Title of Invention

"A COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR SENDING AND RECEIVING INFORMATION VIA AN ELECTRIC FIELD"

Abstract A communication device comprising an electric field generation electrode (7) for generating an electric field; characterised in that modulation means (23) for performing modulation according to information to be sent so that an electrification target is electrified by a quasi-electrostatic field out of the electric field generated from the electric field generation electrode, and outputting a modulated signal resulted from the modulation, to the electric field generation electrode and demodulation means (24) for modulating the information based change in the electrification condition detected by the detection means.
Full Text The present invention relates to a communication device for sending and receiving information via an electric field.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a communication system and is preferably applicable to a communication system for sending and receiving information via an electric field, for example.
Background Art
Conventionally, communication systems have been adapted to send and receive information using a radiation field (radio waves), for example, between mobile telephones, and send and receive information via electromagnetic induction, for example, between the coil in a data reader/writer provided on a ticket checking and collecting machine at a station and the coil in an IC card.
Recently, there have been proposed communication systems which are provided with a human-body-side communication device fitted in contact with the skin of a human body and an equipment-side communication device in the neighborhood of the user as shown in Table 1 below. In these communication systems, an alternating voltage is applied to the human body via the electrode of the human-body-side communication device, and as a result, there is caused an electrostatic induction phenomenon at the electrode of the equipment-side communication device by the action of a capacitor using a human body intervening between the electrodes of the communication device on the human body side and the communication device on the equipment side as a medium. Using

