JP2006139631A - Recording device and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To issue only a medium incorporated with an RF-ID(Radio Frequency IDentification) element whose all memory areas normally function in communication equipment for writing information in the RF-ID element incorporated in a medium through a communication antenna, and for issuing the medium. <P>SOLUTION: In writing information in an RF-ID element, a memory is generally checked, and only a medium incorporated with an RF-ID element whose all memory areas normally function is normally issued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs non-contact communication with a wireless communication element and a communication with respect to a medium that incorporates the wireless communication element, such as an RF-ID (Radio Frequency IDentification) element including an integrated circuit chip and an antenna. It relates to a control method.

  Conventionally, an RF-ID element including an integrated circuit chip capable of writing / reading information without contact and a communication antenna has been developed. Usually, the RF-ID element is built in a recording medium such as label paper, tag paper, cut paper, and plastic card.

  When communicating with an RF-ID element, information is normally written / read using an RF-ID communication device including an “RF-ID communication driver”.

  In recent years, a recording device has been developed that has a built-in RF-ID communication driver in the recording device and records information on the surface of the recording medium with a built-in RF-ID element in the recording device. Has been.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which an inkjet label recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) using a long line head that records an image on a medium surface and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) are connected. It is an example figure. The recording apparatus 100 and the PC 102 are connected by a printer cable 101, and the PC 102 has information (write block number and write data, etc.) for recording data and writing to the RF-ID element, information for recording on the surface of the recording medium, etc. Is output to the printer cable 101 as a control command. In the figure, 103 is a monitor, 104 is a keyboard, and 105 is a mouse.

FIG. 14 is an electrical block diagram of the PC 102. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1400 that controls the entire PC 102, a RAM 1401 that is a storage area for the CPU to execute the program, an HDD 1402 that stores the program, and display output information A video controller 1403 that performs communication with the printer, a printer interface 1406 for communicating with the printer, a mouse interface 1405 for communicating with the mouse, and a keyboard interface 1404 for communicating with the keyboard.
In the HDD 1402, an OS that is a program for controlling the entire host computer, an application program for creating recording information and information for writing to the RF-ID element, and recording data are converted into control codes and output from the printer interface. A printer driver which is a program to be recorded is recorded, and these control programs are executed by the CPU 1400.

  2 is a side sectional view of the conventional recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  The recording apparatus 200 includes a paper feeding unit 205 in which a label paper 204 containing an RF-ID element is set, a communication antenna 207 for writing information on the RF-ID element, and a leading end of a label attached to the label paper 204. A (or rear end) TOF (Top Of Form) sensor 209 for position detection is provided.

  In a state where the leading edge of the label paper 204 is detected by the TOF sensor 209, the RF-ID element in the label is set to be positioned below the communication antenna 207.

  When a recording instruction is issued, a recording job is started, and the label paper 204 set in the paper feeding unit 205 is conveyed on a conveyance belt 203 driven via a conveyance roller 202, and the TOF sensor 209 detects the label paper 204. When the leading edge is detected, the conveying operation is temporarily stopped, and data is written to the built-in RF-ID element of the corresponding label by wireless communication via the communication antenna 207. Thereafter, the conveying operation is resumed and an image is recorded on the label surface by the recording head 201.

  In the recording apparatus 200, depending on the case, data can be written by the cutter 208 in the cutter unit 206, and the labels after the image recording can be cut one by one.

  3A is a memory map of the RF-ID element before data is written, FIG. 3B shows a communication sequence between the communication antenna of the recording apparatus and the RF-ID element, and FIG. ) Is a memory map of the RF-ID element after data is written in the sequence of FIG. 3B to the RF-ID element of FIG.

  The memory of the RF-ID element is a block of 4 bytes and is accessed in units of blocks. When writing information to the RF-ID element, the PC designates “write head block number” and “write data” with a control command to the recording apparatus, so that the recording apparatus communicates with the RF-ID element as a communication antenna. Is used to specify an identification code (data write) 800, a write block number 801, and write data 802 to write data in block units. This figure shows an example in which 16 bytes (4 blocks worth) of data are written from “Block 0”, as indicated by 803.

