JP5394339B2 - RFID tag sensing system and sensing light emitting tag - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an RFID tag sensing system and a sensing light emitting tag that make it possible to visually sense and identify an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag selected by a reader / writer.

  The wireless IC tag has an advantage that tag information can be read from a remote location, but in order to reliably identify which wireless IC tag has been read, it is necessary to read near the wireless IC tag. This point is a bottleneck in reducing the man-hours for applying the wireless IC tag to warehouse management and the like, and particularly an important problem in the UHF band where radio wave diffusion is large.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a search system that has an oscillation device and a tag attached to each search object, and the search system searches for the search object, the oscillation device includes electromagnetic wave radiation means that radiates electromagnetic waves, and the tag radiates from the oscillation device. A resonance circuit that resonates by electromagnetic induction when the electromagnetic wave to be generated has a predetermined frequency, and a notification means that is activated by an electromotive force supplied when the resonance circuit resonates and performs a predetermined notification to the searcher A search system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707.

  Further, the radio field intensity is maximized based on the antenna for receiving the radio wave transmitted by the RFID tag, the radio wave intensity detecting means for detecting the radio wave intensity of the radio wave received by the antenna, and the radio wave intensity detected by the radio wave intensity detecting means. Patent Document 2 discloses an RFID tag search device including a local maximum value detecting unit that detects that a value has been indicated, and a notification unit that notifies that the local maximum value detecting unit has detected a local maximum value of radio field intensity. .

JP 2004-101483 A JP 2004-354351 A

  However, since the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is identified by the light and sound emitted by the tag, the tag becomes expensive.

  Moreover, in what was disclosed by patent document 2, since position information was calculated | required based on the intensity | strength of an electromagnetic wave and an RFID tag was identified, workability | operativity was bad and the precision was bad.

Therefore, an object of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is to provide a system capable of visually identifying an RFID tag when it is selected by a reader / writer. is there.

The RFID tag sensing system of the present invention is an RFID tag sensing system including tag selection sensing means for sensing that an RFID tag having an RFID chip storing unique identification information is selected by a reader / writer,
When the RFID tag receives its own RFID tag selection radio wave from the reader / writer, the RFID tag transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected as a reflected radio wave to the reader / writer in response to the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer. An RFID tag antenna
On the other hand, the reader / writer includes a reader / writer antenna for transmitting a tag selection radio wave to the RFID tag and receiving a reflected radio wave from the RFID tag.
Further, the tag selection sensing means receives a signal for selecting the own tag transmitted from the RFID tag, and the RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer based on the received signal for selecting the own tag. A light-electric conversion unit that receives laser light emitted from the laser irradiation unit of the reader / writer and converts it into electric energy, and the RFID tag uses the electric energy to detect the reader / writer. It is characterized by comprising a light-emitting unit that emits light upon detection of selection by the / writer and makes it possible to visually identify the selection by the reader / writer.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the RFID tag and the sensing light emitting tag are separably attached.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the RFID tag antenna of the RFID tag and the light emitting tag antenna of the sensing light emitting tag are overlapped to effect electromagnetic coupling between the RFID tag and the sensing light emitting tag. It has been broken.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the RFID tag and the sensing light emitting tag are connected by an antenna portion.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the reader / writer uses laser light as the light emitted to the sensing light emitting tag.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the reader / writer uses infrared rays instead of laser light emitted to the sensing light emitting tag.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the reader / writer includes light irradiation scanning means for scanning light irradiation in a plane.

  The RFID tag sensing system of the present invention is a laser light generator that emits laser light to a sensing light emitting tag when the reader / writer has a barcode attached to a product to which the RFID tag is attached. And a bar code reader laser beam generator for reading the bar code.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the reader / writer and the laser light generator for irradiating the sensing light emitting tag with laser light are separated.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag includes a liquid crystal element for displaying that the RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the reader / writer includes means for modulating the laser light to be irradiated, and the sensing light emitting tag distinguishes the light emitting element from the laser light and other light. And means for controlling the light emission of the light emitting element.

  The RFID tag sensing system of the present invention comprises means for outputting a detection radio wave simultaneously with the light emission of the light emitting element when the sensing light emitting tag responds to the detection device.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag stores means that the RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer, and when the reader / writer emits laser light, the light emitting element of the light emitting element is Means for controlling light emission.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, whether or not the sensing light-emitting tag stores the fact that the RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer can be determined according to the modulation information of the irradiated laser beam. Have means.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag includes means for recalling / erasing the memory that the RFID tag has been selected by the reader / writer.

  In the RFID tag sensing system of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag guides emitted light or received light to an arbitrary position by an optical fiber.

