WO2020003656A1

WO2020003656A1 - Read/write device

Info

Publication number: WO2020003656A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/012194
Authority: WO
Inventors: 貴亮森
Original assignee: 富士フイルム和光純薬株式会社
Priority date: 2018-06-29
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: JPWO2020003656A1

Abstract

A read/write device 20 for a read/write system 1 wherein: radio waves are emitted from the read/write device 20 to an array of electronic tags 10, while at least either the array of electronic tags 10 formed having a plurality of electronic tags 10 lined up in a prescribed direction or the read/write device 20 which reads and writes sequential information to/from the plurality of tags is moved relative to the other; and information is read/written to/from the electronic tags 10. The read/write device 20 includes: an antenna substrate 22 comprising an antenna that emits radio waves and having a radio wave emission surface 23 that emits radio waves and is arranged inclined from a posture facing the electronic tags 10; and a radio wave absorbing body 24 arranged on the radio wave emission side of the antenna substrate 22 and narrowing the emission area W for radio waves emitted from the radio wave emission surface 23, narrowing same in the direction of the array of electronic tags 10.

Description

Read / write device

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-125349 filed on June 29, 2018 and incorporates the entire text thereof by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a read / write device.

In recent years, there has been known a read / write system in which information is stored in an electronic tag and information is read by an antenna substrate in a non-contact manner via radio waves. In such a read / write system, for example, a plurality of arranged electronic tags may be sequentially sent to the front of the antenna substrate to sequentially read information of the electronic tags.

場合 In such a case, another electronic tag exists near the electronic tag to be read. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent interference by reading only the target electronic tag and not reading another electronic tag. For this purpose, two side walls for absorbing radio waves are arranged between another electronic tag positioned before and after the target electronic tag in the feed direction and the antenna substrate so that another nearby electronic tag is not read. (For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-140216).

読み In the read / write system as described above, depending on the applied environment, further miniaturization is desired while avoiding interference.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and provides a read / write device that can achieve downsizing as compared with a case where two side walls are arranged to prevent interference.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a read / write device, which is an array of electronic tags in which a plurality of electronic tags are formed side by side in a predetermined direction, and a read / write device that sequentially reads and writes information from and to the plurality of electronic tags. A read / write device of a read / write system that radiates radio waves from the read / write device to the array of electronic tags while relatively moving at least one of the electronic tags relative to the other, and reads / writes information from / to the electronic tags. The read / write device includes an antenna that radiates a radio wave, and a radio wave radiating surface that radiates a radio wave is disposed on the radio wave radiating side of the antenna substrate, the antenna substrate being inclined from a position facing the electronic tag. A radio wave absorber for narrowing a radiation area of a radio wave radiated from the radio wave radiation surface in a direction of arrangement of the electronic tags.

In the read / write device of this aspect, the radio wave absorber narrows the radiation area so that radio waves are not radiated over the electronic tags arranged adjacent to each other.

In the read / write device according to this aspect, the radio wave absorber narrows the radiation area on a side far from the arrangement of the electronic tags.

In the reading and writing apparatus of this aspect, the plurality of electronic tags are respectively attached to a plurality of reagent containers arranged along the arrangement of the electronic tags, and information of a reagent contained in the attached reagent container is stored. I have.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the size of the read / write device and suppress an increase in the number of components, as compared with a case where two side walls are arranged to prevent interference.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a read / write system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a tilt of an antenna substrate of the read / write device. It is a figure which shows typically the mode that the radio wave emitted from an antenna board propagates. It is a figure showing the range in which an antenna board and an electronic tag can communicate effectively. It is a figure which shows the reading / writing apparatus with which the antenna board was inclined, and the reading / writing apparatus with which the antenna board was not inclined.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent components and portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description, and may be different from the actual ratios.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a read / write system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the inclination of the antenna substrate of the read / write device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the read / write system 1 includes a plurality of electronic tags 10 and a read / write device 20 that sequentially reads and writes information of the electronic tags 10. In the read / write system 1, at least one of an array of a plurality of electronic tags 10 arranged in a predetermined direction and a read / write device 20 for sequentially reading / writing information from / to a plurality of electronic tags is relatively moved with respect to the other as described later. Radio waves are radiated from the read / write device 20 to the array of the electronic tags 10 while reading and writing information to and from the electronic tags 10.

