JP2008090621A - Wireless ic tag unit and wireless ic tag storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of operating an RFID tag, even if attached to a metal, while extending the distance of response radio wave of the RFID tag. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless IC tag unit 100 comprises first and second conductive sheets 120 and 130 disposed substantially in parallel to each other through a space; and a sheet-like wireless IC tag 110 disposed substantially in parallel to the sheets through a space. The first conductive sheet 120 is disposed to entirely overlap with the wireless IC tag 110, and the second conductive sheet 130 is disposed to partially overlap with the wireless IC tag 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless IC tag unit and a wireless IC tag storage device.

  An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is a small device in which an IC chip capable of storing information and performing a predetermined calculation and an antenna for wireless communication are incorporated in some exterior. The RFID tag is also called a wireless IC tag, a wireless tag, an RF tag, or the like. According to the RFID tag, a non-contact type automatic recognition technology (RFID) is realized that reads and writes information by transmitting and receiving radio waves from a reader / writer having an antenna and a controller.

RFID has advantages such as being readable and writable even when the RFID tag is hidden behind the object, information of a plurality of RFID tags can be read at once, data can be rewritten and added, and can be used repeatedly. For this reason, a system is used in which RFID tags are attached to various articles to perform inventory management, delivery management, cargo management, production line management, and the like.
JP 2006-25390 A

  However, the RFID tag cannot respond to radio waves from the reader / writer when directly attached to metal. For this reason, it has been impossible to construct an RFID system by attaching an RFID tag to a metal article (for example, a metal container, a metal product, etc.).

  Furthermore, since the RFID tag generally has a short radio wave reach of the response signal, data cannot be read / written unless the reader / writer is brought close to the RFID tag. For this reason, for example, when an RFID system is constructed in a system in which an article such as a production line or a delivery management system moves on the line, the RFID tag attached to the article needs to pass near the reader / writer. Therefore, it has been difficult to flexibly design a desired system.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables an RFID tag to operate even when attached to a metal, and to increase the distance of response radio waves of the RFID tag. And

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless IC tag unit according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
First and second conductive sheets disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other;
Between the first and second conductive sheets, a sheet-like wireless IC tag disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from these, and
With
The first conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap the entire wireless IC tag,
The second conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap a part of the wireless IC tag.

The wireless IC tag storage device according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A wireless IC tag storage device for storing a wireless IC tag,
First and second conductive sheets;
Disposing means for disposing the first conductive sheet, the wireless IC tag, and the second conductive sheet in the order of being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other;
A case member for housing the first and second conductor sheets, the wireless IC tag, and the disposing means;
With
The first conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap the entire wireless IC tag,
The second conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap a part of the wireless IC tag.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it attaches to a metal, while enabling an RFID tag to operate | move, the technique which makes it possible to lengthen the distance of the response electric wave of an RFID tag can be provided.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(Structure of wireless IC tag unit)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the structure of a wireless IC tag unit 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the wireless IC tag unit 100 according to the present embodiment, the conductive sheet 120, the spacer member 140, the RFID tag 110, the spacer member 150, and the conductive sheet 130 are laminated in the case members 160 and 170. Configured.

  In FIG. 1, an RFID tag (wireless IC tag) 110 reads and writes information by transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from a reader / writer, and executes predetermined calculation processing. In the present embodiment, an RFID tag 110 using a microwave having a communication frequency in the 2.45 GHz band is assumed. However, the configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to RFID tags that use other frequency bands such as long waves (up to 135 KHz) and UHF (860 MHz to 960 MHz).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the RFID tag 110. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 111 denotes an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, which includes a memory capable of storing information, an electronic circuit for controlling wireless communication, and the like. Reference numeral 112 denotes an antenna made of a metal thin film. The antenna 112 functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the reader / writer, and also has a function of supplying power for driving the IC chip 111 in response to reception of radio waves from the reader / writer. Reference numeral 113 denotes an exterior in which the IC chip 111 and the antenna 112 are incorporated. The antenna 112 is provided by printing on the exterior 113, for example. The exterior 113 is configured using, for example, a transparent and thin film. Therefore, the RFID tag 110 has a sheet-like shape as a whole. The configuration of the RFID tag 110 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, an antenna having an antenna shape as shown in FIG. 3 may be applied.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In FIG. 1, conductive sheets 120 and 130 are sheets made of a conductor material. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the conductive sheets 120 and 130 are made of aluminum foil. However, the material of the conductive sheets 120 and 130 may be a so-called conductor, and other than aluminum, for example, copper, silver, gold, or the like may be used. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the conductive sheets 120 and 130 are formed of a film-like thin film in order to reduce the size and weight of the wireless IC tag unit 100. However, the electroconductive sheets 120 and 130 should just have flat plate shape, and are not restricted to a film shape. For example, it may have a plate shape.