electrostatic induction phenomenon, information is sent and
received (see Non-patent document 1, for example).
At least two leads (a signal line and a reference I
are required for performing wired communication
between equipment A and B.
Signal line
ine) How should the two lines arranged
when a human body is utilized as a lead?
A human body is one lead
Basic
principle
Characteristics
Our company' s method
Comnunication device on the
humanbody side
Static
Communication
deviceon the
equipment side
Signal line: Utilizes the human body
Reference Iine: UtiIizes the human body and
static coup I ing between the human body and
the ground
Q: Stable because the distance during which
unstable static coupling is utilized is
short. External noises influence little.
O:The electrode area can be reduced and
miniaturization is possible.
A:The way of mounting is restricted
(directional restriction).
Company As method
Signal Line: Utilizes the human body
Reference line: Utilizes static coupling
between the electrode of the communicati
on device on the human body side and
the ground
x :Unstable because the distance during which
static coupling is utilized is long.Easily
influenced by external noises.
A:A large electrode area is required.
Miniaturization is difficult.
O:The degree of freedom in mounting is high.
Company Bs method
Comnun!cat ion
device on the
humanbody side
Stat|c
{Coupling
Comnunication
deviceon the
equipment side
Signal electrode
CZ3: Reference electrode
Reference Line
Signal line: Utilizes the human body
Reference line: Utilizes static coupling
between the electrodes of the conmunication
device on the human body side and the
conmunication device on the equipment side
x:Unstable because the strength of static
coupling varies according to use conditions
A The distance between the communication
device on the human body side and the
conmunication device on the equipment
side can not be lengthened.
In addition to the communication systems shown in Table 1, there
have been proposed a lot of communication systems adapted to send and
receive information utilizing the electrostatic induction phenomenon
caused at a receiving electrode by the action of a capacitor using
a human body intervening between sending and receiving electrodes as
a medium (see Patent documents 1 to 9 and Non-patent documents 2 to
5).
[Patent document 1 ] National Publication of International Patent
Application No. 11-509380
[Patent document 2] Patent No. 3074644
[Patent document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-228524
[Patent document 4] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-229357
[Patent document 5] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-308803
[Patent document 6] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224083
[Patent document 7] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-223649
[Patent document 8] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-308803
[Patent document 9] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-9710
[Non-patent document 1] Internet
(retrieved on
January 20, 2003)
[Non-patent document 2] "Development of Information
Communication Device with Human Body Used as Transmission Line" by
KeisukeHachisuka, AnriNakata, Kenjishiba, Ken Sasaki, Hiroshi Hosaka
and Kiyoshi Itao (Tokyo University); March 1, 2002 (Collected Papers
for Academic Lectures on Micromechatronics, Vol., 2002, Spring, pp.
27-28)
[Non-patent document 3] "Development of Communication System
within Organism" by Anri Nakata; Keisuke Hachisuka, Kenji Shiba, Ken
'Sasaki, Hiroshi Hosaka and Kiyoshi Itao (Tokyo University); 2002
(Collected Papers for Academic Lectures for Japan Society of Precision
Engineering Conference, Spring, p.640)
[Non-patent document 4] "Review on Modeling of Communication
System Utilizing Human Body as Transmission Line" by Katsuyuki Fujii
(Chiba University), Koichi Date (Chiba University), Shigeru Tajima
(Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.); March 1, 2002 (Technical
Reports by The Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers
Vol. 26, No. 20, pp. 13-18)
[Non-patent document 5] "Development of Information
Communication Device with Human Body Used as Transmission Line" by
Keisuke Hachisuka, Anri Nakata, Kento Takeda, Ken Sasaki, Hiroshi
Hosaka, Kiyoshi Itao (Graduate Schoolof Science of New Region Creation,
Tokyo University) and Kenji Shiba (Science and Engineering Course,
Tokyo University of Science); March 18, 2002 (Micromechatronics Vol.
46; No. 2; pp. 53-64)
In these communication systems with such a configuration, since
the action of a capacitor using a human body intervening between sending
and receiving electrodes as a medium is the premise of physical action,
the communication strength in communication between the electrodes
depends on the area of the electrodes.
Furthermore, since the action of a capacitor using a human body
intervening between sending and receiving electrodes as a medium is
the premise of physical action, it is physically impossible, when the
sending electrode is fitted to the human's right wrist, for example,
to communicate in directions other than the direction from the human' s
right wrist to the fingertip. When the sending electrode is fitted
near the human's chest, communication in directions other than the
forward direction from the human's chest is physically impossible.
As described above, in communication systems, since the action
of a capacitor using a human body intervening between sending and
receiving electrodes as a medium is the premise of physical action,
there have been a problem that the communication direction is
restricted by the position of the electrode fitted to a human body
as well as a problem that the degree of freedom in communication is
low because the communication strength depends on the electrode area.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above
problems and proposes a communication system, a communication device
and a communication method capable of enhancing the degree of freedom
in communication.
In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems,
a communication system is configured with a first communication device
for electrifying an [identification] electrification target having
electrification properties by generating a quasi-electrostatic field
modulated according to information to be sent; and a second
communication device for detecting change in the electrification
condition of the [identification] electrification target and
demodulating the information based on the change.
In this case, in the communication system, it is possible to cause
an [identification] electrification target to act as an antenna in
a quasi-electrostatic field, isotropically from the surface of the
[identification] electrification target, by electrifying the
[-identification] electrification target according to particular
Information. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication
without the communication direction being restricted by the position
of the electrode of the first communication device and without the
communication strength depending on the electrode area, and thereby
the degree of freedom in communication can be enhanced.
In the present invention, even when the [identification]
electrification target is a human body, it is possible to cause the
human body to act as an antenna in a quasi-electrostatic field,
isotropically from the surface of the human body, irrespective of
the presence or absence of movement of the human body because the
human body is well electrified due to the nature thereof.
Furthermore, in the present invention, by forming an electrode
with a structure according to the reference frequency such that the
strength of the induction field component of the electric field is
below the noise floor specified according to communication bands,
energy required for communication can be reduced by reduction of the
induction field component and the radiation field component
unnecessary for quasi-electrostatic field communication, and
unnecessary propagation can be prevented to enhance spatial
resolution, which enables stabilization of communication. Thus,
communication can be stabilized.
As described above, according to the present invention,
an [identification] electrification target having electrification
properties is electrified by generating a quasi-electrostatic field
modulated according to information to be sent, and information is
demodulated based on change in the electrification condition of the
[-identification] electrification target, so that it is possible to
cause the [identification] electrification target to act as an antenna
Tn a quasi-electrostatic field, isotropically from the surface of
the [identification] electrification target, by electrification of
the [ identification ] electrification target according to particular
information. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication
without the communication direction being restricted by the position
of the sending-side electrode and without the communication strength
depending on the electrode area, and thereby the degree of freedom
in communication can be enhanced.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when the
[identification] electrification target is a human body, it is
possible to cause the human body to act as an antenna in a
quasi-electrostatic field, isotropically from the surface of the
human body, irrespective of the presence or absence of movement of
the human body because the human body is well electrified due to the
nature thereof. Thus, the degree of freedom in communication can be
enhanced.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, by forming the
electrode with a structure according to the reference frequency such
that the strength of the induction field component of the electric
field is below the noise floor specified according to communication
bands, energy required for communication can be reduced by reduction
of the induction field component and the radiation field component
unnecessary for quasi-electrostatic field communication, and
unnecessary propagation can be prevented to enhance spatial
resolution, which enables stabilization of communication. Thus,
communication can be stabilized and the degree of freedom in
communication can be enhanced.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram provided to explain a polar
coordinate system;
Figure 2 is a graph showing relative strength change (1) of each
electric field relative to the distance;
Figure 3 is a graph showing relative strength change (2) of each
electric field relative to the distance;
Figure 4 is a graph showing the relation between the wavelength
and the distance;
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration
of a communication system according to a first embodiment;
Figure 6 is a schematic/block diagram showing the configuration
of a ticket checking and collecting machine;
Figure 7 is a schematic diagram provided to explain the action
of a human body as an antenna;
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing electrical connection
relations in the communication system;
Figure 9 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration
of a card device;
Figure 10 is a schematic diagram provided to explain the floor
surface of the ticket checking and collecting machine;
Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the equipotential surface
of a quasi-electrostatic field formed when a human body is caused to
act as an ideal dipole antenna;
Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the equipotential surface
of a quasi-electrostatic field formed according to this embodiment;
Figure 13 is a schematic diagram provided to explain prevention
of electrical leakage;
Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of mounting
the card device in another embodiment;
Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
a noise absorption/grounding line;
Figure 16 is a schematic/block diagram showing the configuration
(1) of a ticket checking and collecting machine in another embodiment;
Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing electrical connection
relations (1) in a communication system in another embodiment;
Figure 18 is a circuitry block diagram showing the configuration
of a card device in another embodiment;
Figure 19 is a schematic/block diagram showing the configuration
(2) of a ticket checking and collecting machine in another embodiment;
Figure 20 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration
of a communication system according to a second embodiment;
Figure 21 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a voice
reproducer;
Figure 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a head
phone device;
Figure 23 is a schematic diagram showing a human body model example
for performing simulation using the FDTD method;
Figure 24 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the electrode area and the potential between electrodes on the receiving
side;
Figure 25 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the distance between electrodes and the potential between electrodes
on the receiving side;
Figure 26 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the electrode area on the sending side and the potential between
electrodes on the receiving side;
Figure 27 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the distance between electrodes on the sending side and the potential
*;
between electrodes on the receiving side;
Figure 28 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the electric strength of a composite electric field and the distance
from the electric field source;
Figure 29 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
the electric field strength of the induction field and the distance
from the electric field source;
Figure 30 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between
applied potential and frequency; and
Figure 31 is a flow chart showing a designing procedure.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The present invention is now described in detail with reference
to the drawings.
(1) Summary of the invention
According to the invention, information is sent and received using
an electric field. The summary of the present invention is now
described in terms of the relation with the electric field.
(1-1) Electric field
Generally, when current flows through an electric dipole (dipole
antenna), the electric field E generated according to the distance
r from the antenna can be represented in a simplified formula as shown
below:
where [A and arc constant A is a constant, j is the imaginary
unit* and k is the number of waves.
As shown in the above formula (1), the electric field E can be
roughly separated into a component which is in inverse proportion
to the distance r raised to the third power (hereinafter, this
component is referred to as a quasi-electrostatic field), a component
which is in inverse proportion to the distance r raised to the second
power (hereinafter, this component is referred to as an induction
field) and a component which is linearly in inverse proportion to
the distance r (hereinafter, this component is referred to as a
radiation field).
The radiation field is a component excellent in propagation
capability, which does not rapidly attenuate even when the distance
r is long, since it is only linearly in inverse proportion to the
distance r, and therefore, it has been used as a common information
transmission medium in the art of information communication.
Though the induction field is a component with little
transmission capability, which attenuates in inverse proportion to
the distance r raised to the second power as the distance r lengthens,
it has recently been used as an information transmission medium in
a part of the art of information of communication.
The quasi-electrostatic field is a component which rapidly
attenuates in inverse proportion to the distance r raised to the third
power and therefore does not a transmission capability and which
Appears in close proximity to an oscillation source only as
oscillation. Therefore/ it has not been utilized in the art of
communication where the radiation field and the induction field are
premises.
The present invention is adapted to send and receive information
within a neighbor communication range, with a neighbor communication
(hereinafter referred to as near field communication) approach using
a quasi-electrostatic field among electric fields.
(1-2) Quasi-electrostatic field
The quasi-electrostatic field is now described in more detail.
First, the electric field E shown in the above formula. (1) is represented
as an electric field at a position P (r, 9, ) at a predetermined distance
from the origin as described in Figure 1.
In this case, if it is assumed that a charge q and a charge -q
exist separated by a distance 8 and the charge q changes to "Qcoscot"
at a time t, then the electric fields Er, E9 and E(j) at the position
can be represented as the following formulas, respectively,
with the position of the charge q as the origin:
In the formulas (2), the electric field Efyis "zero", and this
means that there is not generated any electric field in the § direction
from the position P (Figure 1).
If the component which is linearly in inverse proportion to the
distance r (that is, the radiation field) is separated from the electric
fields Er and E6 represented in the formulas (2), then the radiation
field Elr and E16 at the position P (r, 0, following formulas:
If the component which is in inverse proportion to the distance r raised
to the second power (that is, the induction field) is separated from
the electric fields Er and E0 represented in the formulas (2), then
the induction fields E2r and E20 at the position P (r, 0, are
represented as the following formulas:
Furthermore, if the component which is in inverse proportion to the
distance r raised to the third power (that is, the quasi-electrostatic
field) is separated from the electric fields Er and E9 represented
in the formulas (2), then the quasi-electrostatic fields E3r and E30
at the position P (r, 0, $) are represented as the following formulas:
In the formulas (3), only the radiation field Elr is "zero", and
this means that there is not generated any radiation field in the tangent
direction from the position P (Figure 1).
Now, in order to show the component's electric field strength
of each of the radiation field, the induction field and the
quasi-electrostatic field at a distance r, the radiation field E19,
the induction field E26 and the quasi-electrostatic field E30 in the
formulas (3) to (5) are now described in more detail.
The number of waves k [nf1 ] is in the relation shown as the following
formula, where the angular frequency is denoted by 00 and the light
velocity is denoted by c:
CO
(6)
If the number of waves k is substituted into the formula (6), the
"j-exp(-jkr)" is removed since it-is beyond the discussion here, and
the "coscot" is assumed to be one (1) since the maximum change with
time between the charge q and the charge -q is to be considered, then
the following formulas are obtained:
If the formulas (7) are rearranged by substituting the distance 5,
the charge q (= Q) and theG with one (1) , 0 . 001 [C] andTC/2, respectively,
then the following formulas are obtained:
Figures 2 and 3 shows the results obtained by qualitatively
plotting the component's electric field strengths of the radiation
field E19, the induction field E29 and the quasi-electrostatic field
E39 based on the formulas (8).
However, in Figures 2 and 3, the component's electric field
strengths at a frequency of 1 [MHz] are shown, and in Figure 3, the
component' s electric field strengths shown in Figure 2 are substituted
with indexes (index scale).
Especially apparent from Figure 3, the component electric field
strengths of the radiation field E10, the induction field E29 and the
quasi-electrostatic field E39 are equal at a certain distance r
(hereinafter referred to as a boundary point), and the radiation field
E19 is dominant in the distance from the boundary point. On the contrary,
- 18 -
in the neighbor before the boundary point, the quasi-electrostatic
field E39 is dominant.
At the boundary point, the following formula is established
according to the above formulas (8):
The light velocity c is in the relation shown by the following formula,
where the wavelength is denoted by X, and the frequency is denoted by
The angular frequency oo is in the relation shown by the following
formula:
o>= 2 n f (1 I)
Then, by substituting the formula (10) and the formula (11) into the
formula (9) and rearranging the formula (9), the following formula
is obtained:
According to the formula (12), the distance r from the origin
to the boundary point varies according to the wavelength X. As shown
in Figure 4, the longer the wavelength X is, the wider the range (the
distance r from the origin to the boundary point) where the
quasi-electrostatic field E36 is dominant.
To sum up the above description, the quasi-electrostatic field
E39 is dominant within the range where the if the relative permittivity of the air e is assumed to
be 1 and the wavelength in the air is assumed to be X.
In the present invention, by selecting the range satisfying the
formula (12) when sending and receiving information with the near field
communication approach, the information is sent and received in the
space where the quasi-electrostatic field E38 is dominant.
(1-3) A quasi-electrostatic field and a human body
Though it is necessary to apply current to a human body to cause
the human body to generate a radiation field or an induction field,
it is physically difficult to efficiently apply current to the human
body because the impedance of a human body is very high. It is also
physiologically undesirable to apply current to a human body. As for
static electricity, however, the situation is completely different.
That is, a human body is very often electrified as suggested by
the empirical fact that static electricity is felt in our everyday
life. As it is known that a quasi-electrostatic field is generated
by electrification of the surface of a human body in response to the
movement of the human body, it is not necessary to apply electricity
to a human body to cause the human body to generate a quasi-electrostatic
field but it is only necessary to electrify the human body.
That is, a human body is electrified by extremely little movement
of charge (current); the electrification change is instantaneously
conducted around the surface of the human body; and then an equipotent ial
surface of a quasi-electrostatic field is formed substantially
isotropically from the periphery. Furthermore, within the range
satisfying the above formula (12) where the quasi-electrostatic field
is dominant, the radiation field and the induction field does not have
much influence. Consequently, the human body functions efficiently
Tas an antenna. This has already been confirmed from the results of
the experiments by the applicant.
As a near field communication technology, the present information
is adapted to modulate a quasi-electrostatic field which is
isotropically formed in the neighborhood of a human body by electrifying
the human body according to particular information, and as a result,
form a quasi-electrostatic field having information in the neighborhood
of the human body, through which the information is sent and received.
To sum up the present invention, as described above, it utilizes
the nature of a quasi-electrostatic field and the nature of a human
body; by electrifying the human body within a range where the
quasi-electrostatic field is dominant, the human body is caused to
act as an antenna; and the quasi-electrostatic field consequently
formed in the neighborhood of the human body is used as an information
transmission medium. An embodiment to which the present invention
is applied is now described below.
(2) First embodiment
(2-1) Entire configuration of a communication system according to
a first embodiment
In Figure 5, reference numeral 1 generally denotes the entire
configuration of the communication system according to the first
embodiment. The communication system comprises a ticket checking and
collecting machine 2 provided at a particular station, and a mobile
device of a card shape (hereinafter referred to a card device) 3, which
is inserted in a pocket of the clothes over a human body (hereinafter
referred to as a user) who utilizes the ticket checking and collecting
machine 2.
The ticket checking and collecting machine 2 is provided with
an entrance/exit passage portion 4 installed at a predetermined place
in the station as a passage for the user and an exit door 5 openably
and closably provided at the exist side of the entrance/exit passage
portion 4. There is provided an electrode (hereinafter referred to
as a side-face electrode) 7 at the side face of the entrance side of
the entrance/exit passage portion 4.
The card device 3 is provided with an electrode (hereinafter
referred to as an internal electrode) 8 on one of the surfaces thereof
