JP2007004678A - Retrieval management system using rfid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an RFID system capable of reading and writing, even if an angle formed of an RFID tag and a reader or an antenna for a reader/writer is vertical, a distance between the RFID tag is the shortest 6 mm, and a distance between the RFID tag and the antenna is 30 mm. <P>SOLUTION: The RFID tag with a built-in IC chip capable of reading and writing information, is installed on a side surface, a back face and a front face of a file, a binder, materials such as a document and a book, a plastic case and a box object of CD, DVD and MO and bottles. The antenna in the shape capable of reading even when being vertical to the tag is arranged in a reverse surface cavity part of a storage shelf. Information on the RFID tag can be read and written in a noncontact state by allowing the antenna to make reciprocating motion on a shelf reverse surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention eliminates restrictions on the arrangement of RFID tags and antennas in a system that searches and manages stored items stored on a shelf using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that performs electromagnetic contactless data communication. System related.

When organizing and storing the stored items, as an identification method, a method of writing information on a spine cover or writing and attaching to an index is used.
However, with this method, sufficient information cannot be described, rewriting is troublesome, and reading takes time.
In recent years, RFID systems that can perform search management by transmitting and receiving information signals without contact have become widespread. In this system, signals are exchanged between a tag equipped with an IC chip and a reader or a reader / writer via respective antennas. RFID systems include an electromagnetic coupling method, an electrostatic coupling method, an electromagnetic induction method, and a microwave method, depending on the information transmission medium method. The RFID system is characterized by non-contact information communication using radio waves and electromagnetic waves, so that it is not easily affected by dirt and dust, and can be accessed simultaneously with a plurality of tags.

Shelves and storages using the RFID system as described above are currently on the market and are used for searching and managing books, documents, medical records, binders, and the like. A conventional search management system using RFID employs the following means in order to transmit and receive information signals between the RFID tag and the antenna.
1. An RFID tag is attached to the bottom surface of the stored item to transmit an information signal, and an antenna for receiving is placed on the surface of a shelf to be stored, and the RFID tag and the antenna are faced in parallel to exchange signals.
2. An RFID tag is affixed to the back of the stored item, an information signal is transmitted, and a receiving antenna is disposed on the back of the storage space, so that the positional relationship between the RFID tag and the antenna is parallel to exchange signals.
3. An RFID tag is attached to a book and a storage shelf (book shelf) to transmit an information signal, and a signal is exchanged by moving a receiving antenna attached to the self-running robot in parallel with the RFID tag.
4). When the positional relationship between the RFID tag and the antenna cannot be made parallel, transmission / reception is performed using a system in which the output of the reader or reader / writer is increased to increase the energy supplied from the antenna.

However, In the case of the above system, the RFID tag attached to the bottom of the stored item and the antenna installed on the surface of the shelf are in direct contact with each other, so the impact when placing or removing the stored item on the shelf or the friction during repeated use The IC chip and coil of the RFID tag and the coil part of the antenna are damaged due to scratches and scratches.
In addition, radio waves or electromagnetic waves transmitted / received to use a coil-shaped antenna are not rectified by the distortion of the magnetic field at the left and right ends of the antenna, and information stored in the antenna cannot be recognized.
2. In the case of this system, in order to attach an RFID tag to the back of a plastic case such as a thin file, a binder, a CD, or a DVD, the tag must be bent so as to be bent to the side. For this reason, the coil portions of the tag are overlapped, and mutual interference is likely to occur, and transmission / reception with the antenna cannot be performed or no response is made.
In addition, when the distance between the antenna on the back and the RFID tag attached to the stored item is not constant, the interference is likely to cause malfunction.
3. In the case of this system, it is necessary to attach RFID tags for book information, bookshelf information, shelf information, and book position information to both books and storage shelves (book shelves), which is very troublesome.
Moreover, the price of the self-propelled robot is expensive, and it is necessary to secure a moving space, which is not a realistic system.

Further, in any of the above means, it is a condition that the RFID tag and the antenna are arranged in parallel to perform transmission / reception, and there is a great restriction on the mounting position of the RFID tag, and it is difficult to use it for search management of shelves.
In addition, when the distance between the RFID tags is 1 cm or less, the coils of adjacent RFID tags are overlapped with each other, so that interference between the tags increases, and stored items that cannot be transmitted and received appear.

If the distance between the RFID tags is 5 mm for both outputs 100 mW and 300 mW, the tag located in the center in the parallel direction cannot be read. When the distance between the tags is 10 mm, the reading accuracy is affected by the condition in which the coil at the folded portion of the RFID tag overlaps during the repeated test.
Further, system construction under the condition that the RFID tag and the antenna are arranged vertically is not recommended by any company, and parallel arrangement is a basic condition particularly in the case of low output.
Tables 3 and 4 read test when RFID tag and antenna are vertically arranged, output is 100mW, 300mW, coil width, length, distance between each RFID tag, and distance between RFID tag and antenna when antenna is stationary Results are shown.
From Tables 3 and 4, there are tags that cannot be read under all conditions, and the state is also unstable.

