JP2005045593A - Wireless communication type authentication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication type authentication device of high reliability in communication capable of avoiding incapability of communication between a key and a reader, even if an exciting magnetic field generated from the reader is weak by separating both coil antennas of the reader and the key in the axial direction of the coil. <P>SOLUTION: The authentication device of wireless communication method comprises a reader 1 comprising a first coil antenna 1A for generating an exciting magnetic field and detecting a response magnetic field, and a key 2 comprising a second coil antenna 2A which is excited by the exciting magnetic field generated from the first coil antenna 1A and generates a response magnetic field containing an authentication signal toward the first coil antenna 1A. A magnetic member 3 of low reluctance positioned between both coil antennas 1A and 2A of the key 2 and the reader 1 spaced in axial direction when the key 2 is set at a reading position of the reader 1, is provided at least at the key 2 or the reader 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a reader unit including a first coil antenna that generates an excitation magnetic field and detects a response magnetic field, and a response magnetic field that is excited by the excitation magnetic field generated from the first coil antenna and includes an authentication signal. The present invention relates to a wireless communication type authentication device including a key unit including a second coil antenna generated toward the first coil antenna.

The wireless communication type authentication device, for example, exchanges an authentication signal between a key unit and a reader unit in a wireless communication type in order to configure an authentication system for personal information.
In general, when an excitation magnetic field having a predetermined frequency is generated from the first coil antenna of the reader unit, an electric field is induced in the second coil antenna built in the transponder of the key unit by the excitation magnetic field, and the transponder is charged. A response magnetic field including an authentication signal (code signal) is generated from the second coil antenna of the key unit toward the first coil antenna of the reader unit, and the reader unit uses the response magnetic field detected by the first coil antenna for the authentication. The signal is read and compared with an authentication signal stored in advance to determine whether or not the authentication is appropriate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the authentication device described in Patent Document 1, the key part is built in the engine key of the automobile, the leader part is disposed in the key hole part on the vehicle body side, the engine key is inserted into the key hole, and the key part is When set at the reading position of the reader unit, the second coil antenna of the key unit and the first coil antenna of the reader unit are positioned in close contact.

JP 63-93649 A (page 1-4, FIGS. 1 to 6)

  However, if the magnetic field intensity for excitation generated from the first coil antenna of the reader part is insufficient due to characteristic variations (element variations) of the electronic parts and the charging electric field intensity at the transponder of the key part is not sufficient, There was an inconvenience that communication was not possible between the leaders. That is, the first coil antenna of the reader unit is driven at a resonance frequency so as to have a high magnetic field generation efficiency, but the resonance frequency varies depending on the inductance and capacitor capacity of the coil antenna. When the driving frequency deviates from the initially set driving frequency, the impedance (resistance) of the coil antenna at the driving frequency increases, the current flowing through the coil antenna decreases, and the excitation magnetic field strength decreases.

  In addition, when the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit, the configuration in which the first coil antenna of the reader unit and the second coil antenna of the key unit are closely positioned has great design restrictions, and thus has such disadvantages. In order to avoid this, a configuration in which when the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit, the first coil antenna of the reader unit and the second coil antenna of the key unit are positioned apart in the coil axis direction is considered. However, in this case, there is a risk that inconvenience based on the lack of the excitation magnetic field strength is likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excitation magnetic field generated from the leader portion while adopting a configuration in which both coil antennas of the leader portion and the key portion are spaced apart in the coil axis direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication type authentication device capable of realizing the high reliability of communication by avoiding the inability to communicate between the key unit and the reader unit even when the strength becomes weak.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of a wireless communication type authentication device according to the present invention is that the first coil antenna and the second coil antenna set the key unit at a reading position of the reader unit. The first coil antenna and the second coil antenna that are spaced apart in the coil axis direction and spaced apart in the coil axis direction when the key part is set at the reading position of the reader part. And a magnetic member having a low magnetic resistance located between and at least one of the key portion and the leader portion.

  That is, when the key part is set at the reading position of the leader part, the first magnetic part of the leader part in which the low magnetic resistance magnetic member provided in at least one of the leader part and the key part is spaced apart in the coil axis direction. Since it is located between the coil antenna and the second coil antenna of the key part, it is low between the first coil antenna 1A of the reader part 1 and the second coil antenna 2A of the key part 2 as illustrated in FIG. A magnetic field passage is formed by the magnetic member 3 of magnetoresistance, and the excitation magnetic field generated from the first coil antenna 1A of the reader unit 1 passes through the magnetic member 3 without diffusing to the surroundings, and the magnetic field strength is reduced. The signal is transmitted to the second coil antenna 2A of the key unit 2 in a suppressed state. FIG. 3 shows, as a comparative example, how the magnetic field for excitation diffuses toward the surrounding metal member 5 when the magnetic member 3 with low magnetic resistance is not positioned between the two coil antennas 1A and 2A.

