Patent Description:
An RFID device that a user can carry is known for a long time. The RFID device includes a battery and reads an RFID tag by power supplied from the battery. Since the RFID device is carried and operated by the user, miniaturization thereof is required.

In order to charge the battery, a technique for performing charging by a charging cable, and a technique for performing charging by taking out the battery from the RFID device and mounting the battery on a charger are also known.

However, the work of connecting and disconnecting the charging cable and mounting the battery thereon is complicated. For example, a technique in which the RFID device is used for a white cane is also known. However, since many white cane users are visually impaired individuals, it may be difficult to connect and disconnect the charging cable, and to mount the battery thereon. Therefore, it is required to achieve a technique in which the RFID device can be easily charged.

For example, it is also possible to charge the battery by using a non-contact charging technique. However, if the RFID device is miniaturized, a power receiving coil for performing non-contact charging may affect an antenna.

<CIT> relates to a human user interface device <NUM> for incorporation into a smart cane for the visually impaired or a shoe comprises a sender <NUM> operatively connected to a receiver <NUM>, the sender <NUM> comprising a short-range wireless RFID receiver <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> comprising a processor and an output device <NUM> which, upon detection of a signal <NUM> by the receiver <NUM> from, for example, a passive RFID tag <NUM>, outputs a speech-audio signal <NUM>.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is provided an RFID device comprising a case including a rotation mechanism; an antenna disposed in the case; and a cylindrical power receiving coil disposed in the case away from the antenna and extending in an axial direction of the rotation mechanism, and connected to a power receiver configured to charge a battery.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the power receiving coil is disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the rotation mechanism, and a diameter of the power receiving coil is smaller than a diameter of a cylindrical power transmitting coil that is configured to perform non-contact charging with the power receiving coil.

Optionally, the device according to the first aspect of the invention further comprises a cut-off circuit configured to cut off power supply from the battery to an RFID module connected to the antenna when the power receiving coil receives power from the power transmitting coil.

Optionally, the device according to the first aspect of the invention further comprises a communication interface configured to transmit information read by the RFID module to the outside, wherein the battery, the power receiver, the RFID module, and the communication interface are provided in the case.

According to a second aspect of the invention, it is provided a non-contact charging system, comprising the RFID device according to the first aspect; and a cylindrically formed power transmitting table including a power transmitting device, the power transmitting device including a power transmitting coil and a power transmitting circuit, and enabling the RFID device to be disposed therein.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, RFID device includes a ferrule.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the RFID device further comprises a plurality of housings.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing formed of resin.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing having a tubular shape.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing which accommodates the antenna and the power receiving coil.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing having an outer shape having a spherical shape, a polygonal columnar shape, or a gourd shape.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing, a second housing and third housing, the first housing contacting the third housing, the second housing disposed between the first housing and the third housing.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing, a second housing and a third housing, the first housing including one or more insertion portions arranged to insert into one or more respective grooves of the third housing.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the first housing includes a guide display arranged adjacent to the one or more insertion portions.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing having a rib formed integrally on an upper surface of a bottom portion of the first housing.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein an outer diameter of the second housing is less than an inner diameter of the first housing.

Optionally, in the device according to the first aspect of the invention, the plurality of housings includes a first housing, a second housing and a third housing, the third housing having a shaft portion and a bearing member which form the rotation mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the invention, it is provided a system including a white cane, and the RFID device of the first aspect, wherein the RFID device is mounted on the white cane.

An object to be solved by an embodiment is to provide an RFID device and a non-contact charging system capable of preventing mutual influences between a power receiving coil and an antenna.

In general, according to at least one embodiment, an RFID device includes a case, an antenna, and a power receiving coil. The case includes a rotation mechanism. The antenna is provided in the case. The power receiving coil is provided in the case away from the antenna in an axial direction of the rotation mechanism. The power receiving coil is connected to a power receiving unit (power receiver) that charges a battery. The power receiving coil has a cylindrical shape.

According to at least one embodiment, it is possible to provide an RFID device and a non-contact charging system capable of preventing mutual influences between a power receiving coil and an antenna.

Hereinafter, configurations of a white cane <NUM> including an RFID device <NUM>, a communication system <NUM>, and a non-contact charging system <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of the communication system <NUM> using the white cane <NUM> including the RFID device <NUM>, and <FIG> is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the communication system <NUM>. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the white cane <NUM> using a ferrule <NUM> as a RFID device. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of the ferrule (the RFID device) <NUM>.

<FIG> are views showing the configuration of the ferrule <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view. <FIG> is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ferrule <NUM> by omitting a third housing <NUM> of a case <NUM>, and <FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first housing <NUM> used in the case <NUM> by partially cutting out the configuration thereof. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing configurations of a second housing <NUM> of the case <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, and a control circuit board <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view showing configurations of a first component <NUM> of the second housing <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the control circuit board <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views showing a configuration of the third housing <NUM>, <FIG> shows a side view, and <FIG> shows an exploded view. <FIG> shows configurations of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> if the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are in a second location. <FIG> shows the configurations of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> if the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are in a third location. <FIG> are views showing a configuration of the antenna <NUM>, <FIG> is a perspective view, and <FIG> is a side view. <FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration of the control circuit board <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of the non-contact charging system <NUM> according to at least one embodiment, and <FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views showing the configuration of the non-contact charging system <NUM>. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram showing configurations of a power receiving coil <NUM> and a power transmitting coil <NUM> of the non-contact charging system <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the white cane <NUM> reads an RFID tag <NUM> on a walking path of a user by, for example, the RFID device <NUM>, and notifies a terminal <NUM> of the user of read information. The RFID device <NUM> of the white cane <NUM>, the terminal <NUM>, and the RFID tag <NUM> form the communication system <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the RFID device <NUM> of the white cane <NUM> forms the non-contact charging system <NUM> together with a power transmitting device (power transmitter) <NUM>. The non-contact charging system <NUM> performs non-contact charging of the RFID device <NUM> by transmitting power from the power transmitting device <NUM> to the RFID device <NUM> of the white cane <NUM>.

First, the configuration of the white cane <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the white cane <NUM> includes a white cane main body <NUM> and the RFID device <NUM>. The RFID device <NUM> is an RFID reading device that reads information of the RFID tag <NUM>. Here, the RFID device <NUM> forms a ferrule. In the following description, the RFID device <NUM> will be described as a ferrule <NUM>. A vertical direction is defined by defining a side of the ferrule <NUM> of the white cane <NUM> as a lower side, and the embodiment will be hereinafter described.

