JP2008182565A - Radio authentication system, and entry/exit control system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress interference of an answer signal in a radio authentication system for use to detect many users who carry transponders having passed through an arbitrary gate among a plurality of gates disposed in parallel, wherein a plurality of interrogators transmit interrogation signals including identification information (ID) on themselves to narrow authentication areas which are previously and individually set and a transponder entering one of the authentication areas is actuated in response to the interrogation signal to return a response signal including identification information (ID) on itself, so that the respective interrogators authenticate transponders entering the respective authentication areas. <P>SOLUTION: The interrogators transmit the interrogation signals S1 to S3 in the same timing, and the interrogation signals S1 to S3 include time information specifying time slots with which transponders having received the interrogation signals are permitted to send out the response signals R1 to R3, together with the identification information on the interrogators, and the time slots are made different between interrogators which have authentication areas set closely to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is referred to as an RFID (RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION) system, and a transponder comprising an IC tag is activated in a non-contact manner from an interrogator installed on a wall surface or a gate, and the information is received by the interrogator. The present invention relates to a wireless authentication system realized as an active non-contact IC tag system or IC card system that incorporates a battery, and in particular, many of the gates arranged in parallel are carried with a responder. It is related with what is used suitably for the entrance / exit management system which detects that each user passed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the entrance / exit management system. Interrogators tx1 to tx3 (when generically referred to as reference symbols G) are provided at a plurality (three in FIG. 3) of gates G1 to G3 (generally referred to below as reference numerals G) arranged at the entrance of a building. Are indicated individually). Each interrogator tx is integrated and controlled by a host device (not shown) and intermittently sends out a question signal at a timing synchronized with each other. The question signal includes identification information (ID) for identifying each interrogator tx that is a transmission source. The interrogation signal is an LF band signal with a short reach, and the reach is indicated by reference symbols W1 to W3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as reference symbol W), as shown in each of the interrogators tx1 to tx1. Only in the gates G1 to G3 where tx3 is installed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user carries the responder rx1 and approaches an arbitrary gate (G1 in FIG. 4), the responder rx1 receives the interrogator tx1 and activates it. If the response signal including the identification information (ID) of its own device is returned to the identification information (ID) of the interrogator tx1, and this is the identification information received by the interrogator tx1 and registered in advance, the host device A predetermined operation such as opening and closing of the corresponding gate G1 is performed via the. By separating the entrance gate and the entry gate and installing such an interrogator tx in each gate G, or installing each such interrogator tx in each gate G in pairs, from which to which By determining whether a response signal has been detected, entry / exit such as which user has entered and exited in the host device, and which user is in one area (such as in a building) sandwiching the gate G Can be managed.

Here, as the response signal, a UHF band signal having a longer reach than the interrogation signal is used as indicated by reference numeral H1. Therefore, the response signal by the user responder rx1 passing through the gate G1 reaches not only the corresponding interrogator tx1 but also the adjacent interrogator tx2, and is received by both the interrogators tx1 and tx2. However, as described above, the response signal includes not only identification information of the responding responder rx1, but also identification information on the interrogator tx1 side for identifying which interrogator is to respond to the question signal. Therefore, the interrogator tx2 does not cause a malfunction by ignoring the received response signal. In this way, the interrogator tx activates the responder rx1 with an electromotive force in the LF band (long wave band: 30 to 300 kHz) and returns a response signal in the UHF band (ultra high frequency band: 300 MHz to 3 GHz). For example, it is shown in Patent Document 1.
JP 2006-72706 A

  However, in the prior art as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the responder rx1 and the responder rx2 simultaneously approach the interrogator tx1 and the interrogator tx2, and the response signal (H1) emitted from the responder rx1 and the responder rx2 When the response signal (H2) generated by the two reaches the interrogator tx1 and the interrogator tx2, respectively, the response signal (H1) and the response signal (H2) use the same frequency. There is a problem that the interrogator tx1 and the interrogator tx2 cannot perform normal reception because they interfere with each other.

  The objective of this invention is providing the radio | wireless authentication system which can suppress interference of a response signal, and an entrance / exit management system using the same.

  The wireless authentication system of the present invention includes a plurality of interrogators and a plurality of responders, and each of the interrogators transmits a question signal including its own identification information to an authentication area that is individually set in advance. Then, the responder that has entered the authentication area is activated in response to the question signal, and returns a response signal including identification information of the own device, so that each of the interrogators has entered the respective authentication area. In the wireless authentication system for authenticating a device, the interrogation signal includes time information that defines a timing for permitting the received transponder to transmit the response signal together with identification information of the interrogator. The interrogators in which the authentication areas are set close to each other have different timings.

