JPH09305810A - Unwanted power transmission suppressing method and radio type card system applying the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unwanted power transmission suppressing method, with which the waste of transmission even at the time of performing no communication between a ground station and a mobile station is prevented, and also provide a radio type card system applying this method. SOLUTION: Concerning a radio communication system with which the communication is started according to the return of signal from a mobile station receiving a signal continuously transmitted from a ground station 2 through a prescribed gate part 1, on the mobile station approach side of the gate part 1, any object to act together with the mobile station such as a sensor 4a/4b for detecting a card holder, for example, is provided and according to the detecting signal of this sensor 4a/4b, the ground station 2 starts transmission. It is desirable for a detection area (a) of this sensor 4a/4b to be adjacent to or partially overlapped with a communicable area between the ground station and the mobile station and further, it is desirable the sensor is a photosensor. Besides, the radio type card system applying this method is composed of devices provided with these respective functions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of transmitting unnecessary power in a wireless card system for processing a card such as a commuter pass that can be inspected without contact, and a wireless card system to which the method is applied.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Commanded by a signal transmitted from a transmitter provided in a wireless card processing device which is a ground station installed on the ground, an electronic circuit such as an IC is mounted inside to store predetermined data, and a command is issued. IC card or I which is a mobile station equipped with a communication function for transmitting stored data to a ground station provided on the ground.
It is composed of C module etc. (hereinafter referred to as card),
The wireless card system that rewrites the data stored in the card to the data transmitted from the ground station or transmits the data that the card has to the ground station is used to check the carrier for security, charge, collect, etc. Practical applications and practical tests are being carried out in the necessary fields. For example, it is used for various purposes such as a pass for highway toll billing system, commuter pass, prepaid card, and security. As a wireless card system, for example, JP-A-4-26
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3385. This is a radio card system equipped with a card that receives a reminder wave from a transmission device and transmits recorded personal information.In this case, the card receives a reminder wave and then a radio wave transmitted by another card within a predetermined time. If there is no radio wave from another card, it will send its information. In a system for communicating at a distance of 1 to 10 meters, which is a relatively long distance between a ground communication device and a pass, such as a highway toll charging system, microwaves are used as a communication frequency, and a commuter pass and a ski lift are used. In a system such as a prepaid card for use in which communication is performed at a distance of 0 to 1 meter, which is a distance shorter than the former that a person can present at a predetermined place, medium wave or short wave is used. In a system in which antennas of the card and the ground communication device are brought close to each other and communication is performed at a distance of 0 to 5 mm, electromagnetic induction by short waves or the like is used.

A conventional card system using a data processing device and an IC card provided on the ground is shown in FIG.
It is configured as shown in FIG. In addition, FIG. 7 shows the main functional elements of the wireless card system.
Other functional elements such as details of the data processing function are omitted. In FIG. 7, 20 is a configuration of functional elements of a data processing device installed on the ground (hereinafter referred to as a ground station), and 10 is an I
The structure of the functional elements of a C card (hereinafter referred to as a mobile station) is shown. In the ground station 20, reference numeral 21 is a data processing function and is provided with an interpersonal interface 9. The interpersonal interface 9 has a function of displaying data transmitted from the mobile station, and inputs information necessary for maintenance work and operation to the data processing function 21. Data processing function 2
The predetermined signal output from 1 is modulated by a predetermined modulation method, for example, PSK (phase modulation) or FSK (frequency modulation), on the carrier wave created by the transmission signal creation unit 22, and is amplified by the output amplification function 23a to obtain a waveform. Output unit 23 having a shaping filtering function and a matching function with the transmitting antenna 24
It is supplied from b to the transmitting antenna 24. In the circuit configuration described above, the ground station 20 constantly transmits a predetermined signal in order to detect that the mobile station 10 has reached the communication position with the ground station 20. That is, for example, an unmodulated radio wave of a predetermined frequency or a radio wave obtained by modulating a call signal of a predetermined code is transmitted.

