JPH06246595A - Data carrier and data carrier action control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lighten the load of an external computer by disposing a means for transmitting a signal actively to the outside on the basis of the prestored information in a data carrier storing data on a moving object and moving together with the moving object. CONSTITUTION:A data carrier 1 is provided with an input interface 2 and an output interface 3 for receiving and transmitting signals from/to external equipment respectively in the contactless state, a central arithmetic unit 4 for performing the whole control in the data carrier 1, and a memory 5 for reading- writing data in the central arithmetic unit 1. The central arithmetic unit 4 stores action command data and time data, received from the outside through the input interface 2, into the memory 5. The central arithmetic unit 4 also reads the present time from a timepiece element 6 and compares this with the time data. When both coincide with each other, the central arithmetic unit 4 transmits the action command data 5a actively through the output interface 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data carrier that stores data relating to a moving object and moves together with the moving object, and a method of controlling the operation of the data carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a conventional data carrier. In FIG. 10, 30 is a data carrier. Reference numeral 31 is a memory, 32 is a battery, 33 is a transmission / reception circuit for controlling data transmission / reception between the data carrier 30 and the outside, 34 is a receiving antenna for receiving a signal from the outside, and 35 is a transmission for transmitting a signal from the data carrier 30 to the outside. It is an antenna.

Reference numeral 36 is a data carrier controller for controlling the data transmission / reception operation with respect to the data carrier 30. 37 is a transmission / reception circuit for controlling data transmission / reception, 3
8 is a central processing unit. 39 is an antenna device. Reference numeral 40 is a transmitting antenna for transmitting a signal to the data carrier 30, and 41 is a receiving antenna for receiving a signal from the data carrier 30.

Reference numeral 42 is a data carrier controller 36.
From the request signal to the data carrier 30. 43 is a response signal from the data carrier 30 to the data carrier controller 36.

Reference numeral 44 is a computer that gives an operation instruction to the data carrier controller 36.

When writing data to the data carrier 30, the following operation is performed. The computer 44 communicates with the data carrier controller 36 by a communication means (not shown) and the data 31 to be written in the data carrier 30 and the memory 31 in the data carrier 30 for writing the data.
And the write command. The data carrier controller 36 that has received these signals modulates the signals by a modulation circuit (not shown), and the transmission antenna 4
From 0, the data carrier 30 as the request signal 42
Send to.

The data carrier 30 receives the request signal 4
2 is received by the receiving antenna 34, it is judged from the write command in the received data that the operation is a write operation, and the write data in the received data is written to the address of the memory 31 pointed to by the address in the received data. . When the data writing to the data carrier 30 is completed normally, the transmitting / receiving circuit 33 of the data carrier 30 transmits the normal writing completion response signal 43 from the transmitting antenna 35.

When the data carrier controller 36 receives the normal write completion response signal 43 transmitted from the data carrier 30 by the receiving antenna 41, the data carrier controller 36 transmits it to the computer 44 by a communication means (not shown). The computer 44 ends the write operation by receiving the normal write completion response signal.

When reading data from the data carrier 30, the following operation is performed. The computer 44 transmits, to the data carrier controller 36, the address of the memory 31 in the data carrier 30 in which the data to be read from the data carrier 30 is stored and the read command by a communication means (not shown). The data carrier controller 36 that has received these signals modulates the signals by a modulation circuit (not shown), and the transmission antenna 4
The request signal 42 is transmitted from 0 to the data carrier 30.

The data carrier 30 receives the request signal 4
2 is received by the receiving antenna 34, it is determined from the read command in the received data that it is a read operation, and the data is read from the address of the memory 31 pointed to by the address in the received data. When the data reading from the data carrier 30 ends normally, the data carrier 3
The transmission / reception circuit 33 of 0 adds the read data to the normal read completion response signal and transmits it from the transmitting antenna 35.

