CA2200467A1 - Device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission, and preferred use thereof for identifying gas cylinders - Google Patents
Device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission, and preferred use thereof for identifying gas cylindersInfo
- Publication number
- CA2200467A1 CA2200467A1 CA000000005A CA2200467A CA2200467A1 CA 2200467 A1 CA2200467 A1 CA 2200467A1 CA 000000005 A CA000000005 A CA 000000005A CA 2200467 A CA2200467 A CA 2200467A CA 2200467 A1 CA2200467 A1 CA 2200467A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mobile data
- strip
- elastic carrier
- data memory
- writing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
- G06K7/10316—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers
- G06K7/10336—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
- G06K7/10316—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers
Abstract
The device comprises at least one writing and reading apparatus (SLG) having an antenna coil (AT) and at least one mobile data store (MDS) which comprises a storage and operating circuit (SE) and, connected thereto, an elongate loop coil (SP). The storage and operating circuit (SE) and the loop coil (SP) are mounted on a strip-like, preferably resilient support (TB). The advantage of this arrangement is that the mobile data store (MDS) can be mounted on surfaces having almost any degree of undulation. If a mobile data store (MDS) of this type surrounds the periphery of an object which, for example, is cylindrical, data can be transmitted in any radial spatial direction. The device is particularly suitable for identifying gas bottles (G1...G4), the strip-like, resilient support (TB) of a mobile data store (MDS1...MDS4) being laid about the casing of each gas bottle (G1...G4), in particular in the region of the collars (H1...H4) thereof.
Description
2~0046/
Description Device for contactless, inductive power and data trans-mission, and preferred use thereof for identifying gas cylinders The invention relates to a device for contact-less, inductive power and data transmission between at least one writing and re~; ng unit with an antenna coil, and at least one mobile data memory, which is preferably fitted to a portable object, with an antenna coil. The principle of a contactless transmission path of this type corresponds to a transformer with a coupling factor which varies as a function of distance.
In the case of such devices, which are frequently referred to as identity systems, a mobile data memory is first of all supplied with power in a contactless manner by means of a writing and reading unit for the purpose of activation, that is to say for enabling a data exchange.
This is done inductively in that a magnetic alternating field is generated in the surrounding space by an antenna coil belonging to the writing and reading unit. When an object having a mobile data memory fitted on it approaches, a voltage is induced in the antenna coil thereof. This provides the power required to operate the mobile data memory. The data transmission which is now possible between the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory also takes place inductively via the two antenna coils. Information identifying the type and the current condition of the object provided with the respective mobile data memory is, as a rule, communicated as data to the writing and reading unit for a wide variety of purposes.
The m~;mllm distance between the mobile data memory and the writing and reading unit is, as a rule, up to one meter and, in practice, depends on the ~;menRion~
of the antenna coils of the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory and GR 94 P 3550 P - 2 - 22 ~0~ ~ /
on the respective ambient conditions. Particular problems arise when electrically conductive materials are pre~ent in the region of the alternating field, since the eddy currents induced therein cause the antenna resonant circuits of the writing and reading unit and/or of the mobile data memory to be detuned and/or the magnetic alternating field to be completely shielded from the antenna coil of the mobile data memory. As a result, the m~; mllm range of the data transmission can be restricted right up to the point of complete interruption of said data transmission. A particularly unfavorable situation is when a metallic surface of an object must serve as support for a mobile data memory.
To solve this problem, it is admittedly possible to fit a mobile data memory by means of ~pecial mounts in such a way that an adequate distance from the electrical-ly conductive surrolln~;ngs or support is maintained. This ensures that the inductive power and data transmission is influenced as little as possible by the otherwise occur-ring resonant frequency shifts in the antenna resonantcircuits of the mobile data memory or the writing and reading unit. However, it is disadvantageous that the mobile data memories project sometimes to a large extent over the outer surfaces of the objects and, consequently, there is a considerable risk of breaking. Furthermore, mounts protruding in this way will make it more difficult to transport and use, in particular, objects which are difficult to handle on account of their shape, for example, and, if appropriate, have a high dead weight.
If a mobile data memory is fastened to a prefer-ably portable object to be identified, then data trans-mission without additional positioning operations is only possible if the ~u~. of the ~;n;~l-~ diFt~nce to be mzin-tained between the mobile data memory and the writing and reading unit and the largest edge lengths thereof is always less than the range of the device under the respective ambient conditions. Only in simple cases, however, is it ensured that the mobile data memory, when manually or automatically approaching GR 94 P 3550 P - 3 - 2~00~6 ~
the writing and reading unit, is always situated in the field region thereof in a manner independent of position.
Further problems thus arise in the case of parallelepipedal objects having relatively large dimen-sions or in the case of objects having curved outersurfaces. In this case, prior positioning is frequently required for an automated data exchange, for example where an object, provided with a mobile data memory, on a conveyor belt travels past a stationary writing and reading unit. It is therefore necessary, under certain circumstances, that the object be rotated until a mobile data memory, situated on a remote side in the most unfavorable case, is facing the writing and reading unit.
This is particularly difficult with objects which have a high dead weight or curved outer surface and the mobile data memories consequently have to be fitted on poorly definable, non-planar surfaces.
