JPH04138016A - Batteryless electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To distinguish whether there is a margin enough to operate it properly by giving the output voltage converted in a rectifying circuit to the first voltage detector at the threshold level of specified voltage and the second voltage detector at the threshold level higher than it. CONSTITUTION:A first voltage detector 30 judges whether the output voltage of a rectifying circuit 14 is above the specified voltage. If the output voltage of the rectifying circuit 14 is 2.8V or more, the central processing unit 18 gets in operating condition. The central processing unit 18 judges whether it has received. the test command to check the driving voltage transmitted from a read and write device 10. If it receives the test command, a second voltage detector 32 judges whether the output voltage of the rectifying circuit 14 is higher than the specified voltage. The central processing unit 18, if given the outputs of the first and the second voltage detectors 30 and 32 with the output voltage of the rectifying circuit at 3.2V or more, outputs a second signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides that a direct current voltage converted from radio wave energy is
The present invention relates to a battery-less electronic device that can identify whether there is enough power to operate the electronic device properly.

(Prior Art) FIGS. 6 to 8 show an example of a conventional battery-less electronic device. FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of an example of a conventional battery-less electronic device, and FIG.
8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the electronic device shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the read-and-write device that receives a signal from the electronic device shown in FIG.

First, in FIG. 6, microwaves as radio wave energy are emitted from a read and write device 10 toward a battery-less electronic device 12. As shown in FIG. Then, in the electronic device I2, the received radio wave energy is transferred to the rectifier circuit 1.
4, it is converted to DC voltage, and the output voltage is sent to the transmitting/receiving circuit.
6, central processing unit 18, and memory 20 as driving power.

Furthermore, the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is
is applied to a voltage detector 22 whose threshold level is a predetermined voltage that allows proper operation. This voltage detector 22
The output of the voltage detector 22 is applied to the reset terminal of the central processing unit 22, and the central processing unit 18 is brought into operation by the output of the voltage detector 22 when the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 exceeds the threshold level.

In this configuration, the battery-less electronic device 12 operates as shown in FIG. That is, the voltage detector 22 always determines whether the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage (for example, 2.8 cm) (step 2).

Then, if the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 exceeds a predetermined voltage, the central processing unit 18 becomes operational. Therefore, the central processing unit 18 determines whether or not a test command for checking the drive voltage transmitted from the read-and-write device IO has been received (step 2). Here, when the test command is received, the central processing unit 18 outputs a signal indicating that it can operate properly, and this signal is transmitted by the transmitting/receiving circuit 16 to the read and write device 10 ( In step (■), execution of the test instruction is completed and the process returns to step (2). If step■, rectifier circuit■
If the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 4 has not reached the predetermined voltage, the central processing unit 18 remains inactive and continues monitoring the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 without outputting a signal. Furthermore, if the test command is not received in step (2), the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 continues to be monitored without outputting any signal.

Further, the read and write device 10 operates as shown in FIG. 8 by transmitting a test command. That is, a test command is transmitted (step (2)), and it is determined whether a signal is received from the battery-less electronic device 12 in response to this command (step (2)). If the signal is received, the LED is turned on (step 2) to indicate that the battery-less electronic device 12 has a driving power source with a voltage that allows it to operate properly. However, if no signal is received, the LED is turned off (step 2) to indicate that a drive power source of sufficient voltage is not available for the battery-less electronic device 12 to operate properly.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional battery-less electronic device 12 described above, it is effective to identify whether or not a predetermined voltage that allows proper operation is obtained as a driving power source.

By the way, the battery-less electronic device 12 is used, for example, as an ID tag attached to a workpiece flowing on a line in a flexible manufacturing system, and an ID controller is installed at a work station to read or write data stored in the ID tag. A read and write device IO is arranged. Therefore, due to changes in the orientation and position of the workpiece that occur while flowing on the line of the flexible manufacturing system, the battery-less electronic device 1 is placed opposite the read-and-write device 10 at the work station.
The distance and direction of 2 are easy to change. The electronic device 12 has directivity to receive the radio wave energy radiated from the read and write device 10. Therefore, the output voltage as a driving power source obtained by the battery-less electronic device 12 may change while flowing on the line of the flexible manufacturing system.

