Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-125022 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on May 31, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an information processing device and a receiving method. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Contactless communication is a wireless technique in which data transmission is performed at a transmission distance ranging from 0 to tens of centimeters, and, for example, the contactless communication is applied to an RFID system including a contactless IC card and a reader/writer. Depending on the communication direction thereof, the contactless communication may be divided into two types of communication such as communication from the reader/writer to the card and communication from the card to the reader/writer. In any of the communication directions, the reader/writer constantly oscillates a carrier frequency, and the card performs transmission processing and reception processing on the basis of electric power obtained from the carrier frequency. 
         [0006]    In recent years, a large number of mobile terminals such as IC cards, mobile phones, and the like having proximity communication functions have been used. For example, there has been FeliCa (registered trademark) that is an IC card developed by Sony Corporation. As a communication standard for proximity communication, for example, there is an NFC (Near Field Communication) standard that is a short-range wireless communication standard developed by Sony Corporation and Royal Philips Electronics. 
         [0007]    For example, a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz is used in the proximity communication, and communication is performed under the condition that a distance between a transmitter and a receiver ranges from contact (0 millimeter) to about 100 millimeters. The summary of the communication will be described with reference to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 2A , and  FIG. 2B . It may be assumed that there is magnetic coupling between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna functioning as coils, at this distance. The transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are a pair of transformers. 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are explanatory diagrams illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from a reader/writer  10  to a transponder  20  such as, for example, an IC card or the like.  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are explanatory diagrams illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from the transponder  20  to the reader/writer  10 . 
         [0009]    The processing in which data is transmitted from the reader/writer  10  to the transponder  20  such as, for example, an IC card or the like will be described with reference to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the reader/writer  10  transmits a modulation signal (signal S 1   c ) from a transmission amplifier to the transponder  20  through a coil, the modulation signal conveying transmission information (signal S 1   b ) of 212 kbps on a carrier signal (signal S 1   a ) of 13.56 MHz. The transponder  20  receives a reception signal (signal S 1   d ) through a coil. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a carrier signal waveform (signal S 1   a ), a transmission information waveform (signal S 1   b ), a transmission signal waveform (signal S 1   c ), and a reception signal waveform (signal S 1   d ). In addition, an ASK modulation (Amplitude Shift Keying) method is adopted as a modulation method. 
         [0011]    The processing in which data is transmitted from the transponder  20  such as an IC card or the like to the reader/writer  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the reader/writer  10  transmits a carrier signal (signal S 2   a ) of 13.56 MHz from a transmission amplifier to the transponder  20  through a coil. The transponder  20  transmits to the reader/writer  10  a transmission signal (signal S 2   c ) generated by modulating transmission information (signal S 2   b ) of 212 kbps. The reader/writer  10  receives a reception signal (signal S 2   d ) through a coil. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a carrier signal waveform (signal S 2   a ), a transmission information waveform (signal S 2   b ), a transmission signal waveform (signal S 2   c ), and a reception signal waveform (signal S 2   d ). 
         [0013]    Between the reader/writer  10  and the transponder  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2A , communication is performed under the condition that a distance between a transmitter and a receiver ranges from contact (0) to ten-some centimeters. It may be assumed that there occurs magnetic coupling between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna functioning as coils, at this distance. The transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are a pair of transformers. 
         [0014]    As described above, for example, in the contactless communication using the NFC standard applied to FeliCa (registered trademark) that is an IC card developed by Sony Corporation, or the like, communication is performed, using a carrier of 13.56 MHz, under the condition that a distance between a transmitter and a receiver ranges from contact (0 millimeter) to about 100 millimeters. Accordingly, it is necessary to stably perform communication even if an inter-antenna distance between the R/W and the card is relatively large or an antenna positional relationship greatly changes during communication. 
         [0015]    In the communication from the transponder  20  such as the IC card or the like to the reader/writer  10 , a modulation method, called a load modulation method, is adopted. The method is a technique in which a diamagnetic field is generated by turning on and off a load in the transponder  20  such as the IC card or the like and the reader/writer  10  recognizes (detects) the change thereof, thereby allowing modulation to be confirmed. 
