Electromagnetic identification system

This invention relates to an electromagnetic identification system.

Electromagnetic identification systems of the kind to which the invention relates are disclosed in, for example., Netherlands patent application 77,11891 and in US patent 4,333,072.

These prior elertromagnetic identification systems comprise a transmitter for generating an electromagnetic interrogation field in a detection zone, at least one passive responder capable of disturbing said interrogation field, and detection means for detecting a disturbance of the interrogation field caused by a responder, the responders comprising a single receiver circuit which in response to an interrogation field, via rectifier means, can supply energy to active digital encoding means comprising a binary-code defining means, said encoding means being arranged, in operation, through a switch means, to vary the electrical characteristics of said receiver circuit in the rhythm of the binary code to generate a code signal that is detectable by said detection means, said encoding means being arranged to control the switch member during pre-determined periods of time for varying the electrical characteristics of said receiver circuit, which pre-determined periods of time alternate with intervals during which the electrical characteristics of the receiver circuit are not affected.

It is also known for the second responders of an electromagnetic identification system to be arranged so that, after the actual production process of the responder, the code of each responder can, at least in part, be programmed or re-programmed. In the past, for example, it has been proposed for the responders to be arranged so that the desired code can be programmed in the responder by breaking certain electrical connections mechanically from the outside. It has also been proposed to make use of fusible links, which can be selectively broken by the wireless supply of sufficient energy.

Furthermore, it has been proposed in general, for example., in German patent application 3,412,610, German patent application 3,412,588, and the International Patent Application WO 86/00498, to use a memory means in a coded responder, in which data can be stored or changed by wireless means.

Finally EP-A-0111753 discloses an electromagnetic detection system in which passive coded responders having a single resonant circuit are used. Also the code of said responders may be (re)programmed by means of a modulated electromagnetic field. To this end a transmitter can under control of a suitable programmer provide an electromagnetic field modulated in accordance with the code to be programmed in the code defining means of the responders.

The known responders however are not of the type generating in an interrogation field their code during predetermined periods of time alternating with intervals during which no coded signal will be generated in the resonant circuit ever though the responder is still in the interrogation field.

Moreover in the known system special means in the responders will be required that are able to distinguish between a modulated field meant for (re)programming the code and a modulated interrogation field which is the result of the activity of a code responder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a practical technique for programming or re-programming the code of a responder of an electromagnetic identification system of the kind in which, in operation, the responders generate a code signal with intervals.

For this purpose, according to the present invention, an electromagnetic identification system of the above kind is characterized in that said encoding means comprise a decoding section known in itself which, in response to a modulation of the interrogation field, can, at least in part, change the binary rode defined by said code-defining means, and that these is provided a transmitter comprising a programmer also known in itself for providing such modulation, said transmitter being arranged, in operation, to generate a modulated interrogation field during said predetermined intervals.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows one example of a prior art identification system;</li><li>Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows one embodiment of an identification system according to the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows signal distortion occurring in the identification system as shown in Fig. 2; and</li><li>Fig. 4 diagrammatically shows a variant of a responder for an identification system according to the present invention.</li></ul>

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows an example of a prior art identification system comprising a transmitter 1 which by means of an aerial 2 can generate an interrogation field in a detection zone. Furthermore, detection means 3 are provided which, in this example, are connected to the same aerial as the transmitter, and can detect the field disturbance caused by a responder 4 present in the detection zone.

Responder 4 comprises a receiver circuit 5, which in this example is a tuned resonance circuit LC, but may alternatively be a wide-band circuit or an aerial, if desired.

Via a rectifier 6, shown diagrammatically, receiver circuit 5 provides supply energy to digital encoding means 7 when the responder is in an interrogation field. Furthermore, a buffer capacitor 8 is provided. The encoding means in operation provide a binary code signal that is unique for the responder in question or for the group to which the responder belongs. The code signal controls a switch member 9, for example, a transistor. The switch member affects the electrical characteristics of the receiver circuit 5 in the rhythm of the code signal. Thus, for example, the resonance frequency can be changed by short-circuiting a coil or capacitor forming part of the circuit. In the example shown, the receiver circuit is short-circuited via a resistor 10 in the rhythm of the code.

As, during the short-circuiting of the receiver circuit 5, the voltage provided by the rectifier falls off, at least in part, the responder is arranged so that the switch means can only affect the receiver circuit during certain periods of time. These periods of time alternate with pre-determined intervals during which the switch means is not energized. During these intervals, the buffer capacitor 8 can be fully charged again.