Further problems arise when a plurality of objects, each provided with a mobile data memory, are simultaneously brought up, for example on a pallet, in a box or other transport device, to a writing and reading unit. On the one hand, particularly when the objects have, for example, a cylindrical shape, the mobile data memories on some objects may r~n~mly assume a position facing away from the respective writing and reading unit.
A type of shading thus occurs, which is particularly pronounced in the case of objects produced from a metal-lic material. On the other hand, in conventional identity systems, as a rule only one mobile~data memory is allowed to be situated in the magnetic alternating field of the writing and reading unit during the data exchange, in order to maintain proper functioning. In identity systems whose range is large enough, given an appropriate dis-tance between the mobile data memory and electrically conductive surroundings, to permit data transmission in a manner independent of position even with relatively small dimensions of the mobile data memory, this advan-tage is nullified again as soon as a plurality of objects are situated at a small distance from one another, for example in a common trans-port container. Due to this simultaneous presence of a plurality of mobile data memories in the field region of a writing and reading unit, it is no longer possible, without a (possibly considerable) additional software and hardware outlay, to ~et up a data transmission to each individual mobile data memory in an unambiguously distin-guishable manner.
The invention is consequently based on the object of specifying a device which, even when only metallic bearing surfaces are available on the objects for the purpose of fitting mobile data memories and these objects are possibly accommodated closely adjacent to one another in transport containerC~ permits reliable data trans-mission between the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory, to be precise independently of the current relative position of the writing and reading unit with respect to a mobile data memory on an outer side of the respective object.
The object is achieved by means of the device specified in claim 1. Advantageous further embodiments of the device and an advantageous use thereof for identify-ing gas cylinders are specified in the following sub-claims.
The invention and advantageous embodiments thereof are explained in more detail with reference to the figures, which are explained briefly below. In the figures Figure 1 ~hows a side view of a preferred embodi-ment of a mobile data memory of the device according to the invention, Fisure 2 shows a side view of a preferred embcdi-ment of a writing and reading unit of the device accord-ing to the invention, and 22~61 Figure 3 shows an example of the fitting of mobile data memories of the device according to the invention in the region of the neck rings of gas cylin-ders according to a preferred use of the device according to the invention.
The device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission according to the invention contains at least one writing and reading unit with an antenna coil, and at least one mobile data memory which has a memory and operating circuit and, connected thereto, an elongate loop coil, which are provided on a preferably elastic carrier in the form of a Rtrip. It is advantageously possible to use a flexible printed circuit board as the carrier in the form of a strip for the elongate loop coil. The arrangement has the advantage that the mobile data memory can be provided on surfaces having virtually any degree of undulation.
The device according to the invention can prefer-ably be used for identifying gas cylinders, the elastic carrier, in the form of a ~trip, of a mobile data memory being placed around the casing of each gas cylinder, particularly in the region of the neck rings thereof. As a result, it is possible, in every case and independently of the current radial position of a writing and reading unit with respect to the axis of a gas cylinder, to ensure reliable data transmission even if a plurality of gas cylinders should be st~n~;ng close together in a crate serving as transport container. Since gas cylinders are composed of a metallic material, it is advantageous in this case if the carrier in the form of a strip for the elongate loop coil has a certain thickness, and the loop coil is provided or incorporated on that side of the car__e- wh~-h is remcte from the neck_~ns of a gas cylinder. A flexible printed circuit board as the carrier in the form of a strip usually already has a thickness sufficient for this purpose.
22~JO~6/
The device according to the invention i8 thus preferably suitable for being fitted on and identifying objects which have a curved, in particular cylindrical, surface. If these objects are produced, for example, from an electrically non-conductive material, then the carrier in the form of a strip need not have an appreciable thickness. In such a case, an adhesive tape or an adhes-ive film, for example, can serve as the carrier, on whose side which is provided with adhesive the elongate loop coil and the memory and operating circuit are placed. For transport purposes, these a&esive-tape-like carriers can be placed, for example, on cardboard-like supports, which are coated at least on one side, and can be drawn off from said supports, in a manner free from damage, for the purpose of final application to an object to be ident-ified complete with a unit comprising an elongate loop coil and a memory and operating circuit. On account of the self-adhesive properties, auxiliary means for retain-ing the carrier, such as locks, for example, are dis-pensed with in this ca~e. It is also po~sible to providea multiplicity of units, each comprising an elongate loop coil and an associated memory and operating circuit, one behind the other like a row on the adhesive side of a continuous adhesive tape, and to fabricate the latter in the form of adhesive rolls. With rolls of this type, it is then possible to equip, rapidly and without any appreciable outlay, a possibly very large nl~her of objects, for example a stock of gas cylinders rnnn;ng into thousands, which are to be rendered accessible to contactless identification, with a mobile data memory configured according to the invention.
The invention and further advantageous embodi-ments thereof are exrla ned in more de~all with ref~rPnce to a preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
According to the illustration in Figure 1, the mobile data memory MDS has, according to the invention, an elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip. The antenna coil SP of the mobile data memory MDS is GR 94 P 3550 P - 7 - 22 00~ ~ 7 provided on said carrier. Said coil has the form of a planar, elongate loop coil. The coil may have a plurality of turns, which is not illustrated in Figure 1 for reasons of clarity. The coil is closed at one short end side E1 of the carrier TB in the form of a strip, whereas at the other ~hort end side E2 it is connected to a memory and operating circuit SE. The circuit serves, in particular, to store so-called identity data of an object provided with the mobile data memory, to supply power to the mobile data memory and to enable inductive data transmission via the loop coil SP with a writing and reading unit. The elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip may advantageously be designed, for example, in the form of a flexible printed circuit board, on which the elongate loop coil SP and the memory and operating circuit SE can be provided directly, for example as a so-called ASIC.
