JPH05203734A - Identifying device for moving object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display on the side of a responder whether a communication is performed normally between an interrogator and a responder or not. CONSTITUTION:An interrogator 1 is fixed at a home position to send an interrogating signal, a wireless signal. A moving object is provided with a responder 2 to send a return signal, a wireless signal, to the interrogator when the interrogating signal from the interrogator 1 is received. The interrogator 1 has a acknowledge response section 14 to return a reception acknowledge signal to the responder 2 when the return signal from the responder 2 is received. The responder 2 has a acknowledge display section 24 to make a display to the effect of receiving the reception acknowledge signal from the interrogator 1. Thus, the establishment of a communication with the interrogator 1 by the responder 2 can be shown on the acknowledge display section 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention detects the presence / absence of a mobile object within a communicable area of an interrogator by communicating by using a radio signal between the interrogator and a responder provided in the mobile object. The present invention relates to a movable body identification device that can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, an interrogator (also referred to as a reader / writer) 1 fixed at a fixed position sends an interrogation signal CAL by a wireless signal and is conveyed on a conveyor or the like to move. By returning the return signal BAK, which is sent by the responder (also called a data carrier) 2 provided in the moving body 3 in response to the interrogation signal, to the interrogator 1,
There is provided a mobile body identification device configured to transmit data such as identification data from the responder 2 to the interrogator 1.
The interrogator 1 is usually connected to the host computer device 4, and an interrogation signal CAL is sent from the interrogator 1 to the responder 2 in response to a command from the computer device 4, and the interrogator 1 The operation is controlled, and the computer device 4 monitors the communication state between the interrogator 1 and the responder 2 by data transmission from the interrogator 1 to the computer device 4. Such a mobile body identification device is used for constructing a POP (Point of Production) system or the like.

[0003]

In the above configuration, since the interrogator 1 responds to the interrogation signal CAL from the interrogator 1 by the procedure in which the responder 2 sends the return signal BAK, the interrogator 1 responds. Although it can be confirmed that the communication with the communication device 2 has been normally performed, the responder 2 cannot know whether the communication has been normally completed. That is, when the interrogator 1 is embedded in a wall or the like and a person cannot see the display unit showing the communication display state from the side of the transponder 2, the interrogator 1 and the transponder 2 are separated from each other. There is a problem that it is not possible to know whether or not the communication is normally done.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a mobile unit capable of displaying on the transponder side whether or not the communication between the interrogator and the transponder is normally performed. It is intended to provide an identification device.

[0005]

The present invention provides an interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal, which is a wireless signal, and a wireless signal to the interrogator when the interrogation signal is received from the interrogator provided in a mobile unit. A moving body identification device having a responder that sends out a certain return signal has a common configuration. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is such that the interrogator includes a confirmation response section that returns a reception confirmation signal to the transponder when it receives the return signal from the transponder, and the transponder transmits from the interrogator. The confirmation display unit for displaying that the reception confirmation signal has been received.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the interrogator, the transponder identifying section for identifying a specific transponder from other transponders and the transponder identifying section for identifying the number of transmissions of the interrogation signal are provided. A communication rate calculation unit that obtains the ratio of the number of times a return signal from a specific transponder is received as a communication rate, and a communication rate display unit that displays the communication rate obtained by the communication rate calculation unit are provided.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the interrogator comprises a transponder identifying section for discriminating a specific transponder from other transponders, and a communication display section for displaying the establishment / non-establishment of the communication with the transponder. , The communication display section indicates whether the communication with the specific transponder identified by the transponder identification section or the other transponder is in progress when the communication is established. It is displayed by the change.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the interrogator includes a transponder identifying section for discriminating a specific transponder from other transponders, and a communication display section for displaying the establishment / non-establishment of the communication with the transponder. The communication display unit, when the communication is established, displays a first display unit that indicates that the communication with the specific transponder is in progress based on the output of the transponder identification unit, and the other transponders. And a second display unit that displays that the communication with

