JP5081709B2 - Communication system for RF tag - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system that transmits and receives data to and from an RF tag attached to a product, and more specifically, an RF that can perform stable communication between a plurality of antennas having different antenna characteristics and each RF tag. The present invention relates to a communication system for tags.

  In recent years, in some copiers and printing machines, IC chips called RF tags (non-contact tags) have been attached to consumables in order to be able to manage the consumables' characteristics and usage status in the main body of the apparatus. Yes. For example, in a stencil printing machine, an RF tag is attached to ink bottles and master rolls that are consumables. Among these, the RF tag provided in the ink bottle stores ink color, viscosity, and other data, and transmits the data to the reader / writer device of the printer main body by an antenna built in the tag. Thus, various conditions are adjusted so that stable printing quality can be obtained in the printing unit. Further, the RF tag provided in the master roll stores the characteristics and usage status of the master, and the data is transmitted to the reader / writer device of the printer main body by the antenna built in the tag, thereby making the plate making. The optimal plate making is always possible in the department.

As a conventional technique related to communication between such an RF tag and a reader / writer device, an antenna unit corresponding to a plurality of RF tags is provided on the reader / writer device side, and an antenna corresponding to the RF tag to be communicated is provided. A device that performs communication with a target RF tag by selecting a unit is known (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-172303 A

  A general RF tag is composed of an IC chip and an antenna, and has a one-to-one correspondence with the antenna on the reader / writer device side that is a communication partner. On the other hand, the printing apparatus has a plurality of consumables, and an antenna on the apparatus side is provided in the vicinity of these consumables. However, since consumables are attached at different locations, even if the antenna on the device side has the same configuration, the antenna characteristics differ depending on the wiring length between the reader / writer device and the like. For this reason, there exist combinations in which the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer device and the antenna characteristics of the RF tag do not match, and stable communication may not be performed between the RF tag and the reader / writer device. . The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a technique for solving such problems.

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since a plurality of dedicated antenna units are provided so as to correspond to different antenna characteristics, not only the number of parts increases, but also man-hours for parts management and standard application increase. There was a problem of increased costs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and enables stable communication between a plurality of antennas having different antenna characteristics and an RF tag, and reduces the number of components and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system for an RF tag that can reduce the above-mentioned problem.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided between a reader / writer device to which a plurality of antennas corresponding to a plurality of RF tags are connected and a plurality of RF tags via the reader / writer device. A communication system for an RF tag including a control device for transmitting and receiving data in the device, wherein the control device corresponds to a plurality of tuning data and model code information including information indicating a model of a device using the communication system. A tuning data memory that is attached and held, and a communication control unit that acquires the corresponding tuning data from the tuning data memory based on the input model code information and transmits the tuning data to the reader / writer device, and the reader / writer The apparatus includes a plurality of RF circuits provided for each antenna and capable of tuning RF circuit characteristics, and the communication control unit Is characterized in further comprising an RF circuit tuning unit to tune the RF circuit characteristics of each of the RF circuit on the basis of al transmitted tuning data.

The invention according to claim 2 transmits / receives data between a reader / writer device to which a plurality of antennas corresponding to a plurality of RF tags are connected, and a plurality of RF tags via the reader / writer device. a communication system for RF tag and a control device, said control device holds in association with model code information and a plurality of tuning data including information indicating the type of equipment using the communication system tuning A data memory; and a communication control unit that obtains corresponding tuning data from the tuning data memory based on the input model code information and transmits the tuning data to the reader / writer device, and the reader / writer device includes each antenna. One RF circuit whose RF circuit characteristics can be tuned with the communication control unit at the time of data transmission / reception It is characterized in further comprising an RF circuit tuning unit to tune the RF circuit characteristics of the RF circuit on the basis of the signal has been tuned data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the control device includes a data reading unit that reads the model code information from a storage unit that stores the model code information.

  According to the invention according to the above claims, even when each antenna characteristic on the device side differs depending on wiring or the like, the antenna characteristic of the reader / writer device and the antenna characteristic of the RF tag can be matched. / Stable communication can be performed with the writer device. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a plurality of dedicated antenna units so as to correspond to different antenna characteristics, an increase in the number of components can be suppressed. Furthermore, since one type of reader / writer device can be used regardless of the type of printing press, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of man-hours for parts management and standard application by sharing parts. Therefore, the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

  In particular, in the invention according to claim 2, the number of components can be reduced because one RF circuit can be provided regardless of the number of antennas.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the model code information can be easily read into the control device at the time of manufacture.

