JP2018151750A - Non-contact communication medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a situation in which a voltage by electric power supplied to control means through non-contact communication falls below a drive voltage of control means although a non-contact communication medium is configured to stores electric power acquired through non-contact communication.SOLUTION: A non-contact communication medium has: a power storage part 34 which stores electric power acquired through non-contact communication; a display part 60 which displays and outputs information using the electric power stored in the power storage part 34; a display control part 50 which is driven with the electric power acquired through the non-contact communication and controls the display output of the information on the display part 60; and a power supply monitoring part 40 which monitors the supply voltage of the display control part 50, and switches ON/OFF supply of electric power to the power storage part 34 according to the supply voltage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact communication medium that outputs information with electric power acquired by non-contact communication, and more particularly, to a technique for avoiding harmful effects caused by electric power necessary for outputting information.

  In recent years, with the progress of the information-oriented society, information is recorded on a card, and information management and settlement using the card are performed. As a card used for such information management and settlement, a non-contact type IC card that performs non-contact communication by acquiring power from an external transmitter / receiver by an electromagnetic induction method or a radio wave method is used. Such a non-contact type IC card is activated by electric power carried on a carrier wave transmitted from an external transmitter / receiver, and receives information carried on the carrier wave for processing. At this time, the power carried on the carrier wave is converted into a stable DC power source via a rectifier circuit, a constant voltage control circuit, etc., and the information carried on the carrier wave is received using this DC power source to the modulation / demodulation circuit. The information is then demodulated, or the information modulated by the modem circuit is transmitted on a carrier wave. The communication distance is generally several tens of centimeters for the electromagnetic induction method and several meters for the radio wave method, but the electric power obtained by the radio wave method is extremely weak compared to the electromagnetic induction method.

  In recent years, a non-contact communication medium in which an information display function is added to such a non-contact IC card has been considered. A non-contact communication medium having an information display function added to a non-contact type IC card requires power for displaying information in addition to power for receiving and processing information. The power for displaying information is greater than the power for receiving the information and performing the demodulation process and the decoding process. Therefore, depending on the distance from the external transmitter / receiver, it may be difficult to display information using only the power on the carrier wave.

  Here, there is a card device that incorporates power storage means, stores surplus power in the power storage means, and switches the power supply source between the outside or the power storage means according to the voltage value of power obtained by non-contact communication. Patent Document 1 discloses this. If this technique is used, even when a large amount of power is required for displaying information in a non-contact communication medium, the shortage of power can be compensated.

JP 2006-323683 A

  However, in the configuration in which the power acquired by non-contact communication is stored in the power storage unit, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power is stored in the power storage unit when the power is stored in the power storage unit. The power supply voltage for operating the control circuit or the like may be lower than the drive voltage required for driving, and the control circuit or the like may be reset.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and has a configuration for accumulating electric power acquired by non-contact communication. It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact communication medium capable of avoiding that the voltage due to the supplied electric power falls below the drive voltage in the control means.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A communication means for acquiring power by non-contact communication;
A power storage unit that is supplied with the power acquired by the communication unit and stores the power; and
Output means for outputting information using the power stored in the power storage means;
Control means for supplying power acquired by the communication means and controlling output of information in the output means driven by the power;
Power supply monitoring means for monitoring the power supply voltage of the control means by the power supplied from the communication means to the control means, and switching ON / OFF of the power supply to the power storage means according to the power supply voltage. .

  In the present invention configured as described above, after the control unit is driven by power acquired by non-contact communication, power for outputting information from the output unit is supplied to and stored in the power storage unit. When the power acquired by the non-contact communication starts to be stored in the power storage means, most of the power acquired by the non-contact communication is supplied to the power storage means, so that the power supply voltage of the control means decreases, and the control means There is a risk that the power supply voltage of the power source will be lower than the drive voltage. Therefore, the power supply monitoring means monitors the power supply voltage of the control means, and the power supply to the power storage means is switched on / off according to the power supply voltage of the control means. It is avoided that the voltage falls below the drive voltage in the control means.

  Specifically, in the power supply monitoring means, the difference in which the power supply voltage of the control means exceeds the drive voltage of the control means in a state where the power supply to the power storage means is ON is equal to or less than the first predetermined value. The power supply voltage to the power storage means is turned off, and the difference that the power supply voltage of the control means exceeds the drive voltage of the control means in a state where the power supply to the power storage means is OFF is the first predetermined It can be considered that the supply of electric power to the power storage means is turned ON when the value exceeds a second predetermined value larger than the value.

