JP2005253058A - Wireless tag communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless tag communication apparatus having a simple structure that can remove sneak signals from a transmitter end. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless tag communication apparatus includes: a first cancel signal output part 24 for outputting a first cancel signal for removing sneak signals included in reply signals transmitted from a transmitter end; a first cancel signal control part 26 for controlling the amplitude and phase of the first cancel signal outputted from the first cancel signal output part 24; a first cancel signal D/A converter part 54 for converting the first cancel signal to the analog signal; and a first signal combining part 58 for combining the first cancel signal as analog converted with a received signal. This eliminates the need for a phase shifter that controls the first cancel signal, and further facilitates the control thereof by use of digital signal processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a wireless tag communication device that performs communication with a wireless tag capable of wirelessly writing and reading information.

  2. Description of the Related Art An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system is known in which information is read out in a non-contact manner by a predetermined wireless tag communication device (interrogator) from a small wireless tag (responder) in which predetermined information is stored. This RFID system is capable of reading information stored in a wireless tag by communication with the wireless tag communication device even when the wireless tag is dirty or disposed at an invisible position. Therefore, practical use is expected in various fields such as merchandise management and inspection processes.

  By the way, normally, the wireless tag communication device transmits a predetermined transmission signal from the antenna toward the wireless tag, and receives a return signal returned from the wireless tag that has received the transmission signal by the antenna. Although information is communicated with the wireless tag, a strong sneak signal from the transmission side is mixed in the received reply signal, and the overall received signal strength increases. As a result, the allowable input intensity of the amplifier is exceeded, so that the received signal cannot be sufficiently amplified, and as a result, the return signal component cannot be sufficiently amplified, resulting in a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio. was there. Therefore, a technique for removing such a sneak signal from the transmission side has been proposed. For example, this is an interference compensation device for a mobile object identification device described in Patent Document 1.

JP-A-8-122429

  However, the removal of the sneak signal from the transmission side in the above-mentioned conventional technique is performed by analog processing exclusively for controlling the amplitude and phase of the compensation signal (cancellation signal) for removing the sneak signal. In addition to the need for an expensive and large phase shifter, there is a negative effect that it is difficult to control. In other words, a wireless tag communication apparatus having a simple configuration that can remove a sneak signal from the transmission side has not been developed yet.

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag communication device having a simple configuration capable of removing a sneak signal from the transmission side.

  In order to achieve such an object, the gist of the present invention is that a predetermined transmission signal is transmitted from an antenna toward a wireless tag and a reply signal returned from the wireless tag in response to the transmission signal is transmitted. A wireless tag communication device that communicates information with a wireless tag by receiving the signal from an antenna, and a first tag for removing a sneak signal from a transmission side included in a received signal received by the antenna A first cancel signal output unit that outputs the cancel signal as a digital signal; a first cancel signal control unit that controls the amplitude and / or phase of the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit; A first cancel signal D / A converter for analog-converting the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit; The Le signal D / A conversion unit and a first signal combining unit for combining the first cancellation signal and the reception signal converted to analog and is characterized in that it comprises.

  According to this configuration, the first cancellation signal output unit that outputs the first cancellation signal as a digital signal for removing the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal received by the antenna, and the first cancellation A first cancel signal control unit that controls the amplitude and / or phase of the first cancel signal output from the signal output unit; and a first cancel that performs analog conversion of the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit. The first cancel signal includes a signal D / A converter, and a first signal combiner that combines the first cancel signal analog-converted by the first cancel signal D / A converter and the received signal. In addition to eliminating the need for a phase shifter to control the signal, the amplitude and phase of the signal can be controlled by digital signal processing. It becomes easy. That is, it is possible to provide a wireless tag communication device with a simple configuration that can remove a sneak signal from the transmission side.

  Here, preferably, from the second cancel signal output unit that outputs a second cancel signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal as a digital signal, and the second cancel signal output unit A second cancel signal control unit that controls the amplitude and / or phase of the output second cancel signal, and a second cancel signal D / A that converts the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit into an analog signal. A conversion unit, and a second signal combining unit that combines the second cancel signal analog-converted by the second cancel signal D / A conversion unit and the first combined signal output from the first signal combining unit. It is a waste. In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be removed doubly, and the signal-to-noise ratio can be further increased.

  Preferably, the first cancel signal and the second cancel signal have different frequencies. In this way, a control signal corresponding to each frequency can be used, and control becomes easy.

  Preferably, an amplifying unit for changing an amplitude of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizing unit is included between the first signal synthesizing unit and the second signal synthesizing unit. By so doing, the first combined signal and the second cancel signal can be combined appropriately in the second signal combining unit. Further, since the received signal component can be amplified, the sensitivity is improved.

  Preferably, an amplifier for changing the amplitude of the second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer is also included. In this way, the second combined signal can be suitably converted during digital conversion or demodulation.

  Preferably, a reception signal amplitude detection unit that detects an amplitude of the reception signal is included, and the first cancellation signal control unit is based on the amplitude of the reception signal detected by the reception signal amplitude detection unit. The amplitude of the first cancel signal is controlled. In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed.

  Preferably, a first synthesized signal amplitude detector for detecting an amplitude of a first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer is provided, and the first cancel signal controller is configured to detect the first synthesized signal amplitude. The phase of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the amplitude of the first combined signal detected by the detection unit. In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed.

  Preferably, the second cancellation signal control unit controls the amplitude of the second cancellation signal based on the amplitude of the first combined signal detected by the first combined signal amplitude detection unit. . In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed.

  Preferably, a demodulator that demodulates the second combined signal output from the second signal combiner, and a DC component detector that detects a DC component of the demodulated signal output from the demodulator. The second cancellation signal control unit controls the phase of the second cancellation signal based on the DC component of the demodulated signal detected by the DC component detection unit. In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed.

  Preferably, a transmission digital signal output unit that outputs the transmission signal as a digital signal, a transmission signal D / A conversion unit that analog-converts the transmission signal output from the transmission digital signal output unit, A first synthesized signal A / D converter provided between the first signal synthesizer and the first synthesized signal amplitude detector for digitally converting a first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer; and the second A second synthesized signal A / D converter provided between the signal synthesizer and the demodulator for digitally converting the second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer; and a received signal for digitally converting the received signal An A / D converter, the first cancel signal D / A converter, the second cancel signal D / A converter, the transmission signal D / A converter, the first combined signal A / D converter, 2 Composite signal A / Conversion unit, and the received signal A / D converter is to use a common clock signal. In this way, fluctuations in the reference phase between the transmission signal and the reception signal can be prevented, and a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal can be suitably removed. In particular, in the method of performing demodulation or the like after down-converting the received signal to an intermediate frequency signal, a large low frequency component is generated in the demodulation result due to frequency fluctuations of the clock signal of the A / D converter and the intermediate frequency signal. Although there is an adverse effect, such an adverse effect can be eliminated by performing digital conversion and analog conversion using a common clock signal.

  Preferably, the correction signal output unit outputs a predetermined correction signal, and the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit is the frequency of the transmission signal analog-converted by the transmission signal D / A conversion unit. A first up converter that increases the frequency of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer, and a first down converter that lowers the frequency of the first synthesized signal output from the correction signal output unit by the frequency of the correction signal. It is a waste. In this way, it is possible to simplify the configuration and perform digital conversion of the first synthesized signal and analog conversion of the transmission signal by an inexpensive device.

