JP2005228094A - Remote inspection device and remote inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote inspection device which can surely and safely inspect an inspection object, which is remote from an inspector, without approaching the inspection object, and also provide a remote inspection method. <P>SOLUTION: When the presence of an inspection object 2 is visually confirmed with a binocular telescope 22, the electromagnetic wave reception-and-transmission surface 21a of an antenna member 21 is directed to the inspection object 2, and under such conditions the button member 24a of a switch device 24 is pressed down. Then, an instruction signal is outputted from the switch device 24, and the instruction signal is entered to an R/W unit 30 via a connector 23 and a connecting cable 25. When the instruction signal is entered, the R/W unit 30 makes the antenna member 21 transmit an electromagnetic wave via the connecting cable 25 and the connector 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote inspection device and a remote inspection method used for inspecting an inspection object at a remote location.

Conventionally, in the inspection of a ship permit (hereinafter referred to as a “ship permit”), an inspector enters a ship that is anchored at sea or at a port and directly obtains the ship permit, which is an inspection object, in the partner's ship. A method is used in which a ship permit is received on a patrol boat or on land using a device with a net attached to the tip of the anchor and returned after inspection.
JP 2001-291073 A

  However, according to the above method, when the inspector on board the patrol boat inspects the ship permit (or also referred to as “censorship”), the inspector may board the other ship at sea. Alternatively, it is necessary to receive or return a ship permit through the above-mentioned equipment, and the patrol boat must be brought close to the other ship. However, there is a problem that, when the waves at sea are large and the other ship or patrol boat shakes greatly, bringing the ships closer together involves a risk of inducing a collision between the ships.

  Even if there is no danger of such collisions, it is necessary to pay close attention to prevent falling accidents when transferring between ships and falling accidents when exchanging ship permits. There is also a problem that it takes a very long time to inspect the permit. Furthermore, since it is necessary to stop the partner ship in the above-described method, there is a problem that the ship permit inspection itself cannot be performed for a ship that does not stop without responding to a call from the patrol boat.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and allows an inspection object located at a location remote from the inspector to be safely and remotely located without approaching the inspection object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote inspection apparatus and a remote inspection method that can be reliably inspected.

  In order to achieve this object, the remote inspection device according to claim 1 is for inspecting identification information relating to an inspection object at a location separated from the inspection object, and is attached to the inspection object and inspected. It is used together with a reader device that can read identification information by a non-contact method from a storage tag capable of storing identification information on an object and data communication by a non-contact method, and incident from a light source A telescope that magnifies the light source by an objective lens that transmits light and an eyepiece that further transmits the transmitted light from the objective lens, and directs communication radio waves in substantially the same direction as the optical axis of the objective lens provided in the telescope And a communication means for transmitting and receiving signals between the antenna member and the reader device, which is provided in the telescope together with the antenna member. It is equipped with a.

  According to the apparatus for remote inspection according to claim 1, first, the objective lens of the telescope is directed to the inspection object (light source) at a remote location, and the inspection object is magnified through the eyepiece and visually observed. It is confirmed. In this state, since the optical axis of the objective lens is directed to the inspection object, the antenna member provided in the telescope is also directed to the inspection object. Then, when communication between the antenna member and the reader device is started by the communication means in this state, the reader device is not in contact with the storage tag attached to the inspection object via the antenna member. Data communication is performed by the method. Through this data communication, the identification information relating to the inspection object stored in the storage tag is read by the reader device, and the identification information is inspected.

  The apparatus for remote inspection according to claim 2 is for inspecting identification information relating to an inspection object at a location separated from the inspection object, and mounting to the inspection object and storing identification information relating to the inspection object. A reader device capable of reading identification information by a non-contact method from a storage tag capable of data communication by a non-contact method, and an objective lens mounted with the reader device and transmitting incident light from a light source A telescope that magnifies the light source by an eyepiece that further transmits the transmitted light from the objective lens; and a directivity of communication radio waves provided in the telescope in substantially the same direction as the optical axis of the objective lens; And an antenna member electrically connected to the apparatus.

