JP3692964B2 - Virtual ID device and tag data storage method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a virtual ID device for non-contact FA (Factory Automation) provided with a tag, an ID controller, and a server controller, and in particular, a virtual ID device stored in a server controller without having tag data in the tag, and It relates to the tag data storage method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
By mounting tags (storage media) on the surface or inside of assembly line parts and products, and placing reader / writers on the assembly line, data recorded in the tags in a non-contact manner (electromagnetic induction or radio waves) A non-contact ID device for FA (Factory Automation) that efficiently executes data management by reading or writing data is known.
[0003]
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a conventional tag (storage medium). In FIG. 8, a tag 50 includes a coil 51 that transmits or receives data by electromagnetic induction with a reader / writer (not shown), and an IC 52 that includes a modem unit 53, a control logic 54, and a memory 55. The
[0004]
The tag 50 configured as described above is driven by a power source 56 (rectified and smoothed AC signal) supplied from a reader / writer by electromagnetic induction, receives a command (request signal) supplied at the same time, and receives control logic 54. The data corresponding to the command (request signal) is read out from the memory 55 via the signal and modulated by the modem 53, and then the data is transmitted from the coil 53 to the reader / writer by electromagnetic induction.
[0005]
On the other hand, when data is supplied from the reader / writer by electromagnetic induction, the modulation / demodulation unit 53 performs demodulation, and the data is written into the memory 55 via the control logic 54.
[0006]
As described above, the conventional tag (storage medium) communicates data with a reader / writer by electromagnetic induction, does not require a battery, and is small and lightweight, so it is not combined with a reader / writer. A contact ID device is realized. Instead of using electromagnetic induction using a coil, a non-contact ID device using a large antenna for long distance has been put into practical use.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventional non-contact ID devices for FA (Factory Automation) have a one-chip IC built into the tag, so the tag is mounted on the parts and products of the assembly line and the process in a high-temperature atmosphere (for example, vehicle painting / In the case of passing (drying), the tag data may be garbled, the one-chip IC may be thermally destroyed, or malfunction may occur.
[0008]
In addition, the conventional tag operates by being supplied with power by electromagnetic induction from the reader / writer, and transmits and receives data. Therefore, the distance to the reader / writer that can communicate is limited (for example, several centimeters). In addition, since it takes time to transmit and receive data, the communication processing speed is reduced, and thus there is a restriction on the arrangement of reader / writers in the assembly line.
[0009]
Furthermore, since the tag incorporates the one-chip IC, there is a problem that increases the cost of the tag, and there is a problem that the entire device including the tag must be replaced when expansion of the memory capacity is required.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure, use a tag excellent in heat resistance and economy, have a long communication distance, and speed up the communication process. An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual ID device excellent in expandability and a tag data storage method thereof.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a virtual ID device according to the present invention includes a plurality of tags configured by a circuit including at least a coil, an ID controller including a coil and recognizing the plurality of tags in a contactless manner, and a plurality of tags. which was a server controller including a storage means for storing data corresponding to the identification information and the tag, tags are both provided with only resonance means for resonating with the frequency of the tag identification electromagnetic waves radiated from the ID controller, The ID controller and the server controller include transmission means for transmitting identification information or data of a plurality of tags, and the server controller corresponds to each tag based on the identification information of the plurality of tags detected by the resonance means by the ID controller. The identification information is stored in a storage means .
[0012]
In the virtual ID device according to the present invention, only the resonance means that resonates with the frequency of the electromagnetic wave for tag identification is mounted on the tag, and the data corresponding to the tag is stored in the server controller. In addition, since it is economical and it is not necessary to supply power to the tag, it is possible to realize a long distance and a high speed communication process. In addition, since tag data is aggregated and stored in the server controller, it is possible to easily cope with an increase in the number of tags and an increase in the amount of data required for each tag. It is excellent in the extensibility of construction, and it is possible to realize common equipment.
[0014]
In addition, since the server controller according to the present invention includes data storage means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of tags, the memory capacity of data corresponding to each tag in which the memory is physically separated from the tag can be freely set. It is possible to cope with memory expansion and tag expansion.
[0015]
The ID controller according to the present invention further includes a sweep circuit for sweeping the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave for detecting the tag .
