JP2001156525A - Reader-writer antenna and article management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a reader-writer antenna by which an IC card tag and a reader-writer can execute highly reliable transmission/reception with each other. SOLUTION: In a reader-writer antenna 6 that is placed in a container section 1 containing articles 4 each having an IC card tag 5 having a 1st loop antenna and consists of a 2nd loop antenna that sends and receives a wireless signal between the IC card tag 5 and the reader-writer 7, the 2nd loop antenna is formed to be a coil and the 2nd loop antenna is provided to the containing section 1 so that the 1st loop antenna is included in the coil-shaped space formed by the 2nd loop antenna.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an article management system using a non-contact IC card system, and is connected to a reader / writer device to transmit / receive a radio signal to / from an IC card tag. , Especially I
The present invention relates to a reader / writer antenna arranged to efficiently generate an electromagnetic induction action with an antenna on a C card tag side, and an article management system including the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A reader / writer system using an IC card tag is generally called a non-contact IC card system, for example, a traffic card system using a frequency band of about 13.56 MHz, a distribution system, an article management system, and the like. Some are in practical use. This is an IC card tag provided with an antenna on an IC chip and a reader / writer device for communicating with the tag. The reader / writer device is provided with an antenna (reader / writer antenna), and the power and the interrogation are provided by this antenna. The data is transmitted constantly or intermittently, and response data from the tag within a range in which the power and the inquiry data can be received is obtained.

An IC card tag applied to an article management system is attached to an appropriate location of an article stored in a storage section such as a locker or a storage shelf, and a reader / writer antenna is provided at an appropriate location in the storage section. The directivity of the reader / writer antenna and the antenna on the IC card tag side is important because they transmit and receive signals to and from each other using electromagnetic induction.

When an IC card tag is attached to clothes or documents stored in a storage unit such as a locker and used as an article management system, it is necessary to provide a reader / writer antenna at an appropriate position in the storage unit. However, in this case, a configuration as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 13A shows a case in which a lead wire is arranged along the back surface of a storage unit 1 such as a box-shaped locker to constitute a reader / writer antenna 6-1. FIG. FIG. 4C shows a case where the reader / writer antenna 6-2 is configured by arranging a conductor along an upper surface (ceiling surface) frame. FIG. This is a case where a writer antenna 6-3 is configured.

On the other hand, the IC card tag 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the garment 4 has a locking portion 4b, and is attached to an appropriate place on, for example, a plastic bag surface 4a that covers the clothes 4 suspended on the rail 3 in the storage portion 1.

[0007]

As shown in FIG. 13, the arrangement of the reader / writer antenna which has been conventionally considered is such that the loop surface of the loop antenna faces one direction in the storage portion, and Since it is attached to one side wall of the storage section, when managing an article to which an IC card tag is attached as shown in the figure, a case where an antenna for a reader / writer is arranged as shown in FIGS. When the loop surface of the antenna on the IC card tag side does not match the loop surface of the reader / writer antenna, the magnetic flux generated from the reader / writer antenna does not effectively link with the IC card side antenna. There has been a problem that it is not possible to communicate or the sensitivity is reduced, so that article management cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and the sensitivity is not reduced, or the distance between the IC card tag and the reader / writer antenna is not biased by the storage position of the article. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reader / writer antenna and an article management system that can reliably transmit and receive between an IC card tag and a reader / writer without increasing the distance depending on the article storage position. .

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a reader / writer antenna according to the present invention is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached. Transmitting and receiving a radio signal between the IC card tag and the reader / writer device;
In the reader / writer antenna including the loop antenna, the second loop antenna is formed in a coil shape, and the first loop antenna is included in a coil space formed by the second loop antenna. The second loop antenna is provided in the storage portion so that the second loop antenna is provided.

[0010] With such a configuration, when the orientation of the IC card tag is considered, the directivity between the antenna and the reader / writer antenna can be improved.
A reader / writer antenna having high transmission / reception sensitivity can be obtained.

Further, the reader / writer antenna according to the present invention is provided in a storage section for storing an article having an IC card tag having a first loop antenna, and transmits a radio signal to and from the IC card tag. In a reader / writer antenna configured to transmit and receive a second loop antenna, a loop surface of the second loop antenna is the first loop antenna.
The second loop antenna is provided so as to be oriented in substantially the same direction as the loop surface of the loop antenna of the above, and so that the loop surface passes through the central portion of the storage section.

