Communications: electrical – Selective – Interrogation response
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-01
2004-11-16
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Interrogation response
C340S010100, C370S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06819221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method as defined in the opening part of Claim
1
.
The invention further relates to a communication device as defined in the opening part of claim
9
.
The invention further relates to a transponder as defined in the opening part of claim
14
.
The invention further relates to a circuit as defined in the opening part of claim
20
.
A method as defined in the opening part of claim
1
, a communication device as defined in the opening part of claim
9
, a transponder as defined in the opening part of claim
14
, and a circuit as defined in the opening part of claim
20
have been realized and put onto the market by the Applicant and are consequently known.
The known realizations are adapted to determine the characteristic values mentioned hereinafter, namely in the first place the value of the input capacitance of a transponder circuit existing between the input terminals of such a circuit and in the second place the value of the modulation index caused by load modulation means of a transponder circuit and appearing between circuit terminals of a such a circuit. In addition, the known realizations are also suitable for determining a correct digital functionality of a transponder circuit. With regard to the known realizations reference is also made to the European Patent Application having the application number 98 890 248.2 and filed on Aug. 21, 1998.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to adapt a method as defined in the opening part of claim
1
, a communication device as defined in the opening part of claim
9
, a transponder as defined in the opening part of claim
14
, and a circuit as defined in the opening part of claim
20
in such a manner that it is possible to determine a characteristic value relating to the communication between a communication device and a transponder, which could not be determined hitherto, as a result of which a series of further possibilities of use are obtained for such a communication device, for such a transponder and for such a circuit.
According to the invention, in order to achieve the afore-mentioned object with a method as defined in the opening part of claim
1
, the characteristic feature disclosed in the characterizing part of claim
1
has been provided.
Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to achieve the afore-mentioned object with a communication device as defined in the opening part of claim
9
, the characteristic feature disclosed in the characterizing part of claim
9
has been provided.
Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to achieve the afore-mentioned object with a transponder as defined in the opening part of claim
14
, the characteristic feature disclosed in the characterizing part of claim
14
has been provided.
Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to achieve the afore-mentioned object with a circuit as defined in the opening part of claim
20
, the characteristic feature disclosed in the characterizing part of claim
20
has been provided.
As a result of the provision of the characteristic features in accordance with the invention it is achieved that now at least one time value can be determined which represents at least a part of the communication time interval in which a transponder has a communication connection with a communication device. In practice, this novel possibility in accordance with the invention provides a range of hitherto unrealizable potential uses. For example, in the case of an access control system formed by means of transponders and at least one communication device it is possible, by determining the at least one time value representing the communication time interval in which a transponder has a communication connection with a communication device, to determine when the transponder is in communication with the communication device during a communication time interval exceeding a given threshold value, which may be indicative of an operating fault or an unusual behavior of a user who carries the transponder, thus subsequently enabling an automatic failure indication or warning indication to be started and carried through. Further potential uses are obtained in all cases in which the communication time interval in which a transponder is in communication with a communication device plays a part.
It is to be borne in mind that the communication time interval is to be understood to means that time interval in which communication is possible between a transponder and a communication device, i.e. in which a transponder has a communication connection with a communication device, which is the case when the transponder is located within a communication range between the communication device and the transponder. In this respect it is to be noted that the communication range depends on the spatial position of the transponder with respect to the communication device. Moreover, it is to be noted that the duration of the method in accordance with the invention, for determining at least one time value representing at least a part of the communication time interval, preferably covers only a part of the length of the communication time interval.
For a method in accordance with the invention, a communication device in accordance with the invention, a transponder in accordance with the invention and a circuit in accordance with the invention it has proved to be particularly advantageous when, in addition, the characteristic features disclosed in claims
2
,
10
,
15
and
21
, respectively are provided. By providing these characteristic features it is achieved in a simple manner that, in addition to at least one time value representing at least a part of a communication time interval, it is also possible to determine, without any additional expense, that a transponder or a circuit of a transponder no longer has a communication connection with a communication device, i.e. has left the communication range of a communication device.
In the above context it has proved to be particularly advantageous when, in addition, the characteristic features disclosed in claims
1
,
9
,
14
and
15
, and
20
and
21
, respectively are provided. By providing these characteristic features in accordance with the invention it is possible to determine at least one time value, which represents at least a part of the communication time interval which begins at a starting instant and which ends at an ending instant, in a particularly accurate manner.
In the above context it has proved to be very advantageous when, in addition, the characteristic features disclosed in claims
2
,
10
,
16
and
22
, respectively are provided. This is particularly advantageous because such a counting stage provided as time-value determining stage can be realized simply in digital form.
However, it is to be noted that a time-value determining stage can also be realized at least partly in digital form, for example by means of a capacitor which can be charged with the aid of a charging circuit during a communication time interval, as a result of which the capacitor voltage appearing at a given instant within the communication time interval always forms a measure of a part of the communication time interval, i.e. a time value.
In connection with the determination of a time value which represents a communication time interval which begins at a starting instant and which ends at an ending instant, it has also proved to be advantageous when, in addition, the characteristic features disclosed in claims
5
,
11
,
17
and
18
, and
23
and
24
, respectively are provided. Such an embodiment is advantageous because in such an embodiment the desired result is accomplished by means which are present anyway, which in particular resides in the fact that the presence detection means and the absence detection means are formed by a so-termed power-on reset circuit which is present anyway in each circuit for a transponder.
In the above context it has also proved to be very advantageous when, in addition, the characteristic features disclosed in claims
6
Amtmann Franz
Kauer Christoph
Horabik Michael
Nguyen Nam
Simons Kevin
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