JP4283750B2 - Recognition system and tag reader used in this system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recognition system for recognizing an article by attaching a tag device for recognition to an article such as a product and reading information from the recognition tag apparatus in a non-contact manner by the tag reader, and a tag reader used in this system. .

  In recent years, a tag body has an IC chip and an antenna, and when a radio wave of a predetermined frequency is received by the antenna, information stored in the memory of the IC chip is transmitted from the antenna accordingly, a so-called radio frequency (RF) tag Has been developed and is already in practical use. For example, when the radio frequency tag is attached to a product, information related to the product is stored in the IC chip memory of the tag, and the radio frequency tag reader is used when performing shipping management, inventory management, or product authentication of the product. A system for recognizing a product by using it to read information from a radio frequency tag is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, by providing a foil layer of metal magnetic material that is sensitive to magnetism on a part of the tag that is attached to the product and displays its price, quality, etc., and corresponding to a sensing device (gate antenna) that generates magnetism, Preventing illegal take-off of goods, so-called shoplifting, has long been done. Such a tag is referred to as an EM (Electro Magnetic) tag.

Then, conventionally, in order to be able to handle radio waves in addition to magnetism, a radio system tag is provided in the tag body separately from the magnetic system tag, and information on products is stored in the IC chip of this radio system tag, There has been a system that enables merchandise management to be executed smoothly in addition to shoplifting prevention (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-074286 JP 2004-227508 A

  However, even when a tag device that is sensitive to magnetism and radio waves is attached to each product to achieve both shoplifting prevention and product management, the product is recognized only by information from the radio frequency tag when managing the product. Therefore, when the radio IC chip of the radio system tag is broken, there is a problem that the product to which the radio system tag is attached cannot be recognized. For this reason, it has been desired to easily detect a radio wave system tag whose wireless IC chip is broken.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to use a recognition system that can easily detect a failure of a recognition tag device attached to an object that needs to be recognized and the system. It is intended to provide a tag reader.

  The present invention relates to a recognition system for recognizing an object by reading information from a tag device for recognition attached to an object that needs to be recognized by a tag reader, and the tag device for recognition is read by a tag body. It is assumed that two or more types of tags (for example, radio wave mode tag and magnetic mode tag) having different modes are provided, and one of the tags (for example, radio wave mode tag) stores information necessary for recognition of an object. The tag reading device transmits tag sensitive signals to various tags provided in the tag main body at the same time, receives tag response means from the tags sensitive to the signals, and object recognition. If there is a response wave from a tag that stores information necessary for information, information reading means for analyzing the response wave and reading information necessary for recognition of the object, and a tag that stores information necessary for object recognition And a warning means for issuing a warning when a response wave from another tag is received without a response wave from.

  By taking such a means, the tag reader transmits a signal to which the tag responds to the various tags provided in the tag main body substantially simultaneously. When an article (object to be recognized) to which a recognition tag device is attached exists within the reach range of the signal, each tag attached to the article outputs a response wave in response to the signal. . Response waves from various tags are received by the tag reader. Thereby, in the tag reading device, the response wave from the tag storing the information necessary for recognizing the object is analyzed, and the information necessary for recognizing the article is read. Thus, the article is recognized.

  By the way, when a tag storing information necessary for object recognition is broken, the tag reader receives a response wave from another tag without receiving a response wave from the tag. Become. In this case, a warning is issued from the tag reader. By this warning, it is possible to detect a recognition tag device in which a tag storing information necessary for object recognition is broken.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recognition system that can easily detect a failure of a recognition tag device attached to an object that needs to be recognized, and a tag reader used in this system.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a recognition tag device 1 attached to an object that requires recognition of a product or the like. A recognition tag device 1 includes a sheet-like tag body 11 formed of a material such as paper or plastic, a radio wave tag (hereinafter referred to as an RF tag) 12 and a magnetic tag (hereinafter referred to as an EM tag) 13. Are separated from each other.

  The RF tag 12 includes an antenna 121 and an IC chip memory 122, and information on an object to which the recognition tag device 1 is attached is stored in the IC chip memory 122.

  The EM tag 13 is a foil layer formed of a metallic magnetic material such as amorphous metal, and generates radio waves (response waves) having unique attributes in response to magnetism.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a tag reading device 2 for reading information from the recognition tag device 1. The tag reading device 2 has a handy type main body 21 in which an antenna portion 22 and a grip portion 23 are integrated.

