JP2017054359A - RFID reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an RFID reader which can emit horizontal/vertical polarization with one antenna in a balanced manner.SOLUTION: An antenna 50 is arranged along a rectangular reading side 60E of an antenna ground 60A and ends of two sides 60S, 60N in contact with said side. The ground is separated into the ground 60A connected to the antenna, and a ground 60B not connected to the antenna. The ground is divided into two sections in a longitudinal direction, thereby attenuating a current component along the longitudinal direction of the ground due to a mirror image from an antenna element. Horizontal/vertical polarization can be emitted with one antenna in a balanced manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an RFID reader.

An inverted F antenna is used as an antenna built in the mobile terminal device. In Patent Document 1, in order to adjust the directivity of the plate-shaped inverted F antenna, the ground pattern is shaped to exclude the area corresponding to the installation position of the plate-shaped inverted F antenna, thereby providing a directivity close to omnidirectional. Got a sex pattern.

When the RFID reader is downsized, a cubic shape that is longer in the length direction than the width is adopted so that the casing of the RFID reader can be gripped. When the module substrate is accommodated in the long cubic shape in the length direction, the module substrate 120 is also rectangular as shown in FIG. When the 1/4 wavelength inverted F antenna 150 is disposed with respect to the ground 160 provided on one surface of the module substrate 120, it may be disposed along the long side 160S, the short side 160E, and the other long side 160N. Conceivable. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10B, a mirror image of the inverted F antenna 150 is created along the long side 160S, the short side 160E, and the long side 160N of the ground 160, and the current generated in the inverted F antenna 150 is By weakening the current generated along the long side 160S, the short side 160E, and the long side 160N, the polarization of the antenna is biased in the long side direction.

JP 2003-92510 A

However, if the ground 160 is rectangular, a current component along the long side 160S remains as shown in FIG. Due to this current component, the radio wave is strongly polarized in the vertical direction, making it difficult to read and write the RFID tag with the antenna directed in the horizontal direction.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an RFID reader capable of emitting horizontal and vertical polarized waves in a balanced manner with a single antenna. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an RFID reader (10) that reads an RFID tag through radio waves transmitted and received via an antenna. The rectangular-shaped ground (60A, 60B), the rectangular-shaped reading side of the ground, and quarter-wave antenna elements (50) disposed along the ends of the two sides in contact with the side. And the ground is separated into a part (60A) connected to the quarter-wave antenna element and a part (60B) not connected to the quarter-wave antenna element. Features.
In addition, the code | symbol in each said parenthesis shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the quarter wavelength antenna element is disposed along the side of the reading side of the ground rectangular shape and the end portions of the two sides in contact with the side. The ground is separated into a part connected to the antenna element and a part not connected to the antenna element. Since the length of the ground in the longitudinal direction is divided into two, the current component (vertical polarization component) along the length of the ground due to the mirror image from the antenna element is weakened, and horizontal and vertical polarization are balanced with a single antenna. Can be issued.

In the invention of claim 2, the feeding point of the ¼ wavelength antenna element is provided on one of the two sides in contact with the rectangular side of the reading side. GND other than the portion where the current generated in the antenna element is weakened with the current generated along the side that touches the reading side of the ground corresponding to the antenna element, the side on the reading side, or the side that touches the side on the reading side (horizontal direction) By passing a current through the ends, horizontal and vertical polarization can be balanced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the portion connected to the quarter-wave antenna element of the ground is made of a rectangle having sides that are perpendicular and horizontal to the reading direction. For this reason, it is possible to emit horizontal and vertical polarized waves with a good balance with respect to the reading direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the portion of the ground that is not connected to the quarter-wave antenna element is constituted by the ground layer of the RFID module substrate, so that it is not necessary to provide a separate ground.

In the invention of claim 5, since the quarter wavelength antenna element is composed of the inverted F antenna, the quarter wavelength antenna can be accommodated in a small casing.