  The sensing light emitting tag of the present invention includes a light emitting tag antenna that receives a selectable signal of the self tag through electromagnetic coupling with the RFID tag antenna of the RFID tag, and a reader that receives the selectable signal of the self tag. A tag selection sensing means for detecting the selection by the / writer, a light receiving means for receiving the light emitted from the reader / writer, a light-electric conversion means for converting the received light into electric energy, and an RFID tag And a light emitting unit that emits light using electric energy when a signal indicating that the self tag can be selected is transmitted.

As described above, according to the present invention, when R FID tag is read by the reader / writer emits light from the reader / writer, visually identify that the RFID tag on the basis of the light is read Is possible.

The block diagram which shows the RFID tag sensing system which concerns on the Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an RFID tag sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light emission principle explanatory drawing explaining the light emission principle of the light emission tag for a sensing in the RFID tag sensing system based on the Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the selection state of the RFID tag by the reader / writer in the RFID tag sensing system based on the Example of this invention.

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

  The RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention includes an RFID tag 1, a reader / writer 2 that reads data from the RFID tag 1 and writes data to the RFID tag 1, and the RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2. This is a system that includes a sensing light-emitting tag 3 that emits light upon sensing that the RFID tag 1 selected by the reader / writer 2 can be visually detected.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the RFID tag 1 receives the transmission radio wave from the reader / writer 2 and transmits the reflected radio wave to the reader / writer 2, and the identification unique to the RFID tag. And an RFID chip 11 in which information is stored.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected in response to a transmission wave from the reader / writer 2.

  The RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention includes a reader / writer antenna 20 in which a reader / writer 2 transmits a tag selection radio wave to the RFID tag 1 and receives a reflected radio wave from the RFID tag 1, and a sensing light emitting tag. 3 is provided with light irradiation means for irradiating light, and light irradiation control means for controlling light irradiation.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag 3 receives a signal indicating that the tag can be selected by electromagnetic coupling with the RFID tag antenna 10 and the received tag can be selected. The tag selection sensing means for detecting that the RFID tag 1 has been selected by the reader / writer 2 based on the above signal, the light receiving means for receiving the light emitted from the reader / writer 2, and the received light is converted into electrical energy. An optical-electrical conversion means and a light emitting means for emitting light using electrical energy when the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected are provided.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the RFID tag 1 and the sensing light emitting tag 3 are detachably attached.

  The RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention superimposes the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1 and the light emitting tag antenna 30 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 so that the electromagnetic waves between the RFID tag 1 and the sensing light emitting tag 3 are electromagnetic. Joining is taking place.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the RFID tag 1 and the sensing light emitting tag 3 are connected by an antenna portion.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, a laser beam is used as light that the reader / writer 2 irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, infrared light is used instead of the laser light that the reader / writer 2 irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the reader / writer 2 includes light irradiation scanning means for scanning light irradiation in a plane.

  The RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention is configured such that the reader / writer 2 irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3 with laser light when a barcode is also attached to the product to which the RFID tag 1 is attached. The generator and the laser beam generator of the bar code reader that reads the bar code are also used.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, a reader / writer 2 and a laser beam generator for irradiating a sensing light emitting tag 3 with a laser beam are separated.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag 3 includes a liquid crystal element that displays that the RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the reader / writer 2 includes means for modulating the laser light to be irradiated, and the sensing light emitting tag 3 distinguishes the light emitting element 31 from the laser light and other light. And means for controlling the light emission of the light emitting element 31.

  The RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention includes means for outputting a detection radio wave simultaneously with the light emission of the light emitting element 31 when the sensing light emitting tag 3 responds to the detection device.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag 3 stores the means that the RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2, and the reader / writer 2 irradiates the laser beam according to the stored information. And means for controlling light emission of the light emitting element 31.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, whether or not the sensing light emitting tag 3 stores the fact that the RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2 is determined according to the modulation information of the irradiated laser beam. It has means that can.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag 3 is provided with means for calling / erasing the memory that the RFID tag 1 has been selected by the reader / writer 2.

  In the RFID tag sensing system S of the present invention, the sensing light emitting tag 3 guides light emitted or received light to an arbitrary position by an optical fiber.

  The sensing light emitting tag according to the present invention includes a light emitting tag antenna 30 that receives a signal indicating that the tag can be selected by electromagnetic coupling with the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1, and an RFID based on the signal that can be selected. Tag selection sensing means for detecting that the tag 1 has been selected by the reader / writer 2, light receiving means for receiving light emitted from the reader / writer 2, and light-electric conversion for converting the received light into electrical energy And a light emitting means for emitting light using electrical energy when the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an RFID tag sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the RFID tag sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID tag sensing system S includes a passive RFID tag 1 that does not incorporate a power source, a reader / writer 2, and a sensing light emitting tag 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the RFID tag 1 includes an RFID tag antenna 10 that receives a transmission radio wave from the reader / writer 2 and transmits a reflected radio wave to the reader / writer 2, and an identification unique to the RFID tag. And an RFID chip 11 storing information.

