Signal transmission system and method

A data transmission system includes a data carrier (20) which has a memory (29) for storing therein data including an identification code and which is attached to an object and a main apparatus (10) having a microwave oscillator (13) so as to conduct communications with the data carrier by use of a microwave, thereby writing data in or reading data from the memory of the data carrier. The main apparatus transmits a microwave modulated by a command or data and thereafter transmits a nonmodulated carrier for a predetermined period of time. On receiving a command, the data carrier executes a read/write operation on the memory and then generates a response. The data carrier receives the nonmodulated carrier sent from the main apparatus so as to conduct a modulation of quadrature phase-shift keying thereon by use of response data, thereby reflectively transmitting the modulated carrier with a plane of polarization shifted from a plane of polarization of the received wave by 90° .