The inventive design, which is illustrated by way of example in Figure 1, of a mobile data memory MDS has a multiplicity of advantages. On the one hand, the inductance of the loop coil SP is independent of the curvature of the elastic carrier TB, in the form of a strip, in a plane lying perpendicular to the coil face, as long as there is no overlapping of the loop beginning and end at the short end sides E1, E2 of the carrier TB.
The carrier TB and hence the entire mobile data memory MDS comprising loop coil SP and memory and operating circuit SE can, for the purpose of mounting, be placed onto a surface which is planar with regard to the short loop edge. This surface can have virtually any desired curvature or contour in the direction of the long loop edge. Thus, the carrier can be placed, for example, around a 90-degree edse of ~ pzr~llelepipQA~l cb~ect, fo=
example onto the edge of the housing of a refrigerator.
It is then possible without any problems to effect data transmission in two perpendicular spatial directions.
GR 94 P 3550 P - 8 - 2~0G4~/
Furthermore, the mobile data memory MDS according to the invention is particularly suitable for being placed onto circularly curved surfaces, for example onto the outer sides of cylindrical objects. It is easily possible to design the carrier TB, in the form of a strip, of the mobile data memory MDS in the form of a flat slotted, easily bent open or resilient ring, collar or a clasp, or even as a formless strip. Simple mounting is ensured in every case. In an application for identify-ing cylindrical objects, such as bottles, for example,fitting is possible independently of the relevant radius of curvature and the circumference of the object. The area covered by the loop coil is in this case parallel to the surface of the object. If the cylindrical object is enclosed virtually completely, then data transmission is possible radially in all spatial directions around the axis of the cylindrical object.
The short end sides E1 and E2 of the elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip can advantageously be connected to a releasable closure device. In the example of Figure 1, a closure device V in the form of a strap, having a row of retaining holes E, is present for this purpose on one short end side E2 of the carrier strip TB, which ret~;n;ng holes E engage, depending on the relevant circumference of an e.g. cylindrical object, into a retaining stud K on the other short end side E2 of the carrier TB. If appropriate, the closure device may be designed such that it can be lead-sealed. On the other hand, the carrier can also be bonded on.
The distance between the plane of the loop coils SP and the surface of the object need only be a few millimeters, even in the event of electrical conductivity of s~id ~urface, with the -esult th2t it is poss-b1e to use elastic carrier~ in strip form which have only a small thickness. The enlargement of the diameter of the object by the emplaced mobile data memory is scarcely noticeable. In the case of mounting on an electrically conductive surface, it is possible, as required, addi-tionally to compensate for the detuning, caused by said 22004~1 electrically conductive surface, of the resonant circuit of the loop coil in the mobile data memory by means of corre-spo~;ng selection of the effective resonant circuit capacitance of said coil.
Writing and reading units can be permanently mounted and connected to an external computer. In the event of mobile use, they can also be designed in the form of portable hand-held units. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a portable design of a writing and reading unit SLG. The latter contains a separate hand-held unit and serves for a type of "remote control" of mobile data memories. This preferably has an operating keyboard and a display device, in particular in the form of an LCD
display, by means of which so-called "identity data" can be called from a mobile data memory and also updated and written back. The hand-held unit HG of the writing and reading unit SLG is connected via a connection cable AK
to an antenna coil AT, which is preferably provided on a separate, elastic carrier T. A flexible printed circuit board is once again preferably suitable for this purpose and may advantageously have an approximately c-shaped cross section. By means of a ret~;n;ng rod ST, the carrier T with the antenna coil AT of the writing and reading unit SLG can be brought in a simple manner into the spatial vicinity of a specific mobile data memory according to the invention even when the latter is fitted to an object which, for example, is packed close together with further objects of identical form in a transport container.
The device according to the invention is particu-larly suited to being used for identifying ga~ cylinders.
Gas cylinders are composed of electricallyconductive materials and have a cylindrical shape with -rnular'y curved olter surface~ of v2ryir.g ci_-um~erer._e.
They are used in industry in very large numbers and are filled with a wide variety of technical gases which are required for extremely diverse purpo6es, for example in the chemical industry. Both the manufacturer ~20046/
of technical gases, which frequently has to manage a stock of gas cylinders comprising several million items, and the respective purchaser of technical gases have a considerable interest, both of an economical nature and in terms of safety, in an exact identification of each gas cylinder and the processing of the current specific characteristic values thereof. Significant technical characteri~tic values are, in particular, the respective cylinder number, size, current contents, the date when the cylinder will next be checked and the like. Further-more, it is important to acquire the exact transport route and whereabouts of each cylinder over relatively long periods of time in the past.
