JP5568911B2 - Reader / writer device, battery charging system and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for charging power of a battery of a mobile device typified by a mobile phone.

  Since a portable device represented by a mobile phone is a device that a user always possesses, a proximity non-contact IC chip is mounted on the portable device, and a specific function of the proximity non-contact IC card (for example, electronic money) There are an increasing number of cases in which the portable device is made to correspond.

  For example, when a proximity non-contact IC chip mounted on a mobile device supports electronic money as a specific function, when used in a virtual store on a network, a control circuit for functioning with a normal mobile device When used in an actual store, the portable device is configured to operate independently without being combined with the control circuit, but the proximity type non-contact IC chip is used for combination operation or single operation. Regardless, since it operates with the power of the battery mounted on the portable device, there is a problem that not only the portable device but also the proximity non-contact IC chip does not operate when the power of the battery is depleted.

When a proximity non-contact IC chip mounted on a portable device performs a combination operation, the proximity non-contact IC chip performs data communication with a control circuit of the portable device, but when a proximity non-contact IC chip operates alone , the proximity Since the type non-contact IC chip communicates with the external reader / writer, when the power of the battery mounted on the portable device is depleted, the external device supplies the battery with enough power to operate the proximity type non-contact IC chip alone. It is technically possible.

As inventions for supplying power from an external reader / writer to a battery built in a portable terminal or the like, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have already been disclosed.
In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the device with a built-in battery is a non-contact IC card, and the non-contact IC card of Patent Document 1 includes an antenna that is commonly used for data communication and charging, and has a charging efficiency. In order to increase the resistance, the resistance value of the antenna is reduced during charging.

  In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the device containing the battery is a portable device (cell phone), and the portable device of Patent Document 2 is used for data communication and charging as in Patent Document 1. A charging device having a common antenna (for example, a spiral flat antenna) and performing data communication with a portable device is charged based on the remaining battery level obtained from the portable device when instructed by a user who owns the portable device. Time is calculated and power is supplied to the portable device until the charging time elapses.

JP 2008-113519 A JP 2008-236888 A

  Certainly, if the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 is used, a reader / writer having a reader / writer function even when the battery of the portable device on which the proximity non-contact IC chip is mounted is exhausted. Although power can be supplied from the device to the battery of the mobile phone, the reader / writer device automatically determines whether or not the battery of the mobile device is exhausted, and the mobile phone according to the determination result. The charge for the battery could not be controlled.

  Therefore, the present invention automatically determines whether or not the battery of the portable device is depleted, and controls the charging of the battery of the portable device according to the determination result, and a reader / writer device. The purpose is to provide.

First invention for solving the above problems, a reader-writer device for contactless data communication proximity from the battery incorporated in the portable device and the proximity contactless IC chip which operates by receiving supply of electric power, A reader / writer coil that transmits a data carrier is connected, a reader / writer unit that communicates with the proximity type non-contact IC chip and proximity type non-contact data, and a power supply coil that transmits a power carrier are connected by electromagnetic induction. A power supply unit for supplying power to the battery, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object close to the reader / writer device, and a command for starting proximity non-contact data communication with the proximity non-contact IC chip. The reader / writer unit is caused to execute an operation of transmitting a certain initial response command at regular intervals, and after the sensor detects the object, the reader Depending on whether the iteration unit receives a response of the initial response command, the determination whether it is possible object and the non-contact data communication proximity is, when the non-contact data communication proximity with the object is determined to be, When transaction processing related to a specific function supported by the proximity type non-contact IC chip is executed and it is determined that proximity type non-contact data communication is not possible, the power supply unit is activated to start charging processing, The reader / writer device includes a control unit that executes the transaction process when it is determined that proximity non-contact data communication with the object is possible after the process is started.

Furthermore, in the second invention, the control means of the reader / writer device, when the reader / writer unit cannot receive the response of the initial response command even after a set time has elapsed since the power supply unit was operated, The reader / writer described in the first invention is characterized in that the charging process is interrupted and the transaction process is executed when the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command within the set time. Device.