and an electrode (hereinafter referred to as an external electrode)
9 on the other surface.
The communication system 1 is adapted to activate the card device
3 of the user who is passing through the entrance/exit passage portion
4, perform near field communication between the card device 3 and the
ticket checking and collecting machine 2, and open the exit door 5
which is in a closed condition, if necessary.
(2-2)- Near field communication
The near field communication performed in the communication system
1 is now described below in detail using a figures showing the internal
configuration of the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 and the
internal configuration of the card device 3.
(2-2-1) Activation of a card device
As shown in Figure 6, a control portion 20 of the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2 is adapted to perform overall control of the
ticket checking and collecting machine 2 in accordance with a
predetermined communication processing program and is adapted to switch
a switching section 2 la of a route switching device 21 to a sending
connection edge 21b or a receiving connection edge 21c based on a
predetermined communication clock prestored in an information storage
memory.
A sending portion 23, at a sending timing based on the communication
clock, supplies an alternating signal SI with a predetermined frequency
generated based on an alternating power supply 15, to the side-surface
electrode 7 via the route switching device 21 to generate a
quasi-electrostatic field, which oscillates according to the
alternating signal SI via the side-surface electrode 7.
Specifically, the sending portion 23 is adapted to generate a
quasi-electrostatic field from the side-surface electrode 7 while
preventing a radiation field and an induction field, as described above
with reference to Figures 2 and 3, by generating the alternating signal
SI with a frequency f and supplying the signal SI to the side-surface
electrode 7, the frequency f satisfying the following formula which
is obtained by substituting the above formula (10) into the above formula
(12), with the relative permittivity of the air e assumed to be 1,
the wave length in the air denoted by X, the maximum distance between
the external electrode 9 and the side-face electrode 7 when the card
device 3 and the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 communicate
with each other denoted by r, and the frequency of the alternating
signal SI denoted by f, and rearranging the formula (12) after the
substitution:
In this situation, when the user enters the inside of the
quasi-electrostatic field generated from the side-surface electrode
7 (that is, when the user attempts to pass through the entrance/exit
'passage portion 4), the user within the quasi-electrostatic field is
electrified according to the displacement of the side-surface electrode
7 and thereby acts as an antenna while a quasi-electrostatic field
according to the displacement (hereinafter referred to as an
alternating quasi-electrostatic field) TD isotropically spreads
around the surface of the user.
In this case, as shown in Figure 7, the internal electrode 8 of
the card device 3 carried by the user is statically coupled with the
user to form a capacitor C2 , while the external electrode 9 is statically
coupled with the ground to form a capacitor C3 and statically coupled
with the side-surface electrode 7 (with a potential equivalent to that
of the ground) via the user to form a capacitor Cl.
As a result, as shown in Figure 8, there is formed an electrical
route sequentially via the side-surface electrode 7, the user, the
internal electrode 8 and the external electrode 9, and the external
electrode 9 provides a reference potential for the alternating power
supply 15 in the card device 3 via the electrified user. Thereby,
the voltage of the alternating power supply 15 on the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2 side is applied between the internal electrode
8 and the external electrode 9 in the card device 3 via the electrified
user.
In this case, as shown in Figure 9, the card device 3 connects
a switching section 3 la on the internal electrode 8 side with a receiving
connection edge 31c, and a switching section 31b of the external
electrode 9 with a receiving connection edge 31e; full-wave rectifies
the alternating signal (current) SI generated between the external
electrode 9 and the internal electrode 8 by a rectification circuit
33; and a resultant direct current S2 is stored in a smoothing capacitor
HC as power.
A power supply control portion 32 is adapted to activate the card
device 3 when it detects that the power stored in the smoothing capacitor
HC has reached a predetermined voltage level.
In this way, in the communication system 1, by electrifying a
user to obtain power for the card device 3 from the user functioning
as a huge antenna (electrode), supply of power from the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2 can be assisted, and it is possible, on the
card device 3 side, to obtain power without depending on the electrode
area of the internal electrode 8 and the external electrode 9 and without
providing a battery for the card device 3.
In achieving this, the communication system 1 is adapted to enhance
efficiency of power supply from the ticket checking and collecting
machine 2 to the card device 3 and enable miniaturization of the entire
system and the card device 3 itself.
The card device 3 generates a synchronized clock S3 corresponding
to the communication clock of the ticket checking and collecting machine
2 with a clock generator 34, based on the frequency f of the alternating
signal SI supplied by the ticket checking and collecting machine 2,
and supplies the synchronized clock S3 to a control portion 30.
The control portion 30 is adapted to perform overall control of
the card device 3 in accordance with a predetermined communication
processing program, and switches the switching sections 3la and 31b
of the receiving connection edge 31 based on the synchronized clock
S3 supplied by the clock generator 34.
The control portion 30 is adapted to connect the switching section
3la with the receiving connection edge 3Id and the switching section
31b with a ground connection edge 3If in the case of a sending timing
based on the synchronized clock S3, while it connects the switching
section 3la with the receiving connection edge 31c and the switching
section 31b with the receiving connection edge 31e in the case of a
receiving timing.
(2-2-2) Near field communication from a card device to a ticket
checking and collecting machine
At a sending timing based on the synchronized clock S3, the control
portion 30 reads, from an internal information storage memory (not
shown), identification information S4 identifying whether or not to
permit a user to enter or exit from a station, for example, such as
a station name or train fare, and supplies the information to a sending
portion 35.
The sending portion 35 generates an alternating signal with the
same frequency as that of the ticket checking and collecting machine
2 based on the power stored in the smoothing capacitor HC; performs
modulation processing on the alternating signal in accordance with
a predetermined modulation method to superimpose the identification
information S4 thereon; and supplies a resultant identification signal
S5 between the internal electrode 8 and the external electrode 9 via
the receiving connection edge 31.
In this case, the internal electrode 8 oscillates according to
the frequency of the identification signal S5 and generates a
quasi-electrostatic field (identification signal S5) according to the
oscillation. As a result, the user is electrified in response to the
oscillation of the internal electrode 8, and there is formed a
quasi-electrostatic field (hereinafter referred to as an
information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field) DTD which the
Identification signal S5 has, isotropically around the user according
to the oscillation.
In this case, the user and the side-surface electrode 7 are coupled
with each other by the same action as in the case described with reference
to Figures 7 and 8, and the information-transmission
quasi-electrostatic field DTD is detected by the side-surf ace electrode
7.
In this way, in the sending portion 35, by changing the
electrification condition of the user according to the
quasi-electrostatic field (identification signal S5) generated from
the internal electrode 8, in the space where the radiation field and
the induction field are prevented, as described above in relation to
the formula (12), it is possible to cause the user to act as an antenna
and form an information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD.
In this case, the receiving timing based on the communication
clock is set for the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (Figure
6), and a field effect transistor (hereinafter referred to as a FET)
28 detects the strength displacement of the information-transmission
quasi-electrostatic field DTD detected by the side-surface electrode
7 as change in potential via the gate of the FET 28, and supplies it
to a receiving portion 24 as an identification signal S6 via an amplifier
(not shown).
The receiving portion 24 performs demodulation processing on the
identification signal S6 in accordance with a predetermined
demodulation method to abstract identification information S7 and
supplies it to a passage determining portion 25 of the control portion
20.
Receiving the identification information S7 from the receiving
portion 24, the passage determining portion 25 performs a predetermined
determination process based on the identification information S7 and
determination information prestored in the information storage memory
and determines whether or not to allow the user, who is attempting
to pass through the entrance/exit passage portion 4 (Figure 5), to
pass it.
When obtaining a positive result that the user should be allowed
to pass, the passage determining portion 25 gives a passage permission
instruction to an exit door control portion 26 and an information
providing portion 27. On the contrary, when obtaining a negative result
that the user should not be allowed to pass, the passage determining
portion 25 gives a passage refusal instruction to the exit door control
portion 26 and the information providing portion 27.
When receiving a passage permission instruction from the passage
determining portion 25, the exit door control portion 26 opens the
exit door 5 of the entrance/exit passage portion 4 (Figure 5) to allow
the user to pass. On the contrary, when receiving a passage refusal
instruction from the passage determining portion 25, the exit door
control portion 26 keeps the exit door 5 of the entrance/exit passage
portion 4 closed to prevent the user from passing.
(2-2-3) Near field communication from a ticket checking and collecting
machine to a card device
Receiving a passage permission instruction or a passage refusal
instruction from the passage determining portion 25, the information
providing portion 27 generates notification information S8 to be
notified to the user, such as permission or passage refusal and other
information, and then supplies the notification information to the
sending portion 23 at a sending timing based on the communication clock.
The sending portion 23 performs modulation processing on the
alternating signal SI in accordance with a predetermined modulation
method to superimpose the notification information S8 thereon, and
supplies a resultant notification signal S9 to the side-surface
electrode 7 via the route switching device 21 to generate a
quasi-electrostatic field, which oscillates according to the
notification signal S9, from the side-surface electrode 7.
Consequently, the sending portion 23 can change the
electrification condition of the user according to the
quasi-electrostatic field (the notification signal S9) to cause the
user to act as an antenna, and form the information-transmission
quasi-electrostatic field DTD in the neighborhood of the user, in the
space where the radiation field and the induction field are prevented
due to induction of the quasi-electrostatic field as described above
with reference to Figures 7 and 8,
In this case, in the card device 3 (Figure 9), the receiving timing
is based on the synchronized clock S3 is set, and the internal electrode
8 detects the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD
formed in the neighborhood of the user. A FET 37 detects displacement
of the strength of the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic
field DTD detected by the internal electrode 8 as change in potential
via the gate of the FET 37, and supplies it to the receiving portion
24 as the notification signal S9 via an amplifier (not shown).
The receiving portion 24 performs demodulation processing on the
notification signal S9 in accordance with a predetermined demodulation
Method to abstract notification information S10 and supplies it to
the control portion 30.
In this case, the control portion 30 notifies the user of the
contents of the notification information S10, for example, by
displaying the contents via a display portion (not shown) based on
the notification information S10.
In this way, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (the
card device 3) can avoid receiving the notification signal S9 (the
identification signal S5) that it has sent via the side-surface
electrode 7 (the internal electrode 8) (so-called signal sneaking)
by performing a half-duplex method in which a sending route and a
receiving route are alternately switched based on the communication
clock (the synchronized clock S3) to send and receive information.
In this case, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (the
card device 3) can use both of the function of a electrification-inducing
electrode for electrifying a user and the function of a detection
electrode for detecting .change in the electrification condition of
the user caused by the card device 3 (the ticket checking and collecting
machine 2) with only one side-surface electrode 7 (internal electrode
8), and thereby the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 can be
miniaturized.
Furthermore, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 can
use one alternating signal SI both for power supply and for information
communication such that one side-surface electrode 7 can be used both
as a sending electrode for a signal for power supply and as a receiving
electrode for a signal for information communication without providing
such electrodes separately, and thereby the ticket checking and
collecting machine 2 can be miniaturized.
4'2-3) Auxiliary means in near field communication
In addition to the above configuration, as shown in Figure 10,
in the communication system 1, a floor surface (hereinafter referred
to as a route floor surface) Yl of the entrance/exit passage portion
4 is provided in such a condition that it is not grounded to the ground
(hereinafter referred to as a building floor surface) Y2 but is separated
from the building floor surface Y2 by predetermined space dx (a gap).
In this case, the electrostatic capacity between the feet of the
user and the building floor surface Y2 can be reduced to be less than
the electrostatic capacity between the user and the side-surface
electrode 7 by the amount corresponding to the space dx between the
route floor surface Yl and the building floor surface Y2, and thereby
leakage of the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD
(alternating quasi-electrostatic field TD) from the feet to the
building floor surface Y2 can be prevented.
In addition to this, it is also possible to prevent noises
(hereinafter referred to as environmental noises) KN caused by
inconsistency of the building floor surface Y2, such as electrical
discharge noises caused by electrically unstable condition due to a
gap between joint surfaces of steel material in the building floor
surface Y2 or rust of the steel material, from being induced from the
route floor surface Yl to the user.
Thus, in the communication system, it is possible to form, in
a more stable condition, the equipotential surface of an
information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD (an
alternating quasi-electrostatic field TD) which is formed
substantially isotropically from around the surface of the user when
the user is electrified and the electrification change momentarily
"conducts over the periphery of the surface of the user, and therefore
it is possible to stable near field communication.
This will be visually apparent from comparison of Figure 11 showing
the equipotential surface of a quasi-electrostatic field when a human
body functions as an ideal dipole antenna and Figure 12 showing the
results of experiments according to the present embodiment.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, the ticket checking and
collecting machine 2 of the communication system 1 is adapted to prevent
leakage of a signal on the route from the side-surface electrode 7
to the receiving portion 24 via the FET 28. Specifically, first, a
case 28A, a conductor covering the periphery of the FET 28 is provided
in a condition that it is electrically separated from the FET 28; and
second, only the receiving portion 24 is grounded on the receiving
route.
Third, as means for preventing such leakage, the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2 is adapted to reduce the electrostatic capacity
SCI between the FET 2 8 and the ground in comparison with the electrostatic
capacity SC2 on the route from the FET 28 to the receiving portion
24 via the receiving portion 24, for example, by increasing the interval
(height) between the FET 28 and the ground.
Thus, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 can efficiently
induce the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD
(alternating quasi-electrostatic field TD) detected by the
side-surface electrode 7 to the receiving portion 24 via the FET 28,
and thereby receive the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic
field DTD (Figure 5) formed by the user with high sensitivity.
(2-4) Operation and effect
In the communication system 1 with the above configuration,
utilizing the nature of a quasi-electrostatic field and the nature
of a user (human body), the user is electrified to act as an antenna,
and a quasi-electrostatic field which is consequently formed in the
neighborhood of the user is used as an information transmission medium.
Specifically, on the card device 3 (the ticket checking and
collecting machine 2) side in the communication system 1, a
quasi-electrostatic field according to the identification signal S5
(the notification signal S9) modulated according to the identification
information S4 (the notification information S8) is generated from
the internal electrode 8 (the side-surface electrode 7) to electrify
the user, as described above with reference to Figures 6 and 9. In
the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (the card device 3), change
in the strength of an information-transmission quasi-electrostatic
field DTD (Figure 5) isotropically formed in the neighborhood of the
user is detected via the side-surface electrode 7 (the internal
electrode 8) and the FET 28 (the FET 37) sequentially, and the
identification information S4 (the notification information S8) is
demodulated based on the detection result.
Accordingly, in the communication system 1, it is possible to
form an information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD that
spreads substantially isotropically from the surface of the user
according to the identification signal S5 (the notification signal
S9), with the user who is electrified very desirably. Furthermore,
sending and receiving is possible without depending on the way of holding
or mounting the card device 3 and without depending on whether or not
the internal electrode 8 of the card device 3 is in contact with the
user.
Furthermore, in the communication system 1, since the electrified
user is caused to act as an antenna, it is possible to form an
information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD that spreads
isotropically from the surface of the user, irrespective of the movement
of the user, and therefore, it is possible to send and receive information
without forcing the user to perform a predetermined movement in
communication.
Furthermore, in the communication system 1, since the electrified
user is caused to act as an antenna and, via a non-propagating
information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD consequently
formed in the neighborhood of the user, information is sent and received,
it is possible to avoid interference with other radio waves (an induction
field or a radiation field) and avoid interception from outside the
communication space to secure confidentiality of the communication
contents.
In this way, in the communication system 1, by causing the user
intervening between sending and receiving electrodes to act as an
antenna rather than treating the user as a medium as has been done
conventionally, it is possible to realize sending and receiving of
information without directional restrictions in the neighborhood of
the user, with confidentiality secured and without forcing the user
to perform a predetermined movement.
In addition to the above configuration, in the communication system
1, the relation between the maximum distance r and the frequency f
of the signal to be supplied to the side-surface electrode 7 is selected
to satisfy the above formula (13), as described above with reference
to the formula (12).
Accordingly, in the communication system 1, when causing a user
who is going to pass through the entrance/exit passage portion 4 to
act as an antenna to perform near field communication, the communication
space can be formed as space (substantially closed space) where the
non-propagating quasi-electrostatic field E39 is always dominant. As
a result, the communication output can be weakened to the degree that
the communication contents are not propagated outside the communication
space, and thereby confidentiality of the communication contents are
secured more sufficiently.
According to the above configuration, in the communication system
1, utilizing the nature of a quasi-electrostatic field and the nature
of a human body, the user is electrified to act as an antenna, and
an information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD which is
consequently formed in the neighborhood of the user is used as an
information transmission medium. Thus, it is possible to realize
sending and receiving of information without directional restrictions
in the neighborhood of the user, with confidentiality secured and
without forcing the user to perform a predetermined movement, and
thereby the degree of freedom in communication using a
quasi-electrostatic field can be enhanced..
(2-5) Other embodiments
In the first embodiment described above, description has been
made on the case where the card device 3 as a first communication device
is inserted in a pocket of the clothes of a user. The present invention,
however, is not limited thereto, and the card device 3 may be fitted
around the arm as shown in Figure 14. Alternatively, it may be
incorporated in a mobile telephone or a pedometer, or may be put in
a bag. That is, the card device 3 can be provided in the neighborhood
the sending or receiving human body without depending on the way
of holding or mounting it and without depending whether or not the
t
internal electrode 8 of the card device 3 is in contact with the user,
as described above. After all, the only requirement is that the card
device 3 should be in the neighborhood of the user.
Description has been made on the case where the card device 3
is of a card shape in the first embodiment described above. However,
the present invention is not limited thereto, and the card device 3
may be of other various shapes.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where the route floor surface Yl is provided
for the entrance/exit passage portion 4 in a condition that it is
separated from the building floor surface Y2 (Figure 10) by
predetermined space dx. The present invention, however, is not limited
thereto, and a member with a low relative permittivity may be filled
between the route floor surface Yl and the building floor surface Y2.
In this case, if the relative permittivity of the member filled
between the route floor surface Yl and the building floor surface Y2
is assumed to be e, the gap between the route floor surface Yl and
the building floor surface the building floor surface Y2 is assumed
to be dx, the permittivity of vacuum electric constant is assumed to
be eO, and the area of the user's soles is assumed to be S, then the
electrostatic capacity CY2 between the user's feet and the building
floor surface Y2 approximates the value obtained from the relation
represented by the following formula:
therefore, if the distance dx between the route floor surface Yl and
