WO2000054209A1 - Transponder and archive manager using same - Google Patents

Transponder and archive manager using same Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000054209A1
WO2000054209A1 PCT/CH2000/000108 CH0000108W WO0054209A1 WO 2000054209 A1 WO2000054209 A1 WO 2000054209A1 CH 0000108 W CH0000108 W CH 0000108W WO 0054209 A1 WO0054209 A1 WO 0054209A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
signal
interrogation
transponders
transponder
type
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CH2000/000108
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Marcel Jacomet
Adrian Ehrsam
Urs Gehrig
Original Assignee
Berner Fachhochschule Hochschule Fur Technik Und Arcitektur Biel
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Application filed by Berner Fachhochschule Hochschule Fur Technik Und Arcitektur Biel filed Critical Berner Fachhochschule Hochschule Fur Technik Und Arcitektur Biel
Publication of WO2000054209A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000054209A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a transponder and to an archive manager using such transponders.
  • An archive manager is a system for identifying objects, which includes one or more reading devices and transponders, one per object.
  • the identification of objects is made possible by the fact that each device interacts with the transponders located in a space, called interrogation space.
  • the interrogation device sends an interrogation signal, picked up by the transponders and supplying them with the energy and information enabling them to send a return signal.
  • the transponders used in such managers include a receiver for receiving an interrogation signal, a device for recovering and storing electrical energy, a storage unit formed by a plurality of cells and containing information to allow identification of the object with which it is associated, a transmitter for transmitting a return signal in response to the interrogation signal, and an electronic control circuit for analyzing the interrogation signal and for controlling the transmitter.
  • the reading device includes a control logic comprising an "anti-collision" protocol.
  • the transponders used include a storage unit made up of a read-only memory in which an identification code is recorded.
  • the reading device addresses a interrogation signal
  • the transponders located in the interrogation space each respond by emitting a different signal. If several transponders respond simultaneously, there is a collision.
  • an anti-collision protocol is provided, so that the transponders respond with a delay of random duration.
  • the interrogation device is arranged to detect a correct reception of the return signal from one of the transponders, to derive a synchronization signal from the return signal of the transponder and to modify the interrogation signal so that it is in synchronism with the return signal, thus indicating correct reception.
  • the transponder further comprises means which make it possible to mute it when the reception signal has been received correctly. The device thus "hooks" successively the various transponders present in space.
  • the main object of the present invention is to allow interrogation of a set of transponders located in an interrogation space, which offers maximum security for good efficiency.
  • the transponder according to the invention is characterized in that its control circuit is arranged so that a received interrogation signal causes the emission of a return signal chosen from a first type and a second type, depending on the information contained in one of the cells of the storage unit, both sequentially modulated so that the modulated part of the first type signal is transmitted when the signal of the second type is not modulated and so that the modulated part of the second type signal is transmitted when the signal of the first type is not modulated.
  • Such a transponder allows the establishment of a particularly effective "anti-collision" protocol. It is thus possible, upon analysis of the response, to find out if there is one or more transponders giving a first response (for example a logical 1) and one or more giving a second response (for example a logical 0).
  • the cost price of the transponders depends on the complexity of the electronic circuit they comprise. In these circuits, the active type memories require more area and are more expensive. This is why, advantageously, at least part of the cells of the storage unit are defined in a read-only memory.
  • the storage unit is exclusively formed from a read-only memory, it is not possible to establish an interaction between the transponders and the reading device.
  • Another part of the storage unit is formed in an active type memory.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a transponder allowing great flexibility of use.
  • the read-only memory comprises a first set of cells containing information relating to the identification of the object with which the transponder is associated and a second set of cells containing information relating to the interpretation of the interrogation signal. It is thus possible to interrogate the transponders finding in the interrogation space according to different modes, choosing the one best suited to the situation.
  • the present invention also relates to an archive manager which comprises at least one reading device, and a plurality of transponders.
  • the reading device comprises a transceiver capable of addressing an interrogation signal and of receiving a reception signal, in a limited space, of interrogation, and control electronics, for controlling the transceiver and to analyze this reception signal.
  • the transponders are arranged in the interrogation space and are provided with: • a receiver to receive the interrogation signal,
  • a storage unit formed by a plurality of cells and part of which, produced by means of a read-only memory, contains information to allow the identification of the object with which it is associated, and a memory active type, the content of which can be modified, and containing information intended to make the transmitter silent or not, and • an electronic control circuit for analyzing the interrogation signal and for controlling the transmitter.
  • the electronic circuits of these transponders are arranged so that a received interrogation signal causes the emission of a return signal chosen from a first and a second type, according to the information contained in one cells of the storage unit, both sequentially modulated so that the modulated part of the first type signal is transmitted when the second type signal is not modulated and the modulated part of the second type signal is issued when the first type signal is not modulated.
  • the interrogation modes proposed have not, to date, made it possible to interrogate a large set of transponders likely to be in the interrogation space, with safe, fast and inexpensive means.
  • the present invention relates to an archive manager allowing a clear improvement in this field. In this manager, the electronic circuits of the reading device and the transponders are arranged so that the following sequence is applied:
  • Another object of the present invention is to propose an archive manager making it possible to work with the most suitable mode, whatever the situation.
  • the reading device of the archive manager according to the invention is arranged so that the interrogation signal comprises a plurality of bits, at least one part of them defining a command order to identify one interrogation mode among a plurality of available modes and in that the read-only memory of the transponder storage unit comprises a first set of cells containing information relating to the identification of objects and a second set of cells containing information relating to the interpretation of the interrogation signal.
  • the reading device is advantageously arranged so that, for each interrogation mode, the order which it addresses comprises a bit train which differs from that of the other orders by the fact that by comparing these trains two by two, they differ from each other by at least two bits.
  • FIG. 1 shows a transponder according to the invention, seen from above,
  • - Figure 2 is an electrical diagram of a transponder and a reading device together defining an archive manager according to the invention
  • - Figure 3 represents a logic diagram of interaction between a reading device and a transponder as shown in Figure 2, at the start of an interrogation process
  • - Figures 4, 5 and 6 respectively show interaction diagrams according to three modes of interrogation of the transponders.
  • - Figure 7 shows in a and b two types of signals transmitted by the transponders and in ç, d and e, three types of signals as received by the reading devices.
  • the transponder shown in FIG. 1 comprises, in a conventional manner, a support 10, an integrated circuit 12 and an antenna 14.
  • the support 10 can be formed from two sheets of plastic, for example, between which the integrated circuit 12 and the antenna 14 are glued. One of the sheets may have an external adhesive coating, which makes it possible to fix the transponder on an object to be identified.
  • the integrated circuit 12 comprises several parts, and more particularly a transceiver 16, connected to the antenna 14, an electronic control circuit 18, a device for recovering and electrical energy storage 20, generally a capacity, and a storage unit 21 which comprises a ROM type ROM 22 containing the information relating to the identification of the transponder and to the control logic of the transponder, and a type memory active 24.
  • ROM type ROM 22 containing the information relating to the identification of the transponder and to the control logic of the transponder
  • a type memory active 24 Among the information relating to the control logic, we particularly note that concerning the choice of a selection mode among several available.
  • the electronic control circuit 18, of logic type is advantageously manufactured in CMOS technique, on the basis of a functional diagram, such as those represented in FIGS. 3 to 6.
  • the reading device comprises an antenna 26, control electronics 28, advantageously a microcontroller, as well as a computer 30 connected to a keyboard 32 and to a screen 34.
  • the characteristics of the antenna 26 and the electronics which are associated therewith associated define a interrogation space, in which the transponders can interact with the reading device.
  • an independent display can be associated with the control electronics, making it possible to display in a simple manner at least part of the result of the interrogation.
  • the reading device and the transponders interact via the antennas 14 and 26.
  • the information, transmitted in the form of electromagnetic signals, passes in one direction and in the other. They are represented by wavy arrows.
  • the archive manager thus trained works as follows:
  • an order corresponding to the function to be performed is introduced into the computer 30, by means of the keyboard 32.
  • the control electronics 28 send a signal to the antenna 26 which generates electromagnetic radiation, represented by a wavy arrow going from the reading device towards the transponder, and picked up by the transponder or transponders arranged in the interrogation space.
  • the transceiver 16 receives this signal, stores part of the energy in the member 20 and addresses the order received to the circuit 18, which processes it on the basis of the information contained in the memories 22 and 24.
  • the circuit 18 gives, if necessary, the order to the transceiver 16 to send a return signal, also represented by a wavy arrow, oriented from the transponder to the reading device.
  • This signal is synchronized, by known means, by the interrogation signal.
  • the return signals combine to give a reception signal whose characteristics will be described later.
  • This signal is picked up by the antenna 26 and processed by the control electronics 28 and by the computer 30 which displays the result of the interrogation on the screen 34.
  • there are several interrogation modes in which the reading device and the transponder (s) interact in different ways.
  • Figures 3 to 6 show an interaction diagram of an archive manager according to the invention.
  • the left column shows the operations relating to the reading device
  • the right column relates to the transponder and the wavy arrows, arranged in the intermediate space, indicate the emission of a signal and the direction in which it is going.
  • FIG. 3 shows the start of an interaction of an archive manager according to the invention.
  • the reading device When the reading device is activated, at 50, it begins by emitting an initialization pulse, as shown in 52. This pulse, received by the transponder (s), makes it possible to charge the member 20 and thus supply the necessary energy to start the electronic control circuit 18, as indicated in 54.
  • the reading device then sends a control signal for mode selection, as shown in 56.