  The RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected / cannot be selected in response to the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reader / writer 2 includes a reader / writer antenna 20 that transmits a tag selection radio wave that is a transmission radio wave to the RFID tag 1 and receives a reflected radio wave from the RFID tag 1. A read / write unit 21 that reads data from the RFID tag 1 and writes data to the RFID tag 1, a laser irradiation unit 22 that is a light irradiation unit that irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3 with laser light, and a laser beam And a laser irradiation control circuit 23 which is a light irradiation control means for controlling the irradiation.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensing light emitting tag 3 includes a light emitting tag antenna 30 that receives a signal indicating that the tag can be selected / not selectable by electromagnetic coupling with the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1, and A tag selection sensing unit 32 which is tag selection sensing means for sensing that the RFID tag 1 is selected or not selected by the reader / writer 2 based on the received signal indicating whether or not the tag can be selected; A light receiving unit 33 that is a light receiving unit that receives laser light emitted from the laser irradiation unit 22 of the writer 2, a light-electric conversion unit 34 that is a light-electric conversion unit that converts the received laser light into electrical energy, When the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the self tag can be selected, a light emitting unit 35 that emits light using electric energy, and a light emission control that controls light emission of the light emitting unit 35. And a control unit 36 is a means.

  The RFID tag 1 and the sensing light emitting tag 3 can be separated as shown in FIG.

  By superimposing the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1 and the light emitting tag antenna 30 of the sensing light emitting tag 3, the RFID tag 1 and the sensing light emitting tag 3 are electromagnetically coupled.

  The RFID tag 1 is attached to a product that is an object.

  The RFID chip 11 of the RFID tag 1 may store product identification information for identifying a product as identification information unique to the RFID tag.

  The sensing light emitting tag 3 is attached to a product by electromagnetically coupling the light emitting tag antenna 30 to the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1.

FIG. 3 is a light emission principle explanatory diagram illustrating the light emission principle of the sensing light emitting tag in the RFID tag sensing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sensing light emitting tag 3 buffers a signal obtained from the light emitting tag antenna 30 electromagnetically coupled to the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1 and transmits the signal to an internal circuit. A signal demodulation circuit 38 that demodulates the signal buffered by the signal buffer circuit 37, a light emission presence / absence determination unit 39 that determines whether or not the light emitting element 31 emits light, and a control signal that generates a light emission control signal of the light emitting element 31 A generation unit 40, a switch 41 for opening and closing an electric circuit of the light emitting element 31, a light-electric conversion element 42 as a light-electric conversion unit 34 for converting laser light irradiated by the reader / writer 2 into electric energy, A light emitting element 31 as a light emitting unit 35 that emits light using this electric energy is provided.

Hereinafter, the principle of light emission of the sensing light emitting tag will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the signal buffer circuit 37 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 buffers a selectable / non-selectable signal of the own tag as a signal obtained from the light emitting tag antenna 30 electromagnetically coupled to the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1. The antenna circuit and the internal circuit are electrically separated from each other, and a signal is transmitted to the internal circuit.

  When the signal buffer circuit 37 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 outputs the analog signal S1 having a waveform when there is an RFID response shown in FIG. The analog signal S1 having a waveform when there is a response is demodulated into a digital signal S2, and the demodulated digital signal S2 is output to the light emission presence / absence determination unit 39.

  Next, the light emission presence / absence determining unit 39 determines that the light emitting element 31 emits light from the digital signal S2, and then the control signal generating unit 40 generates a control signal S3 for controlling the light emission of the light emitting element 31 based on the digital signal S2. By outputting the generated control signal S3 to the switch 41, it is possible to cause the light emitting element 31 to emit light during the light emission period T of the control signal S3 using the electric energy converted by the photoelectric conversion element 42 from the laser beam.

  Further, when the signal buffer circuit 37 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 outputs the analog signal S11 having a waveform when there is no RFID response shown in FIG. Is demodulated to a digital signal S12, and the demodulated digital signal S12 is output to the light emission presence / absence determination unit 39.

