating a current, the pattern of the first antenna coil is formed as an arrangement pattern in which a strong oscillating magnetic field is generated at only one point. Then, when the IC card reader device detects a wireless connection with the second antenna coil pattern of the IC card through the first antenna coil pattern, the non-contact IC card is detected through the first antenna coil pattern. This is to communicate with. Also, the pattern of the first antenna coil of the IC card reader device is formed such that the arrangement interval is dense on the center side and the arrangement interval is coarse on the peripheral side. A first antenna coil pattern of an IC card reader device that is formed in a loop at a first interval at a first distance from the center and has a first distance and generates an oscillating magnetic field based on energization. A second distance from the center shorter than the first distance
Between the second position having the first distance and the first position having the first distance are formed at a second interval longer than the first interval, and the third distance from the center is shorter than the second distance. Are formed at a first interval between the third position and the second position having a distance of. In this case, the pattern of the first antenna coil may be formed so that the arrangement interval is gradually reduced in the direction from the first position to the second position. Also, the second interval is approximately 20 times the first interval.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an IC card reader to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the IC card reader 1 is a non-contact type IC card reader that is electromagnetically coupled to an IC card 2, and includes a CPU 11, a gate array 12, a transmitting unit 13, a receiving unit 14, a matching circuit 15, And an antenna unit 16.

Here, the transmitting unit 13 always keeps the matching circuit 1
When the antenna unit 16 oscillates via the gate array 5 and data is input from the CPU 11 via the gate array 12, the data is transmitted to the IC card 2 via the matching circuit 15 and the antenna unit 16. Further, the receiving unit 14 is provided with an IC through the antenna unit 16 and the matching circuit 15.
When data from the card 2 is received, the received data is sent to the CPU 11 via the gate array 12. The matching circuit 15 is a circuit that performs matching so that the impedance of the antenna unit 16 becomes constant when the IC card 2 is electromagnetically coupled to the antenna unit 16. Antenna unit 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a circuit in which an antenna coil and a capacitor are connected in parallel. The circuit 6 oscillates by the inductance L of the antenna coil and the capacitor C to generate an oscillating magnetic field and generate an induced voltage on the IC card 2 side.

On the other hand, the non-contact type IC card 2 electromagnetically coupled to the IC card reader 1 includes a CPU 21
A memory 22 for storing value information and the like, and a wireless circuit 2 having the same configuration as the transmitting unit and the receiving unit of the IC card reader 1
3 and an antenna unit 24. Here, when the user performs shopping or the like and places the IC card 2 on the antenna unit 16 of the IC card reader 1 for payment of the price,
Power is supplied from the IC card reader 1 to each section of the IC card 2 by electromagnetically coupling the antenna section 16 of the IC card reader 1 and the antenna section 24 of the IC card 2.

When the CPU 21 of the IC card 2 is supplied with power and activated, the wireless circuit 23 and the antenna unit 2
A response signal is sent to the IC card reader 1 via the communication device 4. This response signal is sent to the antenna unit 1 of the IC card reader 1.
6, received by the receiving unit 14 via the matching circuit 15, and further transmitted from the receiving unit 14 to the CPU 11 via the gate array 12. The CPU 11 of the IC card reader 1 uses an IC
By inputting a response signal from the card 2, the wireless connection of the IC card 2 is detected.
Request for transmission of value information. The transmission request information is transmitted to the transmission unit 13 via the gate array 12, and further transmitted from the transmission unit 13 to the IC card 2 via the matching circuit 15 and the antenna unit 16. CPU2 of IC card 2
When the transmission request information is input via the antenna section 24 and the wireless circuit 23, the information 1 reads the value information in the memory 22 and transmits the value information to the IC card reader 1 side.

When the CPU 11 of the IC card reader 1 inputs the value information of the IC card 2, the CPU 11 subtracts the purchase price from the value information and transfers the remaining amount information to the gate array 12.
Is sent to the transmission unit 13 via. Then, the balance information is transmitted from the transmission unit 13 via the matching circuit 15 and the antenna unit 16 to the I
It is transmitted to the C card 2 side. CPU 21 of IC card 2
When the balance information is input via the antenna unit 24 and the wireless circuit 23, the balance information is stored in the memory 22. Note that the memory 22 of the IC card 2 is a memory that can be electrically written and erased, and the value information of the memory 22 is retained even when power is not supplied from the IC card reader 1.