  • This signal picked up by the antenna 14 and the transceiver 16, is processed by the electronic circuit 18, which performs the operations sorting 58 to 60 for selecting a program from the three available, identified by the letters A, B and ⁇ _, by comparing the received signal with information stored in a part of the read-only memory. If the control signal cannot be identified, the transponder program stops at 62.
  • the diagram in FIG. 4 corresponds to program A. It makes it possible to define whether or not a given transponder is in the interrogation space.
  • the reading device sends, at 70, an address signal, containing the identification value of the interrogated transponder, as well as a complementary CRC code, at 72, intended to allow the transponder to control the signals received. , as will be explained later.
  • the control circuit 18 analyzes this information and defines, at 74, whether the received address corresponds or not to the identification value contained in the read-only memory 22, and at 76, if the CRC code is correct. If one or the other of the responses is negative, the transponder is stopped, as indicated in 78. On the other hand, when the two responses are positive, the transponder responds with a return signal, in 80, and a CRC code, in 82, before stopping in 78.
  • the reading device detects the existence or not of the return signal, at 84, and checks it. It also checks the CRC code at 86, before informing the user, of the presence or not of the object sought, at 88, by means of the screen 34. The program is then stopped at 90.
  • the interrogation mode represented in FIG. 5 corresponds to program B. It makes it possible to read the address of an object located in the interrogation space.
  • the interrogation signal sent by the reading device, generates as response a signal comprising the address of the transponder, a status bit whose function will be defined later, as well as a CRC code. In under these conditions, reading can only be done insofar as there is only one return signal, ie a single transponder in the reading space.
  • the reading device sends a CRC code, at 92, after identification of the mode as indicated in FIG. 3.
  • This code is received by the transponder and analyzed at 94 If it is considered correct, the transponder responds at 96 with a signal containing its address, at 98 with a status bit and at 100 with a CRC code.
  • the transponder stops, either after having resulted in a negative control of the CRC code in 94, or after having sent the CRC code in 100.
  • the reading device checks at 102 that it receives a correct response. It reads in 104 the address of the transponder, in 106 the status bit and in 108 checks the CRC code. In 110, it displays the result of the process, ie the address of the transponder and its state, but also information concerning the interrogation conditions. It will indicate, for example, that the CRC code was not received correctly. The device then stops at 112.
  • the purpose of the status bit mentioned above is to define two states, one active (state equal to 0) in which the transponder responds or not according to the received signal and the other passive (state equal to 1), in which the transponder remains silent, regardless of the interrogation signal.
  • This information is stored in the active type memory cell 24.
  • the content of this memory can, on the order of the reading device, pass from one of these states to the other (active or passive)
  • the program as described with reference to FIG. 4 does not involve the status bit, while that relating to FIG. 5 merely reads it.
  • these programs could be completed by limiting the interrogation to only transponders whose status bit is in the active state, as will be explained in the program described with reference to FIG. 6.
  • the interrogation mode represented in FIG. 6 corresponds to the program C. It makes it possible to identify the transponders present in the identification space in a fast and safe manner, and without risk of collision. This is obtained by virtue of the fact that the interrogation signal synchronizes the return signals, amplitude modulation, sequentially modulated, with times during which either of the signals is modulated.
  • Such signals are represented in FIG. 7. They can be of a first or of a second type, corresponding respectively to a logic state 0 in a or 1 in b. These signals each comprise four sequences E, F, G and H, two of them, identified by the letter s, being stable and the other two, identified by the letter m, being modulated. It is, of course, possible to imagine many ways of modulating the amplitude in a sequence of the signal. In the example shown in the drawing, the modulated sequence m has, during a first step, an amplitude lower than that of the stable signal s, for example by a factor of two, then of the same level in a second step.
  • a signal of the first type comprises two modulated sequences m followed by two stable sequences s.
  • the second type signal comprises two stable sequences s followed by two modulated sequences m.
  • the interrogated transponder sends a return signal of the first type, as represented in a and corresponding to a logic value equal to 0, or of the second type, as represented in b and corresponding to a logical value equal to 1. If there is no transponder in the interrogation space, or if the transponders present are not able to respond, there is no signal return in response to the interrogation signal. When there is one or more transponders in the interrogation space capable of responding, the reading device receives a reception signal corresponding to the sum of the return signals sent by the transponders present in the space question. This reception signal can be of three types, represented in ç, d and e in FIG. 7.
  • the signal represented in ç_ at any point comparable to the signal a, comprises two modulated sequences m followed by two stable sequences s. This means that the transponder (s) present in the interrogation space all have the value 0 in the interrogated cell.
  • the signal represented in d at any point comparable to the signal b, comprises two stable sequences s followed by two modulated sequences m. This means that the transponder (s) present in the interrogation space all have the value 1 in the interrogated cell.
  • the signal represented at e comprises four modulated sequences m.
  • the transponders present have, at least one, the value 1, another at least the value 0 in the interrogated cell.
  • the difference in level between the first and the second part of the sequences varies appreciably, according to the number of transponders in which the content of the memory is equal to 1 and those in which it is equal to 0, as well as of their position in the interrogation space.
  • the risk of error is not negligible, since the intensity of the signals received from the different transponders present in the interrogation space can vary significantly.
  • the bit streams which comprise the various interrogation and return signals differ from each other by at least two bits.
  • the interrogation signal sent at 56 activates the program ⁇ _.
  • the device addresses, at 114, a CRC code, controlled at 115 by all the transponders present.
  • the transponders that can (present in the interrogation space and status bit equal to 0) read the order at 1 19 and send, at 120, a response relating to the content of the cell of rank R, under the form of a BitVal type signal as defined with reference to FIG. 7.
  • the interrogation signal also synchronizes all the circuits 18 of the transponders, so that they respond at the same time.
  • the structure of the BitVal type signal makes it possible, as explained with reference to FIG. 7, to know whether there is, in the interrogation space, at least one transponder whose cell is in state 1 and at least one transponder whose cell is in state 0.
  • the reading device reads at 122 the received signal. If he finds, in 124, that there is no response or that the response is not good, this means that there is no transponder capable of responding in the interrogation space . It displays the information at 125 and stops the process at 126. If at least one transponder has responded, it analyzes the signal received at 128. If this corresponds to the signal e in FIG.
  • a status bit control signal read in 132 and analyzed in 134 by the transponders, and which has the effect of muting, in 136, part of the transponders present in the interrogation space, depending on the state of the cell of rank R.
  • the signal mutes the transponders whose cell of rank R is equal to 0.
  • the device checks, at 138, that R is less than its maximum value. If this is the case, it increments R at 140 and stores, at 142, the content of the cell of rank R of the transponders which have not been muted.
  • the interrogation process then starts again at 1 18, with the only transponders whose contents of the cells previously interrogated are the same. When in 128, it is observed that the signal received is of type c or d, this means that all the transponders interrogated have the same content in the cell of rank examined.
  • step 130 is skipped and the process is continued at 138, that is to say without muting part of the transponders.
  • the device When the device has scanned all of the cells, it is informed, at 138, that the rank R of the last cell examined is equal to the maximum rank Rmax. At this stage, there can only be one transponder to respond, as long as each of them has its own code.
  • the computer When the computer notes that all the possible alternatives have been scanned, it commands in 152 the display of the addresses of the transponders present in the interrogation space and the device stops in 154. For their part, the transponders stop by themselves, by depletion of the energy available in the storage member 20.
  • the interrogation cycles resume each time at the cell of rank 0. It is possible, as a variant, to reduce the number of interrogations when the transponders present in the space d have a number of cells with the same value.
  • the first cycle is carried out without addressing, at 130, a status bit signal.
  • the device has memorized all the rows for which it received a signal of type ç or d. These ranks are no longer questioned during the following cycles.
  • CRC codes Their purpose is to detect transmission errors. These are bit streams associated with the interrogation and return signals which, combined, give a predictable value.
  • a polynomial of the type "x 8 + x 7 + x 5 + x 4 + x + 1" is used.
  • an interrogation cycle leading to the identification of a transponder has a duration of 115 ms. This means that the manager can identify more than 8 transponders per second. It is understood that other frequencies can be used, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in less than 3 seconds, the reading device can without other identifying twenty or so transponders present in the interrogation space. The same approach can be carried out at the frequency of 13.56 MHz for example.

Abstract

The invention concerns transponders of the type comprising: a transmitter-receiver (14, 16) for receiving an interrogation signal and transmitting a return signal in response to the interrogation signal; a storage unit (21) formed by a plurality of cells containing data for identifying said object; and an electronic control circuit (18) for analysing the interrogation signal and commanding the transmitter (16). Said transponders are essentially characterised in that the return signals which they send are of two types (a) and (b), depending on the information contained in one of the cells of said storage unit (21), both sequentially modulated such that the modulated part (m) of the second-type signal (b) is transmitted when the first-type signal (a) is not modulated and inversely.

Description

TRANSPONDEUR ET GESTIONNAIRE D'ARCHIVES UTILISANT DE TELS TRANSPONDEURS TRANSPONDER AND ARCHIVE MANAGER USING SUCH TRANSPONDERS
La présente invention se rapporte à un transpondeur et à un gestionnaire d'archives utilisant de tels transpondeurs.The present invention relates to a transponder and to an archive manager using such transponders.