As shown in <FIG>, for example, the white cane main body <NUM> is formed to be foldable in a plurality of stages. The white cane main body <NUM> is formed into a rod shape by unfolding the white cane main body <NUM>. The white cane main body <NUM> includes a grip <NUM> at one end thereof, and the ferrule <NUM> is mounted on the other end thereof. The white cane main body <NUM> may be a slide type that expands and contracts or may be formed by a single shaft.

As shown in <FIG>, the ferrule <NUM> includes the case <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM>. For example, if the white cane <NUM> is used, the ferrule <NUM> slides left and right on the ground in a state of contacting the ground, thereby sliding on the ground while rotating with respect to the white cane main body <NUM>.

The case <NUM> forms an outer shell of the ferrule <NUM> that rotates around a central axis coaxial with an axis of the white cane main body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the case <NUM> internally accommodates the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> as electronic devices. As a specific example, as shown in <FIG>, the case <NUM> includes the first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the third housing <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> is an outer case of the ferrule <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> accommodates the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and the second housing <NUM>. A corner of the first housing <NUM> rotates on the ground if the ferrule <NUM> rotates around a central axis of the first housing <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> is fixed to the third housing <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> is formed of, for example, a resin material. The first housing <NUM> is formed of, for example, polyacetal.

As shown in <FIG>, the first housing <NUM> is formed in a bottomed tubular shape. For example, the first housing <NUM> is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. For example, a bottom portion of the first housing <NUM> is formed in a flat plate shape whose corner is formed in a curved surface shape or a hemispherical shape. The first housing <NUM> accommodates the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and the second housing <NUM>, and an outer shape of the first housing <NUM> is appropriately set as long as the first housing <NUM> can slide on the ground. Other examples of the outer shape of the first housing <NUM> include a spherical shape, a polygonal columnar shape, a gourd shape (e.g., an oblong shape, an irregular shape), and the like.

As a specific example, as shown in <FIG>, the first housing <NUM> includes, for example, a rib <NUM> extending in a radial direction, and a plurality of protrusions <NUM> formed at end portions of the rib <NUM> in the radial direction at a bottom portion of the interior thereof. The first housing <NUM> includes an insertion portion <NUM>, a plurality of first protruding portions <NUM> formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion <NUM>, and a second protruding portion <NUM> formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> includes a guide display unit <NUM> formed adjacent to the insertion portion <NUM>. Such insertion portions <NUM> are configured as recesses.

The rib <NUM> is formed to be integrated on an upper surface of the bottom portion of the first housing <NUM>. For example, the rib <NUM> extends in four directions in the radial direction from the center of the bottom portion of the first housing <NUM>. In other words, the rib <NUM> is formed in a cross shape and protrudes from the upper surface of the bottom portion of the first housing <NUM>. An upper surface of the rib <NUM> is formed in a planar shape extending in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the first housing <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> extends in the axial direction of the first housing <NUM> from the end portion of the rib <NUM> in the radial direction. The protrusion <NUM> is formed to be integrated with an inner peripheral surface of the first housing <NUM>. The plurality of protrusions <NUM> are respectively formed to be integrated with the end portions of the rib <NUM> in the radial direction. In the embodiment, since the rib <NUM> is formed in the cross shape, four protrusions <NUM> are provided. For example, one of the four protrusions <NUM> has a higher height in the axial direction than those of the other three protrusions <NUM>.

At least a part of the upper surface of the rib <NUM> and the plurality of protrusions <NUM> contacts the antenna <NUM>, and supports the antenna <NUM> in the axial direction.

The insertion portion <NUM> is formed at an upper end of an opening of the first housing <NUM>. The insertion portion <NUM> is inserted into the third housing <NUM>. The insertion portion <NUM> is formed to have a diameter smaller than an outer diameter on a center side of the first housing <NUM>. For example, the insertion portion <NUM> is formed by making an opening end of the first housing <NUM> thinner than the outer diameter on the center side of the first housing <NUM>.

The plurality of first protruding portions <NUM> are disposed at an equal space on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion <NUM>. For example, two first protruding portions <NUM> are provided. The two first protruding portions <NUM> are disposed, for example, at symmetrical locations on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion <NUM>. For example, the second protruding portion <NUM> is provided between the two first protruding portions <NUM> in a circumferential direction of the insertion portion <NUM>.

The guide display unit <NUM> displays the location of the first housing <NUM> inserted into the third housing <NUM>. For example, the guide display unit <NUM> is a display that guides a location where the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are attached and detached and a location where the power is turned ON and OFF. For example, the guide display unit <NUM> are three recesses for guiding these locations, and unevenness and Braille for displaying "OFF" and "ON". That is, the guide display unit <NUM> is a display that visually or tactilely guides an operation location of the ferrule <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second housing <NUM> is formed in a tubular shape formed in a shape that can be inserted into the first housing <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> is accommodated in the first housing <NUM>. For example, the second housing <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape. An outer diameter of the second housing <NUM> is formed to be slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the first housing <NUM> so that the second housing <NUM> can be inserted into the first housing <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> accommodates or holds, for example, the battery <NUM>, the antenna <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM>. Movement of the second housing <NUM> in the circumferential direction is regulated by the first housing <NUM>. Movement of the second housing <NUM> in the axial direction is regulated by the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the second housing <NUM> is fixed to the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM>.

For example, the second housing <NUM> holds the antenna <NUM> at a lower end thereof. The second housing <NUM> accommodates, for example, the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> inside. The second housing <NUM> holds, for example, the power receiving coil <NUM> on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The second housing <NUM> holds, for example, a part of the sensor <NUM> on an upper portion thereof. In the second housing <NUM>, for example, four notches <NUM> in which the four protrusions <NUM> of the first housing <NUM> are disposed are formed at the lower end thereof. The notch <NUM> is engaged with the protrusion <NUM> in the circumferential direction, such that the movement of the second housing <NUM> in the circumferential direction with respect to the first housing <NUM> is regulated.

The second housing <NUM> is formed of one component or is formed by assembling a plurality of components. As a specific example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second housing <NUM> includes the first component <NUM> and a second component <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> is formed by assembling the first component <NUM> and the second component <NUM> to be integrated with each other.

The first component <NUM> is formed in a tubular shape with opposite ends thereof opened. The first component <NUM> holds, for example, the antenna <NUM> at a lower end thereof and the power receiving coil <NUM> on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The first component <NUM> holds, for example, the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM>. Lower end sides of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> are inserted into the first component <NUM> such that the first component <NUM> holds the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM>. The first component <NUM> is formed with a rib, a protrusion, and the like so that movement of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> in the radial direction and the circumferential direction can be regulated.

