JP2007299185A - System and method for receiving/placing order of communication medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in the conventional order receiving/placing method that in a trial stage, production is performed in a small lot at all times, which invites an extremely high cost in the trial stage. <P>SOLUTION: The system for receiving/placing the order of a communication medium is provided with a server having a CPU and a storage means and connected to a communication line, a printer connected to the server and an orderer's terminal connected to the communication line. The CPU receives graphic coordinate data transmitted from the orderer's terminal and required characteristic information including a resistance value, stores the received data in the storage means, converts the graphic coordinate data into dot image data, and instructs the printer to print out the dot image data on the basis of the required characteristic information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for ordering / ordering a communication medium, in particular a contactless communication medium or an antenna for a contactless communication medium. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an order receiving / ordering system and method thereof that can drastically reduce the cost of ordering / ordering at the prototype stage of a communication medium antenna or communication medium.

In recent years, a communication medium in which a pattern is incorporated in a thin film such as an in-vehicle antenna has been actively used.
In addition, so-called IC tags (tags) and IC cards incorporating ultra-small IC chips in which various information is written are expected to be applied in a wide range of fields such as merchandise management, distribution management, and various certificates. This IC tag, IC card, or the like is provided with a small transmitting / receiving wireless antenna and has a function of communicating with a dedicated reading device without contacting the IC tag, the IC card, or the like. These are called non-contact communication media (including inlets that are not carded or tagged).

  The manufacturing method of the antenna used for this communication medium, and particularly the non-contact communication medium includes 1) a method by etching, and 2) a method by screen printing. Among these methods, the etching method requires expensive equipment such as a coating device for forming a photosensitive resin film, an exposure device, and a developing and drying device, and is extremely expensive in the case of small-scale production. Moreover, the intermediate material used is also expensive, and the applied material has an overwhelmingly larger portion to be removed by etching than the portion remaining as an antenna, which also increases the cost.

  In the method by screen printing, although the degree of freedom in which the pattern can be changed by changing the screen plate is high, the conductive paste itself, which is a material for forming the antenna, is expensive. In addition, it takes a long time to produce a screen plate, and further, a heat treatment for a long time is required for curing after applying the paste. Therefore, if mass production is not performed, the cost increases as a result.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 4, an antenna manufacturing method using a thermal transfer technique in addition to these manufacturing methods has been proposed in recent years. However, antenna circuits that can be manufactured by this method are very limited, and antenna circuits by this method have not been manufactured yet.

JP 2001-160123 A JP 2000-268149 A JP 2003-30619 A JP 2003-243918 A

Conventionally, when an antenna circuit is manufactured using an etching method or a screen printing method, the order of the orderer to make a manufacturing request to the manufacturer is as follows.
(Method by etching)
(1) The orderer creates an antenna wiring diagram with, for example, a CAD drawing in consideration of necessary characteristics.
(2) The orderer investigates the manufacturers that can be manufactured, and requests a trial manufacture from the manufacturer based on the CAD drawings and required characteristics.
(3) The manufacturer selects an intermediate material based on the prototype request, and forms a photosensitive film with a coating device, exposes, develops, dries, and etches to create a prototype.
(4) The orderer and / or manufacturer measures the characteristics of the created prototype, and changes specifications as necessary.
(5) Repeat (1) to (4) above.
(6) Upon reaching the required specification, the orderer creates a final specification and requests the manufacture of this product based on the final specification.
(7) The manufacturer manufactures the requested product based on the final specification.

(Method by screen printing)
(1) The orderer creates an antenna wiring diagram with, for example, a CAD drawing in consideration of necessary characteristics.
(2) The orderer investigates the manufacturers that can be manufactured, and requests a trial manufacture from the manufacturer based on the CAD drawings and required characteristics.
(3) Based on the prototype request, the manufacturer creates a screen plate and selects an intermediate material, draws the antenna wiring with a conductive paste by screen printing, heat-treats, and creates a prototype.
(4) The orderer and / or manufacturer measures the characteristics of the created prototype, and changes specifications as necessary.
(5) Repeat (1) to (4) above.
(6) Upon reaching the required specification, the orderer creates a final specification and requests the manufacture of this product based on the final specification.
(7) The manufacturer manufactures the requested product based on the final specification.

