JP7421311B2 - reader device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reader device that reads information from an RFID tag, and particularly to a reader device configured to be able to hold a mobile terminal.

Conventionally, in order to improve the efficiency of logistics systems and product management systems, a system has been put into practical use in which individual codes are assigned to goods and products, and these codes are used to manage the goods and products. As an example of such a system, an individual code is assigned to each item or product to be managed, and these are associated with each other, and an RFID tag with that code written is attached to the item or product. There is a system for managing goods and products by reading the code written on the tag using a dedicated reader device.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the rapid spread of smartphones, it has been considered that smartphones can be used for various purposes. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to add the function of a reader device to a smartphone by connecting a reader device that reads a code given to an article or product to the smartphone. However, in that case, it is troublesome to connect the reader device to the smartphone, and the reader device and smartphone must be held and operated at the same time, which causes trouble.

Here, the cover set is configured so that a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone and a peripheral device such as a barcode reader connected thereto can be fitted into it, and there are two types of cover sets into which mobile information terminals of different sizes can be fitted. A cover set having a cover is disclosed in Patent Document 1. By using this cover set, even two types of portable information terminals of different sizes can be used as one unit with a peripheral device.

In addition, in a case that holds a mobile device such as a smartphone and a peripheral device such as an RFID tag reader as one unit, by preparing several cases in which four bands for holding the mobile device are fixed with screws, A configuration that allows multiple types of mobile devices to be used together with peripheral devices is disclosed in Patent Document 2.

Patent No. 5996062 JP2014-96128A

However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that a cover suitable for the size of the mobile information terminal must be prepared, resulting in poor versatility. In particular, in recent years, mobile information terminals with more than two different sizes have become widespread, and if there is no cover that matches the size of the mobile information terminal, the mobile information terminal cannot be used. It becomes impossible to do so.

Furthermore, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the mobile device is held by a band fixed to the case with screws, so the positional relationship between the case and the mobile device is fixed. Here, when a reader device that reads information from an RFID tag is used as a peripheral device, if the antenna of the reader device for reading information from the RFID tag is facing a conductor such as metal, the reading is possible. This will shorten the distance, causing operational problems. Therefore, if the positional relationship between the case and the mobile device is fixed as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the antenna of the reader device may face the mobile device depending on the size of the mobile device. , there is a problem that the readable distance becomes short. Furthermore, since the mobile device is held by four bands fixed to the case with screws, there is a problem in that it takes time and effort to hold the mobile device.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and allows mobile terminals of different sizes to be easily connected without affecting the reading of information from RFID tags. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reader device that can be held in a computer.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following features:
A reader device that reads information from an RFID tag,
A plate-shaped main body,
a reading section connected to one end side of the main body and having a built-in antenna for reading information from the RFID tag;
a holding member attached to one surface of the main body and holding the mobile terminal on the one surface,
The holding member is
It is made of a stretchable elastic member, and holds the mobile terminal in a position not facing the reading unit by the restoring force from the stretched state ;
It is fixed to the main body part by a first fixing part, extends from the first fixing part toward the reading part side in the direction of connection between the main body part and the reading part, and is mounted on one surface of the main body part. a first elastic member that holds an edge of the placed mobile terminal on the reading unit side;
is fixed to the main body by a second fixing part, extends from the second fixing part to the side opposite to the reading part in the connecting direction of the main body and the reading part, and extends from the second fixing part to one side of the main body. a second elastic member that holds an edge of the mobile terminal placed on the side opposite to the reading section;
The first elastic member has an end portion opposite to an end portion fixed to the main body portion at the first fixing portion not fixed to the main body portion,
An end of the second elastic member opposite to an end fixed to the main body by the second fixing portion is not fixed to the main body .

In the present invention configured as described above, the main body has a plate-like main body and a reading unit that is connected to one end side of the main body and has a built-in antenna for reading information from an RFID tag. The holding member attached to one side of the main body is made of a stretchable elastic member, and holds the mobile terminal on one side of the main body by the restoring force from the stretched state, so it is easy to handle mobile terminals of different sizes. It will be retained without adding any additional charges. Furthermore, since the holding member holds the mobile terminal in a position that does not face the reading unit, reading of information from the RFID tag is not affected.