4). In the case of this system, the power consumption is large and the system running cost is high.
In addition, since electromagnetic waves generated at high output cannot be completely shielded, it may adversely affect peripheral devices. In particular, it is difficult to use in places where humans are frequently exposed and places where devices that are susceptible to electromagnetic waves such as medical institutions and test research institutions are handled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and there is no damage to the RFID tag or antenna due to impact or friction when putting in or out the stored items, and the RFID is low power and weak current. Because it can transmit and receive between the tag and the antenna, it is possible to manage energy conservation by suppressing interference of electromagnetic waves, and without receiving the restriction that the RFID tag and the antenna are arranged in parallel, information can be transmitted and received without malfunction, and the distance between the RFID tags (contained items (Thickness) The purpose is to provide an energy-saving and low-cost search management system with durability that can read a minimum of 6 mm.

The invention can also move the shelves in accordance with the material to be stored and can be easily fitted to the main body frame. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a system that can be installed in an existing bookshelf or storage, and can search and manage the contents by attaching an antenna and a driving device to the shelf.

The invention according to claim 1 is a shelf for storing files, binders, documents, books, etc., and plastic cases and boxes such as CDs, DVDs, MOs, bottles, etc. In a search management system using RFID that can search and manage stored items by transmitting and receiving information signals to and from the RFID tag, the shelf has an RFID tag and an information signal It has an antenna for transmitting and receiving.
By writing the information of the contents on the RFID tag and attaching it, the position of the shelves accommodated using the antenna and the position in the shelves can be displayed. Moreover, light emission can also be visually recognized by attaching LED.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein information is transmitted and received even when the angle between the RFID tag and the antenna is vertical and the distance between the RFID tags (the thickness of the stored item) is 6 mm at the shortest. It is characterized by optimizing the width and length of the antenna as possible. Tables 5 and 6 show the relationship between output 100 mW, 300 mW, distance between RFID tags, antenna coil width, and length reading accuracy.
Reader / writer output 300mW, RFID tag and antenna angle vertical, 10 tags parallel with 5mm distance between RFID tags, antenna reciprocating speed 10m / min, antenna coil width 40-80mm, reading rate 100%.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the antenna installed in the cavity portion on the back surface of the shelf is a storage item equipped with a plurality of RFID tags stored side by side in the shelf. It is characterized by reciprocating motion to read and write information. By performing this reciprocating motion, the angle between the RFID tag and the antenna can be read from parallel to vertical, and the reading accuracy is improved. The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2 and claim 3, wherein the RFID tag does not need to be arranged parallel to the antenna as in the prior art, It can be mounted at all angles from parallel to vertical on the side, back and front of the antenna.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4, reading accuracy is improved by randomly mounting each RFID tag within the effective transmission / reception width of the antenna. By mounting randomly, there is an effect of preventing interference caused by contact between RFID tags.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the shelf is an interference between an antenna that reciprocates and a material that is suitable for transmitting and receiving information signals of an RFID tag and an antenna that is built in another shelf. It is comprised with the shielding member which shields. Materials suitable for transmitting and receiving information signals include plastics such as PP, PE, PET, PVC, acrylic, urethane, epoxy, PC, nylon, and composite materials, natural materials such as paper, wood, and cotton, and composite materials thereof. There is. As materials for shielding electromagnetic waves, there are various metals, plastics combined with metals, and the like.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the antenna in the shelf is connected to the reader or the reader / writer via the connector, so that it is combined with the material to be stored. It is possible to move the shelf and easily fit into the body frame. This also allows the system of the present invention to be incorporated into existing shelves, increasing the range of use.

In the search management system using RFID of the present invention, the RFID tag is randomly attached to any of the side surface, back surface, and front surface of the storage items stored in the storage shelf according to the effective transmission / reception width of the antenna, Information is sent and received between the RFID tag and the antenna by installing a reader or reader / writer antenna that is adapted to the coil width of the antenna so that transmission and reception can be performed even when the angle between the RFID tag and the antenna is vertical. To ensure the search management of stored items.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a search management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, this search management system includes files, binders, documents, books and other materials with RFID tags 1 and plastic cases and boxes such as CDs, DVDs and MOs, and storages 2 such as bottles. The rear surface cavity that is organized and stored includes a shelf 4 with an antenna 3 built therein, a main body frame 5 that fits the shelf, a reader / reader / writer 6, and a control unit 7.