The data carrier controller 36 receives these signals by the receiving antenna 41 and transmits them to the computer 44 by a communication means not shown in the figure. The computer 44 receives the normal reading completion response signal, determines that the reading is normally completed,
The data sent at that time is taken in as read data.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a system using a conventional data carrier. Reference numeral 50 denotes a processed work processed by this processing line. 51 is a work 50
Is a data carrier attached to. Reference numeral 58 is a transfer line for transferring the processed work 50. 56a,
Numerals 56b and 56c are machining positions for machining the machining workpiece 50 by the equipments 52a, 52b and 52c, and 57 is a temporary placement position for temporarily temporarily locating the machining workpiece 50.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a carrier vehicle which is controlled by the carrier vehicle controller 19 and carries the workpiece 50 from the loading position to the machining position, from the machining position to the next machining position, or to the temporary placement position.

Reference numerals 52a, 52b, and 52c are work pieces 5
It is a facility for processing 0. 53a, 53b, 53c are
It is an equipment controller that performs machine control of processing equipment. 5
4a, 54b, 54c are equipment controllers 53a, 5
3b, 53c is a data carrier controller connected. 55a, 55b, 55c are transmitting / receiving antennas that transmit or receive signals to / from the data carrier 51 under the control of the data carrier controllers 54a, 54b, 54c.

Reference numeral 20 is a computer for writing / reading data to / from the data carrier 51 and for instructing a destination of the transport vehicle 12 to the transport controller 19. A data carrier controller 9 is connected to the computer 20 and controls reading or writing of data from or to the data carrier 51 in response to a command from the computer 20. Reference numeral 11 denotes a transmission / reception antenna that transmits or receives a signal to / from the data carrier 51 under the control of the data carrier controller 9.

Next, the operation will be described. The processed work 50, which is not shown in detail in the figure and is carried in from the previous process, is first placed on the carrier 12. Next, processing data such as processing conditions is written from the computer 20 to the data carrier 51 attached to the processing workpiece 50 via the data carrier controller 9 and the transmitting / receiving antenna 11. When the processed data is normally written in the data carrier 51, the computer 20 operates as the carrier controller 1.
9, a carrier operation command is output.

Based on this, the carrier controller 19
Controls the transport vehicle 12 so that the transport vehicle 12 carries the workpiece 50 and moves in front of the facility 52a. When the transport vehicle 12 arrives in front of the facility 52a, the transport vehicle 12 performs the work of lowering the stacked workpieces 50 to the workpiece position 56a. When the machining work 50 is placed at the machining position 56a, the equipment 52a transmits the machining data written in the data carrier 51 attached to the machining work 50 to the data carrier controller 54a and the transmission / reception antenna 55a.
It is read via and processing is performed based on this data. When the processing is completed, the computer 20 is notified that the processing is completed.

The computer 2 which has received the processing end signal
0 indicates a processing position 56a on the carrier controller 19.
A command is output to convey the upper workpiece 50 to the next processing position 56b.

The carrier 12 conveys the workpiece 50 from the machining position 56a to the machining position 56b. The facility 52b, like the facility 52a, reads the machining data from the data carrier 51 attached to the machining workpiece 50 and performs machining according to the machining data.

Due to the relation of the equipment tact time of the line or the nature of the processing contents of the equipment of the line, the work 50 should be temporarily placed in the temporary placement position 57 and then transferred to the next equipment 52c. There is also.
In this case, after being temporarily placed for a certain period of time or until the instructed time, it is conveyed again to the next equipment 52c by a command from the computer 20.

[0020]

In the conventional data carrier and data carrier operation control method, the data carrier operates passively. For example, in the system of FIG. 11, the computer 20 monitors the end of processing, and when it finishes, issues a transfer command for transferring the processed work 50 to the next processing position by the vehicle controller 19.
Had to output to. Therefore, there is a problem that the load on the external computer increases and the system becomes complicated.

Further, in the conventional data carrier and data carrier operation control method, since a plurality of external devices are not identified, there is a problem that correspondence between the external device and the operation instruction information for the external device is uncertain. It was

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data carrier capable of spontaneously transmitting a signal and a data carrier operation control method. Another object of the present invention is to provide a data carrier and a data carrier operation control method capable of identifying a specific external device.