FIG. 2 shows an antenna unit 1 of an IC card reader.
6 is a diagram showing a configuration of FIG. The antenna section 16 of the IC card reader 1 has a configuration in which an antenna coil 16B and a capacitor 16C are connected in parallel as shown in FIG. 2A, like the antenna section 24 of the IC card 2. Here, when the antenna unit 24 of the IC card 2 is electromagnetically coupled to the constantly oscillating (LC oscillation) antenna unit 16 of the IC card reader 1, the antenna coil and the capacitor connected in parallel perform LC oscillation. The oscillating voltage is supplied to each part of the IC card 2 as a power source, and when transmission data from the IC card reader 1 is received, this data is transmitted to the CP.
When the data is transmitted to the U21 side and data is input from the CPU 21, the data is transmitted to the IC card reader 1 side.

FIG. 2B is a top view showing an arrangement pattern of the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1. As shown in FIG. 2B, the antenna coil 16B is printed in a rectangular pattern on the antenna substrate 16A with the point O1 as the center. Note that a pattern may be printed in a circle around the point O1. Then, the antenna coil 16B is
D4, d3, d in order from the peripheral portion to the central portion O1
2, a pattern is printed on the antenna substrate 16A so that d1 (d4>d3>d2> d1). That is, the antenna coil 16B is arranged so that the pattern interval is gradually reduced from the peripheral portion toward the central portion O1.
A pattern is printed on A.

Here, in FIG. 2B, when the communication distance between the IC card 2 and the IC card reader 1 is set to 20 mm, the outer size of the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1 is 50-60 mm,
The size of the outer shape of the antenna coil pattern (not shown) of the IC card 2 is substantially the same. The pattern arrangement intervals d3 and d4 of the antenna coil 16B are 5 to 10 mm,
The pattern arrangement interval d2 is 1 mm, and the pattern arrangement interval d1
Is 0.3 to 0.5 mm. In FIG. 2B, x1 is the first position, x2 is the second position, and x3 is the third position.
In this embodiment, the distance from the center O1 to the third position x3 is 10 mm. here,
Between the first position x1 and the second position x2, the antenna coils 16B are arranged in a pattern at an interval d4, and between the second position x2 and the third position x3, the conventional antenna coil shown in FIG. The patterns may be arranged at a pattern arrangement interval d1 (0.3 to 0.5 mm).

As described above, the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1 is arranged in a pattern from the peripheral portion (that is, the first position) to the center portion O1 in order from coarse to dense. As will be described later, the generated magnetic fields cancel each other out between the patterns of the antenna coils arranged in the portion, so that the magnetic fields are weak. Instead, a magnetic field in a certain direction is generated, resulting in a strong magnetic field. Therefore, when the IC card 2 is moved along the surface on which the antenna pattern of the IC card reader 1 is disposed, the IC card 2 and the IC card reader 1 are moved once at the center point O1 of the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1. Communication is performed by electromagnetic coupling. As a result, I
The conventional problem that the C card 2 and the IC card reader 1 are electromagnetically coupled three times, communication is performed each time, and the value information for three times is deducted is avoided, and the reliability of the IC card reader 1 can be improved. it can.

FIG. 3 is a diagram more specifically showing the state of generation of a magnetic field of the antenna coil 16B having the shape shown in FIG. 2B. Here, in FIG. 3B, the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1 shown in FIG.
The antenna coil patterns 161 and 16 shown in FIG.
2 and 163, the arrangement intervals are coarse. When the antenna coil patterns 161, 162, and 163 are energized, as shown in FIG. An upward and downward magnetic field is generated. Therefore, the patterns 161 and 161 of each antenna coil
The magnetic fields generated from the antenna patterns 162, 163 are canceled by the magnetic fields generated from the adjacent antenna coil patterns.
The magnetic field intensity generated by 163 becomes weak as shown in section D1 of FIG.

