JP2004361278A - Detection support device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detection support system for determining whether an object to be detected is in the neighborhood of a searcher even when the object to be detected positions in an environment not viewed from the searcher. <P>SOLUTION: The detection support system includes a plurality of identifiers 20 storing specific identification information in each and attached to the object to be detected, and a finder 10 for detecting the object to be detected by operation of the searcher. The finder 10 comprises a control part 14 for determining whether the identification information included in a response signal from the identifier 20 coincides with the identification information of the identifier of a detection object, and an output part 13 for outputting notification information notifying an operator of a detection result by an instruction from the control part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an object detection support device, and in particular, transmits a detection signal such as a radio wave to an identification object attached to many objects, and receives a response signal from the identification object in response to the detection signal. The present invention relates to a technique for detecting a position where the object exists by performing the above operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as a technique used for object identification, an identification system using a non-contact IC tag and a reader / writer has been developed in place of a barcode identification system including a barcode and a barcode reader. As an example of the above-described IC tag, for example, a tag in which an antenna, a transmitting / receiving unit, a memory, and the like are provided inside a thin package having a thickness d of about 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm by a printing / transfer technique or the like. No. Since such an IC tag has a capacity to store large information of about several hundred bytes, has excellent durability, and has an advantage that there is no need to incorporate a battery or the like as a power supply unit. The application as a next-generation individual recognition technology is greatly expected.
[0003]
As an example of a system for detecting an object using such an IC tag and a reader / writer of the IC tag, there is a detection system described in Patent Document 1, for example. In such a detection system, as shown in FIG. 9, an IC card 30 (30a, 30b,... 30e) as an IC tag attached to each of a plurality of objects 300 (300a, 300b,. And a reader / writer 40 for detecting the IC card 30. Inside the IC card 30, a signal is transmitted to a receiving unit 31 that generates a voltage based on a scanning signal from the reader / writer 40, a control circuit 32, a light emitting diode 33 that emits light by the voltage, and a reader / writer 40. , A storage unit 35 such as a memory, and the like.
[0004]
In such a detection system, when a scanning signal for calling a specific IC card (for example, the IC card 30b) is output from the reader / writer 40, the receiving unit 31 of the IC card 30 that has received the scanning signal outputs an electromagnetic signal. An electric current is generated by an action such as coupling. The control circuit 32 is activated by this current, and determines whether or not the scanning signal received by the receiving unit 31 is a signal for calling the IC card (IC card 30b).
[0005]
Next, when the scanning signal is for calling the IC card (IC card 30b), the control circuit 32 (control circuit 32b) turns on the light emitting diode 33 (light emitting diode 33b) as necessary. At the same time, if there is transmission data to the reader / writer side, the transmission data is transmitted via the transmission unit 34. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the light emitting diode 33b of the IC card 30b that has received the scanning signal in the above-described procedure emits light. Further, the reader / writer 40 receives the above-mentioned transmission data, performs display processing and the like, and informs the detector of the information transmitted from the IC card 30 (IC card 30b).
[0006]
However, in such a detection system, since a light emitting means such as a light emitting diode is provided for each of the IC tags, when the object with the IC tag is in a place where it cannot be seen (for example, in a desk). In some cases, the detector cannot find the output (light emission) emitted by the IC tag.
[0007]
Further, in such a conventional technique, since signals are exchanged only between the reader / writer and the IC tag to be detected, the frequency of the scanning signal transmitted from the reader / writer side is determined by the identification object of the detection target. Must be variable according to each of the For example, it is necessary to assign different frequencies to each discriminator within a certain frequency band, and to variably transmit radio waves in these frequency bands to the reader / writer.
[0008]
Further, the control unit provided on the IC tag side must be provided with a circuit or the like for determining whether or not the scanning signal transmitted from the reader / writer side matches the identification information. For this reason, the configuration of the reader / writer control means and the like becomes complicated, and at the same time, the configuration of the IC tag itself becomes complicated, resulting in a disadvantage that the unit price per reader / writer and one IC tag increases.