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a basic block diagram of an embodiment of a virtual ID device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a virtual ID device 1 includes a server controller 2, ID controllers I1 to In connected to host devices U1 to Un, and tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to be detected by the ID controllers I1 to In. ~ TNk.
[0025]
The server controller 2 is composed of various processing functions, control functions, interfaces, memories, etc. based on a microprocessor, and includes a server control means 3, a data storage means 4, a wireless interface 5, and a network interface 6, and includes ID controllers I1 to In Between the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk, and data corresponding to the identification information are wirelessly communicated and written to the data storage means 4 and read from the data storage means 4 to be read by the ID controllers I1 to I1. Transmit to In.
[0026]
The server control unit 3 controls the operation of the entire server controller 2 of the data storage unit 4, the wireless interface 5 and the network interface 6.
[0027]
The server control means 3 supplies the data storage means 4 with the identification information of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk supplied from the wireless interface 5 and stores the data corresponding to the identification information (write) control. To do.
[0028]
Further, the server control means 3 reads the data of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk corresponding to the data request information supplied via the wireless interface 5 from the data storage means 4 and transmits the ID via the wireless interface 5 to the ID. Control to transmit to the controllers I1 to In is performed.
[0029]
Further, the server control means 3 reads out the identification information of the tags TA1 to TAk and TN1 to TNk and the data corresponding to the identification information from the data storage means 4, and performs control to transmit to the LAN network 12 via the network interface 6.
[0030]
The data storage means 4 is constituted by a rewritable RAM or the like, and the tag TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk identification information and data corresponding to the identification information are received by the tag TA1 by a write command from the server control means 3. ˜TAk,..., TN1 to TNk are stored in the memory area set.
[0031]
The data storage means 4 outputs data corresponding to the identification information of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk from the memory area in response to a read command from the server control means 3.
[0032]
The wireless interface 5 includes a transmission / reception antenna, a transmission / reception circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, etc., and tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to the wireless interface 9 of the ID controllers I1 to In under the control of the server control means 3. TNk identification information and data corresponding to the identification information are communicated wirelessly.
[0033]
The network interface 6 includes an encoder / decoder (codec: CODEC) and the like, and is connected to a network such as a LAN to which another ID device is connected to link the tags TA1 to TAk stored in the data storage means 4. ,..., TN1 to TNk and the data corresponding to the identification information are transmitted to a data management device (not shown) via the LAN network 12. Thereby, FA (Factory Automation) data is centrally managed together with data transmitted from other ID devices.
[0034]
The ID controllers I1 to In are composed of various processing functions, detection functions, memories, etc. based on a microprocessor, and each includes an ID control means 7, a tag detection means 8, a wireless interface 9, and is composed of a personal computer or the like. Based on the request information of the devices U1 to Un, the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk are detected without contact (electromagnetic induction), and identification information (ID number) specific to the tag is assigned. Corresponding data is transmitted to the server controller 2 wirelessly, and data corresponding to the identification information of each tag stored in the server controller 2 is received and supplied to the host devices U1 to Un.
[0035]
The ID control means 7 controls the overall operation of the ID controllers I 1 to In of the tag detection means 8 and the wireless interface 9.
[0036]
The ID control means 7 takes in the identification information of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk detected by the tag detection means 8, temporarily stores them in the memory, and transmits them to the server controller 2 via the wireless interface 9. Is transmitted to the upper devices U1 to Un.
[0037]
Further, the ID control means 7 temporarily stores the identification information and data based on the data write request from the higher order devices U1 to Un, transmits the identification information and data to the server controller 2 via the wireless interface 9, and from the higher order devices U1 to Un. The data corresponding to the identification information is received from the server controller 2 via the wireless interface 9 based on the data read request, and transmitted to the upper devices U1 to Un.
[0038]
The tag detection means 8 includes a frequency sweep type oscillation circuit, an oscillation coil, a level detection circuit, a comparator, and the like. The tag detection means 8 periodically sweeps the frequency and radiates a certain level of tag identification electromagnetic waves from the oscillation coil. The identification information of the tag is detected by, for example, a binary code by detecting by a comparator that the impedance of the oscillation circuit changes due to the presence of a tag that resonates with the frequency and the level of the electromagnetic wave for tag identification decreases.