Furthermore, the third invention, wherein the control unit of the reader-writer apparatus, when the response of the initial response command in the set time was received by the reader writer unit, without interrupting the charging process, said transaction The reader / writer device described in the second invention is characterized by executing processing.

Furthermore, the fourth invention is a battery charging system comprising at least a portable device with a built-in battery and a reader / writer device that communicates with the portable device in proximity-type non-contact data, wherein the portable device includes: the reader-writer device is connected to a charging coil for receiving power carrier wave to be transmitted, and a battery charger for the electromagnetic induction Thus obtained power generated at both ends of the charging coil to charge to the battery, the reader-writer device transmits A data communication coil that receives a data carrier to be connected and includes a proximity non-contact IC chip that is supplied with electric power from the battery and can operate independently. The reader / writer device includes a reader / writer coil that transmits a data carrier. It is connected, and a reader-writer unit for contactless data communication proximity with the proximity contactless IC chip, power Power supplying coil to transmit the transmitting is connected, a power supply unit for supplying power to the battery by the electromagnetic induction, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object proximate to the reader-writer device, the proximity type contactless IC The reader / writer unit is caused to execute an operation of transmitting an initial response command that is a command for starting proximity-type non-contact data communication with the chip at regular intervals, and after the sensor detects the object, the reader / writer unit depending on whether but a response is received the initial response command, the determination whether it is possible object and the non-contact data communication proximity is, when the non-contact data communication proximity with the object is determined to be, the proximity run the transaction process associated with a particular function type contactless IC chip is compatible, is determined not to be a non-contact data communication proximity If, when the start the charging process by actuating the power supply unit, it determines that enables contactless data communication proximity with the object after starting the charging process, and a control means for executing said transaction processing This is a battery charging system.

Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the present invention is that the control means of the reader / writer device, when the reader / writer unit cannot receive a response of the initial response command even after a set time has elapsed after operating the power supply unit, The battery charging described in the fourth invention is characterized in that the charging process is interrupted and the transaction process is executed when the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command within the set time. System.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the reader / writer unit receives the response of the initial response command within the set time, the control means of the reader / writer device does not interrupt the charging process and the transaction It is a battery charging system described in 5th invention characterized by performing a process.

Furthermore, a seventh invention is a battery charging method in which the reader / writer device charges power to a battery built in a portable device on which a proximity non-contact IC chip is mounted. writer coil for transmission is connected to, to the reader-writer unit for contactless data communication proximity with the proximity contactless IC chip, starts contactless data communication proximity with the proximity contactless IC chip An initial response command is transmitted at regular intervals, and after the sensor detects the object, the reader / writer unit receives the response of the initial response command depending on whether the response is received. proximity of determining whether the non-contact data communication can be 1, the reader-writer device, an object and the proximity type in which the sensor detects If it is determined that the non-contact data communication can be, it executes a transaction process associated with a particular function of the proximity non-contact IC chip is compatible, if the sensor is unable contactless data communication between the object and the object proximity detected If it is determined, the power supply unit that supplies power to the battery by electromagnetic induction using a power supply coil is operated, and after determining the proximity type non-contact data communication with the object after starting the charging process, In the battery charging method, step 2 of executing the transaction process is executed.

Further, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, if the reader / writer unit cannot receive a response to the initial response command even after a set time has elapsed since the reader / writer device activated the power supply unit, the charging process is interrupted. and, if the response of the initial response command in the set time was received by the reader writer unit, the step 3 to execute the transaction process, seventh, characterized in that it is performed after the step 2 It is the battery charging method described in the invention.

Furthermore, in a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the step 3, the reader / writer device, when the reader / writer unit can receive a response of the initial response command within the set time, without interrupting the charging process. It is a battery charging method described in the eighth invention, characterized in that transaction processing is executed.

