WO2010125613A1

WO2010125613A1 - Integrated antenna

Info

Publication number: WO2010125613A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/002630
Authority: WO
Inventors: 木村康行
Original assignee: 株式会社日本コンラックス
Priority date: 2009-04-30
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Abstract

An integrated antenna which comprises an antenna for a non-contact IC card and an antenna for human-body communication. An electrode plate of the antenna for human-body communication is disposed so as to overlap a radiation plane of the antenna for the non-contact IC card and comprises an opening section which exposes the radiation plane and a cut which reaches the periphery of the electrode plate from the opening section.

Description

Integrated antenna

The present invention relates to an integrated antenna, and more particularly to an integrated antenna having a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna.

Today, a payment system using a contactless IC card storing electronic money has become common as a payment system for electronic money. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for performing communication between a vending machine and a non-contact IC card by a customer holding the non-contact IC card over a vending machine having a non-contact IC card antenna. Has been proposed. Patent Document 2 proposes an electronic payment system for a vending machine using human body communication using a human body as a communication path. In this electronic settlement system, a customer who has a human body communication device storing electronic money holds his / her hand over the human body communication antenna of the human body communication device mounted on the vending machine, thereby allowing the human body communication device and the human body communication device to be used. Settle by communicating with the antenna.

In order to enable payment using a non-contact IC card and human body communication, the vending machine needs to be equipped with both a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna. In this case, it is desirable to arrange the non-contact IC card antenna and the human body communication antenna at the same position. This is because if they are arranged at different positions, the customer is confused about which one to use, and the convenience of the customer is impaired. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage that the antenna installation surface is widened by arranging the antennas at different positions. However, if the antenna for human body communication is simply superimposed on the antenna for non-contact IC card, the magnetic field generated from the antenna for non-contact IC card is shielded by the antenna for human body communication, which is good with the non-contact IC card. Communication becomes impossible.

In Patent Document 3, by providing a slit in an antenna of a communication device used for human body communication, even if a card-type device used in an RF-ID system overlaps the communication device, the communication of the card-type device is not possible. Techniques for suppressing shielding have been proposed. However, when the antenna is simply provided with a slit, electromagnetic induction occurs because the antenna of the human body communication device forms a closed circuit, and the magnetic field of the RF-ID system is absorbed by the antenna of the human body communication device. Good communication with non-contact IC card is not possible. A configuration in which a plurality of antennas of a communication device are arranged has also been proposed. However, when a plurality of antennas are arranged in this way, wiring and the like for connecting the plurality of antennas are necessary, and the configuration is complicated, which hinders miniaturization.

JP 2004-30393 A JP 2004-145873 A JP 2009-33610 A

An object of the present invention is to enable reliable communication and to reduce the size of an antenna installation surface when an antenna in which a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna are integrated is mounted on a device. And

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an integrated antenna having a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the electrode plate of the human body communication antenna is disposed so as to overlap the radiation surface of the non-contact IC card antenna, and the opening that exposes the radiation surface; And a notch reaching the outer periphery of the electrode plate from the portion.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the electrode plate of the antenna for human body communication is annular, and is disposed around the radiation surface of the antenna for non-contact IC card, and has a notch reaching from the inner periphery to the outer periphery. It is characterized by that.

According to the present invention, it is possible to downsize an antenna installation surface when an antenna in which a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna are integrated is mounted on the apparatus, and versatility is increased and convenience is improved.

, , It is a figure explaining one Example of the integrated antenna 100 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. , It is a figure explaining another Example of the integrated antenna which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining another Example of the integrated antenna which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining an Example of the integrated antenna which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining another Example of the integrated antenna which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of the integrated communication apparatus 600 provided with the integrated antenna which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the vending machine 700 carrying the integrated antenna which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
1A to 1C are configuration diagrams illustrating an integrated antenna 100 according to the first embodiment. The integrated antenna 100 has both functions of a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna. The integrated antenna 100 includes a substrate 110 and an electrode plate 120. The electrode plate 120 is disposed so as to overlap the substrate 110. 1A is a diagram illustrating an overall view of the integrated antenna 100, FIG. 1B is a diagram focusing on the substrate 110 of the integrated antenna 100, and FIG. 1C is a diagram focusing on the electrode plate 120 of the integrated antenna 100. Both figures are observed from the same direction. In the integrated antenna 100, a surface material (not shown) may be further disposed so as to overlap the electrode plate 120. The surface material is made of, for example, an insulator.