         [0016]    As one of major problems of the load modulation method, there is a problem called phase inversion NULL.  FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram illustrating with a graph the principle of the occurrence of the inversion NULL in contactless communication. The problem of the phase inversion NULL is a possibility that a situation occurs in which an amplitude component is not modulated before and after a load on the transponder  20  side such as the IC card or the like is turned on and off. In this case, even if the amplitude component is detected, it is difficult to confirm a modulation component. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C  are explanatory diagrams illustrating waveforms obtained by observing the reception baseband waveform (after-detection waveform) of the reader/writer  10 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates a waveform when a distance between the reader/writer  10  and the transponder  20  is 50 millimeters,  FIG. 4B  illustrates a waveform when a distance between the reader/writer  10  and the transponder  20  is 70 millimeters, and  FIG. 4C  illustrates a waveform when a distance between the reader/writer  10  and the transponder  20  is 85 millimeters. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C , it can be confirmed that a waveform disappears from view at a point the distance of which is 70 millimeters and a waveform is inversed around the point the distance of which is 70 millimeters. This is the problem called phase inversion NULL. An example of techniques for dealing with the phase inversion NULL is Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-175976. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-175976 discloses a technique in which the phase inversion NULL is solved by changing the Q-value of an antenna. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    However, there has been a problem that there is a higher risk when the Q-value of an antenna is adjusted in order to solve the phase inversion NULL. The Q-value is an important parameter for maintaining a communication distance or maintaining a communication waveform. However, when the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-175976 is used, there is a possibility that a communication distance or communication quality is adversely affected owing to the Q-value changed in order to solve the phase inversion NULL. 
         [0020]    In addition, depending on the combination of a reader/writer and a contactless IC card, the Q-value and an f 0  value vary greatly. In addition, in a device such as a mobile phone, in which metal is mounted, the visibility of the metal varies in a near portion and a distant portion, and the Q-value and the f 0  value vary. It is not necessarily the case that the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-175976 is universally applicable to the combinations of large numbers of reader/writers and contactless IC cards. 
         [0021]    Accordingly, it is necessary to solve the phase inversion NULL using another technique so that the other technique is universally applicable to the combinations of large numbers of reader/writers and contactless IC cards. The simplest way is a technique in which, using an IQ detection (orthogonal detection), not only is an amplitude component detected but a phase component is also simultaneously detected. Owing to the use of the IQ detection, even if the amplitude component disappears, a signal can be detected using the change of the phase component. 
         [0022]    However, the IQ detection also has a problem due to a load modulation method particular to contactless communication. Since, unlike ASK detection, the IQ detection uses an active element, an input dynamic range turns out to be determined on the basis of a power-supply voltage and a withstand voltage. Since a reader/writer in the contactless communication performs load modulation reception, a reception signal reaches tens of voltages depending on the kind of a system, in some cases. In addition, in this case, in order to perform the IQ detection, it is necessary to reduce a voltage to at least the power-supply voltage or less (the input dynamic range of an IC or less) using resistance division. When a carrier level is reduced with resistance division, a modulation signal naturally decreases in proportion, and a signal-noise (SN) ratio decreases. Owing to the load modulation method, a modulation degree becomes small with communication distance being increased, and a carrier signal level monotonically increases with decrease in the modulation degree. Accordingly, when the SN ratio severely decreases, further resistance division is necessary. Therefore, there occurs a problem that the communication distance becomes short compared with the ASK detection. 
         [0023]    Therefore, embodiments of the present invention address the above-mentioned problems. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable to provide an information processing device and a receiving method that are new and improved which, even at a communication distance causing the phase inversion NULL to occur, can solve a communication error and adequately perform contactless communication, by adequately switching between the IQ detection and the ASK detection. 
         [0024]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one of viewpoints of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing device including a wireless antenna configured to perform contactless communication using electromagnetic coupling, an IQ detection unit configured to subject a signal received by the wireless antenna to IQ detection, an ASK detection unit configured to subject the signal received by the wireless antenna to ASK detection, a first AGC circuit configured to control a gain for the signal subjected to the IQ detection by the IQ detection unit, a second AGC circuit configured to control a gain for the signal subjected to the ASK detection by the ASK detection unit, a demodulation circuit configured to perform predetermined demodulation processing on an output of the first AGC circuit or an output of the second AGC circuit, and a control unit configured to receive information of control voltage levels from the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit, and control, in response to the information of the control voltage levels, supply of one of the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit to the demodulation circuit, by switching between the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit. 
