JP4647986B2 - Article position detection system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an article location detection system for detecting the position of an article placed on a shelf using the RF-ID media.

  Conventionally, when managing a book stored on a shelf in a library or the like, identification information for managing the book such as a barcode or an identification number is written on the cover or back cover of the book, or the identification information A label printed with is attached to the front cover or back cover of a book. The identification information such as the barcode and identification number is managed in association with the book name, and the inventory management of the book is performed by reading the identification information such as the barcode and identification number from the book at the storage location of the bookshelf. ing.

  In recent years, RF-ID media such as non-contact type IC tags and non-contact type IC labels capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state are attached to books, and the bottom plate of a shelf in which books are stored In addition, there is a technique in which an antenna for reading information from an RF-ID medium is arranged, information is read from the RF-ID medium via this antenna, and book inventory management is performed (for example, Patent Documents). 1). By using this technology, it is possible to easily manage the inventory of books.

  However, the RF-ID media is affixed to the book, and an antenna is placed on the bottom plate of the shelf in which the books are stored, and information is read from the RF-ID media via the antenna placed on the bottom plate. In the case of managing inventory of books, it is possible to manage whether books are stored on the shelf where the antenna is arranged, but to manage in which area on the shelf the books are stored I can't.

Here, a plurality of antennas are arranged on a shelf in which an article such as a book to which an RF-ID tag is attached is stored, and a light source is connected to each of the plurality of antennas. A technique for informing the storage location of the article on the shelf by detecting the storage location of the desired article using the information read from the RF-ID tag and causing the light source of the detected storage location to emit light is considered. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). By using this technique, it is possible to detect in which area on the shelf the article to which the RF-ID tag is attached is stored, and it is possible to manage the article storage area on the shelf.
JP 2004-26465 A JP 2003-267527 A

  However, as described above, a plurality of antennas are arranged on a shelf in which an article such as a book to which an RF-ID tag is attached is stored, and read from the RF-ID tag through each of the plurality of antennas. In order to detect the storage location of a desired article using the information obtained, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of antennas on the shelf in order to detect the storage location of the article on the shelf, resulting in a significant increase in cost. There is a problem that. In addition, a plurality of antennas must be arranged on the shelf so as not to interfere with each other, and there is a problem in that it takes time to design.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and is placed on the shelf without causing a significant increase in cost or design. and to provide an article location detection system capable of detecting the position of the article.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
An article position detection system for detecting the position of an article placed in a placement area,
RF-ID media attached to the article;
A shelf member arranged in the placement area,
The shelf member is
An antenna for reading information from the RF-ID media attached to the article placed in the placement area;
Information reading means for reading information from the RF-ID medium via the antenna;
And the shelves within movably in member, and light emission element provided so as to emit light toward the mounting region of the article,
Control means for controlling a light emitting operation in the light emitting element ,
The RF-ID medium is an optical switch that switches between a state in which information can be read out through the antenna in the information reading unit and a state in which information cannot be read out depending on whether light emitted from the light emitting element is received or not. It comprises.

  Further, the RF-ID medium is characterized in that at least a light receiving surface of the optical switch is attached to a mounting surface of the article on the mounting area.

Further, the shelf member has display means provided corresponding to the light emitting element,
The control means is a light emitting element that is in a light emitting state so as to enable reading of information from the RF-ID medium when information is read from the RF-ID medium via the antenna. The corresponding display means is driven.

  In the present invention configured as described above, when a current flows through the antenna provided on the shelf member, the RF-ID medium attached to the article placed in the placement area where the shelf member is placed is used. Information is read out by the information reading means via the antenna. However, the RF-ID media may or may not be able to read information via the antenna in the information reading means depending on whether light is received. Since an optical switch for switching to a possible state is provided, light is emitted to the RF-ID media attached to the article placed in the placement area by a plurality of light emitting elements provided on the shelf member And the light emission operation | movement in a some light emitting element is switched by a switching means. Then, the optical switch switches between a state where information can be read from the RF-ID medium and a state where the information cannot be read, and the RF-ID medium attached to a desired article among the articles placed in the placement area. The position of the RF-ID medium, that is, the position of the article is detected based on the light emission state of the light emitting element when the information is read out.

