JP2011008616A - Rfid reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in operation of an RFID reader/writer.SOLUTION: The RFID reader/writer includes: a trigger switch; a display means; a radio means which transmits question radio wave to an RFID tag and receives answer radio wave from the RFID tag; an adjustment means which adjusts the output state of the radio wave transmitted from the radio means according to the pressing state of the trigger switch; and a control means which causes the display means to display the output state in real time according to the pressing state of the trigger switch.

Description

  The present invention relates to an RFID reader / writer, and more particularly to a handy type RFID reader / writer.

  A conventional handy type RFID reader / writer is provided with a display unit such as an LED indicator for turning on / off the output by a switch and notifying the operation state by light emission, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. There is something. Such a handy type or stationary type RFID reader / writer is operated as follows.

  First, an operator determines an initial output value (output power) (for example, 100 mW), and sets the value in the RFID reader / writer from a control terminal or a PC serving as a host. Then, a button operation for starting reading is performed, and reading is performed. In this reading operation, a reading error or the like may occur depending on the amount of the RFID tag and the working environment. In such a case, the operator stops reading work, sets a new output value in the RFID reader / writer to change the output power, and repeats a series of work.

  However, in the situation where a reading error occurs, the RFID reader / writer is continuously used as it is, or the operation for changing the output setting such as the output power is performed every time in order to prevent the reading error. There is a problem in terms of usability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the operability at the time of the above operation, particularly in a handy type RFID reader / writer.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a trigger switch, a display unit, a radio unit that transmits an interrogation radio wave to the RFID tag and receives a response radio wave from the RFID tag, An adjusting unit that adjusts an output state of a radio wave transmitted from the wireless unit according to a pressed state of the trigger switch, and a control unit that displays the output state on the display unit in real time according to the pressed state of the trigger switch. And.

  According to the RFID reader / writer according to the present invention, since the output (output power or directivity) can be easily changed by the trigger switch, it is possible to easily control overreading of the RFID tag, insufficient reading distance, and the like at hand. And operability is improved. In addition, since it is possible to emit radio waves with a required output when it is really necessary, it is possible to save power.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an appearance of a handy type RFID reader / writer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the handy type RFID reader / writer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first circuit configuration in the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second circuit configuration in the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method related to output adjustment of the RFID reader / writer 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship (one example) between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the output power, and the display on the output state display unit 21a. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the antenna in the same embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the antenna according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship (one example) between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the directivity of the antenna 33, and the display on the output state display unit 21a.

  Exemplary embodiments of a handy type RFID reader / writer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the common code | symbol is attached | subjected to the common component.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views showing the appearance of a handy type RFID reader / writer (hereinafter referred to as RFID reader / writer) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID reader / writer 1 includes a main body portion 2, an antenna portion 3, a grip portion 4, and a trigger switch 5. The antenna unit 3 is arranged on the front side with respect to the main body unit 2, and the grip unit 4 gripped by the operator during operation is arranged on the rear side with respect to the antenna unit 3. The trigger switch 5 is incorporated in the grip part 4. The trigger switch 5 is for designating the magnitude of the power of the radio wave radiated to the antenna unit 3. Details of the operation of the RFID reader / writer 1 by the operation of the trigger switch 5 will be described later. As the trigger switch 5, in addition to the ON / OFF operation, a commercially available trigger switch that can control its output steplessly (here, linear continuous) can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 21 and an operation unit 22 are provided on the upper surface of the main body unit 2. The display unit 21 includes a liquid crystal panel, an LED indicator, and the like, and is a display unit that displays an operation state of the RFID reader / writer 1, various menus, set contents, and the like. The output state display unit 21a is a part of the display unit 21 and allows the operator to visually recognize the power level of the radio wave radiated from the antenna unit 3. The operation unit 22 includes an input button, a touch panel, or the like, and serves as an input unit for making various inputs to the RFID reader / writer 1.

  Next, a circuit configuration incorporated in the RFID reader / writer 1 will be described.

(Circuit configuration 1)
First, the first circuit configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  A main control CPU 30 is mounted on the main body 2, and the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, the memory 31, and the radio unit 32 are connected to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 is also connected to an A / D converter 34 for A / D converting the output (analog value) of the trigger switch 5. The CPU 30 controls the radio unit 32 so as to adjust the power of the radio wave radiated to the antenna 33 according to the signal from the trigger switch 5. Although not shown, the RFID reader / writer 1 includes a battery for driving each circuit.