In the example of Figure 3, four gas cylinders Gl...G4 are illustrated which are brought together st~n~;ng closely adjacent in a crate GB for the purpose of transport. According to the invention, an elastic carrier, in the form of a strip, of a mobile data memory MDSl...MDS4 is in each case placed around the casing of each gas cylinder Gl...G4, preferably in the region of the neckrings Hl...H4 thereof, which neckrings are used to mount the cylinder valves and to screw on a co~er cap Dl...D4 which protects the cylinder valves.
An arrangement of this type has the particular advantage that contactless power and data transmission from a writing and reading device to a mobile data memory fitted to the neck region of a gas cylinder is possible even if the latter is situated in the interior of a crate which is completely filled with further gas cylinders and, possibly, even if a plurality of crates are stacked one over the other. The data transmission can take place from any desired spatial directions, on account of the advantagecus ccnfi~l_at on of the mobile dat~ ~emc-ies.
Consequently, it i8 not necessary possibly to rotate the gas cylinders with respect to the their cylinder axis or even to remove them temporarily from the crate. Further-more, the handling of individual gas cylinders is in no way impeded by a mobile data memory placed in the form of a collar around the neck ring. Finally, the fitting of the mobile data memories in the neck region involves only a very slight risk of mechanical damage.
It is advantageously possible here to use a writing and reading device SLG, designed in accordance with the illustration of Figure 2, with a separate antenna coil, which is provided on a c-shaped carrier fastened to a ret~in;ng rod.
Description Device for contactless, inductive power and data trans-mission, and preferred use thereof for identifying gas cylinders The invention relates to a device for contact-less, inductive power and data transmission between at least one writing and re~; ng unit with an antenna coil, and at least one mobile data memory, which is preferably fitted to a portable object, with an antenna coil. The principle of a contactless transmission path of this type corresponds to a transformer with a coupling factor which varies as a function of distance.
In the case of such devices, which are frequently referred to as identity systems, a mobile data memory is first of all supplied with power in a contactless manner by means of a writing and reading unit for the purpose of activation, that is to say for enabling a data exchange.
This is done inductively in that a magnetic alternating field is generated in the surrounding space by an antenna coil belonging to the writing and reading unit. When an object having a mobile data memory fitted on it approaches, a voltage is induced in the antenna coil thereof. This provides the power required to operate the mobile data memory. The data transmission which is now possible between the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory also takes place inductively via the two antenna coils. Information identifying the type and the current condition of the object provided with the respective mobile data memory is, as a rule, communicated as data to the writing and reading unit for a wide variety of purposes.
The m~;mllm distance between the mobile data memory and the writing and reading unit is, as a rule, up to one meter and, in practice, depends on the ~;menRion~
of the antenna coils of the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory and GR 94 P 3550 P - 2 - 22 ~0~ ~ /
on the respective ambient conditions. Particular problems arise when electrically conductive materials are pre~ent in the region of the alternating field, since the eddy currents induced therein cause the antenna resonant circuits of the writing and reading unit and/or of the mobile data memory to be detuned and/or the magnetic alternating field to be completely shielded from the antenna coil of the mobile data memory. As a result, the m~; mllm range of the data transmission can be restricted right up to the point of complete interruption of said data transmission. A particularly unfavorable situation is when a metallic surface of an object must serve as support for a mobile data memory.
To solve this problem, it is admittedly possible to fit a mobile data memory by means of ~pecial mounts in such a way that an adequate distance from the electrical-ly conductive surrolln~;ngs or support is maintained. This ensures that the inductive power and data transmission is influenced as little as possible by the otherwise occur-ring resonant frequency shifts in the antenna resonantcircuits of the mobile data memory or the writing and reading unit. However, it is disadvantageous that the mobile data memories project sometimes to a large extent over the outer surfaces of the objects and, consequently, there is a considerable risk of breaking. Furthermore, mounts protruding in this way will make it more difficult to transport and use, in particular, objects which are difficult to handle on account of their shape, for example, and, if appropriate, have a high dead weight.
If a mobile data memory is fastened to a prefer-ably portable object to be identified, then data trans-mission without additional positioning operations is only possible if the ~u~. of the ~;n;~l-~ diFt~nce to be mzin-tained between the mobile data memory and the writing and reading unit and the largest edge lengths thereof is always less than the range of the device under the respective ambient conditions. Only in simple cases, however, is it ensured that the mobile data memory, when manually or automatically approaching GR 94 P 3550 P - 3 - 2~00~6 ~
the writing and reading unit, is always situated in the field region thereof in a manner independent of position.
Further problems thus arise in the case of parallelepipedal objects having relatively large dimen-sions or in the case of objects having curved outersurfaces. In this case, prior positioning is frequently required for an automated data exchange, for example where an object, provided with a mobile data memory, on a conveyor belt travels past a stationary writing and reading unit. It is therefore necessary, under certain circumstances, that the object be rotated until a mobile data memory, situated on a remote side in the most unfavorable case, is facing the writing and reading unit.
This is particularly difficult with objects which have a high dead weight or curved outer surface and the mobile data memories consequently have to be fitted on poorly definable, non-planar surfaces.
Further problems arise when a plurality of objects, each provided with a mobile data memory, are simultaneously brought up, for example on a pallet, in a box or other transport device, to a writing and reading unit. On the one hand, particularly when the objects have, for example, a cylindrical shape, the mobile data memories on some objects may r~n~mly assume a position facing away from the respective writing and reading unit.