On appelle gestionnaire d'archives un système permettant d'identifier des objets, qui comporte un ou plusieurs dispositifs de lecture et des transpondeurs à raison d'un par objet. L'identification des objets est rendue possible du fait que chaque dispositif interagit avec les transpondeurs se trouvant dans un espace, appelé espace d'interrogation. A cet effet, le dispositif d'interrogation envoie un signal d'interrogation, capté par les transpondeurs et fournissant à ceux-ci l'énergie et les informations leur permettant d'émettre un signal de retour.An archive manager is a system for identifying objects, which includes one or more reading devices and transponders, one per object. The identification of objects is made possible by the fact that each device interacts with the transponders located in a space, called interrogation space. To this end, the interrogation device sends an interrogation signal, picked up by the transponders and supplying them with the energy and information enabling them to send a return signal.
Les transpondeurs utilisés dans de tels gestionnaires comportent un récepteur pour recevoir un signal d'interrogation, un organe de récupération et de stockage d'énergie électrique, une unité de mémorisation formée d'une pluralité de cellules et contenant des informations pour permettre l'identification de l'objet auquel il est associé, un émetteur pour émettre un signal de retour en réponse au signal d'interrogation, et un circuit électronique de commande pour analyser le signal d'interrogation et pour commander l'émetteur.The transponders used in such managers include a receiver for receiving an interrogation signal, a device for recovering and storing electrical energy, a storage unit formed by a plurality of cells and containing information to allow identification of the object with which it is associated, a transmitter for transmitting a return signal in response to the interrogation signal, and an electronic control circuit for analyzing the interrogation signal and for controlling the transmitter.
Lorsque plusieurs transpondeurs sont susceptibles de se trouver simultanément dans un espace d'interrogation, des mesures doivent être prises pour permettre l'interprétation des signaux de retour. A cet effet, le dispositif de lecture comporte une logique de commande comprenant un protocole "anti-collision".When several transponders are likely to be simultaneously in an interrogation space, measures must be taken to allow the interpretation of the return signals. To this end, the reading device includes a control logic comprising an "anti-collision" protocol.
Un gestionnaire d'archives tel que défini ci-dessus est décrit dans le brevet US 5'699'066. Les transpondeurs utilisés comportent une unité de mémorisation constituée d'une mémoire morte dans laquelle un code d'identification est enregistré. Lorsque le dispositif de lecture adresse un signal d'interrogation, les transpondeurs se trouvant dans l'espace d'interrogation répondent chacun en émettant un signal différent. Si plusieurs transpondeurs répondent simultanément, il y a collision.An archive manager as defined above is described in US patent 5,699,066. The transponders used include a storage unit made up of a read-only memory in which an identification code is recorded. When the reading device addresses a interrogation signal, the transponders located in the interrogation space each respond by emitting a different signal. If several transponders respond simultaneously, there is a collision.
Pour pallier cet inconvénient, un protocole anti-collision est prévu, de manière que les transpondeurs répondent avec un retard de durée aléatoire. Le dispositif d'interrogation est agencé pour détecter une réception correcte du signal de retour provenant de l'un des transpondeurs, pour dériver un signal de synchronisation à partir du signal de retour du transpondeur et pour modifier le signal d'interrogation de manière qu'il soit en synchronisme avec le signal de retour, indiquant ainsi la réception correcte. Le transpondeur comporte, en outre, des moyens qui permettent de le rendre muet lorsque le signal de réception a été reçu correctement. Le dispositif "accroche" ainsi successivement les différents transpondeurs présents dans l'espace.To overcome this drawback, an anti-collision protocol is provided, so that the transponders respond with a delay of random duration. The interrogation device is arranged to detect a correct reception of the return signal from one of the transponders, to derive a synchronization signal from the return signal of the transponder and to modify the interrogation signal so that it is in synchronism with the return signal, thus indicating correct reception. The transponder further comprises means which make it possible to mute it when the reception signal has been received correctly. The device thus "hooks" successively the various transponders present in space.
Une telle solution est difficilement utilisable lorsqu'un grand nombre de transpondeurs se trouvent dans l'espace d'interrogation, car il n'est plus possible de différencier les signaux, à cause des risques de chevauchements.Such a solution is difficult to use when a large number of transponders are in the interrogation space, because it is no longer possible to differentiate the signals, because of the risks of overlapping.
La présente invention a pour but essentiel de permettre une interrogation d'un ensemble de transpondeurs se trouvant dans un espace d'interrogation, qui offre un maximum de sécurité pour une bonne efficacité. A cet effet, le transpondeur selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que son circuit de commande est agencé de manière à ce qu'un signal d'interrogation reçu provoque l'émission d'un signal de retour choisi parmi un premier type et un deuxième type, en fonction de l'information contenue dans l'une des cellules de l'unité de mémorisation, l'un et l'autre modulé séquentiellement de manière à ce que la partie modulée du signal de premier type est émise lorsque le signal de deuxième type n'est pas modulé et de manière à ce que la partie modulée du signal de deuxième type est émise lorsque le signal du premier type n'est pas modulé.The main object of the present invention is to allow interrogation of a set of transponders located in an interrogation space, which offers maximum security for good efficiency. To this end, the transponder according to the invention is characterized in that its control circuit is arranged so that a received interrogation signal causes the emission of a return signal chosen from a first type and a second type, depending on the information contained in one of the cells of the storage unit, both sequentially modulated so that the modulated part of the first type signal is transmitted when the signal of the second type is not modulated and so that the modulated part of the second type signal is transmitted when the signal of the first type is not modulated.
Un tel transpondeur permet la mise en place d'un protocole "anti-collision" particulièrement efficace. Il est ainsi possible, à l'analyse de la réponse, de savoir s'il y a un ou plusieurs transpondeurs donnant une première réponse (par exemple un 1 logique) et un ou plusieurs donnant une seconde réponse (par exemple un 0 logique).Such a transponder allows the establishment of a particularly effective "anti-collision" protocol. It is thus possible, upon analysis of the response, to find out if there is one or more transponders giving a first response (for example a logical 1) and one or more giving a second response (for example a logical 0).
Le prix de revient des transpondeurs est fonction de la complexité du circuit électronique qu'ils comportent. Dans ces circuits, les mémoires de type actif demandent plus de surface et sont plus coûteuses. C'est pourquoi, de manière avantageuse, une partie au moins des cellules de l'unité de mémorisation sont définies dans une mémoire morte.The cost price of the transponders depends on the complexity of the electronic circuit they comprise. In these circuits, the active type memories require more area and are more expensive. This is why, advantageously, at least part of the cells of the storage unit are defined in a read-only memory.
Malheureusement, lorsque l'unité de mémorisation est exclusivement formée d'une mémoire morte, il n'est pas possible d'établir une interaction entre les transpondeurs et le dispositif de lecture.Unfortunately, when the storage unit is exclusively formed from a read-only memory, it is not possible to establish an interaction between the transponders and the reading device.
Pour pallier cet inconvénient, une autre partie de l'unité de mémorisation est formée dans une mémoire de type actif.To overcome this drawback, another part of the storage unit is formed in an active type memory.
En réalisant une unité de mémorisation comportant une seule cellule de type actif, on a constaté qu'il était déjà possible de développer une approche interactive efficace, tout en conservant aux transpondeurs leur simplicité et leur faible coût. Grâce à cette cellule, il est possible de rendre muet une partie des transpondeurs se trouvant dans l'espace d'interrogation et ainsi effectuer des tris. Le choix du mode d'interrogation dépend en fait de l'application. Dans de nombreux cas, la solution retenue n'est qu'un compromis, car le nombre de situations pouvant se présenter est très élevé, et susceptible d'évoluer en un même lieu en fonction des circonstances.By realizing a storage unit comprising a single active type cell, it has been found that it was already possible to develop an effective interactive approach, while keeping the transponders their simplicity and their low cost. Thanks to this cell, it is possible to mute part of the transponders located in the interrogation space and thus perform sorting. The choice of interrogation mode actually depends on the application. In many cases, the solution chosen is only a compromise, because the number of situations that can arise is very high, and likely to evolve in the same place depending on the circumstances.
Un but de la présente invention est de proposer un transpondeur permettant une grande souplesse d'utilisation. A cet effet, la mémoire morte comporte un premier ensemble de cellules contenant les informations relatives à l'identification de l'objet auquel le transpondeur est associé et un deuxième ensemble de cellules contenant des informations relatives à l'interprétation du signal d'interrogation. Il est ainsi possible d'interroger les transpondeurs se trouvant dans l'espace d'interrogation selon différents modes, en choisissant celui le mieux adapté à la situation.An object of the present invention is to provide a transponder allowing great flexibility of use. To this end, the read-only memory comprises a first set of cells containing information relating to the identification of the object with which the transponder is associated and a second set of cells containing information relating to the interpretation of the interrogation signal. It is thus possible to interrogate the transponders finding in the interrogation space according to different modes, choosing the one best suited to the situation.
La présente invention se rapporte également à un gestionnaire d'archives qui comporte au moins un dispositif de lecture, et une pluralité de transpondeurs. Le dispositif de lecture comprend un émetteur-récepteur à même d'adresser un signal d'interrogation et de capter un signal de réception, dans un espace limité, d'interrogation, et une électronique de commande, pour commander l'émetteur-récepteur et pour analyser ce signal de réception.The present invention also relates to an archive manager which comprises at least one reading device, and a plurality of transponders. The reading device comprises a transceiver capable of addressing an interrogation signal and of receiving a reception signal, in a limited space, of interrogation, and control electronics, for controlling the transceiver and to analyze this reception signal.