  According to the device for remote inspection according to claim 2, first, the objective lens of the telescope is directed to the inspection object (light source) at a remote location, and the inspection object is magnified through the eyepiece and visually observed. It is confirmed. In this state, since the optical axis of the objective lens is directed to the inspection object, the antenna member provided in the telescope is also directed to the inspection object. Then, in this state, the reader device performs data communication by a non-contact method with the storage tag included in the inspection object via the antenna member. Through this data communication, the identification information relating to the inspection object stored in the storage tag is read by the reader device, and the identification information is inspected.

  The remote inspection device according to claim 3 is the remote inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the telescope is operated when reading identification information stored in a storage tag, and based on the operation. A switch device is provided for outputting a command signal for starting the reading process of the identification information by the reader device to the reader device.

  According to the remote inspection device according to claim 3, the telescope objective lens is directed to the inspection object at a remote location, in addition to the same operation as the remote inspection device according to claim 1 or 2. When the inspection object is enlarged and viewed through an eyepiece, the switch device is operated. By operating the switch device, a command signal is output from the switch device to the reader device. When the reader device receives the command signal, the reader device stores data via an antenna member directed to the inspection object. Data communication with the tag is started.

  The remote inspection device according to claim 4 is the remote inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the telescope is provided with a grip portion formed so as to be grippable. Is provided with the switch device.

  The distance inspection method according to claim 5 is a method using the device for distance inspection according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the objective lens of the telescope is directed toward an inspection object and magnified through the eyepiece. A target confirmation step for visually confirming the inspection object to be checked, and a reading step for reading the identification information stored in the storage tag via the antenna member by the reader device when the inspection target object is confirmed by the target confirmation step And.

  The remote inspection method according to claim 6 is the remote inspection method according to claim 5, wherein the remote inspection device according to claim 3 or 4 is replaced with the remote inspection device according to claim 1 or 2. In the reading process, in the reading step, when the switch device is operated and a command signal is output from the switch device, the identification information by the reader device is assumed that the inspection target is confirmed by the target confirmation step. Start reading.

  According to the remote inspection device of the present invention or the remote inspection method using the device, the antenna member is provided in the telescope in a state in which the antenna member is oriented substantially in the same direction as the optical axis of the objective lens. Just by magnifying and viewing a certain inspection object with a telescope, the direction of the antenna member can be adjusted with respect to the inspection object at a remote location, so that the antenna member can communicate with the storage tag. There is an effect that can be directed.

  For example, if the ship permit is an object to be inspected, identification information relating to the ship permit is stored in a storage tag, attached to the ship permit, and the ship permit is presented in a place visible from outside the ship. is there. Then, the inspector in the patrol boat can point the antenna member in the direction in which it can communicate with the storage tag, just by looking through the telescope and looking at the vessel's permit of other vessels from a distance. The identification information can be read from the storage tag by the reader device from a distance.

  Therefore, the inspection of the ship permit can be performed without bringing the patrol boat close to other ships. Even when inspecting a ship permit such as a suspicious ship that refuses to stop, there is an effect that the ship permit can be inspected without danger from a remote place.

  Further, according to the remote inspection device according to claim 3 or the remote inspection method according to claim 6 using the device, the inspection object is confirmed through a telescope, and then the switch device is operated. The reading process of the identification information by the reader device can be started only when it is detected. Therefore, the reader device can stop the emission of radio waves from the antenna member until the switch device is operated, and there is an effect that it is not necessary to constantly radiate unnecessary radio waves for searching the storage tag. .