The electronic tag 10 is an electronic device that stores arbitrary information and can write and read information by receiving radio waves. The electronic tag 10 is used for various purposes, and is attached to the object to be identified in order to identify various objects to be identified, such as a part, a product, a product, an apparatus, an instrument, or a container. The electronic tag 10 is attached to, for example, a reagent container for inspection, and stores information for identifying a reagent contained in the reagent container and determining a use history of the reagent. In the following embodiment, a case where the electronic tag 10 is attached to the reagent container 50 will be described as an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the case where the electronic tag 10 is attached to the reagent container 50, and is applied to the electronic tag 10 for any use.

A plurality of electronic tags 10 are prepared and attached to the plurality of reagent containers 50 one by one. The reagent containers 50 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction S, and the electronic tags 10 attached to the reagent containers 50 are also arranged in the arrangement direction S. The reagent containers 50 are sequentially delivered relative to the read / write device 20 in the arrangement direction S. The position of the electronic tag 10 changes sequentially relative to the read / write device 20. As an example, the reagent container 50 to which the electronic tag 10 is attached while the reading / writing device 20 is fixed is delivered along the arrangement direction S. The predetermined arrangement direction S (predetermined direction) is not limited to the linear direction shown in FIG. The predetermined arrangement direction S may be a curved direction having a predetermined curvature. In this case, the reagent containers 50 are annularly arranged along the predetermined arrangement direction S, and the electronic tags 10 attached to the reagent containers 50 are also annularly arranged. The read / write device 20 is arranged inside the reagent containers 50 arranged in an annular shape, and reads and writes information from and to the electronic tag 10 that moves relatively circumferentially around the read / write device 20.

The read / write device 20 is a device for sequentially reading and writing a plurality of electronic tags 10. The read / write device 20 has an antenna substrate 22 and a radio wave absorber 24.

The antenna board 22 includes an antenna that radiates radio waves. As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna substrate 22 has a radio wave radiating surface 23 that radiates radio waves for reading and writing the electronic tag 10, which is inclined from a position facing the electronic tag 10. The posture facing the electronic tag 10 is indicated by a chain line in FIG. The angle θ at which the actual radio wave emission surface 23 of the antenna substrate 22 is inclined with respect to the radio wave emission surface 23B of the antenna substrate 22B indicated by a dashed line is, for example, greater than 0 degree and less than 90 degrees, and preferably 30 degrees or more. 80 degrees or less, more preferably 45 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less. In other words, the antenna substrate 22 is inclined with respect to the arrangement direction S of the electronic tags 10.

(4) As described above, the antenna substrate 22 emits radio waves in a posture inclined with respect to the arrangement direction S of the electronic tags 10. The antenna substrate 22 may perform reading and writing on the electronic tag 10 located directly in front of the read / write device 20 or may read and write on the electronic tag 10 shifted from the front. It is preferable to read from and write to the electronic tag 10. Here, "the electronic tag 10 is located directly in front of the read / write device 20" means that the central part of the radio wave emitting surface 23 and the central part of the electronic tag 10 are viewed in the arrangement direction S (the width direction of the electronic tag 10). Means that they match. However, “the electronic tag 10 is located directly in front of the read / write device 20” means that the central part of the electronic tag 10 coincides with the plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction S in the plane of the electronic tag 10 (the height direction of the electronic tag 10). do not have to.

(4) When the radio wave radiated from the antenna substrate 22 reaches the electronic tag 10, information is read from or written to the electronic tag 10 by the power generated by the radio wave, and the information is transmitted to the antenna substrate 22 by the radio wave. The antenna substrate 22 can acquire information from the electronic tag 10 by receiving a radio wave. The antenna substrate 22 can rewrite information recorded on the electronic tag 10 based on the received information.