[0009]

According to the structure of claim 1, after the responder returns the return signal to the interrogation signal from the interrogator, the interrogator receiving the return signal returns the reception confirmation signal to the responder. Therefore, since the transponder displays that the reception confirmation signal has been received on the confirmation display unit, the establishment of the communication can be displayed not only on the interrogator but also on the transponder. For example, when seeking a communication area that is the range in which the interrogator and the transponder can communicate, if the transponder is moved with respect to the interrogator while checking the display state of the confirmation display, It is possible to easily know at what position the device can communicate with the interrogator.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the specific responder is distinguished from the other responders, and the number of times the communication with the specific responder is established with respect to the number of transmissions of the interrogation signal from the interrogator. Since the communication rate can be detected in real time only by the interrogator without using an external device, when determining the communication area that is the range in which communication between the interrogator and the responder is possible. Therefore, it is possible to measure the communication area where the predetermined communication rate can be maintained. Also, when a specific transponder exists in the communication area, interference with other transponders occurs,
It is possible to measure the interference area in which the predetermined communication rate is maintained even when obtaining the interference area in a range where communication becomes impossible or interference occurs.

According to the configurations of claims 3 and 4, since the specific transponder is identified from the other transponders and which transponder is communicating, the communication display section distinguishes and displays. You can easily identify which responder the interrogator is communicating with,
This makes it easy to measure communication areas and interference areas.

[0012]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, an interrogator 1 is connected to a higher-level computer device 4, and a control unit 11 that receives a command from the computer device 4 controls a transmission unit 12 to transmit a wireless signal (normally Transmits an interrogation signal CAL (FIG. 2). The interrogation signal does not specify a particular transponder 2, but can be received by any transponder 2. Different identification data is set in each responder 2, and the interrogation signal from the interrogator 1 is received by the receiver 2
When it is received at 3, the transmitting unit 22 transmits the return signal BAK including the identification data via the control unit 21 (FIG. 2). In the interrogator 1, if the return signal from the responder 2 is received by the receiving unit 13, it is possible to identify which responder 2 has communicated with based on the identification data included in the return signal. The interrogator 1 includes a confirmation response unit 14 that determines whether or not communication has been established with the response unit 2. The confirmation response unit 14 returns a response signal from the response unit 2 to the interrogation signal transmitted from the interrogator 1. It is judged that the communication is established when the signal is received,
The reception confirmation signal ACK is transmitted from the transmission unit 12 (FIG. 2). In the transponder 2, when the reception confirmation signal is received, the confirmation display unit 24 including a light emitting diode is turned on via the control unit 21.

The operation is summarized in FIG. 3A shows the operation of the interrogator 1, and FIG. 3B shows the operation of the responder 2. That is, when the interrogator 1 sends an interrogation signal (step S11) and the responder 2 receives the interrogation signal (step S21), a return signal is sent from the responder 2 (step S22). When the interrogator 1 normally receives the return signal (step S12), it sends a reception confirmation signal (step S13). When the responder 2 receives the reception confirmation signal (step S23), the confirmation display unit 24 is displayed. It is turned on (step S24). Further, when there is no return signal from the responder 2 or when an error occurs in the return signal (step S12), the interrogation signal is retransmitted. Here, when the confirmation display unit 24 is turned on, the confirmation display unit 24 is turned off after a certain period of time, or is turned off by resetting separately. When the above conditions are not satisfied, the light is turned off (step S25). Further, the reception confirmation signal includes the identification data included in the return signal returned from the responder 2 to the interrogator 1, and the response device 2 includes the identification data included in the reception confirmation signal and the set identification data. The confirmation display unit 24 may be turned on only when the two match.