  Further, as the output means, it is conceivable that information is displayed and output by the electric power stored in the power storage means, and the display of the information is maintained even when the electric power is not supplied thereafter.

  According to the present invention, the power supply monitoring means monitors the power supply voltage of the control means, and is obtained by non-contact communication according to the power supply voltage of the control means, to the power storage means for power to output information from the output means. In order to switch ON / OFF of the power supply, the voltage obtained by the power supplied to the control means by the non-contact communication is lower than the driving voltage in the control means while having the configuration for accumulating the power acquired by the non-contact communication. Can be avoided.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the non-contact communication medium of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state in which the non-contact communication medium shown in FIG. 1 performs non-contact communication. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the non-contact communication medium shown in FIG. 1 in the state shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating ON / OFF control of the accumulation | storage of the electric power to the storage part in the non-contact communication medium shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows other embodiment of the non-contact communication medium of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a non-contact communication medium of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact communication medium in the present embodiment includes a transmission / reception unit 10, a first power supply unit 20, a second power supply unit 30, a power supply monitoring unit 40, a display control unit 50, and a display unit 60. have.

  The transmission / reception unit 10 serves as a communication means in the present invention. For example, the transmission / reception unit 10 includes a coiled antenna of 13.56 MHz band, an antenna of a microwave, a very high frequency band, or the like, and from an alternating current transmitted from an external transceiver. By receiving this carrier wave, an AC current is acquired in a non-contact state, and information carried on the carrier wave is received or information is carried on the carrier wave to perform non-contact communication. Moreover, the transmission / reception part 10 acquires an alternating current by receiving the carrier wave transmitted from the external transmitter / receiver, and acquires the electric power carried on this carrier wave.

  The first power supply unit 20 includes a modem circuit 21, a rectifier circuit 22, a constant voltage control circuit 23, an information processing unit 24, and an information storage unit 25.

  When the information is on the carrier wave received by the transmission / reception unit 10, the modem circuit 21 extracts the information and demodulates it into a digital value that can be processed by the information processing unit 24. Further, the digital value information processed by the information processing unit 24 is modulated into an analog value that can be transmitted on the carrier wave in the transmission / reception unit 10.

  The rectifier circuit 22 takes out a current corresponding to the power required for performing a predetermined process in the information processing unit 24 from the alternating current acquired by the transmission / reception unit 10, and converts this current into a direct current.

  The constant voltage control circuit 23 generates a power source having a stable voltage from the current converted into direct current by the rectifier circuit 22, and thereby generates power necessary for performing predetermined processing in the information processing unit 24. Generate.

  The information processing unit 24 is driven by the power generated by the constant voltage control circuit 23 and performs predetermined processing on the information demodulated by the modem circuit 21. For example, processing for storing the information demodulated by the modem circuit 21 in the information storage unit 25 and exchanging information stored in the information storage unit 25 with the display control unit 50 is performed. The information processing unit 24 outputs information stored in the information storage unit 25 to the modulation / demodulation circuit 21 and performs processing for transmission to the external transceiver. These processes are performed according to a program stored in the information processing unit 24, or are performed according to a command from an external transceiver. Further, the information processing unit 24 supplies the display control unit 50 with power necessary for basic processing in the display control unit 50 from the power generated by the constant voltage control circuit 23.

  The information storage unit 25 stores information processed by the information processing unit 24.

  The second power supply unit 30 includes a rectifier circuit 31, a constant voltage control circuit 32, a power supply control unit 33, and a power storage unit 34.

  The rectifier circuit 31 extracts a current corresponding to the power required to drive the display control unit 50 and the display unit 60 from the alternating current acquired by the transmission / reception unit 10 and converts this power into a direct current.

  The constant voltage control circuit 32 generates a power supply having a stable voltage from the current converted into direct current by the rectifier circuit 31, and thereby generates electric power necessary for driving the display control unit 50 and the display unit 60. Generate.

  The power storage unit 34 is supplied with the power generated by the constant voltage control circuit 32 and accumulates the supplied power.

  The power supply control unit 33 supplies the power generated by the constant voltage control circuit 32 or the power stored in the power storage unit 34 to the display control unit 50 and is controlled by the power supply monitoring unit 40. ON / OFF of the supply of the electric power generated in step S3 to the power storage unit 34 is switched.

