Patent Publication Number: US-9407307-B2

Title: Transponder positioning aid

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Stage of international patent application number PCT/FR2012/050843, filed on Apr. 18, 2012, which claims the priority benefit of French patent application number 11/54862, filed on Jun. 3, 2011, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments generally relate to systems using transponders, that is, transceivers (generally mobile) capable of communicating in a contactless and wireless manner with a terminal. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Electromagnetic transponder systems are more and more used with the coming up of mobile telecommunication devices equipped with near field communication routers (NFC). In such devices, the mobile equipment may be used both as a transponder reader, for example, as a contactless chip card reader and, conversely, as an actual transponder for a near field communication with a terminal, for example, another mobile device, an access terminal, etc. 
     A recurring issue in the use of electromagnetic transponders is, for the quality of the communication, the distance separating the transponder from the reader. In particular, a natural reflex of the bearer of the transponder (for example, of the contactless chip card) is to press the card against the reader surface. This pressure may even be strong enough to fold the card. This results in mechanical stress on the chip card, which is capable of damaging the antenna generally formed of a conductive winding embedded in the card, or of damaging the contacts between the antenna and the chip. 
     Further, the positioning of the transponder is often not optimal for the system operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     It would be desirable to have means enabling to avoid that a user submits a transponder to unnecessary mechanical stress. 
     It would further be desirable to optimize the communication between a transponder (be it a chip card or a mobile device equipped with an NFC router operating as a transponder) and a terminal. 
     An embodiment provides a method for assisting the positioning of an electromagnetic transponder by a user with respect to a terminal, wherein: 
     a current value of a ratio of the current coupling factor between the transponder and the terminal to an optimum coupling factor with a first resistive load value is calculated and stored; 
     said current value is compared with a preceding value of this ratio, stored in a previous iteration; and 
     data elements intended for the user are controlled according to said comparison. 
     According to an embodiment, the values of said ratio are obtained after the measurements: 
     of a first value of a D.C. voltage provided by a rectifier across an oscillating circuit of the transponder for a first value of the resistive load of this oscillating circuit; and 
     of a second value of said voltage for a second resistive load value. 
     According to an embodiment, said current value is further compared with two thresholds. 
     According to an embodiment, the thresholds are selected according to operating parameters around the optimum coupling position in which the communication between the transponder and the terminal is considered to be optimal. 
     According to an embodiment, when said current value is between the two thresholds, the terminal notifies the user to no longer modify the distance to the terminal. 
     According to an embodiment, said current value is successively compared with the two thresholds to define whether the user should increase or decrease the distance between the terminal and the transponder. 
     An embodiment provides an electromagnetic transponder comprising means capable of implementing the above method. 
     An embodiment provides a cell phone comprising a transponder. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages will be discussed in detail in the following non-limiting description of specific embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  very schematically shows an example of a near-field communication system; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram of a terminal and of a transponder of near-field communication system; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the variation of the voltage across the resonant circuit of the transponder according to a normalized coupling; 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C  illustrate an embodiment of the method for assisting the communication between a transponder and a reader; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an implementation mode of the communication assistance method; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a transponder adapted to assessing its coupling factor with a terminal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The same elements have been designated with the same reference numerals in the different drawings. For clarity, only those steps and elements which are useful to the understanding of the described embodiments have been shown and will be detailed. In particular, the origin and the destination of the data transmitted in communications between a transponder and a terminal have not been detailed, the described embodiments being compatible with any usual communication. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electromagnetic transponder communication system. A terminal  1  (TERMINAL) is capable of communicating in near field (for example according to a near field communication protocol, NFC) with a distant element, that is, a transponder  2  (TRANS). 
     The terminal may take different forms, for example, a transport ticket validation terminal, an electronic passport reader, a laptop computer, a mobile communication device (GSM phone, PDA, etc.), an electronic control unit for starting an automobile vehicle, etc. 