  According to the present invention described above, a battery charging system, method, and reader that can automatically determine whether or not the battery of the portable device is exhausted and control charging of the battery of the portable device according to the determination result. A writer device can be provided.

The figure explaining the structure of a battery charging system. The block diagram of a mobile telephone and a reader / writer apparatus. The flowchart which showed the procedure which charges the electric power to the battery of a mobile telephone.

  From this, the embodiments of the present invention will be described to the extent that those skilled in the art of the present invention can understand the contents of the present invention and implement the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a battery charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. The battery charging system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is represented by FeliCa (registered trademark), which is famous for Osaifu-Keitai (registered trademark). A cellular phone 2 which is a portable device mounted with a proximity type non-contact IC chip, and a reader / writer having a reader / writer function for communicating with the cellular phone 2 in proximity type non-contact data and a charging function for charging the battery of the cellular phone 2 And at least the apparatus 3.

  In FIG. 1, the mobile device is a mobile phone 2, but other than the mobile phone 2, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) capable of mounting a proximity type non-contact IC chip, or a battery type proximity type non-contact IC card. Can be used as a portable device.

  2 is a block diagram of the mobile phone 2 and the reader / writer device 3 constituting the battery charging system 1, FIG. 2 (a) is a block diagram of the mobile phone 2, and FIG. 2 (b) is a block diagram of the reader / writer device 3. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 2 includes an antenna, a liquid crystal display, a display driving circuit, a baseband processing circuit, an application processor, a memory, and the like, and a base circuit unit 20 for functioning as a general-purpose mobile phone; The proximity contactless IC chip 21 described above, a battery 22 that supplies power to the base circuit 20 and the proximity contactless IC chip 21, a charging coil 24 that receives a power carrier wave transmitted by the reader / writer device 3, and A battery charging unit 23 which is mounted with a bridge circuit for converting AC to DC, a voltage control IC chip for controlling the charging voltage, etc., and charges the battery 22 with electric power obtained by electromagnetic induction generated at both ends of the charging coil 24. It has.

Although the data communication and charging coils can be used together, the problem as disclosed in Patent Document 1 arises. Therefore, in this embodiment, for data communication used for proximity non-contact data communication. The antenna 25 is provided separately from the charging coil 24 used for charging the battery 22, the data communication coil 25 is connected to the proximity non-contact IC chip 21, and the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 is connected to the data communication coil. 25 is used to perform proximity non-contact data communication with the reader / writer device 3.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the reader / writer device 3 includes a reader / writer unit 31 on which circuits necessary for performing proximity type non-contact data communication such as a demodulation / modulation circuit and an encoding / decoding circuit are mounted. , A power supply coil 34 for transmitting a power carrier wave, a circuit for detecting overcurrent, a circuit for detecting overheating, a charge control IC chip for controlling the charging of the battery 22, and the like. A power supply unit 33, a sensor 32 for detecting an object existing within a certain distance from the coil surface 3a of the reader / writer device 3, and a control unit 30 for controlling the reader / writer device 3 as a whole. Power is supplied from an external power source.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the data communication and charging coils are separated, the reader / writer device 3 is provided in the proximity type of the cellular phone 2 separately from the power supply coil 34. A reader / writer coil 35 used for proximity non-contact data communication with the non-contact IC chip 21 is provided, and the reader / writer coil 35 is connected to the reader / writer unit 31.

A sensor 32 provided in the reader / writer device 3 is provided in the reader / writer device 3 to detect an object approaching the coil surface 3a of the reader / writer device 3, and detects an object when the distance to the object is within a set distance. As the sensor 32, an infrared sensor that detects the hand of the person holding the mobile phone 2 can be used as the sensor 32 in addition to the reflective photoelectric sensor.
The set distance when the sensor 32 outputs a detection signal indicating that an object has been detected is preferably equal to or longer than the distance of the operating magnetic field of the reader / writer device 3.