The second component <NUM> is formed in a tubular shape with opposite ends thereof opened. For example, the second component <NUM> is fixed to the first component <NUM> by being engaged therewith or fitted thereto with a claw, unevenness, and the like. For example, the second component <NUM> is assembled into the first component <NUM>, thereby forming the tubular second housing <NUM> together with the first component <NUM>. The second component <NUM> covers peripheries in the radial direction of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM> held by the first component <NUM>. The second component <NUM> includes a holding portion <NUM> at an upper end thereof in which a part of the sensor <NUM> is provided, and a regulating portion <NUM> covering an upper portion of the control circuit board <NUM>.

The holding portion <NUM> holds, for example, a hall sensor <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> which will be described later. The regulating portion <NUM> regulates movement of the control circuit board <NUM> in the axial direction. The regulating portion <NUM> is, for example, a rib formed in the opening at the upper end of the second component <NUM> and configured to face at least a part of an upper end of the control circuit board <NUM> in the axial direction. At the upper end of the second component <NUM>, a portion facing the battery <NUM> in the axial direction is opened.

The third housing <NUM> is fixed to a tip of the white cane main body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the third housing <NUM> fixes the first housing <NUM> to be rotatable around the axial direction of the white cane main body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the third housing <NUM> includes, for example, a base portion <NUM> fixed to the white cane main body <NUM>, a bearing member <NUM> provided in the base portion <NUM>, and a lid portion <NUM> fixed to the bearing member <NUM>.

The base portion <NUM> includes, for example, a fixed portion <NUM>, an umbrella portion <NUM> formed to be integrated with the fixed portion <NUM>, and a shaft portion <NUM> formed to be integrated with the umbrella portion <NUM>.

The fixed portion <NUM> is fixed to the tip of the white cane main body <NUM>. The umbrella portion <NUM> covers an upper surface of the lid portion <NUM>. For example, the shaft portion <NUM> is coaxial with the white cane main body <NUM> fixed to the fixed portion <NUM>. The bearing member <NUM> is inserted into the shaft portion <NUM> or fitted thereto, and the bearing member <NUM> is fixed in the axial direction by a bolt <NUM>.

The bearing member <NUM> is, for example, a ball bearing or a needle bearing. The bearing member <NUM> rotatably holds the lid portion <NUM> on the shaft portion <NUM>.

The lid portion <NUM> is rotatably fixed to the shaft portion <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> via the bearing member <NUM>. The lid portion <NUM> rotates with respect to the base portion <NUM>. The lid portion <NUM> fixes the first housing <NUM>. The lid portion <NUM> covers an end portion of the opening of the first housing <NUM>. The lid portion <NUM> is formed to be able to move the first housing <NUM> to two locations where the power of the ferrule <NUM> is turned ON and OFF in a state of fixing the first housing <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the lid portion <NUM> includes a first terminal <NUM> of a positive electrode terminal <NUM> connected to the battery <NUM>. If relative locations of the lid portion <NUM> and the first housing <NUM> in the circumferential direction change, the lid portion <NUM> is formed to be able to move the first terminal <NUM> and switch a conduction state of the battery <NUM> and the control circuit board <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lid portion <NUM> includes a top plate portion <NUM>, an outer peripheral wall portion <NUM>, and an inner peripheral wall portion <NUM>. The top plate portion <NUM> is formed in a disk shape. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the top plate portion <NUM> is fixed to the bearing member <NUM>.

The outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> is formed to be integrated with an outer peripheral edge of the top plate portion <NUM>. An inner diameter of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> is larger than an outer diameter of the insertion portion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM>. The inner diameter of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> is smaller than a circumscribed circle of a plurality of first protruding portions <NUM> formed in the insertion portion <NUM>, which are coaxial with the central axis of the first housing <NUM>, and a circumscribed circle of the second protruding portion <NUM> formed on the insertion portion <NUM>, which is coaxial with the central axis of the first housing <NUM>.

The outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> includes, for example, a first groove <NUM> and a second groove <NUM>, which are formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The same number of first grooves <NUM> are provided as the number of first protruding portions <NUM> of the insertion portion <NUM>. The first groove <NUM> is formed so that the first protruding portion <NUM> can be inserted thereinto. The first groove <NUM> extends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM>. The first groove <NUM> extends in one direction along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> on the central side of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> in the axial direction. Here, the one direction along the circumferential direction is a direction in which the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are rotated and fixed.

The second groove <NUM> is formed so that the second protruding portion <NUM> can be inserted thereinto in the axial direction and the second protruding portion <NUM> can move in the circumferential direction. For example, the second groove <NUM> is formed in a shape that allows the second protruding portion <NUM> to move in the circumferential direction between a first location and a second location and between the second location and a third location, and the first housing <NUM> and the lid portion <NUM> to rotate if a force in a rotational direction equal to or greater than a certain degree is applied to the first housing <NUM> and the lid portion <NUM>. For example, if a force in the rotational direction smaller than the certain degree is applied to the first housing <NUM> and the lid portion <NUM>, the second groove <NUM> regulates the movement of the second protruding portion <NUM> between the first location and the second location, and between the second location and the third location.

Here, the first location is a location where the insertion portion <NUM> is inserted into the lid portion <NUM>. The second location is a location where the insertion portion <NUM> is fixed to the lid portion <NUM>, and, as shown in <FIG>, a location where the first terminal <NUM> and a second terminal <NUM> of the positive electrode terminal <NUM> are separated from each other. The third location is a location where the insertion portion <NUM> is fixed to the lid portion <NUM>, and, as shown in <FIG>, a location where the first terminal <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM> of the positive electrode terminal <NUM> contact each other.

The fixing of the insertion portion <NUM> to the third housing <NUM> in the second location and the third location indicates a state in which movement in the axial direction and relative movement in the circumferential direction of the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are regulated. That is, in the second location and the third location, the first protruding portion <NUM> of the insertion portion <NUM> is located at a portion extending in the circumferential direction of the first groove <NUM>, such that the movement in the axial direction of the insertion portion <NUM> (the first housing <NUM>) with respect to the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> is regulated. In the second location and the third location, the movement of the second protruding portion <NUM> is regulated by the second groove <NUM>, such that the movement in the circumferential direction of the first housing <NUM> with respect to the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> is regulated.

For example, the second groove <NUM> is formed of, for example, a plurality of grooves extending in the axial direction and allowing the second protruding portions <NUM> to be respectively disposed therein. Specifically, the second groove <NUM> is formed of three grooves formed at locations corresponding to the first location, the second location, and the third location.

The inner peripheral wall portion <NUM> is disposed with a predetermined gap in which the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall portion <NUM> and the insertion portion <NUM> can be disposed. A height of the inner peripheral wall portion <NUM> from the top plate portion <NUM> may be formed to be different depending on a portion. The inner peripheral wall portion <NUM> may be formed by disposing a plurality of circular arc-shaped wall portions in the circumferential direction.