  When the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit as described above, the first coil antenna of the reader unit and the second coil antenna of the key unit are separated from each other in the coil axis direction. Each coil antenna and key part can be set relatively freely, and the characteristics and dimensions of components such as resin are inexpensive and easy to manufacture. It becomes possible.

Therefore, even if the magnetic field for excitation generated from the reader unit becomes weak while adopting a configuration in which both coil antennas of the reader unit and the key unit are separated from each other in the coil axis direction, communication between the key unit and the reader unit is not possible. There is provided a wireless communication type authentication device capable of avoiding the impossibility and realizing high communication reliability.
At the same time, communication is possible even with weak excitation magnetic field strength, so the antenna of the reader unit and the key unit can be downsized, and the current consumption can be reduced. The effect of being excellent in is obtained.

  The second characteristic configuration is that, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, the magnetic member is soft ferrite.

In other words, soft ferrite is a ferrite magnetic material exhibiting soft magnetism (soft magnetism), and has characteristics of high magnetic permeability and high magnetic flux density, and has low hysteresis loss and high electrical resistance due to being an oxide. Since the eddy current loss is small, it has extremely low loss characteristics. As a result, by using soft ferrite as the low magnetic resistance magnetic member, it is possible to form a low magnetic resistance magnetic field passage while minimizing loss.
Therefore, a preferred embodiment of a wireless communication type authentication device is provided by using soft ferrite having excellent characteristics as a magnetic member disposed between both coil antennas of the reader part and the key part.

  In the third feature configuration, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, the key unit set at the reading position of the reader unit can be held in the reader unit and can be released. Means is provided.

That is, when the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit, the holding unit can hold the key unit at the reader unit, and the holding unit is released and set at the reading position of the reader unit. The key part can be removed from the leader part.
Therefore, for example, after the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit by manual operation, the key unit is held in the reader unit even if the hand is released from the key unit. A preferred embodiment of a wireless communication type authentication device capable of reading the authentication signal is provided.

  In the fourth feature configuration, in addition to the third feature configuration, the holding means includes a magnet provided in one of the leader portion and the key portion, and the other of the leader portion and the key portion. It is in the point comprised with the provided iron member.

That is, when the key part is set at the reading position of the leader part, the iron member provided on the other of the leader part and the key part is attracted by the magnet provided on one of the leader part and the key part, so that the key part is When the key part held by the leader part and set at the reading position of the leader part is moved away to a position where the magnetic attraction force of the magnet does not reach the iron member, the holding state of the key part is released.
Here, although the magnetic resistance of the iron member is generally low and a magnetic field easily passes, the iron member is provided with the key portion from the first coil antenna of the leader portion because the low magnetic resistance magnetic member is provided. Even when it is located near the magnetic field path toward the second coil antenna, it is possible to prevent the excitation magnetic field generated from the first coil antenna of the leader part from diffusing toward the iron member and reducing the strength.

  Therefore, a wireless communication type authentication device that facilitates maintaining and releasing the set state with respect to the leader portion of the key portion by combining the magnet and the iron member while avoiding the influence of the intensity reduction of the excitation magnetic field due to the iron member. Preferred embodiments are provided.

  In the fifth feature configuration, in addition to any one of the first to fourth feature configurations, a guide unit and a guided unit that sets the key unit at a reading position of the reader unit, the leader unit and the guided unit are provided. It is in the point provided in each key part.

That is, the guided portion provided in the key portion is guided by the guiding portion provided in the leader portion, or the guided portion provided in the leader portion is guided by the guiding portion provided in the key portion, and the key portion is the leader. Set to the reading position.
Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the wireless communication type authentication device that facilitates the setting operation for the reading position of the reader unit of the key unit is provided.

An embodiment of a wireless communication type authentication apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the authentication apparatus includes a reader unit 1 including a first coil antenna 1 </ b> A that generates an excitation magnetic field and detects a response magnetic field, and a first coil antenna 1 </ b> A of the reader unit 1. The key unit 2 includes a second coil antenna 2A that is excited by the generated excitation magnetic field and generates a response magnetic field including an authentication signal toward the first coil antenna 1A of the reader unit 1.