  According to said structure, it is used for the use which each detects that many users carrying a responder passed through arbitrary gates among the plurality of gates arranged in parallel. , A question signal including identification information (ID) of the own device is individually set in advance, for example, transmitted to a narrow authentication area, and a responder entering the authentication area is activated in response to the question signal In the wireless authentication system in which each interrogator authenticates the responder that has entered the respective authentication area by returning a response signal including identification information (ID) of the own device, Specifies the timing for permitting transmission of response signals. For example, a plurality of time slots are defined in the response signal, and each interrogator defines a time slot in which a response signal is returned to the interrogation signal together with the identification information of the own apparatus. Include time information. And it fixes beforehand so that the said time slot may differ mutually between the interrogators in which the said authentication area is set adjacent to each other. Or, switching is performed in cooperation with a host device or the like.

  Therefore, the timing at which each responder returns a response signal to the corresponding interrogator does not overlap in time, and the possibility that the response signal interferes is reduced (traffic is suppressed) and authentication can be performed reliably.

  In the wireless authentication system according to the present invention, each interrogator includes an LF transmission circuit and an LF antenna that transmit the interrogation signal in the LF band toward the authentication area individually set in advance, and each responder. An RF antenna and an RF receiving circuit for receiving a response signal returned from the UHF band from the radio, a question signal including identification information of the own device is generated and given to the LF antenna from the LF transmitting circuit, and the RF antenna And a first control unit that authenticates the responder that has entered the authentication area from the response signal received by the RF receiving circuit, and each of the responders receives the interrogation signal in the LF band. LF antenna and LF reception circuit, RF transmission circuit and RF antenna for returning a response signal in the UHF band, and quality received from the LF antenna by the LF reception circuit A second control unit that generates a response signal including identification information of the own device from the signal and applies the response signal to the RF antenna from the RF transmission circuit; and a battery that supplies operation power of the responder It is characterized by that.

  According to said structure, the interrogator transmits the interrogation signal created by the first control unit from the LF transmission circuit by the LF antenna by the LF band (long wave band: 30 to 300 kHz) which is the first wireless communication system. The transponder receives the interrogation signal from the LF antenna by the LF receiving circuit, activates the second control unit with the electromotive force, creates a response signal using the battery as an operating power source, and generates a second wireless signal. With the UHF band (ultra-high frequency band: 300 MHz to 3 GHz) which is a communication method, a response is received from the RF transmission circuit by the RF antenna, the interrogator receives the response signal from the RF antenna by the RF reception circuit, and the first control unit By authenticating, the presence of the responder is authenticated.

  Therefore, the narrow authentication area can be formed relatively accurately by the LF band (so as not to interfere with an adjacent interrogator), and the reach of the response signal can be extended by the UHF band. Can be authenticated more reliably. Even if the power consumption of the RF transmission circuit in the UHF band is as large as 10 to 20 mA, the LF reception circuit in the LF band stands by for reception with a faint power of several μA, so that the RF transmission circuit is not used in the standby state. In addition, while realizing communication over a relatively long distance, the power consumption of the built-in battery can be suppressed and the life of the responder can be extended.

  Furthermore, the entrance / exit management system according to the present invention is characterized in that a management device that integrates and manages the operations of the interrogators is provided above the interrogator using the wireless authentication system.

  According to the above configuration, the wireless authentication system as described above can detect that a large number of users carrying the responders have passed through arbitrary gates among gates arranged in parallel. Suitable for entrance / exit management system.

  As described above, the wireless authentication system of the present invention is used for such an application that each of a plurality of users carrying a responder passes through an arbitrary gate among a plurality of gates arranged in parallel. Each of the plurality of interrogators transmits a question signal including its own identification information to an authentication area that is individually set in advance, and a responder that enters the authentication area is activated in response to the question signal. In the wireless authentication system in which each interrogator authenticates the responder that has entered the respective authentication area by returning a response signal including identification information of the own device, the interrogators are close to each other. The interrogators for which the authentication area is set are defined so as to allow the transmission timing of response signals to be different from each other. Stipulate That it includes the time information.

  Therefore, the timing at which each responder returns a response signal to the corresponding interrogator does not overlap in time, and the possibility that the response signal interferes is reduced (traffic is suppressed) and authentication can be performed reliably. .