[0009]
Further, in the case of such a detection system, it is impossible to know how far the object to be detected is located away from the detector. This is effective in an embodiment in which the object to be detected is known to always exist in a known area (for example, when searching for a specific bottle from a place where many bottles are arranged), In an embodiment in which the position of the object to be detected is unknown, this causes a failure to efficiently detect the object.
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-205202
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is a detection support device that can easily determine whether or not it is near a detector even when an object to be detected is not found. It is intended to provide.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a plurality of identification objects each of which stores unique identification information and can be attached to an object to be detected, and a detector which can transmit a detection signal by operation of a detector. The detection support device, wherein each of the identification objects receives the detection signal from the detection device, transmits a response signal including identification information unique to each of the identification objects by an electromagnetic induction action, and A storage unit that stores input information for identifying the input detection target; a reception unit that receives the response signal from each of the identification objects; and an identification information included in the response signal. A control unit for determining whether or not the identification information corresponds to the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the input information of the detected object, and outputting notification information indicating a detection result to the operator based on a command from the control unit And an output unit, wherein the control unit comprises: When it is determined that the identification information included in the response signal matches the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the input information of the detection target, the output unit indicates that the detection target is detected. Is included in the notification information.
[0013]
As described above, in the detection support device according to the present invention, since the output unit that outputs the notification information to the detector side is provided instead of the identification body side, the detection target is located in a place where the detection target cannot be seen by the detector. An object to be detected can be detected. Furthermore, since all the identification bodies that have received the detection signal transmit response signals each including a unique identification signal, the configuration of the transmission / reception unit on the identification body side can be simplified. This makes it possible to easily determine that the detected object exists near the detector even when the detected object is in a place where the detector cannot see the detected object.
[0014]
Further, the control unit may issue a command to include information on a distance between the detection target and the detector based on the number of response signals received within a predetermined time by the reception unit in the notification information ( Claim 2). That is, for the detection signal transmitted from the detector, by counting the number of response signals transmitted by the identifier, the approximate distance between the detector and the detected object is determined, and output as notification information. I do. Thereby, the locator can obtain an indication of how far the object to be detected is located.
[0015]
Further, when the position of the identification object is far from the detector or when there is a radio wave obstruction such as a metal in the detection area, the transmission signal strength from the detector is not sufficiently maintained, and the response signal from the identification object is transmitted to the control unit. May not be specified. When receiving such a response signal, the control unit may include information indicating a possibility of detecting the detection target object in the notification information (claim 3). In other words, even when the identification signal included in the received response signal cannot be specified, by displaying that the signal from the detected object has been received, the detector can find the object to be detected nearby. The possibility can be recognized.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a detection support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A detection support system 1 includes a detector 10 and identification objects 20a to 20e as an identification object group. FIG. 1 shows a state where the identification bodies 20a to 20e are attached to different objects 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D, and 200E via attachment portions (not shown) and the like. As the above-mentioned different objects 200A to 200E, articles that are used in daily life, specifically, articles that tend to be missing in daily life, such as wallets, glasses, and remote controls for televisions, are targets.
[0018]
The detector 10 includes an input unit 11 corresponding to the type (five types in the present embodiment) of the identification bodies included in the identification body groups 20a to 20e. In this embodiment, the input unit includes buttons 11a to 11e, and the buttons 11a to 11e correspond to the identification objects 20a to 20e, respectively. That is, when it is desired to detect a specific object (for example, 200B), the user presses a specific button (for example, 11b) of the input unit 11 and inputs information. 200B) can be detected. The information input through the input unit to specify the identification object attached to the object in this manner is hereinafter referred to as input information.
[0019]
FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing an example of a specific structure of the detector 10 and the identification body 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the detector 10 includes an input unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 12, an output unit 13 that outputs notification information to a detector, and a control unit 14. The input unit 11 includes buttons 11a to 11e for inputting input information to the detector 10. The transmission / reception unit 12 has both a transmission function of transmitting a predetermined detection signal in response to a signal from the control unit 14 and a reception function of receiving a response signal including identification information from the identification body 20. Is preferred. Reference numeral 15 denotes a power supply unit for electrically operating the detector 10.
