JP2003141462A - Id tag control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend the life of an ID tag battery, and easily detect that the rest of the life of the ID tag battery is lowered. SOLUTION: This ID tag control device comprises a transmission device 50 for transmitting data by using carrier signals of specified frequencies, a transmission device 52 consuming less power consumption than the transmission device 50 for transmitting data by using carrier signals of frequencies lower than those of the transmission device 50, a battery 64 for supplying power to the transmission devices 50 and 52, a transmission counter 56 for measuring the degree of consumption of the battery 64 by the number of times of communication of the transmission device 50, and a control part 60 for sending data by the transmission device 50 until the value of the transmission counter 56 exceeds a pre-determined threshold and transmitting data by the transmission device 52 after the value of the transmission counter 56 exceeds the threshold.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ID tag management device capable of extending the battery life of an ID tag and easily knowing that the remaining battery life is short.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an automobile production line, in order to automate production, a communication device called an ID tag is attached to a vehicle body, and production data is transmitted / received to / from an antenna provided on a vehicle body conveyance path. Yes, so-called ID
The tag system is adopted.

In the electromagnetic coupling type ID tag system using radio waves, the production data output from the host controller is radiated from the antenna as radio waves, and the production data is written in the ID tag which receives the radio waves. On the contrary, data necessary for production is transmitted as an electric wave from the ID tag, and the host controller receiving the electric wave reads the data.

As described above, the ID tag has a function of transmitting and receiving data, and the function is fulfilled by the electric power of the battery provided inside the ID tag. The battery is integrally molded inside the ID tag in consideration of environmental resistance so that the ID tag is not easily broken by vibration or dust.
For this reason, it is difficult to know the battery life from the outside.
The timing of D tag replacement is also difficult.

Therefore, in order to make the exchange timing appropriate, a counter for counting the number of transmissions is provided inside the ID tag, the value of the counter is read from the outside, and if the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. It is about to decide that it is time to exchange, or if it is no longer possible to communicate with the ID tag, it is time to exchange.

[0006]

However, since the consumption level of the battery of the ID tag cannot be known unless it is read from the outside, even if the counter value can be used to identify the replacement timing as described above, In the field, there is no room to perform the work of removing the ID tag from the work and checking the value of the counter, and in many cases, it is replaced after the communication is actually disabled.

On the other hand, since the ID tag consumes a large amount of power when transmitting data to the host controller, it is required to save power in order to prolong the replacement cycle as much as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and demands of the conventional technique, and it is possible to extend the battery life of the ID tag and reduce the remaining battery life. An object is to provide an ID tag management device that can be easily known.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems,
In order to achieve the object, the invention I according to claim 1
The D tag management device includes first transmitting means for transmitting data by using a carrier signal having a desired frequency, and the first transmitting means for transmitting data by using a carrier signal having a lower frequency than the first transmitting means. And a battery for supplying power to the first transmitter or the second transmitter, an exhaustion degree measuring unit for measuring an exhaustion degree of the battery, and an exhaustion degree measuring unit. Control means for causing the first transmitting means to transmit data until the measured consumption level exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and for causing the second transmitting means to transmit data when the measured wear level exceeds the threshold value. To do.

An ID tag management apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ID tag management apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the wear level measuring means counts the number of transmissions of the first transmitting means. And measuring the consumption level of the battery based on the number of transmissions.

An ID tag management apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the ID tag management apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the threshold value is the number of times of transmission by the first transmitting means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ID tag management device according to the first aspect, wherein the threshold value is data transmission only by the first transmission means using a new battery. If the battery reaches the end of its life in N transmissions, the number of transmissions is set to 0.7N to 0.9N.

An ID tag management device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the ID tag management device according to the third aspect, wherein the control means sets the number of data transmissions by the second transmission means to a predetermined number. When reaching, the data transmission by the second transmission means is forcibly stopped.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ID tag management device according to the first aspect, further comprising a battery when the battery consumption level reaches a predetermined threshold value. It is characterized in that it has a battery life notifying means for notifying that the life is approaching by using the battery consumption ID identification information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ID tag management device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the battery life notification means is provided when a plurality of ID tags are used at the same time. It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying which of the ID tags has a low battery life based on the battery consumption ID identification information from.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ID tag management device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the battery includes a first transmitting means, a second transmitting means, a consumption measuring means, and a control. And battery life notification means
It is characterized by being integrally molded in the D tag.