In the above configuration, the holding member is fixed to the main body by the first fixing part, extends from the first fixing part toward the reading part in the direction of connection between the main body and the reading part, and is attached to the main body. A first elastic member that holds the end side of the mobile terminal on the reading side side of the mobile terminal placed on one surface of a second elastic member that extends on the side opposite to the reading section in the direction in which the section and the reading section are connected, and holds the end side of the mobile terminal on the side opposite to the reading section that is placed on one surface of the main body section; It is conceivable that the second elastic member is more easily stretched than the first elastic member.

In such a configuration, the mobile terminal is placed on one surface of the main body, the end side of the mobile terminal on the reading unit side is held by the first elastic member, and the reading unit of the mobile terminal is When the opposite end is held by the second elastic member, the second elastic member stretches more easily than the first elastic member, so a large mobile terminal can be held by the holding member. Even when the mobile terminal is held, the second elastic member expands greatly and the mobile terminal is held so as to protrude to the side opposite to the reading section of the main body, so that the mobile terminal does not face the reading section. .

In addition, in a device that has a shift prevention member that prevents the mobile terminal held on one surface of the main body by the holding member from shifting toward the reading unit, the mobile terminal held on one surface of the main body by the holding member Even if the mobile device is about to shift toward the reading unit due to vibration or external force, the mobile device will remain held in a position that does not face the reading unit, which will affect the reading of information from the RFID tag. Never.

According to the present invention, in a configuration including a plate-shaped main body and a reading section that is connected to one end side of the main body and has a built-in antenna for reading information from an RFID tag, the reading section is attached to one surface of the main body. The holding member is made of a stretchable elastic member, and uses the restoring force from the stretched state to hold the mobile terminal in a position that does not face the reading unit. It is possible to hold mobile terminals of different sizes without any effort.

In addition, in a device that has a shift prevention member that prevents the mobile terminal held on one surface of the main body by the holding member from shifting toward the reading unit, the mobile terminal held on one surface of the main body by the holding member Even if the mobile terminal is about to shift toward the reading unit due to vibration or external force, the mobile terminal will remain held in a position that does not face the reading unit, and this will affect the reading of information from the RFID tag. You can avoid this from happening.

1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reader device of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in (a), and (c) is a diagram shown in (a). FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a mounting plate is removed from the reader device shown in FIG. 1, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in (a), and (c) is a It is a figure seen from the arrow B direction shown in (a). 2 is a functional block diagram showing the internal configuration of the reader device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a smartphone, which is a mobile terminal, is attached to the reader device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which (a) is a front view, and (b) is a view from the direction of arrow A shown in (a). This is a diagram. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining the operation when a smartphone is attached to the reader device as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a state in which a smartphone, which is a mobile terminal, is attached to the reader device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which (a) is a front view, and (b) is a direction of arrow A shown in (a). This is a diagram seen from.

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

1A and 1B are diagrams showing one embodiment of a reader device of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in (a), and (c) is ( It is a figure seen from the arrow B direction shown in a). 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the mounting plate 5 is removed from the reader device 1 shown in FIG. 1, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in (a). FIG. 3(c) is a view seen from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 3(a). FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the internal configuration of the reader device 1 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the reader device of this embodiment, holding rubbers 4a, 4b and a mounting plate 5 are installed on one side of a plate-shaped housing 10, and a main body 2 and a reading unit 3 are connected. It has a structured shape. Thereby, the reading section 3 is connected to one end side of the plate-shaped main body section 2.

The housing 10 includes an antenna 11, a communication section 14, a power supply section 15, a storage section 16, and a control section 17 shown in FIG.

The antenna 11 is for reading information from an RFID tag using a frequency in the UHF band, and is built into the reading section 3 of the housing 10.

The communication unit 14 performs wireless communication using BLE with the mobile terminal placed on the mounting plate 5, and wirelessly transmits information read from the RFID tag to the mobile terminal via the antenna 11. It is built into the main body part 2 of the casing 10.

The power supply section 15 supplies power to the entire reader device 1, is built into the main body section 2 of the housing 10, and can be charged via an externally exposed connection terminal (not shown). It becomes.

The storage unit 16 stores information read from the RFID tag via the antenna 11.

On the side surface of the housing 10, a power button 13a and an RF button 13b, which function as the operation section 13, are provided in a portion that will become the main body section 2. The power button 13a is pressed to turn on/off the power of the reader device 1. The RF button 13b is pressed when reading information from the RFID tag, and when the RF button 13b is pressed, the antenna 11 radiates radio waves at a frequency in the UHF band.

