US 12,244,358 B2
Communication apparatus and communication method
Noboru Kato, Nagaokakyo (JP); and Yoichi Saito, Nagaokakyo (JP)
Assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., Nagaokakyo (JP)
Filed by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nagaokakyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,089.
Application 17/660,089 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/033991, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-232941 (JP), filed on Dec. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0247502 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. H04B 17/14 (2015.01); H04B 17/318 (2015.01)
CPC H04B 17/14 (2015.01) [H04B 17/318 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A communication apparatus for communicating with wireless communication devices, comprising:
a shield device that defines a plurality of shield spaces arranged along a transport path for transporting a sheet having a plurality of wireless communication devices arrayed thereon, wherein the plurality of shield spaces are defined by a plurality of boxes enclosing the transport path, wherein each box of the respective shield space comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls; and
a plurality of reader/writer antennas that are each disposed in the plurality of shield spaces, respectively, and are arranged at a side facing a transport surface of the transport path,
wherein the plurality of shield spaces are juxtaposed corresponding to an array pitch between the plurality of wireless communication devices arrayed on the sheet, and
wherein a part of the shield device is disposed between the plurality of reader/writer antennas.