  Next, an embodiment of a communication system for RF tags according to the present invention will be described. The communication system according to the present embodiment transmits / receives data to / from an RF tag attached to a consumable in the printing press. Here, the description of the structure of the printer main body is omitted.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system for an RF tag according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a plurality of RF circuits capable of tuning the RF circuit characteristics are provided, and each RF circuit is tuned for each model.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 10, a reader / writer device 20, and antennas 30-1 to 30-3 connected to the reader / writer device 20.

  The control unit 10 is a part that functions as a control device for a printing press main body (not shown), a tuning data memory 11 that holds a plurality of tuning data, and a control unit 12 that controls various operations and data transmission / reception in the printing press main body. And an IC socket 13 as data reading means for reading model code information from a model code memory 40 storing model code information to be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tuning data memory 11 stores the model code information of the printing press and the tuning data corresponding to the model code information in association with each other. As the model code information, a model code that is the model name of the printing press and its destination (region) are set. In addition, as tuning data, five modulation methods, resonance circuit constants, impedance matching circuit constants, attenuator constants, and filter constants in each RF circuit characteristic are set as tuning items. That is, each tuning data is managed as an item of RF circuit characteristics. Therefore, by referring to the tuning memory information as shown in FIG. 2, the corresponding tuning data can be acquired from the model code.

  Although not shown, the tuning data memory 11 stores a model code, an RF circuit identification code corresponding to the model code, and an RF circuit characteristic item corresponding to the identification code. . Therefore, if the model code is known, it is possible to acquire an identification code for specifying an RF circuit built in the printing press and an RF circuit characteristic corresponding to the identification code. That is, the tuning data can be acquired from FIG. 2 as the RF circuit specified by the identification code and the optimum RF circuit characteristic for the RF circuit. Since the RF circuit characteristics shown in FIG. 2 are items included in the tuning data, at least the identification code and the tuning data may be transmitted from the control unit 10 to the reader / writer device 20.

  In the present embodiment, for simplicity of explanation, as shown in FIG. 2, there are two types of model codes, “X series” and “Y series”, and RF circuit characteristics A to C (X series) and RF, respectively. The case where the circuit characteristics D to F (Y series) are used will be described (however, more model codes and RF circuit characteristics are actually set).

  Since the actual communication system is designed as a system common to a plurality of types of printing machines, the tuning data memory 11 stores all model codes and corresponding tuning data at the time of manufacture. For this reason, not all of the stored tuning data is used, but a part of it is actually used. Note that the tuning data described in FIG. 2 shows an example of the embodiment.

  In addition to the function of controlling various operations of the printing press main body, the control unit 12 transmits / receives data to / from each RF tag via the reader / writer device 20, and stores the data in a memory inside the RF tag. Alternatively, a function for controlling reading of data from the memory is provided. Further, as a characteristic feature of the present invention, there is provided a function as a communication control unit that acquires corresponding tuning data from the tuning data memory 11 based on the input model code information and transmits it to the reader / writer device 20. Yes.

  As described above, the control unit 12 in the present embodiment specifies an identification code of the RF circuit built in the reader / writer device 20 based on the model code of the printing press, and acquires tuning data corresponding to the identification code. . The identification code of the RF circuit and the tuning data are associated with each other and transmitted to the reader / writer device 20. As a result, the RF circuit control unit 22 described later knows which RF circuit should be tuned based on which tuning data.

  Note that, as in the present embodiment, all of the three RF circuits may not have different RF circuit characteristics, and some of the plurality of RF circuits may have common RF circuit characteristics. That is, some of the plurality of RF circuits are tuned based on common tuning data.

  The model code information is read out by inserting the model code memory 40 into the IC socket 13 and delivered to the control unit 12 at the time of manufacture. Therefore, when the operator or the like inserts the model code memory 40 into the IC socket 13, the printing machine recognizes its model code and the like. However, the reading of the model code information is not limited to the example in which the model code memory 40 is inserted into the IC socket 13, and various forms are conceivable. For example, a card-type memory may be read by a card reader (or slot) provided in the control unit 10. The reading of the model code information is not limited to the time of manufacture, and may be read when the service person performs tuning work at the installation location of the printing press.

  The control unit 12 is provided with a program corresponding to each modulation method (FM, AM), and when tuning the modulation method, control for switching to any program of FM / AM is executed. That is, in the present embodiment, tuning of the modulation method, which is one of the tuning items, is performed by the control unit 10 instead of the reader / writer device 20.