  In this way, an RF-ID medium including an optical switch that switches between a state in which information can be read and a state in which information cannot be read depending on whether light is received is attached to the article, and the article is placed Light is emitted to the RF-ID media attached to the article placed in the placement area by the plurality of light emitting elements provided on the shelf member arranged in the area, and the light emission is performed by the switching unit. Since the position of the RF-ID medium, that is, the position of the article is detected by switching the light emitting operation in the element, the placement position of the article that is attached to the RF-ID medium and placed in the placement area. In order to detect this, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of antennas for reading information from the RF-ID media.

  As described above, in the present invention, an RF-ID medium including an optical switch that switches between a state in which information can be read and a state in which information cannot be read depending on whether light is received is attached to the article. Emitting light to the RF-ID media attached to the article placed in the placement area with a plurality of light emitting elements provided in the shelf member placed in the placement area; and Since the configuration is such that the position of the RF-ID media, i.e., the position of the article, is detected by switching the light emitting operation of the plurality of light emitting elements by the switching means, the article mounted with the RF-ID media and placed on the placement area It is no longer necessary to provide a plurality of antennas for reading information from the RF-ID media in order to detect the mounting position of the device. Or cause flop, without it takes time to design, it is possible to detect the position of the placed on the placement area article.

  Further, in the case where the light emitting element is provided so as to be movable in the shelf member, the light emitting element can be arranged at a position corresponding to the size of the article placed in the placement region, Even when an article of a size is placed on the placement area, the placement position can be detected.

  Further, when the RF-ID medium has at least the light receiving surface of the optical switch attached to the mounting surface on the article mounting area, the influence of external light received by the optical switch can be reduced.

  The shelf member is provided with a display unit corresponding to the light emitting element, and the control unit can read information from the RF-ID medium when the information is read from the RF-ID medium via the antenna. In the case of driving the display means corresponding to the light emitting element in the light emitting state, the position of the detected article can be displayed on the shelf member.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a shelf material that is a shelf member used in the article position detection system of the present invention, (a) is an external perspective view, and (b) is a diagram showing an internal structure. .

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plate-like housing 10 is formed with a coiled antenna 11 for reading information from the RF-ID media by resonating with the RF-ID media, and the inside thereof. The LED board 20 on which 16 LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and 22-1 to 22-8 are provided is attached. Of the 16 LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED substrate 20, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 serving as light-emitting elements in the present invention are those of the plate-shaped housing 10. The LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 serving as display means in the present invention are provided so as to face the front surface of the plate-shaped housing 10.

  An attachment hole 13 for attaching the LED substrate 20 is provided on the upper surface of the plate-like housing 10, and the LED substrate 20 is attached to the plate-like housing using an attachment screw 23 in the attachment hole 13. 10 is attached. The mounting hole 13 has a step so that a part of the mounting screw 23 does not protrude from the upper surface of the plate-shaped housing 10 when the LED board 20 is mounted on the plate-shaped housing 10 using the mounting screw 23. It is preferable that it has a structure. In addition, when the LED board 20 is attached to the front surface of the plate-like housing 10 with the mounting screw 23, the window 12 is formed in a region facing the eight LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED board 20. -1 to 12-8 are provided, and when the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 emit light, the light emission state can be confirmed through the windows 12-1 to 12-8. . Moreover, the upper surface of the plate-shaped housing | casing 10 is comprised from the transparent material, Thereby, the light light-emitted by LED21-1-21-8 provided in LED board 20 can be permeate | transmitted. Note that the entire upper surface of the plate-shaped housing 10 is not made of a transparent material, and only the region facing the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided on the LED substrate 20 is made of a transparent material. Is also possible. Further, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 need to irradiate light only to the regions facing each other. For this reason, the light emission directivity is limited, the plate-like housing 10 or the LED substrate 20 is connected to the LED substrate 20. In order to prevent light from leaking into the area where the LED adjacent to the emitted LED is emitted when the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided in the LED emit light, a light blocking means (not shown) is provided. It is possible to do.

