JP2005269085A - Wireless tag reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of a dead zone where the identification information of a wireless tag cannot be read and to sufficiently spread radio waves emitted from an antenna in a storage box so as to efficiently read the identification information from the wireless tag.
SOLUTION: A storage box 3 for storing a circulation article 1 provided with a wireless tag 2 storing identification information is mounted on a mounting table 9 and an antenna of an antenna unit 10 provided in the mounting table 9 is used. In the wireless tag reading system that reads the identification information of each wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3, the radio wave emitted from the antenna is reflected on the inner surface of the upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table 9. The radio wave interference canceled by the reflected radio wave is prevented by providing a fine uneven portion 6 having a fine shape on the inner surface of the box lid 5 of the storage box 3.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag reading system for reading identification information stored in a wireless tag from a wireless tag provided in a distribution item by wireless communication.

  For example, it is proposed that a wireless tag, which is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, is provided in a distribution such as a registered mail, and management in the distribution process is performed based on identification information of the wireless tag. . Such a distribution item is accommodated in a storage box and delivered to each base for management. At each base, radio waves are emitted to each wireless tag in the storage box using an antenna disposed in a mounting table on which the storage box is placed, and the identification information of the wireless tag returned in response to the radio wave is displayed. By receiving, the identification information of the wireless tag in the storage box is read. Based on the read identification information, the position and the like of the distribution item in the distribution process are managed.

  However, as described above, the radio wave emitted from the antenna in the mounting table with respect to the wireless tag may interfere with the reflected radio wave reflected on the inner surface such as the lid of the storage box. The radio wave emitted from the antenna is canceled by the radio wave interference, and a dead zone where the identification information of the wireless tag cannot be read may occur. In addition, when such a dead zone region occurs, radio waves may not be sufficiently transmitted in the storage box, and the efficiency of reading the identification information of the wireless tag is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the generation of a dead zone where the identification information of the wireless tag cannot be read and to sufficiently generate radio waves emitted from the antenna in the storage box. Another object is to provide a wireless tag reading system that can efficiently read identification information from a wireless tag.

  The present invention places a storage box for storing a circulation article provided with a wireless tag storing identification information on a predetermined mounting table, and switches a plurality of antennas arranged in the mounting table while switching the plurality of antennas. In the RFID tag reading system that reads the identification information of the RFID tag, the radio wave emitted from the antenna is subject to radio interference that is canceled out by the reflected radio wave reflected from the inner surface of the upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table. In order to prevent, for example, a fine uneven portion having a fine shape is provided on the inner surface of the box lid of the storage box.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the generation of a dead zone where the identification information of the wireless tag cannot be read, and to sufficiently spread the radio wave emitted from the antenna in the containing box, thereby efficiently reading the identification information from the wireless tag. It is possible to provide a wireless tag reading system that can be used.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a case where a wireless tag 2 that is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is attached to a distribution such as a registered mail will be described. The identification information of the wireless tag 2 attached to the distribution item 1 is registered in advance in a server or the like, and the distribution item 1 is based on the identification information on a postal system connected by a network (not shown), for example. Managed. Since the system for managing the identification information is not directly related to the present invention, a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-section of the storage box 3 that stores the article 1 provided with the wireless tag 2. The storage box 3 is composed of a storage box body 4 and a box lid 5 that store the circulated material 1. The inside of the storage box body 4 has a plurality of sorting plates 4a extended from the bottom surface by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction in order to sort the circulated material 1 according to, for example, a destination. In the storage box body 4, the circulated material 1 is stored in a predetermined section by a partition plate 4a according to the destination. Further, the box lid 5 is provided so as to cover the opening of the storage box body 4, and on the inner surface of the box lid 5, for example, a fine concavo-convex portion 6 having a fine concavo-convex shape which is embossed is provided. (Preventive measures)

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the wireless tag reading system 100. The wireless tag reading system 100 includes a storage box 3, an interrogator 7 that reads identification information of each wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3, and a host computer 8 that is a host device of the interrogator 7. The interrogator 7 and the host computer 8 are connected using a communication cable or the like. When the wireless tag 2 is read at a relay station or the like that relays the circulation 1, the operator places the storage box 3 on the mounting table 9 as indicated by an arrow in the figure. An antenna unit 10 is provided in the mounting table 9 in order to read identification information from the wireless tag 2. The antenna portion 10 has a thick rectangular shape, and antennas A1 to A6 each having a loop-shaped antenna 10a (not shown in the drawing) are arranged side by side so as not to overlap. The antenna surfaces of the antennas 10a of the antennas A1 to A3 are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the inner surface of the box lid 5 when the storage box 3 is placed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the interrogator 7 and the host computer 8 and the configuration of the wireless tag 2.