  In the wireless IC tag unit 100, the conductive sheets 120 and 130 are disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other. Further, the RFID tag 110 is disposed between the conductive sheets 120 and 130 so as to be substantially parallel to and separated from these. In order to make the positional relationship between the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 like this, in the example of FIG. 1, between the conductive sheet 120 and the RFID tag 110, and between the conductive sheet 130 and the RFID tag 110, respectively. Spacer members 140 and 150 are inserted. The spacer members (arranging means) 140 and 150 are made of a non-conductive material with a low dielectric constant. For example, when the spacer members 140 and 150 are made of foamed polystyrene, the wireless IC tag unit 100 can be reduced in weight and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. By making the spacer members 140 and 150 flat, the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 are kept substantially parallel to each other. The thickness of the spacer member 150 is preferably about 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

  The case members 160 and 170 accommodate the conductive sheets 120 and 130, the RFID tag 110, and the spacer members 140 and 150. The spacer member 140 is made of a non-conductive material having a low dielectric constant. For example, it may be preferable to use ABS resin in terms of strength, weight, and manufacturing cost.

  The case member 170 corresponds to an attachment surface for the attachment target of the wireless IC tag unit 100. That is, the radio wave from the reader / writer is incident in the z1 direction. These case members 160 and 170 accommodate the conductive sheet 120, the spacer member 140, the RFID tag 110, the spacer member 150, and the conductive sheet 130 in this order from the mounting surface side (160). By accommodating the conductive sheets 120 and 130, the RFID tag 110 and the like in the case members 160 and 170 in this way, the RFID tag 110 is held while maintaining the positional relationship between the RFID tag 110 and the conductive sheets 120 and 130. Can be protected.

(Positional relationship between conductive sheet and RFID tag)
Next, the positional relationship between the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wireless IC tag unit 100 as seen from the direction y1 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the conductive sheet 120 on the attachment surface side is disposed so as to overlap the entire RFID tag 110. For this reason, even if the attachment object to which the wireless IC tag unit 100 is attached is a metal, it is possible to block the influence on the communication between the RFID tag 110 and the reader / writer.

  In addition, the conductive sheet 130 is disposed so as to overlap a part of the RFID tag 110. For this reason, the radio wave from the reader / writer can be incident on the RFID tag 110, and the radio wave is repeatedly reflected and amplified between the conductive sheets 120 and 130 provided substantially in parallel with each other, whereby the RFID tag The radio wave intensity of the response from 110 can be increased. Accordingly, it is possible to lengthen the reach distance of response radio waves from the RFID tag 110.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the RFID tag 110 and the conductive sheet 120 as viewed from the z1 direction in FIG. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 4, one of the sides of the RFID tag 110 and one of the sides of the conductive sheet 120 overlap as shown in FIG. However, the positional relationship between the conductive sheet 120 and the RFID tag 110 is not limited to this as long as the conductive sheet 120 on the attachment surface side is disposed so as to overlap the entire RFID tag 110. For example, the positional relationship as shown in FIG. In addition, the shape of the conductive sheet 120 is not limited to a rectangle, and, for example, a part of a curve or the like may be included.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the RFID tag 110 and the conductive sheet 130 viewed from the z2 direction in FIG. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 4, the positional relationship as shown in FIG. However, as long as the conductive sheet 130 is disposed so as to overlap a part of the RFID tag 110, the positional relationship between the conductive sheet 130 and the RFID tag 110 is not limited thereto. For example, the positional relationship as shown in FIG. In addition, the shape of the portion of the RFID tag 110 where the conductive sheet 130 does not overlap is not limited to a rectangle, and may include, for example, a curve or the like in part.