In the invention of claim 6, the length on the longitudinal side of the part not connected is longer than the length of the side in contact with the side on the reading side of the connected part. Since the length in the longitudinal direction (vertical polarization direction) of the portion where the mirror image of the ground antenna element is formed is short, horizontal and vertical polarization can be output with a good balance.

In the invention according to claim 7, since the portion along the end of one of the two sides in contact with the reading side of the rectangular shape of the ground from the feeding point is arranged so as to gradually move away from the ground, the antenna is It becomes possible to arrange in a narrow place. In addition, the portion along the entire side on the reading side is arranged at a certain distance from the ground. On the reading direction side, the antenna element and the ground are arranged so as to be at a constant distance. Therefore, the coupling between the current flowing through the ground and the current flowing through the element is relaxed, and the gain loss is suppressed.

In the invention of claim 8, since the quarter wavelength antenna element is made of a flexible substrate, it can be easily arranged on the surface of a component such as a reading unit.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the information code reading direction of the optical reading means and the communicable direction of the ¼ wavelength antenna element are arranged in the same direction with the housing held. One RFID reader can easily read the RFID tag and the information code.

In the invention of claim 10, the trigger switch is arranged on the upper surface of the grippable casing and close to the reading surface. Since the trigger switch is operated with the thumb from the trigger switch arrangement, and the other fingers grip the side of the housing, the reading surface is not blocked by the hand, and communication with the RFID tag in front of the reading surface is appropriate. Can be done.

In the invention of claim 11, the changing means adjusts the range of the wireless communication by the wireless communication means and the reading range by the optical reading means by the limiting means to be the same. For an RFID tag to which an optical information code such as a barcode is added, the RFID tag can be read together with the barcode. Furthermore, when trying to read a barcode with a cash register or the like, communication with another RFID tag farther than the reading range is not performed.

In the twelfth aspect of the invention, the RFID tag is specified based on the reading result of the information code, and reading / writing is performed on the specified RFID tag. By reading with an information code that consumes less power before reading the RFID tag, it is possible to reduce power consumption compared to operation using only the RFID tag.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, marker irradiation is performed by the marker irradiation device so that the radio communication radio wave area by the wireless communication means is visible. For this reason, the reading range becomes visible.

In the invention of claim 14, when the transmission power by the wireless communication means is increased, the lighting device increases the luminance of the illumination in accordance with the transmission power. When the communication range is expanded, the illumination can be illuminated far in accordance with this, and it can be recognized that the reading range of the RFID tag is expanded.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when an RFID tag recorded with a system in which RF tag data can be converted into information code data is read, the RF tag data can be converted into information code data and output. For this reason, an RFID reader to which an optical information code is added can be quickly read by an RFID reader without using a host device such as POS.

In the invention of claim 16, when the information code is read, the recognizable level of the information code can be changed. At first, by trying to read the information code by a simple method, when it can be read by a simple method, the reading time can be shortened.

In the invention of claim 17, first, a simple information code is read by the optical reading means, and if the reading is impossible, the RFID tag is read. Rapid reading can be performed on the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added.

According to the invention of claim 18, when a simple information code is read and cannot be read, and further when the RFID tag cannot be read, the information code is recognizable and the information code is read. To do. Even when the optical information code is difficult to read and the RFID tag is out of order, the optical information code can be read out.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the information of the read RFID tag and the information of the read information code are compared, and if they match, the information is output. Reading without error can be performed on the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added.

In the invention of claim 20, the read information of the RFID tag and the information of the read information code are compared, and if they do not match, an error is output. It is possible to prevent erroneous reading of the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added.