On the surface of the housing 10 on which the holding rubbers 4a, 4b and the mounting plate 5 are installed, a power lamp 12a and an RF lamp 12b, which function as the display unit 12, are provided in a portion that will become the reading unit 3. The power lamp 12a is composed of an LED, and is turned on when the reader device 1 is powered on by pressing the power button 13a, and is turned off when the reader device 1 is powered off. The RF lamp 12b is composed of an LED, and lights up when the RF button 13b is pressed and a radio wave having a frequency in the UHF band is radiated from the antenna 11.

The control unit 17 controls the operation of the reader device 1 as a whole, and controls the operation of the reader device 1 according to operations on the power button 13a and the RF button 13b, which are the operation unit 13, and changes its operating state. Based on this, the lighting/extinguishing of the power lamp 12a and the RF lamp 12b, which serve as the display section 12, is controlled. Further, the control unit 17 controls wireless transmission of information by the communication unit 14 to the mobile terminal placed on the mounting plate 5.

The holding rubbers 4a and 4b constitute the holding member of the present invention, and the holding rubber 4a is attached to the main body part 2 of one surface of the casing 10 in the direction in which the main body part 2 and the reading part 3 are connected. They are arranged side by side on the reading section 3 side.

The holding rubber 4a serves as the first elastic member in the present invention, is made of a sheet-like silicone material, and is stretchable. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding rubber 4a has a base portion 7a attached to the main body portion 2 on one side of the housing 10 by two fixing portions 6a, and a base portion 7a that branches out from the base portion 7a into four parts on the reading portion 3 side. It is composed of a leg part 8a whose end opposite to the base part 7a is folded back to the side opposite to the housing 10, and an arch-shaped end part 9a which connects the four folded legs 8a. ing.

The holding rubber 4b serves as a second elastic member in the present invention, is made of a sheet-like silicone material, and is stretchable. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding rubber 4b has a base portion 7b attached to the main body portion 2 on one side of the housing 10 by two fixing portions 6b, and a reading portion 3 branched from the base portion 7b into four parts. extends to the opposite side, and the end opposite to the base 7b is folded back to the side opposite to the casing 10, and the arched end part 9b connects the four folded legs 8b. It consists of

In the holding rubbers 4a and 4b configured as described above, the length of the leg part 8b of the holding rubber 4b is longer than the length of the leg part 8a of the holding rubber 4a, so that the holding rubber 4b is longer than the holding rubber 4a. It is easier to stretch.

The mounting plate 5 is installed on the main body 2 of one surface of the housing 10 so as to cover parts of the legs 8a, 8b of the holding rubbers 4a, 4b and the bases 7a, 7b, and is provided with screws (not shown). It is fixed to the housing 10 by fixing means such as the like. As a result, parts of the legs 8a, 8b of the holding rubbers 4a, 4b and the bases 7a, 7b are sandwiched between one surface of the housing 10 and the mounting plate 5. The placing plate 5 has a structure in which a part thereof extends to the connecting part with the reading part 3 of the main body part 2, and the end part thereof stands up in an L shape, thereby having a blocking plate 5a that serves as a displacement preventing member. There is.

Below, a method of using the reader device 1 configured as described above and its effects will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a smartphone, which is a mobile terminal, is attached to the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. It is a diagram seen from the direction of arrow A. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining the operation when the smartphone 20 is attached to the reader device 1 as shown in FIG. 4.

When using a smartphone attached to the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the longitudinal direction of the smartphone 100 is the direction in which the main body 2 and the reading unit 3 are connected, as shown in FIG. Place the smartphone 100 on the mounting plate 5 as shown in FIG. The leg portion 8b of the holding rubber 4b is hooked onto the end side and the portion adjacent thereto. Then, since the holding rubbers 4a and 4b are made of a stretchable silicone material, the holding rubbers 4a and 4b expand according to the size of the smartphone 100, and the restoring force from the stretched state causes the holding rubbers 4a and 4b to expand in the surface direction of the smartphone 100. movement will be regulated. Further, movement in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the smartphone 100 is also regulated by the restoring force of the holding rubbers 4a, 4b from the stretched state. Since the bases 7a and 7b are sandwiched between one surface of the housing 10 and the mounting plate 5, the smartphone 100 is kept in close contact with the surface of the mounting plate 5. It turns out.

