JP2006011948A - Directional optical identification device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform individual identification of a plurality of tags, which are present adjacently in space, from a remote place. <P>SOLUTION: An optical ID reader 9 comprises an optical ID reader part 11 that emits light beam toward an optical ID tag 10, receives the light signal emitted from the optical ID tag 10, and reads identification information unique to the optical ID tag 10. The optical ID tag 10 comprises: a memory for storing the specific identification information; a light modulation part for modulating the light beam, which is emitted from an optical ID reader 9, with the identification information stored in the memory, and converting it into a light signal; and a light reflection part for reflecting the modulated light signal in the incidence direction of the light beam. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical ID device using an optical ID tag having unique identification information and an optical ID reader that reads the identification information from the optical ID tag.

  In recent years, wireless ID devices (or RF-ID devices) have been proposed and started to be used as devices for recognizing objects (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Non-Patent Document 1). The wireless ID device receives a wireless tag (or RF-ID) that is attached or embedded in an object to be recognized and transmits unique identification information as a wireless signal, and a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless tag. A wireless reader that reads identification information, a database that stores and saves information related to the identification information in advance, a computer that retrieves the related information from the database based on the identification information read by the wireless reader, and a wireless reader; Consists of a network that interconnects databases and computers.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wireless ID device. In FIG. 14, 1 is an object such as a product to be recognized, 2 is a wireless tag attached to or embedded in the object 1, 3 is a wireless reader, 4 is a database, 5 is a computer, and 6 is a network. Reference numeral 7 represents a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless reader 3, and 8 represents a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless tag 2.

  As an application example of the wireless ID device, a case where the wireless ID device is used for product management of an electric product will be described with reference to FIG. First, when manufacturing an electrical product, the wireless tag 2 having different identification information is attached to each product (object 1). Then, at the time of manufacturing the electrical product, the identification information of the wireless tag 2 and the serial number, the manufacturing date, the manufacturing time, the manufacturing line name, the manufacturing plant name, the manufacturing manager name, and the manufacturing of the product corresponding to the identification information Product manufacturing information such as the manufacturer name is registered in the database 4.

  When the electrical product is shipped from the factory and arrives at the distributor's warehouse, the distributor reads the identification information of the wireless tag 2 for each product using the wireless reader 3, and uses the computer 5 based on this identification information to identify the product. The manufacturing information is read out from the database 4 and the product is confirmed, and information such as the date, time, and name of the person in charge of handling the product is newly registered in the database 4. The same operation is performed when the product moves from the wholesaler to the retail store, and distribution route information of the electrical product is accumulated in the database 4.

  Next, when the electrical product is sold at the store, the date of sale, the sales time, the store, the purchaser's name, the purchaser's address, the purchaser's contact information, the sales price, the product warranty conditions, together with the identification information of the wireless tag 2 Such information is further stored in the database 4. When a purchased product breaks down and is brought into a retail store for repair, the store reads the identification information from the wireless tag 2 of the product using the wireless reader 3, and uses the computer 5 to create a database based on the read identification information. 4 can be retrieved, and information such as the purchase date, purchaser, product warranty conditions, etc. of the product can be read out. In a retail store, it can be determined whether or not a product failure can be dealt with based on the information read from the database 4, and the delivery destination of the product for repair can also be read from the database 4.

  When the faulty product returns to the factory, the factory reads the identification information from the wireless tag 2 of the product, and searches the database 4 using the computer 5 based on the read identification information to determine when the product is made. It can be easily determined, and it becomes easy to identify the cause of the failure (whether it is caused at the time of manufacture, etc.) based on the information read from the database 4. Further, when the product is disposed of after the depreciation period, the disposal company reads the identification information from the wireless tag 2 of the product and searches the database 4 based on the read identification information to determine the manufacturer of the product. Can be determined. Further, if the destination for recycling is registered in the database 4 by the manufacturer or the like, the used product can be easily collected.

As described above, the wireless tag 2 can be used to easily trace the route of manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal of products, which can be used for effective use of resources, marketing, and efficiency of distribution processes. it can.
The wireless tag 2 is classified into an active tag and a passive tag. The active tag has a power source such as a dry battery or a storage battery, and transmits identification information as a wireless signal. The wireless reader 3 within the range where the radio wave from the active tag reaches can recognize the presence of the active tag (or the object 1 with the active tag) by receiving the wireless signal and recognizing the identification information of the active tag. can do. On the other hand, the passive tag itself does not have a power supply, receives a radio wave transmitted from the wireless reader 3, modulates this radio wave with the ID information of the tag itself, and retransmits it. That is, the passive tag operates by using the received radio wave power. In general, a passive tag has a small physical range (area) in which the tag can be recognized, but has an advantage that the tag itself does not need to have a power source and can be made small and inexpensive.