It is a figure which shows the structure outline | summary of the RFID reader which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which illustrates the electric constitution of a RFID reader. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration inside the housing, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram for conceptually explaining a current distribution in the ground induced by radiation of radio waves from the antenna. 4A and 4C are side views of the optical unit, FIG. 4B is a front view of the optical unit, and FIG. 4D is a plan view of the optical unit and the main substrate. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the RFID reader was hold | gripped. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of reading an RFID tag with a barcode by the RFID reader, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of marker light from the RFID reader. FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing a reading range adjustment process, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart of a process for specifying and reading an RFID tag from an information code. It is a flowchart which shows the reading process of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reading process of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the configuration inside the housing of the RFID reader of the reference example, and FIG. 10B conceptually shows the current distribution in the ground induced by the emission of radio waves from the antenna of the reference example. FIG.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which an RFID reader according to the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an outline of the configuration of an RFID reader 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a top view and FIG. 1B is a bottom view. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the RFID reader 10.

An RFID reader 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is configured as a portable information terminal that is carried by a user and used in various places, and uses radio waves transmitted and received via an antenna as a medium. In addition to the function as a wireless tag reader that reads information stored in the RFID tag (wireless tag) 80, it has a function as an information code reader that reads information codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes. It has a configuration that can be performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), the RFID reader 10 has a substantially vertical section constituted by assembling an upper case 11a and a lower case 11b formed of a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin. An outer shell is formed by a rectangular and substantially cubic housing 11. In addition, the upper case 11a is inputted with predetermined information, a multifunction key 25A operated when switching a predetermined function, a trigger switch 25B for instructing start of a reading operation, and a light emission for displaying predetermined information. The part 24 and the like are arranged. Further, a reading surface 12 is formed on the lower case 11b toward the front, and a battery cover 11c is attached. In the following description, the side of the housing 11 that is configured as the gripping portion is described as one side in the longitudinal direction, and the side on which the reading surface 12 is disposed is described as the other side in the longitudinal direction.

Next, functions provided in the RFID reader 10 will be described.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration inside the housing 11. Various components (such as various electrical components) are mounted and accommodated on a main substrate (RFID module substrate) 20 or the like in the casing 11 of the RFID reader 10. Further, in the housing 11, a battery 29a, an optical unit 70 for reading an information code, an antenna (1/4 wavelength antenna element) 50 for communicating with an RFID tag, an antenna ground 60A, And a ground (ground layer) 60 </ b> B disposed on the surface layer of the main substrate 20. Here, the ground 60B is disposed on the surface layer, but a ground may be provided on the inner layer.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the main board 20 is provided with a control unit 21 that controls the entire RFID reader 10. The control unit 21 is composed mainly of a microcomputer, has a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and constitutes an information processing apparatus together with the memory 22. The control unit 21 is connected to a light emitting unit 24, a key operation unit 25, a vibrator 26, a buzzer 27, an external interface 28, and the like.

The key operation unit 25 is configured to give an operation signal to the control unit 21 in response to the operation of the multifunction key 25A and the trigger switch 25B. The control unit 21 receives the operation signal and changes the contents of the operation signal. Perform the corresponding action. The control unit 21 may correspond to an example of “switching unit” and “changing unit”. In addition, the light emitting unit 24, the vibrator 26, and the buzzer 27 are configured to be controlled by the control unit 21, and each operate in response to a command from the control unit 21. The external interface 28 is configured as an interface for performing data communication with an external device or the like, and is configured to perform communication processing in cooperation with the control unit 21. In addition, a power supply unit 29 is provided in the housing 11, and power is supplied to the control unit 21 and various electrical components by the power supply unit 29 and the battery 29 a.

Further, the non-contact communication unit 30 and the optical unit 70 are connected to the control unit 21.
First, the non-contact communication part 30 is demonstrated using FIG. 2 (B) and FIG. 3 (A).
The non-contact communication unit 30 performs non-contact communication with the RFID tag 80 via the antenna 50 connected to the coaxial cable 33. The non-contact communication unit 30 corresponds to an example of “wireless communication unit”. The antenna 50 is configured as an inverted F antenna, but can be used if it is a quarter wavelength antenna such as an inverted L antenna or a monopole antenna. In the coaxial cable 33, the inner conductor functions as a signal line that connects the non-contact communication unit 30 and the antenna 50, and the outer conductor connects the ground 60B of the main board (RFID module board) 20 and the ground 60A of the antenna 50. It is wired to function as a ground line to be connected.