the building floor surface Y2 and the relative permittivity e of the
member filled between the route floor surface Yl and the building floor
surface Y2 are selected in consideration of the above relation, the
electrostatic capacity CY2 between the user's feet and the building
floor surface Y2 can be certainly less than the electrostatic capacity
between the user and the side-surface electrode 7. Thereby, leakage
of the information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD
(alternating quasi-electrostatic field TD) from the user's fee to the
building floor surface Y2 can be prevented more securely, and near
field communication can be stabilized more securely.
In the first embodiment described above, description has been
made on the case where the route floor surface Yl is provided for the
entrance/exit passage portion 4 in a condition that it is separated
from the building floor surface Y2 (Figure 10) by predetermined space
dx, as coupling preventing means for preventing the identification
target and the building floor from being electrically coupled with
each other. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto,
and there may be provided a noise absorption grounding line 40 laid
on the route floor surface Yl and grounded to the building floor surface
Y2, as shown in Figure 16.
In this case, it is possible to prevent such noises (hereinafter
referred to as environmental noises) KN as are caused by inconsistency
of the building floor surface Y2 from being induced from the route
floor surface Yl to the user and thereby stabilize the near field
communication, similarly to the first embodiment described above.
Furthermore, if not only the space dx but also the noise absorption
grounding line 4 0 is provided between the route floor surface Yl (Figure
~~10) and the building floor surface Y2, stabilization of the near field
communication can be enhanced more.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where the side-surface electrode 7 as a
detection electrode and a power supply electrode uses one alternating
signal SI both as a power supply signal and as a carrier signal. The
present invention, however, is not limited thereto, and an electrode
for power supply and an electrode for information communication may
be separately provided.
Specifically, as shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18 in which the port ions
corresponding to the portions in Figures 6, 8 and 9 are denoted by
the same reference numerals and characters, in the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2, there is newly provided a power supply
electrode 51 on the internal surface of the entrance/exit passage
portion 4 at the entrance side, separately from the side-surface
electrode 7, and the alternating power supply 15 is provided between
the power supply electrode 51 and the ground. The side-surface
electrode 7 is used only for near field communication. In the card
device 3, there is provided an internal receiving electrode 52 and
an internal sending electrode 53 on one surface and an external receiving
electrode 54 and an external sending electrode 55 on the other surface,
instead of the route switching device 31. If sending and receiving
on the power supply route and sending and receiving on the information
communication route are separately performed between the ticket
checking and collecting machine 2 and the card device 3 as described
above, the same effect as that of the above-mentioned embodiment can
be obtained.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above/ description
has been made on the case where change in the electrification condition
(an information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD) of a user
that the side-surface electrode 7 as a detection electrode has detected,
is detected as identification information S7 by the FET 28 as detection
means, and the identification information S7 is demodulated by the
receiving portion 24 as modulation means. The present invention,
however, is not limited thereto, and the identification information
S7 may be demodulated by measuring change in the impedance of the
information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 19 in which the portions
corresponding to those in Figure 6 are denoted by the same reference
numerals, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 supplies the
alternating signal Si with a predetermined frequency generated based
on the alternating power supply 15, to the side-surface electrode 7
via the route switching device 21, using the sending portion 23 to
generate a quasi-electrostatic field. Consequently, a receiving
portion 60 as demodulation and impedance measuring means can obtain
the same effect as that of the embodiment described above.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where change in the electrification condition
of a user is detected by the FET 28 or 37 as an identification signal
S6 (notification signal S9). The present invention, however, is not
limited thereto, and the change in the electrification condition of
the user may be detected by various other detection means such as an
induction-electrode-type field strength meter for measuring the
voltage induced by induction voltage by means of configuration with
a transistor or a FET, an induction-electrode-type
modulation-amplification-system field strength meter for AC
converting a direct signal obtained by an induction electrode using
a chopper circuit, oscillation capacity and the like, an
electro-optic-effect-type field strength meter for applying en
electric field to material having an electro-optic effect to measure
change in the light propagation characteristics caused in the material,
and, only for the card device 3, an electrometer, a shunt-resistor-type
field strength meter, a current-collection-type field strength meter
and the like.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
hasbeenmadeon the case where the alternating signal SI is continuously
supplied by the sending portion 23 as modulation and power supply means
to the side-surface electrode 7. The present invention, however, is
not limited thereto, and the alternating signal SI may be supplied
to the side-surface electrode 7 only while the side-surface electrode
7 as a detection electrode detects field displacement caused by the
user according to the user's walking motion when the user is coming
near to the entrance/exit passage portion 4.
Specifically, the ticket checking and collecting machine 2, under
the control of the control portion 20, connects the switching section
2la of the route switching device 21 with the receiving connection
edge 21c until it detects-a user who is going to pass through the
entrance/exit passage portion 4 (Figure 5), detects displacement of
the walking quasi-electrostatic field caused by the user coming near
to the entrance/exit passage portion 4, via the side-surface electrode
7 and the FET 28 sequentially, and, when sending the detection result
to the sending portion 23, connects the switching section 21a with
the sending connection edge by the control portion 20 to give the
alternating signal SI to the side-surface electrode 7. On the other
hand, when the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 cannot detect
the displacement of the walking quasi-electrostatic field caused by
the user going away from the entrance/exit passage portion 4, via the
side-surface electrode 7 and the FET 28 sequentially, and therefore
does not send the detection result to the sending portion 23 any more,
it connects the switching section 2 la with the receiving connection
edge 21c again by the control portion 20 and stops supply of the
alternating signal SI to the side-surf ace electrode 7. Thus, the ticket
checking and collecting machine 2 does not supply the alternating signal
SI to the side-surface electrode 7 except while it detects the
displacement of the walking quasi-electrostatic field
(electrification) caused by the user's walking motion, and thereby
energy saving can be more enhanced in comparison to the embodiment
described above.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where near field communication is performed
between the card device 3 as a first communication device of j a mobile
type provided in the neighborhood of a user, and the ticket checking
and collecting machine 2 as a second communication device provided
at a predetermined control target. The present invention, however,
is not limited thereto, and near field communication may be performed
between a card device 3 provided on one user and a card device 3 provided
on the other card device 3 via the one or the other user. In .this
case, the number of users (human bodies) via which the near field
communication is performed from the card device 3 provided on the one
user to the card device 3 provided on the other user may be any number.
""In this case, the same effect as that of the embodiment described above
can be obtained.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where the ticket checking and collecting
machine 2 is applied to the present invention as a second communication
device provided at a predetermined control target. The present
invention, however, is not limited thereto, and a second communication
device provided on or near a video tape recorder, a television set,
electronics such as a mobile telephone or a personal computer, medical
equipment, an automobile, a desk, and other control targets to be
controlled, for example. In this case the same effect as that of the
embodiment described above can be obtained.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where a human body is applied to the present
invention as an identification target. The present invention, however,
is not limited thereto, and organisms such as mammals, reptiles, plants,
even predetermined conductive material, and any other object with an
electrification properties to be identified may be broadly applied
to the present invention as an identification target.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, description
has been made on the case where the present invention is applied to
the communication system 1 which opens the exit door 5 as necessary
for allowing entrance into or exit from the entrance/exit passage
portion 4 as a communication route. The present invention, however,
is not limited thereto and can be broadly applied to communication
systems for various other purposes, such as a communication system
for opening a door as necessary for allowing entrance into or exit
from the entrance/exit passage of a company, a communication system
'with a communication route in the neighborhood of the desk, for opening
the door of a desk as necessary when a user comes near to the desk,
a communication system with a communication route in the neighborhood
of a personal computer, for powering on the personal computer when
a user comes near to the personal computer, and a communication system
using the conveyance passage for conveying a predetermined
identification target as a communication route, for switching the
conveyance passage as necessary when the identification target is
conveyed to a predetermined position, that is, any communication system
that electrifies a human body to cause the human body to act as an
antenna and performs sending and receiving of information using a
quasi-electrostatic field formed in the neighborhood of the human body
as an information transmission medium.
(3) Second embodiment
(3-1) Entire configuration of a communication system according to
a second embodiment
In Figure 20, reference numeral 100 denotes the entire
communication system according to a second embodiment, which comprises
a voice reproducer 102 inserted in a hip pocket of clothes over a human
body and a headphone device 103 fitted on the head of the human body.
The voice reproducer 102 is of a card shape, and there is provided
a parallel plate electrode portion (hereinafter referred to as a sending
electrode portion) 105 comprising a sending electrode 105a and a
reference electrode 105b paired with the sending electrode 105a within
the voice reproducer 102.
In this case, the voice reproducer 102 reproduces a voice signal
from a voice storage medium and generates a quasi-electrostatic field
'modulated according to the reproduced voice signal from the sending
electrode portion 105 and thereby electrifies the human body.
The headphone device 103 comprises a hair band portion 103A and
a pair of ear pad portions 103L and 103R provided at the ends of the
hair band portion 103A. The hair band portion 103A is provided with
a parallel plate electrode portion (hereinafter referred to as a
receiving electrode portion) 106 comprising a receiving electrode 106a
located generally at the center thereof and a reference electrode 106b
paired with the receiving electrode 106a.
In this case, the headphone device 103 detects change in the
electrification condition of the human body electrified by the voice
reproducer 102 as change in the electric field near the receiving
electrode portion 106, specifically the potential difference between
the electrodes 106a and 106b of the receiving electrode portion 106,
demodulates a voice signal obtained as the result, and then outputs
voice based on the voice signal from speakers (not shown) included
in the ear pad portions 102L and 102R.
As described above, the communication system 100 is adapted to
detect a quasi-electrostatic field generated from the sending electrode
portion 105 of the voice reproducer 102 as the potential difference
between the electrodes 106a and 106b of the receiving electrode portion
106 of the headphone device 103 to enable near field communication
of a voice signal to be performed via a human body.
In the first embodiment described above, near field communication
is performed by utilizing the potential difference between the
electrode provided on the human body (the internal electrode 8) and
the electrode (the side-surface electrode 7) provided at a
predetermined place (on the entrance/exit passage portion 4). However,
justice the phases of the signal which reaches the device on the receiving
side via the human body and the signal received from the electrode
of the device on the receiving side via the electric field formed in
the air are physically opposite, the signals counteract with each other,
and therefore sometimes they cannot be received.
Especially on the sending side, an induction field and a radiation
field, which are not easily attenuate relative to the distance in
comparison with a quasi-electrostatic field, cause waste of sending
power, and the merit of being "difficult to propagate far", a
characteristic of near field communication, cannot be obtained due
to these fields.
Therefore, in this embodiment, in the communication 100, the voice
reproducer 102 as a transmitter and the headphone device 103 as a receiver
are designed such that the radiation field and the induction field
are to be below the noise: floor level and the potential difference
between the electrodes 106a and 106bof the receiving electrode portion
106, at a position where use of the receiving electrode portion 106
is assumed, exceeds a level detectable by a preamplifier 121.
Consequently, the communication system 100 can optimize energy
required for near field communication to be performed by the transmitter
and the receiver (the voice reproducer 102 and the headphone device
103), and can prevent unnecessary propagation and improve spatial
resolution to enforce stabilization of communication.
(3-2) Configuration of a voice reproducer
The voice reproducer 102 comprises a voice reproducing portion
111, a modulation processing portion 112, an amplifier 113 and a sending
electrode portion 105, as shown in Figure 21.
The sending electrode portion 105 is of an electrode structure
(electrode shape, electrode area and distance between electrodes)
selected in accordance with a designing approach for a transmitter
and a receiver and a transmitter to be described later. Specifically,
it is formed in an electrode structure according to the reference
frequency such that the strength of the induction field component of
a generated electric field is below the noise floor specified according
to the communication band.
The voice reproducing portion 111 reproduces a voice signal SI
from a voice storage medium mounted on a mounting portion not shown,
and sends the reproduced voice signal SI to the modulation processing
portion 112.
The modulation processing portion 112 comprises a signal supplying
portion 112a and a modulating portion 112b. For the signal supplying
portion 112a, a potential corresponding to a prespecif ied originating
frequency (working frequency) is set as the potential of a voltage
signal to be applied to the sending electrode portion 105.
The signal supplying portion 112a is adapted to supply a voltage
signal with the specified originating frequency and potential to the
modulating portion 112b at a predetermined timing. The modulating
portion 112b is adapted to perform modulation process ing on the voltage
signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation method to
superimpose the voice signal SI thereon and apply the resultant
modulated signal to the sending electrode 105a of the sending electrode
portion 105 via the amplifier 113.
In this case, the sending electrode 105a oscillates according
to the originating frequency of the modulated signal S2; the human
body is electrified by a quasi-electrostatic field which has been
generated in response to the oscillation; and as a result, there is
formed a quasi-electrostatic field according to the oscillation, almost
isotropically around the human body.
In this way, the voice reproducer 102 is adapted to send information
(a voice signal) via a human body.
(3-3) Configuration of a headphone device
The headphone device 103 comprises a receiving electrode portion
106, a preamplifier 121, a demodulating portion 122, a voice amplifying
portion 123 (123L and 123R) and speaker 124 (124L and 124R), as shown
Figure 22.
The receiving electrode portion 106 is formed in an electrode
structure selected in accordance with a designing approach for a
transmitter and a receiver to be described later. Specifically, it
is formed such that the strength of the induction field component of
a generated electric field is below the noise floor specified according
to the communication band, without depending on the electrode area,
arid with a distance between electrodes according to the reference
frequency.
The preamplifier 121 detects the potential difference between
the electrodes 106a and 106b of the receiving electrode portion 106
and sends it to the demodulating portion 122 as a modulated signal
S2. It is desirable to use a preamplifier with a high input resistance
as the preamplifier 121 since an input signal of a preamplifier is
generally weak.
The demodulating portion 122 performs demodulation processing
on the modulated signal S2 supplied by the demodulating portion 122
in accordance with a predetermined demodulation method and thereby
generates a voice signal SI. It then sends the voice signal SI to
the speaker 124 (124L and 124R) via voice amplifying portion 123 (123L
and 123R).
i
As a result, a voice based on the voice signal SI is outputted
from the speaker 124 (124L and 124R).
As described above, the headphone device 103 is adapted to release
a voice based on the voice signal SI sent from the voice reproducer
102.
(3-4) A designing method for a transmitter and a receiver
Description is now made on a designing method for the voice
reproducer 102 as a transmitter and the headphone device 103 as a
receiver.
(3-4-1) Designing parameters
First, designing parameters in designing a transmitter and a
receiver (the voice reproducer 102 and the headphone device 103) are
now described below.
The transmitter and the receiver are designed with the following
(A) and (B) as a guideline (hereinafter referred to as a designing
guideline): (A) the induction field generated from the sending
electrode portion 105 should be controlled to be below the noise floor;
and (B) the potential obtained between the electrodes 106a and 106b
of the receiving electrode portion 106 should be higher than the noise
of the preamplifier 121 (Figure 16) itself mounted on the receiver
(the headphone device 103).
To design a transmitter and a receiver to satisfy the designing
guideline, the following various designing parameters are selected
in this descending order of importance as preprocessing for designing:
(a) the originating frequency and the communication band, (b) the
electrode area (including the electrode shape; hereinafter the same)
end the distance between electrodes in the sending electrode portion
105, and the electrode area and the distance between electrodes in
the receiving electrode portion 106, (c) the positions of the sending
electrode portion 105 and the receiving electrode portion 106 on a
human body, and (d) the preamplifier 121.
Actually, in selecting the various designing parameters (a) to
(d), various conditions (hereinafter referred to designing conditions),
such as the application of the communication system, the communication
application used for communication, and even the space area enough
for mounting the sending electrode portion 105 (the receiving electrode
portion 106) onto the voice reproducer 102 (the headphone device 103),
are taken into consideration.
(3-4-2) Potential between electrodes in a receiving electrode portion
Description will be now made on the potential generated between
the receiving electrode 106a and the reference electrode 106b of the
receiving electrode portion 106 (hereinafter referred to as potential
between electrodes).
The potential between electrodes of the receiving electrode
portion 106 is an important element that means, so to speak,
communication performance. The potential between electrodes was
simulated with the FDTD method (Finite Difference Time Domain: a method
for solving the Maxwell equation, which is a basic electromagnetic
equation, with a finite difference and a time domain).
Specifically, the simulation was performed in the condition that
the sending electrode portion 105 is arranged at a position
corresponding to a hip pocket of a human body model and the receiving
electrode portion 106 is arranged at a position corresponding to the
top of the head, as shown in Figure 23, under the assumption that voltage
lof 1 [V] is applied at 100 [MHz] between the electrodes of the sending
electrode portion 105, and under various other conditions. The results
of the simulation are shown in Figures 24 to 27.
Figure 24 shows the relation between the electrode area of the
receiving electrode portion 106 and the potential between electrodes
of the receiving electrode portion 106. In this case, the electrode
area of the sending electrode portion 105 was fixed at 8x4 [cm2]; the
distance between electrodes of the sending electrode portion 105 at
2 [cm]; and the distance between electrodes of the receiving electrode
portion 106 at 1 [cm].
As apparent from Figure 24, even if the electrode area of the
receiving electrode portion 106 changes, the potential between the
electrodes is almost constant. This means that it is possible to secure
stabilization of communication even if, in designing a transmitter
and a receiver, the electrode area of the receiving electrode portion
106 on the receiver side is reduced.
Figure 25 shows the distance between electrodes of the receiving
electrode portion 106 and the potential between electrodes of the
receiving electrode portion 106. The electrode area of the sending
electrode portion 105 was fixed at 8x4 [cm2], the distance between
electrodes of the sending electrode portion 105 at 2 [cm]; and the
electrode area of the receiving electrode portion 106 at 4x4 [cm2].
As apparent from Figure 25, if the distance between electrodes
of the receiving electrode portion 106 is denoted by dR [m] and the
potential between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106
is denoted by VR [ V], the distance between electrode dR and the potential
between electrodes VR are in the relation represented by the following
equation.
electrodes of the sending electrode portion 105 at 2 [cm]; and the
electrode area of the receiving electrode portion 106 at 4x4 [cm2].
As apparent from Figure 25, if the distance between electrodes
of the receiving electrode portion 106 is denoted by dR [m] and the
potential between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106
is denoted by VR [V] , the distance between electrode dE and the
potential between electrodes VE are in the relation represented by
VE(dB) = 0.00088dR - 0.00034. Since the potential between electrodes
y is less affected by the constant term 0 . 00034 but is greatly affected
by change of the distance between electrode dRf the constant term can
be omitted. As a result f the distance between electrode dR and the
potential between electrodes VR [a*e] can be in the relation
represented by the following equation.
= 0.0005..... (15)]
VR(dR) = 0.00088dR ..... (15)
Furthermore, Figure 26 shows the relation between the electrode