An ID tag management device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the ID tag management device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the display means is provided in an external device that communicates with the ID tag. Is characterized by.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the battery consumption level reaches the threshold value, the second transmitting unit that consumes less power than the first transmitting unit is switched, so that the battery life can be extended and the ID tag replacement cycle becomes longer.

Since it is possible to easily know from the outside that the battery consumption level is high, it is possible to order spare parts or prepare for replacement before the ID tag cannot be transmitted. be able to.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an ID tag management device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line equipped with an ID tag management device according to the present invention. The production line 10 is provided with a transfer path 20 for transferring the works 15a to 15i to each process. ID tags 25a to 25i for transmitting and receiving production data are attached to the respective works 15a to 15i. The carrier path 20 is provided with a stage 30 for writing or reading production data (high-frequency or low-frequency radio waves) with the respective ID tags 25a to 25i, and the stage 30 transmits and receives production data. An antenna 35 is provided for this purpose. The antenna 35 is connected to the host controller 40 and transmits the production data output from the host controller 40 by radio waves.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the ID tag.

The ID tag 25 includes a transmitter 50, a transmitter 52, a receiver 54, a transmission counter 56, a memory 58,
The control unit 60, the switching device 62, and the battery 64 are provided.

The communication device 50 functions as a first transmission means and is a device for transmitting production data to the antenna 35 provided on the stage 30 by using a high frequency carrier signal. The transmitter 52 functions as a second transmitter, and is a device that transmits production data by using a low-frequency carrier signal for the antenna 35. In general, the higher the carrier frequency, the higher the power consumption of the transmitting device. Therefore, the transmitting device 52 that transmits production data using a low-frequency carrier signal has lower power consumption than the transmitting device 50. The receiving means 54 is
This is a device for receiving the production data transmitted from the antenna 35.

The transmission counter 56 functions as a consumption degree measuring means or a counting means, and counts the number of transmissions of the transmitting device 50 and the transmitting device 52. The memory 58 stores the production data to be transmitted by the transmission device 50 or the transmission device 52 and the production data received by the reception device 54. In addition, a threshold for switching from the transmitter 50 to the transmitter 52 and a threshold for forcibly stopping the transmission by the transmitter 52 based on the number of transmissions are stored.

The control unit 60 functions as a consumption degree measuring means, and is the transmitting device 50 or the transmitting device 52.
Then, the production data stored in the memory 58 is transferred, or the production data received by the receiving device 54 is transferred to the memory 58. On the other hand, the control unit 60 also functions as a control unit, and based on the count value of the transmission counter 56,
The transmitting device to be operated is changed from the transmitting device 50 to the transmitting device 52.
A signal for switching to is output, or the operation of the transmitter 52 is forcibly stopped. Further, the control unit 60 also functions as a battery life informing unit, and outputs a battery consumption ID identification information that informs the outside that the battery life is approaching, when a signal for switching from the transmission device 50 to the transmission device 52 is output. . The battery consumption ID identification information is output to the antenna 35 by the transmission device 52.

The switching device 62 functions as a control means, and switches the connection with the control unit 60 from the transmission device 50 to the transmission device 52 based on the switching signal output from the control unit 60.

The battery 64 supplies electric power to each of the above parts, and is usually a lithium battery having a long life. Since the ID tag 25 needs to have sufficient environment resistance, the components of each of the above parts and the battery are integrally molded.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the threshold and the degree of battery consumption, and the relationship between the threshold and the carrier frequency of the transmitter. As shown in the figure, the value m of the threshold value 1 serving as a reference for switching from transmission by the transmission device 50 to transmission to the transmission device 52 is N when the production data is transmitted only by the transmission device 50 using a new battery. If the battery has reached the end of its life in one transmission, the number of transmissions is set to 0.7N to 0.9N. In the present embodiment, the value m of the threshold value 1 is 0.8
N. Therefore, as shown in the figure, transmission is performed at a high carrier frequency until the value of the threshold value 1 reaches 0.8 N, and transmission is performed at a carrier frequency lower than that when it exceeds 0.8 N. In addition, the threshold value 2 is set after the transmission from the transmission device 50 is switched to the transmission to the transmission device 52.
When the value n becomes, the transmission by the transmitter 52 is forcibly stopped. In addition, as for the value n of the threshold value 2, an optimum value is obtained by experiments.