  The control unit 30 provided in the reader / writer device 3 uses a reader / writer unit 31 to perform a transaction process related to a specific function supported by the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 of the mobile phone 2, and a sensor 32 and the reader / writer unit 31 have a function of controlling the charging of the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2. The control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 detects an object and the sensor 32 detects the object. If proximity non-contact data communication cannot be performed with the detected object, the power supply unit 33 of the reader / writer device 3 is activated to execute a charging process for charging the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the control unit 30 provided in the reader / writer device 3 charges the power to the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2. Note that the description of FIG. 3 also serves as an explanation of the battery charging method of the present invention.

  When the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 is activated, an initial response command, which is a command for starting proximity-type non-contact data communication with the non-contact IC chip 21 existing in the operating magnetic field of the power supply unit 33, is sent at regular intervals. Every other transmission operation is executed by the reader / writer unit 31, and the detection signal from the sensor 32 is monitored to monitor whether the sensor 32 has detected an object close to the reader / writer device (S10).

  The initial response command transmitted by the reader / writer unit 31 conforms to the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 of the mobile phone 2. For example, when the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 conforms to ISO / IEC 14443 Type A, the reader / writer The initial response command transmitted by the unit 31 is REQA (Request Command, Type A) defined by ISO / IEC14443.

  The reader / writer unit 31 of the cellular phone 2 uses a reader / writer coil 34 to transmit a data carrier wave modulated with an initial response command encoded for a contactless communication protocol supported by the proximity contactless IC chip 21. . If the power of the battery 22 is not depleted, the proximity contactless IC chip 21 demodulates and decodes the data carrier wave received by the data communication coil 25, and receives the response of the initial response command by load modulation or the like. Reply to 3.

  When a detection signal indicating that an object in proximity to the reader / writer device 3 has been detected is output from the sensor 32 (S11), the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 receives a predetermined time after receiving the detection signal. It is determined whether the response of the initial response command has been received within (for example, 1 second) (S12). If the response of the initial response command is received, the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2 is not charged. The transaction processing related to the proximity type non-contact IC chip 21 that has returned the response of the initial response command and a specific function (for example, electronic money) supported by the proximity type non-contact IC chip 21 is executed (S16), When the transaction process ends, the charge process ends with the end of the transaction process as a trigger (S19), and this procedure ends. That.

  Further, the reader / writer unit 31 does not receive the response of the initial response command within a certain time (for example, 1 second) after receiving the detection signal indicating that the object close to the reader / writer device 3 has been detected. In such a case, it is determined that there is a possibility that the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2 does not have enough remaining capacity for the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 of the mobile phone 2 to operate, and the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 33 is activated to start a charging process for charging the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2 in a non-contact manner (S13).

  When performing the charging process, the power supply unit 33 uses the power supply coil 34 to transmit a power carrier wave having a predetermined frequency. In general, the frequencies of the power carrier wave and the data carrier wave are different, but they may be the same. The power carrier wave is received by the charging coil 24 of the mobile phone 2, and is applied to both ends of the charging coil 24 of the mobile phone by electromagnetic induction accompanying a change in magnetic flux between the power supply coil 34 of the reader / writer device 3 and the charging coil 24 of the mobile phone. An alternating voltage is generated, and the battery charging unit 23 of the mobile phone 2 converts the alternating voltage into a direct current and charges the battery 22.

  When starting the charging process, the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 measures the time from the start of the charging process and determines whether the reader / writer unit 31 has received a response to the initial response command (S14).

  When the reader / writer unit 31 receives the response of the initial response command, the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 performs a charging process and performs a specific function supported by the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 of the mobile phone 2. The transaction processing concerned is executed (S17), and when the transaction processing is completed, the charging processing is terminated with the termination of the transaction processing as a trigger (S19), and this procedure ends.