In the conventional battery-less electronic device 12, it can be determined by a test command whether or not a driving power source of a predetermined voltage or higher that allows proper operation is obtained, but it cannot be determined how much margin there is. Therefore, even if an output voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage is obtained at the time of a test command and the electronic device 12 operates properly, if there is only a small margin, it is necessary to attach the work as an ID tag to the work actually flowing on the line. If the position or orientation of the electronic device 12 is changed, it is likely that the electronic device 12 will not be able to operate properly.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances of conventional battery-less electronic devices, and it is necessary to determine whether the output voltage obtained as a driving power source in the electronic device has sufficient margin for proper operation. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery-less electronic device that can identify the type of device.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the battery-less electronic device of the present invention receives radio wave energy radiated from a read and write device, converts it into DC voltage, and operates as a drive power source. In a battery-less electronic device, a first voltage detector has a threshold level of a predetermined voltage at which the electronic device can properly operate the output voltage converted from the radio wave energy by a rectifier circuit, and a threshold level higher than the predetermined voltage. the output voltage of the first and second voltage detectors is supplied to a central processing unit, and the central processing unit outputs the output voltage from only the first voltage detector. When an output exceeding the threshold level is obtained, a first signal is output, and the first and second signals are output.
The second signal is output when an output voltage exceeding a threshold level is obtained from a partner of the voltage detector.

The first or second signal may be configured to be transmitted to the read and write device by a transmitting/receiving circuit.

(Function) The output voltage converted by the rectifier circuit is given to the first and second voltage detectors at a predetermined voltage threshold level at which the electronic device can operate properly and a higher threshold level, so that the output voltage of the rectifier circuit If there is sufficient voltage margin, an output with an output voltage exceeding the threshold level can be obtained from the first and second voltage detectors. Then, if the output voltage of the rectifier circuit exceeds a predetermined voltage but there is not enough margin, an output is obtained only from the first voltage detector. Furthermore, if the output voltage of the rectifier circuit does not exceed a predetermined voltage, no output can be obtained from either the first or second voltage detector. Therefore, by the first or second signal output from the central processing unit according to the outputs of the first and second voltage detectors,
It can be determined whether the output voltage of the rectifier circuit has sufficient margin for proper operation.

If the first or second signal output from the central processing unit is sent to the read-and-write device by the transmitting/receiving circuit, the read-and-write device that receives this signal will be connected to the drive power source for the battery-less electronic device. It is possible to identify the state of

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of one embodiment of the battery-less electronic device of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the electronic device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating how the state of the driving power source of the electronic device changes depending on the distance between the battery-less electronic device and the door-and-write device. FIG. FIG. In FIG. 1, the same block circuits as those in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, the difference from FIG. 6 is that the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is higher than the predetermined voltage. A second voltage detector 32 having a threshold level is applied to the output of the first voltage detector 3o or a reset terminal of the central processing unit 18, and the output of the second voltage detector 32 is applied to the central processing unit 18. 18
This is due to the fact that appropriate human-powered boats were given.

In this configuration, the battery-less electronic device 12 of the present invention operates as shown in FIG. That is, whether or not the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage (for example, 2.8 V) is always determined based on the first voltage detection amount 30 (
Step ■). Then, if the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is, for example, 2.8 V or more, the central processing unit 18 enters the operating state. Therefore, the central processing unit I8 determines whether or not a test command for checking the drive voltage transmitted from the read and write device 10 has been received (step 2). Here, when the test command is received, the second voltage detector 32 determines whether the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is higher than a predetermined voltage (for example, 3.2 V) or not (
Step ■). Then, the central processing unit 18 outputs the second signal when the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is 3.2 V or more and the output of the first and second voltage detectors 30 and 32 is given. , the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is 2.
When the voltage is 8 V or more but less than 3.2 V and an output is given only from the first voltage detector 30, the first signal is output (step 2). Further, these first or second signals are transmitted to the read and write device 10 by the transmitting/receiving circuit 16 (step 2), and the execution of the test command is completed and the process returns to step 2.

If in step ■, the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is 2.8
If it is less than V, the central processing unit 18 remains inactive and no signal is output, and the output voltage of the rectifier circuit I4 continues to be monitored. Furthermore, if no test command is received in step (2), monitoring of the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 14 is continued without outputting any signal.