  The wireless tag 2 such as an active tag or a passive tag uses radio waves of several hundred MHz to several GHz for signal transmission with the wireless reader 3. For this reason, when a plurality of wireless tags 2 are present close to each other, the wireless reader 3 receives wireless signals from the plurality of wireless tags 2 at the same time. Therefore, the wireless tags 2 cannot normally be identified. Moreover, even if it can be identified, it is impossible to separate the positional relationship between the wireless tags 2. That is, there is a problem that it is impossible to determine which of the plurality of wireless tags 2 corresponds to the read identification information. In order to avoid such a problem, when it is necessary to read the identification information for each object, the power of the wireless signal transmitted and received by the wireless reader 3 is reduced to narrow the range in which the identification information can be read. . Therefore, in order to read the information of the wireless tag 2 by the wireless reader 3, there is a problem that the identification information cannot be read unless the wireless reader 3 is brought close to the wireless tag 2 (for example, several centimeters). It was.

The applicant has not yet found prior art documents related to the present invention by the time of filing other than the prior art documents specified by the prior art document information described in this specification.
JP 2002-271229 A JP 2002-329174 A “RFID Solution”, [online], Microsoft Corporation, [Search June 21, 2004], Internet <http://www.microsoft.com/japan/business/rfid/default.mspx>

  As described above, in the conventional wireless ID device, since communication between the wireless tag and the wireless reader is performed by radio waves, it is difficult to read identification information of a plurality of wireless tags arranged in proximity, and even if read, There is a problem that it is impossible to determine which of the plurality of wireless tags corresponds to the read identification information. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to narrow the signal reception range of the wireless reader, and it is necessary to bring the wireless tag and the wireless reader close to each other.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ID device that can perform individual identification of a plurality of tags that are close to each other in a space from a remote location.

  The present invention has unique identification information, an optical ID tag that radiates the identification information as an optical signal to the outside, and an optical signal emitted from the optical ID tag, and is unique to the optical ID tag. A directional optical ID device having an optical ID reader for reading identification information, wherein the optical ID reader is radiated from the optical ID tag and radiating means for radiating a light beam toward the optical ID tag. And a reading means for receiving identification information unique to the optical ID tag, the optical ID tag being emitted from the optical ID reader and storage means for storing the identification information unique to the optical ID tag. A light modulation unit that modulates the light beam with the identification information stored in the storage unit to convert it into an optical signal, and a light reflection unit that reflects the modulated optical signal in the incident direction of the light beam. Is.

Moreover, in one configuration example of the directional optical ID device of the present invention, the optical ID reader further includes visible light superimposing means for superimposing visible light on a light beam emitted toward the optical ID tag, Visible light blocking means for guiding only the optical signal out of the light emitted from the optical ID tag to the reading means and blocking the visible light component is provided.
Moreover, in one configuration example of the directional optical ID device of the present invention, the optical ID reader further adjusts the spread angle of the light beam emitted toward the optical ID tag according to control from the outside. Adjustment means are provided.
Moreover, in one configuration example of the directional optical ID device according to the present invention, the optical ID tag further includes a power generation unit that generates power by external light, and a power storage unit that stores the generated power. It comprises.
Further, in one configuration example of the directional optical ID device according to the present invention, the optical ID tag includes a plurality of light modulation units formed in the panel shape, wherein the light modulation unit and the light reflection unit are formed in a panel shape. The means and the light reflecting means are arranged so as to form each surface of the polyhedron.
In one configuration example of the directional optical ID device according to the present invention, the optical ID tag further includes a light receiving unit that detects a light beam emitted from the optical ID reader, and a power to the light modulating unit. A switch for controlling the supply; and a control unit for controlling the switch so that power is supplied to the light modulation unit only when a light beam is detected by the light receiving unit.