  In addition, a control board 30 for controlling reading of information from the RF-ID media through the antenna 11 is attached to the inside of the plate-shaped housing 10. The antenna 11 is attached to the control board 30. Information reading unit 31 for reading information from the RF-ID medium via the LED, and an LED switch serving as switching means for switching the light emitting operation of the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED substrate 20 32 and the positions of the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided on the LED board 20, control the switching operation by the LED switch 32, and communicate with a control device such as a personal computer provided outside. And a control unit 33 that controls the power supply to the control board 30.

  In FIG. 1, the number of LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided on the LED substrate 20, the number of LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED substrate 20 corresponding thereto, and the plate-like housing 10 are shown. Although the number of provided windows 12-1 to 12-8 is eight, the present invention is not limited to eight.

  2A and 2B are diagrams showing an embodiment of an IC label that is an RF-ID medium used in the article position detection system of the present invention, where FIG. 2A shows a structure and FIG. 2B shows a functional configuration. It is a block diagram.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a coiled conductive antenna 51 is formed on a base substrate 50 made of a resin sheet or the like, and one end of the antenna 51 is coiled via the antenna 51. An IC chip 40 capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state is connected and mounted. In addition, the optical switch that electrically connects the antenna 51 and the IC chip 40 to the other end of the coiled shape of the antenna 51 when the light is received by the light receiving unit 41 and the switching unit 42 is in a conductive state. 48 is provided, so that only when light is received by the light receiving unit 41, information can be written and read out in a non-contact state via the antenna 51. The optical switch 48 is provided on the base substrate 50 and is connected to the antenna 51 and the IC chip 40 via a terminal 49. Therefore, when the optical switch 48 is not used, the terminal 49 can be used as a general IC label by short-circuiting. Further, an adhesive (not shown) is applied to one surface of the base substrate 50, and the adhesive can be attached to the article by this adhesive.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the IC chip 40 has a demodulator 44 that demodulates a signal received via the antenna 51, a modulator 45 that modulates a signal transmitted via the antenna 51, The memory 47 to be written, the control unit 46 for writing the signal demodulated by the demodulator 44 to the memory 47 as the information, and the information written to the memory 47, and the current flowing through the antenna 51 by rectifying the current The antenna 51, the power generation unit 43, the demodulation unit 44, and the modulation unit 45 are electrically connected by the switching unit 42 only when light is received by the light receiving unit 41. Will be connected. As this optical switch 48, for example, an optical diode made of a material such as Si, Ge, CdS, an optical triac, an optical transistor, a photo MOS relay, or the like can be used. In addition, when using a phototransistor or a photo MOS relay, it is necessary to supply power to these even when the light receiving unit 41 is not receiving light. It is conceivable to always supply power to the optical switch 48.

  Note that the optical switch 48 including the light receiving unit 41 and the switching unit 42 may be incorporated in the IC chip 40. In that case, by writing a command for enabling / disabling the optical switch to the IC chip 40, it may be used as an IC label using the optical switch or as a general IC label.

  In the following, when the shelf 1 shown in FIG. 1 is placed in the placement area where the article with the IC label 2 shown in FIG. 2 is placed, and the article is placed on the shelf 1 A method for detecting the placement position of the article will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a document box that is an article placed on the shelf 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the document box 3 placed on the shelf 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to be able to store documents from the opening, and the placement surface on the shelf 1 has a figure on the placement surface. When the IC label 2 shown in FIG. 2 is affixed and placed on the shelf 1, barcode information 4 is written on the front surface. Instead of attaching the IC label 2 to the document box 3 as RF-ID media, the RF-ID media can be incorporated in the document box 3 itself so as to receive light from the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8, or the LED 21- An insertion part may be provided in the document box 3 by a case made of a film that can transmit light from 1 to 21-8 and stored therein.