  In addition, when the reader / writer unit 31 cannot receive the response of the initial response command, the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 has a time from the start of the charging process within a set time (for example, 3 seconds). If the time exceeds the set time, the control unit 30 of the reader / writer device 3 determines that the object detected by the sensor 32 is not the mobile phone 2 and interrupts the charging process. (S18) If this procedure is interrupted without executing the transaction processing related to the specific function supported by the proximity contactless IC chip 21 of the mobile phone 2, and the time exceeds the set time, , The process returns to the process of determining whether the reader / writer unit 31 has received the response of the initial response command.

Thus, by providing the reader / writer device 3 with the sensor 32, the reader / writer device 3 can detect the presence or absence of an object in which the mobile phone 2 is close to the reader / writer device 3. When the power of the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2 is depleted, the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 does not operate, so when the sensor 32 detects an object, it is determined whether proximity non-contact data communication can be performed with the object. In the case where proximity type non-contact data communication is not possible, when the power of the battery 22 of the mobile phone 2 is depleted by operating the power supply unit 33 and starting the charging process, the battery of the mobile phone 2 is exhausted. 22 can be charged automatically.

  In the above-described embodiment, whether or not non-contact communication with an object is possible is determined by the response of the initial response command transmitted by the reader / writer unit 31 at regular intervals, and the reader / writer unit after the sensor 32 detects the object. If the reader / writer unit 31 cannot receive the response of the initial response command even after the set time has elapsed since the power supply unit 33 was activated, the object is not the mobile phone 2. , It is desirable to interrupt the charging process.

  Further, when the reader / writer unit 31 can receive the response of the initial response command within the set time, the transaction process related to the specific function supported by the proximity non-contact IC chip 21 is executed without interrupting the charging process. Then, the power of the battery 22 will not be exhausted during transaction processing.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described so far, and various modifications and changes can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the transaction processing related to the specific function supported by the proximity contactless IC chip 21 is performed during the charging process. However, the reader / writer device 3 is provided with a recess for fitting the mobile phone 1. When the mobile phone 1 sends a response to the initial response command, such as when the relative position of the charging coil 24 built in the mobile phone 1 and the power supply coil 35 built in the reader / writer device 3 can be fixed. Thus, if it can be assumed in advance that the battery 22 can be charged with enough power to execute the transaction processing related to the specific function supported by the proximity type non-contact IC chip 21, the transaction processing is performed in order to save power. The charging process may be terminated at the time of starting (S17 in FIG. 3).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery charging system 2 Mobile phone 20 Base circuit part 21 Proximity type non-contact IC chip 22 Battery 23 Battery charging part 24 Coil for charging 25 Coil for data communication 3 Reader / writer apparatus 30 Control part 31 Reader / writer part 32 Sensor 33 Electric power supply part 34 Coil for reader / writer 35 Coil for power supply

Claims (9)