The substrate 110 includes an antenna coil 111. The antenna coil 111 is made of, for example, copper wire or copper foil, and is disposed on the surface of the substrate 110. A region including the antenna coil 111 on the surface of the substrate 110 is referred to as a radiation surface 112. In the example of the integrated antenna 100 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the surface of the substrate 110 and the radiation surface 112 coincide. In FIG. 1B, the radiation surface 112 is an area surrounded by a broken line. For the sake of clarity, the outer periphery of the substrate 110 and the outer periphery of the radiation surface 112 are displayed in a shifted manner, but in the present embodiment, they coincide with each other. The antenna coil 111 configured as described above is connected to a non-contact IC card communication module 602 described later, and the non-contact IC card communication module 602 generates a magnetic field 130 on the antenna coil 111, thereby It functions as an antenna for a non-contact IC card. When a non-contact IC card is held over the integrated antenna 100, electric power is transmitted from the radiation surface 112 to the non-contact IC card by the magnetic field 130, whereby the non-contact IC card held over the non-contact IC card communication module 602 and Sends and receives data.

The electrode plate 120 is configured, for example, by sandwiching an insulator between conductors such as a copper plate. The electrode plate 120 configured as described above is connected to a human body communication module 603, which will be described later, and the human body communication module 603 generates an electric field corresponding to information to the human body communication antenna and transmits information. It functions as a human body communication antenna by detecting an electric field from a communication device compatible with human body communication owned by a person and receiving information. When a part of a human having a communication device compatible with human body communication, such as a fingertip, approaches the integrated antenna 100, the electrode plate 120 can communicate with the communication device by an electric field through the human body, whereby the human body communication module and the communication device are connected. Sends and receives data.

The electrode plate 120 is disposed so as to be superimposed on the radiation surface 112 of the substrate 110. The electrode plate 120 has an opening 121. Furthermore, the electrode plate 120 has a notch 123 that reaches the outer periphery 122 of the electrode plate 120 from the opening 121. Part of the radiation surface 112 of the substrate 110 is exposed by the opening 121 and the notch 123. Therefore, the magnetic field 130 generated from the exposed radiation surface 112 is not shielded by the electrode plate 120 and is contacted from above the integrated antenna 100 (that is, in the direction of the electrode plate 120 in the integrated antenna 100). It becomes possible to communicate with. Furthermore, since the integrated antenna 100 has the notch 123 in the electrode plate 120, there is no closed circuit surrounding the magnetic field 130 generated by the radiation surface 112 in the electrode plate 120. Therefore, since the electrode plate 120 does not generate electromagnetic induction by the magnetic field 130 generated by the radiation surface 112, it is possible to prevent the electrode plate 120 from absorbing the magnetic field 130 generated by the radiation surface 112. Therefore, the electromagnetic induction coupling between the radiation surface 112 and the non-contact IC card is not prevented by the electrode plate 120 functioning as a human body communication antenna.

1A to 1C, the integrated antenna 100 in which the outer periphery of the electrode plate 120 and the outer periphery of the radiation surface 112 have substantially the same shape has been described. However, the integrated antenna according to the present invention is not limited to this. Other embodiments of the integrated antenna according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. For the sake of clarity, the antenna coil is omitted in the following drawings, and only the radiation surface is described.

The integrated antenna 200 shown in FIG. 2A is configured such that the entire surface of the electrode plate 210 overlaps with a part of the radiation surface 221 on the substrate 220. In other words, the electrode plate 210 is completely included in the radiation surface 221. By performing such an arrangement, the radiation surface 221 can be configured to be relatively large compared to the electrode plate 210, and the integrated antenna 200 performs communication using a non-contact IC card with priority over human body communication. Is possible. In addition, the integrated antenna 250 illustrated in FIG. 2B is configured such that a part of the electrode plate 260 overlaps a part of the radiation surface 271 on the substrate 270. In other words, the electrode plate 260 is displaced from the radiation surface 271.

Of course, the number of openings in the electrode plate is not limited to one. For example, the electrode plate 301 of the integrated antenna 300 shown in FIG. 3 has three openings 302A to 302C and three notches 303A to 303C corresponding to the openings 302A to 302C, respectively. Thus, the widths of the cuts 303A to 303C may be equal to the widths of the openings 302A to 302C.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the integrated antenna in which the electrode plate and the radiation surface are arranged to overlap is described. However, like the integrated antenna 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, the electrode plate 410 may be disposed so as to surround the radiation surface 421. In the integrated antenna 400, an annular electrode plate 410 is disposed around the radiation surface 421. The electrode plate 410 has a cut 411 that reaches the outer periphery from the inner periphery. Therefore, in the electrode plate 410, there is no closed circuit surrounding the magnetic field 430 generated by the radiation surface 421. Therefore, since the electrode plate 410 does not generate electromagnetic induction with respect to the magnetic field 430 generated by the radiation surface 421, it is possible to prevent the electrode plate 410 from absorbing the magnetic field 430 generated by the radiation surface 421. . Therefore, also in the integrated antenna 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, the electromagnetic induction coupling between the radiation surface 421 and the non-contact IC card is not hindered by the electrode plate 410 functioning as a human body communication antenna.

Note that the integrated antenna 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes an electrode plate 410 and a radiation surface 421 on a single substrate 420. However, like the integrated antenna 500 illustrated in FIG. 5, the substrate 510 on which the electrode plate 511 is formed and the substrate 520 on which the radiation surface 521 is formed may be separately formed and fitted.

