JP5425602B2 - Reader / writer antenna and reader / writer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reader / writer antenna and a reader / writer, and more particularly to a configuration technology of a reader / writer antenna installed on a shelf in a fixture.

  Traditionally, in institutions and facilities that manage and store large amounts of documents, such as government offices, companies, etc., in order to automatically manage and store files for organizing and storing documents accurately and without human error, An attempt is made to automate file management by attaching an RFID tag to each file, recording the management information of the file on the RFID tag, and storing the information in a cabinet in which a reader / writer is installed. However, since general cabinets are often made of steel (made of metal), when the RFID tag approaches metal, there arises a problem that communication is not performed accurately due to a change in the resonance frequency or a lack of necessary operating power.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the RFID tag 20 attached to the file 22 is close to the cabinet 21, there is a problem that the recorded information of the RFID tag 20 cannot be read accurately by the reader / writer 23. . In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 4B, an auxiliary member 24 such as a spacer, a magnetic material, or an auxiliary antenna is arranged on both sides to increase the distance between the file and the cabinet 21, or to reduce the magnetic field. A method has been adopted in which the RFID tag can be identified by expanding the route. However, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the cabinet 21 is larger than the reader / writer 23, the auxiliary member 24 is disposed outside the communication range of the reader / writer 23, so that a sufficient effect cannot be expected. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4D, when the auxiliary member 24 is integrally formed with the reader / writer 23, there is a possibility that they are damaged during packing and transportation. Further, as shown in FIG. 4E, when the reader / writer 23 is installed in the storage portion of the cabinet 21, there is a problem that the auxiliary member 24 cannot be installed in the cabinet due to the obstruction.
As one of the methods for solving the above problems at the time of installation, Patent Document 1 discloses an assembly-type space antenna that is folded and transported and assembled on site.

JP 2003-95199 A

However, although the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 discloses an antenna that can be easily assembled in outer space, the object, application, and configuration are different from those of the present invention. It is not a technology to do.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an antenna for a reader / writer is pivotably opened and closed in the left-right direction by a back plate attached to the back surface of the article housing portion and both left and right end portions of the back plate. By configuring the base member with the supported side plate and the antenna element attached to the base member, when installing the reader / writer antenna in the article accommodating portion, the side plate is folded to facilitate installation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a reader / writer antenna that can prevent a breakage accident during transportation.
Another object of the present invention is to accurately detect whether or not the side plate has been normally set by including detection means for detecting whether or not the side plate has been opened by a predetermined angle.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a reader for reading and writing recorded information on a non-contact information recording medium attached to an article accommodated from another opening surface in an article accommodating portion having at least a side surface. An antenna for a writer, comprising a base member and an antenna element attached to the base member, wherein the base member includes a back plate close to the back surface of the article housing portion, and left and right ends of the back plate Each of the antenna elements is mounted on the back plate and / or each of the side plates.
The reader / writer antenna installed in the article storage unit is arranged so that information on a non-contact information recording medium attached to an article (for example, a file) stored in a shelf can be reliably read and written. However, since many article storage parts are made of metal, the non-contact information recording medium located near both ends of the shelf responds correctly because the resonance frequency changes due to the influence of metal or the required operating power is insufficient. Things that cannot be done occur. Therefore, place spacers at both ends to make space, or use magnetic members for the spacers to form a magnetic path for the magnetic field, or bend the antenna element at right angles at both ends and be close to both ends Communication with non-contact information recording media was possible.
However, when magnetic members and antenna elements are attached at right angles at both ends, there is a problem that when the reader / writer antenna is installed on the shelf, the magnetic members and antenna elements protruding at right angles are difficult to install. . Therefore, in the present invention, the side plate of the base member can be opened and closed in the left-right direction. As a result, when installing the reader / writer antenna, the side plate can be folded to facilitate installation. Further, when the antenna is transported, the side plate is folded and transported, so that a breakage accident can be prevented in advance. Furthermore, it leads to size reduction of a packing box and reduction of packing materials.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the side plate is constituted by a non-conductive member or / and a magnetic member.
In many cases, the article storage unit is made of metal. For this reason, when the non-contact information recording medium comes close to the article storage unit, there arises a problem that the resonance frequency changes, or that the required operating power is insufficient and cannot respond correctly. Therefore, in the present invention, the side plate is formed of a non-conductive member and / or a magnetic member, and in the case of a non-conductive member, a space is formed between the non-contact information recording medium and the article storage unit, thereby non-contact information recording. The medium and the article storage unit are separated from each other. In the case of a magnetic member, the magnetic path of the magnetic field emitted from the antenna element is formed to reduce the influence of the metal. Thereby, even if the article accommodating portion is made of metal, it is possible to reduce the influence of the metal and to communicate with the non-contact information recording medium.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting whether or not each side plate is opened at a predetermined angle.
Since the side plate is configured to be openable and closable in the left-right direction, when the article is accommodated in a folded state, it is difficult to visually recognize the side plate from the outside. Also, when operating in this state, it becomes difficult to clearly determine whether or not it is operating normally. In view of this, the present invention includes detection means for detecting whether or not the side plate is opened at a predetermined angle. Thereby, it can be accurately detected by the detecting means whether or not the side plate is set normally.