  Below, the method to detect the mounting position of the document box 3 mounted on the shelf 1 mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the placement position of the document box 3 in a state where the document box 3 shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the shelf 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shelf 1 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in the placement area of the document box 3 shown in FIG. 3, and the document box 3 shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the shelf 1. The The eight document boxes 3 are placed on the shelf 1 so as to face the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided on the LED substrate 20, and thereby IC labels attached to the document boxes 3 respectively. 2 and the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 face each other.

  As described above, when managing the placement position of the document box 3 placed on the shelf 1, first, in the management personal computer 5, the document name stored in the document box 3 and the document box 3 are described. The bar code information 4 is associated with the database 6 and managed. For example, the name of the document stored in the document box 3 is input to the management personal computer 5 and the barcode information described in the document box 3 is converted to a barcode reader (not shown) connected to the management personal computer 5. ) And associate these with each other, or attach a barcode label on which the barcode information previously associated with the document name is pasted to the document stored in the document box 3. It is conceivable that the barcode information described and the barcode information described in the document box 3 are read by a barcode reader and associated with each other. Further, the barcode information 4 described in the document box 3 and the serial number of the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 are associated with each other and registered in the database 6 for management. In addition, instead of the serial number of the IC label 2, information that can identify the document box 3 and the barcode information 4 may be managed in association with each other.

  Thereafter, when searching for a document, when the name of a document to be searched is input to the management personal computer 5, first, the management personal computer 5 searches the database 6 for barcode information associated with the input document name. Further, the serial number associated with the barcode information is retrieved from the database 6.

  Further, a current is supplied to the shelf 1 under the control of the management personal computer 5, and a high-frequency current is supplied to the antenna 11 of the shelf 1 by this current. Then, a current flows through the antenna 51 of the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 placed on the shelf 1 due to the high-frequency current flowing through the antenna 11, but in this state, the shelf 1 Since no light is received by the light receiving portion 41 of the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 placed thereon, the switching portion 42 is in an OFF state, whereby the current flowing through the antenna 51 is It is not supplied to the IC chip 40.

  In addition, the LED switch 32 is controlled by the control unit 33, and current is sequentially supplied to the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED substrate 20. The LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 are supplied with current to the LED 21-1 and the LED 22-1 simultaneously, and are supplied with current to the LED 21-2 and the LED 22-2 simultaneously. In addition, the current is supplied to the LED 21-3 and the LED 22-3 simultaneously, the current is supplied to the LED 21-4 and the LED 22-4 simultaneously, and the current is supplied to the LED 21-5 and the LED 22-5 simultaneously. Current is supplied to the LED 21-6 and the LED 22-6 simultaneously, current is supplied to the LED 21-7 and the LED 22-7 simultaneously, and current is supplied to the LED 21-8 and the LED 22-8 simultaneously. Is supplied. As a result, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 emit light sequentially, and the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 also emit light sequentially. Here, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 are provided so as to face the upper surface of the plate-shaped housing 10, and the document box 3 is placed on the plate-shaped housing 10. 21 to 8 emit light toward the placement area of the document box 3.

  When the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 emit light, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 are received by the light receiving unit 41 of the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 placed in a region facing the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8. Light is received. Then, the switching unit 42 of the IC label 2 that has received the light of the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 is turned on, whereby the current flowing in the antenna 51 is supplied to the power generation unit 43, and is transmitted via the antenna 51. The demodulator 44 demodulates the received signal, and the control unit 46 controls the serial number written in the memory 47 to be read out, modulated by the modulator 45, and output via the antenna 51. .

  The serial number output via the antenna 51 is read by the information reading unit 31 via the antenna 11 formed on the shelf 1 and transmitted to the management personal computer 5 via the control unit 43.

