Communication device and working vehicle provided with the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399857-B2
Application number	US-201314345496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2013
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A reader writer (communication device) executes at least one of reading identification information stored in an IC tag and writing the identification information to the IC tag. The reader writer includes: a wireless control circuit that generates output for communication; a temperature sensor (temperature detector) that detects a temperature in an environment in which an RFID chip, balun, filter circuit, power amplifier, and coupler (elements for forming the wireless control circuit) are used; a temperature judging unit that judges whether or not the environment in which the element is used falls within a usable temperature range of the element based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a wireless power supply controller that suppresses a supply of power to the wireless control circuit when the temperature judging unit judges that the element is not in the environment within the usable temperature range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication device that executes at least one of reading identification information stored in an identification component and writing the identification information to the identification component, the communication device comprising:
a wireless control circuit that is configured to output an output signal;
a wireless power supply that is configured to supply power to the wireless control circuit;
a temperature detector that is configured to detect a temperature of an environment in which an element forming the wireless control circuit is used;
a temperature judging unit that is configured to judge whether or not the environment in which the element is used falls within a usable temperature range of the element based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector;
an antenna that is configured to transmit radio waves based on the output signal received from the wireless control circuit supplied with the power;
a transmission controller that is configured to, based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element, stop an issuance of the output signal from the wireless control circuit to the antenna; and
a wireless power supply controller that is configured to, based on a command signal from the transmission controller and based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element, suppress a supply of the power to the wireless control circuit,
wherein the usable temperature range is based on an operation-securable temperature range in which the element is securely operable and the wireless control circuit can stably output the output signal.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein
the temperature judging unit judges whether or not the element is in the environment within the usable temperature range based on whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detector falls within a control limit value including a lower limit value and an upper limit value.

3. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein
the temperature detector comprises a plurality of temperature sensors.

4. The communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication controller that is connected to the wireless control circuit via a transmission line and controls communication of the identification information with the wireless control circuit, wherein
the communication controller decreases a voltage level of the transmission line based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element.

5. The communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication controller that is connected to the wireless control circuit via a transmission line and controls communication of the identification information with the wireless control circuit; and
a relay that is configured to, based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element, electrically interrupt the transmission line.

6. A communication device that executes at least one of reading identification information stored in an identification component and writing the identification information to the identification component, the communication device comprising:
a wireless control circuit that is configured to output an output signal;
a wireless power supply that is configured to supply power to the wireless control circuit;
a temperature detector that comprises a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a temperature of an environment in which an element forming the wireless control circuit is used;
a temperature judging unit that is configured to judge whether or not the element is in an environment within a usable temperature range based on whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detector falls within a control limit value including a lower limit value and an upper limit value;
an antenna that is configured to transmit radio waves based on the output signal received from the wireless control circuit supplied with the power;
a transmission controller that is configured to, based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element, stop an issuance of the output signal from the wireless control circuit to the antenna; and
a wireless power supply controller that is configured to, based on a command signal from the transmission controller and based on the temperature judging unit judging that the environment in which the element is used is not within the usable temperature range of the element, suppress a supply of the power to the wireless control circuit, wherein
the usable temperature range is based on an operation-securable temperature range in which the element is securely operable and the wireless control circuit can stably output the output signal, and
the identification component is attached to a component installed in a working vehicle.

7. A working vehicle comprising the communication device according to claim 1 .

8. The working vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein
the communication device is provided in a machine room of the working vehicle.

9. A working vehicle comprising the communication device according to claim 6 .

10. The working vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the communication device is provided in a machine room of the working vehicle.

11. The working vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein
the machine room is an engine room that houses an engine or a pump room that houses a hydraulic pump, the machine room being provided on an upper revolving body of the working vehicle, and
the communication device is provided in the engine room or the pump room.

Assignees

• Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawasaki Shinpei
• ISHIDOU Motoi
• Tsushimi Yasushi

Classifications

• H04B1/04

  Circuits · CPC title

• E02F9/267 Primary

  Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles · CPC title

• H02J5/005

  Electricity · mapped topic