JP3459140B2 - Tag - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tag which has a built-in integrated circuit and is attached to a device or the like and which outputs information when the applied pressure changes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tag does not have a mechanism for detecting the on / off state of a switch, and thus does not have a function of outputting information stored in the tag at a timing designated by a user.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of a conventional tag. Reference numeral 500 is a tag composed of elements 520 to 560. Reference numeral 510 is an interrogator for extracting information that can uniquely identify the tag stored in the integrated circuit of the tag, and 520 is a radio wave from the interrogator 510. A receiving antenna 530 for receiving the information is an integrated circuit for storing information peculiar to the tag, demodulating and analyzing the radio wave from the interrogator, and outputting a radio wave signal (hereinafter referred to as a response radio wave) modulated with the stored information. Reference numeral 540 denotes a transmission antenna for transmitting a response radio wave from the tag to the interrogator, 550 a packaging material substrate for storing the internal components of the tag, and 560 a packaging material cover for storing the internal components of the tag.

Next, the operation of the conventional tag will be described. First, the interrogator 510 emits an inquiry radio wave to the tag. The receiving antenna 520 receives this radio wave,
It is transmitted to the integrated circuit 530. The integrated circuit 530 demodulates and analyzes the radio wave from the interrogator, and transmits the response radio wave to the transmitting antenna 54.
Output to 0. The transmitting antenna 540 transmits a response radio wave. The interrogator 510 extracts the stored information inside the tag by receiving, demodulating and analyzing the response radio wave. An example of such a conventional tag (transponder) is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-315081.

[0005]

However, since the conventional tag does not have a mechanism for detecting the on / off state of the switch, a response radio wave is transmitted whenever the tag detects the interrogation signal of the interrogator, There was a problem that the user could not instruct the timing of transmitting the response radio wave.

As described above, the present invention solves the problem that the user cannot instruct the timing of transmitting the response radio wave and can output the information stored in the tag when the applied pressure changes. The purpose is to do so.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention is a tag for transmitting unique stored information, and a pressure detecting means for detecting a change in pressure applied to the tag, An output means is provided for outputting the stored information when the change in the pressure is detected. Also,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a second aspect of the present invention is, in a tag that transmits unique stored information, a unit that generates an electromotive force according to the pressure applied to the tag, and when the pressure is applied,
An output unit that outputs the stored information stored in the tag by the electromotive force is provided.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the pressure detecting means detects a change in the pressure applied to the tag, and the output means stores the tag specific to the tag which is stored when the pressure detecting means detects the change in the pressure. Acts to output information. According to the second aspect of the invention, the tag-specific information is output by the electromotive force generated by the electromotive force generating unit when the pressure is applied. Therefore, the user can respond by pressing the tag, for example, at an arbitrary timing, and the above problem can be solved.

[0009]

【Example】

[Structure of Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 shows a structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a state before tag molding, and FIG. 1B shows a state after molding. FIG. 6 (c) shows the state when pressure is applied (in use). In FIG. 1, 100 is a tag composed of each element from 120 to 170, 110 is an interrogator for extracting unique information stored in the tag, and 120 is for receiving radio waves from the interrogator 110. Receiving antenna, 130 is an integrated circuit which stores information peculiar to the tag, demodulates and analyzes the radio wave from the interrogator, and outputs a response radio wave when the electric resistance value of the detection element 170 changes, 140 is an interrogator from the tag , 150 is a wrapping material substrate that stores the internal components of the tag, 160 is a wrapping material cover that stores the internal components of the tag, and 170 is an electrical element due to being pressed. It is a detection element whose resistance value changes (hereinafter referred to as a pressure detection element).

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical connection configuration between internal components in the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, 1
70 is the pressure detection element, 210 is a pressure detection circuit, 22
Reference numeral 0 is a power supply circuit, 230 is a response circuit that demodulates and analyzes radio waves from an interrogator, and outputs response radio waves when the electric resistance value of the pressure detection element 170 changes, 120 is the reception antenna, and 140 is the transmission antenna. Is. Power supply circuit 220
Rectifies the interrogation signal to obtain a DC voltage as the power source of the responder. The thick lines in the figure are power lines.

[Operation in First Embodiment] The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1C and 2.
In FIG. 1C, it is assumed that external pressure is applied to the packaging material cover 160 or the packaging material substrate 150. At this time, the pressure is transmitted to the pressure detection element 170. When the pressure detection element 170 is pushed, its resistance value changes. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the resistance value of the pressure detection element 170 decreases. In FIG. 2, when the resistance value of the pressure detection element 170 changes, the pressure detection circuit 210 operates, and the response circuit 230 transmits a response radio wave to the outside through the transmission antenna 140. The response radio wave is received by an external interrogator or a receiving device (not shown) dedicated to the response radio wave, and it is possible to immediately detect which tag is under pressure.