In the case <NUM> formed as described above, the base portion <NUM> is fixed to the white cane main body <NUM>. The shaft portion <NUM> and the bearing member <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> form a rotation mechanism. The first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the lid portion <NUM> rotate with respect to the base portion <NUM> by the rotation mechanism (the shaft portion <NUM> and the bearing member <NUM>), and form a rotation unit for accommodating various electronic devices. In the case <NUM>, the protrusion <NUM> and the notch <NUM> are engaged with each other in the circumferential direction, such that the second housing <NUM> is fixed to the first housing <NUM> in the circumferential direction. In the case <NUM>, the antenna <NUM> or the second housing <NUM> contacts the rib <NUM> or the protrusion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM>, and the second housing <NUM> or the battery <NUM> contacts a part of the third housing <NUM> (for example, a part of the lid portion <NUM>) or the first terminal <NUM> fixed to the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM>, such that the second housing <NUM> is fixed to the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> in the axial direction.

The battery <NUM> is a power source that supplies power to the antenna <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM>. The battery <NUM> is a secondary battery.

The antenna <NUM> includes a radiation element. The antenna <NUM> is, for example, a linearly polarized wave antenna. For example, the antenna <NUM> is an inverted F antenna or a patch antenna (a microstrip antenna). The antenna <NUM> may be a circularly polarized wave antenna. For example, the antenna <NUM> can be disposed in the first housing <NUM>, and is formed in a shape that can be mounted on the second housing <NUM>. For example, an outer shape of the antenna <NUM> is formed in a circular shape whose diameter is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the first housing <NUM>.

As a specific example, as shown in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM>, a ground layer <NUM>, and an antenna pattern <NUM>. <FIG> shows an example of the antenna pattern <NUM> and a feeding point <NUM>. For example, the base portion <NUM> is formed in a disk shape having a diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of the first housing <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> may have an annular shape with an opening in the center, or may have a plate shape in which one main surface protrudes in a cylindrical shape. The antenna <NUM> is not limited to a circular shape as long as the antenna <NUM> can be disposed in the first housing <NUM> and mounted on the second housing <NUM>.

The base portion <NUM> is formed across both main surfaces, and includes one or a plurality of through holes <NUM> connecting the ground layer <NUM> and the antenna pattern <NUM>. The ground layer <NUM> is formed on one main surface of the base portion <NUM>. The antenna pattern <NUM> is formed on the other main surface of the base portion <NUM>. The antenna pattern <NUM> forms the radiation element.

The power receiving coil <NUM> receives power transmitted from the power transmitting coil <NUM> and supplies the received power to a power receiving circuit <NUM> which will be described later. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the power receiving coil <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape. The power receiving coil <NUM> has a power receiving surface for receiving power in a cylindrical shape. The power receiving coil <NUM> is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second housing <NUM>. As a specific example, as shown in <FIG>, the power receiving coil <NUM> is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first component <NUM> of the second housing <NUM>.

The power receiving coil <NUM> is provided on the second housing <NUM> coaxial with the first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the third housing <NUM>. In other words, the power receiving coil <NUM> is disposed coaxially with rotation center of the first housing <NUM>, that is, the shaft portion <NUM> and the bearing member <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> forming the rotation mechanism. As shown in <FIG>, the power receiving coil <NUM> forms a resonance circuit (a power receiving resonance circuit) by being connected in series or in parallel with a power receiving resonance capacitor <NUM> which will be described later.

If the power receiving coil <NUM> serving as the power receiving resonance circuit approaches the power transmitting coil <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM> is electromagnetically coupled with the power transmitting coil <NUM>. In the power receiving coil <NUM>, an induced current is generated by a magnetic field output from the power transmitting coil <NUM>. The power receiving coil <NUM> may be configured as a winding structure around which an insulated electric wire is wound, or may be configured by forming a coil pattern on a cylindrical printed circuit board.

The power receiving coil <NUM> supplies the received AC power to the power receiving circuit <NUM> which will be described later. For example, if a magnetic field resonance method is used for power transmission, a self-resonant frequency of the power receiving resonance circuit serving as the power receiving coil <NUM> is set to be approximately the same as a frequency transmitted by the power transmitting coil <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show an example of the control circuit board <NUM>. The control circuit board <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> and a terminal <NUM>. The control circuit board <NUM> is formed so that various processes can be performed by a processing circuit, a module, a wiring pattern, and the like mounted on the circuit board <NUM>. As a specific example, the control circuit board <NUM> includes an RFID module <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM> (communicator or communication interface), and a power receiving unit <NUM>. The control circuit board <NUM> is connected to the antenna <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM>. The control circuit board <NUM> is connected to the battery <NUM> via the terminal <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> is formed in, for example, a rectangular shape that can be accommodated in the second housing <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> may be formed of a plurality of circuit boards. As a specific example, the circuit board <NUM> includes a first circuit board <NUM> and a second circuit board <NUM>. The first circuit board <NUM> and the second circuit board <NUM> are electrically connected to each other. The first circuit board <NUM> and the second circuit board <NUM> are disposed side by side in the second housing <NUM> in the radial direction of the second housing <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> is connected to the battery <NUM>. The terminal <NUM> includes the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and a negative electrode terminal <NUM>.

The positive electrode terminal <NUM> contacts a positive electrode of the battery <NUM>. As a specific example, the positive electrode terminal <NUM> includes a first terminal <NUM> and a second terminal <NUM>. The first terminal <NUM> is fixed to the third housing <NUM>. If the first housing <NUM>, in which the second housing <NUM> is accommodated, is fixed to the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> and is located at the second location, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> contacts the positive electrode of the battery <NUM>, and is separated from the second terminal <NUM>. If the first housing <NUM>, in which the second housing <NUM> is accommodated, is fixed to the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> and is located at the third location, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> contacts both the positive electrode of the battery <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the first terminal <NUM> is formed in a band shape extending in a circular arc shape. If the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> rotate relative to each other and move from the second location to the third location, the first terminal <NUM> moves in the circumferential direction as the third housing <NUM> moves in the circumferential direction, and connects the positive electrode of the battery <NUM> and the second terminal <NUM>.

The second terminal <NUM> is provided on the circuit board <NUM>. For example, the second terminal <NUM> is provided on one circuit board <NUM> adjacent to the battery <NUM> in the second housing <NUM>. As a specific example, the second terminal <NUM> is provided on an upper end side of the first circuit board <NUM> in a posture of being accommodated in the second housing <NUM>. The second terminal <NUM> contacts the first terminal <NUM> at the second location.

The negative electrode terminal <NUM> contacts a negative electrode of the battery <NUM>. For example, the negative electrode terminal <NUM> is provided on one circuit board <NUM> adjacent to the battery <NUM> in the second housing <NUM>. As a specific example, the negative electrode terminal <NUM> is provided at a lower end of the first circuit board <NUM> in a posture of being accommodated in the second housing <NUM>. The negative electrode terminal <NUM> contacts the negative electrode of the battery <NUM> if the battery <NUM> is disposed in the second housing <NUM>.