area of the sending electrode portion 105 and the potential between
electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106. In this case, the
distance between electrodes of the sending electrode portion 105 was
fixed at 2 [cm] ; the electrode area of the receiving electrode portion
106 at 4x4 [cm2] ; and the distance between electrodes of the receiving
electrode portion 106 at 1 [cm].
As apparent from Figure 26, the relation between the potential
between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106 [ic in
proportion to] and the electrode area of the sending electrode portion
105 is approximately a proportional relation.
Figure 27 shows the relation between the distance between
electrodes of the sending electrode portion 105 and the potential
between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106. In this
case, the electrode area of the sending electrode portion 105 was
fixed at 8x4 [cm2]; the electrode area of the receiving electrode
portion 106 at 4x4 [cm2]; and the distance between electrodes of the
receiving electrode portion 106 at 1 [cm].
As apparent from Figure 27, the relation between the potential
between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106 [io in
proportion to] and the distance between electrodes of the sending
electrode portion 105 is approximately a proportional relation.
From the above simulation results (Figures 24 to 27), if the
distance between electrodes of the receiving electrode portion 106
is denoted by dR [m] , the electrode area of the sending electrode
portion 105 by As [m2] , the distance between electrodes of the sending
electrode portion 105 by ds [m] , and the potential (hereinafter
referred to as applied potential) to be applied between the sending
electrode 105a and the reference electrode 105b of the sending
electrode portion 105 is denoted by Vs [V] , then the potential between
electrodes VR [V] of the receiving electrode portion 106 is shown by
the following formula:
(16)
The reason why the electrode area of the receiving electrode
portion 106 is not considered in the above formula (16) is that the
potential between electrodes VR [V] of the receiving electrode portion
106 does not depend on the electrode area, as shown in Figure 24.
In the above formula (16), the constant a is the potential
gradient between the electrodes of the receiving electrode portion
106 relative to the potential applied to the sending electrode portion
105 and is a constant depending on the setting parameters (b) and
(c) selected in consideration of the designing conditions (the
constant is hereinafter referred to as a parameter dependent
constant).
The potential Vs applied to the sending electrode portion 105
depends on the frequency f and, therefore, is actually represented
by the following formula.
"telectric field simulator only if the setting parameters (b) and (c)
are selected.
4
That is, each of a human body model and the contents of the setting
parameters (b) and (c) is defined in an electromagnetic field simulator,
and then, by causing excitation between the electrodes 105a and 105b
of the sending electrode portion 105 by a signal with a certain frequency
and a predetermined amplitude, the potential between electrodes VR
(f) generated at the receiving electrode portion 106 is calculated
through simulation.
Here, since all the elements of the formula (17) are known except
for the parameter depending constant a, the parameter depending
constant a can be determined by substituting the known values into
the formula (17).
For example, in the case where, as the various conditions for
the simulation in Figures 24 to 27, the electrode area As of the sending
electrode portion 105 is assumed to be 8x4 [cm2], the distance between
electrodes ds of the sending electrode portion 105 is assumed to be
2 [cm], the distance between electrodes dR of the receiving electrode
portion 106 is assumed to be 2 [cm], the potential Vs (f) to be applied
to the sending electrode portion 105 is assumed to be 1 [V] with a
single frequency, the sending electrode portion 105 is assumed to be
positioned at a hip pocket, and the receiving electrode portion 106
is assumed to be positioned at the head top of a human body, the potential
between electrodes VR (f) generated at the receiving electrode portion
106 is 0.0005 [V] as shown in the simulation result in Figure 25 and
in the formula (15). Then, by substituting the corresponding values
into the formula (17), 0.0005 = axlxO.0032x0.02x0.01 is obtained, and
portion 106 is assumed to be 2 [cm], the potential Vs (f) to be applied
to the sending electrode portion 105 is assumed to be 1 [V] with a
single frequency, the sending electrode portion 105 is assumed to
be positioned at a hip pocket, and the receiving electrode portion
106 is assumed to be positioned at the head top of a human body, the
potential between electrodes VR (f) generated at the receiving
electrode portion 106 is [0.0005] 0.00088 [V] as shown in the
simulation result in Figure 25 and in the formula (15). Then, by
substituting the corresponding values into the formula (17), [0.0005]
0.00088 = axlxO.0032x0.02x0.01 is obtained, and consequently the
parameter depending constant a can be determined to be [781^25] 1375.
As described above, the parameter depending constant a based on
the selected setting parameters (b) and (c) can be determined from
the electric field simulator and the formula (17). However, there
is a certain correspondence relationship between the frequency and
the distance between the sending and receiving sides, and therefore,
the setting parameter (c) is determined to some extent if once the
originating frequency of the setting parameters (a) is determined.
(3-4-4) Maximum potential applicable to a sending electrode portion
When designing a transmitter and a receiver with the setting
parameters (a) to (c), the setting parameter (d) (the potential to
be supplied to the sending electrode portion 105) is determined such
that the strength of the induction field component of the electric
field generated from the sending electrode portion 105 is below the
noise floor. The maximum potential applicable to the sending
electrode portion 105 will be described here.
The electric field strength E at the position r in the
neighborhood of an electric field source (the sending electrode
portion 105 ) in free space at time t can be represented as the following
formula, by rearranging the formula (2 ) under the assumption of "coscot
= 1" , at which the electric strength E is the maximum, and under the
assumption of 6 = ji/2 for simplification of the discussion:
The received power p [W] received by an antenna [ (tho receiving
electrode portion 106)] with an aperture area K [m2] is represented
by the following formula:
4/r
(19)
where the received power density is denoted by S [W/m2] The received
power density S [W/m2] in the relation with the received electric
strength E is represented by the following formula:
Based on the induction filed component of the electric field
the component S2 for the induction field of the power density is
represented by the following formula;
[Accordingly, the received power p [mW] io roprcacntcd by the
following formula obtained by substituting tho formula (20) into the
Accordingly, the induction field component p of the received
power is as follows;
(23)
[By oubotituting the formula (18) for the "W in the formula (21)
to determine the product ql of the charge q and the distance 1 from
tho charge of a microdipolo ouch that the product ql is below the
noise floor nf [dBm] by 10 [dB] at the position r in the neighborhood
of tho clitoris field source (the Bonding electrode portion 105)/
the following formula io obtained;
The formulas (20) and (21) are substituted for the E.
the formula (23), respectively, and the product ql of the charge g
of a microdipole and the distance 1 between two charges of the
microdipole is obtained so that the induction field component p
becomes smaller than the noise floor nf [dBm] by 10 [dB] at a distance
of r from the electric field source (microdipole). Since
f by rearranging the following equation;
[The maximum value of the product ql (hereinafter referred to ao the
maximum product) ql, io shown in the following formula;]
r the maximum value of the product ql (hereinafter referred to as
the maximum product) qlnis obtained.
And/ the maximum product ql can bo obtained from the following
formula obtained by rearranging the above formula.]
*"" V 1000 -K Re(jkr-exp(-jkr))
In this formula (24) , a function Re is used to represent the real
part of the complex number.
The noise floor nf is defined by the following formula:
nf = -174lilBm/EIz] + NF+101ogB[dBm] (25)
where NF is a noise index and B [Hz] is a communication band.
Practically, for example, in the case where the frequency f is
4 [MHz], the noise index NF is 10 [dB], the communication band B is
100 [kHz], the aperture area K of the receiving electrode portion
106 is 0.03 [m2], and 6 = rc/2, it is apparent from the formula (24)
that the output of an induction field at a distance of 0.05 [m] from
the sending electrode portion 105 can be below the noise floor nf
(= -174+10+10 log (1000000) = 114 [dBm]) if the maximum product ql
is [1.510"] fllnflj,. =6.28 X IP"15. However, actually, if the product
ql satisfies "qKqlmax"/ then the induction field component at a
neighbor position r at a distance of 0.05 [m] from the sending
electrode portion 105 can be below the noise floor
Here, confirmation will be now made on the relation of the
communication distance with the electric field strength of the
Composite electric field comprising the quasi-electrostatic field,
the induction field and the radiation field, and with the electric
field strength only of the induction field.
That is, by substituting 6 = at/2 and qlmax = [1.5x10"**] 6.28 X
10"15 into the formula (18), the electric field strength E (E8) of the
composite electric field is represented by the following formula:
By substituting to the formula (26) the permittivity of vacuum
electric constant e = 8.85e-12, the frequency [f = 4] f=4e6f and the
wavelength k = 2rcf/c (c: light velocity), the electric field strength
E of the composite electric field and the neighbor distance r from
the electric field source can be plotted in the relation shown in
Figure 28.
The electric field strength E of the induction field component,
defined by the following formula:
and the neighbor distance r from the electric field source can be
plotted in the relation shown in Figure 29.
As apparent from comparison of Figure 28 and Figure 29, it can
be confirmed that the strength of the induction field is sufficiently
smaller in comparison with the quasi-electrostatic field at the
position r in the neighborhood of the electric field source (the
sending electrode portion 105) . Since the strength of the radiation
field not shown in Figures 28 and 29 is smaller than that of the
induction field at the neighbor position r, it is apparently smaller
than the strength of the quasi-electrostatic field.
[In this way/ — if the frequency f/ the noise indox NF/ the
communication band B/ tho aperture area K of the receiving electrode
portion 106 and the neighbor position r from the Bonding electrode
portion 105 are cpccifically determined] If the frequency f , the noise
index NFf the communication band B, a distance r between the sending
electrode portion 105 and the neighbor position,, and the aperture
area K of the virtual antenna for evaluating power at the neighbor
position are specifically determined, the maximum product of the
charge q and the distance 1 from the charge of the microdipole and
can be determined from the formula (24).
The maximum product ql, corresponds to the maximum potential
applicable to the sending electrode portion 105. Therefore, if the
applied potential Vs (As, ds/ f ) to be applied to the sending electrode
portion 105 can be determined using an electric field simulator such
that the electric field with an electrode area As selected as the
setting parameter (b) and a distance between electrodes ds, generated
from the sending electrode portion 105, substantially corresponds
to the curve in Figure 28, which obtained as a result of plotting
based on the formula (26), then the strength of the induction field
can be below the noise floor nf at a limit position rnaighbor (= neighbor
distance r) in the communication range with the sending electrode
portion 105 as the center thereof.
For example, when a sending electrode portion 105 with an
electrode area As of 4x4 [cm2] and a distance between electrodes ds
of 4 [cm] was arranged in free space, and a potential of 1 [V] was
applied to the sending electrode portion 105 with a single frequency
f0, the electric field generated from the sending electrode portion
105 multiplied by [0.002] 0.084 almost corresponded to the curve of
figure 28.
This means that, if a potential Vs of [0.002] 0.084 [V] (0.04x0.04,
0.04, f0) is applied to the sending electrode portion 105, the strength
of the induction field at a limit position rneighbor in the communication
range with the sending electrode portion 105 as the center thereof
is below the noise floor nf.
From this, the maximum potential (hereinafter referred to as
maximum applicable potential) AVSmax (As, ds, f) which can be applied
to the sending electrode portion 105 and which corresponds to the
maximum qlmeix (f) depending on the frequency f is represented by the
following formula:
where the single frequency used in the simulation by the electric
field simulator is denoted by f „ and the potential to be obtained which
has been obtained by the simulation is denoted by Vs (As, ds/ f0).
As an example, when the conditions of the simulation results (the
potential Vs (0.04x0.04, 0.04, 4) applied to the sending electrode
portion 105 with an electrode area As of 4x4 [cm2] and a distance between
electrodes ds of 4 [cm] was [0.002] 0.084 [V]) are added to the
conditions in the case where the maximum product qlmax is assumed to
be [-tr^tfW1*] 6.28xlO"15 from the formula (24) (the single frequency
F0 is 4 [MHz], the noise index NF is 10 [dB], the communication band
B is 100 [kHz] , the aperture area K of [the receiving electrode portion
the antenna used for evaluating power at a distance of 0.05 Fml
is 0.03 [m2] and 9 = Jt/2), by substituting the values into the
corresponding terms, in the formula (28), the maximum applicable
potential is represented by the following formula:
[ AVfrmax - (0.001 x 0.001 ,0.001 /)
Figure 30 shows the relation between the frequency f and the maximum
applicable potential AVSmax (0.04x0.04, 0.04, f) based on the above
formula (29). As apparent from Figure 30, the electric field strength
of the induction field at a distance of 5 [cm] from the electric field
source (the sending electrode portion 105) can be below the noise
floor at any frequency t.
-60-3-
When a preamplifier 121 with a voltage noise of n [V/7~Hz] is
mounted on the headphone device 103, the preamplifier 121 is able to
detect a signal with a potential n/J~B [V] relative to a communication
band B [Hz].
Accordingly, the preamplifier 121 can be selected to satisfy the
following formula:
To sum up the description above, designing for a transmitter and
a receiver (the voice reproducer 102 and the headphone device 103)
can be performed in accordance with the designing procedure RT in Figure
31.
That is, selection of (a) the originating frequency f and the
communication band B, (b) the electrode area As and the distance between
electrodes ds of the sending electrode portion 105 and the distance
between electrodes dR of the receiving electrode portion 106, (c) the
positions of the sending electrode portion 105 and the receiving
electrode portion 106 on a human body, and (d) the voltage noise n
of the preamplifier 121 is performed first as preprocessing for
designing (step SPl).
Then, a human body model as well as a sending electrode portion
105 and a receiving electrode portion 106 with the setting parameter
(b) are defined in an electric field simulator; the sending electrode
portion 105 and the receiving electrode portion 106 are arranged at
positions on the human body model corresponding to the setting
parameters (c) on the human body; and the potential between electrodes
) of the receiving electrode portion 106, shown when excitation
is caused between the electrodes 105a and 105b of the sending electrode
portion 105 by a predetermined applied potential Vs(f) with an
originating frequency f, is determined (step SP2).
After that, the defined terms are substituted with the
corresponding portions of the formula (17) to determine the parameter
depending constant a in the case of designing a transmitter and a
receiver with the setting parameters (b) and (c) (step SP3).
Then, the aperture area K of the receiving electrode portion 106,
the noise index NF and the limit position rneighbor in the communication
range with the sending electrode portion 105 as the center thereof
are determined, and the determined terms and the setting parameters
(a) are substituted with the corresponding portions of the formula
(24) to determine the maximum product qlmax.
The applied potential Vs (As, ds, fo) to be applied to the sending
electrode portion 105 is determined in the electric simulator such
that the electric field generated from the sending electrode portion
105 with an electrode area As and a distance between electrodes ds
selected as the setting parameters (b) substantially corresponds to
the electric field strength E (Ee) of a composite electric field obtained
as a result of substituting the terms related to the determined maximum
product qlmax into the formula (18) (step SP4).
Then, by substituting the determined applied potential Vs (As,
ds, fo) into the formula (28), such maximum applicable potential AVsmax
(AS, dS, f) that the strength of the induction field at the limit position
rneighbor in the communication range with the sending electrode portion
105 as the center thereof is below the noise floor nf in free space
(step SP5).
Finally, it is confirmed whether or not any applied potential
Vs(f) exists which is below the maximum applicable potential AVSmax
(As, ds, f) and which satisfies that the potential between electrodes
VR(f) of the receiving electrode portion 106 is equal to or above the
voltage noise n of the selected preamplifier 121, as the applied
potential Vs(f) to be supplied to the sending electrode portion 105
(step SP6).
If there is no such applied potential Vs(f) as satisfies the
conditions, all or a part of the setting parameters (a) to (d) are
reviewed again, and the procedure from the steps SP2 to SP 6 are repeated
based on the reviewed and changed setting parameters.
On the contrary, if an applied potential Vs(f) that satisfies
the conditions exists, it means that the designing of a transmitter
and a receiver was successful. The setting procedure then ends.
By performing the designing procedure RT shown in Figure 31 as
described above, the applied potent ial Vs(f) to be applied to the sending
electrode portion 105 according to arbitrarily selected setting
parameters can be determined such that the strength of the induction
field component within a predetermined range of an electric field
generated from an electric field source is below a noise floor level.
When it is assumed that transmitters and receivers may be attached
at multiple positions, it is possible to determine the application
potential Vs(f) to be applied according to the setting parameters for
each of the transmitters and receivers at the positions by sequentially
performing the procedure from the steps SP1 to SP6 for all the positions.
(3-5) Operation and effects
In the above configuration, in the communication system 100, the
sending electrode portion 105 is formed in a structure according to
rthe reference frequency such that the strength of the induction field
component of an electric field is below the noise floor specified
according to the communication band.
Accordingly, in the communication system 100,
energy required for communication is reduced by reduction of the
induction field and radiation field components unnecessary for
quasi-electrostatic field communication, and spatial resolution can
be enhanced due to prevention of unnecessary propagation. Thus,
stabilization of communication can be enhanced.
In addition, in the communication system 100, stabilization of
communication can be enhanced more by limiting the voltage to be applied
between sending electrodes according to the reference frequency.
According to the above configuration, the sending electrode
portion 105 is formed in a structure according to the reference frequency
such that the strength of the induction field component of an electric
field is to be below the noise floor specified according to the
communication band. Accordingly, energy required for communication
is reduced by reduction of the induction field and radiation field
components unnecessary for quasi-electrostatic field communication,
and spatial resolution can be enhanced due to prevention of unnecessary
propagation. Thus, stabilization of communication can be enhanced
and the degree of freedom in communication can be enhanced.
(3-6) Other embodiments
In the second embodiment described above, description has been
made on the case where an electric structure according to the reference
frequency is selected based on the formula (16) such that the strength
of the induction field component of an electric field is to be below
the noise floor specified according to the communication
present invention, however, is not limited thereto, and the structure
may be selected based on any formula other than the formula (16), such
as a formula improved based on the formula (16).
Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above,
description has been made on the case where a potential corresponding
to a prespecified originating frequency (working frequency) is set
and a signal with the set potential is generated and applied, as
generation means for generating a signal to be applied to an electrode
with the electrode structure according to the used frequency. The
present invention, however, is not limited thereto, and it is also
possible to hold multiple frequencies and potentials corresponding
to frequencies in a table, refer to the table to determine a potential
corresponding to the frequency to be used, and sequentially generate
signals with the determined potential by switching them at a
predetermined timing to apply them.
In this case, since communication can be performed with the
headphone device 103 using multiple frequencies, it is possible to
enhance communication efficiency while maintaining stabilization of
communication.
Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above,
description has been made, as for the positions of a transmitter and
a receiver, on the case where the voice reproducer 102 is positioned
at a hip pocket of clothes over a human body and the headphone device
103 is positioned at the head top of the human body. The present
invention, however, is not limited thereto, and the transmitter and
the receiver (the voice reproducer 102 and the headphone device 103)
may be arranged at various other positions.
Furthermore, as for combination of a transmitter and a receiver,
various other combinations of a transmitter and a receiver may be applied,
including the case of communication between a mobile telephone and
a personal computer. In this case, a set of a sending electrode portion
105 and a receiving electrode portion 106 is mounted on both of the
transmitter and the receiver.
Furthermore, in this case, information to be sent and received
may be information other than voice; the number of human bodies via
which the information passes may be any number, and organisms such
as mammals, reptiles, plants, even a predetermined conductive material
and various other targets may be applied instead of a human body.
Industrial Applicability
The present invention can be applied to the case where near field
communication is performed utilizing potential difference between
electrodes of a transmitter and a receiver, and particularly to the
case where information is sent and received via a human body.
Description of Symbols
1, 100 ... communication system, 2 ... ticket checking and collecting machine, 3 ... card device, 7 ... side-surface electrode, 8 ... internal electrode, 9 ... external electrode, 20, 30 ... control portion, 23, 35 ... sending portion, 24, 36, 60... receiving portion, 28, 37... FET, 32 ... power supply control portion, 34 ... clock generator, 51 ... power supply electrode, 52 ... internal receiving electrode, 53 ... external receiving electrode, 54 ... internal sending electrode, 55 ... external sending electrode, 102 ... voice reproducer, 103 ... headphone device, 105 ... sending electrode portion, 106 ... receiving electrode portion, 111 ... voice reproducing portion, 112 ... modulation processing portion, 112a... signal supplying portion, 112b... modulating portion, 113... amplifier, 121 ... preamplifier, 122... demodulating portion, 123... voice amplifying portion, 124 ... speake