[0020]
The detection signal transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 12 may be a signal that can be received by all of the group of identification objects to be used in common, and a pulse signal such as a radio wave having a predetermined frequency and intensity is usually used. Since the detection signal does not need to be receivable only by a specific identification object, the transmission / reception unit 12 does not need to be configured to be capable of selectively transmitting radio waves of different frequencies. Further, the predetermined frequency of the radio wave is a frequency at which the coil receiving the radio wave generates a current by an electromagnetic induction action, and is selected from a frequency band that does not affect other electric devices and the like. . Specifically, it is preferable that the frequency is appropriately selected and used from a frequency band of 6.8 to 13.5 MHz.
[0021]
The output unit 13 is for outputting notification information that can be detected by a person operating the detector 10, and includes a display unit 131 that displays a predetermined message and the like, a light emitting unit 132 such as a light emitting diode, and the like. It has. When the detector is notified that the object to be detected is nearby as the notification information, even if the object to be detected is located in a place invisible to the detector, the detector must be close to the object. You can know. The output unit 13 is not limited to these, and it is possible to appropriately select and incorporate an output unit having a desired output form, such as a sound generated by an acoustic coupler or the like or a vibration generated by a vibrator or the like. The control unit 14 includes a storage unit 140 in which a predetermined program is stored in advance, and a CPU (not shown), and appropriately performs necessary processing according to a signal from the input unit 11, a signal from the transmission / reception unit 12, and the like. Do. It is preferable to use a general-purpose power supply such as a battery or an AC power supply for the power supply unit 15.
[0022]
Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the identification body 20 includes a transmission / reception unit 21 and a control unit 22 including a storage unit 220 for storing identification information for each identification body. The storage unit 220 is a ROM (read-only memory) and / or a RAM (randomly written and read memory), and stores information and data necessary for the operation of the identification unit 20. As such an identification body 20, for example, a commercially available IC tag or the like can be used. In order to use the detection support system 1, it is necessary to perform an operation of inputting predetermined information in advance in each storage unit 220 of each identification object. That is, for example, identification information unique to the identification object 20a is input to the storage unit of the identification object 20a attached to the object 200A. Similarly, for the other identification objects, the operation of storing the identification information unique to each identification object is performed. In the present embodiment, information input to the identification bodies 20a to 20e is referred to as identification information Sa to Se, respectively. The input of the identification information Sa to Se may be performed using the detector 10 having a function as data writing (writer). In this case, the input of the identification information is performed by a radio signal or the like emitted from the detector 10.
[0023]
The transmission / reception unit 21 includes a current generation unit 210 including a coil or the like capable of generating a current according to the strength of the detection signal by electromagnetic induction when receiving a detection signal from the detection device 10. The control unit 22 is activated by the current generated by the current generation unit 210, and reads the identification information S (Sa to Se) unique to each identification object stored in the storage unit 220 provided in the control unit 22. , To the transmission / reception unit 21. The storage unit 220 need not necessarily be provided in the control unit 22, and may be configured separately from the control unit 22. The identification information S transmitted from the control unit 22 is converted into an electric signal that can be distinguished from other identification information by a predetermined waveform, frequency, or the like, is input to the current generation unit 210, and is unique information based on the identification information S. It is transmitted as a certain response signal.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the transmission / reception unit 21 has a structure in which the transmission / reception unit 21 itself has the current generation unit 210. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be. In this case, it is preferable that the power supply circuit of the power supply unit be turned ON only when it is detected that the detection signal from the detector 10 has been received. In any case, when the identification object 20 receives the detection signal from the detection device 10, only the simple control of transmitting the stored unique identification information is performed. It can be. Further, since the program and the like stored in the storage unit 220 may be simple, the capacity of the storage unit 220 may be small.
[0025]
Further, in the present invention, the transmission / reception unit 21 of the detector 10 is not limited to one used only for exchanging signals with the identification body 20. For example, a function to receive a signal for confirming the position of the detector 10 when the detector 10 is not found may be provided. That is, a transmitter for generating a signal for calling the detector 10 is attached to an object having a fixed position such as a pillar or a desk in a room, and when the detector 10 is not found, the transmitter is operated by operating the transmitter. May be called. When the detector 10 is called by the signal, it is preferable that the output unit 13 emits an output for notifying its own location.