The non-contact communication unit 30 communicates by radio waves (electromagnetic waves) with the RFID tag 80 in cooperation with the antenna 50 and the control unit 21 to read data stored in the RFID tag 80 or to the RFID tag 80. It functions to write data.

The non-contact communication unit 30 is configured as a circuit that performs transmission using a known radio wave system, and includes an oscillator 34, a modulator 35, a demodulator 36, and the like, as schematically shown in FIG. It will be. The non-contact communication unit 30 is also provided with other known configurations (for example, an amplifier, a filter circuit, a matching circuit, etc.), but these are not shown in FIG.

Next, the optical unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG.
The optical unit 70 functions to optically read the information code. As shown in FIG. 2C, the light receiving sensor 43 including the CCD area sensor, the imaging lens 42, the diaphragm 44, and a plurality of LEDs. And an illumination unit (front device) 41 including a lens, a marker irradiation unit (marker irradiation device) 45 that irradiates marker light, and the like. It functions to read the information code C (bar code or two-dimensional code) attached to the.

When reading is performed by the optical unit 70, first, the illumination light Lf is emitted from the illumination unit 41 instructed by the control unit 21, and the illumination light Lf passes through the reading surface 12 (see FIG. 1B). The reading object R is irradiated. The reflected light Lr reflected from the illumination light Lf by the information code C (bar code or two-dimensional code) is taken into the apparatus through the reading surface 12, passes through the diaphragm 44, the imaging lens 42, and the light receiving sensor 43. Is received. The imaging lens 42 disposed between the reading surface 12 and the light receiving sensor 43 is configured to form an image of the information code C on the light receiving sensor 43, and the light receiving sensor 43 is an image of the information code C. The light reception signal corresponding to the is output. The diaphragm 44 adjusts the information reading range. The light receiving signal output from the light receiving sensor 43 is stored as image data in the memory 22 (FIG. 2A) and used for decoding processing for acquiring information included in the information code C. The optical unit 70 is provided with an amplifier circuit for amplifying the signal from the light receiving sensor 43, an AD converter circuit for converting the amplified signal into a digital signal, etc., but these circuits are not shown. doing.

Next, a characteristic configuration of the RFID reader 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship among the ground 60B of the main board 20, the antenna ground 60A, the antenna 50, and the optical unit 70. FIG.
4A is a diagram showing a side surface 70S of the optical unit 70, FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a front surface 70E of the optical unit 70, and FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a side surface 70N of the optical unit 70. FIG. 4D is a plan view of the optical unit and the main board 20.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the above-described imaging lens 42 and illumination unit 41 are provided on the front surface 70 </ b> E side of the optical unit 70. As shown in FIG. 4D, an antenna (antenna element) 50 composed of an inverted F antenna is connected to the ground 60A at a connection point 50G, and receives power from the inner conductor of the coaxial cable 33 at a power supply point 50P.

The antenna 50 is made of a flexible substrate and is arranged around the optical unit 70. In the first embodiment, since the antenna is made of a flexible substrate, it can be easily arranged on the surface of a component such as a reading unit. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the portion along the end portion of the side side (side along the long side of the rectangular shape formed by the ground 60B and the ground 60A) 60S, the antenna base is perpendicular to the ground 60A from the connection point 50G. The antenna element portion 50SE is disposed so as to be separated from the center of the optical unit 70, and is obliquely disposed so as to be gradually separated from the ground 60A from a slightly lower side than the central portion of the optical unit 70. The antenna element unit 50SP, which is connected to the feeding point 50P and arranged to be separated from the ground 60A vertically, joins the antenna element unit 50S arranged obliquely.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the portion along the entire reading direction side (front side) 60E, that is, the front surface 70E side of the optical unit 70, is the farthest from the ground 60A and at a constant distance from the ground 60A. The antenna element unit 50E is arranged so as to be.