According to such a configuration, the distance between the IC card tag and the antenna for the reader / writer is not biased by the storage position of the article, and therefore, the distance does not become extremely large depending on the storage position of the article. Can be performed with high reliability.

Further, in the present invention, by providing a resonance antenna in a predetermined portion of the housing portion in parallel with the loop surface of the second loop antenna, the sensitivity can be enhanced by a resonance action.

Further, the reader / writer antenna according to the present invention is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached, and transmits a radio signal to and from the IC card tag. In a reader / writer antenna configured to transmit and receive a second loop antenna, a loop surface of the second loop antenna is provided in the storage section so as to face two axes (x, y). According to such a configuration, the sensitivity does not decrease even if the loop surface of the antenna of the IC card tag is rotated from the predetermined direction with respect to the z-axis, and the directivity of the IC card tag is not reduced. Can be improved, and the sensitivity can be greatly improved depending on the orientation.

Further, the reader / writer antenna according to the present invention is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached, and transmits a radio signal to and from the IC card tag. In a reader / writer antenna configured to transmit and receive a second loop antenna, a loop surface of the second loop antenna is provided in the storage section so as to face three axes (x, y, z). According to such a configuration, the sensitivity does not decrease regardless of how the loop surface of the antenna of the IC card tag is rotated and shifted from a predetermined direction. The directivity can be improved, and the sensitivity can be greatly improved depending on the orientation.

Also, in the present invention, the storage section has a box-like rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the loop surfaces of the second loop antenna have a depth direction, a width direction,
Any two directions in the height direction are biaxial, and all directions are 3
According to this configuration, the IC card tag is arranged in the storage section substantially in the axial direction along the frame on either the rear surface or the side surface or the bottom surface or the upper surface. Even if the loop surface of the antenna deviates from a predetermined direction, it is possible to prevent the sensitivity from being lowered. In addition, since the loop antenna is arranged on the back of the storage unit or the like, the loop antenna can be a pre-wired loop antenna on the back plate frame or a pre-wired loop antenna on the bottom plate frame. Attachment and removal of the bottom plate can be easily performed, and furthermore, the wiring is less visible than the external appearance, and the appearance is not spoiled.

In the present invention, the second loop antenna provided so as to face the plurality of axial directions includes:
It is characterized by being switched for each direction and used for transmission and reception. According to such a configuration, it is possible to distinguish the reception intensity in each of a plurality of axial directions.

Further, in the present invention, the article to which the IC card tag is attached is suspended in the storage section and a plurality of articles are arranged in a predetermined direction. For example, the present invention can be applied to management of articles stored and stored by hanging on rails or the like like cleaning clothes.

Further, the article management system according to the present invention comprises:
An IC card tag attached to an article stored in the storage unit,
9. The reader / writer antenna according to claim 1, for transmitting and receiving to and from the IC card tag, a reader / writer connected to the reader / writer antenna, and a reader / writer connected to the reader / writer. And an information management device for managing the storage state of the article in the storage section.

According to this configuration, the transmission / reception sensitivity does not decrease, or the distance between the IC card tag and the reader / writer antenna is not biased by the storage position of the article.
These distances do not increase depending on the storage position of the articles, so that transmission and reception between the IC card tag and the reader / writer device can be performed with high reliability.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, an example of a clothing management system as an article management system will be described in which a reader / writer antenna is disposed in a storage unit such as a locker that stores and stores covered clothing. It goes without saying that anything other than clothes can be used as long as it can be managed by attaching an IC card tag to the storage section in various modes.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of the reader / writer antenna according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a storage unit such as a locker, 2 is a door,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a rail attached in the depth direction along the upper surface of the storage unit 1, and 4 denotes clothes suspended on the rail. The clothes 4 are provided with a cover 4a and are suspended on the rail 3 by a plurality of locking members 4b. You. The IC card tag 5 is attached to the front surface of the cover 4a in the length direction of the rail 3 with its front surface facing. The IC card tag 5 wirelessly receives question data and transmits response data.