[0039]
The wireless interface 9 includes a transmission / reception antenna, a transmission / reception circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and the like, and tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk are connected to the wireless interface 5 of the server controller 2 under the control of the ID control means 7. Wirelessly communicates identification information and data corresponding to the identification information.
[0040]
Each of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk is composed of one or a plurality of LC tank (resonance) circuits, and has the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave radiated from the tag detecting means 8 of the ID controllers I1 to In. Resonates.
[0041]
FIG. 2 is a resonance circuit diagram of an embodiment of the tag according to the present invention. FIG. 4A shows a tag constituted by one resonance circuit, and FIG. 4B shows a tag constituted by n resonance circuits. (A) In the figure, the tag is composed of a tank circuit in which a coil having an inductance Lki, which is a passive element, and a capacitor having a capacitance Cki are connected in parallel. The resonance frequency foi of this tank circuit is represented by 1 / {2π (Lki · Cki) ^1/2 }.
[0042]
Accordingly, when a tag identification electromagnetic wave having a frequency foi is radiated from the tag detection means 8 shown in FIG. 1, the LC (LkiCki) tank circuit resonates (tunes) to the tag identification electromagnetic wave, and the tag detection means 8 has a resonance frequency. The tag of foi can be detected.
[0043]
(B) In the figure, a tag is a tank circuit in which a coil having an inductance Lk1 and a capacitor having a capacitance Ck1 are connected in parallel, and n tags are tank circuits in which a coil having an inductance Lkn and a capacitor having a capacitance Ckn are connected in parallel. It consists of a tank circuit. The resonance frequencies of these tank circuits are represented by fo1 = 1 / {2π (Lk1 · Ck1) ^1/2 },..., Fon = 1 / {2π (Lkn · Ckn) ^1/2 }, respectively.
[0044]
Therefore, when tag identifying electromagnetic waves having frequencies fo1,..., Fon are radiated from the tag detecting means 8 shown in FIG. 1, the LC (Lk1Ck1 to LknCkn) tank circuit resonates (tunes) with the tag identifying electromagnetic waves, thereby detecting the tag. The means 8 can detect tags with resonance frequencies fo1,..., Fon.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a relationship diagram between the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave and the tag detection level according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a time characteristic diagram of the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave, and FIG. 4B is a time characteristic diagram of the detection level. In addition, the time axis | shaft of (a) figure and (b) figure is common.
[0046]
(A) In the figure, the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave is swept (swept) from fo1 to fon corresponding to time t1 to tn, and is repeated periodically. Note that the tag identifying electromagnetic waves having the frequencies fo1, fo2,..., Fon are generated at equal intervals (t2−t1 = constant value 2ΔT) at times t1, t2,.
[0047]
Also, in FIG. 6B, when the tag of the LC tank circuit resonates at the frequency fo1 at time t1, the tag detection means 8 shown in FIG. 1 generates a one-shot pulse having a waveform, for example, with a time width ΔT. Similarly, when the tag of the LC tank circuit resonates at the frequencies fo2,..., Fon at times t2,..., Tn, one-shot pulses having a time width ΔT are generated.
[0048]
Tag identification information is formed by using a one-shot pulse of time width ΔT generated at times t1,..., Tn as a binary code. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a tag forming binary 4-bit identification information. In FIG. 4, tags TA1 to TA15 each comprise one to four LC tank circuits having resonance frequencies fo1, fo2, fo3, and fo4.
[0049]
Tag TA1 has one LC tank circuit with resonance frequency fo1, tag TA2 has one LC tank circuit with resonance frequency fo2, tag TA3 has one LC tank circuit with resonance frequency fo3, and tag TA4 has LC with resonance frequency fo4. Only one tank circuit is provided.
[0050]
The tags TA5 to TA10 are each provided with two tank circuits having resonance frequencies fo1, fo2, fo3, and fo4, and the tags TA11 to TA14 are respectively provided with three tank circuits having resonance frequencies fo1, fo2, fo3, and fo4. The tag TA16 includes all four tank circuits having resonance frequencies fo1, fo2, fo3, and fo4. As described above, 15 tags TA1 to TA15 can be configured by combining four types of tank circuits.