WE CLAIM:
1. A communication device for sending and receiving information via an
electric field comprising:
an electric field generation electrode (7) for generating an electric field;
modulation means (23) for performing modulation according to information to be sent so that an electrification target is electrified by a quasi-electrostatic field out of the electric field generated from the electric field generation electrode, and outputting a modulated signal resulted from the modulation, to the electric field generation electrode; and
detection means (28) for detecting an electrification condition of an electrification target electrified by a quasi-electrostatic field out of an electric field based on a modulated signal obtained through modulation according to information to be sent.
2. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrification target is a human body.
3. The communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the modulation means performs the modulation according to information to be sent so that the human body is electrified by the quasi-electrostatic field as an antenna.
4. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device is of a portable type and is provided in a neighborhood of the human body.
5. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulation means outputs the modulated signal in a condition where at least one of electric power and electric charge is limited.

6. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulation means performs the modulation according to information to be sent so that the quasi-electrostatic field generated from the electric field generation electrode is dominant, based on a distance between the electric field generation electrode and a detection electrode for detecting the quasi-electrostatic field and a wavelength of the modulated signal to be output to the electric field generation electrode.
7. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulation means performs the modulation according to information to be sent so that a relation of r = A / 2 n it is satisfied where a longest distance between the electric field generation electrode and a detection electrode for detecting the quasi-electrostatic field is taken to r and a wavelength of the modulated signal to be output to the electric field generation electrode is taken to A.
8. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric field generation electrode forms an electric route to an electric field generation electrode of a communication counterpart via the electrification target electrified by the communication counterpart, and having a storage means for storing a signal occurring in the route, as own starting power.
9. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the electric field generation electrode is a parallel plane electrode; and in the parallel plane electrode, an electrode area and a distance between electrodes are determined so that a strength induction field component of an electric field at a prescribed position in a neighborhood of the parallel plane electrode is below a noise floor specified according to a communication band, when electric potential of a reference frequency is supplied.
10. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the electric field generation electrode is a parallel plane electrode; and