     The transponder may also take different forms, for example, a chip card, an electronic transport ticket, an electronic passport, a telecommunication terminal (cell phone or smartphone, PDA, etc.), an electronic tag, etc. 
       FIG. 2  very schematically shows a simplified example of a terminal  1  and of a transponder  2 . 
     Terminal  1  comprises an oscillating circuit, generally in series, formed of an inductance L 1  in series with a capacitor C 1  and a resistor R 1 . This series oscillating circuit is, in the example of  FIG. 2 , connected between an output terminal  12  of an amplifier or antenna coupler  14  and a terminal  13  at a reference voltage (generally the ground). An element  15  for measuring the current in the oscillating circuit is interposed, for example, between capacitive element C 1  and ground  13 . Measurement element  15  belongs to a phase regulation loop which will be described hereafter. Amplifier  14  receives a high-frequency transmission signal originating from a modulator  16  (MOD) which receives a reference frequency (signal OSC), for example, from a quartz oscillator (not shown). Modulator  16  receives, if need be, a signal Tx originating from a circuit  11  for controlling and exploiting the transmissions. Circuit  11  is generally provided with a control and data processing microprocessor, communicating with different input/output circuits (keyboard, display, element of exchange with a server, etc.) and/or processing circuits, which have not been detailed. The elements of terminal  1  most often draw the power necessary to their operation from a supply circuit (not shown) connected, for example, to the power line distribution system or to a battery (for example, that of an automobile vehicle or of a portable telephone or computer). Modulator  16  provides a high-frequency carrier (for example, at 13.56 MHz) to oscillating circuit L 1 -C 1 , which generates a magnetic field. 
     Capacitive element C 1  is, for example, a variable-capacitance element controllable by a signal CTRL. This element takes part in the phase regulation of current I 1  in antenna L 1  with respect to a reference signal. This regulation is a regulation of the high-frequency signal, that is, of the carrier signal corresponding to the signal provided to amplifier  14  in the absence of data Tx to be transmitted. The regulation is performed by varying capacitance C 1  of the oscillating circuit of the terminal to maintain the current in antenna L 1  in constant phase relationship with the reference signal. This reference signal, for example, corresponds to signal OSC provided to modulator  16 . Signal CTRL originates from a circuit  17  (COMP) having the function of detecting the phase interval with respect to the reference signal and of accordingly modifying the capacitance of element C 1 . The comparator receives data MES relative to current I 1  in the oscillating circuit, detected by measurement element  15  (for example, an intensity transformer or a resistor). 
     A transponder  2 , capable of cooperating with terminal  1 , comprises an oscillating circuit, for example, parallel, formed of an inductance L 2  in parallel with a capacitor C 2  between two terminals  21  and  22 . The parallel oscillating circuit (called receive mode resonant circuit) is intended to capture a magnetic field generated by oscillating circuit L 1 -C 1  of terminal  1 . Circuits L 2 -C 2  and L 1 -C 1  are tuned to a same resonance frequency (for example, 13.56 MHz). Terminals  21  and  22  are connected to two A.C. input terminals of a rectifying bridge  23  (most often, fullwave). The rectified output terminals of bridge  23  respectively define a positive terminal  24  and a reference terminal  25 . A capacitor Ca is connected between terminals  24  and  25  to smooth the rectified voltage. The recovered power is used to recharge a battery, not shown. 
     When transponder  2  is in the field of terminal  1 , a high-frequency voltage is generated across resonant circuit L 2 -C 2 . This voltage, rectified by bridge  23  and smoothed by capacitor Ca, provides a supply voltage to electronic circuits of the transponder via a voltage regulator  26  (REG). Such circuits generally comprise a processing unit  27  (for example, a microcontroller μC) associated with a memory (not shown), a demodulator  28  (DEM) of the signals that may have been received from terminal  1 , and a modulator  29  (MOD) for transmitting data to the terminal. The transponder is generally synchronized by means of a clock (CLK) extracted, by a block  20 , from the high-frequency signal recovered, before rectification, from one of terminals  21  and  22 . Most often, all the electronic circuits of transponder  2  are integrated in a same chip. 