[0026]
Next, a procedure in which the detector 10 detects a specific identification object will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps from when the detector 10 receives a signal from the identification object attached to the detected object to when the detected object is detected.
[0027]
First, an object to be detected (for example, the object 200b) is selected, and input information on the object is input by operating the input unit (input unit 11b) (STEP 1). The control unit 14 recognizes a specific identification object (identification object 20b) from the input information, and stores a unique identification signal (identification signal Sb) of the identification object (identification object 20b) in the storage unit 140 (STEP 2). . Thereafter, a detection signal (for example, a radio wave having a frequency of 6.8 to 13.5 MHz) is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 12 to a predetermined area (STEP 3). If the detection signal is, for example, one pulse signal having a specific frequency and intensity, the detector 10 transmits the pulse signal at a predetermined number of times per second for a certain period of time. The control unit 14 stores the number of transmitted signals in the storage unit 140. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a single operation of the input unit transmits a pulse signal 10 times per second as a detection signal for 1 second, thereby transmitting a total of 10 detection signals.
[0028]
Each of the identification objects 20 (identification objects 20a, 20b, 20c,...) Receives the detection signal, generates power in the current generation unit 210 as many times as the number of received detection signals, and controls the control unit 22. Start. The activated control unit 22 takes out the identification information S (Sa, Sb, Sc,...) From the storage unit 220, converts the identification information S into an electric signal, sends the electric signal to the transmitting / receiving unit 21, and then transmits the electric signal. It is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 21 as a response signal. That is, the identification body 20 transmits response signals of the same number as the number of received signals among the detection signals transmitted from the detector 10.
[0029]
The detector 10 counts the number of the response signals received by the transmission / reception unit 12 in the control unit 14 and compares the number of the response signals with a reference number (for example, N times) (STEP 4). The comparison result is stored (STEP 5). In the present embodiment, when the number of the response signals exceeds the reference number, it is determined that the detection target is located very close to the detector. It shall be determined that it is located far from the aircraft.
[0030]
Next, the control unit 14 reads the identification signal S included in the received response signal and compares it with the identification information of the identification object stored in STEP 2 (STEP 6). As a result of the comparison, if these pieces of identification information match, it is determined that a response signal from the detection target object has been received (STEP 7). Further, if the identification information is different from the stored identification information of the identification object or if the identification information S cannot be specified, a response signal of an object different from the detected object is received or a response signal that cannot be specified is received. Is determined (STEP 7 '). Next, the result regarding the number of receptions stored in STEP 5 is called, notification information is created and output (STEP 8 or STEP 8 '). Thereafter, it is selected whether or not the detection is completed (STEP 9). If the detection is completed, the power is turned off (END). If the detection is continued, the process returns to STEP 1.
[0031]
Note that, in STEP 4, when each of the identification objects does not receive the detection signal, the transmission / reception unit 12 of the detection device 10 does not receive the response signal. At this time, the detector 10 determines that there is no object to be detected around the detector (STEP 5 '), and generates and outputs notification information for displaying the fact (STEP 6'), and ends the detection. Whether or not to perform is selected (STEP 9). Further, when the identification object to which the identification object to be detected is attached is detected in STEP 8, a notification such as turning on the light from the light emitting unit 132 may be performed together.
[0032]
FIGS. 5 and 6 are examples of the notification information output to the display unit 131 in STEP6 'and STEP8, respectively. FIG. 6 shows an example of a display when the number of received response signals is sufficiently large (N times or more) and it is determined in STEP 5 that the object to be detected is located very close to the detector.
[0033]
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are examples of the display screen displayed on the display unit 131 in STEP 8 ′. FIG. 7 is a display when the identification signal included in the received response signal is an identification signal of an object different from the object to be detected, and it is determined that the object is located at a certain distance from the detector. 9 shows an example of a display in the case where the message is displayed. FIG. 8 shows an example of a display in a case where the identification signal included in the received response signal cannot be specified, and in a case where it is determined that the object that has transmitted the response signal is located at a certain distance from the detector. I have.