In the above embodiment, the electrode plate is disposed on the side having the radiation surface of the substrate. However, the electrode plate may be disposed on the side having no radiation surface. That is, in one substrate, an electrode plate for a human body communication antenna may be formed on one surface, and an antenna coil for a non-contact IC card may be formed on the other surface. Furthermore, when the integrated antenna is formed of a multilayer substrate, the electrode plate and the radiation surface may be formed in different layers.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the antenna installation surface when an antenna that integrates a non-contact IC card reading antenna and a communication antenna for human body communication is mounted on the apparatus.

Subsequently, an embodiment of a communication apparatus provided with the

integrated antennas

100, 200, 250, 400, and 500 described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the integrated communication apparatus 600 including the integrated antenna illustrated in the above-described embodiment. The integrated communication device 600 includes an integrated antenna 601, a non-contact IC card communication module 602, a human body communication module 603, and a main control unit 604.

The integrated antenna 601 may be any of the above-described integrated antennas, and includes a human body communication antenna unit 611 and a non-contact IC card antenna unit 612. For example, when the integrated antenna 601 is the integrated antenna 100, the electrode plate 120 forms the human body communication antenna unit 611, and the substrate 110 forms the non-contact IC card antenna unit 612. By providing the integrated antenna 601, the integrated communication device 600 can communicate with both the contactless IC card and the human body communication device.

The non-contact IC card communication module 602 drives the non-contact IC card antenna unit 612. The human body communication module 603 drives the human body communication antenna unit 611. The main control unit 604 includes, for example, a CPU and a RAM, and controls the non-contact IC card communication module 602 and the human body communication module 603. The main control unit 604 switches between the non-contact IC card communication module 602 and the human body communication module 603 in a standby state, that is, in a state where a customer's hand having a non-contact IC card or a human body communication device is not held up. The human body communication antenna unit 611 and the non-contact IC card antenna unit 612 are alternately driven. Thereby, the main control unit 604 can detect that either the non-contact IC card or the customer's hand is held over the integrated antenna 601. The main control unit 604 may switch, for example, every 10 ms.

When the main control unit 604 detects that the non-contact IC card is held over the integrated antenna 601, the main control unit 604 maintains driving of the non-contact IC card antenna unit 612 by the non-contact IC card communication module 602. As a result, the main control unit 604 can maintain communication with the non-contact IC card. On the other hand, when the main control unit 604 detects that the customer's hand is held over the integrated antenna 601, the main control unit 604 continues to drive the human body communication antenna unit 611 by the human body communication module 603. As a result, the main control unit 604 can maintain communication with the human body communication device owned by the customer.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a case where the above-described integrated communication apparatus 600 is installed in the vending machine 700 and used for electronic payment processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vending machine 700 equipped with the integrated antenna of the present invention.

The vending machine 700 has an integrated communication device 600 mounted in a casing, and a bill / currency slot 702 and an integrated antenna 601 of the integrated communication device are arranged below the product display shelf 701 in front of the vending machine 700. Has been. In addition, the main control unit 604 of the integrated communication apparatus 600 further includes a function for executing electronic money settlement processing in response to an instruction from a main control unit of the vending machine 700 (not shown). The integrated communication device 600 configured as described above performs a settlement process of electronic money via a contactless IC card storing electronic money and a communication device for human body communication storing electronic money via an integrated antenna.

The integrated antenna 601 is preferably mounted so that the electrode plate of the human body communication antenna is located outside the vending machine 700. As a result, the vending machine 700 can make a payment when a customer who has selected a desired product from the product display shelf 701 holds the non-contact IC card storing electronic money on the integrated antenna 601. In addition, the vending machine 700 can make a payment when a customer who has a communication device for human body communication storing electronic money holds his hand over the integrated antenna 601.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a vending machine having a smaller antenna installation surface by mounting an antenna that integrates a non-contact IC card antenna and a communication antenna for human body communication. It becomes possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Integrated antenna 110 Board | substrate 111 Antenna coil 112 Radiation surface 120 Electrode plate 121 Opening part 122 Outer periphery 123 Cut 130 Magnetic field

Claims

An integrated antenna having a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna,
The electrode plate of the human body communication antenna is:
Arranged so as to overlap the radiation surface of the non-contact IC card antenna,
An integrated antenna, comprising: an opening that exposes the radiation surface; and a cut that reaches the outer periphery of the electrode plate from the opening.
The integrated antenna according to claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the radiation surface and the outer periphery of the electrode plate have substantially the same shape.
An integrated antenna having a non-contact IC card antenna and a human body communication antenna,
The electrode plate of the human body communication antenna has an annular shape, and is disposed around the radiation surface of the non-contact IC card antenna, and has an incision reaching from the inner periphery to the outer periphery.