Around the accommodating portion 1, a loop antenna is wrapped around the side walls 1a and 1b, the upper surface 1c, and the bottom surface 1d facing each other in a coil shape to form a reader / writer antenna 6 (second loop antenna). ) Are formed, and both end portions thereof are connected to the reader / writer device 7 (more precisely, connected to a matching circuit of the reader / writer device). In the case where the reader / writer device 7 manages a plurality of storage sections collectively, the reader / writer antenna switch (see FIGS.
) To each antenna.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader / writer device and the IC card tag, and is an explanatory diagram in which transmission and reception are performed. The reader / writer device 7 mainly includes a transmission system block 71, a reception system block 72, a control unit 73, and an interface 74. The transmission system block 71 is 1
Interrogation data is transmitted by an oscillator 711 that oscillates a carrier wave of 3.56 MHz or the like, a modulator 712, and a transmission amplifier 713. The reception system block 72 amplifies the signal from the IC card tag 5 by the reception amplification unit 721, demodulates the signal by the demodulation unit 722, and receives and demodulates the response data.

Transmission and reception are performed by a combiner 75 for 1
Can be done with one antenna. The control unit 73 performs encryption and decryption of the modulated data and the demodulated data, respectively, as necessary. Each data is transmitted from the control unit 73 to a management computer such as a personal computer (management P
C) Sent to and from 8. Here, the transmission / reception unit may be separated, and transmission / reception with a plurality of antennas may be performed by incorporating an antenna switch.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader / writer device 7 having an antenna switch. Management P
A reader / writer device 7 installed in the storage unit 1 is connected to C8, and an antenna switch 9 provided to the reader / writer device 7 as needed is connected to C8. For example, when there are a plurality of storage units 1, the switch 9 sequentially switches and connects the loop antennas provided in each storage unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reader / writer device 7 comprises an interface 74, a control unit 73, a data modulation unit 71 ', and a data demodulation unit 72'. The control unit 73 is connected to the management PC 8 via the interface 74. The data modulation unit 71 'and the data demodulation unit 72' are connected to the antenna switch 9, and the control unit 73 transmits a signal for switching the antenna to the antenna. It is sent to the switch 9. The antenna switch 9 is a single reader / writer device 7
Is used for a plurality of IC card tag antennas provided in one storage section or a plurality of storage sections, these antennas are switched to change the data modulation section 71 ′ and the data demodulation section 7.
2 '.

In operation, first, a request for reading clothing (customer) information is made from the management PC 8. This is based on the data from the management PC 8, and the signal modulated by the command for reading the clothes ID from the data modulator 71 ′ through the interface 74 and the controller 73, that is, the interrogation data is transmitted through the antenna switch 9. The data is transmitted to the loop antenna (reader / writer antenna), and when the response data from the IC card tag 5 is received by the loop antenna, the data is transmitted to the management PC 8 via the reception control unit 73 and the interface 74 by the data demodulation unit 72 ′.

In FIG. 2, the IC card tag 5 is capable of exchanging data between the reader / writer device 7 and the IC card tag 5 by transmitting and receiving question data and response data thereto. Antenna 5 that composes an antenna (tag antenna)
1 (first loop antenna), a power supply unit 52 and a modulation / demodulation unit 57 connected to the antenna 51, a control unit 53 connected thereto, and a memory 56 connected to the control unit 53 and the power supply unit 52.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing only an IC card tag. This IC card tag is attached to an article such as clothing, and a signal transmitted from the reader / writer antenna 6 is transmitted by a loop antenna 51 composed of a coil and a capacitor. The power is supplied from the power generation unit 52 to the control unit 53 and the memory 56 according to the received signal. Therefore, the IC card tag 5 can operate without a battery.

The control unit 53 reads out the clothing ID from the memory 56 based on the read command demodulated by the data demodulation unit 54, and sends out the signal modulated by the data modulation unit 55 from the loop antenna 51. Except for the loop antenna 51, it is included in the IC chip, and realizes a small and thin IC card tag as a card-shaped wireless tag.

FIG. 5 shows an IC attached to the surface of a clothing cover.
This is a structural representation of the card tag, and the direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the cover surface as shown. Where I
The configuration of the C card tag will be described.
The conductive wire 58 is connected to the wire 0, and the conductive wire 58 has a loop shape. The conductive wire 58 functions as the loop antenna 51 and becomes a tag antenna. Then, a magnetic field generated by an antenna connected to a reader / writer, which will be described later, is electromagnetically induced by the tag antenna to activate an IC card tag and enable communication with the reader / writer. This IC card tag is fixed by being sandwiched between casings of about 0.5 mm or less.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a connection portion of the reader / writer antenna to the reader / writer device 7. A resonance capacitor C is connected to the loop antenna, and the loop antenna is matched by the transformer T. A circuit 76 is configured. A connector 77 to the reader / writer device is connected to an end of the matching circuit 76.