In this state where the smartphone 100 is held by the holding rubbers 4a and 4b, since the holding rubbers 4a and 4b are arranged on the main body part 2 of one surface of the housing 10, the smartphone 100 shown in FIG. If the length in the longitudinal direction does not differ greatly from the distance between the holding rubbers 4a and 4b, as in the case shown in FIG. becomes.

As shown in FIG. 5, the smartphone 100 includes a communication section 21, a network communication section 22, a communication section 23, a display section 24, an operation section 25, a power supply section 26, a storage section 27, and a control section 28. A configuration having the following can be considered.

The communication unit 21 performs wireless communication using BLE with the communication unit 14 of the reader device 1, and wirelessly receives information transmitted from the reader device 1.

The network communication unit 22 is composed of a communication module including an antenna, connects to a communication line via an access point, and communicates with other terminals and servers.

The telephone call section 23 includes a speaker (not shown), a microphone (not shown), and the like, and inputs and outputs audio.

The display unit 24 is configured by a display 24a made of liquid crystal provided on the surface of the smartphone 100, and displays information from application programs, information received via the communication unit 21, and information screens received via the network communication unit 22. etc. will be displayed.

The operation unit 25 is placed over the display unit 24 and detects a user's touch operation using, for example, an electrostatic contact method.

The power supply unit 26 supplies power to the entire smartphone 100, and can be charged via an externally exposed connection terminal (not shown).

The storage unit 27 stores information input via the operation unit 25, information received via the communication unit 21, information received via the network communication unit 22, and the like.

The control unit 28 controls the operation of the smartphone 100 as a whole, and controls the operation of the smartphone 100 according to the operation on the operation unit 25, and also displays information on the display unit 24 and controls the communication unit 21 and network communication. Controls transmission and reception of information, etc. in the unit 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the reader device 1 reads information from the RFID tag with the smartphone 100 attached to the reader device 1, the reader device 1 is powered on by pressing the power button 13a of the reader device 1. In this state, when the reader 3 is held over the RFID tag while pressing the RF button 13b, radio waves having a frequency in the UHF band are emitted from the antenna 11. At this time, the power lamp 12a lights up when the reader device 1 is powered on, and the RF lamp 12b lights up because the antenna 11 emits radio waves with a frequency in the UHF band. As described above, since the smartphone 100 faces only the main body 2 of the reader device 1 and does not face the reading section 3, the smartphone 100 may obstruct the lighting of the power lamp 12a and the RF lamp 12b. It will never become invisible.

The radio waves radiated from the antenna 11 are received by the RFID tag over which the reading section 3 is covered, and the information written on the RFID tag is thereby read by the reader device 1 via the antenna 11. At this time, as described above, since the smartphone 100 faces only the main body 2 of the reader device 1 and does not face the reading section 3, the reader device 100 The readable distance will not become shorter.

Information read from the RFID tag via the antenna 11 is stored in the storage unit 16 and transmitted to the smartphone 100 via the communication unit 14.

Information transmitted from the communication unit 14 of the reader device 1 is received by the smartphone 100 via the communication unit 21. In the smartphone 100, information received via the communication unit 21 is displayed on the display unit 24 or transmitted via the network communication unit 22.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a state in which a smartphone, which is a mobile terminal, is attached to the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which (a) is a front view, and (b) is a It is a figure seen from the arrow A direction shown.

The reader device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can also be equipped with mobile terminals of different sizes. As shown in FIG. 6, when a smartphone 200 that is larger than the smartphone 100 shown in FIG. Since the length in the direction is greatly different from the interval between the holding rubbers 4a and 4b, if we consider it simply, a part of the smartphone 200 on the reading unit 3 side placed on the mounting plate 5 will be attached to the reading unit 3. You will end up facing this.

However, in the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, as described above, the length of the leg portion 8b of the holding rubber 4b is longer than the length of the leg portion 8a of the holding rubber 4a. is easier to stretch than the holding rubber 4a, so when the smartphone 200 whose length in the longitudinal direction is greatly different from the interval between the holding rubbers 4a and 4b is held by the holding rubbers 4a and 4b, the holding rubber 4a and 4b will not hold. The rubber 4b is greatly expanded and the smartphone 200 is held so as to protrude to the opposite side of the main body 2 from the reading section 3, so that the smartphone 200 does not face the reading section 3.