  The interrogator 7 includes an antenna unit 10 and an interrogator body 11. The interrogator main body 11 includes an interface unit 12 with the host computer 8, a control unit 13 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM having a buffer for storing information, and a modulation unit 14 for modulating transmission information to the wireless tag 2. The output unit 15 that amplifies the modulated radio wave and radiates it from the antenna unit 10 and the antennas A1 to A6 of the antenna unit 10 that radiates the radio wave are controlled under the control of the control unit 13 at a predetermined pattern and every predetermined time. The antenna switching unit 16 switches, an amplification unit 17 that amplifies radio waves received by the antenna unit 10, and a demodulation unit 18 that demodulates amplified reception radio waves.

  The configuration of the wireless tag 2 includes a tag antenna 19 composed of a loop coil, a power generation unit 20 that supplies power to each unit by rectifying and stabilizing the modulated radio wave received by the tag antenna 19, and demodulates the modulated radio wave When the demodulator 22 is sent to the controller 21, the information sent from the controller 21 is modulated and sent to the tag antenna 19, and the information demodulated by the demodulator 22 is a predetermined read command. The control unit 21 reads out information stored in the storage unit 24 and sends it to the modulation unit 23, and the LSI chip 25 including the storage unit 24 and the like. The storage unit 24 is configured by, for example, a read-only ROM, and stores identification information that is a unique identification ID number set by the manufacturer at the manufacturing stage of the wireless tag 2.

  Next, the configuration of the host computer 8 will be described. The host computer 8 includes a CPU 26 as a control unit body, a ROM 27 storing various information and control programs, a RAM 28 used as a work area, an interface unit 29 connected to the interrogator 7, a keyboard, etc. An operation unit 30 provided with a switch for instructing start of reading of the wireless tag 2, a display unit 31 for displaying information necessary for the operator, a clock unit 32 for measuring time, and the like are provided. After starting the reading of the wireless tag 2, the host computer 8 reads the identification information of the wireless tag 2 stored in the buffer of the control unit 13 of the interrogator 7 at a predetermined time interval, and the read identification By transmitting the information to a server or the like via a network (not shown), for example, the distribution item 1 is managed in a postal system, for example.

  Next, the operation when the interrogator 7 reads the identification information of each wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3 by the wireless tag reading system 100 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the worker places the storage box 3 on the placing table 9. As shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the antenna 10a included in the antennas A1 to A3 is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the box lid of the storage box. Then, the operator operates the operation unit 30 of the host computer 8 to instruct the start of reading of the wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3. When receiving the input by this operation, the host computer 8 causes the interrogator 7 to start reading the identification information of the wireless tag 2.

  The interrogator 7 modulates a predetermined read command into a radio wave and transmits it from one antenna of the antenna unit 10, for example, the antenna A1. The radio wave emitted from the antenna A1 is radiated from the antenna surface of the antenna 10a to each wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3. Then, when the radio wave reaches the inside of the box lid 5, it is irregularly reflected by the fine irregularities 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which this radio wave is irregularly reflected. As shown in the figure, the radio wave emitted from the antenna 10 a of the antenna A 1 is irregularly reflected from the inside of the box lid 5 and disturbed in the storage box 3. Since the radio wave is disturbed in this way, radio wave interference generated such that the phase of the radio wave emitted from the antenna 10a is canceled by the phase of the reflected radio wave reflected on the inner surface of the box lid 5 of the storage box does not occur. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a dead zone where the identification information of the wireless tag 2 cannot be read. On the other hand, when the radio tag 2 receives a radio wave from the tag antenna 19, power is supplied from the power generation unit 20 to each unit, the control unit 21 acts, and the information stored in the storage unit 24 is read. And after the identification information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 24 is modulated by the modulation | alteration part 23 in the form suitable for radio | wireless transmission, it transmits as a radio wave from the tag antenna 19. FIG. The interrogator 7 receives this radio wave via the antenna unit 10 and stores it in a buffer in the control unit 13. Then, the control unit 13 of the interrogator 7 switches the antennas A1 to A6 of the antenna unit 10 at predetermined intervals based on the pattern, and reads the identification information of the wireless tags 2 in the storage box 3 one after another. Thus, the host computer 8 reads the information stored in the buffer of the control unit 13 of the interrogator 7 at predetermined time intervals. When the reading pattern of the identification information of the interrogator 7 ends, the host computer 8 ends the reading of the identification information of the wireless tag 2 of the interrogator 7. In this manner, the identification information of the wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3 of the wireless tag reading system 100 is read.