In such a conventional ordering / ordering method, as described above, the cost is high in the case of small-volume production. In addition, even in mass production, the trial production stage is a small quantity production, which is very expensive in the trial production stage. In both methods, small-scale production (including small-scale production in the prototype stage) takes a long time to complete the prototype (the process is often performed by etching, so screen printing is especially useful for screen printing). Therefore, it was difficult to respond to the recent trend of shortening development time due to poor response at the prototype stage.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. It has a good response from the trial production stage to the production of this product, and is inexpensively produced in small quantities (including small quantities in the trial production stage) and selects an appropriate production method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for ordering / ordering the production of communication media and a method for ordering / ordering communication media.

An ordering / ordering system for a communication medium comprising a server connected to a communication line, a printer connected to the server, and an orderer terminal connected to the communication line. The CPU receives the graphic coordinate data transmitted from the orderer terminal and the required characteristic information including the resistance value and stores them in the storage means. The CPU stores the graphic coordinate data in dot image data. This is solved by a communication medium ordering / ordering system characterized by instructing the printer to print the dot image data on the basis of the required characteristic information.
And a communication medium ordering / ordering system comprising a server connected to the communication line, a printer connected to the server, and an orderer terminal connected to the communication line. A method for ordering / ordering a communication medium, the step of receiving coordinate data for a graphic transmitted from the orderer terminal and required characteristic information including a resistance value and storing it in the storage means; Ordering / ordering a communication medium comprising: converting the coordinate data into dot image data, and instructing the printer to print the dot image data based on the required characteristic information Solve by the method.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, the configuration of a communication medium ordering / ordering system (hereinafter referred to as “communication medium ordering / ordering system”) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the communication medium includes a non-contact communication medium and an antenna using the non-contact communication medium. The communication medium ordering / ordering system 1 includes a server 3 connected to a communication line 2 such as the Internet and a printer 4 connected to the server 3 such as a thermal transfer printer. The server 3 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 7 and storage means 8. Further, the communication line 2 is connected to an orderer terminal 5 (5a, 5b, 5c) of the orderer of the communication medium so as to be able to communicate with the server 3. The orderer is a company or an individual. The number of orderer terminals 5 of the orderer is not limited as long as the processing capability of the server 3 and the communication capability of the communication line 2 allow.

  The orderer transmits the orderer basic information, the order basic information, the order request product information, and the required characteristic information to the server 3 as electronic data from an arbitrary orderer terminal 5a. These transmissions are various transmission means such as transmission through a website of a company using the communication medium ordering / ordering system 1 established on the Internet, or transmission by individual e-mail for the company. Can be taken.

  The CPU 7 of the server 3 stores the orderer basic information, the order basic information, the order request product information, and the required characteristic information received from the orderer terminal 5 a in the storage unit 8. Here, the orderer basic information is information such as an orderer name, an address, a person in charge name, a mail address, a telephone number, and the like. The basic ordering information is, for example, information such as delivery date and budget. The order request product information is drawing information such as electronic data of a circuit drawing drawn by CAD or Gerber. The required characteristic information is an inductance value, a DC resistance value or an impedance value (hereinafter referred to as “resistance value”) requested by the orderer.

  Next, how to use the communication medium order / order system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The CPU 7 of the server 3 takes out the electronic data of the circuit diagram from the storage unit 8. The circuit drawing is usually figure coordinate data drawn by CAD, Gerber or the like. In order to print a pattern with a thermal transfer printer, it is necessary to convert the coordinate data for graphics into dot image data. Therefore, the CPU 7 of the server 3 takes out the electronic data of the circuit drawing from the storage means 8 and converts it into dot image data. At that time, the CPU 7 of the server 3 retrieves the required characteristic information from the storage unit 8 and, based on the information, selects, for example, an optimum printing method, a print medium, and a transfer condition. These selections are made as follows.