  Preferably, a second down converter is included that lowers the frequency of the received signal by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit. In this way, the configuration can be further simplified, and the received signal can be digitally converted by an inexpensive apparatus.

  Preferably, the transmission digital signal output unit outputs the transmission signal based on a sine wave or cosine wave table in which sampling values corresponding to respective phases are stored in advance at predetermined sampling points. In this way, a transmission signal that is a digital signal can be output with a simple configuration.

  Preferably, the first cancellation signal output unit outputs the first cancellation signal based on the sine wave or cosine wave table, and the first cancellation signal control unit outputs the sine wave or The phase of the first cancel signal is controlled by changing the reading position of the cosine wave table. In this way, the first cancel signal, which is a digital signal, can be output with a simple configuration, and the phase of the first cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  Preferably, the first cancel signal control unit controls the amplitude of the first cancel signal by multiplying a digital signal output based on the sine wave or cosine wave table by a predetermined control value. Is. In this way, the amplitude of the first cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  Preferably, the second cancel signal output unit outputs the second cancel signal based on the sine wave or cosine wave table, and the second cancel signal control unit outputs the sine wave or The phase of the second cancel signal is controlled by changing the reading position of the cosine wave table. In this way, the second cancel signal, which is a digital signal, can be output with a simple configuration, and the phase of the second cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  Preferably, the second cancel signal control unit controls the amplitude of the second cancel signal by multiplying a digital signal output based on the sine wave or cosine wave table by a predetermined control value. Is. In this way, the amplitude of the second cancellation signal can be easily controlled.

  Preferably, the first cancellation signal control unit controls the amplitude and phase of the first cancellation signal based on the reception signal or the output of the second down converter, and outputs from the second signal synthesis unit. The phase of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the second synthesized signal. In this way, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed. Also, by determining the amplitude and phase in advance based on the received signal or the first combined signal in the initial setting of the first cancel signal, the time required for the subsequent phase control of the first cancel signal is shortened.

  Preferably, a third cancel signal output unit that outputs a third cancel signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal, and a third cancel signal output unit that outputs the third cancel signal. A third signal combining unit that combines the three cancellation signals and the received signal, and the first cancel signal control unit is configured to perform the first cancellation based on the third combined signal output from the third signal combining unit. It controls the amplitude of the signal. In this way, high sensitivity is achieved even when the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal is relatively large, or even when an unnecessary signal is mixed into the received signal due to reflection by surrounding objects, etc. In addition to being able to generate noise, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of noise by configuring the first signal combining unit to have a relatively small allowable input power.

  Preferably, the correction signal output unit hops the frequency of the correction signal. If it does in this way, it can prevent suitably preventing other communications which are not related to communications between the above-mentioned radio tags, and receiving interference from other communications.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system 10 to which the present invention is preferably applied. The communication system 10 includes a wireless tag communication device 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a plurality (four in FIG. 1) of wireless tags 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d (hereinafter simply referred to as wireless unless otherwise distinguished). (Referred to as tag 14). The RFID tag communication device 12 functions as an interrogator of the communication system 10, and the RFID tag 14 functions as a responder of the communication system 10. That is, when a carrier wave F _c1 that is a transmission signal is transmitted from the wireless tag communication device 12, the carrier waves F _c1 are received based on predetermined information in the wireless tags 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d that have received the carrier wave F _{c1. Are} reflected as reflected signals F _r1 , F _r2 , F _r3 , F _r4 (hereinafter simply referred to as reflected waves F _rf unless otherwise distinguished), and are returned by the RFID tag communication device 12. The reflected wave _rf is received and demodulated, whereby information is communicated with the wireless tag 14.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the RFID tag communication apparatus 12. The wireless tag communication device 12 communicates information with the wireless tag 14 to execute at least one of reading and writing of information with respect to the wireless tag 14, and outputs a transmission signal as a digital signal. Or a digital signal processor (DSP) 16 that executes digital signal processing such as demodulating a return signal from the wireless tag 14, and a transmission signal output from the DSP 16 is converted into an analog signal to be used as a carrier wave _Fc1. The transmission / reception circuit 18 executes processing such as transmission or reception of the reflected wave F _rf from the wireless tag 14, digital conversion, and supply to the DSP 16.

  The DSP 16 is a so-called microcomputer system that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and performs signal processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM while using a temporary storage function of the RAM. Is transmitted as a digital signal, a transmission digital signal output unit 20 that modulates the transmission digital signal output from the transmission digital signal output unit 20 based on a predetermined information signal (command), and the transmission signal A first cancel signal output unit 24 that outputs a first cancel signal based on the first cancel signal as a digital signal, and a first cancel signal that controls the amplitude A1 and / or phase φC1 of the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit 24 Signal controller 26 and second cancel based on the transmission signal A second cancel signal output unit 28 that outputs a signal as a digital signal, and a second cancel signal control unit 30 that controls the amplitude A2 and / or phase φC2 of the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit 28 A demodulator 32 that demodulates a received signal received by a transmission / reception antenna 52, which will be described later, a DC component detector 34 that detects a DC component (DC component) of the demodulated signal output from the demodulator 32, and the reception A received signal amplitude detector 36 for detecting the amplitude AR of the signal, a first synthesized signal amplitude detector 38 for detecting the amplitude AM1 of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer 58 described later, and a predetermined sampling point And functionally a function table 40 in which sampling values corresponding to the respective phases are stored in advance.

  The function table 40 is preferably a sine wave or cosine wave table in which sampling values corresponding to each phase are stored in advance at a predetermined sampling point, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the sine wave table. . In this function table 40, two values of “sinφ” and “sin (φ + 0.5π)” are stored in advance with respect to the initial phase “φ”. For example, “sinφ = “0” and “sin (φ + 0.5π) = 1” are stored, and “sinφ = 0.58779” and “sin (φ + 0.5π) = 0.80902” are stored for “φ = 0.2π”, respectively. Since “sin (φ + π) = − sinφ”, “sin (φ + π)” and “sin (φ + 1.5π)” can be read out from these two values, and “φ = 0”. For "0,1,0, -1,0,1,0, -1,0,1,0, -1, ...", the continuous value for "φ = 0.2π" is "0.58779,0.80902, -0.58779, -0.80902, 0.58779, 0.80902, -0.58779, -0.80902, 0.58779, 0.80902, -0.58779, -0.80902, ... "are read out. These continuous values generate a predetermined sine wave signal. In order to change the phase of the sine wave signal, the read position in the function table 40 may be changed. To change the amplitude, the read sine wave signal is multiplied by a predetermined control value. Therefore, the transmission digital signal output unit 20, the first cancel signal output unit 24, and the second cancel signal output unit 28 can output an arbitrary sine wave signal based on the function table 40.