Les transpondeurs sont disposés dans l'espace d'interrogation et sont munis: • d'un récepteur pour recevoir le signal d'interrogation,The transponders are arranged in the interrogation space and are provided with: • a receiver to receive the interrogation signal,
• d'un organe de récupération et de stockage d'énergie électrique,• an organ for recovering and storing electrical energy,
• d'un émetteur pour émettre un signal de retour en réponse au signal d'interrogation,• a transmitter to send a return signal in response to the interrogation signal,
• d'une unité de mémorisation formée d'une pluralité de cellules et dont une partie, réalisée au moyen d'une mémoire morte, contient des informations pour permettre l'identification de l'objet auquel il est associé, et d'une mémoire de type actif, dont le contenu peut être modifié, et contenant une information destinée à rendre ou non muet l'émetteur, et • d'un circuit électronique de commande pour analyser le signal d'interrogation et pour commander l'émetteur.• a storage unit formed by a plurality of cells and part of which, produced by means of a read-only memory, contains information to allow the identification of the object with which it is associated, and a memory active type, the content of which can be modified, and containing information intended to make the transmitter silent or not, and • an electronic control circuit for analyzing the interrogation signal and for controlling the transmitter.
Les circuits électroniques de ces transpondeurs sont agencés de manière à ce qu'un signal d'interrogation reçu provoque l'émission d'un signal de retour choisi parmi un premier et un deuxième type, en fonction de l'information contenue dans l'une des cellules de l'unité de mémorisation, l'un et l'autre modulé séquentiellement de manière à ce que la partie modulée du signal de premier type est émise lorsque le signal de deuxième type n'est pas modulé et que la partie modulée du signal de deuxième type est émise lorsque le signal de premier type n'est pas modulé. Parmi les différents gestionnaires d'archives, les modes d'interrogation proposés n'ont, à ce jour, pas permis de réaliser l'interrogation d'un ensemble important de transpondeurs susceptibles de se trouver dans l'espace d'interrogation, avec des moyens sûres, rapides et peu coûteux. La présente invention se rapporte à un gestionnaire d'archives permettant une nette amélioration dans ce domaine. Dans ce gestionnaire, les circuits électroniques du dispositif de lecture et des transpondeurs sont agencés de manière à ce que la séquence suivante soit appliquée:The electronic circuits of these transponders are arranged so that a received interrogation signal causes the emission of a return signal chosen from a first and a second type, according to the information contained in one cells of the storage unit, both sequentially modulated so that the modulated part of the first type signal is transmitted when the second type signal is not modulated and the modulated part of the second type signal is issued when the first type signal is not modulated. Among the various archive managers, the interrogation modes proposed have not, to date, made it possible to interrogate a large set of transponders likely to be in the interrogation space, with safe, fast and inexpensive means. The present invention relates to an archive manager allowing a clear improvement in this field. In this manager, the electronic circuits of the reading device and the transponders are arranged so that the following sequence is applied:
• émission d'un signal d'interrogation pour: - interroger une cellule donnée de l'unité de mémorisation de tous les transpondeurs actifs situés dans l'espace d'interrogation,• emission of an interrogation signal to: - interrogate a given cell of the storage unit of all active transponders located in the interrogation space,
- synchroniser les transpondeurs présents dans ledit espace,- synchronize the transponders present in said space,
• réponse des transpondeurs actifs donnant la valeur mémorisée dans la cellule interrogée,• response from active transponders giving the value stored in the interrogated cell,
• si le dispositif capte un signal de réception formé d'une combinaison de signaux de l'un et l'autre type, émission par le dispositif de lecture d'un signal de mise à l'état muet des transpondeurs ayant donné l'une desdites réponses, • répétition de la séquence avec balayage des cellules de l'unité de mémorisation jusqu'à l'identification de l'un des transpondeurs présents,• if the device picks up a reception signal formed by a combination of signals of one and the other type, emission by the device for reading a signal to mute the transponders having given one of said responses, • repetition of the sequence with scanning of the cells of the storage unit until the identification of one of the transponders present,
• réactivation des transpondeurs n'ayant pas été interrogés jusqu'au bout et reprise du cycle jusqu'à ce que tous les transpondeurs aient donné leur propre valeur d'identification.• reactivation of the transponders that have not been interrogated until the end and resumption of the cycle until all the transponders have given their own identification value.
Dans la mesure ou le nombre d'objets susceptibles de se trouver dans l'espace d'interrogation est limité, d'autres solutions sont envisageables. L'une d'elles est décrite dans la demande de brevet EP 0694 860. Son dispositif de lecture envoie un signal d'interrogation demandant si un transpondeur donné est ou non présent. Seul le transpondeur ayant reconnu l'adresse d'interrogation répond. Si le transpondeur concerné n'est pas présent, le dispositif de lecture ne reçoit aucun signal en retour. Cette solution est sûre, mais nécessite de longs temps d'interrogation dès que le nombre de transpondeurs susceptibles de se trouver dans l'espace d'interrogation dépasse quelques centaines.Insofar as the number of objects likely to be in the interrogation space is limited, other solutions are possible. One of them is described in patent application EP 0694 860. Its reading device sends an interrogation signal asking whether a given transponder is present or not. Only the transponder that has recognized the interrogation address answers. If the transponder concerned is not present, the reading device does not receive any return signal. This solution is safe, but requires long interrogation times as soon as the number of transponders likely to be in the interrogation space exceeds a few hundred.
Une autre solution est décrite dans la demande de brevet EP 0 689 161. Elle propose d'adresser un signal de lecture de durée variable. Ce signal commande la réponse des transpondeurs, mais fournit également l'énergie nécessaire pour donner cette réponse, comme cela a été expliqué plus haut. Si plusieurs transpondeurs se trouvent dans l'espace d'interrogation, la réponse variera en fonction de la durée du signal de lecture, qui définit ainsi la quantité d'énergie adressée aux transpondeurs. Comme la quantité d'énergie reçue est inversement proportionnelle au cube de la distance, les transpondeurs les plus éloignés ne disposent de suffisamment d'énergie pour répondre que lorsque le signal d'interrogation est long. En complément, il est prévu de faire varier la distance entre le lecteur et les transpondeurs, de manière à disposer d'un second paramètre variable.Another solution is described in patent application EP 0 689 161. It proposes to send a read signal of variable duration. This signal controls the response of the transponders, but also provides the energy necessary to give this response, as explained above. If several transponders are in the interrogation space, the response will vary according to the duration of the read signal, which thus defines the amount of energy addressed to the transponders. As the amount of energy received is inversely proportional to the cube of the distance, the most distant transponders have enough energy to respond only when the interrogation signal is long. In addition, it is planned to vary the distance between the reader and the transponders, so as to have a second variable parameter.
Les deux solutions décrites ci-dessus ne sont performantes que dans des applications très spécifiques. Dès l'instant où de nombreuses situations sont susceptibles de se produire, il existe au moins pour l'une ou l'autre d'entre elles un risque d'erreur, ce qui, dans certaines circonstances peut être gravement préjudiciable.The two solutions described above are only effective in very specific applications. As soon as many situations are likely to occur, at least for one or the other of them there is a risk of error, which in certain circumstances can be seriously prejudicial.
Un autre but de la présente invention est de proposer un gestionnaire d'archives permettant de travailler avec le mode le plus adéquat, quelle que soit la situation. A cet effet, le dispositif de lecture du gestionnaire d'archives selon l'invention est agencé de manière à ce que le signal d'interrogation comporte une pluralité de bits, une part au moins d'entre eux définissant un ordre de commande pour identifier un mode d'interrogation parmi une pluralité de modes disponibles et en ce que la mémoire morte de l'unité de mémorisation des transpondeurs comporte un premier ensemble de cellules contenant les informations relatives à l'identification des objets et un deuxième ensemble de cellules contenant des informations relatives à l'interprétation du signal d'interrogation.Another object of the present invention is to propose an archive manager making it possible to work with the most suitable mode, whatever the situation. To this end, the reading device of the archive manager according to the invention is arranged so that the interrogation signal comprises a plurality of bits, at least one part of them defining a command order to identify one interrogation mode among a plurality of available modes and in that the read-only memory of the transponder storage unit comprises a first set of cells containing information relating to the identification of objects and a second set of cells containing information relating to the interpretation of the interrogation signal.
Ainsi que cela a été évoqué plus haut, il est parfois indispensable que tout risque d'erreur soit évité. C'est pourquoi le dispositif de lecture est avantageusement agencé de manière à ce que, pour chaque mode d'interrogation, l'ordre qu'il adresse comporte un train de bits se différenciant de celui des autres ordres par le fait qu'en comparant ces trains deux à deux, ils diffèrent l'un de l'autre par deux bits au moins. D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention ressortiront de la description qui va suivre, faite en regard du dessin annexé, dans lequel:As mentioned above, it is sometimes essential that any risk of error is avoided. This is why the reading device is advantageously arranged so that, for each interrogation mode, the order which it addresses comprises a bit train which differs from that of the other orders by the fact that by comparing these trains two by two, they differ from each other by at least two bits. Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:
- La figure 1 montre un transpondeur selon l'invention, vu de dessus,FIG. 1 shows a transponder according to the invention, seen from above,
- La figure 2 est un schéma électrique d'un transpondeur et d'un dispositif de lecture définissant ensemble un gestionnaire d'archives selon l'invention, - La figure 3 représente un schéma logique d'interaction entre un dispositif de lecture et un transpondeur tels que représentés à la figure 2, au début d'un processus d'interrogation,- Figure 2 is an electrical diagram of a transponder and a reading device together defining an archive manager according to the invention, - Figure 3 represents a logic diagram of interaction between a reading device and a transponder as shown in Figure 2, at the start of an interrogation process,
- Les figures 4, 5 et 6 montrent respectivement des schémas d'interaction selon trois modes d'interrogation des transpondeurs. - La figure 7 représente en a et b deux types de signaux émis par les transpondeurs et en ç, d et e, trois types de signaux tels que reçus par les dispositifs de lecture.- Figures 4, 5 and 6 respectively show interaction diagrams according to three modes of interrogation of the transponders. - Figure 7 shows in a and b two types of signals transmitted by the transponders and in ç, d and e, three types of signals as received by the reading devices.