The RFID module <NUM> is electrically connected to the antenna <NUM>. The RFID module <NUM> reads, for example, the RFID tag <NUM>. The RFID module <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> form an RFID reader. The RFID module <NUM> may be configured to form an RFID reader and writer together with the antenna <NUM> as a configuration for reading and writing the RFID tag <NUM>.

The RFID module <NUM> controls the antenna <NUM> and emits a radio wave from the antenna <NUM> in order to perform wireless communication of data with the RFID tag <NUM>. The RFID module <NUM> supplies power to the RFID tag <NUM> by emitting the radio wave from the antenna <NUM>, demodulates the data with the RFID tag <NUM>, and changes a load of the antenna <NUM>, thereby receiving a response wave returned from the RFID tag <NUM> via the antenna <NUM>. Accordingly, the RFID module <NUM> reads the data of the RFID tag <NUM>.

As a specific example, the reading of the RFID tag <NUM> by the RFID module <NUM> is performed as below. First, the RFID module <NUM> emits the radio wave from the antenna <NUM> in order to perform the wireless communication with the RFID tag <NUM>, and the RFID tag <NUM> starts by receiving the radio wave. Next, if the RFID module <NUM> amplitude-modulates a carrier wave emitted from the antenna <NUM> by a signal encoding the communication data, the RFID tag <NUM> demodulates the amplitude-modulated communication data and changes the load of the antenna of the RFID tag <NUM> to return the response wave. The RFID module <NUM> acquires the data of the RFID tag <NUM> by receiving this response wave via the antenna <NUM>.

The RFID module <NUM> includes, for example, a control unit <NUM> and a storage unit <NUM>. The RFID module <NUM> is appropriately provided with a coupler, a filter, an amplifier, a low-pass filter, a balun, and the like according to a reader function of the RFID module <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> executes arithmetic processing. The control unit <NUM> is a processor serving as a processing circuit. The control unit <NUM> performs various processing based on, for example, a program stored in the storage unit and data used in the program. The storage unit <NUM> stores a program and data used in the program. The storage unit <NUM> is a memory and a storage. The storage unit <NUM> is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or the like. The storage unit <NUM> is, for example, an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) (registered trademark), a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) (registered trademark), or the like.

The RFID module <NUM> performs processing of reading the data of the RFID tag <NUM> received from the antenna <NUM> by allowing the control unit <NUM> to execute the program stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The RFID module <NUM> outputs information read from the RFID tag <NUM> to the communication unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> is connected to the terminal <NUM> by wireless communication. The communication unit <NUM> transmits and receives the information to and from the terminal <NUM> by using, for example, a short-range wireless communication technique such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE), which is a standard of Bluetooth (registered trademark). For example, the communication unit <NUM> is a BLE module.

The communication unit <NUM> is mounted on the circuit board <NUM>. For example, if the communication unit <NUM> transmits an advertisement, the terminal <NUM> receives the advertisement, and the communication unit <NUM> receives a connection request transmitted from the terminal <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM> performs generic attribute profile (GATT) communication. For example, if the white cane <NUM> is used, a user sets the terminal <NUM> for receiving the information from the communication unit <NUM> in advance, and the communication unit <NUM> communicates with the terminal <NUM> set in advance.

The power receiving unit <NUM> charges the battery <NUM> with power transmitted from the power transmitting coil <NUM> and received by the power receiving coil <NUM>. The power receiving unit <NUM> supplies the received power to the battery <NUM>. The power receiving unit <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM> form a power receiving device.

As shown in <FIG>, the power receiving unit <NUM> includes, for example, the power receiving circuit <NUM>, a control circuit <NUM>, and the resonance capacitor <NUM>.

The power receiving circuit <NUM> converts the received power supplied from the power receiving coil <NUM> into power that can be supplied to the battery <NUM>. For example, the power receiving circuit <NUM> rectifies the received power supplied from the power receiving coil <NUM> and converts the rectified power into a direct current. The power receiving circuit <NUM> is implemented by, for example, a rectifier circuit including a rectifier bridge formed of a plurality of diodes. In this case, a pair of input terminals of the rectifier bridge are connected to the power receiving resonance circuit including the power receiving coil <NUM> and the resonance capacitor <NUM>. The power receiving circuit <NUM> outputs DC power from a pair of output terminals by performing full-wave rectification on the received power supplied from the power receiving coil <NUM>.

The control circuit <NUM> controls an operation of the power receiving circuit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> includes, for example, a control unit and a storage unit. The control unit executes arithmetic processing. The control unit is a processor serving as a processing circuit. The control unit performs various processing based on, for example, a program stored in the storage unit and data used in the program. The storage unit stores the program and the data used in the program. The storage unit is a memory and a storage. The storage unit is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or the like. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured by a microcomputer and an oscillation circuit, and the like.

A charging circuit <NUM> supplies the power supplied from the power receiving circuit <NUM> to the battery <NUM> as power for charging. For example, the charging circuit <NUM> converts the power supplied from the power receiving circuit <NUM> into a direct current used for charging the battery <NUM>. That is, the charging circuit <NUM> converts the power supplied from the power receiving circuit <NUM> into the power for charging having a predetermined current value and voltage value for charging the battery <NUM>, and supplies the charging power to the battery <NUM>. For example, the charging circuit <NUM> includes a charging IC including a port for transmitting a charging state to the control unit of the control circuit <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> detects a change in a posture of the ferrule <NUM> (the case <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> includes a first sensor <NUM> and a second sensor <NUM>.

The first sensor <NUM> detects the posture of the ferrule <NUM>. The first sensor <NUM> is a motion sensor. For example, the first sensor <NUM> is a <NUM>-axis gyro sensor capable of detecting an angular velocity or a <NUM>-axis acceleration sensor capable of detecting acceleration. The first sensor <NUM> maybe a <NUM>-axis sensor capable of detecting the angular velocity and the acceleration. As shown in <FIG>, for example, the first sensor <NUM> is mounted on the circuit board <NUM>. The first sensor <NUM> outputs the detected angular velocity or acceleration as a signal to the control unit <NUM>.

The second sensor <NUM> detects rotation of the ferrule <NUM>, specifically, rotation of the first housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second sensor <NUM> includes, for example, the hall sensor <NUM> for detecting magnetism, and one or a plurality of magnets <NUM> provided in the umbrella portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the hall sensor <NUM> is provided in the holding portion <NUM> of the second housing <NUM>. The hall sensor <NUM> moves in the circumferential direction if the first housing <NUM> rotates. For example, the hall sensor <NUM> moves in the circumferential direction with respect to the one or the plurality of magnets <NUM>, thereby detecting magnetism of the magnets <NUM> facing the hall sensor <NUM> during the movement thereof, and outputting a signal to the control unit <NUM>.