  The selection of the optimum print will be described. The storage means 8 already stores optimum printing method selection data arranged according to the resistance value. The optimum data for selecting a printing method is, for example, data indicating a thermal transfer method or an ink jet method, and these are arranged according to resistance values. For example, for a certain resistance value, the data is such that the thermal transfer method is uniquely selected. The CPU 7 of the server 3 determines the optimum printing method in accordance with the optimum printing method selection data in accordance with the resistance value in the extracted required characteristic information. If the optimum printing method selection data is not uniquely determined, the user needs to select it. In this case, the CPU 7 of the server 3 provides information prompting the user to make a selection, and displays that fact on the display of the terminal 9 of the server. Thereafter, the user receives the selected printing method from the terminal 9, and the subsequent selection process is continued.

  The selection of the print medium will be described. The storage means 8 stores print medium selection data for each determined optimum print. The print media selection data, when the thermal transfer method is selected, is the data in which “the thickness of the conductive ink layer to be transferred” or “the thickness of the metal deposition layer, etc.” is arranged according to the resistance value It is. Furthermore, a print medium arranged so as to optimally correspond to each of these can also be included. When the ink jet method selected corresponding to these is selected, the inks having different “electrical conductivities” are arranged in correspondence with each resistance value. The CPU 7 of the server 3 corresponds to the selected printing method, and when the thermal transfer method is selected by comparing the taken out resistance value with the print medium selection data, “the thickness of the conductive ink layer to be transferred”. ”Or“ thickness of the metal deposition layer, etc. ”, and“ ink ”is selected when the ink jet method is selected. Further, the print medium is also selected correspondingly. In many cases, the print medium selection data cannot be directly associated with the resistance value. In this case, when converted into dot image data, the CPU 7 of the server 3 stores the pattern width and length of an arbitrary portion of the circuit of the dot image data from which the electronic data of the circuit drawing is extracted. Then, calculate the required thickness from these and the resistance value taken out, and set the "thickness of the conductive ink layer to be transferred" or "thickness of the metal vapor deposition layer, etc." “Ink” may be selected.

The selection of transfer conditions will be described. The storage means 8 stores thermal transfer condition selection data for each determined optimum print. The transfer conditions are heating conditions in the case of the thermal transfer method, and spray conditions in the case of the ink jet method.
After determining these, the CPU 7 of the server 3 determines dot image print information including “converted dot image data”, “selected printing method”, “selected print medium”, and “selected thermal transfer conditions”. Create The CPU 7 of the server 3 transmits dot image print information to the printer 4. The printer 4 that has received the dot image print information starts the process according to the printing method according to the dot image print information, supplies the print medium and the print medium, and performs dot printing according to the selected thermal transfer condition. The antenna portion of the non-contact communication medium can be manufactured by printing it as an image. Thereby, a prototype of an antenna of a non-contact communication medium can be obtained.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to make a prototype of a non-contact communication medium (including the state of the inlet) by bonding an IC module to the printed circuit of the non-contact communication medium or mounting it with ultrasonic waves. is there.

  When the user needs to make necessary corrections to the drawing information, the drawing information stored in the storage unit 8 is taken out, changed as appropriate by another application software, and the drawing information is updated. In this case, if the CPU 7 of the server 3 retrieves the electronic data of the latest circuit drawing updated from the storage unit 8, it can be converted into dot image data based on the updated drawing information.

  By drawing with a thermal transfer printer at the prototype stage, it is possible to dramatically reduce the delivery time and cost of prototype production. It goes without saying that the thermal transfer printer is much less expensive than the equipment required for the etching method and the screen printing method, and it is needless to say that the intermediate material is also less expensive. However, there is a point that is not suitable for mass production as compared with either the etching method or the screen printing method, but there is no problem at all because the trial production stage is a small amount production. Although the printer 4 is a thermal transfer printer, any printer may be used as long as it can perform on-demand printing and can draw a conductive circuit. For example, it may be an inkjet printer.

  Then, if necessary, measure the characteristics of the prototype. The measurement may be performed by the contractor or the orderer. On the basis of the obtained measurement result, the orderer makes a trial request again by the printer 4 together with the change of the circuit diagram, etc., as necessary. This exchange is repeated as necessary until a desired characteristic is obtained. When the desired characteristics are reached, the final prototype is ordered. That is, the above-described trial production with the printer 4 may be considered as a trial production for so-called hitting.