Le transpondeur représenté à la figure 1 comporte, de manière classique, un support 10, un circuit intégré 12 et une antenne 14. Le support 10 peut être formé de deux feuilles de plastique, par exemple, entre lesquelles le circuit intégré 12 et l'antenne 14 sont collés. L'une des feuilles peut porter un revêtement adhésif extérieur, ce qui permet de fixer le transpondeur sur un objet à identifier. Ainsi qu'on peut le voir schématiquement sur la figure 2, le circuit intégré 12 comporte plusieurs parties, et plus particulièrement un émetteur-récepteur 16, relié à l'antenne 14, un circuit électronique de commande 18, un organe de récupération et de stockage d'énergie électrique 20, généralement une capacité, et une unité de mémorisation 21 qui comprend une mémoire morte 22 de type ROM contenant les informations relatives à l'identification du transpondeur et à la logique de commande du transpondeur, et une mémoire de type actif 24. Parmi les informations relatives à la logique de commande, on relèvera tout particulièrement celles concernant le choix d'un mode de sélection parmi plusieurs disponibles.The transponder shown in FIG. 1 comprises, in a conventional manner, a support 10, an integrated circuit 12 and an antenna 14. The support 10 can be formed from two sheets of plastic, for example, between which the integrated circuit 12 and the antenna 14 are glued. One of the sheets may have an external adhesive coating, which makes it possible to fix the transponder on an object to be identified. As can be seen diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the integrated circuit 12 comprises several parts, and more particularly a transceiver 16, connected to the antenna 14, an electronic control circuit 18, a device for recovering and electrical energy storage 20, generally a capacity, and a storage unit 21 which comprises a ROM type ROM 22 containing the information relating to the identification of the transponder and to the control logic of the transponder, and a type memory active 24. Among the information relating to the control logic, we particularly note that concerning the choice of a selection mode among several available.
Le circuit électronique de commande 18, de type logique, est avantageusement fabriqué en technique CMOS, sur la base d'un diagramme fonctionnel, tel que ceux représentés aux figures 3 à 6.The electronic control circuit 18, of logic type, is advantageously manufactured in CMOS technique, on the basis of a functional diagram, such as those represented in FIGS. 3 to 6.
Le dispositif de lecture comprend une antenne 26, une électronique de commande 28, avantageusement un microcontrôleur, ainsi qu'un ordinateur 30 relié à un clavier 32 et à un écran 34. Les caractéristiques de l'antenne 26 et l'électronique qui lui est associée définissent un espace d'interrogation, dans lequel les transpondeurs peuvent interagir avec le dispositif de lecture. De manière avantageuse, un affichage indépendant peut être associé à l'électronique de commande, permettant d'afficher de manière simple au moins une partie du résultat de l'interrogation.The reading device comprises an antenna 26, control electronics 28, advantageously a microcontroller, as well as a computer 30 connected to a keyboard 32 and to a screen 34. The characteristics of the antenna 26 and the electronics which are associated therewith associated define a interrogation space, in which the transponders can interact with the reading device. Advantageously, an independent display can be associated with the control electronics, making it possible to display in a simple manner at least part of the result of the interrogation.
Le dispositif de lecture et les transpondeurs interagissent par l'intermédiaire des antennes 14 et 26. Les informations, transmises sous forme de signaux électromagnétiques, passent dans un sens et dans l'autre. Elles sont représentées par des flèches ondulées.The reading device and the transponders interact via the antennas 14 and 26. The information, transmitted in the form of electromagnetic signals, passes in one direction and in the other. They are represented by wavy arrows.
Le gestionnaire d'archives ainsi formé travaille de la manière suivante:The archive manager thus trained works as follows:
Lorsqu'on cherche à obtenir des informations relatives aux objets disposés dans l'espace d'interrogation du dispositif, on introduit dans l'ordinateur 30, au moyen du clavier 32, un ordre correspondant à la fonction à effectuer. L'électronique de commande 28 adresse un signal à l'antenne 26 qui engendre un rayonnement électromagnétique, représenté par une flèche ondulée allant du dispositif de lecture vers le transpondeur, et capté par le ou les transpondeurs disposés dans l'espace d'interrogation.When seeking to obtain information relating to the objects arranged in the interrogation space of the device, an order corresponding to the function to be performed is introduced into the computer 30, by means of the keyboard 32. The control electronics 28 send a signal to the antenna 26 which generates electromagnetic radiation, represented by a wavy arrow going from the reading device towards the transponder, and picked up by the transponder or transponders arranged in the interrogation space.
L'émetteur-récepteur 16 capte ce signal, stocke une partie de l'énergie dans l'organe 20 et adresse l'ordre reçu au circuit 18, qui le traite sur la base des informations contenues dans les mémoires 22 et 24. Le circuit 18 donne, si nécessaire, l'ordre à l'émetteur-récepteur 16 d'envoyer un signal de retour, également représenté par une flèche ondulée, orientée du transpondeur vers le dispositif de lecture. Ce signal est synchronisé, par des moyens connus, par le signal d'interrogation. Lorsqu'il y a plusieurs transpondeurs, les signaux de retour se combinent pour donner un signal de réception dont les caractéristiques seront décrites plus loin. Ce signal est capté par l'antenne 26 et traité par l'électronique de commande 28 et par l'ordinateur 30 qui affiche le résultat de l'interrogation sur l'écran 34. Comme expliqué précédemment, il existe plusieurs modes d'interrogation, dans lesquels le dispositif de lecture et le ou les transpondeurs interagissent de manières différentes.The transceiver 16 receives this signal, stores part of the energy in the member 20 and addresses the order received to the circuit 18, which processes it on the basis of the information contained in the memories 22 and 24. The circuit 18 gives, if necessary, the order to the transceiver 16 to send a return signal, also represented by a wavy arrow, oriented from the transponder to the reading device. This signal is synchronized, by known means, by the interrogation signal. When there are several transponders, the return signals combine to give a reception signal whose characteristics will be described later. This signal is picked up by the antenna 26 and processed by the control electronics 28 and by the computer 30 which displays the result of the interrogation on the screen 34. As explained previously, there are several interrogation modes, in which the reading device and the transponder (s) interact in different ways.
Les figures 3 à 6 représentent un schéma d'interaction d'un gestionnaire d'archives selon l'invention. La colonne de gauche montre les opérations relatives au dispositif de lecture, la colonne de droite se rapporte au transpondeur et les flèches ondulées, disposées dans l'espace intermédiaire, indiquent l'émission d'un signal et le sens dans lequel il va.Figures 3 to 6 show an interaction diagram of an archive manager according to the invention. The left column shows the operations relating to the reading device, the right column relates to the transponder and the wavy arrows, arranged in the intermediate space, indicate the emission of a signal and the direction in which it is going.
La figure 3 montre le début d'une interaction d'un gestionnaire d'archives selon l'invention. Lorsque le dispositif de lecture est activé, en 50, il commence par émettre une impulsion d'initialisation, comme représenté en 52. Cette impulsion, reçue par le ou les transpondeurs, permet de charger l'organe 20 et fournir ainsi l'énergie nécessaire pour mettre en route le circuit électronique de commande 18, comme indiqué en 54. Le dispositif de lecture adresse ensuite un signal de commande pour la sélection du mode, comme représenté en 56. Ce signal, capté par l'antenne 14 et l'émetteur-récepteur 16, est traité par le circuit électronique 18, qui effectue les opérations de tri 58 à 60 permettant de sélectionner un programme parmi les trois disponibles, identifiés par les lettres A, B et Ç_, en comparant le signal reçu avec des informations mémorisées dans une partie de la mémoire morte. Si le signal de commande ne peut être identifié, le programme du transpondeur s'arrête en 62.FIG. 3 shows the start of an interaction of an archive manager according to the invention. When the reading device is activated, at 50, it begins by emitting an initialization pulse, as shown in 52. This pulse, received by the transponder (s), makes it possible to charge the member 20 and thus supply the necessary energy to start the electronic control circuit 18, as indicated in 54. The reading device then sends a control signal for mode selection, as shown in 56. This signal, picked up by the antenna 14 and the transceiver 16, is processed by the electronic circuit 18, which performs the operations sorting 58 to 60 for selecting a program from the three available, identified by the letters A, B and Ç_, by comparing the received signal with information stored in a part of the read-only memory. If the control signal cannot be identified, the transponder program stops at 62.
Le schéma de la figure 4 correspond au programme A. Il permet de définir si un transpondeur donné se trouve ou non dans l'espace d'interrogation. A cet effet, le dispositif de lecture envoie, en 70, un signal d'adresse, contenant la valeur d'identification du transpondeur interrogé, ainsi qu'un code complémentaire CRC, en 72, destiné à permettre au transpondeur de contrôler les signaux reçus, comme cela sera expliqué plus loin. Le circuit de commande 18 analyse ces informations et définit, en 74, si l'adresse reçue correspond ou non à la valeur d'identification contenue dans la mémoire morte 22, et en 76, si le code CRC est correct. Si l'une ou l'autre des réponses est négative, le transpondeur est arrêté, comme indiqué en 78. Par contre, lorsque les deux réponses sont positives, le transpondeur répond par un signal de retour, en 80, et un code CRC, en 82, avant de s'arrêter en 78.The diagram in FIG. 4 corresponds to program A. It makes it possible to define whether or not a given transponder is in the interrogation space. To this end, the reading device sends, at 70, an address signal, containing the identification value of the interrogated transponder, as well as a complementary CRC code, at 72, intended to allow the transponder to control the signals received. , as will be explained later. The control circuit 18 analyzes this information and defines, at 74, whether the received address corresponds or not to the identification value contained in the read-only memory 22, and at 76, if the CRC code is correct. If one or the other of the responses is negative, the transponder is stopped, as indicated in 78. On the other hand, when the two responses are positive, the transponder responds with a return signal, in 80, and a CRC code, in 82, before stopping in 78.