A type of shading thus occurs, which is particularly pronounced in the case of objects produced from a metal-lic material. On the other hand, in conventional identity systems, as a rule only one mobile~data memory is allowed to be situated in the magnetic alternating field of the writing and reading unit during the data exchange, in order to maintain proper functioning. In identity systems whose range is large enough, given an appropriate dis-tance between the mobile data memory and electrically conductive surroundings, to permit data transmission in a manner independent of position even with relatively small dimensions of the mobile data memory, this advan-tage is nullified again as soon as a plurality of objects are situated at a small distance from one another, for example in a common trans-port container. Due to this simultaneous presence of a plurality of mobile data memories in the field region of a writing and reading unit, it is no longer possible, without a (possibly considerable) additional software and hardware outlay, to ~et up a data transmission to each individual mobile data memory in an unambiguously distin-guishable manner.
The invention is consequently based on the object of specifying a device which, even when only metallic bearing surfaces are available on the objects for the purpose of fitting mobile data memories and these objects are possibly accommodated closely adjacent to one another in transport containerC~ permits reliable data trans-mission between the writing and reading unit and the mobile data memory, to be precise independently of the current relative position of the writing and reading unit with respect to a mobile data memory on an outer side of the respective object.
The object is achieved by means of the device specified in claim 1. Advantageous further embodiments of the device and an advantageous use thereof for identify-ing gas cylinders are specified in the following sub-claims.
The invention and advantageous embodiments thereof are explained in more detail with reference to the figures, which are explained briefly below. In the figures Figure 1 ~hows a side view of a preferred embodi-ment of a mobile data memory of the device according to the invention, Fisure 2 shows a side view of a preferred embcdi-ment of a writing and reading unit of the device accord-ing to the invention, and 22~61 Figure 3 shows an example of the fitting of mobile data memories of the device according to the invention in the region of the neck rings of gas cylin-ders according to a preferred use of the device according to the invention.
The device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission according to the invention contains at least one writing and reading unit with an antenna coil, and at least one mobile data memory which has a memory and operating circuit and, connected thereto, an elongate loop coil, which are provided on a preferably elastic carrier in the form of a Rtrip. It is advantageously possible to use a flexible printed circuit board as the carrier in the form of a strip for the elongate loop coil. The arrangement has the advantage that the mobile data memory can be provided on surfaces having virtually any degree of undulation.
The device according to the invention can prefer-ably be used for identifying gas cylinders, the elastic carrier, in the form of a ~trip, of a mobile data memory being placed around the casing of each gas cylinder, particularly in the region of the neck rings thereof. As a result, it is possible, in every case and independently of the current radial position of a writing and reading unit with respect to the axis of a gas cylinder, to ensure reliable data transmission even if a plurality of gas cylinders should be st~n~;ng close together in a crate serving as transport container. Since gas cylinders are composed of a metallic material, it is advantageous in this case if the carrier in the form of a strip for the elongate loop coil has a certain thickness, and the loop coil is provided or incorporated on that side of the car__e- wh~-h is remcte from the neck_~ns of a gas cylinder. A flexible printed circuit board as the carrier in the form of a strip usually already has a thickness sufficient for this purpose.
22~JO~6/
The device according to the invention i8 thus preferably suitable for being fitted on and identifying objects which have a curved, in particular cylindrical, surface. If these objects are produced, for example, from an electrically non-conductive material, then the carrier in the form of a strip need not have an appreciable thickness. In such a case, an adhesive tape or an adhes-ive film, for example, can serve as the carrier, on whose side which is provided with adhesive the elongate loop coil and the memory and operating circuit are placed. For transport purposes, these a&esive-tape-like carriers can be placed, for example, on cardboard-like supports, which are coated at least on one side, and can be drawn off from said supports, in a manner free from damage, for the purpose of final application to an object to be ident-ified complete with a unit comprising an elongate loop coil and a memory and operating circuit. On account of the self-adhesive properties, auxiliary means for retain-ing the carrier, such as locks, for example, are dis-pensed with in this ca~e. It is also po~sible to providea multiplicity of units, each comprising an elongate loop coil and an associated memory and operating circuit, one behind the other like a row on the adhesive side of a continuous adhesive tape, and to fabricate the latter in the form of adhesive rolls. With rolls of this type, it is then possible to equip, rapidly and without any appreciable outlay, a possibly very large nl~her of objects, for example a stock of gas cylinders rnnn;ng into thousands, which are to be rendered accessible to contactless identification, with a mobile data memory configured according to the invention.
The invention and further advantageous embodi-ments thereof are exrla ned in more de~all with ref~rPnce to a preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
According to the illustration in Figure 1, the mobile data memory MDS has, according to the invention, an elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip. The antenna coil SP of the mobile data memory MDS is GR 94 P 3550 P - 7 - 22 00~ ~ 7 provided on said carrier. Said coil has the form of a planar, elongate loop coil. The coil may have a plurality of turns, which is not illustrated in Figure 1 for reasons of clarity. The coil is closed at one short end side E1 of the carrier TB in the form of a strip, whereas at the other ~hort end side E2 it is connected to a memory and operating circuit SE. The circuit serves, in particular, to store so-called identity data of an object provided with the mobile data memory, to supply power to the mobile data memory and to enable inductive data transmission via the loop coil SP with a writing and reading unit. The elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip may advantageously be designed, for example, in the form of a flexible printed circuit board, on which the elongate loop coil SP and the memory and operating circuit SE can be provided directly, for example as a so-called ASIC.