     To transmit data from terminal  1  to transponder  2 , circuit  16  modulates (generally in amplitude) the carrier (signal OSC) according to signal Tx. On the transponder side, these data are demodulated by demodulator  28  based on voltage V Ca  across capacitor Ca. The demodulator may sample the signal to be demodulated upstream of the rectifying bridge. 
     To transmit data from transponder  2  to terminal  1 , modulator  29  controls a stage  30  of modulation (retromodulation) of the load formed by the transponder circuits on the magnetic field generated by the terminal. This stage is generally formed of an electronic switch K 30  (for example, a transistor) and of a resistor R 30  (or a capacitor), in series between terminals  24  and  25 . Switch K 30  is controlled at a so-called sub-carrier frequency (for example, 847.5 kHz), much lower (generally with a ratio of at least 10) than the frequency of the excitation signal of the oscillating circuit of terminal  1 . When switch K 30  is on, the oscillating circuit of the transponder is submitted to an additional damping with respect to the load formed by circuits  20 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 , and  29  so that the transponder samples a greater amount of power from the high-frequency magnetic field. On the side of terminal  1 , amplifier  14  maintains the amplitude of the high-frequency excitation signal at a constant level. Accordingly, the power variation of the transponder translates as an amplitude and phase variation of the current in antenna L 1 . This variation is detected by an amplitude or phase demodulator of the terminal. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , comparator  17  integrates a phase demodulator also used to demodulate the signal originating from the transponder. Accordingly, comparator  17  provides a signal Rx giving back to circuit  11  a possible retromodulation of data received from a transponder. Other demodulation circuits may be provided, for example, a circuit exploiting a measurement of the voltage across capacitor C 1 . 
     Many variations exist to encode/decode and modulate/demodulate communications between a transponder and a terminal. 
     The response time of the phase regulation loop is selected to be sufficiently long to avoid disturbing the possible retromodulation from a transponder and sufficiently short as compared with the speed at which a transponder passes in the field of the terminal. One can speak of a static regulation with respect to the modulation frequencies (for example, a 13.56-MHz frequency of the remote supply carrier and a 847.5-kHz retromodulation frequency) used to transmit data from the transponder to the terminal. 
     An example of phase regulation terminal is described in document EP-A-0857981. The fact that the phase is regulated on the terminal side enables to exploit current and voltage measurements in the oscillating circuit of the transponder to deduce therefrom information relative to the coupling of the transponder when it is in the field of a terminal. 
     Such information takes into account, in particular, the coupling between the transponder and the terminal, that is, the coefficient of the coupling between the oscillating circuit of the terminal and that of the transponder. This coupling coefficient essentially depends on the distance separating the transponder from the terminal. The coupling coefficient, designated as k, between the oscillating circuits of a transponder and of a terminal, always ranges between 0 and 1. The position where the transponder is placed against the terminal is considered as the maximum coupling position. Indeed, the antennas of the transponder and of the terminal cannot be brought closer to each other, unless the terminal package is eliminated. 
     In the embodiments which will be described, different relations between the electric quantities measurable by the transponder in different configurations of operation with a terminal are used to assist the user in positioning the transponder with respect to the terminal. 
     It is now known that an optimum coupling position k opt , corresponding to the position at which voltage V C2  recovered across the transponder (more specifically across its antenna) is maximum, exists between the terminal and the transponder. This optimum coupling position does not necessarily correspond to the maximum coupling position. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of the shape of voltage V C2  recovered on the transponder side according to normalized coupling k/k opt . 