[0051]
By assigning the resonance frequencies fo1 to fo4 to 1 to 4 bits of binary 4 bits and processing, the identification information of the tag TA1 is “0001”, the identification information of the tag TA2 is “0010”,. The identification information of TA15 can be detected by “1111”. The identification information “0000” detects the absence of the LC tank circuit, that is, the absence of the tag.
[0052]
In general, the number of tags configured by a combination of LC tank circuits having n types of resonance frequencies is 2 ⁿ −1.
[0053]
FIG. 5 is an image diagram of an embodiment of the memory area of the data storage means according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, the memory area of the data storage means 4 takes the identification information “0001” to “1111” for identifying the tags TA1 to TA15 and the identification information “0001” to “0001” for the tags TA1 to TA15 shown in FIG. Data areas DA1 to DA15 corresponding to “1111” and an empty data area which is an empty area of the memory are included.
[0054]
The identification information “0001” to “1111” and the data areas DA1 to DA15 are paired with a memory capacity assumed in advance, and the empty data area exceeds the memory capacity set by the data areas DA1 to DA15. If you want to add more tags. Note that the empty data area may be configured with a large memory with a sufficient memory capacity in advance, or may be added as an additional memory.
[0055]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the principal part of another embodiment of the virtual ID apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, a wired interface 10 is provided in the server controller 2 instead of the wireless interface 5, a wired interface 11 is provided in the ID controllers I1 to In instead of the wireless interface 9, and the wired lines L1 to Ln are connected between the wired interface 10 and the wired interface 11. 1 is different from FIG.
[0056]
As described above, the virtual ID device 1 according to the present invention includes only the resonance means that resonates with the tag identification electromagnetic wave in the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk, and the data corresponding to the tag is the server controller 2. Therefore, the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk can be simplified, and the heat resistance and the economy are excellent, and the long distance and the communication process can be speeded up. In addition, since the tag data is aggregated and stored in the server controller 2, it is possible to easily cope with an increase in the number of tags and an increase in the amount of data required for each tag. In FA (Factory Automation) It is excellent in system construction extensibility, and can share equipment.
[0057]
The server controller 2 according to the present invention includes the data storage means 4 for storing data corresponding to the plurality of tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk. The memory capacity of the data corresponding to the tag can be set freely, and the expansion of the memory and the expansion of the tag can be supported.
[0058]
Further, the resonance means according to the present invention is constituted by an LC tank circuit and resonates with the frequencies fo1 to fon of the electromagnetic waves for tag identification radiated from the ID controllers I1 to In, so that the tags are identified. And tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk can be identified even if the distance between them is long. Moreover, since the tag has a simple configuration only with the LC tank circuit (parallel circuit) of L (coil) and C (capacitor) which are passive elements, heat resistance can be improved and economy can be realized.
[0059]
Further, the server controller 2 and the ID controllers I1 to In according to the present invention have wireless interfaces 5 and 9 or wired interfaces that transmit identification information or data of the plurality of tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk wirelessly or by wire. Since 10 and 11 are provided, the installation location of the server controller 2 can be freely set, and data storage can be optimized.
[0060]
Furthermore, since the server controller 2 according to the present invention includes the network interface 6 with the network 12 to which other ID devices are connected, the server controller 2 can be linked to other ID devices via the factory LAN, Production and management data can be efficiently and centrally managed.
[0061]
Next, a tag data storage method of the virtual ID device will be described. FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment of the tag data storage method of the virtual ID device according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, in step S1, the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave for detecting the tag is periodically swept (swept). In addition, the operation | movement of step S1 is performed by the tag detection means 8. FIG.
[0062]
In step S2, the LC tank circuit mounted on the tag resonates with the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave. Note that the operations of step S2 are executed by the tags TA1 to TAk, ..., TN1 to TNk.
[0063]
In step S3, the resonance of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk is detected, and the identification information of the specific tags TA1 to TAk,. The operation of step S3 is executed by the tag detection means 8.
[0064]
Subsequently, in step S4, identification information of the specific tags TA1 to TAk, ..., TN1 to TNk is transmitted. The operation in step S4 is executed by the wireless interface 9 or the wired interface 11 of the ID controllers I1 to In.
