JPH0319591B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention generates data and identification signals.
It relates to signal generating devices such as cards and electronic locks that are equipped with ICs but do not include batteries for power supply and do not require direct mechanical contact with the input section of external reading devices.

Traditionally, magnetic cards have been most widely used as ID cards, but since the magnetic tape that is the memory part of these magnetic cards is exposed, they can easily get scratched or dirty, and they also have problems with speakers, etc. However, when brought close to ferromagnetic materials, memory contents may disappear or change in quality. In addition, because the structure and principle are simple, it is possible to read out the memory contents,
It is very easy to tamper with and therefore extremely difficult to keep the stored contents secret.
Moreover, the magnetic tape must be brought into mechanical contact with the input section of the magnetic card reader, which has the disadvantage that not only the magnetic tape itself but also the input section of the reader is worn out at the same time.

To overcome these drawbacks, there are also known non-contact types that are equipped with an IC that generates an identification signal and transmit the identification signal on a high-frequency electromagnetic field. Since it requires an oscillation circuit, it is expensive and requires a corresponding amount of space.

The purpose of this invention is to solve these drawbacks by creating a high-frequency electromagnetic field or an ultrasonic field in space, absorbing the energy of the field, and
In addition to rectifying it as a DC power source, the frequency of the AC component of the field is used as a clock signal for an output circuit such as an encoding circuit, and the output signal of this output circuit is used to connect a coupler such as an antenna or a coil. It is configured to be transmitted to an external reading device via the computer.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the signal generating device of the present invention. The signal generator 2 of this embodiment includes a receiver 3 such as an antenna, a coil, or a sound receiver that receives energy from a vibration energy field 1 such as a high-frequency electromagnetic field or an ultrasonic wave and outputs alternating current power. , a rectifier circuit 4 that rectifies the AC power from the receiver 3 into DC power, a frequency conversion circuit 5 that divides or multiplies the frequency of the AC component of the received vibration energy, and a frequency conversion circuit 5 that divides or multiplies the frequency of the AC component of the received vibration energy. An encoding circuit 6 as an output circuit that operates using the output as a clock signal and outputs, for example, a predetermined identification signal, and a coupler 7 that transmits the identification signal from the encoding circuit 6 on vibrational energy. configured.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the signal generator 2 is located within the vibration energy field 1 previously formed in space by a high-frequency electromagnetic field or an ultrasonic generator (not shown), the receiver 3
absorbs vibration energy and converts it into AC power,
This power is converted into DC power by the rectifier circuit 4 and then given to the frequency conversion circuit 5, the encoding circuit 6, or other circuits as driving power. In addition, the alternating current component of the vibration energy can be directly transmitted at the same frequency (connection indicated by a dotted line) or by a frequency conversion circuit 5.
The frequency is divided and multiplied by , and the signal is sent to the encoding circuit 6 as a clock signal. On the other hand, an identification signal, for example, a code assigned to the person who owns this signal generation device, is set in advance in the encoding circuit 6, and when driven by the DC power, the identification signal is generated. This identification signal is sent to the coupler 7, which includes an antenna, a coil, etc.
The vibration energy is then transferred to an external reading device.

Next, specific examples of the circuits of each part of the device according to the present invention will be explained.

The receiver 3 uses an antenna, a coil, etc. when absorbing the energy of a high-frequency electromagnetic field, and a sound receiver such as a microphone when absorbing the energy of an ultrasonic field. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the output is voltage-doubled and rectified into direct current by a rectifier circuit 4 consisting of diodes 8, 9 and capacitors 10, 11. If necessary, a resistor 12, a voltage regulator diode 13, and a capacitor are connected. 14, the voltage is stabilized by a constant voltage circuit 15, a three-terminal regulator, etc., and then supplied to other circuits.

For example, if a frequency divider is used in the frequency conversion circuit 5, the input frequency can be extremely easily downgraded to generate a clock signal, and the encoding circuit 6 can be operated without using a clock signal source such as a crystal oscillator. Can be operated under synchronous control. Of course, it is not always necessary to perform frequency conversion, and the frequency of field 1 may be used directly as a clock signal. If the output driving capability of the encoding circuit 6 is low, it is sufficient to connect the signal to the coupler 7 via a driving circuit 16, as shown in FIG. Note that the vibration energy for obtaining DC power and the vibration energy for obtaining a clock signal or carrier wave may be the same or different.

Since the signal generating device according to the present invention is configured as described above, it can produce various effects as listed below.

(1) Although it is equipped with an IC, it does not have a built-in drive battery, making maintenance easy and economical.

(2) If a microcomputer or the like is used in the encoding circuit 15, the number of codes for the identification signal can be dramatically increased and multifunctionality can be achieved.

(3) Since there is no need for contact with external equipment, all parts can be housed within the case, making it possible to create an airtight/watertight structure and significantly improve environmental resistance.

(4) Since the identification signal is set by an encoding circuit or microcomputer, it is impossible to tamper with the contents, and it will not be erased by magnetic fields, etc., and the encoding of the identification code If the system, clock signal period, etc. are unknown, it is difficult to read and decipher it, and since the position of the coupler 7 can be constructed in such a way that it cannot be seen from the outside, reading is even more difficult.

(5) Receiver 3 that captures field energy from high-frequency electromagnetic fields and ultrasonic waves, and coupler 7 that outputs signals
Since the position of the external device can be relatively loose with respect to the external equipment, no mechanical precision is required, and there is no need for direct contact, so there is no wear or the like.

(6) Since the clock signal of the output circuit such as the encoding circuit 6 is generated based on the frequency of field 1,
If the frequency of field 1 is made by a crystal oscillator or the like with extremely stable and highly accurate characteristics, the clock signal will not only be of the same high quality, but also an expensive crystal oscillator, which has a large volume and is vulnerable to vibration. It is no longer necessary to install such a device as a clock signal generating element in every identification signal generating device, which is not only economical but also improves mechanical reliability, making it possible to make the device smaller and lighter. Furthermore, on the external device side, the identification signal in the signal generating device such as the card can be received in synchronization with the frequency signal that generates the vibration energy, making data acquisition easy and stable.

For example, when decoding the identification code generated by the encoding circuit 6, which operates in synchronization with a clock signal, on the receiving side, PLL (Phase Locked
Loop) method code decoding IC is used, but
If the clock signal of the encoding circuit 6 is generated by an oscillator using a resistor and a capacitor, the accuracy and stability of its period (frequency) may be poor, making normal decoding impossible. This kind of situation can be easily avoided if the signal generation method is used.

As described above, the present invention is applicable not only to ID cards and electronic locks, but also to many things such as driver's licenses, passports, health insurance cards, and automatic telephone bill payment devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram showing an embodiment of the identification signal generator according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram showing a specific example of a rectifier circuit, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of an output section. It is. 1... High frequency electromagnetic field or ultrasonic vibration energy field, 2... Signal generator, 3... Receiver, 4... Rectifier circuit, 5... Frequency conversion circuit, 6
...Encoding circuit, 7...Coupler.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A receiver that receives the energy of a field of vibrational energy formed in space and generates AC power, a rectifier circuit that converts the AC power from the receiver into DC power, and a rectifier circuit that converts the AC power from the receiver into DC power. an output circuit that outputs a preset signal using the obtained DC power as driving power and a frequency signal obtained based on the AC component of the vibration energy received by the receiver as a clock signal; A signal generating device comprising: a coupler that transmits an output signal from a circuit by adding vibrational energy to the signal.