     The curve starts from the origin of ordinates (zero voltage) for a zero coupling. This corresponds to a distance from the transponder to the terminal such that no signal can be sensed by the transponder. Voltage V C2  reaches a maximum V C2opt  for an optimum coupling coefficient k opt  (k/k opt =1), and then decreases to an intermediate value V C2(1)  reached at coupling  1 . The maximum coupling position is at a given location of this curve, but not necessarily at the optimum coupling position. This in particular depends on the different values of the capacitive and resistive elements. 
     Other remarkable points of the curve of  FIG. 3  are points of inflexion where ratio k/k opt  is respectively equal to 1/√{square root over (3)} and to √{square root over (3)}, and where voltage V C2  has the same value 
             (       V     C   ⁢           ⁢   2   ⁢   opt       ·       3     2       )         
on the transponder side.
 
     Relations expressing the value of voltage V C2  according to the ratio of the current coupling to the optimum coupling and linking the value of the equivalent resistor to the load formed by the transponder elements on its own oscillating circuit have become usual. This equivalent resistor is generally called R 2 . Resistor R 2  represents the equivalent resistor of all the circuits (microprocessor, retromodulation means, etc.) of transponder  2 , placed in parallel on capacitor C 2  and inductance L 2  (before or after the rectifying bridge). The conductance due to the transponder circuits, and thus their power consumption, is also called “resistive load”. The level of this load is symbolized by resistor R 2  across the oscillating circuit. 
     Relations linking these relative values to the coupling and to different values taken by resistance R 2  are provided, for example, in document EP-A-2276643 (B9617-09-RO-119). 
     It is provided to exploit these relations to assist the user holding the transponder in placing it at an optimal distance from the terminal or reader to optimize the communication. 
     For a given coupling value k, considering that the impedance of the oscillating circuit of the terminal does not vary and that the circuits remain tuned, the ratio of current coefficients k to optimum coefficients k opt]R20  and k opt]R21 , respectively for a resistor R 2  of value R 20  and of value R 21 , may be expressed (for example, by exploiting the relations indicated in the above-mentioned document), as: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
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     Still in the same conditions, the square of the ratio, noted r, of current coefficient k to optimum coefficient k opt]R20 , according to voltages V C2]R20  and V C2]R21  of voltage V C2 , respectively for values R 20  and R 21  of resistor R 2 , may be written as: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     When the coupling is optimum with resistor R 21  (k=k opt]R21 ), the following may also be written: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     These relations enable, by varying the value of resistance R 2 , to indicate to the bearer of the transponder an optimal distance with respect to the terminal or reader. 
       FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C  illustrate, in simplified representations of relative positions of a terminal  1  and of a transponder  2 , an embodiment of the positioning assistance method for optimizing communications. 
     Terminal  1  is assumed to be a mobile telecommunication device of cell phone type and transponder  2  is assumed to be a chip card. All that will be described however also applies to the case where the transponder is a telecommunication terminal equipped with an NFC router and where terminal  1  is another mobile device operating in reader mode or is a fixed terminal, etc. It should be noted that, when it is spoken of bringing the transponder closer to or further away from the terminal, this may correspond to moving a terminal away from or closer to the transponder, for example, in the case of a fixed transponder (transponder integrated to posters or the like). 
     According to this embodiment, the information relative to current coupling k with respect to the optimum coupling with two values R 20  and R 21  of resistor R 2  is exploited to determine whether the transponder needs to be brought closer to or further away from the terminal. 
     The example of  FIG. 4A  corresponds to a position in which transponder  2  must be brought closer to terminal  1 . Transponder  2  is equipped, for example, with a loudspeaker  19 ′ which then emits a sound signal (BIP). A first sound signal frequency or a first sound pulse train is for example provided. 