The inventive design, which is illustrated by way of example in Figure 1, of a mobile data memory MDS has a multiplicity of advantages. On the one hand, the inductance of the loop coil SP is independent of the curvature of the elastic carrier TB, in the form of a strip, in a plane lying perpendicular to the coil face, as long as there is no overlapping of the loop beginning and end at the short end sides E1, E2 of the carrier TB.
The carrier TB and hence the entire mobile data memory MDS comprising loop coil SP and memory and operating circuit SE can, for the purpose of mounting, be placed onto a surface which is planar with regard to the short loop edge. This surface can have virtually any desired curvature or contour in the direction of the long loop edge. Thus, the carrier can be placed, for example, around a 90-degree edse of ~ pzr~llelepipQA~l cb~ect, fo=
example onto the edge of the housing of a refrigerator.
It is then possible without any problems to effect data transmission in two perpendicular spatial directions.
GR 94 P 3550 P - 8 - 2~0G4~/
Furthermore, the mobile data memory MDS according to the invention is particularly suitable for being placed onto circularly curved surfaces, for example onto the outer sides of cylindrical objects. It is easily possible to design the carrier TB, in the form of a strip, of the mobile data memory MDS in the form of a flat slotted, easily bent open or resilient ring, collar or a clasp, or even as a formless strip. Simple mounting is ensured in every case. In an application for identify-ing cylindrical objects, such as bottles, for example,fitting is possible independently of the relevant radius of curvature and the circumference of the object. The area covered by the loop coil is in this case parallel to the surface of the object. If the cylindrical object is enclosed virtually completely, then data transmission is possible radially in all spatial directions around the axis of the cylindrical object.
The short end sides E1 and E2 of the elastic carrier TB in the form of a strip can advantageously be connected to a releasable closure device. In the example of Figure 1, a closure device V in the form of a strap, having a row of retaining holes E, is present for this purpose on one short end side E2 of the carrier strip TB, which ret~;n;ng holes E engage, depending on the relevant circumference of an e.g. cylindrical object, into a retaining stud K on the other short end side E2 of the carrier TB. If appropriate, the closure device may be designed such that it can be lead-sealed. On the other hand, the carrier can also be bonded on.
The distance between the plane of the loop coils SP and the surface of the object need only be a few millimeters, even in the event of electrical conductivity of s~id ~urface, with the -esult th2t it is poss-b1e to use elastic carrier~ in strip form which have only a small thickness. The enlargement of the diameter of the object by the emplaced mobile data memory is scarcely noticeable. In the case of mounting on an electrically conductive surface, it is possible, as required, addi-tionally to compensate for the detuning, caused by said 22004~1 electrically conductive surface, of the resonant circuit of the loop coil in the mobile data memory by means of corre-spo~;ng selection of the effective resonant circuit capacitance of said coil.
Writing and reading units can be permanently mounted and connected to an external computer. In the event of mobile use, they can also be designed in the form of portable hand-held units. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a portable design of a writing and reading unit SLG. The latter contains a separate hand-held unit and serves for a type of "remote control" of mobile data memories. This preferably has an operating keyboard and a display device, in particular in the form of an LCD
display, by means of which so-called "identity data" can be called from a mobile data memory and also updated and written back. The hand-held unit HG of the writing and reading unit SLG is connected via a connection cable AK
to an antenna coil AT, which is preferably provided on a separate, elastic carrier T. A flexible printed circuit board is once again preferably suitable for this purpose and may advantageously have an approximately c-shaped cross section. By means of a ret~;n;ng rod ST, the carrier T with the antenna coil AT of the writing and reading unit SLG can be brought in a simple manner into the spatial vicinity of a specific mobile data memory according to the invention even when the latter is fitted to an object which, for example, is packed close together with further objects of identical form in a transport container.
The device according to the invention is particu-larly suited to being used for identifying ga~ cylinders.
Gas cylinders are composed of electricallyconductive materials and have a cylindrical shape with -rnular'y curved olter surface~ of v2ryir.g ci_-um~erer._e.
They are used in industry in very large numbers and are filled with a wide variety of technical gases which are required for extremely diverse purpo6es, for example in the chemical industry. Both the manufacturer ~20046/
of technical gases, which frequently has to manage a stock of gas cylinders comprising several million items, and the respective purchaser of technical gases have a considerable interest, both of an economical nature and in terms of safety, in an exact identification of each gas cylinder and the processing of the current specific characteristic values thereof. Significant technical characteri~tic values are, in particular, the respective cylinder number, size, current contents, the date when the cylinder will next be checked and the like. Further-more, it is important to acquire the exact transport route and whereabouts of each cylinder over relatively long periods of time in the past.
In the example of Figure 3, four gas cylinders Gl...G4 are illustrated which are brought together st~n~;ng closely adjacent in a crate GB for the purpose of transport. According to the invention, an elastic carrier, in the form of a strip, of a mobile data memory MDSl...MDS4 is in each case placed around the casing of each gas cylinder Gl...G4, preferably in the region of the neckrings Hl...H4 thereof, which neckrings are used to mount the cylinder valves and to screw on a co~er cap Dl...D4 which protects the cylinder valves.