  The memory 31 is for storing control programs and input data. The wireless unit 32 includes a D / A converter 32a, a transmission circuit 32b, a reception circuit 32c, an A / D converter 32d, and a transmission / reception switch 32e. The D / A converter 32a D / A converts the transmission data and control data from the CPU 30 in separate systems and supplies the D / A converter 32a to the transmission circuit 32b. The transmission circuit 32b performs predetermined modulation and output power adjustment on the input transmission signal, and outputs the modulated signal to the antenna 33 via the transmission / reception switch 32e that switches between transmission and reception. On the other hand, a response signal (response radio wave) from the RFID tag received by the antenna 33 is supplied to the reception circuit 32c via the transmission / reception switch 32e. The receiving circuit 32c decodes the response signal, and the decoded response signal is A / D converted by the A / D converter 32d and passed to the CPU 30.

(Circuit configuration 2)
Next, the second circuit configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Since this circuit configuration has many in common with the above-described circuit configuration 1, only different parts will be described here.

  In the circuit configuration 1, the trigger switch 5 is connected to the CPU 30 via the A / D converter 34, and the CPU 30 controls the transmission circuit 32b. However, in this circuit configuration, as shown in FIG. The output of the trigger switch 5 is directly connected to the transmission circuit 32b of the wireless unit 32. The transmission circuit 32b is configured to adjust the output power in accordance with the output signal from the trigger switch 5 as a control signal. In the circuit configuration 1 described above, since the input from the trigger switch 5 is once converted into a digital value, the output power is set in multiple stages. In this circuit configuration, the input level of the trigger switch 5 is set to an analog voltage value. As it is transmitted to the transmission circuit 32b and the output is changed, stepless output adjustment is possible.

  Next, an operation method related to output adjustment of the RFID reader / writer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method related to output adjustment of the RFID reader / writer 1. In the following, the case of reading will be described, but the same applies to the case of writing.

  First, the operator presses the trigger switch 5 (step S501). When the trigger switch 5 is pressed, the RFID reader / writer 1 starts a reading operation and displays the output power state at that time on the output state display unit 21a.

  Subsequently, the operator performs the reading operation on the RFID tag until the target reading operation is completed (Yes in step S503) (step S502).

  In this reading operation, when a reading error occurs and output adjustment is necessary (Yes in step S504), the operator changes the force for pressing the trigger switch 5 (step S505) and continues the reading operation (step S505). Step S502). The RFID reader / writer 1 having the circuit configuration described above changes the output power of the radio wave radiated from the antenna unit 3 in accordance with an operation for changing the force of pressing the trigger switch 5. Furthermore, the display of the output state display unit 21a is also changed according to the change of the output power. The pressing state of the trigger switch 5 and the display of the output power and output state display unit 21a will be described later. On the other hand, if output adjustment is not necessary (No in step S504), the reading operation is continued with the force pressing the trigger switch 5 unchanged (step S502).

  Here, as a specific example, a case where the operator performs a reading operation with an output of 100 mW will be described. The operator performs the reading operation with an output of about 100 mW by adjusting the pressing force of the trigger switch 5. At this time, when it is desired to set the output to about 100 mW, the output is determined with reference to the current output level displayed on the output state display unit 21a. Thereafter, the RFID tag is read. At this time, if the output power is not sufficient, the force for pressing the trigger switch 5 is changed and the reading operation is performed again.

  When a series of reading operations are performed and the target reading operation is completed (Yes in step S503), the operator releases the trigger switch 5 (step S506). By this operation, the RFID reader / writer 1 ends the reading operation.

  In this embodiment, when the trigger switch 5 is pressed, the output of the RFID reader / writer 1 is turned on to start the reading operation, and when released, the reading operation is finished and the output is turned off.

  Next, the relationship between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the output power, and the display on the output state display unit 21a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship (one example) between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the output power, and the display on the output state display unit 21a.

  In the “no press” state shown at the top, no output from the RFID reader / writer 1 is made, and the display of the output state display unit 21a is not lit (shown in white in the figure). In the weakly depressed state shown in the second stage, the output is also weakly output, and three indicators on the output state display unit 21a are lit (shown in black in the figure). In the middle push state shown in the third row, the output is a medium output, and six indicators on the output state display section 21a are lit. In the “strongly pressed” state shown in the fourth row, all the indicators (seven) are lit. As described above, the output power of the RFID reader / writer 1 is changed according to the pressing state of the trigger switch 5, and the display state of the output state display unit 21a is also changed in real time accordingly, and the operator can change the output state display unit 21a. The current output power can be visually recognized by the display.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the above-described first embodiment can change the output power of the radio wave radiated from the antenna unit 3 in accordance with the pressed state of the trigger switch 5. The directivity of the antenna 33 can be changed in accordance with the pressed state of the trigger switch 5. Therefore, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is a component for changing the directivity, and the RFID reader / writer 1 of this embodiment has the same appearance as that of the first embodiment. .

  The circuit configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The circuit configuration of this embodiment has an actuator 35 as shown in FIG. 7, and the directivity of the antenna 33 is controlled by this actuator 35, except for the first embodiment shown in FIG. This is the same as the circuit configuration 1. Therefore, the description of the parts common to the circuit configuration 1 is omitted. As the antenna 33 of the present embodiment, a variable directivity antenna shown in FIGS.