As a method improved from the above example, the paper is continuously conveyed, the data is written in the memory of the built-in RF-ID element, and the data is read immediately after that to check whether it has been written normally. If not, proposals have been made to stabilize the operation by reducing the sheet conveyance speed and to realize a more prompt and reliable method.
(For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2003-150907 A

However, the following problems remain in the prior art.

  That is, since it is checked that normal writing has been performed by writing to the memory of the RF-ID element and reading the written data, it is unclear whether the memory area other than the corresponding area operates normally. If there is a process of writing to another memory area after that, there is a possibility that the alignment cannot be achieved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to issue only a medium in which an RF-ID element that functions normally in all memory areas is incorporated.

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A recording apparatus having communication control means for performing contactless communication with a communication element including a memory built in a medium,
And a memory check unit for preliminarily checking the memory of the communication element by a writing unit for writing information to the memory and a reading unit for reading information from the memory.

The communication control method according to the present invention includes:
A communication control method for performing contactless communication with a communication element including a memory built in a medium, wherein an information writing step for writing information to the memory and an information reading step for reading information from the memory are performed. And a memory check step for checking the memory in advance.

  As described above, according to the present invention, information is written to an RF-ID (Radio Frequency IDentification) element built in the medium via the communication antenna, and the information is transmitted to the RF-ID element in the communication device that issues the medium. When the memory is written, by performing a memory check of the RF-ID element, only the medium having the built-in RF-ID element in which the memory functions normally can be normally issued, and the operation reliability in the subsequent writing process is improved. improves.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

[First embodiment]
4A is a perspective view showing the label paper of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged top view of a part of the label paper. The label paper 300 is wound in a roll shape, and is configured such that a plurality of labels 302 are stuck on the mount 301 at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. At the time of recording on the label surface, a margin 307 is provided at the leading end of the label 302 and recording is performed in the recording range 306. A TOF (Top Of Form) sensor detects the leading end 305 of the label 302, and an RF-ID element is incorporated at a distance 304 from the leading end 305 of the label 302.

  FIG. 5 is a memory map of the RF-ID element according to the first embodiment. The RF-ID element has a 128-byte (32 blocks × 4 bytes) memory, is a 4-byte block, and is accessed in block units.

  FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an ink jet type label recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “recording apparatus”) that incorporates the RF-ID communication driver according to the first embodiment and uses a long line head.

  The recording apparatus includes a recording head 400 that forms an image on label paper, a TOF sensor 401 for detecting the leading end (or rear end) position of the label, a transport roller 402 for transporting the label paper 300, a transport belt 403, and the label paper is cut. And a communication antenna 408 for performing communication with the RF-ID element 303 incorporated in the label, a recording medium attachment / detachment detection sensor 410 for detecting attachment / detachment of the recording medium (label paper) to / from the recording apparatus, and the like. .

  When a recording instruction is issued to the recording apparatus, the label paper 300 is conveyed by the conveying belt 403, and when the leading edge of the label is detected by the TOF sensor 401, a process of writing information to the RF-ID element incorporated in the label is performed. Execute. Subsequently, after transporting by the distance obtained by adding the distance 409 from the TOF sensor 401 to the recording head 400 and the label leading edge margin 307 (see FIG. 4) from the position where the leading edge of the label is detected, the recording process on the label surface is performed. Start.

  The label paper 300 that has completed the data writing to the RF-ID element and the image recording on the surface is cut by a cutter 404 attached to a paper discharge port of the recording apparatus.

  After the recorded label paper 300 is cut, the unrecorded label paper 300 is returned until the next top label is positioned upstream of the TOF sensor 401 by rotating the transport roller 402 in the reverse direction.

  Thereby, the recording job is completed. Further, the recording medium attachment / detachment detection sensor 410 can detect that the label sheet 300 as a recording medium has been replaced.

  7 and 8 are diagrams showing the structure of a control command transmitted from the PC to the recording apparatus of the first embodiment. As control commands, there are a paper setting command 500 for setting the type of continuous paper to be recorded, a format command 501 having a setting serving as a reference for recording data, attribute sections 502, 503, and 504 indicating data command attributes, a data command , And a job start command 506 for starting the job indicating the end of the recording data, and outputting these commands as in the recording command transfer example 507 shown in FIG. The head block number and data to be written to the RF-ID element are designated by the RF-ID command 504.

  FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  The recording apparatus includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 600, a program ROM 601, a RAM 602, a CGROM (Character Generator ROM) 603, a VRAM (Video RAM) 604, an interface driver 605, an operation panel key 618, a TOF sensor 401, a recording medium attachment / detachment detection sensor. 410, input port 619, output port 610, transport motor driver 611, transport motor 612, paper feed motor driver 613, paper feed motor 614, cutter motor driver 615, cutter motor 616, operation panel LED 617, LCD driver 620, operation panel LCD 621 A head driving circuit 606, a recording head 400, an RF-ID communication driver 608, and a communication antenna 408.

  The communication antenna 408 can be moved to an appropriate position by an antenna moving motor 623 driven by an antenna moving motor driver 622.

  The MPU 600 executes a control program stored in the program ROM 601 and receives and analyzes a control command from the PC. The MPU 600 stores various setting values of the paper setting command 500 and the format command 501 among the control commands received from the PC in the RAM 602, develops the image data of the image command 503 in the VRAM 604, and character data of the character command 502. Reads out the corresponding bitmap data from the CGROM 603 and develops it in the VRAM 604, while the head block number of RF-ID and the RF-ID data are stored in the RAM 602. The MPU 600 controls the motor drivers 611, 613, and 615 via the output port 610 to drive the transport motor 612, the paper feed motor 614, and the cutter motor 616, and the operation panel LED 617 and error notification LED ( The lighting / extinguishing of (see FIG. 8) is also controlled.

  The MPU 600 drives the K (black) recording head 400 by controlling the head driving circuit 606. Further, the MPU 600 controls the RF-ID communication driver 608 to read / write data to / from the RF-ID element via the communication antenna 408.

  The TOF sensor 401, the operation panel key 618, and the recording medium attachment / detachment detection sensor 410 are connected to the MPU 600 via the input port 619. The MPU 600 drives the operation panel LCD 621 of the liquid crystal display unit mounted on the operation panel by controlling the LCD driver 620.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. The operation panel includes a recording stop button 618, an error notification LED 617, and a message display LCD 621.

Next, processing operations in the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a recording job of the recording apparatus. A control program corresponding to the flowchart is stored in the program ROM 601. This process is executed by the MPU 600 of the recording apparatus controlling each part of the recording apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 601.

  When the recording apparatus starts receiving control commands from the PC, this processing is started.

  First, various recording data are expanded in the VRAM 604 by data expansion processing, and various setting values and RF-ID data are stored in the RAM 602 (step S700).

  Next, in the area B existing on the RAM 602, the value of the number of drive motor driving pulses corresponding to the distance 409 from the TOF sensor 401 to the recording head 400 + the leading edge margin 307 of the label (see FIG. 4) is stored (step S701). ).

  Next, the conveyance motor 612 is driven one pulse at a time (step S702), and when the leading edge of the label is detected by the TOF sensor 401 (YES in step S703), data is written to the RF-ID element (step S704). If the writing process ends abnormally (NO in step S705), an error process (stops the conveyance motor 612 / lights the error notification LED on the operation panel) is executed (step S709), and this process ends.

If the writing has been completed normally (YES in step S705), “0” is substituted into the area C (number of drive steps) existing on the RAM 602 (step S706).

Further, the transport motor 612 is advanced by one pulse (step S707), and the value of the area C is incremented every time one pulse is driven (step S708). When the value of area C is equal to or greater than the value of area B (YES in step S710), a recording process for one raster is executed (step S711). The above process is repeated for the image area, and one page of image recording is completed (YES in step S712).

  When the set number of sheets is completed (YES in step S713), the label paper that has been recorded by the paper discharge process is cut by the cutter 404 attached to the paper discharge port of the recording apparatus, and the front end of the unrecorded label is the TOF sensor. Back-feed is performed until it passes 401 (step S714), and the process ends.

  Next, the write processing (step S709) operation to the RF-ID element, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the RF-ID writing process. A control program corresponding to the flowchart is stored in the program ROM 601. This process is executed by the MPU 600 of the recording apparatus controlling each part of the recording apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 601.

