IP Library Granted Patent US 9,337,904
Granted Patent B2
US 9,337,904 · App. 14/123,357 · Granted May 10, 2016

Communication apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,337,904
App. No.
14/123,357
Granted
May 10, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An RFID tag includes an antenna coil configured to transmit and receive a signal through near field communication, a signal processing circuit configured to process the signal transmitted and received by the antenna coil, a capacitive element arranged in series between the antenna coil and the signal processing circuit, and a control unit configured to control the capacity value of the capacitive element. The control unit changes the capacity value of the capacitive element according to whether a voltage is applied from an external power supply.

Claims (20)

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

an antenna configured to transmit and receive a signal through near field communication;

a signal processing circuit configured to process the signal transmitted and received by the antenna;

a capacitive element arranged in series between the antenna and the signal processing circuit;

a voltage monitor unit configured to monitor whether a voltage for operating the communication apparatus supplied by a) an external power supply or b) from another communication apparatus via the antenna and output operation mode information representing whether a voltage is applied from the external power supply;

a storing unit configured to store a reference table that associates a capacity value of the capacitive element with whether a voltage is applied from the external power supply and with a plurality of communication standards; and

a control unit configured to control the capacity value of the capacitive element, wherein

the antenna receives a signal transmitted from another communication apparatus and including communication standard information for specifying a communication standard, the control unit reads out, from the reference table, a capacity value corresponding to the communication standard information included in the received signal and the operation mode information output by the voltage monitor unit and changes a present capacity value of the capacitive element to the read-out capacity value, and

the capacity value read out from the reference table is a value different according to the communication standard information and the operation mode information.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when communication is interrupted during data communication or when, although polling communication is successful, data communication does not start, the signal processing circuit carries out a reception operation for a data signal while the control unit changes the capacity value, and the control unit controls the capacitive element with the capacity value at a point when the data signal is received.

3. A communication apparatus comprising:

an antenna configured to transmit and receive a signal through near field communication and including a plurality of antenna coils having inductances different from one another;

a switch configured to switch an antenna coil to anyone of the plurality of antenna coils;

a signal processing circuit configured to process the signal transmitted and received by the antenna;

a capacitive element arranged in series between the antenna and the signal processing circuit;

a voltage monitor unit configured to monitor whether a voltage for operating the communication apparatus is supplied by a) an external power supply or b) from another communication apparatus via the antenna, and output operation mode information representing whether a voltage is applied from an external power supply;

a storing unit configured to store a reference table that associates a capacity value of the capacitive element and the antenna coil with whether a voltage is applied from the external power supply and with a plurality of communication standards; and

a control unit configured to control the capacity value of the capacitive element, wherein

the antenna receives a signal transmitted from another communication apparatus and including communication standard information for specifying a communication standard, the control unit reads out, from the reference table, a capacity value and an antenna coil corresponding to the communication standard information included in the received signal and the operation mode information output by the voltage monitor unit, changes a present capacity value of the capacitive element to the read-out capacity value, and instructs the switch to switch a present antenna coil to the read-out antenna coil, and

the capacity value read out from the reference table is a value different according to the communication standard information and the operation mode information.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2013
From: MORIMOTO, SHIGERU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031794/0876 →