  In the management personal computer 5, the serial number transmitted from the shelf 1 is compared with the serial number retrieved from the database 6 based on the document name input to the management personal computer 5. Continue to supply current to the LED that is supplying current at the time, so that among the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8, the document box 3 to which the IC label 2 from which the serial number is read is attached is placed. The LED in the selected area is caused to emit light. The light emission of this LED can be visually recognized through the windows 12-1 to 12-8 provided on the shelf 1, and thereby the storage position of the book to be searched is clearly indicated.

  In this way, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 provided on the LED substrate 20 emit light sequentially, whereby the IC labels 2 attached to the document box 3 placed on the shelf 1 can be read sequentially. Thus, the serial number is sequentially read from the IC label 2 and the placement position of the document box 3 is detected.

  In this embodiment, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 and the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 provided on the LED substrate 20 are caused to emit light in conjunction with each other. First, only the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 are used. As described above, after the desired placement position of the document box is detected, only the LED provided at the detected placement position among the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 may be caused to emit light. Conceivable. Further, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 are configured to be tiltable with respect to the LED board 20, and when detecting the placement position of the document box 3, light is emitted toward the upper surface of the plate-shaped housing 10, and the document When displaying the mounting position of the box 3, it may be configured to emit light toward the upper surface of the plate-shaped housing 10 by changing the angle with respect to the LED substrate 20.

  It is also conceivable to display the placement position of the desired document box on the management personal computer 5. In that case, since the positions of the LEDs 21-1 to 21-8 are managed in the control unit 33 provided on the control board 30 in the shelf material 1, an IC label is provided via the antenna 11 by the information reading unit 31. When the serial number is read from 2, the information indicating the position of the LED to which current is supplied at that timing is transmitted to the management personal computer 5 together with the serial number, and transmitted from the shelf 1 in the management personal computer 5 The LED sent from the shelf 1 together with the serial number when the serial number is compared with the serial number retrieved from the database 6 based on the document name input to the management personal computer 5 and the two match. It is conceivable to graphically display the placement position of the document box 3 on the shelf 1 according to the information indicating the position of the document.

  Further, as described above, instead of detecting the placement position of the desired document box 3, it is possible to confirm whether or not the document box 3 is placed at a predetermined position on the shelf 1. . In that case, the serial number of the IC label 2 affixed to the document box 3 and the placement position of the document box 3 on the shelf 1 are associated with each other and registered in the database 6, and processing similar to that described above is performed. Thus, the serial number is read from the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 placed on the shelf 1, and the read serial number and the position information from which the serial number is read are stored in the database 6 in advance. By comparing with the registered information, it is confirmed whether or not the document box 3 is placed at a predetermined position on the shelf 1.

  In the present embodiment, the document box 3 is described as an example of the article placed on the shelf 1, but the IC label 2 is attached as the article placed on the shelf 1. As long as it is a thing, not only a document box but a book, MD cartridge, or a component supply cartridge in which components are stored can be applied. In addition, it is conceivable that, for example, an IC tag is attached to a wristwatch, an antenna and an LED are provided on the display shelf, and the position of the wristwatch on the display shelf is managed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a book placed on a shelf used in the article position detection system of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a shelf material on which the book 7 shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection method of the mounting position in case the book 7 is mounted on the shelf material.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in a book 7 placed on a shelf, an IC label 2 is attached to the spine. Further, in the shelf material on which the book 7 to which the IC label 2 is attached is placed in this manner, as shown in FIG. 6, when the book 7 is placed, it is in an area where the book 7 is not placed, and The LED 321 is provided in a region where the IC label 2 attached to the book 7 can be irradiated with light.