A fourth aspect of the present invention activates the reader / writer antenna according to any one of the first to third aspects and the reader / writer antenna when the detection means detects that the side plates are opened at a predetermined angle. And a control unit that performs control so as to make it happen.
In the reader / writer antenna of the present invention, the state in which the side plate (spacer, magnetic member or antenna element) is opened at a predetermined angle is a normal state. Therefore, the reader / writer activates the reader / writer antenna when the detection means detects that each side plate is opened by a predetermined angle. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the installation state of the reader / writer antenna, and it is possible to prevent an unnecessary magnetic field from being emitted. The activation includes the emission of a magnetic field, the power on of the device itself, the connection possibility with a host device (PC, etc.), and the like.

According to the present invention, since the side plate of the antenna element can be opened and closed in the left-right direction, when installing the reader / writer antenna, the side plate can be folded and installed. Further, when the antenna is transported, the side plate is folded and transported, whereby an accident that damages the reader / writer antenna can be prevented.
Further, the spacer is made of a non-conductive member or / and a magnetic member, and a space or / and a magnetic path is formed between the non-contact information recording medium and the article containing portion, and the article containing portion is made of metal. Even in this case, it is possible to reduce the influence of the metal and to communicate with the non-contact information recording medium.
Moreover, since the detection means for detecting whether or not the side plate is opened by a predetermined angle is provided, it can be accurately detected by the detection means whether or not the side plate is set normally.
The reader / writer activates the reader / writer antenna when the detection means detects that the side plate has been opened at a predetermined angle, so that the installation state of the reader / writer antenna can be reliably detected, which is unnecessary. Emitting a magnetic field can be prevented.

(A) is a perspective view when the side plate is opened, (b) is a perspective view when the side plate is closed, (A) is a top view when the side plate is opened, and (B) is an upper surface when the side plate is closed. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the procedure which installs the antenna for reader / writers in the shelf of a cabinet, (b) is the figure which opened the side plate after installation. (A) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader / writer unit of the present invention, and (b) is for storing a file in which an antenna for reader / writer is installed in a cabinet and an RFID tag (not shown) is attached to a shelf. It is a figure which shows the state which carried out. (A) is a figure explaining the subject of the RFID tag close to the metal, (b) is a diagram in which spacers are inserted at both ends, (c) is a diagram explaining the subject when the reader / writer is narrower than the cabinet, (D) is a figure which shows the state which damaged the reader / writer provided with the auxiliary member during conveyance, (e) is a figure explaining the subject when installing the reader / writer provided with the auxiliary member in a cabinet.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a reader / writer antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view when the side plate is opened, FIG. 1B is a perspective view when the side plate is closed, FIG. 1A is a top view when the side plate is opened, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view when the side plate is closed.
This reader / writer antenna 50 is a file (from FIG. 2) accommodated in a cabinet (article accommodating portion) 30 (see FIG. 2) having at least a bottom surface (shelf) 11, a rear surface 13, and both left and right side surfaces 10. The reader / writer antenna 50 reads and writes recorded information of an RFID tag (non-contact information recording medium) attached to an article 14, and includes a base member 1 and an antenna element 2 attached to the base member 1. The base member 1 includes a back plate 3 attached to the back surface of the article storage unit 30 and side plates 4 that are pivotally supported by left and right end portions of the back plate 3 so as to be opened and closed in the left and right directions. 2 is mounted on the back plate 3 and / or each side plate 4 respectively.

Further, the side plate 4 is attached to the back plate 3 so as to be openable and closable in the left-right direction by a hinge 5, and is restricted by the claws 6 so that the opening angle does not exceed 90 °. Further, a reinforcing member 7 for reinforcing the side plate 4 is provided. In this embodiment, the back surface of the back plate 3 is provided with a reader / writer unit 9 and a fixed boss portion 8 for fixing the back plate 3 to the cabinet 30. The reader / writer unit 9 may be connected to the base member 1 by a cable. In the present embodiment, the antenna element 2 is provided on the side plate 4, but a non-conductive member or a magnetic member may be used.
That is, the reader / writer antenna 50 installed on the shelf 11 in the cabinet 30 is arranged so that the information of the RFID tag attached to the file 14 placed on the shelf 11 can be reliably read and written. However, since the cabinet 30 is often made of metal, the RFID tag located near the left and right side surfaces 10 of the cabinet 30 cannot respond correctly because the resonance frequency changes due to the influence of metal or the required operating power is insufficient. It happens. Therefore, place spacers on the left and right side surfaces 10 to make space, or use magnetic members for the spacers to form magnetic path of the magnetic field, or place the antenna element at right angles at both ends and close to both ends It was possible to communicate with the RFID tag in