  When the RF-ID element built in the recording medium is conveyed to a predetermined position (below the communication antenna 408), this processing is started.

  First, “0” is assigned to the area Y (block number) existing on the RAM 602 (step S900). Next, the data of the block number Y of the RF-ID element is read and temporarily saved in the backup area for one block existing on the RAM 602 (step S901).

  Next, test data (55h) is written in the entire area of block number Y (step S902). Next, the data of block number Y is read (step S903), and the entire area of block number Y is compared with the test data (55h) (step S904). If there is data different from the test data (55h) (in step S904). NO) terminates abnormally.

  If the entire area of block number Y and the test data (55h) are the same (YES in step S904), then the test data is changed (AAh), overwritten, and the memory check is performed again (steps S905 to S907).

  If the memory check ends normally (YES in step S907), the data saved in the backup area is written in the area of block number Y (S908). Next, the block number Y is incremented (step S909), and when the memory check of all the blocks is normally completed (YES in step S910), the desired write data is stored in block units from the block number stored in the RAM 602. Write to the RF-ID element (step S911).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, all memory areas are normal by performing a memory check on all areas before writing desired write data to the RF-ID element incorporated in the label. It is possible to issue only a medium in which a functioning RF-ID element is incorporated.

[Second Embodiment]
In the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, a memory check of the entire area of the RF-ID element is performed. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the present invention can be easily implemented by performing a memory check of a specific area.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the RF-ID writing process. A control program corresponding to the flowchart is stored in the program ROM 601. This process is executed by the MPU 600 of the recording apparatus controlling each part of the recording apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 601.

When the RF-ID element built in the recording medium is conveyed to a predetermined position (below the communication antenna 408), this processing is started.

  First, data of block number 0, which is the first block of the RF-ID element, is read and saved in a backup area for one block existing on the RAM 602 (step S1000).

  Next, test data (55h) is written in the entire area of block number 0 (step S1001). Next, the data of block number 0 is read (step S1002), and the entire area of block number 0 is compared with the test data (55h) (step S1003). If data different from the test data (55h) exists (in step S1003). NO) terminates abnormally.

  If the memory check result is normal (YES in step S1003), the data saved in the backup area for one block on the RAM 602 is written in the area of block number 0 (S1004).

Then, the memory check similar to the above is performed for the block number 31 which is the last block (S1005 to S1009).
When the memory check of the first block and the last block is completed normally, desired write data is written to the RF-ID element block by block from the block number stored in the RAM 602 (step S1010).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, before the desired write data is written to the RF-ID element incorporated in the label, the memory is checked by performing the memory check of the first block and the last block. Only a medium having a normally functioning RF-ID element can be issued normally.

[Third embodiment]
In the ink jet type label recording apparatus using the long line head with a built-in RF-ID communication driver according to the first embodiment, data is written to the RF-ID element after performing a memory check on the entire area of the RF-ID element. It was. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the present invention can be implemented by performing a memory check on the entire area after writing desired data to the RF-ID element.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the RF-ID writing process according to this embodiment. A control program corresponding to the flowchart is stored in the program ROM 601. This process is executed by the MPU 600 of the recording apparatus controlling each part of the recording apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 601.

  When the RF-ID element built in the recording medium is conveyed to a predetermined position (below the communication antenna 408), this processing is started. First, RF-ID write data is written to the RF-ID element block by block from the block number stored in the RAM 602 (step S1511). Next, “0” is substituted into the area Y (block number) existing on the RAM 602 (step S1500). Next, the data of the block number Y of the RF-ID element is read and saved in the backup area for one block existing on the RAM 602 (step S1501). Next, test data (55h) is written in the entire area of block number Y (step S1502). Next, the data of block number Y is read (step S1503), and the entire area of block number Y is compared with the test data (55h) (step S1504). If there is data different from the test data (55h) (in step S1504). NO) terminates abnormally. If the entire area of block number Y and the test data (55h) are the same (YES in step S1504), then the test data is changed (AAh) and the memory check is performed again (steps S1505 to S1507). If the memory check ends normally (YES in step S1507), the data saved in the backup area for one block on the RAM 602 is written in the area of block number Y (S1508). Next, the block number Y is incremented (step S1509), and when the memory check of all the blocks is normally completed (YES in step S1510), the block is normally terminated.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, after writing desired data to the RF-ID element built in the label paper, the memory check of the entire area of the RF-ID element is performed, By displaying an error in the case of completion, the configuration of an ink jet type label recording apparatus using a long line head that can normally issue only RF-ID elements in which all memory areas function normally is realized. be able to.