         [0025]    The control unit may control, on the basis of whether or not the control voltage level from the second AGC circuit is less than a predetermined threshold value, supply of one of the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit to the demodulation circuit, by switching between the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit. 
         [0026]    The control unit may control the supply so that the output of the second AGC circuit is supplied to the demodulation circuit when the control voltage level from the second AGC circuit is less than a predetermined threshold value and the output of the first AGC circuit is supplied to the demodulation circuit when the control voltage level from the second AGC circuit is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value. 
         [0027]    The control unit may control the supply so that the output of the second AGC circuit is supplied to the demodulation circuit when the control voltage level from the second AGC circuit is less than the control voltage level from the first AGC circuit and the output of the first AGC circuit is supplied to the demodulation circuit when the control voltage level from the second AGC circuit is greater than or equal to the control voltage level from the first AGC circuit. 
         [0028]    The control unit may control the supply so that the control unit switches to an output, which has not been selected, and supplies the output to the demodulation circuit, when a demodulation error occurs in demodulation processing performed in the demodulation circuit. 
         [0029]    The information processing device further includes a first switch configured to be provided between the first AGC circuit and the demodulation circuit, and a second switch configured to be provided between the second AGC circuit and the demodulation circuit, wherein the control unit may switch between the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit and supply one of the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit to the demodulation circuit, by switching over the first switch and the second switch. 
         [0030]    The information processing device further includes a third switch configured to be provided between the wireless antenna and the first AGC circuit, and a fourth switch configured to be provided between the wireless antenna and the second AGC circuit, wherein the control unit may switch between the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit and supply one of the outputs of the first AGC circuit and the second AGC circuit to the demodulation circuit, by switching over the third switch and the fourth switch. 
         [0031]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to another of viewpoints of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a receiving method including the steps of: performing contactless communication using a wireless antenna and electromagnetic coupling, subjecting a signal received by the wireless antenna in the communication step to IQ detection, subjecting the signal received by the wireless antenna in the communication step to ASK detection, firstly automatically controlling a gain for the signal subjected to the IQ detection in the IQ detection step, secondly automatically controlling a gain for the signal subjected to the ASK detection in the ASK detection step, performing predetermined demodulation processing on an output of the first AGC step or an output of the second AGC step, and receiving information of control voltage levels in the first AGC step and the second AGC step and controlling, in response to the information of the control voltage levels, supply of one of the outputs of the first AGC step and the second AGC step to the demodulation step, by switching between the outputs of the first AGC step and the second AGC step. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from a reader/writer to a transponder such as, for example, an IC card or the like; 
           [0033]      FIG. 1B  is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from the reader/writer to the transponder such as, for example, an IC card or the like; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from the transponder to the reader/writer; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing in which data is transmitted from the transponder to the reader/writer; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram illustrating with a graph a principle of the occurrence of inversion NULL in contactless communication; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4A  is an explanatory diagram illustrating waveforms obtained by observing a reception baseband waveform (after-detection waveform) of the reader/writer; 
           [0038]      FIG. 4B  is an explanatory diagram illustrating waveforms obtained by observing a reception baseband waveform (after-detection waveform) of the reader/writer; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4C  is an explanatory diagram illustrating waveforms obtained by observing a reception baseband waveform (after-detection waveform) of the reader/writer; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 6A  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a measurement example of a relationship between a control voltage level for AGC and a communication distance; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6B  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a measurement example of a relationship between a control voltage level for AGC and a communication distance; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6C  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a measurement example of a relationship between a control voltage level for AGC and a communication distance; 
           [0044]      FIG. 6D  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a measurement example of a relationship between a control voltage level for AGC and a communication distance; 
           [0045]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed in the reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed in the reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed in the reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0049]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0050]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to figures. In addition, in the present application and figures, a same symbol is assigned to a constructional element having substantially the same function and configuration, and the redundant description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0051]    In addition, the preferred embodiments will be described in the following order. 