Further, the optical ID tag of the present invention converts the optical beam emitted from the optical ID reader into a light signal by modulating the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader with the identification information stored in the storage means. Optical modulation means and light reflection means for reflecting the modulated optical signal in the incident direction of the light beam are provided.
In addition, one configuration example of the optical ID tag of the present invention further includes a power generation unit that generates power by external light and a power storage unit that stores the generated power.
Also, in one configuration example of the optical ID tag of the present invention, the light modulation means and the light reflection means are formed in a panel shape, and the plurality of light modulation means and the light reflection means formed in the panel shape are each surface of a polyhedron. Are arranged so as to form.
Further, one configuration example of the optical ID tag of the present invention further includes a light receiving unit that detects a light beam emitted from the optical ID reader, a switch that controls power supply to the light modulation unit, and the light receiving unit. And a control means for controlling the switch so as to supply power to the light modulation means only when a light beam is detected by.

  According to the optical ID device of the present invention, it is possible to identify a plurality of optical ID tags that are close to each other in a space, which is difficult with a conventional wireless ID device, from a remote location. In addition, there is an effect that the distance between the optical ID tag and the optical ID reader can be significantly increased as compared with the case of the conventional wireless ID device while enabling individual identification of a plurality of optical ID tags arranged close to each other. . These effects make it possible to read an optical ID tag that enters the field of view using an optical ID reader like a remote controller.

  Further, by providing the optical ID reader with visible light superimposing means and visible light blocking means, the user of the optical ID apparatus can confirm whether or not the light is surely delivered to the optical ID tag while checking the optical ID reader. The position and angle can be adjusted.

  In addition, by providing an adjustment unit in the optical ID reader, the shape of the light beam can be adjusted in accordance with the usage status of the optical ID device.

  Moreover, the optical ID tag can be used for a long period of time by providing the optical ID tag with the power generation means and the power storage means.

  Further, the light modulation means and the light reflection means are formed in a panel shape, and the plurality of light modulation means and light reflection means formed in the panel shape are arranged so as to form each surface of the polyhedron, thereby allowing the optical ID tag to be allowed. The light incident angle range can be greatly increased.

  Further, by providing the optical ID tag with the light receiving means, the switch, and the control means, the power consumption of the optical ID tag can be kept low.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical ID apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. In FIG. 1, 9 is an optical ID reader, 10 is an optical ID tag, 11 is an optical ID reader unit, 12 is a communication unit, 13 is a memory, 14 is a control unit, 15 is a data display unit, 16 is a bus wiring, 17 is A light beam 18 emitted from the optical ID reader unit 11 represents reflected light modulated by the optical ID tag 10. The optical ID reader unit 11 is a radiation unit that emits a light beam toward the optical ID tag 10 and a reading unit that receives an optical signal emitted from the optical ID tag 10 and reads identification information unique to the optical ID tag. And make up.

  The light beam 17 emitted from the optical ID reader unit 11 of the optical ID reader 9 toward the optical ID tag 10 undergoes modulation based on ID information (identification information) in the optical ID tag 10 toward the optical ID reader 9. Reflected. The light 18 reflected from the optical ID tag 10 enters the optical ID reader unit 11, and the ID information is read out. The control unit 14 of the optical ID reader 9 temporarily stores the ID information read by the optical ID reader unit 11 in the memory 13 and displays this ID information on the data display unit 15 as necessary.

  In addition, the control unit 14 accesses the database 4 connected to the network 6 via the communication unit 12 based on the ID information stored in the memory 13, and stores information (for example, product information) associated with the ID information in the database. 4, and the read information is displayed on the data display unit 15. In addition, related information (for example, the time when ID information is read from the optical ID tag 10, the place where the information is read, the name of the person in charge, etc.) is stored in the memory 13, and the control unit 14 stores the related information as ID information. At the same time, it can be stored in the database 4. In FIG. 1, the components other than the optical ID reader unit 11 of the optical ID reader 9 may be those of a conventional wireless ID device. The feature of this embodiment is that the optical ID reader unit 11 and the optical ID tag 10 transmit and receive ID information using light.

  Next, the principle of transmitting / receiving ID information using light will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state of light propagation between the optical ID reader 9 and the optical ID tag 10. In FIG. 2, 9-1 represents the optical ID reader 9 when placed on the normal line of the reflecting surface of the optical ID tag 10. At this time, the optical ID reader 9-1 emits a light beam 17-1 toward the optical ID tag 10, and the optical ID tag 10 modulates the light beam 17-1 to obtain reflected light 18-1. Return to the optical ID reader 9-1. Such reflected light can be realized even if the reflection surface of the optical ID tag 10 is flat.