[0023]

First, the present invention provides a data carrier characterized by comprising transmitting means for actively transmitting a signal to the outside based on information stored in advance. To do.

Secondly, the present invention provides an input interface and an output interface capable of contactlessly communicating with an external device, a data storage section for recording command data and time data received from the outside via the input interface, and a timepiece element. And a central processing unit that reads the current time from the clock element, compares the current time with the time data, and actively transmits a signal based on the command data via the output interface according to the comparison result, and a battery. To provide a data carrier.

Thirdly, according to the present invention, the data received from the outside through the input interface includes the time information and the operation instruction information to the external device, and the central processing unit makes the current time read from the clock element. Provides a method of controlling operation of a data carrier, wherein the operation instruction information is actively transmitted to the outside through an output interface when the time coincides with the time information.

Fourthly, according to the present invention, the data received from the outside through the input interface includes the ID data for discriminating whether the device is a specific external device and the operation instruction information for the external device, and the input interface is provided. A method of controlling operation of a data carrier, characterized in that the operation instruction information is transmitted to the outside through an output interface when a request is made from an external device corresponding to the ID data.

Fifthly, according to the present invention, the time information indicating the valid time range is included in the data received from the outside through the input interface, the ID data for determining whether it is a specific external device, and the operation instruction information for the external device. And transmitting the operation instruction information to the outside via the output interface when a request is made from the external device corresponding to the ID data via the input interface within the valid time range. An operation control method is provided.

[0028]

The first data carrier does not operate passively under the control of an external computer, but actively transmits a signal to the outside based on information stored in advance. Therefore, the load on the external computer can be reduced.

The second data carrier does not operate passively under the control of an external computer, but voluntarily makes a request to the outside at a predetermined time or within a predetermined time based on time information stored in advance. It sends a signal to. Therefore, the load on the external computer can be reduced. Further, since the signal is not transmitted outside the predetermined time, the correspondence between the external device and the operation instruction information for the external device becomes reliable.

The third data carrier operation control method does not operate passively under the control of an external computer, but voluntarily sends a signal to the outside at a predetermined time based on time information stored in advance. send. Therefore, the load on the external computer can be reduced.

In the fourth operation control method of the data carrier, a specific external device is discriminated by the ID data, and the operation instruction information is transmitted to the external device. Therefore, correspondence between the external device and the operation instruction information for the external device is ensured.

In the fifth data carrier operation control method, when a request is made from a specific external device within the valid time range, operation instruction information is transmitted to the external device. Therefore, correspondence between the external device and the operation instruction information for the external device is ensured.

[0033]

【Example】

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data carrier according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a data carrier, 2 is an input interface that can contactlessly receive a signal from an external device, 3 is an output interface that can also contactlessly send a signal to an external device, and 4 is all data carriers in the data carrier. Central processing unit that controls control, 5
Is a memory in which internal data can be read and written by the central processing unit 4, 6 is a clock element which can refer to the contents from the central processing unit 4 and performs a clock operation, 7 is a data carrier 1
It is a battery that supplies power to each device inside. 5
a is operation instruction information, and 5b is time information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using the data carrier 1. Reference numeral 8 is a work piece to which the data carrier 1 is attached. A data carrier controller 9 is connected to the computer 20. 11 is
It is a transmitting / receiving antenna of the data carrier controller 9. Reference numeral 12 is a transport vehicle for transporting the workpiece 8, 19 is a transport vehicle controller for controlling the operation of the transport vehicle 12, and 13 is a transport vehicle controller.
Is a data carrier controller connected to the carrier controller 19, and 15 is a data carrier controller 13
It is an antenna for transmitting and receiving.