  In addition, as described above, the wireless authentication system of the present invention includes an LF transmission circuit and an LF antenna that transmit each interrogator to the authentication area that is individually set in advance in the LF band. An RF antenna and an RF receiving circuit for receiving a response signal returned from each responder in the UHF band, and an inquiry signal including identification information of the own device are generated and given from the LF transmitting circuit to the LF antenna And a first control unit that authenticates a responder that has entered the authentication area from a response signal received by the RF receiving circuit from the RF antenna, and each of the responders is configured in the LF band. An LF antenna and an LF receiving circuit that receive an interrogation signal, an RF transmission circuit and an RF antenna that return a response signal in the UHF band, and an LF receiving circuit that receives the response signal from the LF antenna. A second control unit that creates a response signal including the identification information of the own device from the received inquiry signal and applies the response signal to the RF antenna from the RF transmission circuit, and a battery that supplies an operating power of the responder Constitute.

  Therefore, by not using the RF transmission circuit in the standby state, the LF band, UHF, which can reduce the power consumption of the built-in battery and extend the life of the responder while realizing a relatively long distance communication. A wireless authentication system using a band can be realized.

  Furthermore, as described above, the entrance / exit management system of the present invention can detect that a large number of users carrying the responders have passed through any of the gates arranged in parallel. Using the wireless authentication system, a management device that integrates and manages these operations is provided above the interrogator.

  Therefore, it is suitable for an entrance / exit management system.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an entrance / exit management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This entrance / exit management system includes an IC tag wireless authentication system for both LF band and UHF band, and includes a high-level management device 1, and is particularly suitable for the entrance / exit management system as shown in FIGS. Many users carrying the responder RX pass through any of the gates G arranged in parallel.

  This entrance / exit management system includes interrogators TX1 and TX2 (generally named) in which a plurality of units (two units in FIG. 1 for simplification of the drawing) are arranged in close proximity to each other at the gate G shown in FIG. (Represented by reference numeral TX below) and a large number of responders RX1 (generally referred to in FIG. 1 for simplicity of illustration) carried by a user passing through the gate G and made up of IC tags. And the management device 1 for integrated management of the interrogators TX.

  The interrogator TX generates an activation signal including unique identification information (ID) set in advance in the control circuit 11 and is superimposed on the signal component of the induced magnetic field and amplified in the LF transmission circuit 12. As an interrogation signal, broadcast transmission is periodically repeated from the LF antenna 13 to the responder RX by the first wireless communication method (LF). As a result, an authentication area (W) as shown in FIG. 3 is formed around the interrogator TX, and the responder RX entering the authentication area (W) as shown in FIG. After the interrogation signal is received by the LF antenna 21, the LF reception circuit 22 activates the control circuit 23. The control circuit 23 uses the built-in battery 26 as a power source together with the identification information (ID) of the interrogator TX. A response signal including unique identification information (ID) set in advance is generated, and the interrogator TX is transmitted from the RF transceiver circuit 24 via the RF antenna 25 to the interrogator TX in the second wireless communication system (UHF). Send back.

  The response signal is received by the RF transmission / reception circuit 15 from the RF antenna 14 of the interrogator TX and input to the control circuit 11 to identify the responder that responded. If the identified responder has identification information registered in advance such as a user ID or a group ID, the control circuit 11 indicates that the authentication is completed by the display unit 16 and the buzzer 17 and at the same time the control device 1 The gate G is opened.

  Further, the control circuit 11 transmits an ACK signal including the identification information (ID) from the RF transmission / reception circuit 15 via the RF antenna 14 to the responder RX that has completed the authentication, and transmits the ACK signal to the RF antenna 25. The control circuit 21 of the interrogator TX received from the RF transmitter / receiver circuit 24 ends the reply of the response signal.

  In this way, the responder RX is activated by the electromotive force in the LF band (long wave band: 30 to 300 kHz), and the control circuit 23 causes the RF transceiver circuit 24 to use the built-in battery 26 as a power source in the UHF band (ultra high frequency band: 300 MHz). By returning a response signal of ˜3 GHz), the authentication area (W) can be accurately defined within a relatively narrow range that does not overlap between adjacent gates G, as shown in FIG. Even if the power consumption of the RF transmission / reception circuit 24 in the UHF band is as large as 10 to 20 mA, the LF reception circuit 22 in the LF band waits for reception with a weak power of several μA, so the RF transmission / reception circuit 24 is not used in the standby state. As a result, the power consumption of the built-in battery 56 is suppressed, and the life of the responder RX is extended.

  FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the entrance / exit management system configured as described above. In this example, it is assumed that three interrogators TX1 to TX3 are installed. First, question signals S1 to S3 are simultaneously transmitted from the interrogators TX1 to TX3. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, in the control circuit 11, each of the interrogation signals S1 to S3 includes the identification information (ID) for identifying the source interrogators TX1 to TX3 as described above. Interrogators TX1 to TX3 that include time information that defines the timing for permitting the reply signals R1 to R3 to be returned to the interrogation signals S1 to S3, and in which the authentication areas (W1 to W3) are set close to each other. The timing is set to be different from each other.

  Specifically, a response period τ is set from the end of transmission of the interrogation signals S1 to S3 transmitted at the same timing to the next transmission start time, and the response period τ includes a plurality of predetermined time slots. Is set. And the control circuit 11 of each interrogator TX1-TX3 designates the time slot which should be used when returning response signal R1-R3 with respect to question signal S1-S3 from an own machine as said time information. Enter the ID. In response to this, the control circuit 23 of each of the responders RX1 to RX3 synchronizes with the inquiry signals S1 to S3, and returns response signals R1 to R3 in the designated time slot.

  Therefore, for example, in the situation shown in FIG. 5, the timings at which the responders RX1 and RX2 return the response signals R1 (H1) and R2 (H2) to the corresponding interrogators TX1 and TX2 do not overlap in time, Even if the same frequency (channel) is used, the possibility that the response signals R1 (H1) and R2 (H2) interfere with each other is reduced (suppressing traffic), and the control circuits 11 of the interrogators TX1 and TX2 The devices RX1 and RX2 can be reliably authenticated.

  Since the frequency bands of the LF band and the UHF band are separated, the interrogation signals S1 to S3 may be transmitted continuously, and the response period τ may be set continuously. However, the interrogation signals S1 to S3 need to include a synchronization signal so that the responder RX can recognize each time slot. The synchronization between the interrogators TX1 to TX3 may be controlled by the management apparatus 1, or one interrogator, for example, TX1 is a master and the remaining interrogators TX2 and TX3 are slaves. It may be controlled. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 2, the interrogators TX1 to TX3 use the same time slot for each response period τ, but the response periods τ are not overlapped by the control of the management device 1 or the like. Switching may be performed in cooperation with each other or every predetermined period longer than that. Furthermore, the response period τ, that is, the number of time slots, the length of one time slot, depending on the expected number of installed interrogators TX, the number of responders RX expected to pass per unit time, and the like. It is also possible to switch the length.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the entrance / exit management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the entrance / exit management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the entrance / exit management system of this invention and a prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating the entrance / exit management system of this invention and a prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating the entrance / exit management system of this invention and a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Management apparatus 11, 23 Control circuit 12 LF transmission circuit 13, 21 LF antenna 14, 25 RF antenna 15, 24 RF transmission / reception circuit 22 LF reception circuit 26 Built-in battery G1-G3 Gate RX1-RX3 Responder TX1-TX3 Interrogator

Claims (3)

The interrogator comprises a plurality of interrogators and a plurality of responders, and each interrogator transmits an interrogation signal including its own identification information toward an authentication area that is individually set in advance and enters the authentication area. The responder is activated in response to the question signal, and returns a response signal including identification information of the own device, so that each interrogator authenticates the responder that has entered the respective authentication area. In the authentication system,
The interrogation signal includes identification information of the interrogator and time information that defines the timing at which the received transponder is permitted to transmit the response signal, and the authentication area is set close to each other. The wireless authentication system, wherein the interrogators have different timings. Each interrogator is
An LF transmission circuit and an LF antenna for transmitting the interrogation signal in the LF band toward the authentication area set individually in advance;
An RF antenna and an RF receiving circuit for receiving a response signal returned from each responder in the UHF band;
An interrogation signal including the identification information of the own device is created and given to the LF antenna from the LF transmission circuit, and the responder entering the authentication area is authenticated from the response signal received by the RF reception circuit from the RF antenna. And a first control unit configured to
Each responder is
An LF antenna and an LF receiving circuit for receiving the LF band interrogation signal;
An RF transmission circuit and an RF antenna for returning a response signal in the UHF band;
A second control unit that creates a response signal including identification information of the own device from the interrogation signal received by the LF receiver circuit from the LF antenna and applies the response signal to the RF antenna from the RF transmitter circuit;
The wireless authentication system according to claim 1, further comprising a battery that supplies operating power for the responder.   An entry / exit management system using the wireless authentication system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a management device that integrates and manages operations of the interrogator at an upper level of the interrogator.

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