in the parallel plane electrode, an electrode area and a distance between electrodes are determined so that a strength induction field component of an electric field at a prescribed position in a neighborhood of the parallel plane electrode is below a noise floor specified according to a communication band and is larger than a noise generated in the detection means of a communication counterpart for detecting the electric field, when electric potential of a reference frequency is supplied.
11. The communication device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distance
between electrodes ds is taken to a, the electrode area As and the distance
between electrodes ds are determined by formula (16) herein described.
12. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
demodulation means (24) for modulating the information based on
change in the electrification condition detected by the detection means.
13. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrification target is a human body.
14. The communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the detection means detects an electrification condition of a human body electrified by the quasi-electrostatic field as an antenna.
15. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the communication device is of a portable type and provided in a neighborhood of the human body.
16. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the communication device is provided on or in a neighborhood of a prescribed control target.
17. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the detection means detects an electrification condition of an electrification target

electrified by the quasi-electrostatic field based on a modulated signal resulted from modulation according to information to be sent so that the quasi-electrostatic field is dominant based on a distance between the electric field generation electrode and a detection electrode for detecting the quasi-electrostatic field and a wavelength of the modulated signal to be output to the electric field generation electrode.
18. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the detection means detects an electrification condition of an electrification target electrified by the quasi-electrostatic field based on a modulated signal resulted from modulation according to information to be sent so that a relation of r = A / 2 rt is satisfied where a longest distance between the electric field generation electrode and a detection electrode for detecting the quasi- electrostatic field is taken to r and a wavelength of the modulated signal to be output to the electric field generation electrode is taken to A.
19. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, having leakage preventing means (28A) for preventing electrical leakage from a route from the detection means (28) to the demodulation means (24).
20. The communication device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the leakage preventing means (28A) causes an electrostatic capacity from the detection means (28) to the ground via the demodulation means (24) to be larger than an electrostatic capacity between the detection means (28) and the ground.
21. The communication device as claimed in claim 19, wherein:
the detection means (28) has a detection electrode for detecting the electrification condition and conversion means for converting the electrification condition detected by the detection electrode into an electric signal; and
the leakage preventing means (28A) comprises a case for physical separation into the detection electrode and the conversion means (25).