The transmission / reception circuit 18 includes a transmission signal D / A conversion unit 42 that converts a transmission digital signal output from the modulation unit 22 into an analog signal, a correction signal output unit 44 that outputs a predetermined correction signal, and the transmission signal. A first up-converter 46 that increases the frequency of the transmission signal converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 42 by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44, and the output from the first up-converter 46 A first amplifying unit 48 that amplifies the transmission signal to be transmitted and changes its amplitude, and a transmission signal output from the first amplifying unit 48 is supplied to the transmission / reception antenna 52 via the transmission / reception separator 50 and the transmission / reception thereof A return signal (received signal including a sneak signal from the transmission side) received from the wireless tag 14 received by the antenna 52 is sent to the first signal combining unit 58 and A transceiver separator 50 supplies the 2 downconverter 74, and transmits a transmission signal supplied through the transmission and reception separator 50 as the carrier wave F _c1, and receives the reflected wave F _rf from the wireless tag 14 above A transmission / reception antenna 52 supplied to the transmission / reception separator 50, a first cancellation signal D / A conversion unit 54 for converting the first cancellation signal output from the first cancellation signal output unit 24 into an analog signal, and the first cancellation A second up-converter 56 for increasing the frequency of the first cancellation signal converted into an analog signal by the signal D / A converter 54 by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44, and the second up-converter The first cancel signal output from 56 and the transmission / reception separator 52 are supplied from the transmission / reception antenna 52. A first signal synthesizing unit 58 for synthesizing the received signal; a second amplifying unit 60 for amplifying the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizing unit 58 to change its amplitude AM1; A first down converter 62 that lowers the frequency of the first synthesized signal output from the unit 60 by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44, and a first output from the second cancel signal output unit 28. 2 from the second cancel signal D / A converter 64 that converts the cancel signal into an analog signal, the second cancel signal converted into the analog signal by the second cancel signal D / A converter 64, and the first down converter 62 A first signal output from the second signal combiner 66 for combining the output first combined signal (which may be amplified if necessary) and the first down converter 62. A third amplifying unit 68 that amplifies the signal and changes its amplitude AM1, and a first synthesized signal output from the third amplifying unit 68 is digitally converted and supplied to the first synthesized signal amplitude detecting unit 38. A first synthesized signal A / D converter 70; a second synthesized signal A / D converter 72 that digitally converts the second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer 66 and supplies the second synthesized signal to the demodulator 32; A second down converter 74 that lowers the frequency of the received signal supplied via the transmission / reception separator 50 by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44, and the second down converter 74 that outputs the second down converter 74. A received signal A / D converter 76 that digitally converts the received signal to be supplied to the received signal amplitude detector 36, and a clock signal output unit 78 that outputs a predetermined clock signal. . The clock signal output unit 78 preferably supplies a clock signal to the transmission signal D / A conversion unit 42, and also includes the first cancellation signal D / A conversion unit 54 and the second cancellation signal D / A conversion unit. 64, at least one of the first combined signal A / D converter 70, the second combined signal A / D converter 72, and the received signal A / D converter 76, and more preferably, the transmission signal D A clock signal common to the / A converter 42 is supplied. The received signal A / D converter 76 is preferably a converter having a smaller number of bits than the converter used in the first combined signal A / D converter 70 and the like. According to such a converter, there is an advantage that components relating to modulation by the wireless tag 14 can be ignored. As the correction signal output unit 44, an oscillator that oscillates a frequency in the vicinity of 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz is preferably used. As the transmission / reception separator 50, a circulator or a directional coupler is generally used.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless tag circuit 14 a provided in the wireless tag 14. The wireless tag circuit 14a receives a carrier wave F _c1 that is a transmission signal from the wireless tag communication device 12, and also returns an antenna 80 that _returns a reflected wave F _rf that is a return signal, and a signal connected to the antenna 80. And a modulation / demodulation unit 82 for performing modulation and demodulation of the above and a digital circuit unit 84 for performing digital signal processing. The digital circuit unit 84 includes a control unit 86 that controls the operation of the RFID circuit 14a using the carrier wave _Fc1 received by the antenna 80 as an energy source, a subcarrier oscillation unit 88 that generates a subcarrier, and a subcarrier oscillation unit 88 that generates the subcarrier. A subcarrier modulation unit 90 that modulates the subcarrier generated by the carrier oscillation unit 88 based on a predetermined information signal input via the control unit 86.

Next, the communication operation of the communication system 10 configured as described above will be described. First, the transmission digital signal output unit 20 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 12 outputs a transmission signal that is a digital signal based on the function table 40. This transmission signal is, for example, a signal obtained by sampling a sine wave. Next, the transmission digital signal output from the transmission digital signal output unit 20 is modulated by the modulation unit 22. Next, the transmission digital signal modulated by the modulation unit 22 is converted into an analog signal by the transmission signal D / A conversion unit 42. Next, the frequency of the transmission signal converted into an analog signal by the transmission signal D / A converter 42 is increased by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44 by the first up-converter 46. Next, the amplitude of the transmission signal output from the first up-converter 46 is increased in the first amplifying unit 48. Next, the transmission signal output from the first amplifying unit 48 is supplied to the transmission / reception antenna 52 via the transmission / reception separator 50, and is transmitted from the transmission / reception antenna 52 to the wireless tag 14 as a carrier wave _Fc1. The

When the carrier wave F _c1 from the transmission / reception antenna 52 is received by the antenna 80 of the wireless tag 14, the carrier wave F _c1 is supplied to the modulation / demodulation unit 82 and demodulated. A part of the carrier wave F _c1 is rectified by a rectification unit (not shown), and the sub-carrier wave is output from the sub-carrier oscillation unit 88 using the carrier wave F _c1 as an energy source. Next, the subcarrier output from the subcarrier oscillating unit 88 is primarily modulated by the subcarrier modulating unit 90 based on a predetermined information signal input via the control unit 86. Next, the modulation / demodulation unit 82 secondarily modulates the carrier wave F _c1 by the primary modulated subcarrier output from the subcarrier modulation unit 90, and the reflected signal F _rf is transmitted from the antenna 80 as the reflected wave F _rf. Reply to 12 The wireless tag 14 may be configured as a wireless tag circuit 14b that does not use a subcarrier as shown in FIG. 4B. In this case, a signal passed from the control unit 86b to the modem unit 82b as a return signal from the wireless tag 14 needs to be modulated by FSK or PSK.

When the reflected wave F _rf from the wireless tag 14 is received by the transmission / reception antenna 52 of the wireless tag communication device 12, the reflected wave F _rf is received as a received signal via the transmission / reception separator 50. 58 and the second down converter 74. At this time, the transmission signal that wraps around to the reception side via the transmission / reception separator 50 is also supplied to the first signal synthesis unit 58 and the second down converter 74 simultaneously with the reception signal. FIG. 5A shows the waveform of the reception signal supplied to the first signal synthesis unit 58. Here, since the sneak signal is much larger than the reflected wave (reply signal), it can be seen in FIG. 5A that the amplitude modulation component is very small. The frequency of the reception signal supplied to the second down converter 74 is lowered by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44. FIG. 5B shows the waveform of the down-converted received signal output from the second down converter 74. Next, the down-converted received signal output from the second down converter 74 is digitally converted by the received signal A / D converter 76 and supplied to the received signal amplitude detector 36. Next, the reception signal amplitude detection unit 36 detects the amplitude AR of the reception signal, and the detection result is supplied to the first cancel signal control unit 26.