As shown in FIG. 4C, on the side surface 70N side of the optical unit 70, the antenna element portion 50N is disposed so as to approach the ground 60A side obliquely, and is bent into a crank shape at the end portion and used as a whole. The length is adjusted to be a quarter wavelength of the radio wave.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the 1/4 wavelength inverted F antenna 50 includes a side 60 </ b> S (side along the long side of the rectangular shape formed by the ground 60 </ b> B and the ground 60 </ b> A) 60 </ b> S and a front side ( The side is disposed along the side 60 </ b> N opposite to the side 60 </ b> E (the side along the long side of the rectangular shape formed by the ground 60 </ b> B and the ground 60 </ b> A). Thereby, a mirror image of the inverted F antenna 50 is created along the side 60S, the front 60E, and the side 60N of the ground 60A, and the current generated in the inverted F antenna 50 is changed to the side 60S, the front 60E, and the side 60N. By flowing the current to the GND end other than the portion that weakens the current generated along the line (horizontal direction), horizontal and vertical polarization can be output in a balanced manner.

Then, a current along the back side 60W of the ground 60A and a current along a part of the side 60S remain. The current along the back side 60W of the ground 60A becomes horizontal polarization (polarization parallel to the ground), and the current along a part of the side 60S becomes vertical polarization (polarization in the direction perpendicular to the ground). As a result, horizontal and vertical polarized waves can be emitted with a good balance without using a plurality of antennas having different polarization directions.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the antenna 50 has a U-shape in plan view along the rectangular shape of the antenna ground 60A (a rectangular reading side 60E and two sides 60S and 60N in contact with the side. Along the edge of the The ground is separated into a ground 60A connected to the antenna and a ground 60B not connected to the antenna. Since the length in the longitudinal direction of the ground is divided into two as shown in FIG. 3B, the current component (vertically polarized wave component) along the longitudinal direction of the ground due to the mirror image from the antenna element is weakened. A horizontal and vertical polarization can be produced with a good balance by using the antenna.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the ground 60A connected to the antenna is a rectangle having sides (sides 60S, 60N) perpendicular to the reading direction and horizontal sides (front side 60E, backside 60W). Consists of. For this reason, it is possible to emit horizontal and vertical polarized waves with a good balance with respect to the reading direction.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the portion that is not connected to the ground antenna is configured by the ground 60B of the main substrate 20, and therefore there is no need to provide a separate ground.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the quarter-wave antenna is an inverted F antenna, so that the quarter-wave antenna can be accommodated in a small casing.

In the RFID reader of the first embodiment, the length of the long side 60BS of the ground 60B not connected to the antenna is longer than the length of the same side (side 60S) of the antenna ground 60A. Since the length in the longitudinal direction (vertical polarization direction) of the portion where the mirror image of the ground antenna is formed is short, horizontal and vertical polarization can be output with a good balance.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the antenna element portions 50SE and 50S along the rectangular side 60S of the ground from the feeding point 50P are arranged so as to be gradually separated from the ground, so the antenna is arranged in a narrow place. It becomes possible to do. Further, in the antenna element portion 50E along the entire front side 60E on the reading direction side, the antenna element portion 50E is arranged at a certain distance from the ground 60A. On the reading direction side, the antenna element portion and the ground are arranged so as to be at a constant distance. Therefore, the coupling between the current flowing through the ground and the current flowing through the element is relaxed, and the gain loss is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 11 is formed in a cubic shape having a substantially rectangular cross section so that the operator can easily hold it, and the reading surface 12 is arranged on the short side of the rectangle. The trigger switch 25B that activates wireless communication with the RFID and optical reading of the information code is disposed on the upper surface of the housing and in proximity to the reading surface 12.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing a state in which the RFID reader 10 is gripped. A trigger switch is disposed on the upper surface of the case 11 that can be gripped and close to the reading surface 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the trigger switch is operated by the thumb from the position where the trigger switch is arranged, and the other fingers grip the side surface of the housing, so that the reading surface is not blocked by the hand. Communication with the RFID tag in front can be performed appropriately.