The RFID tag attached to the stored item is, for example, an RFID tag having a built-in semiconductor chip capable of reading and writing information. A system using this RFID tag is widely used for process management and authentication identification management, and the RFID tag is radiated from a reader or a reader / writer on the host side via an antenna connected to a semiconductor IC chip. It is configured to absorb electromagnetic energy and receive power energy and transmit / receive data without contact. Information on the stored item is written in the RFID tag attached to the stored item.

2 and 3 are image diagrams of the antennas in the shelf and the cavity on the back of the shelf. The antenna 3 has a structure that reciprocates in the cavity on the back surface of the shelf using a belt, a wire, a gear, and the like.
At the same time, the reciprocating motion of the antenna keeps the magnetic flux density of the entire shelf constant and improves the reading accuracy.

[Example 1]
RFID tag size 20 × 20 mm, made of PP sheet, 5 mm thick PE plastic case with affixed to the side (match the tag sheet to the bottom). 300 sheets are stored in two tiers.
Antenna for reader / writer 50mm wide and 100mm long mounted on the back of the shelf.
At this time, the distance between the RFID tag and the antenna is 20 mm,
Output 300mW, reciprocating speed 10m / min.
Result All 300 sheets are read.
100% recognition rate for checking out, taking out, and inserting in units of tens of sheets

[Example 2]
RFID tag size 20 × 20 mm, made of PP sheet, 8 mm thick PP plastic binder is attached to the side (match the tag sheet to the bottom). 200 sheets are stored in two stages.
Antenna for reader / writer 50mm wide and 100mm long mounted on the back of the shelf.
At this time, the distance between the RFID tag and the antenna is 20 mm,
Output 300mW, reciprocating speed 10m / min.
Result All 200 sheets were read.
100% recognition rate for checking out, taking out, and inserting in units of tens of sheets

[Example 3]
RFID tag size 20 × 20 mm, PP sheet, φ15 mm PE plastic container is affixed to the side (the tag sheet is aligned with the bottom). 120 pieces are stored in two stages.
At this time, enter the name of the medicine in the container and the usage history (user name, date and time).
Antenna for reader / writer 50mm wide and 100mm long mounted on the back of the shelf.
At this time, the distance between the RFID tag and the antenna is 30 mm,
Output 300mW, reciprocating speed 10m / min.
Result All 120 were read.
DB management of the frequency of use frequency check, extraction and insertion with date and time and user name in dozens of randomly selected containers. no problem.

Search and management of files, binders, documents, books and other materials, and plastic cases and boxes such as CDs, DVDs, and MOs, and bottles.
Search management of hospital charts and materials / data, search management of books at libraries and book stores, search management of CDs, DVDs, VDs, MOs, etc. at video / CD shops and rental stores, products in warehouses and storages An optimal search management system for management, chemical management in laboratories and laboratories.

1 is a configuration image diagram of a search management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image figure of the antenna of a shelf and a shelf back cavity. Antenna length and width. Test condition output 300mW, RFID tag size 20x20mm, antenna length 100mm, antenna width 50mm, 100mm, 150mm, distance between RFID tags 5mm, 10mm, 20mm, distance between RFID tag and antenna 5-20mm, RFID tag Reading test with parallel arrangement of antennas, stationary antenna, and 10 RFID tag attachments in parallel

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 RFID tag 2 Storage thing 3 Antenna 4 Shelf 5 Body frame 6 Reader or reader / writer 7 Control part

Claims (7)

It has a shelf for storing files, binders, documents, books, etc., and plastic cases such as CDs, DVDs, MOs, bottles, bottles, etc. (hereinafter “contained items”) with RFID tags. In a search management system using RFID capable of searching and managing stored items by transmitting and receiving information signals between them, the shelf has a search management having an antenna for transmitting and receiving information signals to and from the RFID tag in the back cavity portion system. A search management system that optimizes the width and length of the antenna so that information can be transmitted and received even when the angle between the RFID tag and the antenna is vertical and the distance between the RFID tags (thickness of the stored item) is 5 mm at the shortest. A search management system in which the antenna installed in the cavity on the back side of the shelf performs a reciprocating motion to read and write information on the stored items equipped with a plurality of RFID tags stored side by side in the shelf. The RFID tag is a search management system that does not need to be placed parallel to the antenna as in the past, and can be mounted on the side, back, and front of the stored item at all angles from parallel to perpendicular to the antenna. A search management system that improves reading accuracy by randomly mounting each RFID tag within the effective transmission / reception width of the antenna. The shelf is a search management system that includes an antenna that reciprocates, a material suitable for transmitting and receiving information signals of the RFID tag, and a shielding member that shields interference electromagnetic waves from the antenna built in the other shelf. Since the antenna in the shelf is connected to the reader or reader / writer via a connector, the shelf can be moved according to the material to be stored, and the search management system can be easily fitted to the main frame.

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