  The antenna unit 22 radiates a radio wave of a predetermined frequency and receives a response wave from the RF tag 12 that is sensitive to the radio wave, and a response from the EM tag 13 that radiates magnetism and is sensitive to the magnetism. An EM antenna 222 for receiving waves is built in.

  The grip portion 23 is provided with a trigger switch 231, a confirmation button 232, a warning lamp 233 and a warning buzzer 234 on the surface thereof. Both the trigger switch 231 and the confirmation button 232 are attached to a part that can be easily operated by the user holding the grip portion 23 of the tag reading device 2 with, for example, the thumb of the holding hand. The warning lamp 233 is attached in the vicinity of the confirmation button 232 and at a site that can be easily visually recognized by the user.

  Further, the grip unit 23 includes an RF tag reader / writer 235 having a function of modulating transmission data and radiating it from the RF antenna 221 as a radio wave, and a function of demodulating a response wave received by the RF antenna 221. Of the EM tag scanner 236 having a function of radiating light and a function of detecting a response wave from the EM tag 13 having a unique attribute from the radio wave received by the EM antenna 222, the RF tag reader / writer 235, and the EM tag scanner 236. A control unit 237 that controls driving; an interface 238 that controls data communication between the control unit 237 and a host (not shown) connected via the communication cable 3; and a warning lamp 233 that is controlled by the control unit 237. An alarm unit 239 for driving the warning buzzer 234 is incorporated. Note that the drive power source of the tag reader 2 may be a commercial power source or a built-in battery. The communication with the host may be wireless instead of wired.

  Here, the RF tag reader / writer 235 and the RF antenna 221 constitute a radio system tag access unit that radiates radio waves to an RF tag (radio system tag) and receives a response wave from the RF tag that is sensitive to the radio waves. The EM tag scanner 236 and the EM antenna 222 constitute a magnetic tag access unit that radiates magnetism to the EM tag (magnetic tag) and receives a response wave from the EM tag sensitive to the magnetism.

  The control unit 237 controls each unit according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the control unit 237 waits for the trigger switch 231 to be turned on as ST (step) 1. When the ON signal of the trigger switch 231 is input, the control unit 237 drives both the RF tag reader / writer 235 and the EM tag scanner 236 simultaneously as ST2 (access control means).

  As a result, the RF tag reader / writer 235 operates and the radio wave for reading the RF tag is radiated from the RF antenna 221. Further, the EM tag scanner 236 operates and EM tag recognition magnetism is radiated from the EM antenna 222. At this time, if the recognition tag device 1 exists within the reach of radio waves and magnetism, the information stored in the IC chip memory 122 in response to the RF tag 12 of the recognition tag device 1 is received by the tag antenna 121. Is transmitted as a response wave. Further, the EM tag 13 of the recognition tag device 1 is sensitive to magnetism and generates a response wave having a predetermined attribute.

  Here, the communication distance of the response wave transmitted from the tag antenna 121 of the RF tag 12 is adjusted to be equal to the communication distance of the response wave generated in response to magnetism from the EM tag 13. That is, since the response wave transmitted from the tag antenna 121 of the RF tag 12 is a microwave, the communication distance is obtained by the following formula.

  Here, the transmission frequency, reception gain, and power consumption of the microwave are determined by the standard of the RF tag 12. For example, when the RF tag 12 that responds with a microwave having a transmission frequency of 2.45 GHz band is used, the wavelength is 0.122 m.

  On the other hand, the communication distance of the response wave generated from the EM tag 13 is determined by the standards of the EM antenna 222 and the EM tag 13.

  Thus, the left side of the above formula is the communication distance of the response wave generated from the EM tag 13, and the transmission output is obtained by substituting the values of the RF tag 12 used for the reception gain, transmission frequency wavelength and power consumption on the right side. It can be obtained by calculation. Thus, by adjusting the transmission output of the RF antenna 221 to be the calculated transmission output value, the communication distance of the response wave from the RF tag 12 is made substantially equal to the communication distance of the response wave generated from the EM tag 13. Can do.

