JP2007183732A - Portable information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relatively large-sized antenna while protecting the antenna under dropping or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A grip part 3 is installed at the lower face side of a main body 2. The main body 2 is provided with an RF tag processing part for operating communication by an electromagnetic wave with an RF tag to perform data reading and writing and an optical code reading part for reading optical information written in a reading object. An antenna part 23 positioned at the front side of the lower face of the main body 2 for storing an antenna 19 in an antenna case 24 is installed so as to be attached/detached(exchanged) by screw fastening. The antenna part 23 is arranged inside a plurality of virtual planes P brought into contact with the top end section of the main body 2 and the lower end section of the grip part 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information reader configured to include a grip portion on a main body including an RF tag reading mechanism and read data by performing communication with an RF tag by electromagnetic waves.

  For example, in the field of merchandise management, etc., an RF tag is attached to a merchandise, etc., communication is performed with the RF tag using a portable information reader, and the merchandise recorded on the RF tag is related. A system for reading (and writing) data has been put into practical use. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a portable information reader (reader / writer) capable of both reading an RF tag and optically reading optical information (barcode). The information reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an RF tag reading mechanism and an optical information reading mechanism in a handheld main body case, and an antenna for communicating with the RF tag. (Antenna coil) was disposed in the vicinity of the reading opening at the tip of the main body case.

  By the way, in this type of information reader, there is a demand for using a relatively large antenna in order to improve the performance (communication distance) of communication with the RF tag. However, in the thing shown in the said patent document 1, since the structure which incorporates an antenna in a main body case, there existed a situation where it was difficult to enlarge an antenna. In this case, if the antenna is simply increased in size, a significant change in the structure will be caused, such as the tip of the main body case becoming larger. In recent years, a plurality of frequency bands have been used in the RF tag system. However, when the antenna is incorporated in the main body case, only the antenna portion cannot be easily replaced. .

Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 2, in a portable information reading apparatus that can both read an RF tag and read a barcode, the antenna unit is configured separately from the main body unit, and the antenna unit is configured as a main body unit. The thing of the structure attached to the lower surface side of detachable is considered. According to this, it becomes possible to provide a relatively large antenna, and the antenna part can be easily replaced.
JP 2000-348133 A Japanese Patent No. 3637821

  However, the portable information reader described in Patent Document 2 also has the following points to be improved. That is, since this type of information reader is used by the user in hand, it may be accidentally dropped by the user, and the antenna unit collides with the floor, the ground, etc. due to the fall. There was a risk of it. In addition, in the thing described in patent document 2, since the window part (opening) for barcode reading was provided in the center part of the antenna part, there also existed a malfunction that an antenna part became larger than necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information reader capable of providing a relatively large antenna, but capable of protecting the antenna when it is dropped. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, a portable information reader according to the present invention includes a main body including an RF tag reading mechanism for reading data by performing electromagnetic wave communication with an RF tag, and downward from a rear portion of the main body. An extending grip portion, and an antenna portion that communicates with the RF tag is provided outside the main body, and the antenna portion includes a tip edge portion of the main body and the antenna portion. The present invention is characterized in that it is disposed on the inner side of a virtual plane that is in contact with both the lower edge of the grip portion (the invention of claim 1).

  According to this, by providing the antenna portion outside the main body, it is possible to provide a relatively large antenna, unlike the case where the antenna portion is built in the main body. The antenna portion is disposed on the lower surface side of the main body and in the area in front of the grip portion, but inside the virtual plane that is in contact with both the front end edge portion of the main body and the lower end edge portion of the grip portion. Therefore, even when the user drops the device, the main body or the grip part collides against a flat floor or the ground, and the antenna part is prevented from colliding directly. The Here, the virtual plane in contact with both the front end edge of the main body and the lower end edge of the grip portion can be virtually innumerable (innumerable) with different orientations, etc. By configuring so as to be located on the inner side, it is possible to protect the antenna portion when it is dropped.

  In the present invention, the antenna unit can be detachably attached to the main body (invention of claim 2), whereby the antenna unit can be easily attached to and detached from an existing main body, for example. Is possible. Further, at this time, if a plurality of types of antenna units having different communication frequency bands are prepared and attached to be replaceable (invention of claim 3), the antenna unit can be easily replaced. It is possible to cope with reading of RF tags in a plurality of frequency bands.