Next, the operation will be described. A command is issued from the computer 20 to the data carrier controller 9, and the content is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving antenna 11 of the data carrier controller 9 to the data carrier 1. The content of the transmission signal 16 is the external device, here the carrier 1
2 is composed of operation instruction information 16a and time information 16b. The operation instruction information 16a for the transport vehicle 12 is, for example, a FROM-TO command for transporting the work 8 from which position to which position. The time information 16b is time data when conveyance is started. The operation instruction information 16a and the time information 16b transmitted from the data carrier controller 9 are received by the input interface 2 of the data carrier 1, and the central processing unit 4 stores the operation instruction information 5 in the storage area of the memory 5.
a and time information 5b.

The central processing unit 4 constantly monitors the contents of the clock element 6 and constantly monitors whether or not the current time has passed the time indicated by the time information 5b of the memory 5. When the current time passes the time information 5b, the central processing unit 4 reads the content of the operation instruction information 5a in the memory 5, and outputs the content via the output interface 3. The content 17a of the signal 17 output from the output interface is
It has the same contents as the operation instruction information 16a.

The carrier controller 19 receives the operation instruction information 17a by the transmitting / receiving antenna 15, receives the data via the data carrier controller 13, and loads the processed work on the carrier 12 based on the data to reach the destination. The operation control of the transport vehicle 12 is performed so as to transport the transport vehicle 12.

Since the central processing unit 4, the input interface 2, the output interface 3, and the clock element 6 in the data carrier 1 are supplied with power from the battery 7, they are stable even if they are not supplied with power from the outside. The operation can be performed, and since the contents of the memory 5 are backed up by the battery 7, they are not erased.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation control method of the first embodiment. The data carrier 1 stores in advance the operation instruction information and the time information for transmitting the operation instruction information in the memory 5 (step ST1, step ST).
2). Next, the current time is confirmed by the clock element 6, and it is determined whether the current time exceeds the time information read from the memory 5 (step ST4). When exceeded, memory 5
The operation instruction information stored in the output interface 3
A call is transmitted to an external device such as the transport vehicle 12 via (step ST5).

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, 16a is operation instruction information for the guided vehicle. 16c is carrier ID information for identifying one of a plurality of carriers. The operation instruction information 16a and the carrier ID information 16c are
The data carrier 1 is loaded in the same manner as in Example 1,
The memory 5 has operation instruction information 5a and carrier ID information 5
and c are written correspondingly.

The central processing unit 4 constantly monitors whether the data request signal 18 from the transport vehicle 12a or the transport vehicle 12b is sent via the input interface 2.
When the data request signal 18 is sent, the carrier ID information 18c or 18c 'therein is compared with the carrier ID information 5c stored in the memory 5, and if the contents are different, nothing is done. Absent. If the contents match, the central processing unit 4 reads the operation instruction information 5a in the memory 5 and outputs it via the output interface 3. For example, the data request signal 18 from the carrier 12a
When the content of the vehicle ID information 18c of the vehicle is equal to the vehicle ID information 5c stored in the memory 5, the operation instruction information 5a is output to the vehicle 12a. The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment. Figure 5
9 is a flowchart showing an operation control method of the second embodiment.

Example 3. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system according to the configuration of the third embodiment. In FIG. 6, 16a is
It is operation instruction information for the transport vehicle 12. 16b is time information. 16c is carrier ID information. 16
The information of a, 16b and 16c is taken into the data carrier 1 and written in the memory 5 as 5a, 5b and 5c, respectively.

The central processing unit 4 monitors the contents of the clock element 6, and the current time is stored in the memory as time information 5
When it exceeds b, monitoring of the data request signal 18 from the transport vehicle 12a or the transport 12b is started. Carrier 12a
Alternatively, when the data request signal 18 is sent from the carrier 12b, the carrier ID information 18c in the data request signal is sent.
Alternatively, the central processing unit 4 operates the operation instruction information 5 in the memory 5 for the vehicle on condition that the contents of the vehicle ID information 5c stored in the memory 5 coincide with 18c '.
a is read and output via the output interface. The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, a specific system example will be described with reference to FIG. 7, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 11 are given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted. Figure 1
The difference from 1 is that the signal line connecting the computer 20 and each equipment controller and the signal line connecting the computer 20 and the carrier controller 19 are eliminated.