         [0052]    &lt;1. Embodiment of Present Invention&gt;
       [1-1. Configuration of Reader/Writer]   [1-2. Operation Performed in Reader/Writer]   [1-3. Example of Modification to Reader/Writer]       
 
         [0056]    &lt;2. Summary&gt; 
       1. Embodiment of Present Invention 
     [1-1. Configuration of Reader/Writer] 
       [0057]    First, the configuration of a reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reader/writer  100  illustrated in  FIG. 5  performs the above-mentioned contactless communication with a mobile phone or the like (not illustrated. These devices are simply called “contactless IC card” hereinafter) in which a contactless IC card or an antenna coil is embedded, and thereby transmits and receives information to and from the contactless IC card. Hereinafter, the configuration of the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0058]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ASK detection unit  110 , an IQ detection unit  120 , automatic gain control (AGC) circuits  130  and  140 , a switch control unit  150 , switches  160  and  170 , a demodulation circuit  180 , an antenna coil L 1 , a capacitor C 1 , and resistors R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 . 
         [0059]    The ASK detection unit  110  executes ASK detection processing in which an amplitude component is detected for a signal received from the contactless IC card by the antenna coil L 1 . The output of the ASK detection processing performed by the ASK detection unit  110  is sent to the AGC circuit  130 . 
         [0060]    The IQ detection unit  120  executes IQ detection processing in which both an amplitude component and a phase component are detected for the signal received from the contactless IC card by the antenna coil L 1 . The output of the IQ detection processing performed by the IQ detection unit  120  is sent to the AGC circuit  140 . 
         [0061]    The AGC circuit  130  adjusts the output of the ASK detection unit  110  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In the same way, the AGC circuit  140  adjusts the output of the IQ detection unit  120  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. Signals the gains of which are adjusted by the AGC circuits  130  and  140  are sent to the demodulation circuit  180  through the switches  160  and  170 , respectively. In addition, the information of a control voltage level for AGC is sent from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140  to the switch control unit  150 . The information of a control voltage level for AGC, sent from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , is used for causing the switch control unit  150  to determine whether the switch  160  or the switch  170  is to be put into an on-state. 
         [0062]    On the basis of the information of a control voltage level for AGC, sent from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , the switch control unit  150  executes a control operation in which one of the switches  160  and  170  is put into an on-state. In order to put one of the switches  160  and  170  into an on-state, the switch control unit  150  determines whether or not the control voltage level for AGC after the IQ detection performed in the IQ detection unit  120  is less than a predetermined threshold value, for example. 
         [0063]    When the control voltage level for AGC after the IQ detection performed in the IQ detection unit  120  is less than the predetermined threshold value, the switch control unit  150  uses the IQ detection, namely puts the switch  160  into an off-state and puts the switch  170  into an on-state. On the other hand, when the control voltage level for AGC after the IQ detection performed in the IQ detection unit  120  is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the switch control unit  150  uses the ASK detection, namely puts the switch  160  into an on-state and puts the switch  170  into an off-state. 
         [0064]      FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating measurement examples of a relationship between a control voltage level for AGC and a communication distance. In each of the graphs illustrated in  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6D , a horizontal axis indicates a distance between a contactless IC card and a reader/writer, and a vertical axis indicates a relative value of a carrier level. 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6D , a communication error occurs when the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection reaches a voltage ranging from about 730 mV to about 830 mV. Namely, on the basis of an actual measurement result, it may be considered that, for example, a threshold value is set to 700 mV (namely, when the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection becomes greater than or equal to 700 mV, detection is switched to an ASK detection), thereby allowing communication to be successfully performed between the contactless IC card and the reader/writer. Needless to say, an example of the threshold value is not limited to such an example described above. 
         [0066]    In this way, depending on whether or not the control voltage level for AGC after the IQ detection performed in the IQ detection unit  120  is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention selects one of the ASK detection and the IQ detection. Accordingly, even in a situation in which phase inversion NULL occurs, the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention can normally perform contactless communication with the contactless IC card. 