  According to the RFID tag reading system 100 of this embodiment, the fine concavo-convex portion 6 is provided inside the box lid 5 of the storage box 3 which is the inner side of the upper surface when the storage box 3 is mounted on the mounting table 9, and the antenna Since the radio wave emitted from each antenna 10a of the unit 10 can be prevented from being canceled by the reflected radio wave reflected on the inner surface of the box lid 5 of the storage box, a dead zone region where the identification information of the wireless tag 2 cannot be read is generated. In addition, the radio waves emitted from the respective antennas 10a can be sufficiently transmitted into the storage box 3 or can be efficiently transmitted to the wireless tag 2. By receiving the response radio wave from the wireless tag 2, the wireless tag reading system 100 can efficiently read the identification information of each wireless tag 2 in the storage box 3.

  In addition, although it was set as the structure which provided the box cover 5 in the storage box 3, and provided the fine uneven | corrugated | grooved part 6 inside the box cover 5, it does not restrict to this. For example, in the case of a configuration in which the storage box body 4 is pulled out from the side surface, the fine uneven portion 6 may be provided on the inner side surface of the upper surface when the storage box 3 is mounted on the mounting table 9.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. In the second embodiment, the antenna surfaces of the antennas A1 to A6 of the antenna unit 10 are substantially the same as the inner surface of the box lid 5 when the storage box 3 is mounted on the mounting table 9, respectively. It has a predetermined angle so as not to be parallel (prevention means). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the angle of the antenna surface of the antenna 10 a with respect to the inner surface of the box lid 5 is an angle α, and the angles α are alternately arranged in the width direction of the storage box 3. In addition, even if it does not arrange | position so that the angle (alpha) may become alternate, you may arrange | position so that it may become the same direction side in the width direction of the storage box 3, and all do not need to be the angle (alpha). By arranging the antenna 10a with respect to the inner surface of the box lid 5 in this way, radio waves emitted from the antenna 10a are reflected from the inside of the box lid 5 in a predetermined angle direction. Therefore, the radio wave emitted from the antenna 10a can be prevented from being canceled by the reflected radio wave reflected on the inner surface of the box lid 5 of the storage box. The wireless tag reading system 100 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. In the third embodiment, the inner side surface of the box lid 5 when the storage box 3 is placed on the mounting table 9 is at a predetermined angle with respect to the antenna surface of the antenna 10b of the antenna A1 to the antenna Ab of the antenna unit 10. (Prevention means). For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 33 having a substantially triangular cross section with the angle β of the inner surface of the box lid 5 with respect to the antenna surface of the antenna 10 a is arranged on the same direction side in the width direction of the box lid 5. It arrange | positions so that it may become the angle (beta). In addition, even if it does not arrange | position so that the angle (beta) may become the same direction side, you may arrange | position so that the angle (beta) may alternate in the width direction of the box cover 5, and not all may be the angle (beta). Thus, by providing the convex portion 33 inside the box lid 5, the radio wave emitted from the antenna 10 a is reflected according to the angle of the convex portion 33 on the inner side surface of the box lid 5. Therefore, the radio wave emitted from the antenna 10a can be prevented from being canceled by the reflected radio wave reflected on the convex portion 33 on the inner side surface of the box lid 5 of the storage box. The wireless tag reading system 100 according to the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage, and a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. Various inventions can be modified by appropriately combining the components.

The figure which shows the distribution thing on which the wireless tag in the 1st Embodiment of this invention was affixed. The figure which shows the cross section of the storage box in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the wireless tag reading system in the same embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the interrogator in the same embodiment, a host computer, and the structure of a wireless tag. The figure which shows a cross section when the storage box in the embodiment is mounted in the mounting base. The figure which shows notionally the state by which an electromagnetic wave is irregularly reflected within the storage box in the embodiment. The figure which shows a cross section when the storage box in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is mounted in the mounting base. The figure which shows a cross section when the storage box in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is mounted in the mounting base.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Distribution thing, 2 ... Wireless tag, 3 ... Storage box, 5 ... Box cover, 6 ... Fine uneven part, 7 ... Interrogator, 8 ... Host computer, 9 ... Mounting stand, 10 ... Antenna part, 100 ... Wireless Tag reading system, α, β ... Angle, convex part ... 33

Claims (4)

A storage box for storing a distribution article provided with a wireless tag storing identification information is placed on a predetermined mounting table, and a plurality of antennas disposed in the mounting table are switched, and the wireless tag in the storage box is switched In the wireless tag reading system that reads the identification information of
The radio wave emitted from the antenna is provided with prevention means for preventing radio wave interference that is canceled out by the reflected radio wave reflected from the radio wave on the inner surface of the upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table. A wireless tag reading system.   The preventive means is characterized in that the antenna surfaces of the plurality of antennas have a predetermined angle with respect to the inner surface of the upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table. The wireless tag reading system according to 1.   2. The prevention means according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of an upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table has a predetermined angle with respect to antenna surfaces of the plurality of antennas. The wireless tag reading system described.   2. The RFID tag reading system according to claim 1, wherein the prevention means includes a fine uneven portion having a fine uneven shape on an inner surface of the upper surface when the storage box is placed on the mounting table. .

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