  Before and after the processing, the first cancel signal control unit 26 determines the phase φC1 and the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal, and the first cancel signal output unit 24 is a digital signal based on the function table 40. A first cancel signal is output. The amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal is preferably determined based on the amplitude AR of the reception signal supplied from the reception signal amplitude detector 36. For example, the amplitude of the received signal input to the first signal synthesis unit 58 is determined to be equal to the amplitude of the first cancel signal that has been converted to an analog signal and up-converted. Next, the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit 24 is converted into an analog signal by the first cancel signal D / A converter 54. Next, the frequency of the first cancel signal converted into an analog signal by the first cancel signal D / A converter 54 is only the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44 by the second up-converter 56. Enhanced. FIG. 5C shows the waveform of the up-converted first cancel signal output from the second up-converter 56. Next, the first cancellation signal output from the second up-converter 56 and the reception signal supplied via the transmission / reception separator 50 are combined by the first signal combining unit 58 and included in the reception signal. The sneak signal from the side is removed. FIG. 5D shows the waveform of the first combined signal output from the first signal combining unit 58. However, the amplitude is shown enlarged here. Actually, the amplitude is smaller than that in FIG. 5A because the sneak signal from the transmission side is removed, but the amplitude modulation component does not change. Therefore, when this signal is amplified by the second amplifying unit 60, FIG. The waveform of (d) is obtained. In this first composite signal, the amplitude modulation component is relatively large, and it can be seen that the sneak signal from the transmission side is removed as compared with the reception signal of FIG. Since the strength of the sneak signal from the transmission side is larger than the response signal strength of 14, the sneak signal still has a size that cannot be ignored. The amplitude of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizing unit 58 is changed by the gain G1 in the second amplifying unit 60. When the amplitude A1 and the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal are suitably determined, the signal strength is relatively lowered and the input signal to the first down converter 62 is reduced. The gain G1 is increased as appropriate. Here, the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is set to a predetermined initial value. Next, the frequency of the first synthesized signal output from the second amplifying unit 60 is lowered by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44 by the first down converter 62, and the second signal This is supplied to the synthesis unit 66 and the third amplification unit 68.

  FIG. 6A shows the waveform of the down-converted first composite signal output from the first down converter 62. The frequency of the clock signal output from the clock signal output unit 78 is preferably four times or an integer multiple of the frequency of the down-converted first synthesized signal (intermediate frequency signal). The amplitude of the first combined signal supplied to the third amplifying unit 68 is changed by the gain G2 in the third amplifying unit 68. Since the first synthesized signal output from the first down converter 62 becomes smaller as the removal of the sneak signal from the transmission side in the first signal synthesizing unit 58 proceeds, preferably, the third amplifying unit The gain G2 at 68 is sequentially increased accordingly. Next, the first synthesized signal output from the third amplifier 68 is digitally converted by the first synthesized signal A / D converter 70 and supplied to the first synthesized signal amplitude detector 38. Next, the first composite signal amplitude detector 38 detects the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal, and the detection result is supplied to the first cancel signal controller 26 and the second cancel signal controller 30. Preferably, based on the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal, the first cancel signal control unit 26 controls the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal so that the amplitude AM1 becomes as small as possible. . Preferably, the average value of the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal is determined to be as small as possible.

  Before and after the process, the second cancel signal control unit 30 determines the phase φC2 and the amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal, and the second cancel signal output unit 28 is a digital signal based on the function table 40. A second cancel signal is output. The amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal is preferably determined based on the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal supplied from the first composite signal amplitude detector 38. Preferably, the amplitude of the down-converted first combined signal input to the second signal combining unit 66 and the amplitude of the second cancel signal converted into an analog signal by the second cancel signal D / A conversion unit 64 are used. Are equal to each other. Next, the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit 28 is converted into an analog signal by the second cancel signal D / A conversion unit 64. FIG. 6B shows the waveform of the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal D / A converter 64. Next, the second cancel signal D / A converter 64 outputs the second cancel signal and the down-converted first composite signal supplied from the first down converter 62 by the second signal combiner 66. Then, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the first combined signal is removed. FIG. 6C shows the waveform of the second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer 66. In this second synthesized signal, the amplitude modulation component is relatively larger than the received signal in FIG. 5A and the first synthesized signal in FIG. 5D, and the sneak signal from the transmission side is removed. You can see that. The second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer 66 is digitally converted by the second synthesized signal A / D converter 72 and then supplied to the first cancel signal controller 26 and the demodulator 32. The Then, the demodulator 32 demodulates the second combined signal and reads the information signal of the wireless tag 14. Preferably, the first cancel signal control unit 26 controls the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal based on the second composite signal. Preferably, the second signal synthesis unit 66 also functions as a differential amplifier, and the input voltage to the second synthesis signal A / D conversion unit 72 is set to a suitable value. The gain G3 in the second signal combining unit 66 is changed.

  FIG. 6D shows the waveform of the demodulated signal output from the demodulator 32. The DC component detector 34 detects the DC component of the demodulated signal shown in FIG. 6D, and the detection result is supplied to the second cancel signal controller 30. This DC component corresponds to a sneak signal from the transmission side, and preferably, the second cancellation signal control unit 30 makes the second cancellation signal so that the amplitude D2 of the DC component is as small as possible. The phase φC2 of the signal is controlled. By the above communication operation, a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal is preferably removed, and highly sensitive communication is realized.

  FIGS. 7 to 12 are flowcharts for explaining a main part of the wraparound signal removal control operation from the transmission side by the DSP 16 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 12, which is repeatedly executed with a very short cycle time of about several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds. It is what is done.

  First, in step S1 of FIG. 7 (hereinafter, step is omitted), the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal and the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal are both set to zero. The gain G1 of the second amplifying unit 60 is set to 1. Next, in S <b> 2, it is determined whether or not command transmission is performed toward the wireless tag 14. An instruction as to whether or not to transmit a command is appropriately switched by an upper routine (not shown). If the determination in S2 is affirmative, the process from S5 onward is executed after the transmission signal is modulated with a predetermined command in S3 corresponding to the modulation unit 22, but the determination in S2 is negative. If so, in S4, the transmission signal is not modulated, and the processing from S5 onward is executed. In S5, the reception signal digitally converted by the reception signal A / D converter 76 is read out. Next, in S6 corresponding to the received signal amplitude detector 36, the amplitude AR of the received signal read in S5 is detected. Next, in S7, after the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal is determined, the processing from S8 onward in FIG. 8 is executed.

  In S8 of FIG. 8, the variables i, k, and X are all set to 0. Next, in S9, the function value stored in the function table 40 is read. Next, in S10, the function value read in S8 is multiplied by the amplitude A1 determined in S7. Next, in S11, the first synthesized signal digitally converted by the first synthesized signal A / D converter 70 is read out. Next, in S12, the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal read in S11 is detected. Next, in S13, it is determined whether or not the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal detected in S12 is equal to or less than a first predetermined value. That is, the range in which the input voltage to the first combined signal A / D converter 70 is determined to be at an appropriate level is set to be within the range of the first predetermined value or more and the second predetermined value or less. If the input voltage is initially too low, it is necessary to amplify. Therefore, if the determination in S13 is affirmative, whether or not the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is maximum is determined in S14. If the determination in S13 is negative, it is determined in S13 ′ whether or not the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal detected in S12 is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value. If the determination in S13 ′ is negative, the input voltage to the first combined signal A / D conversion unit 70 is at an appropriate level, so the processing from S21 onward in FIG. 9 is executed. If the determination is affirmative, that is, if the input voltage to the first combined signal A / D converter 72 is too large, whether or not the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is minimum in S18. Is judged. If the determination in S14 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is the maximum, the processing from S21 onward in FIG. 9 is executed, but the determination in S14 is denied. If it is determined that the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is not maximum, the variable X is divided by the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 in S15. Next, in S16, a predetermined value dG is added to the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68. Next, in S17, after the variable G is multiplied by the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68, the processes in and after S11 are executed again. If the determination in S18 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is minimum, the processing in S21 and subsequent steps in FIG. 9 is executed, but the determination in S18 is denied. If it is determined that the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is not the minimum, the variable X is divided by the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 in S19. Next, in S20, after a predetermined value dG is subtracted from the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68, the processing from S17 onward is executed again. Accordingly, the gain of the third amplifying unit 68 can be controlled so that the input signal amplitude (voltage) to the reception signal A / D conversion unit 76 is always an appropriate value. Even if the amplitude of the first synthesized signal output from 58 decreases due to the removal of the sneak signal, control can be performed with high sensitivity.