  The antenna unit can be configured as a unit in which an antenna is incorporated in an antenna case. In this case, a transmission / reception circuit can also be incorporated in the antenna case. Invention). According to this, since it is not necessary to provide a transmission / reception circuit on the main body side, the configuration of the reading mechanism in the main body can be simplified. In particular, even when dealing with RF tags of a plurality of frequency bands, the correspondence is facilitated by exchanging the antenna unit.

  By the way, in this type of portable information reading apparatus, an RF tag reading mechanism and an optical information reading mechanism for reading optical information are incorporated in the main body, thereby reading an RF tag by electromagnetic waves and optical information reading. Corresponding to both optical reading and sharing (sharing) is performed. Also in the present invention, an optical information reading mechanism is provided in the main body in addition to the RF tag reading mechanism, and at the same time, the reading direction of the optical information by the optical information reading mechanism is the same as the reading direction of the RF tag. (Invention of claim 5) As a result, both the reading of the RF tag and the reading of the optical information can be supported, the convenience can be improved, and the reading direction is the same direction, and the operability is excellent. It will be a thing.

  At this time, by providing a range in which the readable range of the optical information by the optical information reading mechanism and the readable range of the RF tag by the RF tag reading mechanism are provided, the reading of the optical information and the reading of the RF tag in the overlapping range. May be configured to be performed simultaneously (invention of claim 6). As a result, it is possible to realize a function of simultaneously reading both the optical information and the RF tag in one operation.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the present invention is a portable type (so-called gun type) capable of both reading and writing data of an RF tag (RFID tag) and reading optical information such as a barcode and a two-dimensional code. This is applied to the reader / writer of

  1 and 2 show the appearance of a portable information reader 1 (reader / writer) according to the present embodiment. The portable information reading device 1 is operated by a user holding it with one hand extending downward and slightly rearward toward the rear side on the lower surface side of the main body 2 having a substantially rectangular box shape with a slightly longer front and rear direction and rounded corners. The grip portion 3 that can be used is integrally formed. The grip portion 3 has a shape such that its lower end protrudes forward. The case constituting the outer shell of the main body 2 is composed of, for example, an upper case 4 and a lower case 5 made of plastic, and they are joined by being abutted and screwed, for example.

  A reading port 2a for reading optical information is provided at the front end surface of the main body 2 (lower case 5). A trigger switch 6 for reading instructions is provided at the upper end of the grip portion 3 (left side in FIG. 1B). As shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface portion (upper case 4) of the main body 2 has a power switch 7, a notification LED 8, a speaker 9, a display unit 10 including a small liquid crystal display, numeric keys, function keys, and the like. A key operation unit 11 having a plurality of operation keys is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 2 is provided with a control unit 12 that mainly includes a microcomputer and controls the entire apparatus 1. A memory 13 is connected to the control unit 12. An operation signal from the trigger switch 6 or the key operation unit 11 is input to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 controls the notification LED 8, the speaker 9, the display unit 10, and the like. In the main body 2, a battery 14 and a power supply unit 15 that are power sources, an external interface 16 for performing data communication with the outside (host device), and the like are also provided.

  In the main body 2, an RF tag processing unit 17 connected to the control unit 12, performs electromagnetic wave communication with an RF tag (not shown), reads and writes data, and a reading target An optical code reading unit 18 for reading optical information (bar code or two-dimensional code) written in (not shown) is provided. These are controlled by the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 and the RF tag processing unit 17 constitute an RF tag reading mechanism, and the control unit 12 and the optical code reading unit 18 constitute an optical information reading mechanism. ing.

  Of these, the optical code reading unit 18 includes, for example, a light receiving sensor including a CCD area sensor, an imaging lens, and an illumination unit including a plurality of LEDs and lenses, although not shown. As a result, the illumination light is irradiated by the illumination unit to the reading object arranged in front through the reading port 2a, and the reflected light from the optical information (bar code or two-dimensional code) is incident through the reading port 2a. An image is formed on a light receiving sensor through an image lens, and image data of optical information is taken in, and data is read (decoded). At this time, the reading direction of the optical information is in front of the main body 2, and the readable range is a range R1 indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the RF tag processing unit 17 includes a power supply circuit 27 connected to an antenna 19 to be described later, a transmission circuit 20 and a reception circuit 21, and a signal processing circuit 22 connected to them. Yes. When an electromagnetic wave is transmitted from the power supply circuit 27 connected to the antenna 19 to the RF tag, operating power is generated and supplied from the electromagnetic wave received by the antenna on the RF tag side. At this time, the signal processing circuit 22 is controlled by the control unit 12 and outputs a transmission signal to the antenna 19 through the transmission circuit 20 and also demodulates the reception signal received by the antenna 19 through the reception circuit 21 as data. It comes to extract.

