# US 10,504,017 B2 · Antenna apparatus and module apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,504,017 B2 - Document ID: US10504017B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/742,285 - Filed: 2016-06-06 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-17 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Shuto Naruse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504017B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/07345: {by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches} - G06K 19/07: with integrated circuit chips - G06K 19/073: Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory (protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14) - G06K 19/077: Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier - G06K 19/07749: {the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card} - H01Q 1/24: with receiving set - H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop - H04B 5/263: {Multiple coils at either side} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract [Object] To provide an antenna apparatus which can allow a user to freely select service which utilizes the electromagnetic field communication technology. [Solution] Provided is an antenna apparatus including: a first antenna configured to generate a magnetic field by flow of a current; and a module unit including a second antenna whose opening area is smaller than an opening area of the first antenna and which is able to be electromagnetically coupled with the first antenna, and a module configured to operate by a current generated by the second antenna through electromagnetic coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna. The module unit is able to be attached to and removed from the first antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna apparatus, comprising: a first antenna configured to: cause a first inductive current to flow based on electromagnetic induction with an external reader/writer, and generate a magnetic field based on the flow of the first inductive current; and a module unit that includes: a second antenna electromagnetically coupled with the first antenna, wherein an opening area of the second antenna is smaller than an opening area of the first antenna; and a module which is operated based on a second inductive current generated by the second antenna through the electromagnetic coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the module unit is attachable to and removable from the first antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module is a non-contact integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to execute non-contact communication with the external reader/writer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit is movable along the first antenna. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second antenna is wound around the module unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The antenna apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second antenna is wound around the module unit with a bias. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of module units that include the module unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The antenna apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a disabling unit configured to independently disable each of the plurality of module units. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The antenna apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the disabling unit is a switch configured to disable each of the plurality of module units based on a cut off of the second antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The antenna apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the disabling unit is further configured to disable each of the plurality of module units based on a change of a resonant frequency. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit has a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The antenna apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a longitudinal direction of the module unit comprises a slit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit has a spherical shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is inside a card, and the module unit is attachable to and removable from the card. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is further configured to generate the first inductive current by the electromagnetic induction based on a usage of a radio wave from the external reader/writer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The antenna apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery module configured to generate the first inductive current by the electromagnetic induction at the first antenna. ### Claim 16 An antenna apparatus, comprising: a first antenna configured to: cause a first inductive current to flow based on electromagnetic induction with an external reader/writer, and generate a magnetic field based on the flow of the first inductive current; and a module unit that includes: a second antenna electromagnetically coupled with the first antenna, wherein an opening area of the second antenna is smaller than an opening area of the first antenna; and a module which is operated based on a second inductive current generated by the second antenna through the electromagnetic coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the opening area of the second antenna is configured to allow the magnetic field generated by the first antenna to pass. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The antenna apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the module is a non-contact integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to execute non-contact communication with the external reader/writer. ### Claim 18 A module apparatus, comprising: a first antenna which has a first opening area smaller than a second opening area of a second antenna, wherein the second antenna is configured to: cause a first inductive current to flow based on electromagnetic induction with an external reader/writer, and generate a magnetic field based on the flow of the first inductive current, and the first antenna is electromagnetically coupled with the second antenna, the module apparatus is configured to operate based on a second inductive current generated by the first antenna through the electromagnetic coupling with the second antenna, and the module apparatus is attachable to and removable from the second antenna.