According to the present invention, these intervals can be utilized to advantage for sending out the information required for programming or re-programming the code of a responder, defined by a code defining means or memory of the encoding means.

For this purpose, the code defining means should naturally be re-programmable, at least in part. Such a code defining means may, for example, comprise a RAM or, for example, an E(E)PROM. In the case of a RAM, an auxiliary battery is often required.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows an example of an identification system according to the present invention, arranged so that the code of a responder can be programmed or changed, at least in part, after the actual production process. Similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals as used in Fig. 1.

The transmitter 1 now comprises a programmer 21, by means of which the interrogation field can be modulated during the pre-determined intervals in which the switch means 9 is not operative.

The modulated signal is supplied by the receiver circuit 5, which in this example only comprises a coil L, to the encoding means 7, via a line 22. The encoding means now comprise a decoding section 23, which decodes the signal received and, with the signals thus obtained, changes the contents of the code defining means 24.

In order to ensure that the modulation of the interrogation field endangers the provision of energy to the active responder circuits as little as possible, the transmission energy is preferably set as high as possible during the (re)programming of the responder. For this purpose the transmitter is provided with adjusting means 25, shown diagrammatically, by means of which the energy transmitted by the transmitter through aerial 2 can be adjusted.

In order to determine the optimum transmission energy level for the (re)programming, the transmission energy is gradually increased from a low value. At a certain threshold value, the supply voltage across the buffer capacitor 8 in a responder being programmed will reach such a level that the Zener diode 26, which for security reasons will often be present anyway, becomes operative. At that moment there will be a sudden change in the amount of field energy absorbed by the responder. Such a leapwise change can be detected in a simple manner by detection means 3. The transmitter can then be adjusted, for example automatically through a line 27, to a level at which the Zener diode 26 is just not operative.

If desired, the transmitter can be arranged so that after energizing the programmer 21, the variation of the transmission energy and the subsequent adjustment of the optimum transmission energy level take place fully automatically.

Fig. 3 shows, at a , the signal across the receiver circuit of a responder during normal operation and, at b, during the (re)programming. Fig. 3a shows two periods of time CI, during which a responder generates a coded signal in an interrogation field. The periods of time CI alternate with pre-determined intervals P, during which energy is transferred only.

Fig. 3b shows that, in the intervals P, the signal is modulated for (re)programming a responder in the intervals P. As stated before, the transmission energy is then set at an optimum value. In addition, the programmer is preferably arranged so that the modulation depth caused by the programmer does not exceed a pre-determined value, e.g., 50% of the amplitude.

Besides by means of detection of the field absorption, the transmission of the encoded information from the responder can also be effected by switching from transmission to receiving, and this at the same frequency, in the periods of time CI in which this transfer is to take place. For this purpose, the coil or aerial of the transmitter can be switched to a receiver in these periods. Also, of course, use can be made of a receiver with its own coil or aerial.

To enable this form of transfer, which has the advantage of being less sensitive to interference as a result of, for example, the presence of metal, the electric circuit in the responder has to provide itself for the transfer signal with the correct frequency in the periods of time in which no transmission signal is present. Depending on the amount of energy in the energy buffer, this can also comprise a plurality of time zones.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically a responder suitable for this purpose. The receiver circuit of the responder is connected to an amplifier circuit 40, so that, upon receiving a signal from the transmitter this amplifier circuit passively follows the phase of the transmission signal presented, but when the transmission field drops out, the amplifier circuit will begin to actively oscillate at the same frequency.

The transfer of the coded information from the responder to the transceiver can then take place in the same manner as in the transfer through modulation of the field absorption, namely, by modulating the electrical characteristics of the receiver circuit in the responder. Also, to save energy, an inhibit line 41 could be provided in the amplifier, for example, by giving it the form of a so-called "NAND" gate. This last is especially of importance if a battery is added to increase the detection range.

It is observed that, after reading the above, various modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, a responder could be arranged so that only a portion of the code can later be changed. If desired, a portion of the code defining means or memory can be used to indicate that in this portion and/or another portion the code must not be changed. Also, a responder can be arranged so that a portion of the code stored in the code defining means can be varied under the influence of signals from one or more sensors coupled to the responder. These may be, for example, sensors for physical or (bio)chemical parameters, such as blood pressure, temperature, pressure, heart rate,eye pressure, concentration of certain substances, etc. Such modifications are to be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.