A reader-writer device for contactless data communication proximity with the proximity contactless IC chip operating from built-in battery supplied with electric power to the portable device,
A reader / writer coil that transmits a data carrier is connected, a reader / writer unit that communicates with the proximity type non-contact IC chip and proximity type non-contact data, and a power supply coil that transmits a power carrier are connected by electromagnetic induction. A power supply unit for supplying power to the battery, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object close to the reader / writer device, and a command for starting proximity non-contact data communication with the proximity non-contact IC chip. Depending on whether or not the reader / writer unit has received a response to the initial response command after the sensor has detected the object, an operation of transmitting an initial response command at regular intervals is performed. determines whether it is possible to non-contact data communication proximity with, it is determined that they can be the object and the non-contact data communication proximity is Executes a transaction process associated with a particular function of the proximity non-contact IC chip is compatible, if it is determined not be a non-contact data communication proximity, start charging process by operating the power supply unit, When it is determined that proximity-type non-contact data communication with the object is possible after starting the charging process, the control unit executes the transaction process,
A reader / writer device. The control means of the reader / writer device interrupts a charging process when the reader / writer unit cannot receive a response to the initial response command even if a set time has elapsed after operating the power supply unit, If the response of the initial response command to receive said reader writer unit in time, and executes the transaction processing, the reader-writer apparatus are described in claim 1. It said control means of said reader writer apparatus, when the response of the initial response command in the set time was received by the reader writer unit, without interrupting the charging process, and characterized by performing said transaction processing The reader / writer device according to claim 2 . A battery charging system comprising at least a portable device having a built-in battery, and a reader / writer device that performs close contactless data communication with the portable device,
The portable device includes: the reader-writer device is connected to a charging coil for receiving power carrier wave to be transmitted, the battery charging unit for charging the electromagnetic induction Thus obtained power generated at both ends of the charging coil to the battery, the A data communication coil for receiving a data carrier transmitted by the reader / writer device is connected, and includes a proximity non-contact IC chip that is supplied with power from the battery and can operate independently.
The reader-writer device is connected to the reader-writer coil for transmitting data carrier, a reader-writer unit for contactless data communication proximity with the proximity contactless IC chip, the power supply coil for transmitting power carrier A power supply unit that is connected and supplies power to the battery by electromagnetic induction; a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object close to the reader / writer device; and a proximity non-contact IC chip and a proximity non-contact data communication. The reader / writer unit executes an operation of transmitting an initial response command, which is a command for starting, at regular intervals, and after the sensor detects the object, the reader / writer unit receives a response of the initial response command. by whether the determination whether it is possible object and the non-contact data communication proximity is, non-contact data of proximity and the object When data communication is determined to be, when the proximity-type contactless IC chip executes a transaction process associated with specific functions supported, it is determined not to be a non-contact data communication proximity to actuate the power supply unit It begins charging process Te, when determined to be non-contact data communication proximity with the object after starting the charging process, a control means for executing the transaction processing,
A battery charging system. The control means of the reader / writer device interrupts a charging process when the reader / writer unit cannot receive a response to the initial response command even if a set time has elapsed after operating the power supply unit, 5. The battery charging system according to claim 4 , wherein when the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command within a time, the transaction process is executed. The control means of the reader / writer device executes the transaction process without interrupting the charging process when the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command within the set time. The battery charging system according to claim 5 . A reader / writer device is a battery charging method for charging power to a battery built in a portable device on which a proximity non-contact IC chip is mounted,
The reader / writer device is connected to a reader / writer coil for transmitting a data carrier wave, and the proximity type non-contact IC chip and the proximity type are connected to a reader / writer unit that performs proximity type non-contact data communication with the proximity type non-contact IC chip. Executes an operation of transmitting an initial response command that is a command for starting non-contact data communication at regular intervals, and after the sensor detects the object, the reader / writer unit receives the response of the initial response command. Step 1 for determining whether or not proximity non-contact data communication with the object is possible, depending on whether or not
When it is determined that the reader / writer device can perform proximity non-contact data communication with the object detected by the sensor, the reader / writer device performs transaction processing related to a specific function supported by the proximity non-contact IC chip, and When it is determined that proximity-type non-contact data communication cannot be performed with the object detected by the sensor, the power supply unit that supplies power to the battery by electromagnetic induction is activated using the power supply coil, and the charging process is started. If it is determined that proximity non-contact data communication with the object is possible,
Is performed. The battery charging method characterized by the above-mentioned. If the reader / writer unit cannot receive the response of the initial response command even after a set time has elapsed since the reader / writer device operated the power supply unit, the charging / writing process is interrupted and the reader / writer device stops the charging process within the set time. When the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command, the step 3 of executing the transaction processing includes:
The battery charging method according to claim 7 , wherein the battery charging method is performed after the step 2. In the step 3, the reader / writer device executes the transaction process without interrupting the charging process when the reader / writer unit can receive the response of the initial response command within the set time. The battery charging method according to claim 8 .

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