If the hall sensor <NUM> moves to a predetermined location, in other words, if the first housing <NUM> (the rotation unit) reaches a predetermined rotation angle of the base portion <NUM>, the magnet <NUM> is disposed at a location of facing the hall sensor <NUM>. For example, if a plurality of magnets <NUM> are provided, the plurality of magnets <NUM> are disposed at locations where the magnets <NUM> are disposed at an equal space in the circumferential direction. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of magnets <NUM> are provided in the umbrella portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM>. For example, the plurality of magnets <NUM> are disposed at an equal space on a coaxial circle coaxial with the axis of the shaft portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM>. For example, four magnets <NUM> are provided, and the magnets <NUM> are disposed to be spaced with <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction.

In the white cane <NUM> configured as described above, the third housing <NUM> of the case <NUM> is formed so that the lid portion <NUM> is rotatable with respect to the umbrella portion <NUM> via the bearing member <NUM>. Therefore, if a user holds the white cane <NUM> and moves the ferrule <NUM> to the left and right in a state where the ferrule <NUM> contacts the ground, the case <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> slides on the ground while rotating around the central axis of the shaft portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM>.

If the first housing <NUM> of the case <NUM> rotates, the antenna <NUM> accommodated in the first housing <NUM> also rotates. Therefore, the ferrule <NUM> can change a direction of polarization wave even in the case of the linearly polarized wave antenna <NUM>.

Next, the communication system <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the communication system <NUM> is formed of the white cane <NUM> including the ferrule <NUM> serving as an RFID device, the terminal <NUM>, and the RFID tag <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> is a device that can be worn or carried by the user of the white cane <NUM>. The terminal <NUM> is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a wearable device such as a smart watch, an audio device such as an earphone, a dedicated terminal capable of notifying information by sound and vibration. The terminal <NUM> may be configured to be built in the grip <NUM> of the white cane main body <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> includes, for example, an input unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a notification unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The input unit <NUM> is a device for receiving a user input such as a button, an operation panel, and a touch panel.

The display unit <NUM> is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

The communication unit <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> is any communication interface capable of communicating with the communication unit <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> by using a wireless communication technique. The communication unit <NUM> may be configured to be able to communicate with a terminal and a network other than the communication unit <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> by using a wired communication technique or a wireless communication technique.

For example, the communication unit <NUM> may be mounted as a communication module or a communication circuit board. The communication unit <NUM> transmits and receives information to and from the communication unit <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> by using, for example, a short-range wireless communication technique such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE), which is a standard of Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication unit <NUM> can be connected to the network via, for example, a base station by using a short-range wireless communication technique such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and a long-range wireless communication technique such as a general-purpose wireless communication technique including a mobile phone line such as long term evolution (LTE) (registered trademark).

The notification unit <NUM> notifies information to the outside by sound or vibration. For example, the notification unit <NUM> is a speaker, a vibrator, or the like. The notification unit <NUM> outputs sound and vibration in different patterns. For example, if the notification unit <NUM> is the speaker and notifies the information by sound, the notification unit <NUM> performs notification by sound based on parameters such as different sound types, volumes, and sound lengths set corresponding to the information to be notified. Here, the sound includes a voice. If the notification unit <NUM> is a vibrator and notifies the information by vibration, the notification unit <NUM> performs notification by vibration based on parameters such as different vibration types, vibration intensities, and vibration lengths set corresponding to the information to be notified. The notification unit <NUM> may notify the information by using one of the sound and the vibration, or may notify the information by using both the sound and the vibration.

The storage unit <NUM> is a so-called memory or storage. The storage unit <NUM> stores various data. For example, the storage unit <NUM> stores various control programs, control data, and the like. The storage unit <NUM> temporarily stores data and the like being processed by the control unit <NUM>. The storage unit <NUM> stores a setting value required for executing an application program as a database. The storage unit <NUM> stores an execution result of the application program. The storage unit <NUM> stores the information of the RFID tag <NUM> received by the communication unit <NUM>. The storage unit <NUM> stores the parameters of the notification unit <NUM> corresponding to the information of the RFID tag <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> may include, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) (registered trademark), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a NAND flash memory, a solid state drive (SSD), and the like.

The control unit <NUM> is a processor including a processing circuit. The control unit <NUM> includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). Examples of the processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or another general-purpose or dedicated processor. One or a plurality of processors are mounted on a circuit board such as a motherboard, a graphic board, and the like.

For example, the control unit <NUM> implements, based on the control program, the control data, and the like stored in the storage unit <NUM>, various functions such as processing for inputting an external command input by the input unit <NUM>, processing for displaying information on the display unit <NUM>, communication processing by the communication unit <NUM>, and notification processing by the notification unit <NUM>.

The RFID tag <NUM> is provided in, for example, a station, a road, a building, and the like. For example, in the example of <FIG>, the RFID tag <NUM> is embedded under a Braille block of the platform of a station and in a railroad of the platform, and is provided in a railroad vehicle. The RFID tag <NUM> may be a passive tag or an active tag. The RFID tag <NUM> includes a tag antenna <NUM> including a matching circuit and an IC chip <NUM>. If the RFID tag <NUM> is the active tag, the RFID tag <NUM> includes a battery, a power supply circuit, and the like.

An example using the communication system <NUM> will be described. As shown in <FIG>, a user walks while swinging the white cane <NUM> in a left and right direction in a state where the ferrule <NUM> contacts the ground. If the RFID tag <NUM> is disposed on or near a walking path, the ferrule <NUM> receives information transmitted from the disposed RFID tag <NUM> with the antenna <NUM> and reads the received information with the RFID module <NUM>. Next, the information of the RFID tag <NUM> is transmitted from the communication unit <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> to the communication unit <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>, and the terminal <NUM> performs notification corresponding to the information of the RFID tag <NUM> by using the notification unit <NUM>.

For example, if the RFID tag <NUM> is provided on a railroad side of the station platform, the terminal <NUM> notifies the user of information indicating that the ferrule is located on the railroad side of the platform from the information of the RFID tag <NUM>. If the RFID tag <NUM> is provided in the railroad vehicle, the terminal <NUM> notifies the user of a location of the railroad vehicle, for example, a location of a door of the railroad vehicle and information of the vehicle. As described above, the communication system <NUM> can read the information of the RFID tag <NUM> on the walking path by the white cane serving as the RFID device, and notify the user of the information by the terminal <NUM>.