     The implementation of the described embodiments requires for the transponder (the system element behaving as a transponder) to be equipped with visual or sound warning means. For example, if the phone-type mobile device playing the role of terminal  1  in  FIGS. 4A to 4C  starts behaving as a transponder, its display  19  may be used to display a message (REDUCE DISTANCE) as illustrated by the dotted lines of  FIG. 4A . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates the case where the transponder should be moved away from the terminal (for example, the case where it would be laid on the terminal and where the optimum coupling position would not correspond to this maximum coupling). In this case, loudspeaker  19 ′ of the transponder emits a sound signal at another frequency or a train of sound pulses (BIPS) at another frequency than in the case of  FIG. 4A . In the variation illustrated in dotted lines where the cell phone would be the transponder, its display  19  displays a message different from that of  FIG. 4A  (for example, a message requiring a distance increase) (INCREASE DISTANCE). 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates the case where the transponder is in a position of optimum coupling with respect to terminal  1 . In this case, loudspeaker  19 ′ emits a still different sound signal (for example, a continuous sound signal or a signal at a different frequency than in the two previous cases). In the variation illustrated in dotted lines where the phone behaves as a transponder, its display  19  notifies the user (for example, by a STOP-type message) that the optimal position has been reached and that he should no longer move. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an implementation mode of the transponder positioning assistance method. 
     To simplify the discussion of  FIG. 5 , it is still referred to values V C2]R20  and V C2]R21 , knowing that it is in practice easier to measure values V Ca]R20  and V Ca]R21  of voltage V Ca  but that this changes nothing to the comparison thresholds of the ratio of the coupling to the optimum coupling at a given value of the resistance. 
     It is started (block  41 , MES V C2]R20 ) by measuring and storing the voltage across capacitor C 2  with a first value R 20  of capacitance R 2 . 
     Then (block  42 , R 20 -&gt;R 21 ), the value of resistive element R 2  is switched to a lower value R 21 . As a variation, the value of resistance R 2  is modified towards a lower value R 2 . 
     Then (block  43 , MES V C2]R21 ), voltage V 2  is measured with the value of resistance R 21 , which is stored. 
     The present value of the ratio of coupling k to the optimum value with resistance R 20 , squared (block  44 , r i   2 =(k/k opt]R20 ) i   2 , is then calculated and stored. This calculation is performed, for example, according to the above formula 2. 
     The present ratio is then compared (block  45 , r i =r i−i ?) with ratio r i−1  calculated at the previous iteration (i−1). This test amounts to determining whether the distance between the transponder and the terminal varies. It should be noted that the squares of the ratios can then be directly compared. 
     If the distance varies (output N of block  45 ), that is, the user moves one of the two elements with respect to the other, it is determined whether ratio r i  is within an acceptable range defined by two thresholds MIN and MAX, that is, around the optimum coupling with an acceptable tolerance. To achieve this, it is for example started by determining whether ratio r i  is lower than lower threshold MIN (block  46 , r i &lt;MIN?). If it is (output Y of block  46 ), this means that the two elements have to be brought closer to each other (block  47 , REDUCE DISTANCE). If it is not (output N of block  46 ), current value r i  is compared with the maximum threshold (block  48 , r i &gt;MAX?). If maximum threshold MAX is exceeded (output Y of block  48 ), this means that the transponder should be moved away from the terminal (block  49 , INCREASE DISTANCE) since the optimum coupling point has been passed. 
     In both cases, a subsequent measurement is performed (it is proceeded to a next iteration) to verify whether the user has effectively taken the instruction into account (block  50 , NEXT i ). 
     If the transponder is within the acceptable distance range (output N of block  48 ), it is displayed or indicated to the user that this position is correct and the he does not need to move any more (block  51 , STOP). 
     If the transponder no longer moves with respect to the terminal (output Y of block  45 ), its position with respect to the optimum coupling is examined. For example, it is started by checking whether it is too distant (block  52 , r i &lt;MIN?). If it is (output Y of block  52 ), this means that, although the transponder has been pressed against the terminal, the optimum coupling position cannot be reached by bringing the transponder closer, generally because of the terminal package. The user is then requested to stop (block  51 ). 