  Thus, in a state where the antenna 19 (main body 2) is brought close to the RF tag to be read, power is supplied to the RF tag by electromagnetic waves, and data communication (writing and reading) is performed. It has become. At this time, the RF tag processing unit 17 is configured to be compatible with a plurality of communication frequencies. The control unit 12, each circuit, and the like are mounted on a board disposed in the main body 2.

  Here, although not shown, the RF tag will be briefly described. The RF tag is attached to an article such as a product, and has, for example, a plastic tag (rectangular plate shape). In addition, a tag-side antenna for performing communication with the information reading device 1 is provided therein, and an RFID chip that holds data and generates a response signal is provided. The RFID chip stores a rectifying / smoothing circuit for obtaining an operation power supply from a power supply signal, a CPU for controlling communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit for modulating / demodulating transmission / reception signals, a ROM for storing operation programs, and data. A readable / writable EEPROM or the like is formed as a one-chip IC.

  The RF tag includes various shapes such as a coin shape and a key (key holder) shape in addition to a tag shape, and a card-like shape (non-contact IC card) is also included in the RF tag. In addition, there is a system in which an information label (referred to as a smart label or the like) configured by attaching an RF tag to a label on which optical information is written is attached to an article and used.

  At this time, in the RFID system using the RF tag, it is possible to use several frequencies (wavelengths). Specifically, it is possible to use a long wave band (for example, 125 kHz), a short wave band (for example, 13.56 MHz), a UHF band (for example, 952 to 954 MHz), or the like. In addition, there is a system using a microwave band (for example, 2.45 GHz). Of course, the RF tag incorporates an antenna corresponding to the frequency used in the system.

  The portable information reader 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to optically read optical information by the optical code reader 18 (optical information reader) and an RF tag by the RF tag processor 17 (RF tag reader). Communication (reading and writing of data) between the RF tag and the optical tag and the simultaneous reading of both the RF tag and the optical information related to the information label and the like (reading both in one operation) It is possible. Switching of these functions is performed, for example, when the user operates the key input operation unit 11 to select a mode.

  In the portable information reader 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna unit 23 including the antenna 19 for performing communication with the RF tag includes the main body 2. It is provided in the outer side of this, the lower surface front part side of the main body 2 here (front side of the grip part 3), and it can be attached or detached. Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of types of antenna units 23 corresponding to a plurality of communication frequencies, in this case, three types are prepared, and any one is attached to the main body 2 in a replaceable manner.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the antenna unit 23 is configured by housing the antenna 19 in, for example, a plastic antenna case 24. The antenna case 24 has an opening on the upper surface and has a substantially rectangular box shape that is thin in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the upper end portion of the antenna case 24 is formed with, for example, two screw holes 24a (only one is shown) for mounting. As will be described later in detail, the antenna 19 is configured as a rectangular plate having a little thickness as a whole, and is fixedly accommodated in the antenna case 24.

  6A to 6C schematically show the configuration of the three types of antennas 19 described above. When these antennas 19 need to be distinguished from each other, (A), (B), and (C) are added after the reference numeral 19. The antenna 19 (A) shown in FIG. 6 (a) is a planar patch antenna formed by forming a thin film conductor on the surface of a rectangular ceramic plate as a base material, and has a UHF band (for example, 952 MHz). It corresponds.

  The antenna 19 (B) shown in FIG. 6B is a loop antenna formed by pattern printing on the surface of a rectangular substrate, and corresponds to a short wave band (for example, 13.56 MHz). The antenna 19 (C) shown in FIG. 6C is composed of an antenna coil formed by winding a conducting wire many times, and corresponds to a long wave band (for example, 125 kHz). A cable 25 is led out from each of the antennas 19. Although not shown in detail, a connector 26 (shown only in FIG. 3) is provided at the tip of the cable 25 and the substrate in the main body 2, and the antenna 19 and the RF tag processing unit 17 are connected by the connection of the connector 26. The electrical connection is made.