  The reader / writer device 20 is connected to each of the antennas 30-1 to 30-3, RF circuits 21-1 to 3 (hereinafter referred to as "RF circuit 21" as appropriate) that can tune the RF circuit characteristics, and the control unit 10. The RF circuit control unit 22 that functions as an RF circuit tuning unit that tunes each RF circuit characteristic of the RF circuits 21-1 to 3 based on the transmitted tuning data, and the tuning data transmitted from the control unit 10 are temporarily stored. And a memory 23 for storing.

  Here, the RF circuit 21 will be described. 3 to 6 are circuit diagrams of respective parts constituting the RF circuit. The circuit configurations of the RF circuits 21-1 to 21-3 are common, and as will be described later, the RF circuit characteristics are tuned by supplying an ON (ON) level control signal to each analog switch (FET). In each figure, IN and OUT indicate data transmission / reception paths. It is shown that OUT in the figure is connected to IN in the next figure. For example, OUT in FIG. 3 is connected to IN in FIG.

  FIG. 3A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to the setting of the resonance circuit constant, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the resonance circuit constant is tuned by selectively supplying an on-level control signal to the gates of the FETs A to D and switching the connections of the capacitors A to D to change the circuit capacitance. Is done. For example, in the case of the RF circuit characteristic A, since the resonance circuit constant is 13 MHz, an on-level control signal is given to the FET-A, and only the capacitance of the capacitor A becomes effective. As a result, the resonance circuit constant of this circuit is set to 13 MHz.

  4A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of impedance matching circuit constants, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of tuning contents and the like. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the impedance matching circuit constant selectively supplies an on-level control signal to the gates of the FETs A to F to switch the connections of the inductors A to D and the capacitors A and B. Tuned by changing capacity. For example, in the case of the RF circuit characteristic A, since the impedance matching circuit constant is 30Ω, an on-level control signal is given to the FETs A, C, and E, and the capacitances of the inductors A and C and the capacitor A are effective. Become. Thereby, the impedance matching circuit constant of this circuit is set to 30Ω.

  FIG. 5A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of an attenuator constant, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of tuning contents and the like. As shown in FIG. 5A, the attenuator constant changes the resistance value of the circuit by selectively supplying an ON level control signal to the gates of FET-0 and A to F and switching the connections of the resistors A to F. It is tuned by. For example, in the case of the RF circuit characteristic A, since the attenuator constant is 0 dB, an on-level control signal is given to the FET-0 and it is not connected to any resistor. As a result, in this circuit, there is no connection attenuation due to resistance, and the attenuator constant is set to 0 dB.

  FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram of a part related to setting of filter constants, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of tuning contents and the like. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the filter constant selectively changes the capacitance of the circuit by switching the connection of the capacitors A to D by selectively supplying an ON level control signal to the gates of the FET-0 and AD. Tuned by For example, in the case of the RF circuit characteristic A, since the filter constant is 14 MHz, an on-level control signal is given to the FETs A and C, and the capacities of the capacitors A and C become effective. As a result, the filter constant of this circuit is set to 14 MHz.

  The circuit diagrams (a) shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 show examples in which FETs are used for switching connection of inductors and resistors, but other switching elements are used as long as they function as analog switches. You can also Further, in the present embodiment, since the description is limited to two model codes, the explanatory diagram (b) shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 includes a setting not described in the RF circuit characteristics shown in FIG. ing.

  The reader / writer device 20 will be described again. Antennas 30-1 to 30-3 are connected to the RF circuits 21-1 to 21-3, respectively, by wire. These antennas are arranged in the vicinity of consumables for a printing press (not shown). For example, the antenna 30-1 is an antenna for an ink bottle, and the antenna 30-2 is an antenna for a master roll.

  On the other hand, RF tags 50-1 to 50-3 are attached to each consumable. The circuit configuration of each RF tag is common, and the RF tag 50-1 will be described as a representative in FIG. 1. The RF tag includes an antenna 51 and an IC chip 52. Inside the IC chip 52, circuits such as a transmission unit, a reception unit, and a memory (not shown) are formed. The IC chip 52 of each RF tag stores the data received wirelessly with the corresponding antennas 30-1 to 30-3 in the internal memory, reads out the data stored in the memory, and each corresponding antenna. Processing to transmit to the reader / writer device 20 wirelessly between 30-1 and 30-3 is performed.