On the other hand, in the pattern group 164 of a plurality of antenna coils densely arranged on the side of the center portion O1 of the antenna coil 16B, the energization thereof causes the center portion O1 to move in a certain direction (upward) in FIG. Direction). Therefore, a strong magnetic field is generated as shown in a section D2 in FIG. Therefore, when the IC card 2 is moved along the antenna substrate 16A of the IC card reader 1 having the antenna pattern as shown in FIG.
Is electromagnetically coupled to the IC card reader 1 only by the oscillating magnetic field generated in the central portion O1 of the IC card reader. With this, IC card 2
Power is supplied to the IC card reader 1, and the IC card reader 1 can communicate with the IC card 2 supplied with power to withdraw value information from the IC card 2. In this embodiment, the communication distance between the IC card 2 and the IC card reader 1 is 20 m.
m, the pattern arrangement interval of the antenna coil 16B of the IC card reader 1 is set to the arrangement interval as described above.
6B is also changed.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the antenna coil is formed as an arrangement pattern in which a strong oscillating magnetic field is generated at only one point. And the antenna coil pattern in which an induced current is generated by the oscillating magnetic field is provided on the IC card, and the IC card is slowly moved along the antenna mounting surface of the IC card reader. In addition, the IC card reader and the IC card can be electromagnetically coupled exactly once. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem that the electromagnetic coupling is performed a plurality of times between the IC card and the IC card reader and the value information is debited from the IC card each time as in the conventional example. As a result, the reliability of the IC card reader is improved. it can. In addition, the antenna coil pattern
Since the arrangement interval is formed densely on the center side and coarsely arranged on the peripheral side, the IC card reader and the IC card can be electromagnetically coupled exactly once similarly. Also,
A pattern of an antenna coil which is formed in a loop at a first interval at a first position having a first distance from the center and generates an oscillating magnetic field based on energization, and a first distance from the center is a first distance. A second position having a second distance shorter than the distance and a first position having the first distance are formed at a second distance longer than the first distance, and the distance from the center is the second distance.
Is formed at the first interval between the third position having the third distance shorter than the distance and the second position, the electromagnetic coupling between the IC card reader and the IC card can be performed exactly once similarly. . Also, the pattern of the antenna coil is
Since the arrangement interval is sequentially reduced in the direction from the first position to the second position, the magnetic field generated from the pattern of each antenna coil disposed between the first position and the second position is similarly reduced. Since the strong magnetic field can be generated only at the center of the antenna coil by canceling out the weak magnetic field, when the IC card is slowly moved along the antenna coil mounting surface of the IC card reader, the IC card reader uses its own antenna coil. The value information can be withdrawn once by electromagnetic coupling with the IC card at the center of the IC card reader. As a result, the reliability of the IC card reader is similarly improved. Further, since the second arrangement interval is set to be approximately 20 times the first arrangement interval, the magnetic field generated from the antenna coil pattern having the second arrangement interval can be accurately canceled to be a weak magnetic field. Also, I
The pattern of the first antenna coil of the C card reader is
When the IC card reader detects a wireless connection with the pattern of the second antenna coil of the IC card via the pattern of the first antenna coil, the first pattern is formed. Communication with the IC card through the antenna coil pattern of the IC card reader, the IC card reader can accurately communicate with the IC card and read or rewrite once, for example, the value information stored in the IC card. Can be. Also, since the pattern of the first antenna coil of the IC card reader is formed with a close arrangement interval on the center side and a coarse arrangement interval on the peripheral side, the IC card reader also accurately communicates with the IC card. To read and rewrite the value information stored in the IC card, for example, once.
Further, the pattern of the first antenna coil of the IC card reader is formed at a second interval longer than the first interval between the first position and the second position, and the second position and the third position are formed. Similarly, since the IC card reader is formed at the first interval, the IC card reader communicates appropriately with the IC card to read and rewrite, for example, the value information stored in the IC card in one time.
Times can be done. In addition, since the pattern of the first antenna coil of the IC card reader is formed so that the arrangement interval is sequentially reduced in the direction from the first position to the second position, the IC card reader and the IC card can be accurately and similarly. By performing communication, for example, reading or rewriting of the value information stored in the IC card can be performed once. Further, since the second arrangement interval is set to be approximately 20 times the first arrangement interval, the IC card reader similarly performs accurate communication with the IC card to read or rewrite the value information stored in the IC card, for example. Can be performed once.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a non-contact type IC card reader to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an antenna unit of the non-contact type IC card reader (FIG. 2A), and a diagram showing an arrangement pattern of antenna coils of the antenna unit (FIG. 2B).