  The antenna portion 23 configured in this way is attached to the lower surface side of the main body 2 (lower case 5). At this time, as shown in FIG. A convex positioning portion 5 a corresponding to the opening on the upper surface of the antenna case 24 is provided. Although not shown, the lower case 5 is formed with screw insertion holes corresponding to the respective screw holes 24a and openings through which the cables 25 are passed.

  In attaching the antenna part 23, the upper surface opening of the antenna case 24 of the antenna part 23 is fitted to the positioning part 5a of the lower case 5 from below with the upper case 4 of the main body 2 removed. In this state, the cable 25 is passed through the opening, and in this state, the screw is tightened into each screw hole 24a through each screw insertion hole. In addition, electrical connection by the connector 26 of the cable 25 is performed. At this time, as a matter of course, the antenna unit 23 having a type of antenna 19 corresponding to the frequency used in the system to be used is selectively attached.

  And in the attachment state of this antenna part 23, as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna part 23 exists inside the virtual plane P which contact | connects both the front-end edge part of the main body 2, and the lower end edge part of the grip part 3. As shown in FIG. It is arranged. Here, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the virtual plane P that contacts both the front end edge of the main body 2 and the lower end edge of the grip portion 3 has a large number (innumerable) of different orientations. The antenna unit 23 is configured to be located inside the virtual plane P for any of them.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the antenna 19 of the antenna unit 23 (particularly, the antenna 19 (A) made of a patch antenna and the antenna 19 (B) made of a loop antenna) The reading direction of the RF tag is the same as the reading direction of the optical information. Further, the readable range of the RF tag is a range R2 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, and there is a range where the readable range R1 of the optical information and the readable range R2 of the RF tag overlap.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In the portable information reading apparatus 1 described above, the user can grasp the grip portion 3 and the reading target (label or the like affixed to the article) on which the optical information such as the barcode is written can be read in front of the main body 2. The reading port 2a of the main body 2 is directed to the reading object so as to enter R1, and in this state, the optical information can be optically read by the optical code reading unit 18 or the like. On the other hand, the RF tag data is read (or written) by the RF tag processing unit 17 through communication via the antenna 19 while the RF tag is in the readable range R2 in front of the main body 2 (antenna unit 23). It is possible.

  In this case, both reading of the RF tag and reading of the optical information can be supported, and convenience can be improved, and the reading direction of the optical information and the reading direction of the RF tag are the same direction. Therefore, the operability is excellent. In addition, by providing a range where the optical information readable range R1 and the RF tag readable range R2 overlap, an RF tag related to an information label including both the RF tag and the optical information as described above, It is possible to realize a function of reading both optical information and both simultaneously by a single operation.

  And since the antenna part 23 provided with the antenna 19 which communicates with RF tag was attached to the lower surface of the front part side of the main body 2 separately, for example, the structure of the existing main body 2 is greatly increased. Without causing a change, it is possible to improve the performance (communication distance) of communication with the RF tag by providing a relatively large antenna 19. Only the antenna portion 23 can be easily exchanged for the main body 2. Since the antenna unit 23 is provided at a position that does not overlap the reading port 2a, there is no need to provide a window portion in the antenna unit 23, and the antenna unit 23 (antenna case 24) may be larger than necessary. Absent.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of types of antenna units 23 having antennas 19 (A), 19 (B), and 19 (C) having different communication frequency bands are prepared and can be exchanged. Since it is configured to be attached, the antenna unit 23 can be easily replaced, and it is possible to cope with reading of RF tags in a plurality of frequency bands.

  By the way, since this portable information reader 1 is used by the user holding the grip part 3 by hand, it is conceivable that the user accidentally drops it on the floor or the ground. In this case, there is a situation in which the strength of the fixed portion of the antenna unit 23 with respect to the main body 2 is inferior to that of other portions.