  The power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 by the power supplied from the transmission / reception unit 10 to the display control unit 50 via the first power supply unit 20, and the power supply control unit 33 according to the power supply voltage. The supply of power to the power storage unit 34 is switched on and off via.

  The display control unit 50 is a control unit according to the present invention, is driven by the power supplied from the information processing unit 24, and uses the power supplied from the second power supply unit 30 to the information processing unit 24. The processed information is displayed on the display unit 60.

  The display unit 60 serves as an output unit in the present invention, and displays information under the control of the display control unit 50.

  Below, operation | movement of the non-contact communication medium 1 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the non-contact communication medium 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs non-contact communication. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the non-contact communication medium 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the state shown in FIG.

  The non-contact communication medium 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs non-contact communication by transmitting / receiving a carrier wave to / from an external transceiver 70 as shown in FIG. The external transceiver 70 is generally called a reader / writer, and includes a control unit 71 and a transmission / reception unit 72 as shown in FIG.

  When the non-contact communication medium 1 comes close to the external transmitter 70, a carrier wave composed of alternating current transmitted from the external transmitter 70 is received by the transmission / reception unit 10 of the non-contact communication medium 1, and the alternating current is acquired. The rectifier circuit 22 converts the alternating current acquired by the transmission / reception unit 10 into a direct current, and the constant voltage control circuit 23 converts the direct current into a direct current voltage. The information processing unit 24 and the display control unit 50 Is supplied with electric power by this DC voltage. When information is on the carrier wave transmitted from the external transmitter 70, the modem circuit 21 extracts the information on the carrier wave and demodulates it into a digital value. Sent to the unit 24. Then, the information processing unit 24 performs processing according to the information sent from the modulation / demodulation circuit 21, and this information is stored in the information storage unit 25 as necessary. In this way, when the non-contact communication medium 1 approaches the external transmitter 70, non-contact communication between the non-contact communication medium 1 and the external transmitter 70 is started, and power is supplied to the display control unit 50. (Steps 1 and 2). At this time, it is assumed that power is not supplied from the second power supply unit 30 to the display control unit 50 under the control of the power supply control unit 33. That is, the electric power generated by the rectifier circuit 22 and the constant voltage control circuit 23 is supplied by an amount necessary for driving the information processing unit 24 and performing basic processing of the display control unit 50.

  After that, when power is supplied from the first power supply unit 20 and the display control unit 50 is stably driven (step 3), power supply to the power storage unit 34 is turned on by the control of the power supply control unit 33. Thereby, accumulation of electric power in the power storage unit 34 is started (step 4). At this time, in the rectifier circuit 31, the alternating current acquired by the transmission / reception unit 10 is converted into a direct current, the direct current is converted into a direct voltage by the constant voltage control circuit 32, and the electric power by the direct current voltage is stored in the storage unit. 34 is accumulated. The power supply monitoring unit 40 determines whether or not the display control unit 50 has been driven stably. Specifically, the power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50, and based on this power supply voltage, it is determined that the display control unit 50 has been driven stably.

  The power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 based on the power supplied from the first power supply unit 20, and the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 is displayed on the display unit 60. If it is not sufficient (step 5), and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is likely to be lower than the drive voltage for the display control unit 50 to stably drive (step 6), power supply monitoring The unit 40 turns off the supply of power to the power storage unit 34 via the power supply control unit 33, and stops the storage of the power generated by the constant voltage control circuit 32 in the power storage unit 34 (step 7).

  Thereafter, the power supply monitoring unit 40 continues to monitor the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 by the power supplied from the first power supply unit 20, and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is used for the display control unit 50 to stably drive. When the drive voltage is stably exceeded (step 8), the power supply monitoring unit 40 turns on the power supply to the power storage unit 34 via the power supply control unit 33, and returns to step 4 to control the power supply control unit 33. Thus, the accumulation of electric power in the power storage unit 34 is resumed.

  When the processes in steps 4 to 8 are repeatedly performed and electric power is accumulated in the power storage unit 34, the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 is sufficient to display information on the display unit 60. (Step 5) The display control unit 50 reads the information stored in the information storage unit 25 via the information processing unit 24 and displays it on the display unit 60 (step 9). At this time, if an electronic paper which is a memory-type display body that requires power when rewriting the display but does not require power to maintain the display of information is used as the display unit 60, it is stored when the display is rewritten. The information can be displayed and output by the power stored in the unit 34, and thereafter, the information display can be maintained even when the power is not supplied. As described above, the electric power generated by the rectifier circuit 31 and the constant voltage control circuit 32 is mainly consumed for the display of the power storage unit 34 and the display unit 60.