  In S21 of FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the variable i is zero. If the determination in S21 is affirmative, the variables X = AM1 and i = 1 are set in S22. After a predetermined value dφ is added to the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal in S23, FIG. The processes after S9 are executed again, but if the determination in S21 is negative, it is determined in S24 whether or not the variable X is larger than the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal. If the determination in S24 is affirmative, the variable X = AM1 is set in S25, and then the processing of S23 and subsequent steps is executed. If the determination in S24 is negative, the variable k is determined in S26. It is determined whether = 0. If the determination in S26 is affirmative, the variable k = 1 and the predetermined value dφ = −dφ are set in S27, and then the processing in S23 and subsequent steps is executed, but the determination in S26 is denied. In S28, the gain G2 of the third amplifying unit 68 is set to 1. After the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal is determined in S29, the processing from S30 in FIG. 10 is executed. By this series of processing, the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal can be controlled so that the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal is minimized.

  In S30 of FIG. 10, a predetermined value dG is added to the gain G1 of the second amplifying unit 60. Next, in S31, the first composite signal digitally converted by the first composite signal A / D converter 70 is read out. Next, in S32, the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal read in S31 is detected. Next, in S33, it is determined whether or not the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal detected in S32 has reached a predetermined value. If the determination in S33 is affirmative, after the amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal is determined in S35, the processing from S36 in FIG. 11 is executed, but the determination in S33 is denied. In S34, it is determined whether or not the gain G1 of the second amplifying unit is maximum. If the determination in S34 is negative, the processing from S30 is executed again. If the determination in S34 is positive, the processing from S35 is executed. By this series of processing, the reception signal from which the sneak signal is removed and the amplitude modulation component is relatively increased can be amplified at a high frequency by the second amplifying unit 60, so that it is possible to suppress the generation of noise and detect a highly sensitive reply signal. It becomes possible.

In S36 of FIG. 11, the variables i, k, and Y are all set to 0. Next, in S37, the function values stored in the function table 40 are read out. Next, in S38, the function value read in S37 is multiplied by the amplitude A2 determined in S35. Next, in S39, it is determined whether or not there is a demodulated signal output from the demodulator 32. If the determination in S39 is negative, it is determined in S40 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the determination in S40 is affirmative, it is determined that the wireless tag 14 has not transmitted a reply signal, so the processing from S2 in FIG. 7 is executed again, but the determination in S40 is denied. If YES, the processing from S39 is executed again. If the determination in S39 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that there is a demodulated signal output from the demodulator 32, the second combined signal is demodulated and demodulated in S41 corresponding to the demodulator 32. The signal is read out. Next, in S42 corresponding to the DC component detector 34, the amplitude D2 of the DC component of the demodulated signal is detected. Next, after the maximum amplitude AB _max of the demodulated signal is detected in S43, the maximum amplitude AB _max of the demodulated signal detected in S43 is a first predetermined value ( _what is the first predetermined value in FIG. 8) in S44. It is determined whether it is less than or equal to another value. That is, a range in which the input voltage to the second combined signal A / D converter 72 is determined to be at an appropriate level is set to be within a range not less than the first predetermined value and not more than the second predetermined value. If the input voltage is initially too low, it is necessary to amplify. If the determination in S44 is affirmative, in S45, whether or not the gain G3 of the second signal combining unit 66 is maximum. However, if the determination in S44 is negative, the maximum amplitude AB _max of the demodulated signal detected in S43 is determined to be a second predetermined value (separate from the second predetermined value in FIG. 8) in S44 ′. It is determined whether or not the value is equal to or greater than the value. If the determination in S44 ′ is negative, the processing from S52 onward in FIG. 12 is executed. If the determination in S44 ′ is affirmative, that is, the process to the second combined signal A / D converter 72 is performed. If the input voltage is too high, it is determined in S49 whether or not the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66 is minimum. If the determination in S45 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the gain G3 of the second signal synthesizer 66 is maximum, the processing from S52 onward in FIG. 12 is executed, but the determination in S45 is negative. If it is determined that the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66 is not the maximum, the variable Y is divided by the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66 in S46. Next, in S47, a predetermined value dG is added to the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66 to increase the amplification factor. Next, in S48, after the variable Y is multiplied by the gain G3 of the second signal synthesizer 66, the processing from S39 is executed again. If the determination in S49 is affirmative, that is, the input voltage to the second combined signal A / D converter 72 is within an appropriate range, and the gain G3 of the second signal combiner 66 is minimum. When the determination is made, the processing of S52 and subsequent steps in FIG. 12 is executed, but when the determination of S49 is negative, that is, when it is determined that the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66 is not minimum. In S50, the variable Y is divided by the gain G3 of the second signal synthesizer 66. In S51, the predetermined value dG is subtracted from the gain G3 of the second signal synthesizer 66 (the amplification factor has been lowered). ) After that, the processing from S48 is executed.

  In S52 of FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not the variable i = 0. If the determination in S52 is affirmative, the variables Y = D2 and i = 1 are set in S53, and after a predetermined value dφ is added to the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal in S54, The processing from S37 onward is executed again, but if the determination in S52 is negative, it is determined in S55 whether the variable Y is larger than the amplitude D2 of the DC component of the demodulated signal. If the determination in S55 is affirmative, the variable Y = D2 is set in S56 and then the processing of S54 and subsequent steps is executed. However, if the determination in S55 is negative, the variable k is determined in S57. It is determined whether = 0. If the determination in S57 is affirmative, in S58, the variable k = 1 and the predetermined value dφ = −dφ are set, and then the processing in S54 and subsequent steps is executed, but the determination in S57 is denied. In S59, after the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal is determined, the processes after S2 in FIG. 7 are executed again. Through this series of processing, the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal can be controlled so that the DC component D2 of the demodulated signal is minimized. In the above control, S7 and S29 correspond to the first cancel signal control unit 26, S35 and S59 correspond to the second cancel signal control unit 30, and S12 and S32 correspond to the first combined signal amplitude detection unit 38, respectively. .

  Here, in addition to the above-described configuration, correction means for correcting the phase change in the first signal synthesizing unit 58 and the second signal synthesizing unit 66 and the influence of the gain of the amplifying unit, particularly the amplitude, may be provided. Preferably, the correction amount is obtained in advance and stored in the storage device of the DSP 16. Further, after determining the amplitude and phase of the first cancellation signal and the second cancellation signal so that the amplitude of the sneak signal from the transmission side is minimized, the first cancellation signal is further reduced so that the amplitude of the sneak signal is further reduced. The amplitude A1 of the signal and the amplitude A2 of the second cancellation signal may be corrected. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a control operation executed in place of a part of the control operation shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. In this control, initial setting is executed in S60 corresponding to the processing of S1 in FIG. Next, in S61 corresponding to the processes of S2 to S7, the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal is determined. Next, in S62 corresponding to S8 to S29 in FIG. 8, the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal is determined. Next, in S63, the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal that may have changed based on the phase change in the first signal synthesis unit 58, the gain G1 of the second amplification unit 60, or the like is corrected. In this case, correction may be performed so that the amplitude AM1 of the first combined signal is minimized. Next, in S64 corresponding to S30 to S35 in FIG. 10, the amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal is determined. Next, in S65 corresponding to S36 to S51 in FIG. 11, the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal is determined. Next, in S66, the amplitude A2 of the second cancellation signal that may have changed based on the phase change in the second signal synthesis unit 66, the gain G3 of the second signal synthesis unit 66, etc. Correction is made so that the DC component D2 is minimized. That is, in addition to the process described above, the processes of S63 and S66 are newly performed. In the above control, S61 to S63 correspond to the first cancel signal control unit 26, and S64 to S66 correspond to the second cancel signal control unit 30, respectively.