Next, the non-contact charging system <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the non-contact charging system <NUM> includes the ferrule <NUM> serving as a power receiving device including the power receiving unit <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM>, and the power transmitting device <NUM>. The non-contact charging system <NUM> performs non-contact charging of the ferrule <NUM> by the power transmitting device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the power transmitting device <NUM> includes a power transmitting table <NUM>, a power circuit <NUM>, a power transmitting circuit <NUM>, a power transmitting coil <NUM>, a control circuit <NUM>, a notification unit <NUM>, a resonance capacitor <NUM>, and a power supplying unit <NUM>.

The power transmitting table <NUM> is formed so that the ferrule <NUM> can be inserted thereinto. For example, the power transmitting table <NUM> holds the white cane <NUM> in an upright posture by inserting the ferrule <NUM> thereinto. For example, the power transmitting table <NUM> is formed in a columnar shape. An inner diameter of the power transmitting table <NUM> is formed so that the ferrule <NUM> can be inserted thereinto and the posture of the white cane <NUM> can be maintained. The inner diameter of the power transmitting table <NUM> is the same as or slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the first housing <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM>.

The power transmitting table <NUM> accommodates the power circuit <NUM>, the power transmitting circuit <NUM>, the power transmitting coil <NUM>, the control circuit <NUM>, the notification unit <NUM>, and the resonance capacitor <NUM>. The power transmitting table <NUM> may be configured to accommodate at least the power transmitting coil <NUM> therein, and for example, the power circuit <NUM>, the power transmitting circuit <NUM>, the control circuit <NUM>, the notification unit <NUM>, and the like may be provided in a separate case.

The power circuit <NUM> converts a voltage of DC power supply from the outside into a voltage desirable for an operation of each circuit. The power circuit <NUM> generates power for causing the power transmitting circuit <NUM> to transmit power, and supplies the generated power to the power transmitting circuit <NUM>. The power circuit <NUM> generates power for operating the control circuit <NUM> and supplies the generated power to the control circuit <NUM>.

The power transmitting circuit <NUM> generates transmission power to be transmitted from the power transmitting coil <NUM>. The power transmitting circuit <NUM> supplies the generated transmission power to the power transmitting coil <NUM>. For example, the power transmitting circuit <NUM> switches the DC power supplied from the power circuit <NUM> based on the control of the control circuit <NUM>, thereby generating AC power as the transmission power.

The power transmitting coil <NUM> outputs power that can be received by the power receiving coil <NUM> according to the transmission power supplied from the power transmitting circuit <NUM>. The power transmitting coil <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape. The power transmitting coil <NUM> has a power receiving surface for receiving power, which is formed in a cylindrical shape. The power transmitting coil <NUM> is disposed in the power transmitting table <NUM> so that a power transmitting surface faces the power receiving surface of the power receiving coil <NUM> provided in the second housing <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> inserted into the power transmitting table <NUM>. That is, the power transmitting coil <NUM> is disposed at a height location of the power transmitting table <NUM>, which faces the power receiving coil <NUM> inserted into the power transmitting table <NUM> in the radial direction. For example, the power transmitting coil <NUM> is accommodated in the power transmitting table <NUM>.

For example, the power transmitting coil <NUM> forms a resonance circuit (a power transmitting resonance circuit) by being connected in series or in parallel to the resonance capacitor <NUM>. If AC power is supplied from the power transmitting circuit <NUM>, the power transmitting coil <NUM> serving as the power transmitting resonance circuit generates a magnetic field corresponding to the supplied AC power. The power transmitting coil <NUM> may be configured as a winding structure around which an insulated electric wire is wound, or may be configured by forming a coil pattern on a printed circuit board.

As shown in <FIG>, a diameter ΦD2 of the power transmitting coil <NUM> is larger than a diameter ΦB1 of the power receiving coil <NUM>. The power transmitting coil <NUM> is set to have a diameter desirable for performing the non-contact charging with the power receiving coil <NUM>. That is, the diameter ΦD1 of the power receiving coil <NUM> and the diameter ΦD2 of the power transmitting coil <NUM> are set at a predetermined space (D2 - D1) at which the non-contact charging can be desirably performed.

The control circuit <NUM> controls operations of the power transmitting circuit <NUM> and the notification unit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> includes, for example, a control unit and a storage unit. The control unit executes arithmetic processing. The control unit is a processor serving as a processing circuit. The control unit performs various processing based on, for example, a program stored in the storage unit and data used in the program. The storage unit stores the program and the data used in the program. The storage unit is a memory and a storage. The storage unit is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or the like. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured by a microcomputer and an oscillation circuit, and the like.

For example, the control circuit <NUM> switches the notification of the notification unit <NUM> according to a power transmitting state of the power transmitting device <NUM> or a charging state of the battery <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> controls a frequency of the AC power output from the power transmitting circuit <NUM>, and controls ON and OFF of the operation of the power transmitting circuit <NUM>. For example, the control circuit <NUM> switches between a state in which a magnetic field is generated in the power transmitting coil <NUM> (a power transmitting state) and a state in which a magnetic field is not generated in the power transmitting coil <NUM> (a standby state) by controlling the power transmitting circuit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may intermittently generate the magnetic field in the power transmitting coil <NUM> to perform control for changing a timing of the power transmission.

The notification unit <NUM> is an indicator indicating the state of the power transmitting device <NUM> or a speaker that notifies the state of the power transmitting device <NUM> by sound. The notification unit <NUM> switches a display according to the control of the control circuit <NUM>. For example, the notification unit <NUM> includes an LED and a speaker, and switches on, off, or display color, and notifies according to the operating state of the power transmitting device <NUM> by sounds or voices of different patterns.

The power supplying unit <NUM> is, for example, an AC adapter or a mobile battery. The power supplying unit <NUM> supplies power to the power circuit <NUM>.

The ferrule <NUM> serving as the RFID device and the white cane <NUM> configured as described above is configured to perform the non-contact charging by the power transmitting device <NUM>. The non-contact charging of the ferrule <NUM> is performed by disposing the ferrule <NUM> in the power transmitting table <NUM> and causing the power receiving coil <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> and the power transmitting coil <NUM> of the power transmitting table <NUM> to face each other.

Therefore, in the case of the ferrule <NUM>, the battery <NUM> can be charged without disassembling the case <NUM> and taking out the battery <NUM> therefrom. That is, in the case of the ferrule <NUM>, it is not required to take out the battery <NUM> from the case <NUM> for charging the battery <NUM>. It is also not required to connect and disconnect a charging cable.

The power receiving coil <NUM> and the power transmitting coil <NUM> have a cylindrical shape, and the power receiving coil <NUM> has a diameter smaller than that of the power transmitting coil <NUM>. The power receiving coil <NUM> and the power transmitting coil <NUM> have the same height location. Accordingly, by disposing the ferrule <NUM> on the power transmitting table <NUM>, the power receiving coil <NUM> and the power transmitting coil <NUM> face each other in the radial direction while maintaining a predetermined distance. Therefore, the ferrule <NUM> can perform the non-contact charging without worrying about a location in the circumferential direction when receiving power.