  Note that the tuning data memory 11 of the control unit 10 shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 12, and the RF circuit control unit 22 and the memory 23 of the reader / writer device 20 are a central processing unit (CPU) and a random access memory (RAM). It can be constituted by a microcomputer having a read only memory (ROM) and an input / output interface (I / O interface). Each function described above is realized by each CPU performing arithmetic processing on various data according to a preset control program.

  Next, a processing procedure when tuning each RF circuit 21 based on the model code information in the communication system 100 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the processing procedure when the control unit 10 acquires tuning data based on the input model code information will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control unit 12 of the control unit 10 determines whether or not the model code memory 40 is inserted into the IC socket 13 (step S101). If “NO” here, the process waits until a card is inserted. If a card is inserted (YES in step S101), the model code information stored in the model code memory 40 is read via the IC socket 13 (step S102). Next, the control unit 12 acquires the identification code of the RF circuit 21 built in the reader / writer device 20 based on the model code of the read model code information (step S103). Next, the tuning data memory 11 is searched based on the model code, and the corresponding tuning data is acquired (step S104). Then, the previously acquired identification code and tuning data are associated with each other and transmitted to the reader / writer device 20 (step S105).

  The identification code and tuning data transmitted from the control unit 10 to the reader / writer device 20 by the above processing are stored in the memory 23 in the reader / writer device 20.

  As described above, the tuning of the modulation method in the present embodiment is performed in the control unit 10. Therefore, the control unit 12 executes control to switch to either FM or AM program according to the modulation method described in the read model code information when the model code is read.

  Next, a processing procedure when the reader / writer device 20 performs tuning of each RF circuit 21 based on the received tuning data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the RF circuit control unit 22 selects an RF circuit to be tuned based on the data stored in the memory 23 (step S201). Here, among the RF circuits 21-1 to 21-1, for example, the RF circuit 21-1 is selected according to the identification code. Next, the RF circuit control unit 22 acquires tuning data from the memory 23 for the selected RF circuit 21-1, and sets a resonance circuit constant (step S202). The setting of the resonance circuit constant is as described in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). Next, the RF circuit control unit 22 acquires tuning data from the memory 23 for the selected RF circuit 21-1, and sets impedance matching circuit constants (step S203). The impedance matching circuit constants are set as described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Next, the RF circuit control unit 22 acquires tuning data from the memory 23 for the selected RF circuit 21-1, and sets an attenuator constant (step S204). The attenuator constant is set as described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). Next, the RF circuit control unit 22 acquires tuning data from the memory 23 for the selected RF circuit 21-1, and sets a filter constant (step S205). The filter constants are set as described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). By performing each setting from step S202 to step S205, tuning of the RF circuit 21-1 is completed.

  Subsequently, the RF circuit control unit 22 determines whether or not tuning has been completed for all the RF circuits 21 (step S206). If “YES” here, the process by the present routine is terminated. If NO, the process returns to step S201. Thereafter, the RF circuits are selected in the order of the RF circuits 21-2 and 21-3 in accordance with the identification code, the tuning data is acquired from the memory 23, and the processes of steps S202 to S205 are repeated. As a result, the tuning of the RF circuit characteristics is executed for all the RF circuits 21.

  As described above, according to the communication system 100 according to the first embodiment, the corresponding tuning data is acquired from the tuning data memory 11 based on the input model code information and transmitted to the reader / writer device 20, and the reader Since the RF circuit characteristics of each RF circuit 21 are tuned based on the tuning data in the / writer device 20, the antenna of the reader / writer device 20 can be used even when the antenna characteristics on the device side differ depending on the wiring or the like. The characteristics and the antenna characteristics of the corresponding RF tag 50 can be matched. For this reason, it becomes possible to perform stable communication between the RF tags 50-1 to 50-3 and the reader / writer device 20.

  In addition, unlike Patent Document 1 described above, since it is not necessary to provide a plurality of dedicated antenna units so as to correspond to different antenna characteristics, an increase in the number of components can be suppressed. Furthermore, since one type of reader / writer device 20 can cope with the printing machine regardless of the type of the printing press, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of man-hours for parts management and standard application by sharing parts. Therefore, the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

  In the first embodiment, since the IC socket 13 is provided, the model code information can be easily read into the control unit 10 simply by inserting the model code memory 40 into the IC socket 13 at the time of manufacture.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system for RF tags according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment has a configuration in which one RF circuit is provided for each antenna, and data transmission / reception is performed by sequentially tuning the RF circuit according to each antenna characteristic at the time of data transmission / reception.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the communication system 200 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 10, a reader / writer device 20A, and antennas 30-1 to 30-3 connected to the reader / writer device 20A. In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Incidentally, parts having the same names as those of the first embodiment but having different configurations are denoted by “A” at the end of the reference numerals.

