Patent ID: 7693487

Claim:
A radio communication apparatus which transmits communication data while supplying operating power to a moving radio communication medium by making an electromagnetic wave act on the moving radio communication medium, and receives a response signal from the radio communication medium, the radio communication apparatus comprising: an antenna to perform radio communication with the moving radio communication medium; a detector which is provided on an upstream side of the antenna in a moving direction of the moving radio communication medium, and detects the moving radio communication medium; and a radio main unit which transmits a radio communication signal to the radio communication medium when the radio communication medium comes to a setting position of the antenna, based on a medium detection signal obtained from the detector, wherein the radio communication medium is moved in a state of being incorporated into paper, and the detector takes an image of a surface of the paper into which the radio communication medium is incorporated, compares the image with a dictionary image prepared in advance, and detects an incorporation position of the radio communication medium based on a result of the comparison.