  Further, according to the distance inspection device according to claim 4 or the distance inspection method according to claim 6 using the device, the switch device is provided in the grip portion, so that the hand holding the telescope is not changed. The switch device can be operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical axis of the objective lens of the telescope from being deviated from the inspection object during the operation of the switch device, and the direction of the antenna member that is aimed at the inspection object from deviating from the inspection object. There is an effect that the data communication by the non-contact method between the member and the storage tag can be more reliably performed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote inspection system 1 in which an inspection antenna device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, and a ship permit for a ship 40 separated from the patrol boat 50 is shown. The case of using for inspection is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, this system 1 mainly includes a storage tag 10 that stores various types of information related to an inspection target such as a ship 40, an inspection antenna device 20, and a reader / writer (hereinafter “R / W”). The unit 30 is provided.

  The storage tag 10 is attached to the inspection object 2 such as a ship permit in which various information relating to the ship 40 is recorded, and the contents recorded in the inspection object 2 (hereinafter referred to as “identification information”). Is stored as electronic information. The storage tag 10 is, for example, an IC (integrated circuit) tag that can read and write data (information) by the R / W unit 30 of a contactless communication method such as a microwave method, and is generally an RF-ID (Radio). Frequency-IDentification). The communication distance of the storage tag 10 is ensured up to about 20 m at the maximum, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the storage tag 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage tag 10 is mainly provided with a control circuit 11, a memory 12, an antenna circuit 13, a power supply circuit 14, a demodulation circuit 15, and a modulation circuit 16. The control circuit 11 is a control device that receives an instruction from the R / W unit 30 and controls the operation of the storage tag 10, and is connected to the memory 12, the demodulation circuit 15, and the modulation circuit 16.

  The memory 12 is a non-volatile rewritable storage device from which various data are read or written by the control circuit 11, and identification information regarding the inspection object 2 is stored in a part of the memory 12. The antenna circuit 13 is an antenna used for non-contact communication. The antenna circuit 13 receives electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from the inspection antenna device 20 and transmits identification information read by the control circuit 11 to the inspection antenna device 20. .

  Further, the power supply circuit 14 receives electromagnetic waves received by the antenna circuit 13 and supplies power to each part of the storage tag 10. Further, the demodulation circuit 15 demodulates the analog signal received by the antenna circuit 13 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the control circuit 11. The modulation circuit 16 converts the digital signal output from the control circuit 11 into an analog signal. The signal is modulated and output to the antenna circuit 13.

  FIG. 3A is a plan view of the inspection antenna device 20 installed in the patrol boat 50, and FIG. 3B is a front view of the inspection antenna 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the inspection antenna device 20 includes an antenna member 21 for non-contact communication with the R / W unit 30, a binocular telescope 22 on which the antenna member 21 is fixed, and an antenna member 21. A connector 23 for detachably connecting the antenna element and the R / W unit 30 and a switch device 24 are provided.

  The antenna member 21 is a patch antenna in which an antenna element (not shown) having electrical conductivity is provided inside an insulating material having electrical insulation, and its front surface (surface on the front side in FIG. 3B). It transmits and receives electromagnetic waves. The binocular telescope 22 has a pair of monocular telescopes 22a and 22a arranged in parallel, and is for magnifying an image of light incident on each monocular telescope 22a with both eyes.

  The monocular telescope 22a has a structure in which the light beam incident from the objective lens 22b is refracted by the prisms 22d and 22d accommodated in the housing 22c and is emitted from the eyepiece lens 22e to the outside of the housing 22c. According to this monocular telescope 22a, the direction of the optical axis L (the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3A) of the objective lens 22b is directed toward the object to be magnified, so that the object is magnified on the eyepiece 22e side. It is possible to see.

  By the way, the antenna member 21 is straddled over the housings 22c and 22c of the binocular telescope 22, and the front surface portion of the antenna member 21 is a transmission / reception surface 21a that emits electromagnetic waves for communication. The antenna member 21 has directivity for radiating electromagnetic waves in a front direction (lower side in FIG. 3A) substantially orthogonal to the electromagnetic wave transmission / reception surface 21a, and the transmission / reception surface 21a is an objective lens of each monocular telescope 22a. It is directed in substantially the same direction as the optical axis L of the light beam incident on 22b. For this reason, when the inspection object 2 is magnified by the binocular telescope 22, the electromagnetic wave transmission / reception surface 21a of the antenna member 21 is naturally directed in the direction in which the inspection object 2 exists.