  However, in this embodiment, the antenna unit 23 is disposed on the inner side of the virtual plane P that is in contact with both the front end edge of the main body 2 and the lower end edge of the grip unit 3. Even when dropped, the main body 2 or the grip portion 3 collides against a flat floor or ground, and the antenna portion 23 does not collide directly. As a result, the antenna portion 23 is prevented from being damaged. At this time, the antenna unit 23 is configured to be located on the inner side with respect to any of a large number (innumerable) virtual planes P having different orientations and the like. 23 can be protected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the antenna unit 23 that performs communication with the RF tag is placed outside the main body 2 and is in contact with both the front end edge of the main body 2 and the lower end edge of the grip portion 3. Since it is configured to be provided on the inner side of the plane P, it is possible to provide an excellent effect that the antenna portion 23 can be protected in the case of dropping or the like while the relatively large antenna 19 can be provided. be able to. In other words, in the present embodiment, the antenna portion 23 can be attached and detached because a large impact is not applied to the antenna portion 23 (antenna case 24) when dropped.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in the configuration of the antenna unit 31. That is, the antenna unit 31 includes an antenna 19 and a transmission / reception circuit 33 in an antenna case 32. Also in this case, a plurality of types of antenna units 31 having the antennas 19 and the transmission / reception circuits 33 having different frequencies to be used are prepared and attached to the main body 2 so as to be detachable (replaceable). Further, the antenna unit 31 is provided outside the main body 2 so as to be located inside the virtual plane P that is in contact with both the front end edge portion of the main body 2 and the lower end edge portion of the grip portion 3.

  According to such a configuration, while the relatively large antenna 19 can be provided, it is possible to protect the antenna unit 31 when it is dropped, and in addition, a transmission / reception circuit ( Since it is not necessary to provide the RF tag processing unit 17), the mechanism in the main body 2 can be simplified. In particular, even when it is made to correspond to RF tags of a plurality of frequency bands, the correspondence is facilitated by exchanging the antenna unit 32. Furthermore, it is possible to easily cope with the case where the function of the RF tag reading mechanism is added to the existing optical information reading apparatus.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the antenna portions 23 and 31 are attached to the main body 2 by screwing. However, for example, an engagement structure including a claw and a concave portion can be employed for the attachment and detachment. In each of the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to an apparatus capable of reading optical information. However, the present invention may be configured as a reader dedicated to an RF tag. You may comprise the said grip part 3 so that attachment or detachment with respect to the main body 2 is possible. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not departing from the gist.

The front view (a) which shows one Example of this invention, and shows the external appearance of a portable information reader, a right view (b), a top view (c) Right side view (a) and top view (b) showing the readable range Block diagram schematically showing the overall electrical configuration Block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the RF tag processing unit Longitudinal front view (a) and longitudinal side view (b) of the antenna section The figure which shows the structure (front and side) of three types of antennas schematically FIG. 1 (b) equivalent view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a portable information reader, 2 is a main body, 3 is a grip section, 4 is an upper case, 5 is a lower case, 12 is a control section, 17 is an RF tag processing section, 18 is an optical code reading section, 19 Is an antenna, 20 is a transmission circuit, 21 is a reception circuit, 22 is a signal processing circuit, 23 and 31 are antenna units, 24 and 32 are antenna cases, 25 is a cable, 33 is a transmission / reception circuit, P is a virtual plane, and R1 is optical The readable range of information, R2, indicates the readable range of the RF tag.

Claims (6)

A portable information reader including a main body including an RF tag reading mechanism for reading data by performing electromagnetic wave communication with an RF tag and a grip portion extending downward from the rear portion of the main body. And
An antenna unit that communicates with the RF tag is provided outside the main body,
The portable information reader according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is disposed on an inner side of a virtual plane that is in contact with both a front end edge of the main body and a lower end edge of the grip unit.   The portable information reader according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is detachably attached to the main body.   The portable information reader according to claim 2, wherein the antenna unit is configured such that a plurality of types having different communication frequency bands can be attached in a replaceable manner.   The portable information reader according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit includes an antenna and a transmission / reception circuit in an antenna case.   An optical information reading mechanism for reading optical information is provided in the main body, and the reading direction of the optical information by the optical information reading mechanism is the same as the reading direction of the RF tag. A portable information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   There is a range in which the optical information readable range by the optical information reading mechanism and the RF tag readable range by the RF tag reading mechanism overlap, and in the overlapping range, the optical information reading and the RF tag reading are performed. The portable information reader according to claim 5, wherein the portable information reader is configured to be capable of simultaneously performing.

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