  As described above, the wireless communication IC tag unit 100 includes the two conductive sheets 120 and 130 disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other, and the conductive sheets 120 and 130 disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other. The sheet-like RFID tag 110 is provided. The conductive sheet 120 is disposed so as to overlap the entire RFID tag 110, and the conductive sheet 130 is disposed so as to overlap a part of the RFID tag 120. For this reason, the conductive sheet 120 on the mounting surface side can block the influence of the physical properties of the object to be attached to the wireless IC tag unit 100 on the radio wave communication. Even if the wireless IC tag unit 100 is attached to a metal, the RFID The tag 110 can be operated. Furthermore, by repeatedly reflecting and amplifying the response radio wave of the RFID tag 110 between the two conductive sheets 120 and 130, it is possible to increase the distance of the response radio wave of the RFID tag.

  In the wireless communication IC tag unit 100, non-conductive spacer members 140 and 150 are interposed between the conductive sheet 120 and the RFID tag 110, and between the conductive sheet 130 and the RFID tag 110, respectively. It is inserted. For this reason, it can be easily realized that the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 are arranged substantially in parallel and apart from each other. Therefore, the wireless communication IC tag unit 100 can be manufactured at a low cost.

(Other wireless IC tag unit structures)
In the above configuration, the spacer members 140 and 150 are interposed in order to dispose the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 substantially in parallel with each other. However, the spacer members 140 and 150 are not necessarily used as long as the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 can be disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the case member 170 is provided with a groove 171 as an arrangement means, and the conductive sheets 120 and 130 and the RFID tag 110 are inserted into the groove 171 so that they are parallel to each other. Also good. Even with this configuration, the RFID tag 110 can be operated even when attached to metal, and the response radio wave distance of the RFID tag 110 can be increased by the same mechanism as described above.

Moreover, instead of providing the case member 160 and the conductive sheet 120 on the mounting surface side separately,
As shown in FIG. 8, the case member 161 on the attachment surface side may be made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and the conductive sheet 120 may be omitted. With this configuration, the configuration of the wireless IC tag unit 100 can be further simplified.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a radio | wireless IC tag unit typically. It is a figure which shows typically the structural example of a RFID tag. It is a figure which shows typically the structural example of a RFID tag. It is sectional drawing of a wireless IC tag unit. It is a figure which shows typically the positional relationship of a RFID tag and a conductive sheet. It is a figure which shows typically the positional relationship of a RFID tag and a conductive sheet. It is sectional drawing of a wireless IC tag unit. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a radio | wireless IC tag unit typically.

Claims (6)

First and second conductive sheets disposed substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other;
Between the first and second conductive sheets, a sheet-like wireless IC tag disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from these, and
With
The first conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap the entire wireless IC tag,
The wireless IC tag unit, wherein the second conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap a part of the wireless IC tag. A non-conductive spacer member is interposed between the first conductive sheet and the wireless IC tag, and between the second conductive sheet and the wireless IC tag, respectively. The wireless IC tag unit according to claim 1. A case member for accommodating the first and second conductive sheets, the wireless IC tag, and the spacer member;
The case member has an attachment surface for an attachment object of the wireless IC tag unit,
The case member contains the first conductive sheet, the spacer member, the wireless IC tag, the spacer member, and the second conductive sheet in this order from the mounting surface. 3. The wireless IC tag unit according to claim 2, wherein 4. The wireless IC tag unit according to claim 1, wherein a material of the first and second conductive sheets is aluminum, copper, or silver. 5. The wireless IC tag unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a material of the spacer member is a polystyrene foam. A wireless IC tag storage device for storing a wireless IC tag,
First and second conductive sheets;
Disposing means for disposing the first conductive sheet, the wireless IC tag, and the second conductive sheet in the order of being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other;
A case member for housing the first and second conductor sheets, the wireless IC tag, and the disposing means;
With
The first conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap the entire wireless IC tag,
The wireless IC tag storage device, wherein the second conductive sheet is disposed so as to overlap a part of the wireless IC tag.

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