  In FIG. 2, 9-2 and 9-3 represent the optical ID reader 9 when it is placed obliquely with respect to the reflection surface of the optical ID tag 10. A light beam 17-2 is emitted from the optical ID reader 9-2, and the optical ID tag 10 modulates the light beam 17-2 and returns it to the optical ID reader 9-2 as reflected light 18-2. Similarly, a light beam 17-3 is emitted from the optical ID reader 9-3, and the optical ID tag 10 modulates the light beam 17-3 and returns it to the optical ID reader 9-3 as reflected light 18-3. .

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the case where the optical ID reader 9 is placed on the front surface of the optical ID tag 10, the optical ID reader 9 is placed obliquely with respect to the reflection surface of the optical ID tag 10. However, it is characterized in that the reflected light returns from the optical ID tag 10. Thereby, in this Embodiment, the allowable light incident angle range 19 to the optical ID tag 10 increases, and the restrictions regarding the positions of the optical ID reader 9 and the optical ID tag 10 can be greatly relaxed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the optical ID tag 10 of the present embodiment that allows the allowable light incident angle range to be increased. The optical ID tag 10 includes an electronic circuit unit 20, a light reflecting unit 21 that reflects incident light, and a light modulating unit 22 that modulates light according to ID information unique to the optical ID tag. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 24 denotes a light beam input / output to / from the optical ID tag 10.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic circuit unit 20. The electronic circuit unit 20 modulates incident light by driving a power source 200 that supplies power to each circuit, a memory (storage unit) 201 that stores ID information unique to the optical ID tag 10, and an optical modulation unit 22. Drive circuit 202.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the light reflecting portion 21, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the light reflecting portion 21. 5 and 6, reference numeral 23 denotes a corner cube mirror that constitutes the light reflecting portion 21. The light reflecting portion 21 is composed of one corner cube mirror 23 or a corner cube mirror array in which many corner cube mirrors 23 are arranged. On the upper part of the light reflection part 21, a light modulation part 22 is arranged.

  7A is a plan view of the corner cube mirror 23, FIG. 7B is a side view of the corner cube mirror 23, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the corner cube mirror 23. The corner cube mirror 23 has a triangular pyramid structure in which three triangular mirrors 231 to 233 are bonded to each other so as to maintain an angle of 90 degrees. As shown in FIG. 7C, it is assumed that there is a cube 230 whose inner plane is a mirror and whose inside is a cavity. When three square faces contacting one vertex 234 of the cube 230 are cut out by diagonal lines 235 to 237 formed by connecting opposite vertices not including the vertex 234, the cut three faces constitute the corner cube mirror 23 3 The two mirrors 231 to 233 are obtained.

  Consider a case where a light beam is incident at an angle x with respect to the normal line N of the incident surface of the optical ID tag 10 as shown in FIG. When x = 0 degrees, the light incident on the optical ID tag 10 is reflected once by the mirror of the corner cube mirror 23 and further reflected once by the mirror of the adjacent corner cube mirror 23, for a total of two reflections. Is returned to the incident direction. On the other hand, when x = ± 45 degrees, the light incident on the optical ID tag 10 is reflected by the mirror of one corner cube mirror 23 and returned to the incident direction. Even in the case of −45 degrees <x <0 degrees or 0 degrees <x <+45 degrees, the incident light is reflected twice by the mirrors of the two corner cube mirrors 23 and returned to the incident direction.

  Thus, the corner cube mirror 23 has the property of reflecting incident light in the incident direction. By arranging such a corner cube mirror 23 in an array on a two-dimensional plane as shown in FIG. 6 to form the light reflecting portion 21, in a range within 45 degrees from the normal N of the light reflecting portion 21, A light beam incident from any direction can be reflected in the incident direction.

  Application examples of the corner cube mirror 23 include an element that reflects light in an optical experiment, a reflector that is stretched on a bicycle or an automobile, and a reflector that is installed on the shoulder of a road. For example, with a reflector installed on the shoulder of a road, when the light of an automobile light hits, the light is reflected in the direction of the light, so a stronger reflected light is recognized by the driver, and it goes to the road edge. Can call attention. Therefore, by using the corner cube cube 23 or the array for the light reflecting portion 21 of the optical ID tag 10, the allowable light incident angle range to the optical ID tag 10 can be increased.