[0065]
In step S5, identification information of specific tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk is received. The operation in step S5 is executed by the wireless interface 5 or the wired interface 10 of the server controller 2.
[0066]
In step S6, it is determined whether or not there is a memory area for storing the identification information of the specific tags TA1 to TAk, ..., TN1 to TNk. If there is a memory area, the process proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if there is no memory area, the process proceeds to step S8. The operation of step S6 is executed by the server control means 3.
[0067]
In step S7, identification information and data of the tags TA1 to TAk,..., TN1 to TNk are written in the memory. The operation of step S7 is executed by the server control means 3 and the data storage means 4.
[0068]
In step S8, a reset operation for tag data write control to the server controller 2 is performed. The operation of step S8 is executed by the server control means 3 and the ID control means 7.
[0069]
Thus, in the tag data storage method of the virtual ID device according to the present invention, the step S1 for sweeping the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave for detecting the tag, and the step S2 for the tag to resonate with the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave. Step S3 for detecting a resonance by detecting resonance, Step S4 for transmitting the identification information of the identified tag, Step S5 for receiving the identification information of the specific tag, and determining whether there is a memory area of the identification information Step S6, and step S7 for writing (storing) tag data into the memory, and the memory is separated from each tag for centralized data management. Therefore, the memory area can be freely set to increase the memory and tag Therefore, convenience can be improved.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the virtual ID device according to the present invention includes only resonance means that resonates with the frequency of the tag identifying electromagnetic wave, and stores data corresponding to the tag in the server controller. In addition to being excellent in heat resistance and economy, it is possible to realize long distance and high speed communication processing. In addition, since tag data is aggregated and stored in the server controller, it is possible to easily cope with an increase in the number of tags and an increase in the amount of data required for each tag. It is excellent in the extensibility of construction, and it is possible to realize common equipment.
[0071]
In addition, since the server controller according to the present invention includes data storage means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of tags, the memory capacity of data corresponding to each tag can be freely separated by physically separating the memory from the tags. It can be set, and it can cope with memory expansion and tag expansion.
[0072]
Furthermore, since the resonance means according to the present invention is configured by an LC tank circuit and resonates with the frequency of the electromagnetic wave for tag identification radiated from the ID controller, the tag is identified, so even if the distance between the ID controller and the tag is long. Tags can be identified. Moreover, since the tag has a simple configuration only with the tank circuit (parallel circuit) of L (coil) and C (capacitor) which are passive elements, heat resistance can be improved and economy can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a basic block configuration diagram of a virtual ID device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a resonance circuit diagram of an embodiment of a tag according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of tags forming binary 4-bit identification information. FIG. 5 is an image of an embodiment of the memory area of the data storage means according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the main part of another embodiment of the virtual ID device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an operation flow diagram of one embodiment of the tag data storage method of the virtual ID device according to the present invention. ) Block configuration diagram [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Virtual ID apparatus 2 Server controller 3 Server control means 4 Data storage means 5, 9 Wireless interface 6 Network interface 7 ID control means 8 Tag detection means 10, 11 Wired interface 12 LAN network I1-In ID controllers L1-Ln Wired line TA1 ~ TAk, ..., TN1 ~ TNk Tags U1 ~ Un Host equipment

Claims (3)

A plurality of tags composed of a circuit including at least a coil ;
An ID controller including a coil and recognizing the plurality of tags in a contactless manner;
A server controller including storage means for storing identification information of the plurality of tags and data corresponding to the tags , and a virtual ID device comprising:
The tag has both when provided with only a resonance means for resonating with the frequency of the tag identification electromagnetic wave radiated from said ID controller,
The ID controller and the server controller comprise transmission means for transmitting the identification information of the plurality of tags or the data,
It said server controller, a virtual ID and wherein the storing the identification information in which the ID controller corresponding to each tag based on the identification information of the plurality of tags detected by the resonance means in the storage means. 2. The virtual ID device according to claim 1, wherein the resonance means comprises an LC tank circuit in which at least one coil and a capacitor are connected in parallel . The virtual ID device according to claim 1, wherein the ID controller further includes a sweep circuit that sweeps a frequency of a tag identifying electromagnetic wave for detecting a tag .

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