The component in the direction opposite to the reading surface of the radio wave radiated from the antenna 50 described above is reflected or absorbed by the finger because it is held by the finger that is a dielectric. Only the component in the reading surface direction of the radio wave radiated from the antenna 50 can be used, and the antenna 50 can receive the radio wave from the reading surface direction side. For this reason, the RFID tag placed in front of the reading surface 12 can be read. As described above, the optical unit reads the information code placed in front of the reading surface 12. That is, in the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the information code reading direction and the communicable direction of the antenna 50 are arranged in the same direction with the housing held. Therefore, the RFID tag and the information code can be read simultaneously or sequentially with a single RFID reader. For this reason, the RFID tag can be read simultaneously with the barcode or sequentially with respect to the RFID tag (for example, apparel tag used in the apparel industry) to which an optical information code such as a barcode is added. In the apparel tag, the serial number is recorded on the RFID tag side, and the inventory work is made easy.

In the first embodiment, the transmission power from the non-contact communication unit 30 can be changed by an instruction from the control unit 21. The reading range of the information code by the optical unit 70 can be adjusted by the diaphragm 44 as described above, and can be adjusted by an instruction from the control unit 21. Here, the reading range is adjusted by the diaphragm 44, but the reading range can also be adjusted by changing the position of the imaging lens 42. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the range of the non-contact communication unit 30 and the reading range of the barcode 72 by the optical unit 70 are adjusted to be the same.

In the RFID reader of the first embodiment, the RFID tag can be read together with the barcode with respect to the RFID tag to which an optical information code such as a barcode is added. Furthermore, when trying to read a barcode with a cash register or the like, communication with another RFID tag farther than the reading range is not performed.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing a reading range adjustment process.
The reading range of the RFID reader is adjusted by operating the above-described multifunction key 25A. When the adjustment of the reading range is instructed (S52: Yes), the transmission power from the non-contact communication unit 30 described above is changed by an instruction from the control unit 21 (S54). The reading range of the information code by the optical unit 70 is adjusted by an instruction from the control unit 21, and the reading range of the information code is limited according to the transmission power described above (S56). Note that the processing in S56 may correspond to an example of “restriction means”. And the brightness | luminance of the illumination part (illuminating device) 41 is adjusted according to the transmission power mentioned above (S58). That is, when the transmission power is increased and the reading range of the RFID tag is expanded, the luminance is increased, and conversely, when the reading range is narrowed, the luminance is decreased.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, when the transmission power is increased, the illumination unit 41 increases the luminance of the illumination according to the transmission power. When the communication range is expanded, the illumination can be illuminated far in accordance with this, and it can be recognized that the reading range of the RFID tag is expanded. Here, the explanation has been made that the transmission power is adjusted. However, at the initial setting stage, the communication range, the reading range, and the illumination range by the illumination unit are adjusted to substantially coincide with each other.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which marker irradiation is performed on the bar code 72.
As shown in FIG. 2C, the optical unit 70 includes a marker irradiating unit 45 that irradiates marker light, and can irradiate the marker light MK according to the operation of the multifunction key 25A.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the marker light MK is irradiated by the marker irradiation unit so that the radio wave radio area can be viewed. For this reason, the reading range of the RFID tag becomes visible.

FIG. 7B is a flowchart of processing for identifying and reading an RFID tag from an information code. The reading process by specifying the RFID tag from the information code is selected according to the operation of the multifunction key 25A.

First, the barcode is read (S62). Then, the RFID UII is specified based on the barcode reading result (S64), and the RFID tag to be read is specified (S66). Then, the specified RFID tag is read (S68).

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, by reading with an information code that consumes less power before reading the RFID tag, it is possible to suppress power consumption as compared with operation using only the RFID tag.