  The control unit 12A of the control unit 10 has a function as a communication control unit that acquires the corresponding tuning data from the tuning data memory 11 based on the input model code information and transmits it to the reader / writer device 20A. Here, since the identification code of each RF circuit as in the first embodiment is unnecessary, only tuning data is transmitted. Further, the controller 12A transmits an RF circuit characteristic change request signal to the reader / writer device 20A prior to executing data transmission / reception. This signal is a signal for changing the RF circuit characteristics of the RF circuit 21, and includes identification information indicating any of the RF circuit characteristics A, B, and C (see FIG. 2).

  The RF circuit characteristic change request signal is sent to the control unit 10 when, for example, a time measurement by a timer (not shown) reaches a predetermined time or when an event occurs during operation of the device, for example, to a certain RF tag. On the other hand, it is transmitted when a command for reading / writing information is issued from the control unit 12.

  The reader / writer device 20A is connected to each of the antennas 30-1 to 30-3 and can tune the RF circuit characteristics, and the RF circuit 21 based on tuning data transmitted from the control unit 10 when data is transmitted / received. RF circuit control unit 22A that functions as an RF circuit tuning unit that tunes the RF circuit characteristics, and a memory 23 that stores tuning data transmitted from control unit 10.

  The reader / writer device 20A includes one RF circuit 21. The RF circuit 21 is connected to the antennas 30-1 to 30-3 and functions as an RF circuit common to the antennas. Since the circuit of each part which comprises this RF circuit 21 is the same as the circuit demonstrated in FIGS. 3-6 of Embodiment 1, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, when receiving the tuning data transmitted from the control unit 10, the RF circuit control unit 22 </ b> A stores the tuning data in the memory 23. The memory 23 is configured by, for example, an EEPROM (electrically erasable and writable ROM) that can retain data even when the system power is turned off.

  When the RF circuit control unit 22A receives the RF circuit characteristic change request signal from the control unit 12A of the control unit 10, the RF circuit control unit 22A specifies the RF circuit characteristic from the identification information included in this signal, and the corresponding tuning data is read from the memory 23. read out. And the process which tunes the RF circuit 21 so that it may become a predetermined RF circuit characteristic is performed. As described above, the tuning data transmitted from the control unit 10 is stored in the memory 23 and is read each time an RF circuit characteristic change request signal is received.

  Next, a processing procedure for executing tuning of the RF circuit 21 based on the received tuning data in the reader / writer device 20A of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the control unit 10, the processing procedure when acquiring tuning data based on the input model code information is almost the same as that in FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that only tuning data corresponding to the model code is transmitted.

  First, the RF circuit control unit 22A determines whether an RF circuit characteristic change request signal is received from the control unit 10 (step S301). If “NO” here, the process waits until the signal is received. When the RF circuit characteristic change request signal is received (YES in step S301), the RF circuit characteristic is specified with reference to the identification information included in the signal (step S302). The control unit 10 first transmits an RF circuit characteristic change request signal including identification information indicating the RF circuit characteristic A.

  Next, the RF circuit control unit 22A acquires tuning data from the memory 23 for the RF circuit 21, sets a resonance circuit constant (step S303), sets an impedance matching circuit constant (step S304), and sets an attenuator constant (step S304). Step S305) and filter constant setting (step S306) are performed. The setting of each unit from step S303 to S306 is the same as step S202 to step S205 in FIG.

  Further, when step S306 ends, the RF circuit control unit 22A transmits an RF circuit characteristic change completion signal to the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 (step S307), and ends the processing of this routine.

  Thus, the RF circuit 21 of the reader / writer device 20A is tuned so that the antenna characteristics of the antenna 30-1 connected to the RF circuit 21 and the antenna characteristics of the RF tag 50-1 match. become. Thereafter, the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 transmits / receives data to / from the RF tag 50-1 through the reader / writer device 20A.

  When data transmission / reception with the RF tag 50-1 is completed, the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 transmits an RF circuit characteristic change request signal including identification information indicating the RF circuit characteristic B. The subsequent processing is the same as described above, and the RF circuit control unit 22A of the reader / writer device 20A executes the routine shown in FIG. 10 to tune the RF circuit 21 to the RF circuit characteristic B. As a result, the antenna characteristic of the antenna 30-2 connected to the RF circuit 21 matches the antenna characteristic of the RF tag 50-2. Thereafter, the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 transmits / receives data to / from the RF tag 50-2 through the reader / writer device 20A.