The correction signal output unit 44 may hop the frequency of the correction signal. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the frequency hopping of the correction signal. As shown in FIG. 14, the frequency of the correction signal is, for example, is changed in a predetermined cycle so that f _{+ f h4} in _{f + f} h3, T4 in _{f + f} h2, T3 in _{f + f} h1, T2 at the timing T1 It is done. In this aspect, the amplitude A1 and phase φC1 of the first cancel signal and the amplitude A2 and phase φC2 of the second cancel signal are stored for each hopping frequency, and the initial value is stored in the frequency of the correction signal to be hopped. Corresponding values are applied. In this way, even if the frequency of the correction signal is hopped, the sneak signal from the transmission side can be suitably removed.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the first cancel signal output unit 24 that outputs the first cancel signal as a digital signal for removing the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal, and the first A first cancel signal control unit 26 that controls the amplitude A1 and / or phase φC1 of the first cancel signal output from the cancel signal output unit 24, and the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit 24 A first cancel signal D / A converter 54 that converts to an analog signal, and a first signal synthesis that combines the first cancel signal converted to an analog signal by the first cancel signal D / A converter 54 and the received signal Unit 58, the phase shifter for controlling the first cancel signal is not necessary, and digital signal processing is performed. More the control is facilitated. That is, it is possible to provide the wireless tag communication device 12 having a simple configuration capable of removing the sneak signal from the transmission side.

  The second cancel signal output unit 28 outputs a second cancel signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal as a digital signal, and the second cancel signal output unit 28 outputs the second cancel signal. A second cancel signal control unit 30 that controls the amplitude A2 and / or phase φC2 of the second cancel signal, and a second cancel signal that converts the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit 28 into an analog signal. The D / A converter 64, the second cancel signal converted into the analog signal by the second cancel signal D / A converter 64, and the first combined signal output from the first signal combiner 58 are combined. 2 signal synthesizing unit 66, so that the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal is double removed. It can be further enhanced the signal-to-noise ratio. In addition to eliminating the need for a phase shifter for controlling the second cancel signal, the control is facilitated by digital signal processing. In particular, since it is difficult to construct a practical phase shifter at an intermediate frequency having a relatively low frequency, the effect of easily performing processing by digital signal processing is great.

  Further, since the first cancel signal and the second cancel signal have different frequencies, a control signal corresponding to each frequency can be used, and control becomes easy.

  Further, a second amplifying unit 60 having a variable gain G1 for amplifying the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizing unit 58 is provided between the first signal synthesizing unit 58 and the second signal synthesizing unit 66. Therefore, the second signal synthesis unit 66 can suitably synthesize the first synthesis signal and the second cancellation signal. Further, by performing high frequency amplification, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, and the return signal from the wireless tag 14 can be demodulated with high sensitivity.

  The second signal synthesis unit 66 also functions as an amplification unit having a variable gain G3 for amplifying the second synthesis signal output from the second signal synthesis unit 66. The second synthesized signal can be suitably detected with high sensitivity during demodulation and the like.

  The reception signal amplitude detector 36 detects the amplitude AR of the reception signal, and the first cancellation signal controller 26 is based on the amplitude AR of the reception signal detected by the reception signal amplitude detector 36. Since the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal is controlled, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal can be suitably removed.

  In addition, it includes a first synthesized signal amplitude detector 38 that detects the amplitude AM1 of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer 58, and the first cancel signal controller 26 has the first synthesized signal amplitude. Since the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal detected by the detection unit 38, a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal is suitably removed. it can.

  The second cancel signal controller 30 controls the amplitude AM2 of the second cancel signal based on the amplitude AM1 of the first composite signal detected by the first composite signal amplitude detector 38. Therefore, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal can be suitably removed.

  In addition, a demodulator 32 that demodulates the second combined signal output from the second signal combiner 66 and a DC component detector 34 that detects a DC component of the demodulated signal output from the demodulator 32 are included. The second cancellation signal control unit 30 controls the phase φC2 of the second cancellation signal based on the DC component of the demodulated signal detected by the DC component detection unit 34. The sneak signal from the included transmission side can be suitably removed.

  A transmission digital signal output unit 20 for outputting the transmission signal as a digital signal; a transmission signal D / A conversion unit 42 for converting the transmission signal output from the transmission digital signal output unit 20 into an analog signal; A first synthesized signal A / D converter 70 that is provided between the first signal synthesizer 58 and the first synthesized signal amplitude detector 38 and that digitally converts the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer 58. A second combined signal A / D converter 72 that is provided between the second signal combiner 66 and the demodulator 32 and that digitally converts the second combined signal output from the second signal combiner 66; A received signal A / D converter 76 for digitally converting the received signal, the first cancel signal D / A converter 54, the second cancel signal D / A converter 64, the transmission signal D / The conversion unit 42, the first combined signal A / D conversion unit 70, the second combined signal A / D conversion unit 72, and the reception signal A / D conversion unit 76 are a common clock output from the clock signal output unit 78. Since the signal is used, the fluctuation of the reference phase between the transmission signal and the reception signal can be prevented, and the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal can be suitably removed. In particular, in a method in which demodulation or the like is performed after the received signal is down-converted by the first down converter 62, a large low-frequency component is present in the demodulation result due to a frequency shift between the clock signal of the A / D converter and the intermediate frequency signal. Although there is an adverse effect of being generated, such an adverse effect can be eliminated by performing digital conversion and analog conversion using a common clock signal.

  Further, the correction signal output unit 44 that outputs a predetermined correction signal, and the frequency of the transmission signal converted into an analog signal by the transmission signal D / A conversion unit 42 are the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44. A first up-converter 46 that increases only the frequency, and a first down-converter that decreases the frequency of the first combined signal output from the first signal combining unit 58 by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44. 62. Therefore, digital conversion of the first synthesized signal and analog conversion of the transmission signal can be performed with a simple configuration using an inexpensive A / D converter and D / A converter.

  In addition, since the second down converter 74 that lowers the frequency of the received signal by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44 is included, an inexpensive A / D converter and D / A converter are used. The received signal can be digitally converted with a simple configuration.

  The transmission digital signal output unit 20 outputs the transmission signal based on a function table 40 in which sampling values corresponding to each phase are stored in advance at a predetermined sampling point. Can output a transmission signal.