[Structure of Embodiment 2] FIG. 3 shows the structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 300 is 320 to 3
Reference numeral 310 is a tag composed of 60 elements, and 310 is an interrogator having a built-in receiver for receiving information transmitted by the tag, and 32.
Reference numeral 0 indicates an integrated circuit that stores stored information and outputs a response electric wave when the piezoelectric element 360 generates an electromotive force. Reference numeral 330 indicates a transmitting antenna for transmitting a response electric wave from the tag to the interrogator 310. Reference numeral 340 indicates an inside of the tag. A packaging material substrate that stores the components, 350 is a packaging material cover that stores the internal components of the tag, and 360 is a piezoelectric element that generates an electromotive force when pressed.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical connection configuration between internal components in the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, 36
Reference numeral 0 is the piezoelectric element that produces electromotive force, and 410 is the piezoelectric element 3.
A rectifying diode for rectifying the current generated by the pulsed electromotive force generated by 60, a flywheel diode 420 for passing a reverse current flowing when the pressure on the piezoelectric element 360 is released, and a rectifying diode 410 for passing 430. A capacitor for storing the rectified pulse current, 440 is a response circuit that generates a carrier wave of a response radio wave and modulates the carrier wave of the response radio wave with information unique to the tag to generate an output electromagnetic wave,
330 is the transmitting antenna that radiates an output electromagnetic wave.

[Operation in Second Embodiment] The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, the packaging material cover 350 or the packaging material substrate 340.
Suppose external pressure is applied to. At this time, the pressure is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 360. The piezoelectric element 360 generates an electromotive force when pressed. The operation of the circuit will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the user presses the switch, the piezoelectric element 3
60 generates a pulsed electromotive force. This electromotive force is rectified by the rectifying diode 410, and electric power is accumulated in the capacitor 430 by the pulsed current. In the circuit example of FIG. 4, a DC voltage is generated. This DC voltage causes the response circuit 440 to operate, generating a carrier wave by the same operation as a conventional tag and generating an output electromagnetic wave modulated by the information unique to the tag. The output electromagnetic wave is radiated into space by the transmitting antenna 330, reaches a receiver (not shown) incorporated in the interrogator 310, and it is possible to immediately detect which tag is under pressure. Note that when the user releases the piezoelectric element 360, the piezoelectric element 360 generates an electromotive force in the reverse direction, but in this circuit example, the electromotive force in the reverse direction is consumed by the flywheel diode 420. There is.

Comparing the second embodiment with the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, since the power is supplied by the pressure applied to the tag and the response circuit operates, the circuit for detecting the pressure is unnecessary. Further, there is an advantage that the pressure can always be detected without supplying a received radio wave as a power source for pressure detection.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made. For example, there are the following modifications. 1) In the first embodiment, the means for detecting the pressure is the change in resistance, but as there are various pressure sensors, the change is not limited to resistance, and other changes known as switching means may be used. 2) In the second embodiment, the piezoelectric element is used as the element that detects pressure and generates electromotive force, but any other element may be used as long as it is an element that generates electromotive force. 3) In the first embodiment, the example in which the direct current voltage obtained by rectifying the interrogation signal is used as the power source of the responder has been described, but it is also possible to use it as a power source with a built-in battery. 4) In the embodiment, the stored information is transmitted and received by radio waves, but it is not limited to this, and a method using electromagnetic induction or infrared rays may be used. 5) In the first embodiment, the pressure detecting element is located inside the transponder, but it may be outside. 6) In the first and second embodiments, when the pressure applied to the tag changes, the unique information stored in the tag is output. However, by storing a plurality of information in the tag, the pressure applied to the tag changes. Different information may be output before and after. 7) The following may be considered as modifications of the circuit of the second embodiment: -A double-wave rectification circuit such as a bridge type is used to increase the efficiency of the rectification circuit. -Use a voltage doubler rectifier circuit or step-up transformer to obtain sufficient DC voltage. -Use a step-down transformer to obtain sufficient DC current.・ Use a coil instead of a capacitor to store power.

[0017]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the tag for transmitting the peculiar stored information, the pressure detecting means for detecting that the pressure applied to the tag has changed, and When a change in pressure is detected, it is configured to have an output unit that outputs the stored information.
According to the invention, in the tag for transmitting the unique stored information, the tag stores the electromotive force according to the pressure applied to the tag, and the tag stores the electromotive force when the pressure is applied. Since the output means for outputting the stored information is included, the unique information stored in the tag is output from the tag when the pressure applied to the tag changes. Thereby, the user can instruct the timing of transmitting the response radio wave by pushing the tag. In addition, when multiple tags are placed near the interrogator so that the tag can respond to the interrogator, the interrogator can retrieve the information stored in the tag only from the tag pressed by the user. Can form a small input device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a tag according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing electrical connection between internal components in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a tag according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing electrical connection between internal components in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a conventional tag.

[Explanation of symbols] 100 tags 110 Interrogator 120 receiving antenna 130 integrated circuit 140 transmitting antenna 150 packaging substrate 160 Packaging material cover 170 Pressure detector 300 tags 310 Interrogator 320 integrated circuit 330 transmitting antenna 340 Packaging board 350 Packaging material cover 360 piezoelectric element

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01S ⁷ /00-7/42 G01S 13/00-13/95

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tag for transmitting peculiar stored information, a pressure detecting means for detecting a change in pressure applied to the tag, and an output for outputting the stored information when the change in the pressure is detected. A tag having means. 2. A tag for transmitting unique stored information, a means for generating an electromotive force in accordance with a pressure applied to the tag, and a tag stored by the electromotive force when the pressure is applied. A tag having an output means for outputting the stored information.