  Further, when data transmission / reception with the RF tag 50-2 is completed, the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 transmits an RF circuit characteristic change request signal including identification information indicating the RF circuit characteristic C. The subsequent processing is the same as described above, and the RF circuit control unit 22A of the reader / writer device 20A executes the routine shown in FIG. 10 to tune the RF circuit 21 to the RF circuit characteristic C. As a result, the antenna characteristic of the antenna 30-3 connected to the RF circuit 21 matches the antenna characteristic of the RF tag 50-3. Thereafter, the control unit 12A of the control unit 10 transmits / receives data to / from the RF tag 50-3 through the reader / writer device 20A.

  As described above, in the communication system 200 according to the second embodiment, the corresponding tuning data is acquired from the tuning data memory 11 based on the input model code information and transmitted to the reader / writer device 20, and the reader / writer In the writer device 20, the RF circuit characteristics of the RF circuit 21 are tuned based on the tuning data at the time of data transmission / reception, so that the reader / writer device can be used even when each antenna characteristic on the device side differs depending on the wiring or the like. The antenna characteristics of 20A and the antenna characteristics of the corresponding RF tag 50 can be matched. Therefore, stable communication can be performed between the RF tags 50-1 to 50-3 and the reader / writer device 20A. Further, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of dedicated antenna units so as to correspond to different antenna characteristics, so that an increase in the number of components can be suppressed. In particular, in the second embodiment, the number of components can be reduced because one RF circuit can be provided regardless of the number of antennas 30. Furthermore, since one type of reader / writer device 20A can cope with the printing machine regardless of the type of the printing press, an increase in the number of man-hours for parts management and standard application can be suppressed by sharing parts. Therefore, the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system for an RF tag according to Embodiment 1. FIG. Explanatory drawing of tuning memory information. FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of resonance circuit constants. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the tuning content and the like. FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of impedance matching circuit constants. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the tuning content and the like. FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of an attenuator constant. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the tuning content and the like. (A) is a circuit diagram of a portion related to setting of filter constants. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the tuning content and the like. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when tuning data is acquired based on model code information in the control unit of the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when tuning of each RF circuit is performed based on tuning data in the reader / writer apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system for an RF tag according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when tuning an RF circuit based on tuning data in the reader / writer device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control unit 11 ... Tuning data memory 12, 12A ... Control part 13 ... IC socket 20, 20A ... Reader / writer apparatus 21 (21-1-3) ... RF circuit 22, 22A ... RF circuit control part 23 ... Memory 30 (30-1 to 3) ... antenna 40 ... model code memory 50 (50-1 to 3) ... RF tag 100, 200 ... communication system

Claims (3)

A reader / writer device to which a plurality of antennas corresponding to a plurality of RF tags are connected, and a control device for transmitting / receiving data to / from the plurality of RF tags via the reader / writer device. A communication system,
The control device, the tuning data on the basis of the tuning data memory for storing in association with model code information and a plurality of tuning data including information indicating the type of equipment using the communication system, model code information input A communication control unit that acquires corresponding tuning data from a memory and transmits the tuning data to the reader / writer device;
The reader / writer device tunes the RF circuit characteristics of each RF circuit based on a plurality of RF circuits provided for each antenna and capable of tuning the RF circuit characteristics, and tuning data transmitted from the communication control unit. An RF circuit tuning unit to perform,
The communication system for RF tags characterized by this. A reader / writer device to which a plurality of antennas corresponding to a plurality of RF tags are connected, and a control device for transmitting / receiving data to / from the plurality of RF tags via the reader / writer device. A communication system,
The control device, the tuning data on the basis of the tuning data memory for storing in association with model code information and a plurality of tuning data including information indicating the type of equipment using the communication system, model code information input A communication control unit that acquires corresponding tuning data from a memory and transmits the tuning data to the reader / writer device;
The reader / writer device includes one RF circuit whose RF circuit characteristics can be tuned for each antenna, and the RF circuit characteristics of the RF circuit based on tuning data transmitted from the communication control unit at the time of data transmission / reception. An RF circuit tuning unit for tuning
The communication system for RF tags characterized by this.   The communication system for an RF tag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device includes a data reading unit that reads the model code information from a storage unit that stores model code information.

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