Here, the information code data from the RFID tag is performed in the RFID reader. However, for example, information can be obtained by accessing a server using a conversion table stored in the memory 22 of the RFID reader. It is also possible to obtain information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the reading process of the RFID tag and the information code in the RFID reader according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, an example in which RFID tag data is converted into the SGTIN standard is given. However, as a standard, SGLN, SSCC, GRAI, GIAI, GSRN, GDTI, etc. can be used in addition to SGTIN.

First, the information code is read (S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the information code has been successfully read (S14). If the information code cannot be read (S14: No), the process is completed. On the other hand, when the reading of the information code is successful (S14: Yes), the RFID tag is continuously read (S16). Then, it is determined whether or not the RFID tag has been successfully read (S18). If the RFID tag cannot be read (S18: No), the process is completed. On the other hand, when the reading of the RFID tag is successful (S18: Yes), SGTIN conversion is performed (S20). Then, it is determined whether the information of the information code and the data of the RFID tag match (S22). If they match (S22: Yes), the data subjected to SGTIN conversion is output, and the normal end is the host device (host). (S24). On the other hand, if the information of the information code and the data of the RFID tag do not match (S22: No), the end of error is notified to the host device side (S26).

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, when an RFID recorded by a system in which RF tag data can be converted into an information code is read, the RF tag data is converted into an information code, and the RF tag data is used as an information code. Can be output. For this reason, an RFID reader to which an optical information code is added can be quickly read by an RFID reader without using a host device such as POS.

In the RFID reader according to the first embodiment, the read RFID information is compared with the read information code information, and if they match, the information is output. Reading without error can be performed on the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added. On the other hand, the read RFID information and the read information code information are compared, and if they do not match, an error is output. It is possible to prevent erroneous reading of the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing information code and RFID tag reading processing by the RFID tag according to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the recognizable level of the information code can be changed. For example, in a simple reading of a barcode, reading is performed with a single line that intersects the barcode. In advanced reading, reading is performed by combining a plurality of reading lines. Further, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) is read without performing error correction by simple reading. In advanced reading, reading is performed using error correction.

First, the information code is read by simple reading (S32). It is determined whether or not the information code has been successfully read (S34). If the information code has been successfully read (S34: Yes), the process ends. If the reading is not successful (S34: No), it is determined whether or not a part of the information code has been successfully read (S36). If part of the reading is not successful (S36: No), the RFID tag is read (S38). It is determined whether reading of the RFID tag is successful (S40). If reading of the RFID tag is successful (S40: Yes), SGTIN conversion is performed and a conversion result is output (S42). On the other hand, when the RFID tag cannot be read (S40: No), or when the reading of only a part of the information code described above is successful (S36: Yes), the information code reading level is increased as described above and then again. Reading is performed (S44).

In the RFID reader according to the second embodiment, when the information code is read, the recognizable level of the information code can be changed. At first, by trying to read the information code by a simple method, when it can be read by a simple method, the reading time can be shortened.

In the RFID reader of the second embodiment, first, a simple information code is read by the optical reading means, and if reading is impossible, the RFID is read. Rapid reading can be performed on the RFID tag to which the optical information code is added.

In the RFID reader according to the second embodiment, when a simple information code is read and cannot be read, and further, when the RFID cannot be read, the recognizable level of the information code is increased and the information code is read. To implement. Even when the optical information code is difficult to read and the RFID tag is out of order, the optical information code can be read out.

Note that it is possible to switch between the reading process shown in FIG. 8 and the reading process shown in FIG. 9 by operating the function key of the RFID reader according to the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... RFID reader 20 ... Main board 30 ... Non-contact communication part 33 ... Coaxial cable 50 ... Antenna 60A Ground 60B Ground

Claims (20)