As described above, not only the reply signal is returned from the responder 2 in response to the interrogation signal from the interrogator 1, but the interrogator 1 receives the reply signal after receiving the return signal. The confirmation signal is transmitted, and the transponder 2 that has received the reception confirmation signal 2 turns on the confirmation display section 24. Therefore, it is possible to know whether or not the transponder 2 has established communication with the interrogator 1. You can do it. Therefore, when measuring the communication area as the range in which the interrogator 1 and the responder 2 can communicate, if the responder 2 is moved to see whether the confirmation display section 24 is turned on or off, the communication area Can be easily measured.

(Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the interrogator 1 is provided with a transponder identifying section 15 for discriminating a specific transponder 2 from other transponders 2. That is, the transponder identifying unit 15 treats the transponder 2 having the identification data included in the return signal first received after the start of operation as the specific transponder 2 and distinguishes it from the other transponders 2. For this processing, the identification data included in the return signal received first may be stored, and it may be determined whether or not the identification data match when the return signal is received next time. Since the interrogator 1 can know the number of times the interrogation signal is transmitted and the number of times the response signal is received from the specific transponder 2 identified by the transponder identification unit 15, the transmission rate calculation unit 16 transmits the interrogation signal. The ratio of the number of times of reception to the number of times is calculated, and the calculation result is displayed on the communication rate display unit 17 including a segment display (light emitting diode display or liquid crystal display). For example, assuming that the interrogation signal is transmitted 100 times, the transponder identifying unit 15
The number of receptions of the return signal from the transponder 2 identified by
If it is the number of times, the communication rate display unit 17 displays that the communication rate is 80%. Further, when obtaining the communication rate, the data exchange with the computer device 4 is prohibited until the interrogation signal is transmitted a predetermined number of times.

The operation is summarized in FIG. That is, since the operation for obtaining the communication rate is different from the normal operation, it is set as the test mode, and when the computer device 4 outputs the test mode command to the control unit 11 of the interrogator 1, the interrogator is operated. 1 operates as shown in FIG. In the test mode, first, an interrogation signal is transmitted and the presence or absence of a return signal is detected (step S31). If there is a return signal, the responder 2 having the identification data included in the return signal is used as the specific responder 2 and the responder identifying unit 1
5 is registered (step S32). Even after the responder 2 is registered in the responder identifying unit 15, the interrogation signal is repeatedly transmitted,
The presence or absence of a return signal is detected (step S33). Here, there is a return signal, and the return signal is the responder identifying unit 15
If it is the return signal from the transponder 2 registered in (step S34), it is recorded that the communication with the specific transponder 2 is established (step S35). Further, if there is no return signal for the interrogation signal, or if there is a return signal but it is a return signal from another responder 2, the specific responder 2
It is recorded that the communication has not been established (step S37). In this way, the interrogation signal is repeatedly transmitted, and the number of times that the return signal from the specific transponder 2 is received in response to the latest predetermined number of interrogation signals (for example, 100 times) is calculated by the communication rate calculation unit 16 and the communication is performed. It is displayed on the rate display unit 17 (step S36). In the test mode, the communication rate can be independently obtained by the interrogator 1 alone, and data transmission / reception with the computer device 4 is not required. Therefore, in a comparatively short time required to transmit / receive a predetermined number of interrogation signals. The communication rate can be calculated.

If the interrogator 1 having the above-mentioned configuration is used, for example, in the case of measuring a communication area as a range in which the interrogator 1 and the responder 2 can communicate with each other, the responder 2 with respect to the interrogator 1 is measured. Is moved to obtain the communication rate for each position of the transponder 2, it is possible to easily measure the communication area where a communication rate of a predetermined value or more can be obtained. Further, when a specific transponder 2 and the interrogator 1 are communicating, the range of the other transponder 2 in which the communication is disabled or the interference occurs due to the interference of the other transponders 2. When measuring the interference area, the other transponders 2 may be brought close to each other while communicating with the specific transponder 2 and the communication rate for each position of the other transponder 2 may be obtained. That is, the communication rate is obtained with the specific transponder 2 placed in the communication area of the interrogator 1, and if the communication rate decreases when the other transponders 2 are brought closer to each other, the other transponder 2 is placed in the interference area. You can judge that it entered. If such an interference area is measured, for example, when the responder 2 is provided corresponding to each work that is a moving body on the conveyor, a work interval that does not cause interference of the responder 2 is obtained. be able to.