Le dispositif de lecture détecte l'existence ou non du signal de retour, en 84, et le contrôle. Il contrôle également le code CRC en 86, avant d'informer l'utilisateur, de la présence ou non de l'objet recherché, en 88, au moyen de l'écran 34. Le programme est ensuite arrêté en 90.The reading device detects the existence or not of the return signal, at 84, and checks it. It also checks the CRC code at 86, before informing the user, of the presence or not of the object sought, at 88, by means of the screen 34. The program is then stopped at 90.
Le mode d'interrogation représenté sur la figure 5 correspond au programme B. Il permet de lire l'adresse d'un objet se trouvant dans l'espace d'interrogation. Le signal d'interrogation, envoyé par le dispositif de lecture, génère comme réponse un signal comportant l'adresse du transpondeur, un bit d'état dont la fonction sera définie plus tard, ainsi qu'un code CRC. Dans ces conditions, la lecture ne peut se faire que dans la mesure où il n'y a qu'un seul signal de retour, soit un seul transpondeur dans l'espace de lecture.The interrogation mode represented in FIG. 5 corresponds to program B. It makes it possible to read the address of an object located in the interrogation space. The interrogation signal, sent by the reading device, generates as response a signal comprising the address of the transponder, a status bit whose function will be defined later, as well as a CRC code. In under these conditions, reading can only be done insofar as there is only one return signal, ie a single transponder in the reading space.
De manière plus précise, et ainsi que cela est schématiquement représenté sur cette figure, le dispositif de lecture envoie un code CRC, en 92, après identification du mode comme indiqué sur la figure 3. Ce code est reçu par le transpondeur et analysé en 94. S'il est considéré comme correct, le transpondeur répond en 96, par un signal contenant son adresse, en 98 par un bit d'état et en 100 par un code CRC. En 101 , le transpondeur s'arrête, soit après avoir abouti à un contrôle négatif du code CRC en 94, soit après avoir envoyé le code CRC en 100.More precisely, and as shown schematically in this figure, the reading device sends a CRC code, at 92, after identification of the mode as indicated in FIG. 3. This code is received by the transponder and analyzed at 94 If it is considered correct, the transponder responds at 96 with a signal containing its address, at 98 with a status bit and at 100 with a CRC code. In 101, the transponder stops, either after having resulted in a negative control of the CRC code in 94, or after having sent the CRC code in 100.
Le dispositif de lecture contrôle en 102 qu'il reçoit une réponse correcte. Il lit en 104 l'adresse du transpondeur, en 106 le bit d'état et vérifie en 108 le code CRC. Il affiche en 110 le résultat de la démarche, soit l'adresse du transpondeur et son état, mais également des informations concernant les conditions d'interrogation. Il indiquera, par exemple, que le code CRC n'a pas été reçu correctement. Le dispositif s'arrête ensuite en 112.The reading device checks at 102 that it receives a correct response. It reads in 104 the address of the transponder, in 106 the status bit and in 108 checks the CRC code. In 110, it displays the result of the process, ie the address of the transponder and its state, but also information concerning the interrogation conditions. It will indicate, for example, that the CRC code was not received correctly. The device then stops at 112.
Le bit d'état mentionné ci-dessus a pour but de définir deux états, l'un actif (état égal à 0) dans lequel le transpondeur répond ou non selon le signal reçu et l'autre passif (état égal à 1 ), dans lequel le transpondeur reste muet, quel que soit le signal d'interrogation. Cette information est mémorisée dans la cellule de mémoire de type actif 24. Le contenu de cette mémoire peut, sur ordre du dispositif de lecture, passer de l'un à l'autre de ces états (actif ou passif)The purpose of the status bit mentioned above is to define two states, one active (state equal to 0) in which the transponder responds or not according to the received signal and the other passive (state equal to 1), in which the transponder remains silent, regardless of the interrogation signal. This information is stored in the active type memory cell 24. The content of this memory can, on the order of the reading device, pass from one of these states to the other (active or passive)
Le programme tel que décrit en référence à la figure 4 ne fait pas intervenir le bit d'état, alors que celui relatif à la figure 5 se contente de le lire. En variante, non représentée, ces programmes pourraient être complétés en limitant l'interrogation aux seuls transpondeurs dont le bit d'état se trouve dans l'état actif, comme cela sera expliqué dans le programme décrit en référence à la figure 6. Le mode d'interrogation représenté à la figure 6 correspond au programme C. Il permet d'identifier les transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'identification de manière rapide et sûre, et sans risque de collision. Ceci est obtenu grâce au fait que le signal d'interrogation synchronise les signaux de retour, à modulation d'amplitude, modulés séquentiellement, avec des temps durant lesquels soit l'un soit l'autre des signaux est modulé.The program as described with reference to FIG. 4 does not involve the status bit, while that relating to FIG. 5 merely reads it. As a variant, not shown, these programs could be completed by limiting the interrogation to only transponders whose status bit is in the active state, as will be explained in the program described with reference to FIG. 6. The interrogation mode represented in FIG. 6 corresponds to the program C. It makes it possible to identify the transponders present in the identification space in a fast and safe manner, and without risk of collision. This is obtained by virtue of the fact that the interrogation signal synchronizes the return signals, amplitude modulation, sequentially modulated, with times during which either of the signals is modulated.
De tels signaux, appelés BitVal dans la suite de la description, sont représentés à la figure 7. Ils peuvent être d'un premier ou d'un second type, correspondant respectivement à un état logique 0 en a ou 1 en b. Ces signaux comportent chacun quatre séquences E, F, G et H, deux d'entre elles, identifiées par la lettre s, étant stables et les deux autres, identifiées par la lettre m, étant modulées. Il est, bien entendu, possible d'imaginer de nombreuses façons de moduler l'amplitude dans une séquence du signal. Dans l'exemple représenté au dessin, la séquence modulée m présente, durant un premier temps, une amplitude plus faible que celle du signal stable s, par exemple d'un facteur deux, puis de même niveau dans un second temps.Such signals, called BitVal in the following description, are represented in FIG. 7. They can be of a first or of a second type, corresponding respectively to a logic state 0 in a or 1 in b. These signals each comprise four sequences E, F, G and H, two of them, identified by the letter s, being stable and the other two, identified by the letter m, being modulated. It is, of course, possible to imagine many ways of modulating the amplitude in a sequence of the signal. In the example shown in the drawing, the modulated sequence m has, during a first step, an amplitude lower than that of the stable signal s, for example by a factor of two, then of the same level in a second step.
Un signal de premier type comporte deux séquence modulées m suivies de deux séquences stables s. Au contraire, le signal de second type comporte deux séquences stables s suivies de deux séquences modulées m.A signal of the first type comprises two modulated sequences m followed by two stable sequences s. On the contrary, the second type signal comprises two stable sequences s followed by two modulated sequences m.
Pour définir l'état d'une cellule de sa mémoire, le transpondeur interrogé adresse un signal de retour de premier type, tel que représenté en a et correspondant à une valeur logique égale à 0, ou de second type, tel que représenté en b et correspondant à une valeur logique égale à 1. S'il n'y a pas de transpondeur dans l'espace d'interrogation, ou si les transpondeurs présents ne sont pas à même de répondre, il n'y a pas de signal de retour en réponse au signal d'interrogation. Lorsqu'il y a, dans l'espace d'interrogation, un ou plusieurs transpondeurs à même de répondre, le dispositif de lecture reçoit un signal de réception correspondant à la somme des signaux de retour adressés par les transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation. Ce signal de réception peut être de trois types, représentés en ç, d et e sur la figure 7.To define the state of a cell in its memory, the interrogated transponder sends a return signal of the first type, as represented in a and corresponding to a logic value equal to 0, or of the second type, as represented in b and corresponding to a logical value equal to 1. If there is no transponder in the interrogation space, or if the transponders present are not able to respond, there is no signal return in response to the interrogation signal. When there is one or more transponders in the interrogation space capable of responding, the reading device receives a reception signal corresponding to the sum of the return signals sent by the transponders present in the space question. This reception signal can be of three types, represented in ç, d and e in FIG. 7.
Le signal représenté en ç_, en tout point comparable au signal a, comporte deux séquences modulées m suivies de deux séquences stables s. Cela signifie que le ou les transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation comportent tous la valeur 0 dans la cellule interrogée.The signal represented in ç_, at any point comparable to the signal a, comprises two modulated sequences m followed by two stable sequences s. This means that the transponder (s) present in the interrogation space all have the value 0 in the interrogated cell.
Le signal représenté en d, en tout point comparable au signal b, comporte deux séquences stables s suivies de deux séquences modulées m. Cela signifie que le ou les transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation comportent tous la valeur 1 dans la cellule interrogée.The signal represented in d, at any point comparable to the signal b, comprises two stable sequences s followed by two modulated sequences m. This means that the transponder (s) present in the interrogation space all have the value 1 in the interrogated cell.