  As described above, the light emitted from the optical ID reader 9 enters the optical ID tag 10. The light incident on the optical ID tag 10 passes through the light modulation unit 22 and enters the light reflection unit 21. The drive circuit 202 of the electronic circuit unit 20 reads the ID information unique to the optical ID tag 10 from the memory 201 and drives the light modulation unit 22 in accordance with this ID information, thereby increasing the intensity of light passing through the light modulation unit 22. Modulate with ID information. As the light modulation unit 22, a light absorption type liquid crystal modulator or a liquid crystal modulator (a liquid crystal plate used in a normal television receiver) that causes polarization rotation of incident light by external control with a deflector plate is used. Can be used. The incident light that has passed through the light modulation unit 22 is reflected by the corner cube mirror 23 of the light reflection unit 21 in the incident direction, passes through the light modulation unit 22 again, and is converted into an optical ID as an optical signal modulated by the ID information. It is returned in the direction of the reader 9. In the present embodiment, light passes through the light modulator 22 twice. When a combination of polarization rotation and a polarizing plate is used as the light modulation unit 22, adjustment is performed so that 90 ° polarization rotation is obtained by passing light twice as in the case of the reflective liquid crystal modulator. In addition, since the time for light to pass twice (in the order of several tens of picoseconds) is negligibly small compared to the pulse width (in microsecond order) of the modulation signal by ID, there is no problem even if it passes through the light modulator 22 twice. Absent.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical ID reader unit 11 of the optical ID reader 9. The optical ID reader unit 11 includes a light source 26, a light source driving circuit 27, a light receiving element 28, a light receiving circuit 29, a half mirror 30, and a lens 31. In FIG. 8, 32 represents an incident / exit light beam to the optical ID tag 10, 33 represents light emitted from the light source 26, and 34 represents ID information converted into an electric signal.

  The light source 26 is a light emitting diode or semiconductor laser that emits near infrared light from visible light, and emits continuous light. When the light source driving circuit 27 drives the light source 26, the light emitted from the light source 26 is converted into parallel light by the lens 31 through the half mirror 30, and is emitted toward the optical ID tag 10 as a so-called light beam. Is done. On the other hand, the optical signal modulated and returned from the optical ID tag 10 passes through the lens 31, is reflected by the half mirror 30, and is collected on the light receiving element 28. The light receiving element 28 photoelectrically converts the incident optical signal to output a current signal, and the light receiving circuit 29 converts the current signal output from the light receiving element 28 into a voltage signal. Thereby, the ID information of the optical ID tag 10 is converted into an electric signal. This ID information is sent to the memory 13 in the optical ID reader 9 and stored in the memory 13. In this way, the optical ID reader 9 realizes the function of converting the light from the light source 26 into a light beam and emitting it, and the function of receiving the optical signal returned from the optical ID tag 10.

  As described above, by using the optical ID device provided with the optical ID reader 9 and the optical ID tag 10 according to the present embodiment, the optical ID reader 9 allows the optical ID tag 10 existing in an extremely narrow area to be transmitted by a light beam. It is possible to acquire the ID information possessed by the optical ID tag 10 in light of the spot. As light can be easily inferred from the example of a laser pointer, a sharp light beam can be easily formed on the order of several meters, so even if the optical ID reader 9 and the optical ID tag 10 are separated by a meter order. It has a feature that ID information can be easily exchanged. In addition, since the directivity of the light beam is much better than that of radio waves, it is possible to individually identify a plurality of optical ID tags 10 arranged close to each other in the space. Furthermore, since the optical ID device of the present embodiment returns to the optical ID reader 9 without the reflected light of the optical ID tag 10 being scattered, it is possible to efficiently receive the emitted light as reflected light, and the efficiency is high. There is.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment provides a configuration in which visible light is used as a guide for emitting light from the optical ID reader 9 to the optical ID tag 10 in the optical ID device of the first embodiment. As light source light used in the optical ID device of the first embodiment, wavelength light from visible light to near infrared region is used. When near-infrared light used in optical communication or the like is used as a light source, the user can visually check whether or not the light emitted from the optical ID reader 9 reliably illuminates the optical ID tag 10. There is a problem that you can not. In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, a configuration is added in which visible light is superimposed and emitted on the radiation that transmits and receives an optical signal.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the optical ID reader unit 11 of the optical ID reader 9 according to the present embodiment. The optical ID reader unit of the present embodiment is obtained by adding a visible light source 341, a half mirror 35, and a visible light blocking filter 36 to the optical ID reader unit 11 shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 37 denotes an incoming / outgoing light beam including visible light. The visible light source 341 and the half mirror 35 constitute visible light superimposing means.