Other structure and operation of the interrogator 1, responder 2
Since the configuration and operation of are the same as the conventional configuration, the description will be omitted. (Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The responder identification unit 15 similar to the above is provided, and three states of a state where communication with a specific responder 2 is established, a state where communication with another responder 2 is established, and a state where communication is not established with any responder 2 Is displayed on the communication display unit 18. Here, the communication display unit 18 is composed of a light emitting diode, and is continuously lit when communication with a specific transponder 2 registered in the transponder identification unit 15 is established, and when communication with another transponder 2 is established. It is turned on intermittently, and is turned off when communication is not established with any responder 2. That is, the three states can be identified by changing the display state using one light emitting diode.

The operation is summarized as shown in FIG. That is, the interrogator 1 has a test mode in addition to the normal operation mode in which it normally communicates with the transponder 2, and shifts to the test mode in response to an instruction from the computer device 4. In the test mode, the presence / absence of a return signal from the responder 2 in response to the interrogation signal from the interrogator 1 is detected (step S41). If there is a return signal, the identification data included in the return signal is sent to the responder identifying unit 15 (Step S42). Up to this point, the procedure is the same as in the second embodiment. After that, the interrogation signal is repeatedly transmitted, and it is determined whether or not there is a return signal with respect to the interrogation signal (step S4).
3) If there is a return signal, it is determined whether it is a return signal from a specific transponder 2 (step S44). If both determination conditions are satisfied, the communication display unit 18 is continuously turned on (step S45), and if there is a return signal but not from a specific transponder 2, the communication display unit 18 is turned on intermittently (step S46). If there is no return signal for the interrogation signal, the communication display unit 18 is turned off (step S4).
7). Here, it is desirable that the state in which the communication display unit 18 is continuously lit or intermittently lit is maintained for a time of about the interrogation signal transmission interval.

The use of the interrogator 1 having the above structure facilitates the measurement of the communication area and the interference area. That is, in order to measure the communication area, one responder 2 may be moved to find a position where the communication display section 18 is continuously lit. To measure the interference area, one transponder 2
Is placed in the communication area and the other transponder 2 is moved while the communication display unit 18 is continuously lit, and the position of the other transponder 2 is such that the communication display unit 18 is intermittently turned on or off. You can ask for.

Other configuration and operation of interrogator 1, responder 2
Since the configuration and operation of are the same as the conventional configuration, the description will be omitted. (Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the basic configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment, and the communication display unit 18 is one light emitting diode in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, two light emitting diodes are used. One of the two light emitting diodes functions as a first display portion 18a that is lit when communicating with a specific transponder 2, and the other is a second display portion 18b that is lit when communicating with another transponder 2. Function as. In addition, the first display unit 18a
If both and the second display portion 18b are turned off, it means that no responder 2 is communicating.

The operation is basically the same as that of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the continuous lighting, the intermittent lighting of steps S45 to S47 of the operation of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
Except for turning off, only the first display section 18a is turned on (step S45 '), only the second display section 18b is turned on (step S46'), and both display sections 18a and 18b are turned off (step S47 '). Is. That is, it is the same as the third embodiment except that the configuration of the communication display unit 18 is different.