  Further, the housings 22c and 22c of the binocular telescope 22 also serve as a gripping part gripped by the user of the binocular telescope 22, and a switch device 24 is provided on the upper portion of the one housing 22c. The switch device 24 outputs a command signal for starting the reading process of the identification information by the R / W unit 30 to the connector 23, and includes a button member 24a that is pressed by a fingertip that holds the housing 22c. Yes.

  The button member 24 a is pressed when outputting a command signal to the R / W unit 30. When the button member 24 a is pressed, the command signal is output from the switch device 24 to the connector 23. When the command signal output from the switch device 24 is input to the R / W unit 30 through the connector 23, the R / W unit 30 starts processing for reading the identification information from the storage tag 10.

  The R / W unit 30 is mounted on the patrol boat 50 together with the inspection antenna device 20, and reads the identification information stored in the storage tag 10 via the antenna member 21 of the inspection antenna device 20. This is a device for writing various information to the storage tag 10 as required. The R / W unit 30 is electrically detachably connected to the connector 23 of the search antenna device 20 through the connection cable 25, and is electrically connected to the antenna element of the antenna member 21 through the connector 23 and the connection cable 25. Connected.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the R / W unit 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the R / W unit 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an input / output circuit 34, a power supply circuit 35, a demodulation circuit 36, a modulation circuit 37, and a display 38. . Here, the CPU 31, ROM 32 and RAM 33 are connected to each other via a bus line. The bus line is further connected to an input / output circuit 34, and the antenna member 21 is connected to the input / output circuit 34 via a connection cable 25 and a connector 23.

  The CPU 31 is an arithmetic device that controls each unit of the R / W unit 30, and the ROM 32 is a non-rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores a control program executed by the R / W unit 30 and various fixed value data. . The RAM 32 is a rewritable volatile memory for temporarily storing various data when each operation of the R / W unit 30 is performed, and can store identification information read from the storage tag 10. The R / W unit 30 is provided with a power supply circuit 35 that is constantly supplied with power, and the power supply circuit 35 constantly supplies necessary power to each part.

  The demodulation circuit 36 demodulates the electromagnetic wave signal (analog signal) received by the antenna member 21 of the inspection antenna device 20 into original data (digital signal) such as identification information, and the modulation circuit 37 is transferred to the storage tag 10. Each data (digital signal) such as various commands to be transmitted is modulated into an electromagnetic wave signal (analog signal) and output to the antenna member 21. The display 38 is a display device that converts the identification information read from the storage tag 10 into character information or image information and displays it. By displaying the identification information read from the storage tag 10 on the display 38, the inspector can inspect the contents recorded on the ship permit of the ship 40.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a method of using the remote inspection system 1 configured as described above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage tag 10 is attached to a ship permit that is an inspection object 2, and the inspection object 2 receives an electromagnetic wave output from the antenna member 21 among the hulls of the ship 40 that navigates. Installed where possible. On the other hand, the inspection antenna device 20 and the R / W unit 30 are installed in the patrol boat 50.

  When the inspector on the patrol boat 50 inspects the ship permit of another ship (hereinafter referred to as “inspected ship”) 40, the inspector first sets the inspection antenna device 20 on the patrol boat 50. Then, look into the eyepieces 22e, 22e of the monocular telescopes 22a, 22a of the binocular telescope 22 with both eyes and visually confirm the presence of the inspection object 2 installed on the inspected ship 40. At this time, if the existence of the inspection object 2 is not visually confirmed, a loudspeaker or the like is instructed to the passenger of the inspected ship 40 that the ship permit as the inspection object 2 is to be presented outside the ship.