As in the prior art, when only the transmitting device 50 transmitting at a high carrier frequency is used, the battery reaches the end of its life by transmitting N times, but as in the present invention, 0.8 N times lower carrier is used. By switching to the transmitting device 52 that transmits at the frequency, the number of transmissions can be increased by T (n−N) times.
Therefore, the replacement period of the ID tag 25 can be extended by that amount. In addition, it is possible to make room for delivery of the replacement ID tag.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the host controller.

The host controller 40 includes a demultiplexer 70, a receiver 72, a receiver 74, a transmitter 76, and a transmission / reception switch 7
8, a battery consumption ID tag counter 80, a display unit 82, and a control unit 84 are provided.

The demultiplexer 70 divides the transmission path of the radio wave received by the antenna 35 according to its frequency band. Specifically, the high frequency radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 50 is separately output to the receiver 72, and the low frequency radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 52 is separately output to the receiver 74.

The receiver 72 receives the high frequency radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 50. The receiver 74 is the transmitter 5
The low frequency radio wave transmitted from 2 is received. Transmitter 76
Transmits the production data to the ID tag 25 via the antenna 35. The transmission / reception switch 78 connects the transmitter 76 and the antenna 35 when transmitting production data, and connects the duplexer 70 and the antenna 35 when receiving production data or battery consumption ID identification information.

The battery consumption ID tag counter 80 is provided for each ID tag used in the production line and knows which of the ID tags currently used in the production line is about to be replaced. Is a counter for. When the battery consumption ID identification information is transmitted from the ID tag, the value of the battery consumption ID tag counter 80 corresponding to the identification information is incremented by 1. The value of the battery consumption ID tag counter 80 is cleared by the input of the reset signal.

The display 82 functions as a display means and displays which ID tag has transmitted the battery consumption ID identification information, or which ID tag is currently due to be replaced. .

The control unit 84 transfers the production data to the transmitting device 76, or transfers the production data received by the receiver 72 or the receiver 74. In addition, the control unit 84
When the battery consumption ID identification information is received, the value of the battery consumption ID tag counter 80 corresponding to the identification information is set to 1
Increment only. The control unit 84 functions as a display unit, and when the battery consumption ID identification information is received, causes the display unit 82 to display from which ID tag it is transmitted. Also, based on the count status stored in the battery consumption ID tag counter 80, the display 82 displays the total number of ID tags (battery consumption ID tags) that are about to be replaced.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the ID tag management device according to the present invention. Transmission with the antenna 35 of the stage 30 is normally performed using the transmitter 50. When transmission is performed by the transmission device 50 (S1), the control unit 60 increments the value of the transmission counter 56 by 1 (S2). The control unit 60 determines that the count value of the transmission counter 56 is the value m of the threshold value 1 stored in the memory 58.
It is determined whether or not (S3). If the number of transmissions using the transmission device 50 has not reached the value m of the threshold 1 (S3: NO), the control unit 60 returns to the process of step S1. On the other hand, when the number of transmissions using the transmission device 50 reaches the value m of the threshold value 1 (S3: YES), the control unit 60 switches the signal from the transmission device 50 to the transmission device 52 by the switching device 6
2 is output (S4).

Upon receiving this signal, the switching device 62 switches the connection with the control unit 60 from the transmission device 50 to the transmission device 52 (S5). The control unit 60 transmits the battery consumption ID identification information to the host controller 40 using the transmission device 52 in accordance with this switching (S6). Upon receiving the battery consumption ID identification information, the control unit 84 of the host controller 40 increments the value of the battery consumption ID tag counter 80 corresponding to the identification information by 1 (S7). Further, the control unit 84 determines from which ID tag the battery consumption ID identification information has been transmitted (which ID tag has a low battery life remaining), and the ID tag which is about to be replaced ( Battery life information such as the total number of battery consumption ID tags) is displayed on the display 82 (S8).