Of the above-mentioned respective embodiments, other embodiments can be arbitrarily combined unless the third and fourth embodiments are used in duplicate.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the responder returns the return signal to the interrogation signal from the interrogator, the interrogator receiving the return signal returns the reception confirmation signal to the responder. Therefore, since the transponder displays that the reception confirmation signal is received on the confirmation display unit, there is an effect that the establishment of communication can be displayed not only in the interrogator but also in the transponder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the particular responder is distinguished from other responders, and the number of times the communication with the particular responder is established is calculated with respect to the number of transmissions of the interrogation signal from the interrogator. Therefore, the communication rate can be detected in real time only by the interrogator without using an external device.When determining the communication area, which is the range in which communication between the interrogator and the responder is possible, There is an effect that the communication area that can maintain the communication rate of Also, when a specific transponder exists in the communication area, interference with other transponders occurs,
It is possible to measure the interference area in which the predetermined communication rate is maintained even when obtaining the interference area in a range where communication becomes impossible or interference occurs.

According to the configurations of claims 3 and 4, since the specific transponder is identified from the other transponders and which transponder is communicating, the communication display section distinguishes and displays. You can easily identify which responder the interrogator is communicating with,
There is an advantage that the communication area and the interference area can be easily measured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a communication procedure according to the first embodiment.

3A and 3B show the operation of Embodiment 1, where FIG. 3A is an operation explanatory view of an interrogator, and FIG. 3B is an operation explanatory view of a responder.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing an interrogator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram showing an interrogator according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram showing an interrogator according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional example, (a) is a block circuit diagram,
(B) is an operation explanatory view showing a communication procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Interrogator 2 Responder 3 Mobile unit 4 Computer device 11 Control unit 12 Transmitter unit 13 Receiving unit 14 Confirmation response unit 15 Responder identifying unit 16 Communication rate calculating unit 17 Communication rate display unit 18 Communication display unit 18a First display unit 18b 2nd display part 21 Control part 22 Transmission part 23 Reception part 24 Confirmation display part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An interrogator that sends an interrogation signal that is a wireless signal, and a responder that is provided in a mobile unit and that sends back a return signal that is a wireless signal to the interrogator when receiving an interrogation signal from the interrogator. In the mobile body identification device including the interrogator, the interrogator includes a confirmation response unit that returns a reception confirmation signal to the responder when the return signal from the responder is received, and the responder transmits the reception confirmation signal from the interrogator. A mobile body identification device comprising a confirmation display unit for displaying reception. 2. An interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal, which is a wireless signal, and a responder, which is provided in a mobile body and transmits a return signal, which is a wireless signal, to the interrogator when receiving an interrogation signal from the interrogator. In the mobile identification device including the interrogator, the interrogator is a transponder identifying unit that identifies a specific transponder from other transponders, and the transponder identifying unit identifies the transponder signal transmission frequency. It is characterized by comprising a communication rate calculation unit for obtaining a ratio of the number of times of returning signals from a specific transponder as a communication rate, and a communication rate display unit for displaying the communication rate obtained by the communication rate calculation unit. Mobile object identification device. 3. An interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal, which is a wireless signal, and a responder, which is provided in a mobile body and transmits a return signal, which is a wireless signal, to the interrogator when receiving an interrogation signal from the interrogator. In the mobile object identification device including the interrogator, the interrogator includes a transponder identifying unit that identifies a specific transponder from other transponders, and a communication display unit that displays success / failure of communication with the transponder. , The communication display section indicates whether the communication with the specific transponder identified by the transponder identification section or the other transponder is in progress when the communication is established. A moving object identification device characterized by displaying according to changes. 4. An interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal, which is a wireless signal, and a responder, which is provided in a mobile body and transmits a return signal, which is a wireless signal, to the interrogator when receiving an interrogation signal from the interrogator. In the mobile object identification device including the interrogator, the interrogator includes a transponder identifying unit that identifies a specific transponder from other transponders, and a communication display unit that displays success / failure of communication with the transponder. The communication display unit, when the communication is established, displays a first display unit that indicates that the communication with the specific transponder is in progress based on the output of the transponder identification unit, and the other transponders. And a second display unit for displaying that the mobile unit identification device is communicating with the mobile unit identification device.