  As described above, after the display control unit 50 is driven by the power acquired by the non-contact communication, the power for displaying the information received by the non-contact communication on the display unit 60 is supplied to the power storage unit 34. Although the electric power acquired by the non-contact communication starts to be stored in the power storage unit 34, much of the power acquired by the non-contact communication is supplied to the power storage unit 34, whereby the power of the display control unit 50 is stored. There is a possibility that the voltage decreases and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 falls below the drive voltage. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50, and the power supply to the power storage unit 34 is switched on / off according to the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50. Thus, it is possible to avoid that the power supply voltage due to the power supplied to the display control unit 50 is lower than the drive voltage in the display control unit 50.

  Here, the ON / OFF control of the accumulation of electric power in the accumulation unit 34 in the power supply monitoring unit 40 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining ON / OFF control of the accumulation of electric power in the accumulation unit 34 in the non-contact communication medium 1 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 is indicated by a solid line, and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  As described above, when the electric power acquired by the non-contact communication is supplied to the power storage unit 34 and starts to be accumulated, most of the electric power acquired by the non-contact communication is supplied to the power storage unit 34, thereby causing the display control unit 50. The power supply voltage will decrease. Then, when the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is about to fall below the drive voltage for the display control unit 50 to stably drive, the power supply to the power storage unit 34 is turned off and the power to the power storage unit 34 is turned off. Stop accumulating.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the electric power acquired by non-contact communication starts to be stored in the power storage unit 34 at time t0, the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 increases and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 Will go down. As a voltage for determining that the display control unit 50 is about to fall below the drive voltage for stable driving, a difference that is higher than the drive voltage V0 for the display control unit 50 to stably drive is first. At time t1 when the value becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value V1, power supply to the power storage unit 34 is turned off.

  Then, while the increase in the amount of power storage in the power storage unit 34 stops, the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 increases, and the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is the driving voltage for stably driving the display control unit 50. As a voltage for determining that the voltage has stably exceeded the voltage, the power storage unit at time t2 when the difference exceeding the drive voltage V0 for the display controller 50 to stably drive becomes equal to or greater than the second predetermined value V2. The power supply to 34 is turned ON.

  By performing this process until the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 is sufficient to display information on the display unit 60, the power acquired by the non-contact communication is displayed on the display unit 60. While having a configuration for accumulating for display, it is possible to avoid that the voltage due to the power supplied to the display control unit 50 by non-contact communication falls below the drive voltage in the display control unit 50.

  Note that once the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 becomes full, the state of the power storage unit 34 becomes stable, so even if the supply of power to the power storage unit 34 remains on, the display control unit The power supply voltage of 50 will not drop below the drive voltage.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the contactless communication medium of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment controls ON / OFF of power supply to the power storage unit in the configuration having the power storage unit in the display unit 60 shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, a boost control circuit 61, a boost circuit 62, a boost power storage unit 63, a drive processing unit 64, a drive power storage unit 65, and a display medium 66 are provided in the display unit 60. In the present embodiment, the power supply monitoring unit 40 is provided in the display control unit 50. The power supply unit 110 is the same as the first power supply unit 20 and the second power supply unit 30 shown in FIG.

  The display medium 66 displays information with a voltage higher than the voltage supplied from the display control unit 50 to the display unit 60.

  The booster circuit 62 boosts the voltage based on the electric power supplied from the display control unit 50 to a voltage necessary for displaying information on the display medium 66. The booster control circuit 61 is used in the booster circuit 62. The boosting operation is controlled. The boosting power storage unit 63 accumulates power supplied from the display control unit 50 so as to boost the voltage by the boosting circuit 62.

  The drive processing unit 64 drives the display medium 66 to display information, and the drive power storage unit 65 accumulates power supplied from the display control unit 50 in order to drive the drive processing unit 64. It is.

  In the non-contact communication medium 101 configured as described above, the power supplied from the display control unit 50 is supplied to the boosting power storage unit in order to boost the voltage in the boosting circuit 62 or drive the drive processing unit 64. 63 and the drive power storage unit 65 need to be stored. At that time, similarly to the one shown in FIG. 1, the power supply monitoring unit 40 monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50, and the power supplied from the display control unit is supplied to the boost power storage unit 63 and the drive power storage unit 65. As a result of the accumulation, when the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 is likely to be lower than the drive voltage for the display control unit 50 to stably drive, the power supply from the display control unit 50 to the display unit 60 is supplied. By stopping, the supply of power to the boost power storage unit 63 and the drive power storage unit 65 is turned off, and the accumulation of power in the boost power storage unit 63 and the drive power storage unit 65 is stopped. Thus, it is possible to avoid that the power supply voltage due to the power supplied from 110 falls below the drive voltage in the display control unit 50. Thereafter, the power supply monitoring unit 40 continuously monitors the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50. When the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 stably exceeds the drive voltage for stably driving the display control unit 50, the display is displayed. By restarting the supply of power from the control unit 50 to the display unit 60, the supply of power to the boosting power storage unit 63 and the driving power storage unit 65 is turned ON, and the accumulation of power in the boosting power storage unit 63 and the driving power storage unit 65 is performed. By restarting and repeating this process, electric power for boosting the voltage by the booster circuit 62 is stored in the boosting power storage unit 63 while avoiding that the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50 falls below the drive voltage. In addition, power for driving the drive processing unit 64 can be stored in the drive power storage unit 65.

  Note that the configuration and operation of this embodiment can be applied to the display unit 60 of the non-contact communication medium 1 shown in FIG.

  In that case, first, after power is supplied to the display control unit 50 and the display control unit 50 is stably driven, accumulation of power in the power storage unit 34 is started, and the display control unit 50 is also connected to the display unit 60. Electric power is supplied through.

  In the display unit 60, power for boosting the voltage in the boost circuit 62 is stored in the boost power storage unit 63, and power for driving the drive processing unit 64 is stored in the drive power storage unit 65. . At this time, as described above, the boosting power storage unit 63 is switched while the power supply to the boosting power storage unit 63 and the driving power storage unit 65 and the ON / OFF of the power storage are switched according to the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50. And electric power is accumulate | stored in the drive electrical storage part 65. FIG.

  In addition, power supply to the power storage unit 34 and power storage by the power supply are performed while switching on / off according to the power supply voltage of the display control unit 50, and the amount of power stored in the power storage unit 34 is displayed on the display unit 60. The information is displayed on the display unit 60 after it has become sufficient to display.

  As described above, the information stored in the information storage unit 25 is displayed and output on the display unit 60. However, even if the information is stored in the information storage unit 25 without contactless communication, You may display on the display part 60 by the process mentioned above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 60 that displays and outputs information has been described as an example of the output unit. However, the output unit requires a relatively large amount of power, such as a device that outputs information by voice. However, the present invention can be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Non-contact communication medium 10,72 Transmission / reception part 20 First power supply part 21 Modulation / demodulation circuit 22,31 Rectifier circuit 23,32 Constant voltage control circuit 24 Information processing part 25 Information storage part 30 Second power supply part 33 Power supply control part 34 Power storage unit 40 Power supply monitoring unit 50 Display control unit 60 Display unit 61 Boost control circuit 62 Boost circuit 63 Boost storage unit 64 Drive processing unit 65 Drive storage unit 66 Display medium 70 External transceiver 71 Control unit

Claims (3)

A communication means for acquiring power by non-contact communication;
A power storage unit that is supplied with the power acquired by the communication unit and stores the power; and
Output means for outputting information using the power stored in the power storage means;
Control means for supplying power acquired by the communication means and controlling output of information in the output means driven by the power;
Power supply monitoring means for monitoring the power supply voltage of the control means by the power supplied from the communication means to the control means, and switching ON / OFF of the power supply to the power storage means according to the power supply voltage. , Non-contact communication medium. The contactless communication medium according to claim 1,
The power supply monitoring means is configured such that the difference in which the power supply voltage of the control means exceeds the drive voltage of the control means when the power supply to the power storage means is ON is equal to or less than a first predetermined value. Further, the difference that the power supply voltage of the control means exceeds the drive voltage of the control means in a state where the power supply to the power storage means is turned OFF and the power supply to the power storage means is OFF is A non-contact communication medium that turns on the supply of power to the power storage means when a second predetermined value greater than a first predetermined value is reached. The contactless communication medium according to claim 1 or 2,
The non-contact communication medium, wherein the output means displays and outputs information with the electric power stored in the power storage means, and thereafter maintains the display of the information even when power is no longer supplied.

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