  Next, the light emission presence / absence determining unit 39 determines from the digital signal S12 that the light emitting element 31 does not emit light, and then the control signal generating unit 40 generates a control signal S13 for controlling the light emission of the light emitting element 31 based on the digital signal S12. Since the generated control signal S13 is output to the switch 41, the light emitting element 31 does not emit light.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a selection state of the RFID tag by the reader / writer in the RFID tag sensing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the reader / writer 2 is selected using electric energy obtained by irradiating the laser light irradiation area 50 of the plurality of RFID tags 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, and 1 d with laser light and converting the laser light. Only the light emitting portion 35 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 having the light emitting tag antenna electromagnetically coupled to the RFID tag antenna of the RFID tag 1c is caused to emit light.

Next, processing when an RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer of the RFID tag in the RFID tag sensing system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, when the user selects the RFID tag 1 to be visually detected by the reader / writer 2, the reader / writer antenna 20 of the reader / writer 2 transmits the tag selection radio wave to the RFID tag 1 and reflects from the RFID tag 1. The radio wave is received, and the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected with respect to the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer 2.

  Further, the laser irradiation unit 22 of the reader / writer 2 irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3 with laser light.

  The light emitting tag antenna 30 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 receives a signal indicating that the tag can be selected by electromagnetic coupling with the RFID tag antenna 10 of the RFID tag 1 and is electromagnetically coupled to the RFID tag antenna 10. The RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2 based on the signal indicating whether the tag can be selected / not selected by the tag selection sensing unit 32 of the sensing light emitting tag 3. It is detected that it has been selected or not selected.

  Further, when the light receiving unit 33 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 receives the laser light emitted from the laser irradiating unit 22 of the reader / writer 2, the laser light received by the light-electric conversion unit 34 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 is electrically converted. When converted into energy and the RFID tag 1 transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected, the light emitting unit 35 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 emits light using this electric energy, and the control unit 36 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 The light emission of the light emitting unit 35 is controlled.

  By causing the light emitting unit 35 of the sensing light emitting tag 3 to emit light, the user can reliably identify the RFID tag 1 selected by the reader / writer 2 visually from a remote place.

The RFID tag sensing system of the present invention is provided with a sensing light emitting tag 3 having an antenna portion (light emitting tag antenna 30) that is electromagnetically coupled to the antenna portion (RFID tag antenna 10) of the RFID tag 1. In the light emitting tag 3, the tag selection sensing unit 32 in the sensing light emitting tag 3 detects that the RFID tag 1 is selected by the reader / writer 2 and is in a response state through the antenna unit (light emitting tag antenna 30). The reader / writer 2 irradiates the sensing light emitting tag 3 with laser light, converts the laser light into electrical energy by the light-electric conversion unit 34 in the sensing light emitting tag 3, and uses this electrical energy for sensing. The light emitting unit 35 of the light emitting tag 3 emits light to sense that the RFID tag 1 has been selected by the reader / writer 2.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d RFID tag 2 Reader / writer 3 Sensing light emitting tag 10 RFID tag antenna 11 RFID chip 20 Reader / writer antenna 21 Read / write unit 22 Laser irradiation unit (light irradiation means)
23 Laser irradiation control circuit (light irradiation control means)
30 Light emitting tag antenna 31 Light emitting element 32 Tag selection sensing unit (tag selection sensing means)
33 Light-receiving part (light-receiving means)
34 Light-electric conversion part (light-electric conversion means)
35 Light emitting part (light emitting means)
36 Control unit (light emission control means)
37 Signal buffer circuit 38 Signal demodulation circuit 39 Light emission presence / absence judgment unit 40 Control signal generation unit 41 Switch 42 Photo-electric conversion element 50 Laser light irradiation area S RFID tag sensing system S1 Analog signal S2 Digital signal S3 Control signal S11 Analog signal S12 Digital Signal S13 Control signal T Light emission period

Claims (1)

An RFID tag sensing system including tag selection sensing means for sensing that an RFID tag having an RFID chip storing unique identification information is selected by a reader / writer,
When the RFID tag receives its own RFID tag selection radio wave from the reader / writer, the RFID tag transmits a signal indicating that the tag can be selected as a reflected radio wave to the reader / writer in response to the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer. An RFID tag antenna
On the other hand, the reader / writer includes a reader / writer antenna for transmitting a tag selection radio wave to the RFID tag and receiving a reflected radio wave from the RFID tag.
Further, the tag selection sensing means receives a signal for selecting the own tag transmitted from the RFID tag, and the RFID tag is selected by the reader / writer based on the received signal for selecting the own tag. A light-electric conversion unit that receives laser light emitted from the laser irradiation unit of the reader / writer and converts it into electric energy, and the RFID tag uses the electric energy to detect the reader / writer. An RFID tag sensing system comprising: a light-emitting unit that senses the selection by the / writer and emits light, and that can be visually identified as selected by the reader / writer.

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