         [0067]    As described above, the switches  160  and  170  are switches the on-off states of which are controlled by the switch control unit  150 . When the switch  160  is put into an on-state by the switch control unit  150 , and the switch  170  is put into an off-state by the switch control unit  150 , an output from the AGC circuit  130  is supplied to a demodulation circuit in a subsequent stage. On the other hand, when the switch  160  is put into an off-state by the switch control unit  150 , and the switch  170  is put into an on-state by the switch control unit  150 , an output from the AGC circuit  140  is supplied to the demodulation circuit in a subsequent stage. 
         [0068]    The demodulation circuit  180  receives the output from the AGC circuit  130  or the AGC circuit  140 , and executes predetermined demodulation processing. The demodulation circuit  180  demodulates a signal modulated on the contactless IC card side, and can extract information on the basis of demodulation processing performed in the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0069]    The reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a configuration illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and hence, even at a communication distance causing phase inversion NULL to occur, the reader/writer  100  can solve a communication error and adequately perform contactless communication with the contactless IC card, by adequately switching between ASK detection and IQ detection. 
         [0070]    As described above, the configuration of the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to  FIG. 5 . Next, an operation, performed in the reader/writer  100  illustrated in  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described. 
       [1-2. Operation Performed in Reader/Writer] 
       [0071]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0072]    First, the reader/writer  100  receives a packet from the contactless IC card with the antenna coil L 1 , using contactless communication (Step S 101 ). In the reader/writer  100 , the ASK detection unit  110  and the IQ detection unit  120  concurrently perform an ASK detection processing and an IQ detection processing on the packet received with the antenna coil L 1 , respectively. 
         [0073]    The AGC circuit  130  adjusts the output of the ASK detection unit  110  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In the same way, the AGC circuit  140  adjusts the output of the IQ detection unit  120  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In addition, the switch control unit  150  acquires a control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140  (Step S 102 ). 
         [0074]    When the switch control unit  150  acquires the control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , the switch control unit  150  determines whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than a predetermined threshold value (X m [V]) (Step S 103 ). 
         [0075]    In a case in which, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 103 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]), since a baseband signal becomes small owing to phase inversion NULL, the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that an IQ detection signal is selected (Step S 104 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an off-state and puts the switch  170  into an on-state, thereby controlling switches so that the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0076]    On the other hand, when, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 103 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]), the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that an ASK detection signal is selected (Step S 105 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an on-state and puts the switch  170  into an off-state, thereby controlling switches so that the ASK detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0077]    When, on the basis of the above-mentioned Steps S 104  and S 105 , the switch control unit  150  controls the on-off states of the switches  160  and  170 , and one of the ASK detection signal and the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 , the demodulation circuit  180  executes predetermined demodulation processing and decodes a signal (Step S 106 ). 
         [0078]    As described above, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to  FIG. 7 . On the basis of the sequence of operations described above, even in a state in which the phase inversion NULL occurs, the reader/writer  100  can normally perform contactless communication with the contactless IC card, by adequately switching between ASK detection and IQ detection. 
         [0079]    In addition, while, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 7 , depending on whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]), the switch control unit  150  controls the on-off states of the switches  160  and  170  so that one of the ASK detection signal and the IQ detection signal is selected, an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the example. For example, there is also a method in which the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection is compared with the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection and a detection signal having a smaller control voltage level (a detection signal having a greater baseband signal level) is selected. Next, another example of an operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0080]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating another example of an operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0081]    First, the reader/writer  100  receives a packet from the contactless IC card with the antenna coil L 1 , using contactless communication (Step S 111 ). In the reader/writer  100 , the ASK detection unit  110  and the IQ detection unit  120  concurrently perform an ASK detection processing and an IQ detection processing on the packet received with the antenna coil L 1 , respectively. 
         [0082]    The AGC circuit  130  adjusts the output of the ASK detection unit  110  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In the same way, the AGC circuit  140  adjusts the output of the IQ detection unit  120  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In addition, the switch control unit  150  acquires a control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140  (Step S 112 ). 
         [0083]    When the switch control unit  150  acquires the control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , the switch control unit  150  determines whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection (Step S 113 ). 