Furthermore, the placement plate 5 has a structure in which a part thereof extends to the connecting part with the reading part 3 of the main body part 2, and the end part thereof stands up in an L-shape to have the blocking plate 5a. Even if the smartphone 200 held on one surface of the main body 2 by the holding rubbers 4a and 4b is about to shift toward the reading unit 3 due to vibration or external force, the edge of the smartphone 200 will not hit the blocking plate 5a. By making contact, the smartphone 200 is prevented from shifting toward the reading unit 3, and the smartphone 200 is maintained in a position where it does not face the reading unit 3, which affects the reading of information from the RFID tag. You can avoid that.

As described above, in the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the holding rubbers 4a and 4b attached to one surface of the main body 2 are made of a stretchable material, and are held by the restoring force from the stretched state. Since the smartphones 100 and 200 are held on one surface of the main body 2, even if the smartphones 100 and 200 are of different sizes, it is easy to do so by simply hooking the holding rubbers 4a and 4b onto a part of the smartphones 100 and 200. It can be held without overloading. Furthermore, since the smartphones 100 and 200 are held in positions not facing the reading unit 3 by the holding rubbers 4a and 4b, reading of information from the RFID tags is not affected.

In addition, in this embodiment, the length of the leg portion 8b of the holding rubber 4b is longer than the length of the leg portion 8a of the holding rubber 4a, so that the holding rubber 4b can be expanded more easily than the holding rubber 4a. In order to make the holding rubber 4b stretch more easily than the holding rubber 4a, the length of the leg part 8b of the holding rubber 4b is not limited to being longer than the length of the leg part 8a of the holding rubber 4a. , 8b may be made different in thickness and number, or the material and thickness of the holding rubbers 4a and 4b may be made different to make the holding rubber 4b easier to stretch than the holding rubber 4a.

In addition, in this embodiment, two holding rubbers 4a and 4b are provided as holding members, and the holding rubber 4b is more stretchable than the holding rubber 4a, so that the smartphone 100 placed on the mounting plate 5 , 200 are held in a position not facing the reading unit 3, but by using one elastic member as the holding member and partially changing the shape and material of the elastic member, It is also conceivable to adopt a configuration in which the smartphones 100 and 200 placed on the placement plate 5 are held at a position not facing the reading unit 3.

Further, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which information written in an RFID tag is read with the smartphone 100 or 200 attached to the reader device 1. However, the reader device 1 shown in FIGS. , 200 is not attached, the information written on the RFID tag can be read.

1 Reader device 2 Main unit 3 Reading unit 4a, 4b Holding rubber 5 Placing plate 5a Blocking plate 6a, 6b Fixed part 7a, 7b Base 8a, 8b Legs 9a, 9b End part 10 Housing 11 Antenna 12 Display unit 12a Power supply Lamp 12b RF lamp 13 Operation section 13a Power button 13b RF button 14, 21 Communication section 15, 26 Power supply section 16, 27 Storage section 17, 28 Control section 22 Network communication section 23 Communication section 24 Display section 24a Display 25 Operation section 100, 200 Smartphone

Claims (2)

A reader device that reads information from an RFID tag,
A plate-shaped main body,
a reading section connected to one end side of the main body and having a built-in antenna for reading information from the RFID tag;
a holding member attached to one surface of the main body and holding the mobile terminal on the one surface,
The holding member is
It is made of a stretchable elastic member, and holds the mobile terminal in a position not facing the reading unit by the restoring force from the stretched state ;
It is fixed to the main body part by a first fixing part, extends from the first fixing part toward the reading part side in the direction of connection between the main body part and the reading part, and is mounted on one surface of the main body part. a first elastic member that holds an edge of the placed mobile terminal on the reading unit side;
is fixed to the main body by a second fixing part, extends from the second fixing part to the side opposite to the reading part in the connecting direction of the main body and the reading part, and extends from the second fixing part to one side of the main body. a second elastic member that holds an edge of the mobile terminal placed on the side opposite to the reading section;
The reader device , wherein the second elastic member is more stretchable than the first elastic member . The reader device according to claim 1 ,
A reader device comprising a shift prevention member that prevents a portable terminal held on one surface of the main body by the holding member from shifting toward the reading unit.

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