An RFID reader that reads an RFID tag through radio waves transmitted and received via an antenna,
A rectangular ground,
A side on the reading side of the rectangular shape of the ground, and a quarter-wavelength antenna element disposed along ends of two sides in contact with the side,
The RFID reader is characterized in that the ground is separated into a portion connected to the quarter-wave antenna element and a portion not connected to the quarter-wave antenna element. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein
A feeding point of the ¼ wavelength antenna element is provided on one side of the two sides in contact with the reading side of the rectangular shape. The RFID reader according to claim 1 or 2,
The portion of the ground connected to the quarter-wave antenna element is a rectangle having sides that are perpendicular and horizontal to the reading direction. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The portion of the ground that is not connected to the ¼ wavelength antenna element is constituted by a ground layer of the RFID module substrate. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The quarter-wave antenna element is an inverted F antenna. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The part connected to the ¼ wavelength antenna element and the part not connected to the ¼ wavelength antenna element are rectangular.
The length of the unconnected portion on the longitudinal side is longer than the length of the two sides in contact with the reading side of the connected portion. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The quarter-wave antenna element arranged along the side of the rectangular reading side of the ground and the end of the two sides in contact with the side is connected to the reading side of the rectangular shape from a feeding point. Arranged along one end of one of the two sides in contact with the side, arranged along the whole of the reading side, and arranged along the end of the opposite side,
In a portion along the end of one of the two sides in contact with the side on the reading side, the portion is arranged so as to be gradually separated from the ground,
The portion along the side on the reading side is arranged so as to be a fixed distance from the ground. The RFID reader according to claim 5, wherein
The quarter-wave antenna element is made of a flexible substrate. The RFID reader of claim 1, further comprising:
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the RFID tag;
Optical reading means for optically reading the information code;
Switching means for switching between the wireless communication means and the optical reading means;
A substantially cubic shape housing the wireless communication means, the optical reading means, the switching means, the ground, and the quarter-wave antenna element, and a longitudinal section having a substantially rectangular housing;
The information code reading direction of the optical reading means and the communicable direction of the ¼ wavelength antenna element are arranged in the same direction in a state where the casing is held. The RFID reader of claim 9, further comprising:
A reading surface on the reading side arranged on the short side of the substantially rectangular shape of the housing;
A wireless communication with the RFID tag, a trigger switch that activates optical reading of the information code, and
The trigger switch is disposed on the upper surface of the casing and in proximity to the reading surface. The RFID reader according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising:
Changing means for changing the transmission power by the wireless communication means;
Limiting means for limiting the reading range by the optical reading means,
The range of wireless communication by the wireless communication unit is adjusted by the changing unit and the reading range by the optical reading unit is adjusted by the limiting unit. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The optical reading means has a function of identifying an RFID tag based on a reading result of an information code,
The wireless communication means reads and writes the specified RFID tag. The RFID reader of claim 11, comprising:
It has a marker irradiation device that shows the reading range,
Marker irradiation is performed by the marker irradiation device so that a radio wave area of wireless communication by the wireless communication means can be visually recognized. The RFID reader of claim 11, comprising:
It has a lighting device that shows the reading range,
The brightness of the lighting device is adjustable,
When the transmission power by the wireless communication unit is increased by the changing unit, the lighting device increases the luminance of the illumination according to the transmission power. The RFID reader of claim 1, further comprising:
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the RFID tag;
Optical reading means for optically reading the information code;
Switching means for switching between the wireless communication means and the optical reading means,
The wireless communication means converts the RF tag data into information code data and outputs the RFID tag data when reading the RFID recorded by a system capable of converting the RF tag data into information code data. The RFID reader of claim 15, comprising:
The optical reading unit can change the recognizable level of the information code when reading the information code. The RFID reader of claim 16, comprising:
First, a simple information code is read by the optical reading means,
When the reading is impossible, the RFID tag is read by the wireless communication means by the switching means. 18. The RFID reader of claim 17, comprising
When the RFID tag cannot be read by the wireless communication means, the switching means raises the recognizable level of the information code by the optical reading means and reads the information code. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 15 to 18, comprising:
RFID tag information read by the wireless communication means;
The information of the information code read by the optical reading means is compared, and if they match, the information is output. The RFID reader according to any one of claims 15 to 19, comprising:
RFID tag information read by the wireless communication means;
The information of the information code read by the optical reading means is compared, and if they do not match, an error is output.

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