In the above configuration, in the first embodiment,
While forming the reader / writer antenna in a coil shape,
Since the loop surface is oriented in substantially the same direction with respect to the loop surface of the loop antenna of the IC card tag, and furthermore, the loop antenna of the IC card tag is provided so as to be included in the coil-shaped space. Irrespective of the storage location and the position where the IC card tag is attached, the directivity between the antenna and the reader / writer antenna can be improved, and thus a reader / writer antenna having high transmission / reception sensitivity can be obtained.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the case where one reader / writer antenna is provided in one storage section, a plurality of antennas may be provided according to the shape and size of the storage section. Needless to say. In addition, the method of winding the antenna for the reader / writer around the storage unit also depends on the depth of the storage unit, that is, the number of clothes stored in the storage unit and the IC card tags (the number of articles) managed by one reader / writer device. , Its winding (winding) density as appropriate,
The number of laps can be adjusted.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the reader / writer antenna is provided so that the IC card tag is located inside the reader / writer antenna. However, as shown in FIG. If it is provided so as to be located at the center and the loop surface of the reader / writer antenna is provided so as to be substantially the same as the loop surface of the antenna of the IC card tag,
Since the maximum distance between the article and the antenna for the reader / writer can be reduced to about half as compared with the case where the antenna is provided in the plane of the one side wall of the storage section 1, the loop surface of the antenna of the IC card tag and the direction of the antenna for the reader / writer are slightly increased. Even in the case where the sensitivity shifts and the sensitivity is lowered, it is possible to manage all the articles without leaking.

Embodiment 3 In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, on both sides of the reader / writer antenna shown in the second embodiment, the resonance loop-shaped conductive wires 10 having a capacitor 11 so that the loop surfaces are substantially parallel to each other. 10 is provided. The loop-shaped conductive wires 10, 1
0 has no physical connection with the IC card tag, but the magnetic field generated by the antenna connected to the reader / writer device 7 is
It will be guided to the tag antenna of the card tag, the loop-shaped conductive wire, or both. Then, the magnetic field guided to the loop-shaped conductive wire is further guided to the tag antenna, so that the tag antenna can increase the sensitivity due to the magnetic field.

In this case, by using the capacitor 11 and the inductance of the loop conductive line 10 to resonate at or near the transmission frequency of the reader / writer device, the efficiency of the loop conductive line can be further increased. The number of turns of the loop-shaped conductive wire is at least one turn to form a loop, but can be appropriately determined according to the size of an IC card tag or an article.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an arrangement structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a fourth embodiment. Embodiments 1 to 3 are storage units 1
Has described the case where the reader / writer antenna is provided so that the loop surface thereof is substantially aligned with the depth direction.
In the fourth embodiment, the reader / writer antenna 6B is attached to the box-shaped storage unit 1 with respect to the bottom surface 1c and the one side surface 1b.
Is provided in an eight-shaped loop. According to such a configuration, it is possible to detect a magnetic field having components in two directions (two axial directions) of a loop surface direction provided on one side surface and a loop surface direction provided on the bottom surface, that is, one horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The restriction on the direction of the IC card tag attached to the article stored in the storage section is relaxed.

Embodiment 5 In the fifth embodiment, a reader / writer antenna 6C is provided so as to form a loop antenna on each of three surfaces of a box-shaped storage section which are orthogonal to each other. That is, FIG.
0, two side surfaces 1a, 1a,
1b and a bottom surface 1c are formed so as to form a loop surface, can detect a magnetic field of three directions (three axial directions), and is used for an IC card attached to an article stored in the storage unit 1. Restrictions on tag orientation are relaxed.