Le signal représenté en e comporte quatre séquences modulées m. Cela signifie que les transpondeurs présents comportent, l'un au moins, la valeur 1, un autre au moins la valeur 0 dans la cellule interrogée. On relèvera que la différence de niveau entre la première et la seconde partie des séquences varie de manière sensible, en fonction du nombre de transpondeurs dans lequel le contenu de la mémoire est égal à 1 et ceux dans lequel il est égal à 0, ainsi que de leur position dans l'espace d'interrogation.The signal represented at e comprises four modulated sequences m. This means that the transponders present have, at least one, the value 1, another at least the value 0 in the interrogated cell. It will be noted that the difference in level between the first and the second part of the sequences varies appreciably, according to the number of transponders in which the content of the memory is equal to 1 and those in which it is equal to 0, as well as of their position in the interrogation space.
Dans la transmission de signaux, le risque d'erreur est non négligeable, car l'intensité des signaux reçus des différents transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation peut varier de manière importante. Afin de réduire ce risque, les trains de bits que comportent les différents signaux d'interrogation et de retour diffèrent les uns des autres par deux bits au moins.In the transmission of signals, the risk of error is not negligible, since the intensity of the signals received from the different transponders present in the interrogation space can vary significantly. In order to reduce this risk, the bit streams which comprise the various interrogation and return signals differ from each other by at least two bits.
De manière plus précise, dans le mode de commande évoqué ci-dessus, le signal d'interrogation adressé en 56, comme représenté sur la figure 3, active le programme Ç_. Selon ce programme, illustré sur la figure 6, le dispositif adresse, en 114, un code CRC, contrôlé en 115 par tous les transpondeurs présents. Les transpondeurs pour lesquels le contrôle donne un résultat négatif s'arrêtent en 117.More precisely, in the control mode mentioned above, the interrogation signal sent at 56, as shown in FIG. 3, activates the program Ç_. According to this program, illustrated in FIG. 6, the device addresses, at 114, a CRC code, controlled at 115 by all the transponders present. The transponders for which the control gives a negative result stop at 117.
Le dispositif initialise la mesure en définissant, en 116, le rang de la cellule à interroger, avantageusement la cellule de rang R = 0. Il interroge ensuite, en 118, l'état des cellules de rang R des transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation. On relèvera que, pour simplifier la description, l'émission des codes CRC après chaque signal d'interrogation ou de retour n'a plus été mentionnée. Les transpondeurs qui le peuvent (présents dans l'espace d'interrogation et bit d'état égal à 0) lisent l'ordre en 1 19 et envoient, en 120, une réponse relative au contenu de la cellule de rang R, sous la forme d'un signal de type BitVal tel que défini en référence à la figure 7. Le signal d'interrogation synchronise, en outre, tous les circuits 18 des transpondeurs, de manières qu'ils répondent en même temps.The device initializes the measurement by defining, at 116, the rank of the cell to be interrogated, advantageously the cell of rank R = 0. It then interrogates, in 118, the state of the cells of rank R of the transponders present in the interrogation space. It will be noted that, to simplify the description, the emission of CRC codes after each interrogation or return signal has no longer been mentioned. The transponders that can (present in the interrogation space and status bit equal to 0) read the order at 1 19 and send, at 120, a response relating to the content of the cell of rank R, under the form of a BitVal type signal as defined with reference to FIG. 7. The interrogation signal also synchronizes all the circuits 18 of the transponders, so that they respond at the same time.
La structure du signal de type BitVal permet, comme cela a été expliqué en référence à la figure 7, de savoir s'il se trouve, dans l'espace d'interrogation, au moins un transpondeur dont la cellule est à l'état 1 et au moins un transpondeur dont la cellule est à l'état 0. Le dispositif de lecture lit en 122 le signal reçu. S'il constate, en 124, qu'il n'y a pas de réponse ou que la réponse n'est pas bonne, cela signifie qu'il n'y a pas de transpondeur capable de répondre dans l'espace d'interrogation. Il affiche l'information en 125 et arrête le processus en 126. Si au moins un transpondeur a répondu, il analyse le signal reçu en 128. Si celui-ci correspond au signal e de la figure 7, il adresse, en 130, un signal de commande de bit d'état, lu en 132 et analysé en 134 par les transpondeurs, et qui a pour effet de rendre muet, en 136, une partie des transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation, en fonction de l'état de la cellule de rang R. Dans l'exemple, le signal rend muet les transpondeurs dont la cellule de rang R est égale à 0. Le dispositif vérifie, en 138, que R est inférieur à sa valeur maximale. Si tel est le cas, il incrémente R en 140 et mémorise, en 142, le contenu de la cellule de rang R des transpondeurs qui n'ont pas été rendus muets. Le processus d'interrogation recommence ensuite en 1 18, avec les seuls transpondeurs dont le contenu des cellules antérieurement interrogées sont les mêmes. Lorsqu'en 128, on constate que le signal reçu est de type c ou d, cela signifie que tous les transpondeurs interrogés ont un même contenu dans la cellule de rang examiné.The structure of the BitVal type signal makes it possible, as explained with reference to FIG. 7, to know whether there is, in the interrogation space, at least one transponder whose cell is in state 1 and at least one transponder whose cell is in state 0. The reading device reads at 122 the received signal. If he finds, in 124, that there is no response or that the response is not good, this means that there is no transponder capable of responding in the interrogation space . It displays the information at 125 and stops the process at 126. If at least one transponder has responded, it analyzes the signal received at 128. If this corresponds to the signal e in FIG. 7, it addresses, at 130, a status bit control signal, read in 132 and analyzed in 134 by the transponders, and which has the effect of muting, in 136, part of the transponders present in the interrogation space, depending on the state of the cell of rank R. In the example, the signal mutes the transponders whose cell of rank R is equal to 0. The device checks, at 138, that R is less than its maximum value. If this is the case, it increments R at 140 and stores, at 142, the content of the cell of rank R of the transponders which have not been muted. The interrogation process then starts again at 1 18, with the only transponders whose contents of the cells previously interrogated are the same. When in 128, it is observed that the signal received is of type c or d, this means that all the transponders interrogated have the same content in the cell of rank examined.
Dans les deux cas, on saute l'étape 130 et on poursuit le processus en 138, c'est-à-dire sans rendre muet une partie des transpondeurs.In both cases, step 130 is skipped and the process is continued at 138, that is to say without muting part of the transponders.
Lorsque le dispositif a balayé l'ensemble des cellules, il est informé, en 138, que le rang R de la dernière cellule examinée est égal au rang maximum Rmax. A ce stade, il ne peut plus y avoir qu'un transpondeur à répondre, dès lors que chacun d'eux comporte un code qui lui est propre. Le dispositif mémorise ensuite, en 144, l'adresse du transpondeur identifié, vérifie, en 146, qu'au cours du dernier cycle durant lequel l'ensemble des cellules a été balayé (de R = 0 à R = Rmax), le dispositif a reçu au moins une fois un signal de type e. Si c'est le cas, il envoie, en 148, un signal, qui réactive, en 149, l'ensemble des transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation. Tous les transpondeurs qui étaient muets voient leur bit d'état passer de i à 0 et ils redeviennent actifs.When the device has scanned all of the cells, it is informed, at 138, that the rank R of the last cell examined is equal to the maximum rank Rmax. At this stage, there can only be one transponder to respond, as long as each of them has its own code. The device then stores, at 144, the address of the identified transponder, checks, at 146, that during the last cycle during which all of the cells were scanned (from R = 0 to R = Rmax), the device has received a signal of type e at least once. If this is the case, it sends, at 148, a signal, which reactivates, at 149, all of the transponders present in the interrogation space. All transponders that were mute see their status bit go from i to 0 and they become active again.
Lorsque l'ordinateur constate que toutes les alternatives possibles ont été balayées, il commande en 152 l'affichage des adresses des transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation et le dispositif s'arrête en 154. De leur côté, les transpondeurs s'arrêtent d'eux-mêmes, par épuisement de l'énergie disponible dans l'organe de stockage 20.When the computer notes that all the possible alternatives have been scanned, it commands in 152 the display of the addresses of the transponders present in the interrogation space and the device stops in 154. For their part, the transponders stop by themselves, by depletion of the energy available in the storage member 20.
On relèvera que la stratégie choisie limite le nombre d'interrogation au nombre de transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation.It will be noted that the strategy chosen limits the number of interrogations to the number of transponders present in the interrogation space.
Dans la procédure décrite en référence à la figure 6, les cycles d'interrogation reprennent à chaque fois à la cellule de rang 0. Il est possible, en variante, de réduire le nombre d'interrogations lorsque les transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation ont un certain nombre de cellules ayant la même valeur. A cet effet, on effectue le premier cycle sans adresser, en 130, un signal de bit d'état. A la fin de ce premier cycle, le dispositif a mémorisé tous les rangs pour lesquels il a reçu un signal de type ç ou d. Ces rangs ne sont alors plus interrogés durant les cycles suivants.In the procedure described with reference to FIG. 6, the interrogation cycles resume each time at the cell of rank 0. It is possible, as a variant, to reduce the number of interrogations when the transponders present in the space d have a number of cells with the same value. To this end, the first cycle is carried out without addressing, at 130, a status bit signal. At the end of this first cycle, the device has memorized all the rows for which it received a signal of type ç or d. These ranks are no longer questioned during the following cycles.