[Other embodiments]
In the first to third embodiments, the inkjet type label recording apparatus using a long line head has been described as an example. However, an RF-ID having a communication function with an RF-ID element capable of writing / reading information is used. If it is a communication device, a device that writes information to an RF-ID element built in the recording medium, a device that reads information from the RF-ID element built in the recording medium, a plastic card as a recording medium, a cut Card recording device with built-in RF-ID communication driver that communicates with RF-ID element built in paper, etc., or RF-ID communication driver that communicates with RF-ID element built in ink ribbon as a recording medium It is not limited to the type of RF-ID communication device, such as a built-in thermal transfer recording device, and in the case of a recording device, it is limited to that recording method. Not shall.

  Further, the position of the communication antenna is not limited to the upper side of the recording medium upstream of the head, but the communication antenna is located on the lower side of the upstream of the head, below the head (below the recording medium), on the upper side of the downstream of the head, and upstream of the head. It may be provided on the lower side.

Also, replace the RF-ID communication driver that can communicate with the RF-ID element from the RF-ID element to be used, and change the memory check method, the capacity for executing the memory check, etc. depending on the RF-ID element to be used. Also good.

Further, not only one type of RF-ID element but also an RF-ID communication driver capable of communicating with a plurality of types of RF-ID elements is provided, and a memory check method and memory check are executed by the RF-ID element to be used. The capacity and the like may be changed.

  The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A medium such as a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the medium in the storage medium or the like. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as a storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. . Examples of a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, download via a network can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a connection diagram of a PC (information processing device) and a recording device. It is sectional drawing of a label printer corresponding to RF-ID. It is a figure which shows the memory map of the memory in RF-ID element. It is an image figure of a label with a built-in RF-ID element. It is a figure which shows the memory map of the memory in RF-ID element. It is sectional drawing of the label printer by this invention. It is a figure explaining the command to the recording device by this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of command transfer to the recording device by this invention. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a comprehensive processing flowchart of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of a memory check according to the first embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of the operation panel of the recording apparatus by this invention. It is a flowchart of the memory check by 2nd Example. It is an electrical block diagram of PC (information processing apparatus) to be connected. It is a flowchart of the memory check by 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

100 recording apparatus 102 PC (information processing apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 Recording apparatus 201 Recording head 207 Communication antenna 209 TOF (tip detection) sensor

300 Label paper 301 Mount (separator)
302 Label 303 RF-ID element 400 Recording head 401 TOF (tip detection) sensor 404 Cutter 408 Communication antenna 502 Character data command 503 Character data command 504 RF-ID data command 600 MPU
601 ROM
608 RF-ID communication driver

Claims (10)

A recording apparatus having communication control means for performing contactless communication with a communication element including a memory built in a medium,
A recording apparatus comprising: a writing unit that writes information into the memory; and a memory check unit that checks the memory of the communication element in advance by a reading unit that reads information from the memory. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory check unit performs a memory check on all addresses of the memory. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory check unit performs a memory check on a specific address of the memory. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory check unit is executed after receiving an information write instruction for writing predetermined information to the communication element. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information writing instruction to the communication element is instructed from an external apparatus capable of communicating with the recording apparatus. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information writing instruction to the communication element is instructed from an operation panel of the recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records an image on a surface of the medium. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the medium is a label paper having a plurality of labels attached to a mount, or a continuous paper having a TOF (Top of Form) mark. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium is cut paper or a plastic card. A communication control method for performing contactless communication with a communication element including a memory built in a medium,
A communication control method comprising: an information writing step of writing information into the memory; and a memory check step of checking the memory of the communication element in advance by an information reading step of reading information from the memory.

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