  As the visible light source 341, a light emitting diode that emits visible light, a semiconductor laser, a lamp, or the like can be used. First, the half mirror 35 superimposes the radiated light of the visible light source 341 on the radiated light of the signal transmitting / receiving light source 26, converts it into a light beam by the lens 31, and radiates it toward the optical ID tag 10. On the other hand, the optical signal modulated and returned from the optical ID tag 10 passes through the lens 31, is reflected by the half mirror 30, and enters the light receiving element 28. At this time, the visible light arranged in front of the light receiving element 28 is visible. Of the light reflected by the half mirror 30, only the signal-modulated near infrared light is incident on the light receiving element 28 by the blocking filter 36, and the visible light is cut.

  In this way, by using the visible light blocking filter 36 that cuts visible light, the light receiving element 28 can receive only the modulated near-infrared light, and the influence of visible light can be avoided. Further, by superimposing visible light on near-infrared light radiated to the optical ID tag 10, the user can check whether the light has reached the optical ID tag 10 while checking the position of the optical ID reader 9. There is an advantage that the angle can be adjusted.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment provides a function of adjusting the light emission angle of the optical ID reader 9 in the optical ID device of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the optical ID reader unit 11 of the optical ID reader 9 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 10, 38 is a movable mechanism that can adjust the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a, 39-1 is an emitted light beam when the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a is smaller than the focal length of the optical system, 39-2 is an outgoing light beam when the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a is equal to the focal length of the optical system, and 39-3 is a distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a larger than the focal length of the optical system. Each of the emitted light beams at the time is shown. The light source 26, the lens 31a, and the movable mechanism 38 constitute an adjusting unit that adjusts the spread angle of the light beam. In FIG. 10, the reflected light from the optical ID tag 10 is not described for convenience.

  The present embodiment is characterized in that a movable mechanism 38 capable of adjusting the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a is provided. By moving the light source 26 or the lens 31a along the optical axis by the movable mechanism 38, the light beam emitted from the lens 31a depends on the relationship between the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a and the focal length of the lens 31a. One of a condensed beam, a parallel light beam, and a light beam propagating while spreading.

  In the optical ID apparatus of the present invention, the diameter of the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader 9 and the degree of spread of the light beam depend on the ease of beam irradiation to the user's optical ID tag 10, spatial resolution, light loss, and the like. Influence. When reading the ID information of the optical ID tags 10 that are closely arranged close to the optical ID reader 9, a thin light beam is desirable, and the optical ID tag at a distance (for example, several meters) away from the optical ID reader 9. In the case of reading 10 ID information, a light beam spread to some extent increases the ease of alignment and is easy to use. As described above, the optimum value of the spread of the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader 9 varies depending on the use situation.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distance between the light source 26 and the lens 31a (or the lens system) is physically adjusted by the movable mechanism 38, so that the shape of the light beam can be adjusted according to the use situation. . In FIG. 10, lenses 31 a and 31 b are arranged between the light source 26 and the half mirror 30 and between the light receiving element 28 and the half mirror 30, respectively. The present invention can also be applied to the embodiment and the second embodiment. Conversely, even in the optical systems of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the present embodiment is provided by providing a movable mechanism that can vary the positional relationship between the focal length of the optical system and the light source. The light beam adjusting mechanism can be realized.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the optical ID reader 9 according to the first embodiment secures a power source for the optical ID reader 9 by a solar cell as power generation means. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of the optical ID tag 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 40 denotes an area where light is input / output from the optical ID reader 9, 41 denotes a solar battery, and 42 denotes a storage battery.