  If various characteristics as a final product can be secured with a thermal transfer printer, a prototype with a thermal transfer printer is made. In this case, since the last prototype is the final prototype, it may not be necessary to produce the final prototype again. In this case, the cost, delivery date, etc. are determined based on the result of the trial production and input to the storage means 8 of the server 3. The CPU 7 transmits this as estimated data to the orderer terminal 5a. In some cases, if the orderer basic information includes a notice that a dot image is to be delivered at the time of estimation, this is also presented and the process proceeds to the main production.

On the other hand, if various characteristics cannot be ensured with a thermal transfer printer, a final trial production is performed by another method. However, since the characteristics of the thermal transfer printer have been improved at low cost by the final trial production, even if trial production is carried out using other methods (etching method, screen printing method, etc.), a highly accurate trial production has already been carried out. Therefore, even if further prototyping is required thereafter, the number of prototyping, which was long and expensive, can be reduced in the first place, and as a result, the prototyping can be completed with short delivery time and low cost.
In response to this result, the cost and delivery date are determined and input to the storage means 8 of the server 3. The CPU 7 transmits this as estimated data to the orderer terminal 5a. In some cases, if the basic ordering information includes the fact that a dot image is to be delivered at the time of estimation, this is also presented and the process proceeds to the main production.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, the second embodiment will be described. The contractor may use the communication medium order / order system 1 as an intermediary.
In other words, in the second embodiment, the contractor does not have to be a manufacturer by any method (on-demand method including an etching method, a screen printing method, and a thermal transfer method). For example, when a contractor can manufacture a communication medium only by a thermal transfer method and does not have facilities for other methods, the communication medium order / ordering system 1 is used as an intermediary as follows. It is possible to use it.

  Hereinafter, a communication medium order / order system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The communication medium order / ordering system 1 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The following points are particularly different from the first embodiment. The difference is that a subcontractor terminal 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) of a subcontract manufacturing company is connected to the communication line 2 so as to be communicable with the server 3. That is, for example, as described in the first embodiment, it is optimal to manufacture the prototype manufactured by the printer 4, for example, by screen printing, or to manufacture by either a screen printing method or a thermal transfer method. It may be determined that this is better. In this case, after confirming the intention of the orderer, it is necessary to recruit subcontract manufacturers to be entrusted (hereinafter simply referred to as “subcontractors”). Therefore, the subcontracting manufacturer is registered as a Web member, and the subcontracting terminals 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to the server 3 so as to be communicable. The number of orderer terminals 5 of the orderer and the number of subcontractor terminals 6 of the subcontractor are not limited in the number of terminals as long as the processing capability of the server 3 and the communication capability of the communication line 2 allow. Same as 1. Further, the CPU 7 of the server 3 stores the orderer basic information, the order basic information and the order request product information received from the orderer terminal 5a in the storage unit 8 as in the first embodiment. Further, the subcontractor information is input and stored in the storage means 8 of the server 3. The subcontractor information is, for example, data of manufacturing equipment, manufacturing capability, location, or contact address of the subcontractor.

  Next, how to use the communication medium order / order system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The CPU 7 of the server 3 stores the orderer basic information, the order basic information, the order request product information, and the required characteristic information received from the orderer terminal 5 a in the storage unit 8. Here, the orderer basic information is information such as an orderer name, an address, a person in charge name, a mail address, a telephone number, and the like. The basic ordering information is, for example, information such as delivery date and budget. Order-requested product information and required characteristic information are also the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The CPU 7 of the server 3 takes out the basic ordering information and the subcontractor information, selects the relevant subcontractor from the delivery date and budget information in the basic ordering information in advance, narrows it down, and lists it. The basic orderer information, the basic ordering information, and the order-requested product information stored in the storage unit 8 are transmitted to the registered subcontractors listed in the list. The basic ordering information further includes the final prototype specifications (screen version, quantity, delivery date, etc.) and the overall order planned contents (monthly production volume, delivery date, expected transition to the future, etc.).