  After driving the RF tag reader / writer 235 and the EM tag scanner 236, the control unit 237 waits for a response wave from the RF tag 12 as ST3. When the response wave from the RF tag 12 is received by the RF antenna 221 and demodulated by the RF tag reader / writer 235, the demodulated data is analyzed and stored in the IC chip memory 122 of the RF tag 12 as ST4. Read data (information reading means). The read data is transmitted to the host via the interface 238. As a result, the host can recognize the presence of the commodity to which the recognition tag device 1 is attached.

  On the other hand, when the response wave from the EM tag 13 is detected by the EM tag scanner 236 in a state where there is no response wave from the RF tag 12, the control unit 237 activates the alarm unit as ST6. As a result, the warning lamp 233 is turned on or blinks, and the buzzer 234 sounds to issue a warning to the user (warning means).

  Thereafter, the control unit 237 waits for the confirmation button 232 to be operated in ST7. If the confirmation button 232 is operated, the control unit 237 stops the alarm unit 239 as ST8. Thereby, the warning lamp 233 is turned off and the buzzer 234 is stopped. Note that the alarm unit 239 may stop the alarm in response to the input of the confirmation button 232 instead of the control unit 237 controlling the stop of the alarm.

  In the recognition system composed of the recognition tag device 1 and the tag reading device 2 having such a configuration, the recognition tag device 1 is attached to each object that needs to be recognized, for example, one item of inventory management target. Information necessary for recognizing a product in which the recognition tag device 1 is attached to the IC chip memory 122 of the RF tag 12 incorporated in the recognition tag device 1, for example, a product number, features, date of manufacture, Information such as arrival date is stored.

  The inventory manager (user of the tag reading device 2) brings the antenna unit 22 of the tag reading device 2 close to the recognition tag device 1 attached to the commodity in stock and turns on the trigger switch 231. Then, the RF tag reader / writer 235 and the EM tag scanner 236 are activated almost simultaneously, and the RF antenna 221 emits RF tag reading radio waves and the EM antenna 222 emits EM tag detection magnetism.

  At this time, if the RF tag 12 of the recognition tag device 1 is normal, the information stored in the IC chip memory 122 in response to the RF tag 12 is received from the tag antenna 121 as a response wave. Called. This response wave is received and analyzed by the RF antenna 221, and information in the IC chip memory 122, that is, information necessary for product recognition is read. This information is sent to the host connected to the tag reader 2 and processed as inventory information of the product. The EM tag 13 of the recognition tag device 1 also generates a response wave in response to magnetism, and this response wave is received by the EM antenna 222, but the response wave from the RF tag 12 is received by the RF antenna 221. Therefore, the response wave from the EM tag 13 is ignored.

  However, if the IC chip memory 122 of the RF tag 12 has failed, the RF tag 12 does not respond even when radio waves radiated from the RF antenna 221 arrive. Therefore, the tag reader 2 responds from the RF tag 12. I can't receive waves. On the other hand, since the EM tag 13 does not have an IC chip memory, the possibility of failure is extremely small. For this reason, when the RF tag 12 is abnormal, only the response wave from the EM tag 13 is received by the EM antenna 222. In such a case, in the tag reader 2, the alarm lamp 233 is turned on or blinks by the operation of the alarm unit 239, and the buzzer 234 is sounded to issue a warning to the user. This warning allows the user to know that the RF tag 12 of the recognition tag device 1 has failed.

  Incidentally, the user who has confirmed the warning operates the confirmation button 232. Then, the warning lamp 233 is turned off and the buzzer 234 is stopped. Therefore, for example, the user may take measures such as removing the recognition tag device 1 in which the RF tag 12 has failed from the product and replacing it with one that operates normally.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the RF tag provided in the recognition tag device 1 depends on whether or not a warning is issued when the tag reading device 2 is read close to the recognition tag device 1. Whether or not 12 is out of order can be accurately determined. Therefore, since the recognition tag device 1 provided with the RF tag 12 whose IC chip memory is broken can be detected easily and in a short time, the abnormal recognition tag device 1 is replaced with a normal recognition tag device 1. Such measures can be taken quickly, and the recognition accuracy of a product that is an object that needs to be recognized can be increased.