  Further, the first coil antenna 1A and the second coil antenna 2A are positioned apart from each other in the coil axis direction when the key unit 2 is set at the reading position of the reader unit 1 (state shown in FIG. 1B). And when the key part 2 is set to the reading position of the reader part 1, it is between the second coil antenna 2A of the key part 2 and the first coil antenna 1A of the reader part 1 that are spaced apart in the coil axis direction. The low magnetic resistance magnetic member 3 is provided on at least one of the leader 1 and the key 2. 1 and 2, the magnetic member 3 is provided in the key portion 2.

  The magnetic member 3 is made of a soft ferrite material and is formed in a cylindrical rod shape that is elongated in the axial direction of the two coil antennas 1A and 2A. Here, as the soft ferrite material, Mn—Zn-based ferrite that is inexpensive and has characteristics such as low loss, high magnetic permeability, and high magnetic flux density is used, but single-component ferrite such as Mn and Fe may be used.

  The leader portion 1 is configured in such a manner that the first coil antenna 1A and the leader circuit board 1B are embedded in a resin-made cylindrical main body 1C in which a concave section 7 having a circular cross section is formed at one end. The first coil antenna 1A is installed near the bottom surface of the recess 7 with the coil axis direction along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, and the leader circuit board 1B is connected to the first coil antenna 1A to supply a magnetic field signal for excitation. Authentication signal processing based on the response magnetic field signal detected by the first coil antenna 1A is performed. Note that the result of the authentication processing by the reader circuit board 1B is sent to another device (computer, control device, etc.) (not shown) that uses the result of this authentication processing.

  The key part 2 is a transponder in which the second coil antenna 2A is built in a cylindrical axial center position of a resin-made cylindrical main body 2B having an outer peripheral side surface 6 formed with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the recess 7 of the leader part 1. 10 and a magnetic member 3 having a low magnetic resistance embedded therein, and the cylindrical main body 2B is configured to be freely inserted into and removed from the recess 7 while the outer peripheral side surface 6 is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the recess 7 of the leader portion 1. ing. That is, as a guide part and a guided part for setting the key part 2 at the reading position of the leader part 1, the key part 2 is provided with the outer peripheral side surface 6, and the leader part 1 is provided with the concave part 7 fitted to the outer peripheral side surface 6 is there. Here, because of the arrangement of the members as described above, communication is possible at any rotational position where the columnar body 2B on the key portion 2 side is rotated around the cylinder axis with respect to the concave portion 7 on the reader portion 1 side. .

  A holding means H is provided that can hold the key unit 2 set at the reading position of the reader unit 1 in the reader unit 1 and release the holding thereof. Specifically, the holding means H is composed of a magnet 4 provided on one of the leader part 1 and the key part 2 and an iron member 5 provided on the other of the leader part 1 and the key part 2. ing. Here, the magnet 4 is provided in the leader portion 1, and the iron member 5 is provided in the key portion 2. The magnet 4 and the iron member 5 are both formed in an annular shape, the magnet 4 is arranged at the bottom corner of the recess 7 of the leader portion 1, and the iron member 5 is arranged near the outer peripheral side of the columnar body 2 </ b> B of the key portion 2. Has been. When the key unit 2 is set at the reading position of the reader unit 1, the magnet 4 and the iron member 5 face each other and attracting force is applied to the both, so that the key unit 2 is held at the reading position of the reader unit 1. When it is pulled away from the holding state, the holding state is released.

[Another embodiment]
Next, another embodiment of the authentication device according to the present invention will be described.
In the first alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the low magnetic resistance magnetic member 3 is provided not in the key portion 2 but in the reader portion 1, and the magnet 4 constituting the holding means H is provided in the key portion 2. An example in which the iron member 5 is provided in the leader portion 1 is shown. Although not shown, the low magnetic resistance magnetic member 3 may be provided in both the leader portion 1 and the key portion 2.

  In a second alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the low magnetic resistance magnetic member 3 is formed in a bent shape. In other words, in FIG. 5, the position of the transponder 10 (second coil antenna 2A) on the key unit 2 side is axially separated from the first coil antenna 1A of the reader unit 1, but the first coil antenna 1A. When the magnetic member 3 having a low magnetic resistance provided in the key portion 2 is bent in the middle, the second coil antenna 2A of the key portion 2 and the leader portion 1 are formed. An example in which the first coil antenna 1A is positioned between the first coil antennas 1A is shown. In FIG. 6, the position of the first coil antenna 1 </ b> A of the reader unit 1 is separated from the transponder 10 (second coil antenna 2 </ b> A) on the key unit 2 side in the axial direction. When the magnetic member 3 having a low magnetic resistance provided in the leader portion 1 is bent in the middle, the first coil antenna 1A and the key portion 2 of the leader portion 1 are formed. An example is shown in which it is positioned between the second coil antennas 2A.