Au cours de la description des différents modes d'interrogation, il a été fait mention de codes CRC. Ils ont pour but de détecter les erreurs de transmission. Il s'agit de trains de bits associés aux signaux d'interrogation et de retour qui, combinés donnent une valeur prévisible. Dans l'exemple d'application, on utilise un polynôme de type "x8 + x7 + x5 + x4 + x + 1".During the description of the different interrogation modes, reference has been made to CRC codes. Their purpose is to detect transmission errors. These are bit streams associated with the interrogation and return signals which, combined, give a predictable value. In the application example, a polynomial of the type "x 8 + x 7 + x 5 + x 4 + x + 1" is used.
Dans la pratique, avec une fréquence de 125 kHz par exemple, un cycle d'interrogation conduisant à l'identification d'un transpondeur a une durée de 115 ms. Cela signifie que le gestionnaire peut identifier plus de 8 transpondeurs par seconde. Il est bien entendu que d'autres fréquences peuvent être utilisées, sans pour autant sortir du cadre de l'invention. Ainsi, en moins de 3 secondes, le dispositif de lecture peut sans autre identifier un vingtaine de transpondeurs présents dans l'espace d'interrogation. La même approche est réalisable à la fréquence de 13.56 MHz par exemple.In practice, with a frequency of 125 kHz for example, an interrogation cycle leading to the identification of a transponder has a duration of 115 ms. This means that the manager can identify more than 8 transponders per second. It is understood that other frequencies can be used, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in less than 3 seconds, the reading device can without other identifying twenty or so transponders present in the interrogation space. The same approach can be carried out at the frequency of 13.56 MHz for example.
Dans l'exemple décrit en référence aux figures 3 à 6, trois modes d'interrogation ont été décrits. Il va de soi que d'autres combinaisons sont envisageables sans pour autant sortir du cadre de l'invention. In the example described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, three interrogation modes have been described. It goes without saying that other combinations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Transpondeur destiné à être associé à un objet à identifier, comprenant:1. Transponder intended to be associated with an object to be identified, comprising:
• un récepteur (14, 16) pour recevoir un signal d'interrogation,• a receiver (14, 16) for receiving an interrogation signal,
• un organe de récupération et de stockage d'énergie électrique (20),• an electric energy recovery and storage unit (20),
• une unité de mémorisation (21) formée d'une pluralité de cellules contenant des informations pour permettre l'identification dudit objet,A storage unit (21) formed of a plurality of cells containing information to allow the identification of said object,
• un émetteur (14, 16) pour émettre un signal de retour en réponse au signal d'interrogation, etA transmitter (14, 16) for transmitting a return signal in response to the interrogation signal, and
• un circuit électronique de commande (18) pour analyser le signal d'interrogation et pour commander ledit émetteur, caractérisé en ce que ledit circuit de commande (18) est agencé de manière à ce qu'un signal d'interrogation reçu provoque l'émission d'un signal de retour choisi parmi un premier type (a) et un deuxième type (b) , en fonction de l'information contenue dans l'une des cellules de ladite unité de mémorisation (21 ), l'un et l'autre modulé séquentiellement de manière à ce et que la partie modulée (m) du signal de deuxième type est émise lorsque le signal de premier type n'est pas modulé (s) et que la partie modulée (m) du signal de premier type est émise lorsque le signal de deuxième type n'est pas modulé (s) -• an electronic control circuit (18) for analyzing the interrogation signal and for controlling said transmitter, characterized in that said control circuit (18) is arranged so that a received interrogation signal causes the emission of a return signal chosen from a first type (a) and a second type (b), according to the information contained in one of the cells of said storage unit (21), one and the other modulated sequentially so that the modulated part (m) of the second type signal is emitted when the first type signal is not modulated (s) and the modulated part (m) of the first type signal is emitted when the second type signal is not modulated -
2. Transpondeur selon la revendication 1 , caractérisé en ce qu'une partie au moins des cellules de ladite unité de mémorisation (21 ) est définie dans une mémoire morte (22).2. Transponder according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the cells of said storage unit (21) is defined in a read only memory (22).
3. Transpondeur selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'une autre partie de ladite unité de mémorisation (21) est formée de cellules de type actif (24). 3. Transponder according to claim 2, characterized in that another part of said storage unit (21) is formed of active type cells (24).
4. Transpondeur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite partie de type actif (21 ) comporte une seule cellule, dont le contenu peut être modifié et contenant une information destinée à rendre ou non muet ledit émetteur (16), pour effectuer des tris.4. Transponder according to claim 3, characterized in that said active type part (21) comprises a single cell, the content of which can be modified and containing information intended to make said transmitter (16) silent or not, for carrying out sort.
5. Transpondeur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite mémoire morte (22) comporte un premier ensemble de cellules contenant les informations relatives à l'identification dudit objet et un deuxième ensemble de cellules contenant des informations relatives à l'interprétation du signal d'interrogation.5. Transponder according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said read-only memory (22) comprises a first set of cells containing information relating to the identification of said object and a second set of cells containing information the interpretation of the interrogation signal.
6. Gestionnaire d'archives comportant un dispositif de lecture et une pluralité de transpondeurs selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ledit dispositif comprend un émetteur-récepteur (28) à même d'adresser un signal d'interrogation et de capter un signal de réception, dans un espace limité, d'interrogation, et une électronique de commande (30), pour commander l'émetteur-récepteur (28) et pour analyser les signaux de retour et dans lequel les transpondeurs sont disposés dans l'espace d'interrogation, caractérisé en ce que lesdits circuits électroniques (18, 28), du dispositif et desdits transpondeurs, sont agencés de manière à ce que la séquence suivante soit appliquée:6. Archive manager comprising a reading device and a plurality of transponders according to claim 3, in which said device comprises a transceiver (28) capable of addressing an interrogation signal and of receiving a reception signal. , in a limited space, interrogation, and control electronics (30), for controlling the transceiver (28) and for analyzing the return signals and in which the transponders are arranged in the interrogation space , characterized in that said electronic circuits (18, 28), of the device and of said transponders, are arranged so that the following sequence is applied:
• émission d'un signal d'interrogation (1 18) pour:• transmission of an interrogation signal (1 18) for:
- interroger une cellule donnée (R) de l'unité de mémorisation de tous les transpondeurs actifs situés dans l'espace d'interrogation,- interrogate a given cell (R) of the storage unit of all the active transponders located in the interrogation space,
- synchroniser les transpondeurs présents dans ledit espace,- synchronize the transponders present in said space,
• réponse des transpondeurs (120) actifs donnant la valeur mémorisée dans ladite cellule (R), • si le dispositif capte un signal de retour (122) de l'un et l'autre type, émission (130) par le dispositif de lecture d'un signal de mise à l'état muet des transpondeurs ayant donné l'une desdites réponses,• response from active transponders (120) giving the value stored in said cell (R), • if the device picks up a return signal (122) of either type, transmission (130) by the reading device of a signal from mute the transponders having given one of said responses,
• répétition de la séquence avec balayage des cellules desdites unités de mémorisation jusqu'à ce qu'un seul transpondeur réponde,• repeating the sequence with scanning of the cells of said storage units until a single transponder responds,
• réactivation (148) des transpondeurs n'ayant pas été interrogés jusqu'au bout et reprise du cycle jusqu'à ce que tous les transpondeurs aient donné leur propre valeur d'identification.• reactivation (148) of the transponders which have not been interrogated until the end and resumption of the cycle until all the transponders have given their own identification value.
7. Gestionnaire selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif est agencé de manière à ce que le signal d'interrogation comporte une pluralité de bits, une part au moins d'entre eux définissant un ordre de commande pour identifier un mode d'interrogation parmi une pluralité de modes disponibles (A, B, Ç_) et en ce que la mémoire morte (22) comporte un premier ensemble de cellules contenant les informations relatives à l'identification dudit objet et un deuxième ensemble de cellules contenant des informations relatives à l'interprétation du signal d'interrogation.7. Manager according to claim 6, characterized in that said device is arranged so that the interrogation signal comprises a plurality of bits, at least one part of them defining a command order to identify a mode d interrogation among a plurality of available modes (A, B, Ç_) and in that the read-only memory (22) comprises a first set of cells containing the information relating to the identification of said object and a second set of cells containing information relating to the interpretation of the interrogation signal.
8. Gestionnaire selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de lecture est agencé de manière à ce que, pour chaque mode d'interrogation, ledit ordre comporte un train de bits se différenciant de celui des autres ordres par le fait qu'en comparant lesdits trains deux à deux, ils diffèrent l'un de l'autre par deux bits au moins. 8. Manager according to claim 7, characterized in that the reading device is arranged so that, for each interrogation mode, said order comprises a bit stream differentiating from that of the other orders by the fact that by comparing said trains two by two, they differ from each other by at least two bits.
PCT/CH2000/000108 1999-03-05 2000-02-28 Transponder and archive manager using same WO2000054209A1 (en)

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Citations (4)

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EP0689161A2 (en) 1994-06-24 1995-12-27 Texas Instruments Incorporated Identification system
EP0694860A2 (en) 1994-07-27 1996-01-31 Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh Apparatus and method for identifying multiple transponders
US5699066A (en) 1992-08-26 1997-12-16 British Technology Group Limited Synchronized electronic identification system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5339073A (en) * 1987-03-31 1994-08-16 Identec Limited Access control equipment and method for using the same
US5699066A (en) 1992-08-26 1997-12-16 British Technology Group Limited Synchronized electronic identification system
EP0689161A2 (en) 1994-06-24 1995-12-27 Texas Instruments Incorporated Identification system
EP0694860A2 (en) 1994-07-27 1996-01-31 Texas Instruments Deutschland Gmbh Apparatus and method for identifying multiple transponders

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FR2790622A1 (en) 2000-09-08

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