  The first cancel signal output unit 24 outputs the first cancel signal based on the function table 40, and the first cancel signal control unit 26 changes the reading position of the function table 40. Thus, since the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal is controlled, the first cancel signal that is a digital signal can be output with a simple configuration, and the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  The first cancel signal control unit 26 controls the amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal by multiplying the digital signal output based on the function table 40 by a predetermined control value. The amplitude A1 of the first cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  The second cancel signal output unit 28 outputs the second cancel signal based on the function table 40, and the second cancel signal control unit 30 changes the reading position of the function table 40. Thus, since the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal is controlled, the second cancel signal that is a digital signal can be output with a simple configuration, and the phase φC2 of the second cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  The second cancel signal control unit 30 controls the amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal by multiplying the digital signal output based on the function table 40 by a predetermined control value. The amplitude A2 of the second cancel signal can be easily controlled.

  The first cancel signal control unit 26 controls the amplitude A1 and the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal based on the received signal or the output of the second down converter 74, and from the second signal synthesis unit 66. Since the phase φC1 of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the output second composite signal, the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal can be suitably removed. Further, in the initial setting of the first cancel signal, the amplitude A1 and the phase φC1 are determined in advance based on the received signal or the first combined signal, so that the phase control of the first cancel signal thereafter is performed. Takes less time.

  Further, since the correction signal output unit 44 hops the frequency of the correction signal, the correction signal output unit 44 interferes with other communication that is not related to communication with the wireless tag 14 or interferes with other communication. Can be suitably prevented.

  Next, second to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used for the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the RFID tag communication apparatus 92 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The transmission / reception circuit 18 of the RFID tag communication device 92 includes an RSSI (Recieved Signal Strength Indicator) 94 for detecting the amplitude AR of the reception signal supplied from the transmission / reception separator 50 and a reception signal output from the RSSI 94. An amplitude signal A / D conversion unit 96 that digitally converts a signal indicating the amplitude AR of the signal and supplies the signal to the first cancel signal control unit 26. In this configuration, after the amplitude AR of the received signal received by the antenna 52 is directly detected by the RSSI 94, a signal indicating the amplitude AR is digitally converted by the amplitude signal A / D converter 96 and the first signal is received. Since it is supplied to the 1 cancel signal control unit 26, there is an advantage that the configuration of the transmission / reception circuit 18 is simplified.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the RFID tag communication apparatus 98 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The RFID tag communication device 98 includes a transmission digital signal output unit 100, a first cancel signal output unit 102, and a first cancel signal output unit 102 that can independently output digital signals that are sine waves or cosine waves, regardless of the function table 40. 2 cancel signal output unit 104 is provided. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the transmission digital signal output unit 100, the first cancel signal output unit 102, and the second cancel signal output unit 104. The initial phase φ has a predetermined value Δθ (for example, π / 2). ) Are sequentially added to calculate the phase θ (= ω ₀ nT), and the calculator 108 calculates the cosine wave cos θ corresponding to the phase θ calculated by the integrator 106. Here, when the phase θ is changed, for example, the initial phase can be changed by ± Δφ each time a necessary phase change amount ± Δφ is added by the switch. The transmission digital signal output unit 100, the first cancellation signal output unit 102, and the second cancellation signal output unit 104 perform ± Δφ calculation according to necessity, according to the phase θ calculated by the integrator 106. Thus, a digital signal that is an arbitrary cosine wave can be output by multiplying the cosine wave cos θ calculated by the computing unit 108 by a control value and amplifying the result. According to this aspect, the function table 40 is unnecessary, and the frequency of the clock signal output from the clock signal output unit 78 is down-converted by the first down converter 62 in order to simplify the function table 40. Further, it is not necessary to set the first synthesized signal (intermediate frequency signal) as 4 times or an integral multiple, and there is an advantage that the first cancel signal and the second cancel signal having a free phase and amplitude can be output. In addition, without providing the reception signal amplitude detection unit 36, the amplitude and phase of the reception signal are detected, and a signal having the same amplitude and opposite phase as the detected amplitude is output from the first cancel signal output unit. 1 may be output as a cancel signal. Thereafter, the speed of control can be increased as much as possible by adjusting the phase so that the output from the first combined signal amplitude detector 38 is minimized.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the RFID tag communication apparatus 110 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The wireless tag communication device 110 outputs a third cancel signal output unit 112 that outputs a third cancel signal based on the transmission signal as a digital signal, and an analog of the third cancel signal output from the third cancel signal output unit 112. A third cancel signal D / A converter 114 for converting the signal into a signal, and a correction signal output from the correction signal output unit 44 for the frequency of the third cancel signal output from the third cancel signal D / A converter 114 A third down-converter 116 that lowers the frequency by the third down-converter 116, and a third signal combiner that combines the down-converted third cancel signal output from the third down-converter 116 and the received signal supplied from the transmission / reception separator 50. 118. According to this aspect, since the sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal is removed in advance by the third signal synthesis unit 118 prior to the down-conversion by the second down converter 74, it is included in the reception signal. In addition to being able to achieve high sensitivity even when the sneak signal from the transmitting side is relatively large, or when unnecessary signals are mixed in the return signal due to reflection by surrounding objects, the second down converter 62 is There is an advantage that the detection sensitivity of the wireless tag 14 can be improved by adopting a configuration in which the allowable input power is relatively small and the generation of noise is small. Since the third down converter 116 is not involved in demodulation, the detection sensitivity is not affected even when a relatively large allowable input power and a large amount of noise are used.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be implemented in other modes.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first cancel signal output unit 24, the first cancel signal control unit 26, the second cancel signal output unit 28, the second cancel signal control unit 30 and the like are all provided in the DSP 16. However, they may be a control device provided separately from the DSP 16.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second signal synthesis unit 66 also functions as an amplifier that amplifies the second synthesis signal output from the second signal synthesis unit 66, but the second signal A second synthesized signal amplification unit that is a separate body from the synthesis unit 66 may be provided between the second signal synthesis unit 66 and the second synthesized signal A / D conversion unit 72. The first signal synthesis unit 58 may also function as an amplifier that amplifies the first synthesis signal output from the first signal synthesis unit 58. In this case, the second amplifying unit 60 is unnecessary.

In the above-described embodiment, the radio tag communication device 12 transmits the carrier wave F _c1 toward the radio tag 14 and receives the reflected wave F _rf returned from the radio tag 14. However, a transmitting antenna that transmits the carrier wave F _c1 toward the wireless tag 14 and a receiving antenna that receives the reflected wave F _rf returned from the wireless tag 14 are provided separately. Also good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the RFID tag communication apparatus 12 is provided with the first down converter 62 that downconverts the first combined signal into an intermediate frequency signal. A mode in which the signal is not down-converted is also conceivable. By doing so, the first down converter 62 is not required, and thus there is an advantage that the configuration of the transmission / reception circuit 18 is simplified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the wireless tag communication device 12 is mainly used as an interrogator in the communication system 10 of FIG. 1, but the present invention is for writing predetermined information in the wireless tag 14. The present invention is also suitably applied to a wireless tag creation device and a wireless tag reader / writer that reads and writes information.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the communication system with which the RFID tag communication apparatus of this invention is applied suitably. It is a figure explaining the electrical structure of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 3 shows a sine wave table which is an example of a function table provided in the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2A and 2B are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of a wireless tag circuit provided in the wireless tag in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A illustrates a configuration using subcarriers, and FIG. 2B illustrates a configuration using no subcarriers. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating waveforms of signals of respective units in the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a waveform of a reception signal supplied from a transmission / reception antenna, and FIG. 3B is a down-conversion output from a second down converter. (C) shows the waveform of the up-converted first cancel signal output from the second up converter, and (d) shows the waveform of the first composite signal output from the first signal synthesis unit. Each waveform is shown. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating examples of signal waveforms of respective units in the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a waveform of a down-converted first composite signal output from the first down converter, and FIG. The waveform of the second cancel signal output from the cancel signal D / A converter, (c) is the waveform of the second composite signal output from the second signal combiner, and (d) is output from the demodulator. The waveforms of the demodulated signals are shown. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. 3 is a part of a flowchart for explaining a main part of a wraparound signal removal control operation from a transmission side by a DSP of the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining the frequency hopping of the correction signal in the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining the electrical constitution of the radio | wireless tag communication apparatus which is 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the electrical constitution of the RFID tag communication apparatus which is 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the transmission digital signal output part with which the RFID tag communication apparatus of FIG. 16 was equipped, the 1st cancellation signal output part, and the 2nd cancellation signal output part. It is a figure explaining the electrical constitution of the RFID tag communication apparatus which is 4th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