Further, the read and write device 10 operates as shown in FIG. 3 by transmitting a test command. That is, it is determined whether or not a signal has been received from the battery-less electronic device I2 in response to the test command (step 2). If a signal is received, it is determined whether it is the first signal or the second signal (step 2). And if it is the second signal, green L
The ED is turned on (step ①) to indicate that the drive power state of the battery-less electronic device 12 has sufficient margin. If it is the first signal, the red LED is lit (step ■) to indicate that the state of the drive power source for the battery-less electronic device 12 exceeds the predetermined voltage for proper operation or there is not much margin. do. However, if no signal is received in step ■, both the green and red LEDs are turned off (step ■), and the output voltage at which the battery-less electronic device 12 operates properly is not obtained. Show that.

In FIG. 4, position 11 (a
), the read-and-write device 10 lights up the green LED 40 and detects a position ( If there is a battery-less electronic device I2 in b), the red LED 42 is turned on. However, if the battery-less electronic device I2 is located at a position (C) outside the area where weak radio wave energy can be received, both the green LED 40 and the red LED 42 are turned off.

In addition, in FIG. 5, a battery-less electronic device 12
If the electronic device 12 is located in a region where it can receive strong radio wave energy and the electronic device 12 is in the posture (d) facing the read and write device 10, the radio wave energy will be efficiently received, so the green L E D 40 is lit. If the electronic device 12 is in the diagonal orientation (e), the radio wave energy reception condition will be poor.
D42 is lit. Furthermore, if the electronic device 12 is not suitable for the read and write device 10 at all, the radio wave energy reception condition will further deteriorate, and eventually f
Both the i L E D 40 and the red L E D 42 are turned off.

As explained above, 40 green LEDs and 4 red LEDs
Depending on the lighting state of 2, the battery-less electronic device I2
It can be determined whether the output voltage obtained as a driving power source has sufficient margin for operation.

Note that in the above embodiment, the first or second signal is read and written from the battery-less electronic device 12.
0 and green L E with read and write device lO
Although the lighting of the LED 40 and the red LED 42 is controlled, if the electronic device 12 can obtain sufficient power, the electronic device 12 may be provided with the green LED 40 and the red LED 42. In addition, in the above embodiment, the green LED 40 and the red LED 42 provide a battery-less electronic device N1.
Although the state of the drive power source No. 2 is displayed, the present invention is not limited to this, and any display means may be used. Further, the read-and-write device 10 may transmit the received first or second signal to the higher-level controller means, so that the higher-level controller means displays the state of the driving power source of the battery-less electronic device 12. good.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the battery-less electronic device of the present invention is configured as described above, it achieves the effects described below.

First, depending on whether the central processing unit outputs the first signal or the second signal, or whether neither signal is output, whether or not the drive power obtained from the received radio wave energy has sufficient margin. can be identified. Therefore, by designing the drive power supply so that there is sufficient margin, for example, when used as an ID tank attached to a workpiece flowing on the line of a flexible manufacturing system, slight positional deviation or change in posture can be avoided. Even if this occurs, proper operation can be maintained.

If the first or second signal is sent to the read-and-write device, the read-and-write device has a sufficient margin of drive power compared to battery-less electronic devices, so the drive power of the electronic device is This is suitable for appropriately displaying the status of the device using an LED or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of an embodiment of the battery-less electronic device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the electronic device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the read-and-write device that receives a signal from the electronic device of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining how the state of the driving power source changes depending on the orientation of the battery-less electronic device, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of an example of the device, and FIG.
8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the electronic device shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the read-and-write device that receives a signal from the electronic device shown in FIG. 10: read and write device, 12: battery-less electronic device, 14: rectifier circuit, 16: transmitting/receiving circuit, 18: central processing unit, 30: first voltage detector, 32: second voltage detector. Patent applicant Yokoo Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Yamatake Honeywell Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Tetsuo Moriyama Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a battery-less electronic device that receives radio wave energy radiated from a read and write device, converts it into DC voltage, and operates as a driving power source, an output obtained by converting the radio wave energy by a rectifier circuit. applying a voltage to a first voltage detector having a threshold level of a predetermined voltage at which the electronic device can properly operate; and a second voltage detector having a threshold level higher than the predetermined voltage; giving the output of the voltage detector to the central processing unit;
This central processing unit outputs a first signal when the output voltage exceeds the threshold level only from the first voltage detector, and outputs a first signal from the first and second voltage detectors. A battery-less electronic device, characterized in that the device is configured to output a second signal when the output voltage exceeds a threshold level. 2. The battery-less electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first or second signal is configured to be transmitted to the read-and-write device by a transmitting/receiving circuit.