         [0084]    When, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 113 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that the IQ detection signal is selected (Step S 114 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an off-state and puts the switch  170  into an on-state, thereby controlling switches so that the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0085]    On the other hand, when, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 113 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is greater than or equal to the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that an ASK detection signal is selected (Step S 115 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an on-state and puts the switch  170  into an off-state, thereby controlling switches so that the ASK detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0086]    When, on the basis of the above-mentioned Steps S 114  and S 115 , the switch control unit  150  controls the on-off states of the switches  160  and  170 , and one of the ASK detection signal and the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 , the demodulation circuit  180  executes predetermined demodulation processing and decodes a signal (Step S 116 ). 
         [0087]    As described above, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to  FIG. 8 . On the basis of the sequence of operations described above, even in a state in which the phase inversion NULL occurs, the reader/writer  100  can normally perform contactless communication with the contactless IC card, by adequately switching between ASK detection and IQ detection. 
         [0088]    In addition, at the time of switching between the ASK detection and the IQ detection, an SN ratio based on an AGC control signal may be calculated with respect to each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , and information of the calculated SN ratio may be used. For example, at the time of the calculation of the SN ratio, a gain control signal for the AGC circuit, generated in response to a reception signal level, may be input, and the SN ratio of a reception signal may be calculated in response to the gain control signal. 
         [0089]    In addition, while, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , depending on whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, the reader/writer  100  adequately switches between the ASK detection and the IQ detection, the reader/writer  100  may switch to a detection signal that has not been selected, and perform demodulation, when an error occurs at the time of the demodulation of a selected detection signal. The ASK detection and the IQ detection have waveform qualities different from each other. Therefore, for example, when a demodulation error occurs mainly in a state in which the reader/writer and the contactless IC card are adjacent to each other, there is a possibility that, by decoding a signal using a different detection method at the time of retry, proximity contactless communication becomes available. 
         [0090]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating another example of an operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0091]    First, the reader/writer  100  receives a packet from the contactless IC card with the antenna coil L 1 , using contactless communication (Step S 121 ). In the reader/writer  100 , the ASK detection unit  110  and the IQ detection unit  120  concurrently perform an ASK detection processing and an IQ detection processing on the packet received with the antenna coil L 1 , respectively. 
         [0092]    The AGC circuit  130  adjusts the output of the ASK detection unit  110  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In the same way, the AGC circuit  140  adjusts the output of the IQ detection unit  120  so that the output has a predetermined gain, and outputs the output. In addition, the switch control unit  150  acquires a control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140  (Step S 122 ). 
         [0093]    When the switch control unit  150  acquires the control voltage level for AGC from each of the AGC circuits  130  and  140 , the switch control unit  150  determines whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection (Step S 123 ). 
         [0094]    When, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 123 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that the IQ detection signal is selected (Step S 124 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an off-state and puts the switch  170  into an on-state, thereby controlling switches so that the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0095]    On the other hand, when, on the basis of the determination result obtained in the above-mentioned Step S 123 , it is determined that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is greater than or equal to the AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, the switch control unit  150  controls switches so that an ASK detection signal is selected (Step S 125 ). Specifically, the switch control unit  150  puts the switch  160  into an on-state and puts the switch  170  into an off-state, thereby controlling switches so that the ASK detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 . 
         [0096]    When, on the basis of the above-mentioned Steps S 124  and S 125 , the switch control unit  150  controls the on-off states of the switches  160  and  170 , and one of the ASK detection signal and the IQ detection signal is supplied to the demodulation circuit  180 , the demodulation circuit  180  executes predetermined demodulation processing and decodes a signal (Step S 126 ). 
         [0097]    Here, the demodulation circuit  180  determines whether or not a demodulation error occurs at the time of the execution of demodulation processing (Step S 127 ), and when a demodulation error occurs, the demodulation circuit  180  switches to a detection signal that has not been selected in the above-mentioned Step S 126 , and performs decoding (Step S 128 ). Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the reader/writer  100  may include a configuration in which the presence or absence of a demodulation error is fed back from the demodulation circuit  180  to the switch control unit  150 . 