The mobile station 10 receiving the above-mentioned signal transmits a predetermined response signal corresponding to the received signal. That is, in the mobile station 10, when the reception antenna 11 receives the transmission radio wave transmitted by the ground station 20, the reception function 12 amplifies and demodulates the reception wave. In addition, the DC component is extracted by rectification and stored in the storage function 13. The electric energy stored in the storage function 13 is used to operate each electric circuit of the mobile station 10. The signal demodulated by the reception function 12 operates the data processing function 14. When the ground station 20 requests the predetermined signal transmission stored in the mobile station 10, the corresponding data is read from the storage function provided in the data processing function 14,
For example, ASK can be applied to a carrier wave of a predetermined frequency by the transmission function 15.
It is modulated by (amplitude modulation) and transmitted from the transmission antenna 16. Upon receiving the radio wave transmitted by the mobile station 10, the receiving antenna 25 of the ground station 20 amplifies the received signal by the received signal amplifying function 26, extracts the signal transmitted by the demodulating function 27, and transmits the signal to the data processing function 21. The data processing function 21 performs predetermined processing according to the received data, and displays it on the interpersonal interface 9. The communication between the ground station 20 and the mobile station 10 is completed by the distance interval at which communication becomes impossible.

[0005]

By the way, in many card systems as described above, the power used by the mobile station and the loss due to its efficiency are always transmitted from the ground station. Therefore, continuing transmission even when waiting for communication is a great waste of power. Recently, there is a need for a system for driving a ground station with a battery due to the power situation at the ground station installation location. In a ground station that uses a battery as a power source, continuous transmission has been disliked efficiently because the operating time per charge of the battery is short. Therefore, there is a demand for a wireless card system that does not require unnecessary transmission from the ground station. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems (problems) of the conventional one, and to obtain a method for suppressing unnecessary power transmission without needless useless transmission from a ground station and a card system to which this method is applied.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, in the unnecessary power transmission suppressing method, the communication is started by the reply of the mobile station which continuously receives the signal transmitted by the ground station at a predetermined gate section. In the wireless communication system described above, a sensor having a function of detecting a cardholder, for example, is provided on the side closer to the mobile station of the gate, and the ground station starts transmission by the detection signal of this sensor. The detection area of this sensor is preferably adjacent to or partially overlaps with the communication area between the ground station and the mobile station, and further, the sensor is preferably an optical sensor.

Further, in the wireless card system to which the above-mentioned unnecessary power transmission suppressing method is applied, a ground station, a card which is a mobile station having a function of transmitting to the ground station, and a cardholder detecting sensor are provided. It is configured to start transmission from the ground station when this sensor detects the entry of the cardholder. Since the present invention has the above-mentioned method and has the above-mentioned configuration, the card which is the mobile station does not transmit until the card reaches the communication area of the ground station, thus preventing wasteful power consumption.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 7 by the embodiments shown in FIGS. First Embodiment: FIG. 1 is a plan view of an entrance gate section of a predetermined area in which a ground station of a wireless card system to which the present invention is applied is viewed from above. In FIG. 1, 1
Is a target gate unit, and A is an approach path of a card holder who is a mobile station. Reference numeral 2 is a data processing device for a card, and 3 is an antenna unit of a ground station used for wireless communication with a card arranged at a predetermined position of the data processing device. The antenna unit 3 is shown as a composite without distinguishing between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna.

Reference numeral 4a denotes a light emitting portion of an optical sensor which is an active portion of the sensor, and 4b denotes a light receiving portion of an optical sensor which is a passive portion of the sensor so that the light receiving portion 4b receives the optical axis formed by the light emitting portion 4a. And the optical axis is blocked by the passage of the card holder and the light receiving section 4b stops receiving light, thereby detecting the approach of the card. As the light sensor, for example, a semiconductor laser or a photo diode is used as the light projector, and the optical axis formed by this light projector is determined by the structure of the gate portion where the light sensor is arranged and the passage of the target card holder. Based on the conditions, the light source (not shown) of the light projecting section 4a and the light receiving section 4b may be appropriately arranged so as to face each other and be formed. For example, a light emitter and a light receiver are provided at the same location, that is, section 4b,
The reflector may be arranged at the position 4a shown in FIG. or,
The number of optical axes may be one or plural depending on the conditions of the gate section. In the case of plural optical axes, the arrangement of the optical axes and the reception signal of the light receiving section 4b provided corresponding to the optical axes are appropriately combined. Therefore, it suffices to be able to reliably and promptly detect the cardholder who blocks the optical axis.