  In the optical ID device of the present invention, a power source is required to drive the electronic circuit unit 20 and the optical modulation unit 22 of the optical ID tag 10. A power source 200 such as a battery may be mounted on the electronic circuit unit 20 as in the first embodiment, but in that case, there is a problem that it cannot be used for a long time.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the solar cell 41 is mounted on a partial region of the surface of the optical ID tag 10, the electric energy obtained by the solar cell 41 is accumulated in the storage battery 42, and this is used as a power source. The optical ID tag 10 can be used semi-permanently. The light incident on the solar cell 41 includes not only a part of the light beam from the optical ID reader 9 but also sunlight and illumination light. In the example of FIG. 11, the circular region at the center of the surface of the light modulation unit 22 is a region 40 for transmitting and receiving an optical signal with the optical ID reader 9, and the solar cell 41 is mounted in the other region. The arrangement and shape of the battery 41 are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the optical ID tag 10 generates electric energy by itself, there is an advantage that the optical ID tag 10 can be used for a long period of time.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment provides a method for enlarging the light reflection angle of the optical ID tag 10 in the optical ID device of the first embodiment. 12A is a plan view of the optical ID tag 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a side view of the optical ID tag 10. The optical ID tags 10 according to the first to fourth embodiments described so far modulate the light from the optical ID reader 9 as shown in FIG. And the region of the light reflecting portion 21) are limited to a two-dimensional plane. Therefore, there is a problem that light incident on the optical ID tag 10 at an angle larger than 45 degrees with respect to the normal line (N in FIG. 5) of the light modulation / reflection area cannot be reflected.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light modulation unit 22 and the light reflection unit 21 are panelized, and the panels 210a and 210b are attached to the surface of a polyhedral housing. Each panel 210a, 210b reflects light incident within 45 degrees with respect to its normal line in the incident direction, so that the ceiling of the optical ID tag 10 is shown in FIGS. 12 (A) and 12 (B). By arranging the panel not only on the side but also on the side, reflected light can be obtained by the side panel 210b even for light incident at an incident angle of 45 degrees or more when viewed from the normal line of the ceiling panel 210a. become.

  Since the electronic circuit unit 20 of the optical ID tag 10 can be used in common for all the panels, it may be stored in a housing to which the panels 210a and 210b are attached. In the example of FIGS. 12A and 12B, the uppermost panel 210a is octagonal, the side panel 210b is in contact with each side of the panel 210a, and the panel 210b is inclined when viewed from the side. The panels 210a and 210b are pasted so as to be arranged. With such a configuration, it is possible to reflect light incident from all directions except the bottom surface of the optical ID tag 10. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the allowable light incident angle range to the optical ID tag 10 can be greatly increased. In the present embodiment, the optical ID tag 10 having a shape in which an octagonal pyramid is cut in a plane parallel to the bottom surface is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The optical ID tag 10 may be used. This makes it possible to reflect light incident from all directions.

[Sixth Embodiment]
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment provides a function in which the light modulation unit 22 of the optical ID tag 10 starts its operation when light enters the optical ID tag 10 in the optical ID device of the first embodiment. . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the optical ID tag 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 13, 45 is a light receiving element, 46 is a switch control signal generating circuit that generates a switch control signal in response to light detection by the light receiving element 45, and 47 is a connection between the power source 200 and other electronic circuits in accordance with the switch control signal. Each switch is shown. The switch control signal generation circuit 46 constitutes control means for controlling the switch 46.

  In the present embodiment, a light receiving element 45 is provided on a part of the light input / output surface of the optical ID tag 10 to detect the incidence of a light beam from the optical ID reader 9. When the light receiving element 45 detects that the light beam from the optical ID reader 9 is incident, the switch control signal generation circuit 46 generates a switch control signal. The switch 47 is open when no switch control signal is input, and power supply from the power source 200 to each circuit of the electronic circuit unit 20 is stopped. When the switch control signal generation circuit 46 generates a switch control signal, the switch 47 is closed, and power is supplied from the power source 200 to each circuit of the electronic circuit unit 20.