12, 92, 98, 110: RFID communication device 14: RFID tag 20, 100: transmission digital signal output unit 24, 102: first cancel signal output unit 26: first cancel signal control unit 28, 104: second cancel Signal output unit 30: second cancel signal control unit 32: demodulation unit 34: DC component detection unit 36: reception signal amplitude detection unit 38: first combined signal amplitude detection unit 40: function table 42: transmission signal D / A conversion unit 44: correction signal output unit 46: first up converter 52: transmission / reception antenna 54: first cancel signal D / A conversion unit 56: second up converter 58: first signal synthesis unit 60: second amplification unit 62: first Downconverter 64: second cancel signal D / A conversion unit 66: second signal synthesis unit 70: first synthesis signal A / D conversion unit 72: second synthesis signal A / D conversion unit 7 : Second down converter 76: the received signal A / D converter 94: RSSI (received signal amplitude detector)
112: third cancel signal output unit 118: third signal combining unit A1: first cancel signal amplitude A2: second cancel signal amplitude AM1: first combined signal amplitude AR: reply signal amplitude φC1: first cancel Signal phase φC2: Phase of the second cancel signal

Claims (20)

A predetermined transmission signal is transmitted from the antenna toward the wireless tag, and information is communicated with the wireless tag by receiving a return signal returned from the wireless tag in response to the transmission signal. A wireless tag communication device,
A first cancellation signal output unit that outputs a first cancellation signal as a digital signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the reception signal received by the antenna;
A first cancel signal control unit that controls the amplitude and / or phase of the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit;
A first cancel signal D / A converter that analog-converts the first cancel signal output from the first cancel signal output unit;
A wireless tag communication apparatus comprising: a first cancel signal that is analog-converted by the first cancel signal D / A conversion unit; and a first signal combining unit that combines the received signal. A second cancel signal output unit that outputs, as a digital signal, a second cancel signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal;
A second cancel signal control unit for controlling the amplitude and / or phase of the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit;
A second cancel signal D / A converter for analog conversion of the second cancel signal output from the second cancel signal output unit;
2. A second signal synthesizer for synthesizing the second cancel signal analog-converted by the second cancel signal D / A converter and the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer. RFID tag communication device.   The wireless tag communication device according to claim 2, wherein the first cancel signal and the second cancel signal have different frequencies.   4. The RFID tag communication according to claim 2, further comprising an amplifying unit for changing an amplitude of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizing unit between the first signal synthesizing unit and the second signal synthesizing unit. apparatus.   The RFID tag communication apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising an amplifying unit for changing an amplitude of the second combined signal output from the second signal combining unit.   A reception signal amplitude detection unit configured to detect an amplitude of the reception signal, wherein the first cancellation signal control unit determines an amplitude of the first cancellation signal based on an amplitude of the reception signal detected by the reception signal amplitude detection unit; The RFID tag communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which controls   A first synthesized signal amplitude detector for detecting an amplitude of the first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer; and the first cancel signal controller is detected by the first synthesized signal amplitude detector 7. The RFID tag communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the phase of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the amplitude of the first combined signal.   The second cancellation signal control unit controls the amplitude of the second cancellation signal based on the amplitude of the first combined signal detected by the first combined signal amplitude detection unit. Any RFID tag communication device. A demodulator that demodulates the second combined signal output from the second signal combiner;
A DC component detector that detects a DC component of the demodulated signal output from the demodulator, and
9. The radio according to claim 2, wherein the second cancel signal control unit controls the phase of the second cancel signal based on a DC component of the demodulated signal detected by the DC component detection unit. Tag communication device. A transmission digital signal output unit for outputting the transmission signal as a digital signal;
A transmission signal D / A converter for analog conversion of the transmission signal output from the transmission digital signal output unit;
A first synthesized signal A / D converter provided between the first signal synthesizer and the first synthesized signal amplitude detector for digitally converting a first synthesized signal output from the first signal synthesizer;
A second synthesized signal A / D converter provided between the second signal synthesizer and the demodulator for digitally converting a second synthesized signal output from the second signal synthesizer;
A received signal A / D converter for digitally converting the received signal,
The first cancel signal D / A converter, the second cancel signal D / A converter, the transmission signal D / A converter, the first combined signal A / D converter, the second combined signal A / D converter, and The wireless tag communication device according to claim 9, wherein the reception signal A / D conversion unit uses a common clock signal. A correction signal output unit for outputting a predetermined correction signal;
A first up-converter that increases the frequency of the transmission signal analog-converted by the transmission signal D / A converter by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit;
The first down converter that lowers the frequency of the first combined signal output from the first signal combining unit by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit. RFID tag communication device.   12. The wireless tag communication device according to claim 11, further comprising a second down converter that lowers the frequency of the received signal by the frequency of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit.   The transmission digital signal output unit outputs the transmission signal based on a sine wave or cosine wave table in which sampling values corresponding to respective phases are stored in advance at predetermined sampling points. RFID tag communication device.   The first cancel signal output unit outputs the first cancel signal based on the sine wave or cosine wave table, and the first cancel signal control unit reads a position of the sine wave or cosine wave table. The wireless tag communication device according to claim 13, wherein the phase of the first cancel signal is controlled by changing.   15. The first cancel signal control unit controls the amplitude of the first cancel signal by multiplying a digital signal output based on the sine wave or cosine wave table by a predetermined control value. RFID tag communication device.   The second cancel signal output unit outputs the second cancel signal based on the sine wave or cosine wave table, and the second cancel signal control unit reads the sine wave or cosine wave table. The RFID tag communication apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the phase of the second cancel signal is controlled by changing.   17. The second cancel signal control unit controls the amplitude of the second cancel signal by multiplying a digital signal output based on the sine wave or cosine wave table by a predetermined control value. RFID tag communication device.   The first cancellation signal control unit controls the amplitude and phase of the first cancellation signal based on the received signal or the output of the second down converter, and the second combined signal output from the second signal combining unit. The radio tag communication device according to claim 12, wherein the phase of the first cancel signal is controlled based on the first tag signal. A third cancel signal output unit for outputting a third cancel signal for removing a sneak signal from the transmission side included in the received signal;
A third cancel signal output from the third cancel signal output unit and a third signal combining unit that combines the received signal,
The wireless tag according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the first cancel signal control unit controls an amplitude of the first cancel signal based on a third combined signal output from the third signal combining unit. Communication device.   The wireless tag communication device according to claim 11, wherein the correction signal output unit hops the frequency of the correction signal.

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