Further, the cardholder detecting sensor is not necessarily an optical sensor as long as it can reliably function with a weak electric power, and is based on, for example, the configuration of the gate section and the traffic conditions of the target cardholder. Any suitable means such as ultrasonic waves for detecting the movement of the cardholder may be adopted. In that case, the sensor active part has a different function from the light projecting part of the optical sensor, and the sensor passive part also has a different function from the light receiving part. When the sensor uses means such as electromagnetic induction or radio wave application, the sensor active part and the sensor passive part may be integrally formed. 1 shows a detection area of the sensor, and b shows a communicable area between the ground station and the mobile station. That is, the detection area a of the sensor and the communicable area b between the ground station and the mobile station are adjacent to each other or partially overlap each other, in accordance with the structure of the gate portion, the communication characteristics of the card, and the purpose. The behavior conditions of the holder, the detection characteristics of the sensor corresponding to the behavior conditions, and the functions of the ground station described later are set as close as possible.

Next, a schematic configuration of a signal processing function provided in the element device shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the functions and main functions included in the ground station and the mobile station are the same as those of the wireless card system shown in FIG. 7, the functions included in the ground station and the mobile station are simplified and shown in FIG. To do. Reference numeral 2 is a data processing device which is a ground station, and 2A is a data processing function that collectively shows electronic circuit functions included in the data processing device. An antenna unit 3 is used for wireless communication with the mobile station. Reference numeral 4 denotes a sensor for detecting a cardholder, which is a light emitting portion (hereinafter referred to as sensor active portion) 4a of an optical sensor which is an active portion of the sensor and a light receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as a sensor passive portion) of an optical sensor which is a passive portion of the sensor. 4b) are shown as one body. Further, 10 is a card which is a mobile station, 10A is a comprehensive view of electronic circuit functions included in the card, and 5 is an antenna section of the mobile station used for radio communication with the ground station, which is a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna. Is comprehensively shown.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the operation flow shown in FIG. 3 and the time flow shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, when the operation of this wireless card system is started, the cardholder detection sensor, that is, the sensor 4 having a function of detecting an object that acts integrally with the mobile station 10 is in a standby state (step 0). . If the sensor 4 does not detect anything, the standby state continues (NO in step 1). When the cardholder enters the detection area of the sensor 4 and the sensor 4 detects the cardholder as shown in the sensor column of FIG. 4 at time t1 (YES in step 1), the detection signal rises and the data processing function 2A is activated. input. When the detection signal is input to the data processing function 2A, the data processing function 2A rises and is activated between times t2 and t3 as shown in the ground station column of FIG. 4 (step 2). t1 to t3
It takes several tens of microseconds to 1 millisecond. That is, the ground station 2 starts transmitting a predetermined signal to the mobile station 10. After the data processing function 2A is activated, the mobile station 10
The card returns to the communicable area and the reply signal of the card is input to the data processing function 2A (step 3: t4 shown in the mobile station column of FIG. 4). Even if the transmission signal of the ground station 2 is unmodulated and the mobile station 10 replies when the transmission signal of the ground station 2 is received, the transmission signal is a modulated call signal of a predetermined code and is transmitted. When the station 10 receives the call signal transmitted by the ground station 2, the station 10 may reply. The strength of the return signal of the card received by the ground station 2 is determined by the card (mobile station) for the antenna unit 3 of the ground station 2.
As the antenna part 5 of 1 approaches, it increases as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows the change in the reception intensity of the ground station 2
7 shows characteristics of the card (mobile station) transmitting antenna 5 (antenna 16 in FIG. 7) approaching the receiving antenna 3 (corresponding to the antenna 25 in FIG. 7). That is, when the reception intensity of the ground station reaches c, communication is possible, but the squelch level is set for the reception intensity d with a margin. Therefore, the timing t5 at which the reception intensity reaches d5
Thereafter, predetermined communication is executed (step 4: t in FIG. 4).
5 or later). The above communication is executed until the communication is completed (steps 4 and 5), and when the communication is completed (step 5), the operation of the data processing function 2A is stopped (step 6), and the process returns to the step 1 before returning to the next step. The sensor 4 is in a standby state until the card holder enters. As described above, when the detection area of the sensor is adjacent to or partially overlaps with the communication area between the ground station and the mobile station, the card (mobile station) that has entered the gate section before will be detected by the ground station. There is no fear that the next card (mobile station) holder will operate the sensor during communication with.