However, when magnetic members and antenna elements are attached at right angles at both ends, there is a problem that when a reader / writer antenna is installed in the cabinet 30, the magnetic members and antenna elements protruding at right angles are difficult to install. is there.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the side plate 4 of the antenna element 2 is configured to be openable and closable in the left-right direction. As a result, when the reader / writer antenna 50 is installed, the side plate 4 can be folded to facilitate installation. Further, when the reader / writer antenna 50 is transported, the side plate 4 is folded and transported to prevent the reader / writer antenna 50 from being damaged. Furthermore, it leads to size reduction of a packing box and reduction of packing materials.
In the present embodiment, the spacer is made of a non-conductive member or / and a magnetic member, and a space or / and a magnetic path is formed between the RFID tag and the cabinet 30, so that the cabinet 30 is made of metal. Even if configured, it is possible to reduce the influence of the metal and enable communication with the RFID tag.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for storing the reader / writer antenna in a cabinet shelf. In FIG. 2A, the side plate 4 of the reader / writer antenna 50 is folded and inserted so as to be placed on the shelf 11 from the front of the cabinet 30 in an oblique manner. From that state, the other is inserted in the direction of the arrow. Then, the fixed boss portion 8 is fixed to the back surface 13 of the cabinet 30 with bolts 12. At this time, the reader / writer unit 9 is not pressed by the cabinet 30 by making the thickness slightly lower than the height of the fixed boss unit 8. After the fixing is completed, the side plate 4 is opened in the direction of the dotted arrow as shown in FIG.
In addition, you may make it provide the switch (detection means) which detects whether the opening angle of the side plate 4 was opened by the predetermined angle. That is, since the side plate 4 is configured to be openable and closable in the left-right direction, it is difficult to visually recognize the side plate 4 from the outside when the file 14 is accommodated in a folded state. Also, when operating in this state, it becomes difficult to clearly determine whether or not it is operating normally. Therefore, in the present embodiment, switches (detecting means) 18 and 19 (see FIG. 3) for detecting whether or not the opening angle of the side plate 4 is opened by a predetermined angle are provided. Thereby, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not the side plate 4 is set normally by the switches 18 and 19 and to detect it by the reader / writer unit 9.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader / writer unit of the present invention. FIG. 3B shows a reader / writer antenna installed in a cabinet and an RFID tag (not shown) attached to the shelf. It is a figure which shows the state which accommodated the file.
The reader / writer unit 9 in FIG. 3A controls the antenna element 2 to be activated when the switches 18 and 19 detect that the opening angle of the base member 1 and the side plate 4 is opened by a predetermined angle. And a control unit 16. In this embodiment, the base members 1 of the shelves A to E are respectively configured by a loop coil 17 and switches 18 and 19 connected in series. And the files 14 are stored in the shelves A to C, and the both side plates 4 are opened. Further, there are no files 14 on the shelves D to E, and the both side plates 4 are closed. In the state of FIG. 3B, since the switches 18 and 19 of the shelves A to C are ON, the control unit 16 considers that the side plates 4 of the shelves A to C are normally set, and thus the antenna element. 2 is activated (emits a magnetic field). Further, since the switches 18 and 19 of the shelves D to E are OFF, the control unit 16 activates the antenna element 2 (emits a magnetic field) by assuming that the side plates 4 of the shelves D to E are not properly set. )do not do. At this time, even if only one side plate 4 is opened, the antenna element 2 is not activated, and is activated only when both side plates 4 are opened. The activation includes the emission of a magnetic field, the power supply of the device itself, the possibility of connection with a host device (PC, etc.), and the like.
That is, in the reader / writer antenna 50 of the present embodiment, the state in which the side plate (spacer, magnetic member, or antenna element) 4 is opened by a predetermined angle is a normal state. Accordingly, the reader / writer unit 9 activates the antenna element 2 when the switches 18 and 19 detect that the side plate 4 is opened by a predetermined angle. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the installation state of the reader / writer antenna 50, and it is possible to prevent an unnecessary magnetic field from being emitted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base member, 2 Antenna element, 3 Back board, 4 Side board, 5 Hinge, 6 Claw, 7 Reinforcement material, 8 Fixed boss part, 9 Reader / writer part, 10 Left and right both sides, 11 Bottom (shelf), 12 Bolt, 13 Back, 14 files, 15 floors, 50 Reader / writer antenna

Claims (4)

A reader / writer antenna for reading and writing recorded information of a non-contact information recording medium attached to an article accommodated from another opening surface in an article accommodating portion having at least a side surface,
A base member and an antenna element attached to the base member,
The base member includes a back plate that is close to the back surface of the article storage unit, and side plates that are pivotally supported by the left and right ends of the back plate so as to be opened and closed in the left and right directions, respectively.
The reader / writer antenna, wherein the antenna element is mounted on the back plate and / or each of the side plates.   The reader / writer antenna according to claim 1, wherein the side plate is made of a non-conductive member and / or a magnetic member.   3. The reader / writer antenna according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect whether or not each side plate is opened at a predetermined angle.   The reader / writer antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and a control to activate the reader / writer antenna when the detection means detects that the side plates are opened at a predetermined angle. A reader / writer.

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