  If the presence of the inspection object 2 is visually confirmed by the binocular telescope 22, the electromagnetic wave transmission / reception surface 21a of the antenna member 21 is directed to the inspection object 2, and the button member 24a of the switch device 24 remains in this state. Is pressed. Then, a command signal is output from the switch device 24, and this command signal is input to the R / W unit 30 via the connector 23 and the connection cable 25. When this command signal is input, the R / W unit 30 transmits electromagnetic waves from the antenna member 21 through the connection cable 25 and the connector 23.

  At this time, if the antenna member 21 and the storage tag 10 are within a communicable distance, the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the antenna member 21 reaches the storage tag 10 attached to the inspection object 2, and the storage tag 10 The data is received by the antenna circuit 13 and the storage tag 10 is activated to start communication with the R / W unit 30. In communication between the storage tag 10 and the R / W unit 30, first, the CPU 31 of the R / W unit 30 executes processing according to a control program stored in the ROM 32, and a command requesting identification information of the storage tag 10 is a digital signal. Is output as

  The command requesting the identification information is modulated into an analog signal by the modulation circuit 37 and transmitted as an electromagnetic wave from the antenna member 21 to the storage tag 10 via the input / output circuit 34. This electromagnetic wave is received by the antenna circuit 13 of the storage tag 10 and demodulated into a digital signal command by the demodulation circuit 15 in synchronization with the clock frequency of the control circuit 11.

  In the storage tag 10, upon receiving a command from the R / W unit 30, the identification information is read from the memory 12 by the control circuit 11, and the identification information is modulated from a digital signal to an analog signal by the modulation circuit 16. It is transmitted as electromagnetic waves by the circuit 13. The electromagnetic wave transmitted by the storage tag 10 is received by the antenna member 21 of the inspection antenna device 20, and demodulated into digital signal identification information while being synchronized with the clock frequency of the CPU 31 by the demodulation circuit 36 of the R / W unit 30. It is temporarily stored in the RAM 33.

  The identification information stored in the RAM 33 is displayed on the display unit 38 of the R / W unit 30. By this display, the contents of the ship permit of the inspected ship 40 are inspected by the inspector. Therefore, the contents of the ship permit can be confirmed safely and reliably without bringing the patrol boat 50 close to the inspected ship 40.

  Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the search antenna device 120 and the R / W unit 130 of the second embodiment. In the search antenna device 120 and the R / W unit 130 of the second embodiment, the communication between the search antenna device 20 and the R / W unit 30 of the first embodiment is performed via the connector 23 and the connection cable 25. In contrast to the wired communication system, communication between the search antenna device and the R / W unit is changed to a wireless system. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts are described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the search antenna device 120 is provided with a communication module 121, and the communication module 121 is electrically connected to the antenna element of the antenna member 21. On the other hand, a communication module 131 is disposed in the R / W unit 130, and the communication module 131 is electrically connected to the input / output circuit 34. These communication modules 121 and 131 are devices for performing wireless communication.

  Specifically, the signal received by the antenna member 21 is wirelessly transmitted from the communication module 121 to the communication module 131 and input to the R / W unit 30, and the command signal output from the switch device 24 is communicated from the communication module 121. A signal wirelessly transmitted to the module 131 and input to the R / W unit 30 and transmitted from the R / W unit 30 is wirelessly transmitted from the communication module 131 to the communication module 121 and radiated as an electromagnetic wave from the antenna member 21. .

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It can be guessed. For example, in the present embodiment, the search antenna device 20 and the R / W unit 30 are described as being formed separately, but these are not necessarily separate. Specifically, an R / W unit can be mounted on the search antenna device, and both devices can be combined into one device. Thus, what integrated R / W unit with the antenna device for a search is equivalent to embodiment (Example) in the apparatus for distance inspection of Claim 2.