Second Embodiment: Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the card holder is a system corresponding to the gate portion under the condition that the cardholder can enter only from the direction A, whereas in the second embodiment, The embodiment corresponding to the system when entering from both the gate parts is shown. In FIG. 6, reference numerals 10a and 10b respectively indicate access paths for the cardholder, and the ground station 1A has access paths 10 in both directions.
A light emitting portion (sensor active portion) 4a and a light receiving portion (sensor passive portion) 4b are provided as sensors corresponding to a and 10b. In the second embodiment, two sets of sensors are provided in the first embodiment, and the data processing device 2 may be operated by the detection signals of the respective sensors.
Since the present embodiment can be easily understood by referring to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The above description shows the basic configuration for implementing the technical idea of the present invention and the embodiment for explaining the operation thereof. It is appropriate in accordance with the purpose of use of the wireless card system and its conditions. Can be applied to. That is, the present invention can be applied to the functions and configurations of any ground station and the functions and configurations of a mobile station configured according to the purpose of use and the conditions of the system to which the present invention is applied. That is, it suffices to appropriately arrange the sensors without depending on the configuration of the functional elements shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and employ a sensor having appropriate functions and characteristics corresponding to the configuration conditions. Further, even in the case of a mobile station of a system other than the wireless card system, referring to the above-mentioned embodiment, a sensor is appropriately arranged according to the condition of the system, and a detection signal of the sensor is sent to the ground station. You can use it to boot.

[0015]

The present invention has the following excellent effects. (1) As described above, the approach of the cardholder to the predetermined place is detected, and the transmission of the ground station is started by the detection, so that waste of power can be prevented. (2) Therefore, in the case of a system in which the power of the ground station is obtained from a battery, the life per charge can be extended. (3) If the detection area of the sensor is adjacent to or partially overlaps with the communication area between the ground station and the mobile station, the card (mobile station) that entered the gate section in front will be in communication with the ground station. There is no risk that the next card (mobile station) holder will operate the sensor. (4) Further, when the sensor is an optical sensor, the distance of the gate portion is generally narrow, so that a semiconductor laser or a photodiode with low power consumption and good performance can be used for the projector. Therefore, desired detection performance can be easily configured with low power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a ground station placement unit (gate unit) illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of element functions that configure each of a ground station (data processing device) and a mobile station (card) in the wireless card system corresponding to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation flow diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a time flow diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic curve diagram illustrating a communication start timing corresponding to a received signal strength at a ground station of a reply signal transmitted by a mobile station in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a ground station placement unit (gate unit) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration block diagram of element functions constituting a ground station (data processing device) and a mobile station (card) of a conventional wireless card system and the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Gate part 2: Ground station (data processing device) 2A: Data processing function (ground station) 3: Antenna part of ground station 4: Card holder detection sensor 4a: Sensor active part (light emitting part) 4b: Sensor Passive part (light receiving part) 5: Antenna part of mobile station 10: Mobile station (card) 10A: Mobile station data processing function A, 10a, 10b: Approach path a: Sensor detection area b: Ground station and mobile station Communication area

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location H04B 1/59 H04B 1/59 5/00 5/00 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication system in which communication is started by a reply from a mobile station that has continuously received a signal transmitted from a ground station at a predetermined gate section, and is integrated with the mobile station on the mobile station approaching side of the gate section. A method for suppressing unnecessary power transmission, characterized in that a sensor having a function of detecting an object that behaves is provided, and the ground station starts transmission by a detection signal of the sensor. 2. The detection area of the sensor is adjacent to or partially overlaps with a communication area between the ground station and the mobile station.
The unnecessary power transmission suppression method described. 3. The unnecessary power transmission suppressing method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 4. A wireless communication system in which communication is started in response to a reply from a mobile station that has received a signal continuously transmitted from a ground station at a predetermined gate section, the communication function being a communication target provided at the predetermined gate section. A predetermined signal is transmitted to a mobile station equipped with, and after receiving a reply from the mobile station indicating that the signal has been received, the data held by the mobile station is read and / or a predetermined signal is sent to the mobile station. A ground station having a function of writing data, receiving a transmission signal of the ground station, and corresponding to the reception signal,
The card, which is the mobile station having a function of transmitting a predetermined signal or data to the ground station, and the card holder detection sensor provided on the entrance side of the card holder in the gate section, wherein the sensor is A wireless card system, characterized in that when the entry of a card holder is detected, the ground station starts transmission.