[0034]
The display shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is an example of the notification information, and it is needless to say that the display may be changed as needed. Further, instead of displaying such a screen, the content determined by the control unit 14 may be notified to the detector by another output unit such as the light emitting unit 132.
[0035]
By processing the response signal including the identification information from each identification object on the detector side as described above, it is possible to detect the identification object to be detected without providing a complicated control circuit or the like in each identification object. It becomes possible.
[0036]
In the present invention, the determination as to whether or not the identification signal included in the received response signal matches the identification signal read from the input information that has been input depends on factors such as the response signal strength, frequency, and waveform. It is preferable to carry out based on this. For example, a reference value may be set for each of these elements, and if the difference (standard deviation or the like) between the stored signal and the received signal is smaller than the reference value, it may be determined that these signals match. .
[0037]
When the transmitting / receiving unit 12 of the detector 10 receives response signals transmitted from a plurality of types of identification objects, respectively, in the above-described detecting procedure (STEP 4), the identification included in each response signal is performed. It is determined whether the information matches the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the input information stored in the storage unit. In this case, it is preferable that priorities for displaying the notification information are set in advance, and only the highest priority information is displayed on the display unit 131 as the notification information.
[0038]
Specifically, when it is determined that the identification information included in the response signal cannot be specified, the priority order is “Rank 3”, and the identification signal included in the response signal is different from the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the stored input information. The priority in the case where it is determined that the identification information is “Rank 2”, and the priority in the case where it is determined that the identification signal included in the response signal matches the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the stored input information is “Rank 1”. I do. Then, only the highest priority information is displayed as notification information in the order of “Rank 1” → “Rank 2” → “Rank 3”. By doing so, even when response signals are received simultaneously from a plurality of identification objects, only the most necessary information can be displayed.
[0039]
Further, a plurality of receiving units (antennas and the like) are provided in the detector, and the receiving unit that has received the highest priority response signal is specified by the control unit, so that the direction in which the object to be detected exists can be detected. Is more preferable.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the detection support device according to the present invention can easily determine whether or not a detection target object is present near the detector even when the detection target object is not found.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an entire embodiment of a detection support device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a detector constituting the detection support device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an identification object included in the detection support device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which a detection device detects an object to be detected in the detection support device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen displayed in STEP 5 ′ shown in FIG.
6 is an example of a display screen displayed in STEP 8 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen displayed in STEP 8 ′ shown in FIG.
8 is another example of the display screen displayed in STEP 8 ′ shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an overall view showing an entire conventional detection system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Detection support system 10 Detector 11 Input part 12 Transmission / reception part 13 Output part 14 Control part 15 Power supply part 20 Identification object 21 Transmission / reception part 22 Control part

Claims (3)

A detection support device that stores identification information unique to each of the plurality of identification objects that can be attached to an object to be detected and a detector that can transmit a detection signal by operation of a detector.
Each of the identification objects, when receiving the detection signal from the detector, transmits a response signal including identification information unique to each of the identification objects by electromagnetic induction,
The detector is
A storage unit that stores input information for identifying the input detection target;
A receiving unit that receives the response signal from each of the identifiers;
A control unit that determines whether or not the identification information included in the response signal matches identification information of an identification object corresponding to the input information of the detected object,
An output unit that outputs notification information indicating a detection result to an operator based on a command from the control unit,
When the control unit determines that the identification information included in the response signal matches the identification information of the identification object corresponding to the input information of the detection target, the control unit detects the detection target from the output unit. A detection support device that includes information indicating that the notification has been performed in the notification information. The said control part contains the information regarding the distance between the to-be-detected object based on the number of response signals received within the predetermined time in the receiving part, and the said detector in the said notification information, The said notification information is characterized by the above-mentioned. Detection support device. The control unit, when the identification signal included in the received response signal cannot be specified, includes information indicating a possibility of detecting the detection target in the notification information. 3. The detection support device according to 1 or 2.

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