  Moreover, although the ship permit was demonstrated as the test object 2 in the present Example, the memory tag 10 is attached to the specific location of the ship body itself of the ship 40, and the specific location itself of the ship body may be used as the test object. Furthermore, the antenna member 21 is not necessarily limited to a patch antenna, and may be a single Yagi-Uda antenna, for example. Further, in this embodiment, the case where the remote inspection system using the inspection antenna device is applied to the inspection of the ship permit has been described, but the application range of the remote inspection system is not necessarily limited thereto. As long as it is an inspection object to which a storage tag can be attached, it may be applied to other uses.

  The structure of the monocular telescope 22a does not necessarily need to include the prism 22d in the housing 22c, and may be a structure that transmits the light beam that has passed through the objective lens 22b to the eyepiece lens 22e without passing through the prism. . Further, the telescope used for the inspection antenna device 20 is not necessarily limited to the binocular telescope 22 and may be a single monocular telescope.

1 is an external view of a remote inspection system in which an inspection antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. It is the block diagram which showed the electrical structure of the memory tag. (A) is a top view of the inspection antenna apparatus with which a patrol boat is equipped, (b) is a front view of the inspection antenna. It is the block diagram which showed the electrical structure of the R / W unit. It is the block diagram which showed the electrical structure of the antenna device for a search of 2nd Example, and a R / W unit.

Explanation of symbols

2 Inspection object (inspection object, light source)
20,120 Antenna device for inspection (device for remote inspection)
21 Antenna member 22 Binocular telescope (telescope)
22b Objective lens 22c Case (gripping part)
22e eyepiece lens 23 connector (communication means)
24 switch device 30, 130 R / W unit (reader device)
121 Communication module (communication means)
L Optical axis of objective lens

Claims (6)

In a remote inspection device for inspecting identification information related to an inspection object at a location separated from the inspection object,
Used together with a reader device that can read identification information by non-contact method from a storage tag that can be attached to inspection object, storage of identification information about inspection object, and data communication by non-contact method Because
A telescope that magnifies the light source with an objective lens that transmits incident light from the light source and an eyepiece that further transmits the transmitted light from the objective lens;
An antenna member provided in the telescope and having directivity of communication radio waves in substantially the same direction as the optical axis of the objective lens;
A remote inspection apparatus comprising a communication means that is attached to the telescope together with the antenna member and transmits and receives signals between the antenna member and a reader device. In a remote inspection device for inspecting identification information related to an inspection object at a location separated from the inspection object,
A reader device capable of reading identification information by a non-contact method from a storage tag capable of attachment to the inspection object, storage of identification information regarding the inspection object, and data communication by a non-contact method;
A telescope that is mounted with the reader device and that magnifies the light source with an objective lens that transmits incident light from the light source and an eyepiece that further transmits transmitted light from the objective lens;
A remote inspection device comprising an antenna member provided in the telescope and having directivity of communication radio waves in substantially the same direction as the optical axis of the objective lens and electrically connected to the reader device apparatus. The telescope is provided with a switch device that is operated when reading the identification information stored in the storage tag, and outputs a command signal to the reader device for starting the reading process of the identification information by the reader device based on the operation. The device for remote inspection according to claim 1, wherein the device is for remote inspection. The telescope is provided with a grip portion formed to be grippable,
4. The apparatus for remote inspection according to claim 1, wherein the switch device is provided in the gripping portion. A method using the remote inspection device according to claim 1 or 2,
A target confirmation step of directing the objective lens of the telescope toward the inspection object and visually confirming the inspection object magnified through the eyepiece,
A separation inspection method comprising: a reading step of reading identification information stored in a storage tag via the antenna member by the reader device when an inspection object is confirmed by the target confirmation step. In place of the device for remote inspection according to claim 1 or 2, a method using the device for remote inspection according to claim 3 or 4,
In the reading step, when the switch device is operated and a command signal is output from the switch device, reading of the identification information by the reader device is started assuming that the inspection target is confirmed in the target confirmation step. The distance inspection method according to claim 5, wherein:

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