  Thus, when the book 7 shown in FIG. 5 is placed on the shelf 301 shown in FIG. 6, the placement position of the book 7 on the shelf 301 is detected by the same processing as described above. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the IC label 2 is affixed to an area that receives external light, the IC label 2 is covered with an infrared filter and an infrared LED is used as the LED. It is possible to detect the placement position of the article on the shelf without being affected by the above. Moreover, what is necessary is just to use infrared LED as LED, also when making the light emission state of LED provided in the shelf material invisible from the outside.

  In addition to the form shown in FIG. 5, when the article to which the IC label 2 is attached is thin, the area where the IC label 2 is foldable and the light receiving portion is provided It is also conceivable to attach to the article by folding it so that the region including the antenna is attached to the surface placed on the shelf and attached to the surface adjacent to the surface placed on the shelf. Thereby, even if an article is thin, the opening area of the antenna in the IC label 2 can be increased, and the communication distance can be prevented from being shortened.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the shelf material used in the article position detection system of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-n are provided in a matrix on the LED substrate 120 provided inside the plate-shaped housing 110, as shown in FIG. Is different.

  When the shelf material 101 configured in this way is used, even when a plurality of articles are placed in the depth direction of the shelf material 101, even the position of the article in the depth direction can be detected. In addition, instead of providing LEDs in a matrix, it is also possible to detect a position of an article by arranging a plurality of LEDs arranged in a row in the horizontal direction of the shelf material so that the LEDs emit light for each column. It is done.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the shelf material used in the article position detection system of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the LED substrate on which LEDs 21-1 to 21-3 and 22-1 to 22-3 are provided is divided into three as shown in FIG. Each of the LED substrates 220-1 to 220-3 is attached by a mounting screw 223 in a long hole-shaped attachment hole 213 provided in the plate-shaped casing 210, and the LED substrates 220-1 to 220. The only difference is that when the LEDs 22-1 to 22-3 provided in -3 emit light, the window 212 for confirming the light emission state is a long window.

  In the shelf material 201 configured as described above, the LED can be arranged at an arbitrary position according to the size of the article to be placed and the placement position as compared with the one shown in FIG. Articles of a size can be placed. Moreover, the number of LED boards 220-1 to 220-3 is not limited to three, and only one LED board may be provided so as to be movable on the shelf 201.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coiled antenna 11 is formed in the plate-shaped casings 10, 110, 210, and the antenna 11 and the IC label 2 attached to the document box 3 are resonated to thereby generate the IC. The electromagnetic method for reading information from the label 2 has been described as an example. However, it is also possible to form a dipole antenna or the like on the plate-shaped housings 10, 110, 210 and read the information by a radio wave method. .

  In addition, mounting holes 13 and 213 are provided as mounting portions in the plate-shaped housings 10, 110, and 210, and the LED boards 20, 120, 220-1 to 220 are mounted using mounting screws 23 and 223 in the mounting holes 13 and 213. -3 is attached, but the attachment of the LED boards 20, 120, 220-1 to 220-3 to the plate-like housings 10, 110, 210 is not limited to this, and may be performed using known means. Conceivable.

  Moreover, in LED22-1 to 22-8 which shows the mounting position of articles | goods, if LED21-1 to 21-8 is visually recognizable from the outside, it is not necessary to provide.

  Also, as described above, when light is received, an optical switch is not provided so that information can be read from the RF-ID media, but the light from the RF-ID media is not received. It is also possible to provide an optical switch so that information can be read out. In that case, for example, in the IC label 2 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the optical switch 48 is connected in parallel with the antenna 51, and the optical switch 48 is in the ON state when light is received. As a result, when no current is supplied to the IC chip 40 and no light is received, the optical switch 48 is turned off and current is supplied to the IC chip 40. When the optical switch 48 is provided in this way, the LEDs provided on the shelf are sequentially set to the OFF state, or all the LEDs provided on the shelf are caused to emit light, and the light of each LED is blocked. It is conceivable to detect the placement position of the article.