It is.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a magnetic field generated from an antenna unit of the non-contact type IC card reader.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an antenna pattern of an antenna unit of a conventional non-contact type IC card reader (FIG. 4A), and a diagram showing a state of a magnetic field generated from the antenna unit (FIG.
FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the intensity of a magnetic field generated from the antenna unit (FIG. 4C).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a malfunction of a conventional non-contact type IC card reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Non-contact type IC card reader, 2 ... Non-contact type IC card, 11, 21 ... CPU, 13 ... Transmission part, 14 ... Reception part, 15 ... Matching circuit, 16, 24 ... Antenna part, 16A
... Antenna board, 16B ... Antenna coil, 161-1
64: antenna coil pattern, 22: memory, 23
... wireless circuits.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An antenna device having an antenna coil pattern formed in a loop and generating an oscillating magnetic field based on energization, wherein the antenna coil pattern is an arrangement pattern in which a strong oscillating magnetic field is generated at only one point. An antenna device, comprising: 2. An antenna device comprising an antenna coil pattern which is formed in a loop around a central portion and generates an oscillating magnetic field based on energization, wherein the antenna coil pattern has a close arrangement interval on the central portion side. The antenna device is characterized in that the arrangement interval is formed coarsely on the peripheral side at a position distant from the center. 3. An antenna device having an antenna coil pattern formed in a loop shape at a first interval at a first distance from a center portion at a first distance and generating an oscillating magnetic field based on energization. The pattern of the antenna coil may be configured such that a distance from the center to a second position having a second distance shorter than the first distance and a second distance longer than the first distance between the second position and the first position. And an antenna formed at the first interval between a third position having a third distance shorter than the second distance from the center and the second position. apparatus. 4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern of the antenna coil is formed so that an arrangement interval is sequentially shortened in a direction from the first position to the second position. 5. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the second interval is approximately 20 times the first interval. 6. An antenna substrate and a pattern of a first antenna coil formed in a loop on the antenna substrate and generating an oscillating magnetic field when energized, and formed in a loop and receiving the oscillating magnetic field for induction. Second to generate current
In the non-contact type IC card reader device wirelessly connected to the non-contact type IC card provided with the antenna coil pattern, the first antenna coil pattern is an arrangement pattern in which a strong oscillating magnetic field is generated only at one point. Detecting means for detecting a wireless connection with the pattern of the second antenna coil of the non-contact type IC card via the pattern of the first antenna coil; And a communication means for communicating with the non-contact type IC card via the antenna coil pattern. 7. An antenna substrate, comprising: a first antenna coil pattern formed on the antenna substrate in a loop around a central portion and generating an oscillating magnetic field based on energization; In a non-contact type IC card reader device wirelessly connected to a non-contact type IC card having a pattern of a second antenna coil generating an induced current by receiving a magnetic field, the pattern of the first antenna coil is The arrangement side is formed with a close arrangement interval, and the peripheral side at a position distant from the center is formed with a coarse arrangement interval, and the wireless connection with the pattern of the second antenna coil of the non-contact type IC card is performed by the second connection. Detecting means for detecting the wireless connection via the first antenna coil pattern; and detecting the wireless connection by the detecting means via the first antenna coil pattern. A non-contact type IC card reader device comprising: a communication means for communicating with the non-contact type IC card. 8. An antenna substrate, wherein a loop is formed at a first distance from a center on the antenna substrate at a first position having a first distance, and generates an oscillating magnetic field based on energization. Consisting of one antenna coil pattern,
A non-contact type IC card having a pattern of a second antenna coil which is formed in a loop at predetermined intervals at a distance from the center and has the first distance and which generates an induced current by receiving the oscillating magnetic field; In the non-contact type IC card reader device wirelessly connected, the pattern of the first antenna coil has a second distance having a second distance shorter than the first distance from the center.
And a third position formed at a second interval longer than the first interval and having a third distance shorter than the second distance between the first position and the first position. Detecting means formed at the first interval between the second positions, for detecting wireless connection with the pattern of the second antenna coil of the non-contact type IC card through the pattern of the first antenna coil; And a communication means for communicating with the non-contact type IC card via the pattern of the first antenna coil when the detection means detects the wireless connection. . 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the pattern of the first antenna coil is formed such that the arrangement interval is gradually reduced in the direction from the first position to the second position. Non-contact type IC card reader. 10. The non-contact type IC card reader according to claim 8, wherein the second interval is approximately 20 times the first interval.