After switching to the transmitting device 52 by the switching device 62, the transmitting device 52 is used for transmission. When the control unit 60 performs transmission by the transmission device 52 (S
9), the value of the transmission counter 56 is incremented by 1 (S10).

The control unit 60 determines whether or not the count value of the transmission counter 56 has reached the value n of the threshold value 2 stored in the memory 58 (S11). If the number of transmissions using the transmission device 50 has not reached the value n of the threshold 2 (S11: NO), the control unit 60 returns to the process of step S9. On the other hand, when the number of transmissions using the transmission device 50 reaches the value n of the threshold 2 (S11: YES), the control unit 60 forcibly stops the operation of the transmission device 52 (S12).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the degree of battery consumption is replaced by the number of times of transmission, and when the degree of battery consumption reaches a certain level, power consumption is high but high transmission performance can be obtained. In order to perform subsequent transmission by switching from the transmitting device 50 using the high frequency carrier signal to the transmitting device 52 using the low frequency carrier signal with low power consumption,
The battery life can be extended and the ID tag replacement period can be lengthened from the time when the degree of wear increases.

Further, the operator can
It is possible to easily grasp which ID tag has a depleted battery life, and how many ID tags have a reduced battery life and need to be replaced.

Therefore, it is possible to order spare parts and prepare for replacement before the ID tag cannot be transmitted. In addition, the replacement can be performed at the optimum replacement timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line equipped with an ID tag management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an ID tag.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a threshold value and a battery consumption level, and a relationship between a threshold value and a carrier frequency of a transmission device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a host controller.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the ID tag management device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Production line, 15a to 15i ... work, 20 ... transport path, 25a to 25i ... ID tag, 30 ... stage, 35 ... antenna, 40 ... Host controller, 50 ... transmitter, 52 ... transmitter, 54 ... Receiving device, 56 ... Transmission counter, 58 ... memory, 60 ... control unit, 62 ... Switching device, 64 ... battery, 70 ... duplexer, 72 ... receiver, 74 ... Receiver, 76 ... transmitter, 78 ... Send / receive switch, 80 ... Battery consumption tag ID counter, 82 ... indicator, 84 ... Control part.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first transmitting means for transmitting data by using a carrier signal of a desired frequency, and a first transmitting means for transmitting data by using a carrier signal of a frequency lower than that of the first transmitting means. A second transmitting unit that consumes less power, a battery that supplies electric power to the first transmitting unit or the second transmitting unit, a consumption level measuring unit that measures the consumption level of the battery, and a consumption level measuring unit. The first transmitting means transmits data until the consumed level exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the second transmitting means transmits data when the consumed level exceeds the threshold. ID tag management device. 2. The consumption measuring means comprises counting means for counting the number of transmissions of the first transmitting means, and measures the consumption of the battery based on the number of transmissions. The ID tag management device described in 1. 3. The ID tag management device according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is the number of times of transmission by the first transmitting unit. 4. The threshold value is 0.7 N times, assuming that the battery has reached the end of its life in N transmissions when data is transmitted only by the first transmission means using a new battery. The ID tag management device according to claim 1, wherein the number of transmissions is set to 0.9N. 5. The control means forcibly stops the data transmission by the second transmitting means when the number of data transmissions by the second transmitting means reaches a certain number. ID described in 3
Tag management device. 6. A battery life notifying means for notifying that the battery life is approaching, by using the battery wear ID identification information, when the battery wear level reaches a predetermined threshold value. The ID tag management device according to claim 1. 7. When a plurality of ID tags are used at the same time, the battery consumption ID identification information from the battery life notifying unit indicates which ID tag has a reduced battery life. The ID tag management device according to claim 6, further comprising: 8. The battery is integrally molded in the ID tag together with first transmitting means, second transmitting means, consumption measuring means, control means, and battery life notifying means. Item 6. The ID tag management device according to item 6. 9. The ID tag management device according to claim 8, wherein the display unit is provided in an external device that communicates with the ID tag.