22. The communication device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the leakage preventing means (28A) grounds only the demodulation means (24) out of the route from the detection means (28) to the demodulation means (24).
23. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the electrification target is a moving entity; and the communication device having:
a power supply electrode (51) for generating the quasi-electrostatic field for power supply to a communication counterpart; and
coupling preventing means (dx) for preventing electrical coupling between the electrification target and the ground, the coupling preventing means being provided on a passage through which the electrification target passes.
24. The communication device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the coupling preventing means (dx) is formed with a floor surface provided at a prescribed distance from the ground.
25. The communication device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the coupling preventing means (dx) is formed with a low-dielectric-constant member covered over the passage and connected to the ground.
26. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the electrification target is a human body; and the communication device having:
a power supply electrode (51) for generating the quasi-electrostatic field for power supply to a communication counterpart;
a detection electrode for detecting an electrification condition of the human body according to walking of the human body; and
power supply means (51) for supplying a signal for power supply to the power supply electrode (51) only while the detection electrode detects the electrification condition.

27. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the electrification target is a human body; and the communication device having:
a power supply electrode (51) for generating the quasi-electrostatic field for power supply to a communication counterpart; and
a detection electrode for detecting an electrification condition caused in the human body according to walking of the human body, wherein the power supply electrode (51) and the detection electrode comprise the same electrodes.
28. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, having:
a power supply electrode (51) for generating the quasi-electrostatic field for power supply to a communication counterpart; and
power supply means (15) for supplying a signal for the power supply to the power supply electrode, wherein the power supply means also uses the signal for the power supply as a carrier signal to be sent to the communicating party.
29. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the detection means has a detection electrode having a parallel plane electrode for detecting the electrification condition; and
in the parallel plane electrode, a distance between electrodes is determined, independently from an electrode area, so that a strength induction field component of an electric field at a prescribed position in a neighborhood of the parallel plane electrode is below a noise floor specified according to a communication band, when potential of a reference frequency is supplied to a parallel plane electrode of a communication counterpart existing at a prescribed position.
30. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the detection means has a detection electrode having a parallel plane electrode for detecting the electrification condition; and
in the parallel plane electrode, a distance between electrodes is determined, independently from an electrode area so that a strength induction field of an electric field at a prescribed position in a neighborhood of the

parallel plane electrode is below a noise floor specified according to a communication band and is larger than a noise generated in the detection means, when potential of a reference frequency is supplied to a parallel plane electrode of a communication counterpart existing at a prescribed position.
31. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance between electrodes dR, the electrode area As, and the distance between electrodes ds is taken to a, the distance between electrodes dR is determined by the formulae (16) as herein described.

Documents:

3247-DELNP-2005-Abstract-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-abstract.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Claims-(11-08-2008).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Claims-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Claims-(20-08-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-claims.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Correspondence-Others-(11-08-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-Correspondence-Others-(14-12-2010).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Correspondence-Others-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Correspondence-Others-(26-11-2009).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-correspondence-others.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-description (complete)-11-08-2008.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-description (complete)-18-07-2008.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-description (complete).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Drawings-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-drawings.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Form-1-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Form-1-(20-08-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-1.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-13-(13-03-2009).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-13-(23-11-2006).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-13.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Form-15-(26-11-2009).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-18.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Form-2-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-2.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Form-3-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-3.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-form-5.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-GPA-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-delnp-2005-gpa.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-210.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-301.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-304.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-307.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-308.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-311.pdf

3247-delnp-2005-pct-346.pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Petition-137-(18-07-2008).pdf

3247-DELNP-2005-Petition-138-(18-07-2008).pdf

abstract.jpg


Patent Number 222806
Indian Patent Application Number 3247/DELNP/2005
PG Journal Number 37/2008
Publication Date 12-Sep-2008
Grant Date 25-Aug-2008
Date of Filing 21-Jul-2005
Name of Patentee SONY CORPORATION
Applicant Address 7-35, KITASHINAGAWA 6-CHOME, SHINAGAWA-KU, TOKYO 141-0001, JAPAN.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 TAKIGUCHI KIYOAKI C/O SONY CORPORATION, 7-35, KITASHINAGAWA 6-CHOME, SHINAGAWA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN.
PCT International Classification Number H04B 13/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2004/002371
PCT International Filing date 2004-02-27
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 P2003-051867 2003-02-27 Japan