     If the motionless position corresponds to a position greater than the minimum (output N of block  52 ), it is checked (block  53 , r i &gt;MAX?) whether ratio r i  is greater than the maximum value. If it is (output Y of block  53 ), the user is notified that he should move the transponder away from the terminal (block  49 ). If it is not, he is told to no longer move (block  51 ) since the present position then is within the acceptable range. 
     As a variation, tests  52  and  53  are omitted and it is directly proceeded to block  51  at the affirmative output (Y) of test  45 . 
     The selection of thresholds MIN and MAX depends on the application and is also performed to provide a hysteresis, which avoids that the notification system permanently varies. Indeed, it could have been devised to directly compare the threshold with the optimum coupling. However, this would in practice result, due to the fact that the object is held by a user and thus sensitive to the displacement of his hand, in an unstable system. 
     The thresholds may be, for example, generated by resistive dividing bridges or are pre-calculated and stored in a non-volatile memory of the transponder for a numerical comparison. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a transponder  2 , equipped to automatically determine, when said transponder is in the field of a terminal (not shown), the ratio of the current coupling to the optimum coupling. The representation of  FIG. 6  is simplified with respect to that of  FIG. 2 . In particular, the elements of demodulation, retromodulation, and for obtaining the clock frequency have not been illustrated. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the presence of a switchable resistive circuit  40  between terminals  24  and  25  of rectifying bridge  3 . For example, two resistors R 43  and R 45  are connected in parallel, each being in series with a switch K 43 , respectively K 45 . Switches K 43  and K 45  (for example, MOS transistors) are intended to be switched as will be seen hereafter in relation with  FIG. 6  to implement the method for assisting the positioning of the transponder. Processing unit  27  receives information relative to voltage V Ca  on an input MES to implement this method. In the example of  FIG. 6 , when both resistors R 43  and R 45  are functionally connected, resistor R 2  (load of the transponder circuits) has value R 20 . The disconnection of one of the resistors (for example, resistor R 43 ) increases the value of resistance R 2  towards value R 21 . Other connections and switchings may be provided. For example, a single switchable resistor may be used, considering that one of the two values of resistance R 2  corresponds to the resistive load of the other transponder circuits. 
     According to an embodiment, the switchable resistor corresponds to that used for a resistive retromodulation. A first measurement is performed by switching the retromodulation resistor so that it is functionally in the circuit (switch  40 ) in the on state in the example of  FIG. 2 . Voltage V C2]R20  is then measured. Then, switch K 30  is turned off and voltage V C2]R21  is measured as described in relation with  FIG. 5 . The implementation of the described method then requires no structural modification of a transponder equipped with a microcontroller. It is sufficient to program this microcontroller so that it thus switches the retromodulation resistor. 
     As a variation, the increase or the decrease of equivalent resistance R 2  is caused by a variation of the power consumption of the transponder circuits, typically of processing unit  27 . For example, to decrease the value of resistance R 2  (to increase the power consumption), the execution of calculations or processing by unit  27  is triggered. Equivalent resistance R 2  may also be increased by decreasing the consumption of unit  27  by interrupting certain calculations. 
     Various embodiments have been described, and many alterations, modifications, and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the selection of the thresholds acceptable for ratio r i  and of the periodicity of the measurements and iterations is within the abilities of those skilled in the art according to the application. Further, the inequality relations may correspond to strict or non-strict inequalities. Further, other notification means than sound or visual indicators may be used. For example, a system causing a vibration of the transponder in the case where it is a mobile telecommunication device equipped with an NFC router and stopping the vibration when the reached position is correct or, conversely, causing a vibration thereof once this reached position is correct, may be provided. 
     Further, the practical implementation of embodiments is within the abilities of those skilled in the art based on the functional indications given hereabove and by using hardware and software tools currently present in transponder systems. It should be noted that the implementation of these embodiments requires no modification of the terminal and is only performed on the transponder side. 
     Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.