  In addition, since it is possible to determine whether or not the RF tag 12 provided in the recognition tag device 1 is out of order simply by moving the tag reading device 2 close to the recognition tag device 1, the recognition tag device 1. It is also possible to easily determine whether or not the tag device 1 is a recognizable tag device 1 when it is recycled.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the radio wave system tag 12 and the magnetic system tag 13 are provided in the tag main body 11 and information necessary for recognizing the object is stored in the radio wave system tag 12. It is also possible to issue a warning when there is no response from the tags of the radio wave system tag 12 and the magnetic system tag 13 and there is a response from a tag of another system.

  Further, when a tag for storing information necessary for recognizing an object is used as a tag of another reading method instead of the radio wave method tag 12, there is no response from the tag of the other reading method, and there is a response from the magnetic tag 13. Even if a warning is issued, the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tag reading device 2 is described as a handy type. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a stationary tag reading device 2.

  In the above embodiment, the radio frequency tag 12 and the magnetic tag 13 are separately provided on the sheet-like tag main body 11. However, the shape of the tag main body 11 and the arrangement of the radio frequency tag 12 and the magnetic tag 13 are provided. It goes without saying that the user can appropriately change the configuration and the like as necessary.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

The schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure of the tag apparatus for recognition used by one embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure of the tag reader used in the same embodiment. The flowchart which shows the main control procedures which the control part of the tag reader used in the embodiment performs.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tag device for recognition, 2 ... Tag reader, 11 ... Tag body, 12 ... Radio wave type (RF) tag, 13 ... Magnetic type (EM) tag, 221 ... RF antenna, 222 ... EM antenna, 231 ... Trigger switch 232 ... Confirmation button 233 ... Warning lamp 234 ... Buzzer 235 ... RF tag reader / writer 236 ... EM tag scanner 237 ... Control unit 238 ... Interface

Claims (5)

In the recognition system for recognizing the object by reading the information from the tag device for recognition attached to the object that needs to be recognized by the tag reader without contact,
The recognition tag device is provided with two or more types of tags having different reading methods in the tag body, and one of the tags stores information necessary for the recognition of the object,
The tag reading device transmits tag sensitive signals to various tags provided in the tag main body substantially simultaneously and receives a response wave from the tag sensitive to the signals, and the target Information reading means for reading the information necessary for recognizing the object by analyzing the response wave when there is a response wave from a tag storing information necessary for recognizing the object, and information necessary for recognizing the object And a warning means for issuing a warning when a response wave from another tag is received without receiving a response wave from the tag storing therein. In the recognition system for recognizing the object by reading the information from the tag device for recognition attached to the object that needs to be recognized by the tag reader without contact,
The recognition tag device includes a radio system tag and a magnetic system tag in a tag body, and stores information necessary for recognizing the object by the radio system tag.
The tag reader radiates a radio wave to the radio wave type tag and receives a response wave from the radio wave type tag sensitive to the radio wave. A magnetic tag access means for receiving a response wave from a magnetic tag sensitive to the radio, an access control means for simultaneously driving both the radio tag access means and the magnetic tag access means, and An information reading unit that analyzes a response wave and reads information necessary for recognizing the object; and after driving both the radio frequency tag access unit and the magnetic tag access unit by the access control unit, A warning means for issuing a warning when a response wave from the magnetic tag is received without receiving a response wave from the tag. System.   The response distance of the radio frequency tag to the radio wave radiated by the radio frequency tag access means and the response distance of the magnetic tag to the magnetism radiated by the magnetic tag access means are substantially equal. Item 3. The recognition system according to Item 2. In a tag reader that recognizes the object by reading information in a non-contact manner from a tag device for recognition attached to the object that needs to be recognized,
Radio wave tag access means for radiating a radio wave to a radio wave tag and receiving a response wave from the radio wave tag sensitive to the radio wave;
A magnetic tag access means for radiating magnetism to the magnetic tag and receiving a response wave from the magnetic tag sensitive to the magnetism;
Access control means for simultaneously driving both the radio frequency tag access means and the magnetic tag access means;
Information reading means for analyzing a response wave from the radio wave type tag and reading information necessary for recognition of the object;
After driving both the radio frequency tag access means and the magnetic tag access means by the access control means, a warning is given if a response wave from the magnetic tag is received without receiving a response wave from the radio frequency tag. Warning means to issue,
A tag reading device comprising:   It is a portable type in which the antenna unit including the radio wave tag access unit and the magnetic tag access unit and the grip unit including the access control unit, the information reading unit, and the warning unit are integrated. The tag reading device according to claim 4, wherein:

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