An arrangement of this type has the particular advantage that contactless power and data transmission from a writing and reading device to a mobile data memory fitted to the neck region of a gas cylinder is possible even if the latter is situated in the interior of a crate which is completely filled with further gas cylinders and, possibly, even if a plurality of crates are stacked one over the other. The data transmission can take place from any desired spatial directions, on account of the advantagecus ccnfi~l_at on of the mobile dat~ ~emc-ies.
Consequently, it i8 not necessary possibly to rotate the gas cylinders with respect to the their cylinder axis or even to remove them temporarily from the crate. Further-more, the handling of individual gas cylinders is in no way impeded by a mobile data memory placed in the form of a collar around the neck ring. Finally, the fitting of the mobile data memories in the neck region involves only a very slight risk of mechanical damage.
It is advantageously possible here to use a writing and reading device SLG, designed in accordance with the illustration of Figure 2, with a separate antenna coil, which is provided on a c-shaped carrier fastened to a ret~in;ng rod.
Claims (9)
1. A device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission independently of spatial direction, having a) at least one writing and reading unit (SLG) with an antenna coil (AT), and having b) at least one mobile data memory (MDS) which has a memory and operating circuit (SE) and, connected thereto, an elongate loop coil (SP), which are provided on an elastic carrier (TB) in the form of a strip, in which case the carrier (TB) and the loop coil (SP) are configured in such a way that they can be placed onto the casing exterior of an object provided with the mobile data memory (MDS) and enclose said object virtually completely, in particular in the shape of a ring (Figure 1).
Claims
Claims
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, having a flexible printed circuit board as the elastic carrier (TB) in the form of a strip for a unit comprising the elongate loop coil (SP) and the memory and operating circuit (SE).
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it being possible to connect the short end sides (E1, E2) of the elastic carrier (TB) in the form of a strip to a releasable closure device (V, E, K) (Figure 1).
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, having an adhesive tape or an adhesive film as the elastic carrier (TB) in the form of a strip for a unit comprising the elongate loop coil (SP) and the memory and operating circuit (SE).
5. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, the antenna coil (AT) of the writing and reading unit (SLG) being provided on a separate, elastic carrier (T).
6. The device as claimed in claim 5, having a flexible printed circuit board as the separate, elastic carrier (T) for the antenna coil (AT).
7. The device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, the separate, elastic carrier (T) for the antenna coil (AT) having an approximately c-shaped cross section (Figure 2).
8. The device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, a retaining rod (ST) being fitted to the separate, elastic carrier (T) for the antenna coil (AT) (Figure 2).
9. The use of a device as claimed in one of the preceding claims for identifying gas cylinders (G1...G4), the elastic carrier (TB), in the form of a strip, of a mobile data memory (MDS1...MDS4) being placed around the casing of each gas cylinder (G1...G4), particularly in the region of the neck rings (H1...H4) thereof (Figure 3).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE4433701A DE4433701A1 (en) | 1994-09-21 | 1994-09-21 | Device for contactless energy and data transmission by induction, and preferred use thereof for the identification of gas cylinders |
| DEP4433701.9 | 1994-09-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2200467A1 true CA2200467A1 (en) | 1996-03-28 |
Family
ID=6528816
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000000005A Abandoned CA2200467A1 (en) | 1994-09-21 | 1995-09-21 | Device for contactless, inductive power and data transmission, and preferred use thereof for identifying gas cylinders |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5883376A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0782733B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE179267T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2200467A1 (en) |
| DE (2) | DE4433701A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996009595A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (28)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19510317B4 (en) * | 1995-03-22 | 2006-07-13 | Balluff Gmbh | identification system |
| DE29607713U1 (en) * | 1996-04-17 | 1996-07-25 | Petri Ag | Device for the inductive transmission of electrical energy and signals in motor vehicles |
| WO1999050806A1 (en) * | 1998-04-01 | 1999-10-07 | Barret Massey Cunningham | Signalling system based on inductive power/signal transfer |
| DE19957647A1 (en) * | 1999-11-30 | 2001-06-28 | Siemens Ag | Annular data mobile memory with coupling coil, in particular for an identification system, preferably for identifying gas cylinders |
| US6778088B1 (en) | 2000-02-11 | 2004-08-17 | Marconi Intellectual Property (Us) Inc. | Deployable identification device |
| US6469627B1 (en) | 2000-02-11 | 2002-10-22 | Marconi Communications Inc. | Mounting clip having a wireless communication device |
| US6580357B1 (en) | 2000-02-11 | 2003-06-17 | Marconi Communications Inc. | Handle tag for identification of a container |