The ferrule <NUM> and the non-contact charging system <NUM> can easily perform charging of the battery <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM>. Particularly, many users of the white cane <NUM> are visually impaired. However, since the ferrule <NUM> is only required to be inserted into the power transmitting table <NUM>, the non-contact charging system <NUM> can easily charge the white cane <NUM> even by a visually impaired person. Since a tip of the first housing <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> is formed in a curved surface shape, the tip of the first housing <NUM> guides insertion if the ferrule <NUM> is inserted into the power transmitting table <NUM>. Accordingly, the ferrule <NUM> can be easily inserted into the power transmitting table <NUM>.

In the ferrule <NUM>, the antenna <NUM> is disposed at a lower end of the second housing <NUM>, and the power receiving coil <NUM> is disposed away from the antenna <NUM> in the axial direction of the second housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the antenna <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM> are disposed away from each other at a predetermined distance in the axial direction in the case <NUM>.

Accordingly, the ferrule <NUM> can prevent an influence of the power receiving coil <NUM> if the antenna <NUM> reads the RFID tag <NUM>. Therefore, the ferrule <NUM> can stably read the RFID tag <NUM>.

As described above, with the white cane <NUM>, the ferrule (the RFID device) <NUM>, and the non-contact charging system <NUM> according to one embodiment, the power receiving coil <NUM> is disposed to deviate from the antenna <NUM> in the axial direction of the case <NUM>, thereby making it possible to prevent mutual influences between the antenna <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM>.

The white cane <NUM>, the ferrule (the RFID device) <NUM>, the communication system <NUM>, and the non-contact charging system <NUM> are not limited to the example of the above-described embodiment.

For example, while the ferrule <NUM> is described as a configuration in which the battery <NUM> can be charged by the non-contact charging, the ferrule <NUM> is not limited to the configuration. For example, as shown in <FIG>, during the charging of the battery <NUM>, the control circuit board <NUM> of the ferrule <NUM> may be configured to include a cut-off circuit <NUM> that cuts off the power supply from the battery <NUM> to the RFID module <NUM>.

The ferrule (the RFID device) <NUM> having such a configuration includes the cut-off circuit <NUM>. For example, the cut-off circuit <NUM> is provided in a circuit between the battery <NUM> and the RFID module <NUM>. For example, the cut-off circuit <NUM> switches between conduction and cut-off between the RFID module <NUM> and the battery <NUM> in a potential state of FET, transistor, relay, and the like. That is, the cut-off circuit <NUM> supplies and cuts off the power of the RFID module <NUM> by switching ON and OFF. The cut-off circuit <NUM> is controlled by, for example, a control unit <NUM> which is a processor of the control circuit <NUM>.

For example, the charging circuit <NUM> includes a charging IC <NUM> including a port for transmitting a charging state to the control unit of the control circuit <NUM>. For example, in the charging IC, the port becomes High if charging is performed, and the port becomes Low if charging is not performed. The control circuit <NUM> includes the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> determines the charging state from a state of the port of the charging IC <NUM>. Next, when determining that the charging state is charging, the control unit <NUM> controls the cut-off circuit <NUM> to change the cut-off circuit <NUM> to OFF, and to cut off supplying the power to the RFID module <NUM>. When determining that the charging state is non-charging, the control unit <NUM> controls the cut-off circuit <NUM> to change the cut-off circuit <NUM> to ON, and to supply the power to the RFID module <NUM>.

As another example of the ferrule <NUM> that detects the charging state to supply and cut off the power to the RFID module <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the control circuit board <NUM> may be configured to include a voltage conversion circuit <NUM> and an OR circuit <NUM>. For example, the voltage conversion circuit <NUM> transforms a voltage of the rectifier circuit of the power receiving circuit <NUM>. If the control unit <NUM> determines that charging is performed and a command for cutting off the cut-off circuit <NUM> is input from the control unit <NUM> or if a potential of the rectifier circuit of the power receiving circuit <NUM> is received, the OR circuit <NUM> switches the cut-off circuit <NUM> to cut off supplying the power to the RFID module <NUM>.

As described in these examples, the ferrule <NUM> may be configured to include the cut-off circuit <NUM> that cuts off the power supply from the battery <NUM> to the RFID module <NUM> if the battery <NUM> is charged. The cut-off circuit <NUM> may not be configured to be controlled by the control unit <NUM> of the control circuit <NUM>, and for example, the cut-off circuit <NUM> may be configured to be controlled by the control unit <NUM> of the RFID module <NUM>. For example, a control unit, which is another processor, may be mounted on the control circuit board <NUM>, and this control unit may be configured to control the cut-off circuit <NUM>.

In at least one of the above-described embodiments, while the RFID device <NUM> is used as the ferrule of the white cane <NUM>, the embodiments are not limited thereto. The RFID device <NUM> may be configured to be used for performing another function other than the white cane <NUM>.

For example, while at least one of the above-described embodiments describes a case in which an electronic device is provided in the second housing <NUM> of the case <NUM>, the case <NUM> may be configured to accommodate at least the antenna <NUM> and the power receiving coil <NUM>, and another electronic device may be configured to be accommodated in the white cane main body <NUM> and the grip <NUM>. The electronic device described above may be configured to be accommodated in the second housing <NUM>.

While at least one of the above-described embodiments describes a configuration in which the RFID device <NUM> includes the first sensor <NUM> which is the motion sensor and the second sensor <NUM> which is the hall sensor as the sensor <NUM>, the configuration is not limited thereto. As long as the sensor <NUM> can detect the rotation of the first housing <NUM> and the lid portion <NUM> of the third housing <NUM> of the case <NUM>, which are the rotation unit, if the white cane <NUM> is used, the sensor <NUM> may be configured to include only one of the first sensor <NUM> and the second sensor <NUM>, or may be configured to include another sensor.

Claim 1:
An RFID device (<NUM>) comprising:
a case (<NUM>) including a rotation mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>);
an antenna (<NUM>) disposed in the case; and
a cylindrical power receiving coil (<NUM>) disposed in the case (<NUM>) away from the antenna (<NUM>) and extending in an axial direction of the rotation mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>), and connected to a power receiver (<NUM>) configured to charge a battery (<NUM>);
wherein the case (<NUM>) includes a third housing (<NUM>) having a shaft portion (<NUM>) as the rotation mechanism and a first housing (<NUM>) having a tubular shape disposed coaxially with the shaft portion, the antenna (<NUM>) and the cylindrical power receiving coil (<NUM>) being disposed in the first housing (<NUM>).