  In the third alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a circular inner peripheral surface 6A is provided on the key portion 2 as a guide portion and a guided portion for setting the key portion 2 at the reading position of the reader portion 1. An example is shown in which the leader 1 is provided with a circular convex portion 7A that fits with the circular inner peripheral surface 6A. 7 and 8 show a case where the arrangement of the magnetic member 3 and the holding means H of the low magnetic resistance is exchanged between the leader unit 1 and the key unit 2. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the fourth alternative embodiment shows a modified example of the resin main body part constituting the key part 2. That is, instead of the cylindrical key portion 2 as described above, (A) shows a case where the cross section is formed in a cylindrical shape, and (B) shows a case where the cross section is formed in a hexagonal shape. Various polygonal shapes other than are possible. Although omitted in FIG. 9, the member on the leader portion 1 side corresponding to the polygonal key portion 2 is also formed in a polygonal shape.
And the key part 2 of various designs is realizable by setting it as the above polygonal shapes. In addition, unlike the circular shape, the polygonal key portion 2 can be inserted into the reader portion 1 only at a predetermined rotational position, so that the magnetic member 3 with low magnetic resistance can be inserted only at this insertable rotational position. By configuring the coil antennas 1A and 2A so as to be positioned between the two coil antennas 1A and 2A, as a first check, a non-insertable key portion is excluded, and as a second check, an insertable key portion and a reader are used. An authentication device with an enhanced check function for exchanging the authentication signal between the units can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the low magnetic resistance magnetic member 3 is made of soft ferrite, but may be made of other low magnetic resistance magnetic materials.

  In the above embodiment, the magnetic member 3 having a low magnetic resistance is formed in the shape of a rod having a circular cross section, but may be formed in other shapes.

  In the above embodiment, the coil antennas 1A and 2A of the leader unit 1 and the key unit 2 are formed of air-core coils, but a coil wound around a ferrite core may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the holding means H is constituted by the magnet 4 and the iron member 5, but other than this, for example, it may be constituted by a mechanical hook mechanism or the like.

  The field of application of this authentication device is, for example, a system that is installed in an electronic cash register or POS terminal, etc., that links personal authentication and product sales data, a personal recognition system in a citizen marathon, etc., or driving a car There is an anti-theft system that prevents an engine from operating unless personal authentication (electronic ID) is combined with a key.

Sectional drawing which shows a structure and effect | action of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows the comparative example for demonstrating the effect | action of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows the structure and effect | action of 1st another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 2nd another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows 2nd another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows 3rd another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing which shows 3rd another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention The perspective view which shows 4th another embodiment of the authentication apparatus which concerns on this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Leader part 1A 1st coil antenna 2 Key part 2A 2nd coil antenna 3 Magnetic member (soft ferrite)
4 Magnet 5 Iron member 6, 7 Guide section 6, 7 Guide section 6A, 7A Guide section 6A, 7A Guide section H Holding means

Claims (5)

A reader unit having a first coil antenna for generating an excitation magnetic field and detecting a response magnetic field, and a response magnetic field that is excited by the excitation magnetic field generated from the first coil antenna and includes an authentication signal. A wireless communication type authentication device comprising a key unit having a second coil antenna generated toward an antenna,
The first coil antenna and the second coil antenna are positioned apart from each other in the coil axis direction when the key unit is set at the reading position of the reader unit, and the key unit is read by the reader unit. A magnetic member having a low magnetoresistance located between the first coil antenna and the second coil antenna that is spaced apart in the coil axis direction when set to at least one of the key portion and the reader portion A wireless communication type authentication device provided on either side.   The authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic member is soft ferrite.   The authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding unit capable of holding the key unit set at a reading position of the reader unit in the reader unit and releasing the holding.   The authentication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the holding unit is configured by a magnet provided in one of the leader part and the key part and an iron member provided in the other of the leader part and the key part.   The authentication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a guide unit and a guided unit for setting the key unit at a reading position of the reader unit are provided in the reader unit and the key unit, respectively.

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