(4) The radio wave absorber 24 is arranged on the radio wave radiation side of the antenna substrate 22, and narrows the radiation area of the radio wave radiated from the radio wave radiation surface 23 in the arrangement direction S of the electronic tag 10. The radio wave absorber 24 is formed in a structure that absorbs radio waves, such as a metal plate or a metal net, or blocks passage of radio waves, and blocks a part of radio waves radiated from the antenna substrate 22. The radio wave absorber 24 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

Although the radio wave absorber 24 is formed to have a substantially rectangular cross section in FIG. 1, the shape is not particularly limited as long as the radio wave absorber 24 can prevent passage of radio waves. Similarly, the electronic tags 10 are arranged substantially perpendicularly (at right angles) to the arrangement direction of the electronic tags 10, but the arrangement method is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent passage of radio waves.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing how radio waves radiated from the antenna substrate are propagated. In FIG. 3, the specific electronic tags 10 are given reference numbers 10A to 10C in order to separate the specific electronic tags 10. Similarly, specific reagent containers 50 are given reference numerals 50A to 50C in order to separate the specific test containers 50.

(3) As shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave radiated from the antenna substrate 22 propagates while spreading in the plane direction of the antenna substrate 22 as in a radiation area W. The radio wave absorber 24 narrows at least the radiation area W in the arrangement direction S of the electronic tags 10. In particular, when the reading / writing device 20 reads / writes the electronic tag 10, the radio wave absorber 24 narrows the radiation area W so that the radio wave is not radiated over the adjacent electronic tag 10. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave absorber 24 narrows the radiation area W by placing it on the side far from the arrangement of the electronic tags 10. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the radiation area W is narrowed to a range shown by oblique lines. In other words, the radiation area W is cut out from one side far from the arrangement of the electronic tags 10 toward the other side close to the arrangement of the electronic tags 10.

As a result, for example, the electronic tag 10B of the reagent container 50B shown in FIG. 3 is located in the radiation area W through which radio waves are propagated, and the

electronic tags

10A and 10C of the

reagent containers

50A and 50C are Located outside W. Therefore, the antenna substrate 22 can communicate only with the electronic tag 10B, and can read and write information from and to the electronic tag 10B.

When reading and writing information of the electronic tag 10 by the reading and writing device 20, only one of the plurality of electronic tags 10 is positioned within the radiation area W indicated by oblique lines in FIG. The read / write device 20 can acquire information on the electronic tag 10. The read / write device 20 sequentially acquires information of the plurality of electronic tags 10 by moving the reagent containers 50 to which the electronic tags 10 are attached in the arrangement direction S so that the electronic tags 10 are sequentially positioned in the emission region W. it can. Note that the reagent container 50 and the electronic tag 10 need not necessarily move in the arrangement direction S. The read / write device 20 may move with respect to the reagent container 50 and the electronic tag 10. Alternatively, when both the electronic tag 10 and the read / write device 20 move, the electronic tag 10 may move in the arrangement direction S relatively to the read / write device 20.

As described above, the principle that the radio wave absorber 24 that blocks radio waves restricts the propagation of radio waves only to the side farther from the electronic tag 10, that is, restricts the radiation area W only to the side farther from the electronic tag, is as follows. It is as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave propagates while spreading. Here, since the antenna substrate 22 is inclined with respect to the arrangement direction S of the electronic tags, the outer edge of the radiation area W is immediately after being radiated from the antenna substrate 22 to the electronic tag 10A to be read / written next. It is formed in the approaching direction. However, the outer edge of the radiation region W is formed in a direction away from (leaving away from) the electronic tag 10A as the distance from the antenna substrate 22 increases. For this reason, even if the radio wave is not blocked by the radio wave absorber 24 on the side close to the electronic tag 10, the electronic tag 10A does not enter the radiation area W, and the information of the electronic tag 10A may be erroneously read. Absent.

Next, a further advantage of tilting the antenna substrate 22 with respect to the arrangement direction S of the electronic tags 10 as described above will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a range in which the antenna substrate and the electronic tag can effectively communicate. In FIG. 4, the radio wave absorber 24 is omitted to explain the principle.

アンテナ As shown in FIG. 4, the antenna substrate 22 is also inclined with respect to the receiving surface of the electronic tag 10. As a result, for example, when the electronic tag 10B and the electronic tag 10C are respectively viewed from the center of the antenna substrate 22, the electronic tag 10B looks like a width bB indicated by a double arrow, and the electronic tag 10C is indicated by a double arrow. It looks like the width bC. That is, the electronic tag 10B is seen with a wider width than the electronic tag 10C. In other words, since the antenna substrate 22 is inclined, the electronic tag 10B provides a wider receiving surface to the antenna substrate 22 than the electronic tag 10C.