| US6720865B1 (en) * | 2000-02-11 | 2004-04-13 | Marconi Intellectual Property (Us) | Resilient member with wireless communication device |
| DE10028077A1 (en) * | 2000-06-07 | 2001-12-13 | Siemens Ag | Antenna system with two antennas for read write device for data transmission |
| DE10033651A1 (en) * | 2000-07-11 | 2002-02-14 | Messer Griesheim Gmbh | Information system for marking objects |
| DE10049818C2 (en) * | 2000-10-09 | 2003-02-27 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Read / write device |
| DE10119283A1 (en) | 2001-04-20 | 2002-10-24 | Philips Corp Intellectual Pty | System for wireless transmission of electric power, item of clothing, a system of clothing items and method for transmission of signals and/or electric power |
| US7702418B2 (en) * | 2001-06-13 | 2010-04-20 | Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. | Secure reader system |
| US6879876B2 (en) | 2001-06-13 | 2005-04-12 | Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. | Liquid handling system with electronic information storage |
| US6847912B2 (en) * | 2002-05-07 | 2005-01-25 | Marconi Intellectual Property (Us) Inc. | RFID temperature device and method |
| US7224273B2 (en) * | 2002-05-23 | 2007-05-29 | Forster Ian J | Device and method for identifying a container |
| DE10227683B4 (en) * | 2002-06-20 | 2004-07-22 | Aeg Identifikationssysteme Gmbh | Method for attaching a transponder to a metal body and metal body with a transponder |
| DE10227681A1 (en) * | 2002-06-20 | 2004-02-26 | Aeg Identifikationssysteme Gmbh | Transponder module attachment method for a pressurized container or the safety valve thereof, whereby the robustly designed module is inserted within a cavity in the bottle and covered with elastic, non-metallic material |
| DE10302550B3 (en) * | 2003-01-22 | 2004-08-12 | Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh | Belt reel as a transmit / receive antenna in a transponder device |
| US7187286B2 (en) | 2004-03-19 | 2007-03-06 | Applera Corporation | Methods and systems for using RFID in biological field |
| JP4804530B2 (en) * | 2005-03-14 | 2011-11-02 | コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ | System, inductive power supply, energizing load, and method enabling wireless power transfer |
| KR101634914B1 (en) | 2006-07-10 | 2016-07-08 | 엔테그리스, 아이엔씨. | Systems and methods for managing material storage vessels having information storage elements |
| DE102007044560B4 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2015-08-20 | Erich Schaarschmidt | Transport and storage unit with identification unit |
| GB0805589D0 (en) * | 2008-03-27 | 2008-04-30 | British Telecomm | Records components reader |
| DK2538369T3 (en) * | 2011-06-24 | 2014-04-28 | Tomra Systems Asa | Return machine and mapping method thereof |
| FR3037693B1 (en) * | 2015-06-16 | 2018-07-13 | Ingenico Group | CONTACTLESS COMMUNICATION ANTENNA FOR TERMINAL PAYMENT |
| KR20200115579A (en) | 2018-01-30 | 2020-10-07 | 라이프 테크놀로지스 코포레이션 | Instruments, devices and consumables for use in the workflow of smart molecular analysis systems |
| KR102381206B1 (en) * | 2021-11-26 | 2022-04-26 | 에이치씨엠 주식회사 | holder assembly for identifying fluid materials in pipe and installation method of the same |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2077555A (en) * | 1980-05-27 | 1981-12-16 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Electronic tally apparatus |
| US4911217A (en) * | 1989-03-24 | 1990-03-27 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Integrated circuit transponder in a pneumatic tire for tire identification |
| DD294831A5 (en) * | 1990-05-22 | 1991-10-10 | Forschungszentrum Mikroelektronik,De | ARRANGEMENT FOR OBJECT IDENTIFICATION |
| FR2685519A1 (en) * | 1991-12-20 | 1993-06-25 | Gemplus Card Int | SYSTEM FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CONTAINERS, ESPECIALLY GAS BOTTLES. |
| AT400647B (en) * | 1992-05-20 | 1996-02-26 | Neutron Electronic Computer Gm | CARD WITH A MAGNETIC STRIP |
| GB9216303D0 (en) * | 1992-07-31 | 1992-09-16 | Hughes Microelectronics Europa | Collar transponder |
| FI95523C (en) * | 1993-11-30 | 1996-02-12 | Idesco Oy | Remotely readable sensor design |
| DE59408667D1 (en) * | 1993-12-10 | 1999-09-30 | Siemens Ag Oesterreich | DATA CARRIER FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS AND METHOD FOR ITS CONTROL |
| FR2714988B1 (en) * | 1994-01-11 | 1996-03-29 | Gemplus Card Int | System for the contactless identification of objects, in particular metallic objects. |
| FR2723654B1 (en) * | 1994-08-10 | 1996-10-11 | Gemplus Card Int | ELECTRONIC LABEL AND SYSTEM FOR CONTACTLESS IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY METALLIC OBJECTS. |
-
1994
- 1994-09-21 DE DE4433701A patent/DE4433701A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1995
- 1995-09-21 DE DE59505723T patent/DE59505723D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-09-21 WO PCT/DE1995/001299 patent/WO1996009595A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1995-09-21 US US08/809,335 patent/US5883376A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-09-21 EP EP95931896A patent/EP0782733B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-09-21 AT AT95931896T patent/ATE179267T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1995-09-21 CA CA000000005A patent/CA2200467A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0782733A1 (en) | 1997-07-09 |
| ATE179267T1 (en) | 1999-05-15 |
| DE4433701A1 (en) | 1996-03-28 |
| DE59505723D1 (en) | 1999-05-27 |
| EP0782733B1 (en) | 1999-04-21 |
| US5883376A (en) | 1999-03-16 |
| WO1996009595A1 (en) | 1996-03-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |