JP4333888B2 - Non-contact information storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention transmits, receives, or transmits / receives (hereinafter simply referred to as “transmission / reception”) a signal including various types of information (hereinafter simply referred to as information signal) to read and / or write information signals (hereinafter referred to as Read / Read). The present invention relates to a non-contact type information storage medium for taking the first letter of Write and performing R / W).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Known non-contact information storage media include IC (Integrated Circuit) cards that transmit and receive information signals using radio waves, ID (Identification) tags, and the like. When reading and writing information signals using this non-contact type information storage medium, an R / W device designed exclusively for the non-contact type information storage medium and capable of transmitting and receiving information signals as radio waves is used. . FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a communication system using the conventional non-contact information storage medium 100 and the R / W device 200.
[0003]
The non-contact type information storage medium 100 includes a case 110, an antenna 120, and a microchip 130. The antenna 120 and the microchip 130 are accommodated in and attached to the case 110. The antenna 120 is provided to transmit and receive information signals as radio waves, and is a printed antenna printed on the case 110.
[0004]
The microchip 130 includes at least a storage unit and a control unit.
The storage unit of the microchip 130 stores the input information signal or outputs the stored information signal.
The control unit of the microchip 130 writes an information signal sent subsequent to the write request signal in the storage unit in response to a write request signal (hereinafter referred to as a write request signal) received via the antenna 120, or A desired information signal is read from the storage unit in response to a read request signal (hereinafter referred to as a read request signal), and a response signal including the information signal is transmitted via the antenna 120.
The power source of such a non-contact type information storage medium 100 is obtained from the power of radio waves received by the antenna 120 or from a built-in battery (not shown).
[0005]
The R / W device 200 that transmits and receives information signals to and from the non-contact type information storage medium 100 includes a control unit 210 and an antenna 220 in the main body.
The controller 210 outputs a write request signal or a read request signal to the antenna 220 or receives a response signal received by the antenna 220.
The antenna 220 is omnidirectional, and transmits a write request signal and a read request signal over a wide range, and receives a response signal transmitted from a wide range.
[0006]
Next, the information signal writing operation of the communication system will be described. When a predetermined information signal is written into the non-contact type information storage medium 100, for example, a write request signal is stored in the non-contact type information storage medium 100 within the transmission / reception range of the antenna 220 of the R / W device 200. An information signal is transmitted from the antenna 220.
[0007]
The control unit of the microchip 130 of the non-contact type information storage medium 100 discriminates the request signal received by the antenna 120 intermittently or continuously, and the write request signal transmitted from the R / W device 200 is received. If it is determined that the information signal has been received, control is performed so that the information signal received thereafter is stored in the storage unit.
In addition, a code number signal is transmitted together with an information signal to be stored in the non-contact type information storage medium 100, and the non-contact type information storage medium 100 adopts a method of storing the received information signal only when the code number signals match. There are also things.
[0008]
Subsequently, an information signal reading operation of the communication system will be described. When the non-contact type information storage medium 100 reaches the transmission / reception range of the antenna 220 of the R / W device 200 arranged at a location where the non-contact type information storage medium 100 passes, the non-contact type information storage medium 100 The read request signal output from the / W device 200 can be received.
[0009]
On the other hand, the control unit 210 of the R / W device 200 transmits a read request signal from the antenna 220 a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined time.
When the control unit of the microchip 130 of the non-contact type information storage medium 100 receives the read request signal via the antenna 120, the control unit reads the information signal stored in the storage unit of the microchip 130, and a response including this information signal. The signal is transmitted via the antenna 120.
[0010]
The control unit 210 of the R / W device 200 receives the response signal transmitted from the non-contact information storage medium 100 for a predetermined time after the transmission of the read request signal, intermittently or continuously via the antenna 220. Controls to perform the action. Then, the control unit 210 of the R / W device 200 reads the response signal and ends the reading operation.
[0011]
The R / W device 200 transmits a personal identification number signal together with a read request signal, and the non-contact information storage medium 100 transmits a response signal in response to the read request signal only when the personal identification number signals match. Some have been adopted.
[0012]
Various types of communication systems using such non-contact type information storage media have been studied. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-37224 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-89299 are disclosed as prior arts. These gazettes disclose prior arts regarding a transmission / reception system using an ID card that transmits and receives information signals using microwaves or radio frequency (RF) radio waves.
[0013]
When transmitting / receiving an information signal to / from such a non-contact type information storage medium, there is a demand for constructing a transmission / reception system that is easier to use than before by improving directivity and gain. However, the conventional non-contact information storage medium does not consider directivity / gain, and there is no non-contact information storage medium with improved directivity / gain.
[0014]
In addition, in the prior art, a non-contact type information storage medium to be attached to a helmet is described. There is a request to be incorporated into. However, since the conventional ID card is a hard card, such an implementation is impossible.
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type information storage medium that is highly convenient by improving all of flexibility, directivity, and gain.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a non-contact information storage medium according to claim 1 is provided:
An antenna for transmitting and / or receiving information signals as radio waves;
A storage unit from which information signals are read and / or written;
A control unit that performs a transmission operation of an information signal read from the storage unit and / or a reception operation of an information signal output from the antenna unit;
One or a plurality of waveguides having a radio wave guiding function for the antenna unit ;
One or a plurality of reflectors having a function of reflecting radio waves with respect to the antenna unit ;
A flexible substrate on which the antenna unit, the storage unit, the control unit , one or more waveguides and one or more reflectors are integrally provided;
The provided, characterized that you configure one or more waveguides, disposed antenna portion and one or more reflectors arranged in a Yagi-Uda antenna.
[0017]
The non-contact type information storage medium according to claim 2
The contactless information storage medium according to claim 1,
The substrate is a thin film having flexibility.
[0018]
The non-contact information storage medium according to claim 3
The contactless information storage medium according to claim 1,
The substrate is a synthetic resin thin plate having flexibility.
[0019]
The non-contact information storage medium according to claim 4
The contactless information storage medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The antenna unit , the one or more waveguides, and the one or more reflectors may be printed on the substrate with conductive ink.
[0020]
The non-contact information storage medium according to claim 5
The non-contact information storage medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The antenna unit, the storage unit, the control unit , one or a plurality of waveguides provided on the substrate , and a protection unit that protects the one or a plurality of reflectors from the external environment. .
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a non-contact information storage medium of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the present embodiment, FIG. 1A is an external view of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are explanatory diagrams for explaining a side portion of the present embodiment. The substrate 11 of the non-contact type information storage medium 10 has flexibility. A microchip 12 is provided on the substrate 11. Although not shown, the microchip 12 includes a control unit, a storage unit, and a transmission / reception unit, and has only an information reading function, only a writing function, or both a reading function and a writing function. These functions are appropriately selected according to the application.
[0022]
An antenna portion 13 a is electrically connected to the microchip 12. The antenna portion 13a is a loop antenna, and two end portions thereof are connected to the microchip 12, respectively. The microchip 12 is configured to read information corresponding to 0 and 1 of the digital data by changing the direction of current flow.
[0023]
The reflector 13b, which is a conductor portion, has a length exceeding the wavelength λ / 2 of the input radio wave so as to have a reflection function with respect to the antenna portion 13a.
Further, the director 13c, which is a conductor portion, has a length shorter than the wavelength λ / 2 of the input radio wave so as to have a waveguide function for the antenna portion 13a.
[0024]
A so-called Yagi / Uda antenna is configured by using the antenna unit 13a, the reflector 13b, and the director 13c. In order to configure the Yagi / Uda antenna, one reflector 13b or one waveguide is used in addition to one reflector 13b and one waveguide 13c as in this embodiment. 13c, or a configuration including only one of the plurality of reflectors 13b or the plurality of waveguides 13c, or one reflector 13b and a plurality of waveguides 13c. It may be configured to include a plurality of reflectors 13b and one waveguide 13c. Thus, the conductor part which is a combination of the reflector 13b and the director 13c may be a conductor part for constituting the Yagi / Uda antenna.
[0025]
Further, the antenna unit 13a may use a half-wave dipole antenna or the like in addition to the loop antenna. Hereinafter, the Yagi / Uda antenna, which is a combination of the antenna unit 13a, the reflector 13b, and the director 13c, will be collectively referred to simply as the antenna 13 and described.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, a microwave having a radio wave transmission frequency of f = 2.45 GHz is assumed, and the wavelength λ is about 12 cm. However, the present invention can be implemented even if the transmission frequency and wavelength are changed and designed according to the size of the non-contact type information storage medium.
[0027]
The basic configuration of the non-contact type information storage medium 10 is as described above, but various variations are possible.
For example, the substrate 11 is a card-like film plate having flexibility, and the antenna 13 is directly printed on the film plate surface using conductive ink, and the antenna portion 13a of the antenna 13 and the microchip 12 are connected. The microchip 12 is fixed on the film plate surface while being electrically connected.
[0028]
The protection part 14 is formed with respect to the film plate comprised in this way. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1B, a film plate and a film plate which is the protection unit 14 are attached so as to sandwich the microchip 12 and the antenna 13. In this way, it is protected from the influence from the external environment, and a situation in which part of the antenna 13 is detached and the directivity is changed is avoided. Further, the two bonded film plates still have flexibility, and the non-contact information storage medium 10 can be bent.
[0029]
Further, the substrate 11 and the protection unit 14 may be a synthetic resin plate such as a laminate having flexibility instead of the card-like film plate having flexibility. Various combinations other than this are possible, and a combination of the film plate substrate 11 and the synthetic resin plate protection unit 14, or a combination of the synthetic resin plate substrate 11 and the film plate protection unit 14. be able to.
[0030]
Further, instead of configuring the antenna 13 by printing, the antenna portion 13a, the reflector 13b, and the waveguide 13c may be processed and formed using a conductive material, and these may be bonded to the substrate 11.
[0031]
Furthermore, instead of the substrate 11 and the protective portion 14 being bonded together as described above, a laminate resin is formed on the surface of the substrate 11 on the side where the microchip 12 and the antenna 13 are formed as shown in FIG. A protective part can also be formed so as to cover with.
The non-contact information storage medium 10 configured as described above has flexibility and can be bent.
[0032]
Next, the directivity / gain of this embodiment will be schematically described. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a horizontal plane directivity pattern of the antenna of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing a vertical plane directivity pattern of the antenna of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a folded non-contact information storage medium FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the transmission / reception range of this embodiment.
[0033]
The horizontal plane directivity pattern shown in FIG. 2 is a pattern in the case where one reflector 13b and one waveguide 13c are placed so as to sandwich the antenna portion 13a. The interval between the antenna unit 13a and the reflector 13b is 0.15λ, and the interval between the antenna unit 13a and the director 13c is 0.1λ. As shown in FIG. 2, the directivity is improved in the direction in which the reflector 13b, the antenna unit 13a, and the waveguide 13c are aligned.
The vertical plane directivity pattern shown in FIG. 3 is a pattern in the case where the reflector 13b and the director 13c are placed so as to sandwich the antenna portion 13a as in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the directivity is improved in the directivity / gain in the direction along with the reflector, the antenna unit, and the director.
Since the directivity / gain varies depending on the number of elements of the antenna, desired directivity / gain can be obtained.
[0034]
Further, even when the non-contact type information storage medium is bent, as shown in FIG. 4A, if the reflector 13b and the waveguide 13c are located within 60 degrees in the vertical direction with the antenna portion 13a as the center. 2 and substantially the same directivity / gain characteristics as the horizontal plane directivity pattern shown in FIG. 2 and the vertical plane directivity pattern shown in FIG. 3 can be maintained.
[0035]
Thus, by improving the directivity and gain of the non-contact type information storage medium, the transmission / reception range between the R / W device and the non-contact type information storage medium is extended, and the range in which information can be read and written is widened. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when a person wearing a helmet with a non-contact type information storage medium 10 passes directly under the R / W device 20, it has hitherto reached the transmission / reception range due to its height. However, in this embodiment, the directivity / gain is improved so that it is within the transmission / reception range regardless of the height, so that the reading / writing defect of information can be remarkably reduced. .
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when two persons wearing helmets with the non-contact information storage medium 10 are lined up side by side on the side of the R / W device 20, conventionally, the R / W A person who is far from the device 20 does not reach the transmission / reception range and cannot read / write information. However, in this embodiment, the directivity / gain is improved so that the transmission / reception range can be entered regardless of the distance. , Reading and writing defects can be significantly reduced.
[0037]
Next, changes in directivity / gain when the non-contact information storage medium 10 is bent will be described. When the non-contact type information storage medium 10 is bent, the positional relationship among the antenna unit 13a, the reflector 13b, and the waveguide 13c changes. Experiments and investigations were conducted on changes in directivity and gain in this case.
[0038]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, even if the reflector 13b and the waveguide 13c move to a position within 60 degrees above and below the center of the antenna portion 13a with respect to the substrate surface that is not bent, the directivity is maintained. It became clear that there was almost no change in sex and gain. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the directivity / gain of the non-contact information storage medium is not affected even if the non-contact information storage medium is bent to the extent that it falls within the above-mentioned range. For this reason, various applications are possible.
[0039]
For example, it can be attached to a helmet having a curved surface as an attachment target of the non-contact type information storage medium. Of course, you may affix on what does not have a curved surface. In addition to helmets, it can be attached to items worn on the body such as hats, bees, bandanas, belts, clothes, name tags, safety belts, shoes, badges, ticket holders, and ID card holders. At this time, whether or not to fold the non-contact information storage medium is appropriately selected.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, when the microchip 12 is a defective product, the substrate 1 and the protection unit 14 are easily attached and detached so that the microchip 12 can be easily replaced with a good microchip 12. You may comprise.
For example, a non-contact type information storage medium (not shown) in which the protection unit 14 is a bag-shaped film cover, the substrate 1 is a card-like film plate, and the substrate 1 is removable from the protection unit 14. With this configuration, it becomes easy to replace the microchip 12 with a low yield, so the yield of the non-contact information storage medium can be improved.
[0041]
Thus, the present invention can be a non-contact type information storage medium that is not affected by the presence or absence of bending in addition to the attachment target and the attachment position.
In addition, the directivity / gain can be improved by appropriately designing the antenna of the non-contact type information storage medium, and the transmission / reception range can be designated in accordance with the actual usage environment and usage method.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a non-contact type information storage medium that is highly convenient by improving flexibility, directivity, and gain.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a non-contact information storage medium of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a horizontal plane directivity pattern of the antenna according to the embodiment of the non-contact information storage medium of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing a vertical plane directivity pattern of an antenna according to an embodiment of the non-contact information storage medium of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a folded non-contact information storage medium according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transmission / reception range of the non-contact information storage medium of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a communication system using a conventional non-contact information storage medium and an R / W device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Non-contact-type information storage medium 11 Board | substrate 12 Microchip 13 Antenna 13a Antenna part 13b Reflector 13c Waveguide 14 Protection part 20 R / W apparatus

Claims (5)

An antenna for transmitting and / or receiving information signals as radio waves;
A storage unit from which information signals are read and / or written;
A control unit that performs a transmission operation of an information signal read from the storage unit and / or a reception operation of an information signal output from the antenna unit;
One or a plurality of waveguides having a radio wave guiding function for the antenna unit ;
One or a plurality of reflectors having a function of reflecting radio waves with respect to the antenna unit ;
A flexible substrate on which the antenna unit, the storage unit, the control unit , one or more waveguides and one or more reflectors are integrally provided;
The provided, one or a plurality of waveguides, antenna unit and the non-contact information storage medium is disposed one or a plurality of reflector side by side, it characterized that you configure the Yagi-Uda antenna. The contactless information storage medium according to claim 1,
The non-contact information storage medium, wherein the substrate is a flexible thin film. The contactless information storage medium according to claim 1,
The non-contact information storage medium, wherein the substrate is a flexible synthetic resin thin plate. The contactless information storage medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The non-contact type information storage medium , wherein the antenna unit , the one or more waveguides, and the one or more reflectors are printed on the substrate with conductive ink. The non-contact information storage medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The antenna unit, the storage unit, the control unit , one or a plurality of waveguides provided on the substrate , and a protection unit that protects the one or a plurality of reflectors from the external environment. Non-contact type information storage medium.

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