With such a configuration, the light modulator 22 can be operated only when the light beam from the optical ID reader 9 is incident. The power consumption of the light receiving element 45 and the switch control signal generation circuit 46 is smaller than the power consumption of the drive circuit 202 and the light modulation unit 22. Therefore, the power consumption of the optical ID tag 10 can be minimized. This embodiment can also be used in combination with the fourth embodiment. In that case, both the light receiving element 45 and the solar cell 41 are arranged around the light input / output region of the optical ID tag 10. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electronic circuit of the optical ID tag 10 can be operated only when the light beam from the optical ID reader 9 is incident, and the power consumption of the optical ID tag 10 can be kept low. There is an advantage that you can.
Note that in this embodiment mode, light is used as a signal medium exchanged between the reader and the tag. The medium is preferably light in the visible region to the near-infrared region. If so, it is not limited to this.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to an article management system in the physical distribution field or the like in which the identification information of an ID tag attached to a product is read with an ID reader to obtain related information on the product stored in advance in a database. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical ID apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing a mode of propagation of light between an optical ID reader and an optical ID tag in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic circuit part of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the light reflection part of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the light reflection part of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view, side view, and perspective view of the corner cube mirror which comprise the light reflection part of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical ID reader part of the optical ID reader which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical ID reader part of the optical ID reader which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical ID reader part of the optical ID reader which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view and side view of an optical ID tag which concern on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical ID tag which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional radio | wireless ID apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Database, 5 ... Computer, 6 ... Network, 9 ... Optical ID reader, 10 ... Optical ID tag, 11 ... Optical ID reader part, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... Memory, 14 ... Control part, 15 ... Data display part , 16 ... bus wiring, 20 ... electronic circuit part, 21 ... light reflection part, 22 ... light modulation part, 23 ... corner cube mirror, 26 ... light source, 27 ... light source drive circuit, 28 ... light receiving element, 29 ... light receiving circuit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Half mirror, 31, 31a, 31b ... Lens, 341 ... Visible light source, 35 ... Half mirror, 36 ... Visible light blocking filter, 38 ... Movable mechanism, 41 ... Solar cell, 42 ... Storage battery, 45 ... Light receiving element, 46 ... switch control signal generation circuit, 47 ... switch, 200 ... power source, 201 ... memory, 202 ... drive circuit, 210a, 210b ... panel.

Claims (10)

An optical ID tag having unique identification information and emitting the identification information as an optical signal to the outside, and receiving an optical signal emitted from the optical ID tag, and reading the identification information unique to the optical ID tag A directional optical ID device having an optical ID reader,
The optical ID reader includes a radiation unit that emits a light beam toward the optical ID tag, and a reading unit that receives an optical signal emitted from the optical ID tag and reads identification information unique to the optical ID tag. And
The optical ID tag includes a storage unit that stores unique identification information, and an optical modulation unit that modulates the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader with the identification information stored in the storage unit and converts the light beam into an optical signal. A directional optical ID device comprising: a light reflecting means for reflecting the modulated optical signal in the incident direction of the light beam. The directional optical ID device according to claim 1,
The optical ID reader further includes visible light superimposing means for superimposing visible light on a light beam radiated toward the optical ID tag, and reading only the optical signal among the light emitted from the optical ID tag. And a visible light blocking means for blocking the visible light component, and a directional optical ID device. The directional optical ID device according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical ID reader further includes an adjusting unit that adjusts a spread angle of a light beam emitted toward the optical ID tag according to control from the outside. The directional optical ID device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The optical ID tag further includes a power generation unit that generates power using external light, and a power storage unit that stores the generated power. The directional optical ID device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The optical ID tag is arranged such that the light modulation means and the light reflection means are formed in a panel shape, and the plurality of light modulation means and light reflection means formed in the panel shape form each surface of a polyhedron. A directional optical ID device characterized by the above. The directional optical ID device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The optical ID tag further includes a light receiving means for detecting a light beam emitted from the optical ID reader, a switch for controlling power supply to the light modulating means, and a light beam detected by the light receiving means. And a control means for controlling the switch so as to supply power to the optical modulation means. An optical ID tag used in a directional optical ID device including an optical ID reader that receives an optical signal emitted from an optical ID tag and reads identification information unique to the optical ID tag,
Storage means for storing unique identification information, light modulation means for modulating the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader with the identification information stored in the storage means, and converting it into an optical signal, and the modulated light An optical ID tag comprising: a light reflecting means for reflecting a signal in an incident direction of the light beam. The optical ID tag according to claim 7,
The optical ID tag further comprises power generation means for generating electric power from external light and power storage means for storing the generated electric power. The optical ID tag according to claim 7 or 8,
The light modulation means and the light reflection means are formed in a panel shape, and the light modulation means and the light reflection means formed in the panel shape are arranged so as to form each surface of a polyhedron. ID tag. The optical ID tag according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
Further, a light receiving means for detecting the light beam emitted from the optical ID reader, a switch for controlling power supply to the light modulating means, and only when the light beam is detected by the light receiving means, to the light modulating means. An optical ID tag comprising control means for controlling the switch so as to supply electric power.

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