  Each subcontractor makes an estimate based on that information. The subcontractor that has finished the estimation creates estimate information at the subcontractor terminals 6a, 6b, and 6c, which are their own terminals, and transmits the estimate information to the server 3 therefrom. The server 3 receives the estimation information transmitted from the subcontracting terminals 6a, 6b, 6c and stores it in the storage means 8. In addition, the storage means 8 stores in advance subcontractor selection criteria information as criteria for selecting subcontractors such as the lowest price and the shortest delivery date. The subcontractor selection criteria information is appropriately updated and stored in the storage means 8 for each order according to the order. The CPU 7 of the server 3 takes out the estimate information and the subcontractor selection criterion information, and selects the supplier with the best conditions according to the subcontractor selection criterion information. In other words, when the subcontractor selection criteria information is specified to select the one with the lowest price, pay attention to the price in the estimation information and sort it in order from the lowest price to select the subcontractor. I do. Here, the number of subcontractors can be determined in the subcontractor selection criteria information. Thereby, a plurality of subcontractors can also be selected.

  If a subcontractor is designated, the subcontractor is notified that it has been selected as a subcontractor. Then, basic orderer information, basic order information, order request product information, and required characteristic information are transmitted. The subcontracting terminal 6a of the server 3 that has received it is stored in the storage means of the subcontracting terminal 6a or the storage means of the subcontractor. From these data, the subcontractor manufactures the antenna of the communication medium according to the “method by etching” or “method by screen printing”.

  In addition, it may take the form of requesting the manufacture to the optimum contract manufacturer at the stage of selecting the subcontractor in advance. In such a form, the orderer can issue a prototype request without limiting the manufacturing method from the beginning, determine the final manufacturing method from the prototype result, and select the final manufacturer in one stop. Thereby, the troublesome work of “estimation” and “selection of manufacturer” from the research and development to the actual production can be performed efficiently.

  In the second embodiment, it is also possible to execute printing by the printer 4 together with the selection of the subcontractor and the transmission of data to the subcontractor as in the first embodiment.

  The trial production is the same as in the first embodiment, and the cost and delivery date are determined based on the result of the trial production and input to the storage unit 8 of the server 3. The CPU 7 transmits this as estimated data to the orderer terminal 5a. In some cases, if the basic ordering information includes the delivery of a dot image at the time of estimation, this is also presented.

It is the figure which showed Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Communication Media Order / Ordering System 2 Communication Line 3 Server 4 Printer 5 Orderer Terminal 6 Subcontractor Terminal 7 CPU
9 Memory means

Claims (4)

A server having a CPU and storage means and connected to a communication line;
A printer connected to the server;
A communication medium ordering / ordering system comprising an orderer terminal connected to the communication line,
The CPU receives the graphic coordinate data transmitted from the orderer terminal and the required characteristic information including the resistance value, and stores it in the storage means.
The CPU converts the figure coordinate data into dot image data, and instructs the printer to print the dot image data based on the required characteristic information. system. The communication medium ordering / ordering system according to claim 1, further comprising:
A subcontractor terminal connected to the communication line;
The storage means stores subcontractor selection information input in advance as a criterion for selecting a subcontractor and basic ordering information transmitted from the orderer terminal,
The CPU transmits the ordering basic information to the subcontractor terminal, receives the estimate information generated by the subcontractor and transmitted from the subcontractor terminal, and stores it in the storage means.
An ordering / ordering system for a communication medium, characterized in that a subcontractor is determined according to the subcontractor selection information from the estimate information stored in the storage means. A server having a CPU and storage means and connected to a communication line;
A printer connected to the server;
A communication medium ordering / ordering system using a communication medium ordering / ordering system comprising an orderer terminal connected to the communication line, comprising:
Receiving the coordinate data for graphics transmitted from the orderer terminal and the required characteristic information including the resistance value and storing them in the storage means;
Ordering / ordering a communication medium, comprising: converting the graphic coordinate data into dot image data and instructing the printer to print the dot image data based on the required characteristic information How to do. A method for ordering / ordering a communication medium according to claim 3, further comprising:
The communication medium ordering / ordering system includes a subcontractor terminal connected to the communication line,
The storage means stores subcontractor selection information input in advance as a criterion for selecting a subcontractor and basic ordering information transmitted from the orderer terminal,
Transmitting the order basic information to the subcontractor terminal;
Receiving the estimate information created by the subcontractor and transmitted from the subcontractor terminal and storing it in the storage means;
A method for ordering / ordering a communication medium, comprising: determining the subcontractor according to the subcontractor selection information based on the estimation information stored in the storage means.

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