  Here, details of the antenna 33 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the antenna 33 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the antenna 33 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the antenna 33 has flat and rectangular conductors 82 and 83 arranged at two opposing peripheral portions on the upper surface of the antenna main body 81 along the radiation direction of radio waves from the antenna main body 81. is doing.

  The upper end of the central portion of the conductor 82 is semi-fixed to the operating rod 84 at point A. Similarly, the upper end of the central portion of the conductor 83 is semi-fixed to the operating rod 85 at the point B. The operation rods 84 and 85 are connected to the actuator 35 and constitute a variable mechanism together with the actuator 35. The operation rods 84 and 85 are reciprocated in the opposite direction by the same distance by the actuator 35 (arrows P11 and P11 ′ in the figure), and the angle of each conductor 82 and 83 with respect to the radiation surface of the antenna body 81 is changed. . At this time, the conductors 82 and 83 are rotated at the same angle in the opposite directions by the reciprocating motion of the operation bars 84 and 85 operating in the opposite directions (arrows P12 and P13 in the figure).

  In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, when the operating bars 84 and 85 reciprocate in the opposite direction by the same distance by the actuator 35, the conductors 82 and 83 rotate at the same angle in the opposite direction. Therefore, the spread (directivity) of the radiation pattern PT11 of the radio wave radiated from the antenna body 81 changes as indicated by the arrow P14 due to the angle change of the conductors 82 and 83.

  Since the antenna 33 is configured as described above, the directivity of the antenna 33 can be changed by the CPU 30 controlling the actuator 35 according to the pressed state of the trigger switch 5. Note that the operation method for adjusting the output of the RFID reader / writer 1 when changing the directivity of the antenna 33 is the same as the method described above with reference to FIG. However, when the operation of the RFID reader / writer 1 changes the pressing force of the trigger switch 5 in step S505 of FIG. 5, in the first embodiment, the RFID reader / writer 1 changes the output power and the output power accordingly. The present embodiment is different in that it operates so as to change the directivity of the antenna 33 and change the display of directivity accordingly.

  Here, the relationship between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the directivity of the antenna 33, and the display on the output state display unit 21a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship (one example) between the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the directivity of the antenna 33, and the display on the output state display unit 21a.

  In the “no press” state shown in the uppermost row, no output from the RFID reader / writer 1 is made, and the display of the output state display unit 21a is not lit (shown in white in the figure). In the weakly pressed state shown in the second stage, the directivity of the antenna 33 is weakly directed, and five indicators on the output state display unit 21a are lit (shown in black in the figure). In the middle push state shown in the third row, the antenna 33 has a medium directivity, and three indicators on the output state display unit 21a are lit. In the “strongly pressed” state shown in the fourth row, one central indicator is lit. As described above, the directivity of the antenna 33 of the RFID reader / writer 1 is changed according to the pressing state of the trigger switch 5, and the display state of the output state display unit 21a is also changed in real time accordingly, so that the operator can display the output state. The spread of the current output radio wave can be visually recognized by the display of the unit 21a.

  In each of the above embodiments, since the output state is displayed in real time simultaneously with the output adjustment according to the pressed state of the trigger switch 5, the operator can intuitively perform the appropriate output adjustment smoothly. In the first embodiment, it is not necessary to use unnecessarily large power, which leads to power saving of the RFID reader / writer 1. In each of the above-described embodiments, the output adjustment is performed according to how the trigger switch 5 is depressed, but the output adjustment may be performed according to the number of times of depression. In this case, the output is controlled to increase or decrease each time the trigger switch 5 is pressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 RFID reader / writer 2 Main body part 3 Antenna part 4 Grip part 5 Trigger switch 21 Display part (display means)
21a Output state display unit 22 Operation unit 30 CPU (control means)
31 memory 32 wireless unit (part of wireless means)
32a D / A converter 32b transmission circuit (adjustment means in the first embodiment)
32c receiving circuit 32d A / D converter 32e transmission / reception switch 33 antenna (part of wireless means)
34 A / D converter 35 Actuator (Adjustment means in the second embodiment)
81 Antenna body 82, 83 Conductor 84, 85 Operation rod

JP 2009-020856 A

Claims (3)

Trigger switch,
Display means;
A wireless means for transmitting an interrogation radio wave to the RFID tag and receiving a response radio wave from the RFID tag;
An adjusting means for adjusting an output state of a radio wave transmitted from the wireless means according to a pressed state of the trigger switch;
An RFID reader / writer comprising: control means for causing the display means to display the output state in real time in response to a pressing state of the trigger switch.   2. The RFID reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the output state is to adjust an output power of a radio wave transmitted from an antenna provided in the wireless unit.   2. The RFID reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the antenna provided in the wireless means is a variable directivity type, and the adjustment of the output state is to adjust the directivity of the antenna.

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