  It is also conceivable that the above-described shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 are configured using a plurality of stages, or placed on a shelf of a storage member such as a rack. In that case, the shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 are used as the article position detection device. When the shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 are used as an article position detection device, the control unit 33 is provided with communication means for communicating with the host system and, for example, switching of an IP address used for communication, a dip switch, or the like Thus, identification information that can identify the shelf material is set for each shelf material.

  When the position of the article is detected using the shelf material having such a configuration, an instruction similar to the instruction from the management personal computer 5 in the above-described embodiment and the IC label attached to the article to be searched are received from the host system. The written identification information is given to the shelf material, and thereafter, in the shelf material, the LEDs emit light sequentially and the information is read from the IC label in the same manner as described above. When the information that matches the identification information given from the host system is read, the information indicating the position of the LED to which the current is supplied at the timing when the identification information is read can be identified. Identification information is transmitted to the host system. In the host system, since the actual position information corresponding to the identification information capable of identifying the shelf material and the information indicating the position of the LED is registered in advance, the actual position can be specified based on the received information. Become. Note that the lighting (or blinking) time of the LEDs 22-1 to 22-8 for displaying the position of the article may be controlled by the shelf, but the lighting (or blinking) is controlled by the host system. You may comprise as follows.

  Further, instead of placing articles on the shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 arranged in the article placement area, the shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 are stood against the article placement area. It is also possible to arrange and place the article in front of it. Even in that case, the LEDs 21-1 to 21-n and 321 emit light toward the article placement region. Further, the IC label 2 is preferably attached to the surface facing the shelf materials 1, 101, 201, 301 when the article is placed in the placement area.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the shelf material which is a shelf member used for the article | item position detection system of this invention, (a) is an external appearance perspective view, (b) is a figure which shows an internal structure. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the IC label which is RF-ID media used for the article | item position detection system of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows a structure, (b) is a block diagram which shows a function structure. . It is a figure which shows the structural example of the document box which is the articles | goods mounted on the shelf shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting a placement position of a document box in a state where the document box shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the shelf shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the book mounted on the shelf material used for the article | item position detection system of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a shelf material on which the book shown in FIG. 5 is placed and a placement position detection method when the book is placed on the shelf material. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows other embodiment of the shelf material used for the article | item position detection system of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows other embodiment of the shelf material used for the article | item position detection system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 101, 201, 301 Shelf 2 IC label 3 Document box 4 Barcode information 5 Management personal computer 6 Database 10, 110, 210 Plate-shaped housing 11, 51 Antenna 12-1 to 12-8, 212 Window 13, 213 Mounting hole 20, 220-1 to 220-3, 320 LED board 21-1 to 21-n, 22-1 to 22-8 LED
23, 223 mounting screws 30 control board 31 information reading unit 32 LED switch 33, 46 control unit 40 IC chip 41 light receiving unit 42 switching unit 43 power generation unit 44 demodulation unit 45 modulation unit 47 memory 48 optical switch 49 terminal 50 base Base material

Claims (3)

An article position detection system for detecting the position of an article placed in a placement area,
RF-ID media attached to the article;
A shelf member arranged in the placement area,
The shelf member is
An antenna for reading information from the RF-ID media attached to the article placed in the placement area;
Information reading means for reading information from the RF-ID medium via the antenna;
A light emitting element provided so as to be movable in the shelf member and to emit light toward the placement region of the article;
Control means for controlling a light emitting operation in the light emitting element,
The RF-ID medium is an optical switch that switches between a state in which information can be read out through the antenna in the information reading unit and a state in which information cannot be read out depending on whether light emitted from the light emitting element is received or not. An article position detection system comprising: The article position detection system according to claim 1 .
The article position detection system, wherein the RF-ID medium has at least a light receiving surface of the optical switch attached to a placement surface of the article on the placement area. In the article position detection system according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The shelf member has display means provided corresponding to the light emitting element,
The control means is a light emitting element that is in a light emitting state so as to enable reading of information from the RF-ID medium when information is read from the RF-ID medium via the antenna. An article position detection system characterized by driving corresponding display means.

Images