Embodiment 6 FIG. In the sixth embodiment, a loop 6a is formed in a coil shape so as to go around the box-shaped storage unit 1, and orthogonal loops 6b are provided on two side surfaces in a direction orthogonal to the loop surface to respectively provide a reader / writer antenna 6D. , 6E, and these loops are connected to the reader / writer device 7 via the antenna switch 9 respectively. According to such a configuration, even if the IC card tag in the storage section is oriented in any direction,
The magnetic fluxes are effectively linked to each other, and the reliability of communication can be improved.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed configuration of the antenna switch 9 shown in FIG. The antenna switch includes a terminal 91 connected to each antenna (two reader / writer antennas whose loop surfaces are orthogonal to each other: two in FIG. 11), a switch 92 for selecting and connecting the terminal 91, The control unit 93 is configured to control switching timing of the switch, and the control unit 93 is connected to the reader / writer device 7.

Switching of each antenna can be realized by a switching signal from the control unit. Data for communicating with the antenna is performed by connection with a reader / writer device. Although not shown, a general changeover switch such as an electric switch using a diode switch may be used. Note that the control unit of the antenna switching device may be built in the reader / writer device main body, and the antenna switching device may be incorporated in the reader / writer device.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sensitivity does not decrease, or the distance between the IC card tag and the reader / writer antenna is not biased depending on the storage position of the article. Thus, it is possible to provide a reader / writer antenna and an article management system that can be transmitted and received between the IC card tag and the reader / writer device with high reliability without being increased by the storage position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reader / writer device and an IC card tag, and is an explanatory diagram in which transmission and reception are performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reader / writer device 7 having an antenna switch.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an IC card tag.

FIG. 5 is a view structurally showing an IC card tag attached to the surface of a clothes cover.

FIG. 6 is a reader / writer device 7 for a reader / writer antenna;
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a connection unit to the power supply.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an antenna switch.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional mounting structure of a reader / writer antenna.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage part 4 Clothes (article) 5 IC card tag 6, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E IC card tag antenna 7 Reader / writer device 51 Loop antenna

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) H01Q 21/28 H01Q 21/28 (72) Inventor Kazuo Funakubo 3- 14-20 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo International Inside Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiko Hayase 3-14-20, Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo International Electric Co., Ltd.F-term (reference) FA26 FA30 FA31 GA02 HA05 5J047 AA18 AB11 FC04 FC06

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A second loop provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached and for transmitting and receiving a radio signal between the IC card tag and a reader / writer device. An antenna for a reader / writer including an antenna, wherein the second loop antenna is formed in a coil shape, and
Wherein the second loop antenna is provided in the housing so that the first loop antenna is included in a coil-shaped space formed by the loop antenna. 2. A second loop antenna which is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached and which transmits / receives a radio signal to / from the IC card tag. In the reader / writer antenna, the loop surface of the second loop antenna is oriented substantially in the same direction as the loop surface of the first loop antenna, and the loop surface vertically crosses a central portion of the storage section. Second
An antenna for a reader / writer, wherein a loop antenna is provided. 3. The reader / writer antenna according to claim 2, wherein a resonance antenna is provided at a predetermined portion of the housing portion in parallel with a loop surface of the second loop antenna. 4. A second loop antenna which is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached and which transmits and receives a radio signal to and from the IC card tag. An antenna for a reader / writer, wherein the loop surface of the second loop antenna is provided in the storage section so as to face two axes (x, y). 5. A second loop antenna which is provided in a storage section for storing an article to which an IC card tag having a first loop antenna is attached and which transmits and receives a radio signal to and from the IC card tag. An antenna for a reader / writer, wherein the loop surface of the second loop antenna is provided in the storage section so as to face three axes (x, y, z). 6. The storage section has a box-shaped rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a loop surface of the second loop antenna is biaxial in each of two directions of a depth direction, a width direction, and a height direction of the storage section. 6. The reader / writer according to claim 4, wherein the reader / writer is arranged substantially along any one of a frame on a rear surface, a side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface of the storage unit, with all directions being three-axis directions. Antenna. 7. The second loop antenna provided so as to face in the plurality of axial directions is switched for each direction and used for transmission and reception. The reader / writer antenna according to any one of the above. 8. The article to which the IC card tag is attached is suspended in the storage section and a plurality of articles are arranged in a predetermined direction. The reader / writer antenna described in the above. 9. An IC attached to an article stored in a storage section.
A card tag, a reader / writer antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for transmitting and receiving to and from the IC card tag, a reader / writer device connected to the reader / writer antenna, and the reader / writer An article management system connected to a device and comprising an information management apparatus for managing a storage state of the article in the storage section.