         [0098]    When, in the above-mentioned Step S 127 , it is determined that no demodulation error occurs in the demodulation processing performed in the demodulation circuit  180 , or when, in the above-mentioned Step S 127 , it is determined that an demodulation error occurs in the demodulation processing performed in the demodulation circuit  180 , and, in the above-mentioned Step S 128 , the demodulation circuit  180  switches to a detection signal that has not been selected in the above-mentioned Step S 126 , and performs decoding, the reader/writer  100  completes a sequence of communication processing operations (Step S 129 ), and returns to the processing in which a packet is received from the contactless IC card, again. 
         [0099]    As described above, the operation performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to  FIG. 9 . On the basis of the sequence of operations described above, even in a state in which the phase inversion NULL occurs, the reader/writer  100  can normally perform contactless communication with the contactless IC card, by adequately switching between the ASK detection and the IQ detection. In addition, when a detection signal is demodulated on the basis of the selected detection, and an error occurs, the reader/writer  100  switches to a detection signal that has not been selected and performs demodulation, thereby allowing proximity contactless communication to be available. 
       [1-3. Example of Modification to Reader/Writer] 
       [0100]    Next, an example of a modification to the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-mentioned reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, depending on whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]) or whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than AGC control voltage level of the ASK detection, switching between the ASK detection and the IQ detection is adequately performed. The example of a modification to the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, described below, includes a configuration in which detection is selected so that the detection is preliminarily performed using one of the IQ detection and the ASK detection (for example, the IQ detection) and a signal after the detection is demodulated. In addition, in the configuration, when the AGC control voltage level of the selected IQ detection reaches a value greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (X m [V]), detection is switched to the other detection (for example, the ASK detection). 
         [0101]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the example of a modification to the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The example of a modification to the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 11 , includes a configuration in which switches  191  and  192  are added, compared with the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0102]    For example, in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 11 , at the time of a normal operation, the switch  191  is put into an off-state and the switch  192  is put into an on-state, and hence a signal received from the contactless IC card using the antenna coil L 1  is subjected to IQ detection in the IQ detection unit  120 , and a signal after the detection is demodulated in the demodulation circuit  180  in a subsequent stage. 
         [0103]    In addition, when the switch control unit  150  detects that the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection becomes a value less than the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]), the switch  191  is put into an on-state and the switch  192  is put into an off-state, and hence the signal received from the contactless IC card using the antenna coil L 1  is subjected to ASK detection in the ASK detection unit  110 , and a signal after the detection is demodulated in the demodulation circuit  180  in a subsequent stage. 
         [0104]    By including such a configuration as described above, the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 11 , can select one of the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing on the basis of whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value (X m [V]). 
       2. Summary 
       [0105]    As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which both the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing are executed in the reader/writer  100 , and switching between the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing is performed on the basis of whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value. 
         [0106]    In this way, a configuration is adopted in which both the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing are executed in the reader/writer  100 , and switching between the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing is performed on the basis of whether or not the AGC control voltage level of the IQ detection is less than the predetermined threshold value. Accordingly, even at a communication distance causing the phase inversion NULL to occur, a communication error is solved and the decrease of a communication distance, associated with the dynamic range of the IQ detection, can be prevented. Furthermore, in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, compared with a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-175976, the phase inversion NULL can be improved without the Q-value being changed, and in addition, a method can be concurrently used in which the Q-value of the reader/writer is changed in order to improve communication quality. 
         [0107]    In addition, the reader/writers  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 5  and  11 , may be embedded in an electronic device such as a personal computer, an automatic ticket gate in a station, or the like. By embedding the reader/writer  100  in such an electronic device, contactless communication processing between the electronic device and the contactless IC card becomes available, and even at a communication distance causing the phase inversion NULL to occur, a communication error is solved and the decrease of a communication distance, associated with the dynamic range of the IQ detection, can be prevented. 
         [0108]    In addition, switching between the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing, performed in the reader/writer  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, may be executed using a computer program. When the above-mentioned switching between the IQ detection processing and the ASK detection processing is performed using the computer program, a medium in which the computer program is stored is stored in the reader/writer  100 , and an arithmetic device such as a central processing unit (CPU) or the like may read out the computer program from the medium and execute the computer program. 
         [0109]    It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 5