Thereby, the antenna substrate 22 is in a state in which it is most easily communicated with the electronic tag 10B which is the object of communication, and difficult to communicate with the electronic tag 10C. Needless to say, the antenna substrate 22 is in a state where it is more difficult to communicate with the electronic tag 10 read before the electronic tag 10C.

により Since the antenna substrate 22 is inclined as described above, it is easy to communicate only with the target electronic tag 10B, and it becomes more difficult to communicate with the electronic tag 10 farther from the target electronic tag 10B. In this state, since the radio wave absorber 24 is applied as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is possible to more reliably prevent the antenna substrate 22 from reading and writing erroneously an electronic tag other than the target electronic tag 10.

In addition, since the receiving surface of the electronic tag 10C or the like not intended for reading can be substantially narrowed by the inclined antenna substrate 22, the distance between the electronic tags 10 can be reduced as compared with the case where the antenna substrate 22 is not inclined. The interference can be prevented even if the interval between the two is narrowed. If the interval between the electronic tags 10 can be reduced, there is an advantage that the transport time can be reduced and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

According to the present embodiment, not only the size of the electronic tag 10 and the reagent container 50 can be reduced, but also the size of the read / write device 20 itself can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an electronic tag reader in which the antenna substrate is inclined and an electronic tag reader in which the antenna substrate is not inclined. In FIG. 5, the upper (A) shows the read / write device 20 in which the antenna substrate 22 is inclined, and the lower (B) shows the read / write device 100 in which the antenna substrate 90 is not inclined.

When the antenna substrate 22 is inclined and only one radio wave absorber 24 is provided as in the embodiment shown in the upper diagram (A) of FIG. 5, the antenna substrate 22 and the radio wave absorber in the read / write device 20 are provided. 24 falls within the width of the range C1 indicated by the double-headed arrow. On the other hand, when the antenna substrate 90 is not inclined and the radio wave absorbers 94 are provided on both sides of the antenna substrate 90 in order to prevent interference as in the reference technology shown in FIG. And the radio wave absorber 94 falls within the width of the range C2 indicated by the double-headed arrow. As is clear from the comparison between the widths of the ranges C1 and C2 indicated by the double-headed arrows, in the upper diagram (A), the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

Although the read / write system according to the embodiment has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment. Various modifications or improvements are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the antenna substrate 22 and the radio wave absorber 24 are provided non-parallel. However, the radio wave absorber 24 may be installed in parallel with the antenna substrate 22. The radio wave absorber 24 only needs to narrow the radiation area W at least at one end of the antenna substrate 22.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave absorber 24 absorbs the radio wave so as to narrow the radiation area W of the radio wave radiated from the antenna substrate 22 on the side farther from the electronic tag 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radio wave absorber 24 may not narrow the radiation area W on the side near the electronic tag 10, instead of on the side far from the electronic tag 10. In this case, since the position and range in which the radiation area W is narrowed change, the shape of the radiation area W also changes. However, the radio wave absorber 24 may absorb any radio wave radiated from the antenna substrate 22 as long as only one electronic tag 10 is adjusted in the radiation area W.

Claims

While relatively moving at least one of an array of electronic tags formed by arranging a plurality of electronic tags along a predetermined direction and a reading / writing device that sequentially reads and writes information on the plurality of electronic tags with respect to the other. A read / write device of a read / write system that emits radio waves from the read / write device to the array of the electronic tags and reads / writes information from / to the electronic tag,
An antenna board that includes an antenna that radiates radio waves, and a radio wave radiating surface that radiates radio waves is disposed obliquely from a position facing the electronic tag,
A radio wave absorber disposed on the radio wave radiation side of the antenna substrate, and narrowing a radiation area of the radio wave radiated from the radio wave radiation surface in a direction of the arrangement of the electronic tags;
A read / write device.
The read / write device according to claim 1, wherein the radio wave absorber narrows the radiation area so that radio waves are not radiated over electronic tags arranged adjacent to each other.
The read / write device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio wave absorber narrows the radiation area from one side far from the arrangement of the electronic tags toward the other side close to the arrangement of the electronic tags.
The electronic tag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of electronic tags is attached to a plurality of reagent containers arranged along the arrangement of the electronic tags, and information on reagents contained in the attached reagent containers is stored. A read / write device according to any one of the preceding claims.