Next, the operation will be described. After the end of the previous process, when the unprocessed work 50 is loaded and placed on the carrier 12, data is transferred from the computer 20 to the data carrier 51 attached to the processed work via the data carrier controller 9 and the transmission / reception antenna 11. Written. The contents of the data to be written include time information, carrier ID information, etc., in addition to the processing data similar to the conventional one.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the format of data written in the data carrier 51. The written data is classified according to each facility like blocks (1), (2), (3), (4) ...
It is composed of three fields of time information and processing information.

Data carrier 5 by computer 20
The contents of the data written in 1 are as follows, for example.
In the destination field of block (1), data indicating the equipment 1 is set, and in the time information field, hexadecimal "FF".
In addition, the processing data used in the equipment 1 is stored in the processing information field. Here, the data "FF" of the time information means that the data is immediately output without waiting. Similarly, the destination field of block (2) stores data indicating the equipment 2, the time information field stores hexadecimal "00", and the processing information field stores processing data used by the equipment 2. ing. Similarly, data indicating a temporary placement position is stored in the destination field of block (3), hexadecimal "00" is stored in the time information field, and hexadecimal "00" is stored in the processing information field. ing. Similarly, in the destination field of block (4), data indicating the equipment 3 is set, and in the time information field, “10” is set.
The data indicating "30 minutes" and the processing data used in the facility 3 are stored in the processing information field.

Next, such data is stored in the computer 2.
The operation after writing from 0 to the data carrier 51 will be described. The data carrier 51 refers to the field contents of the time information in block (1). Since the data is "FF", the data of the equipment 1 of the destination field is immediately output from the output interface 3 to the carrier controller 19. Carrier controller 1
When 9 receives the data of the "equipment 1" about the destination sent from the data carrier 51, the carrier 12 moves to the front of the equipment 1. When the movement is completed, the workpiece 50 is lowered to the processing position 56a.

The equipment controller 53a of the equipment 1 reads the machining data used in the equipment 1 from the machining information field of the block (1) of the data carrier 51 attached to the machining work 12, and performs machining according to the contents. . Data carrier 5 while processing is performed at facility 1.
The central processing unit 4 of No. 1 always monitors the content of the time information of the block (2), and since this content is "00", it does not do anything and continues the state as it is.

When the processing is completed in the equipment 1, the equipment controller 53a of the equipment 1 sets the data value of the time information field of the block (2) in the data carrier 51 to "0".
The central processing unit 4 of the data carrier 51 changes the contents of the time information field to “F”.
After determining that it has become F ″, the data of the equipment 2 of the field of the destination of the block (2) in the data carrier 51 is output from the output interface 3 to the carrier controller 19.

When the carrier controller 19 receives the data "equipment 2" sent from the data carrier 51, the carrier 12 moves the carrier 12 to the front of the facility 1 and loads the workpiece to the carrier 12, Further, the carrier 12 is moved to the front of the equipment 2. When the movement of the carrier 12 is completed,
The workpiece 50 is lowered to the processing position 56b. After that, the same operation as in the equipment 1 is performed in the equipment 2,
When the processing of the equipment 2 is completed, the processed workpiece 50 is transferred to the next temporary placement position 57 by the transfer vehicle 12.

After being transported to the temporary placement position 57,
The central processing unit 4 of the data carrier 51 monitors the content of the time information of the block (4) written in the data carrier 51. Since the content of this monitor is time data of 10:30, the content of the timepiece element 6 is collated with the time data of 10:30 as in the first embodiment, and the timepiece element 6 is checked.
Content, that is, when the current time is 10:30,
The data “equipment 3” written in the destination field of the block (4) of the data carrier 51 is output from the output interface 3 to the carrier controller 19. As a result, the processed work 5 placed in the temporary placement position 57
0 is transported by the transport vehicle 12 in front of the equipment 3,
Is processed in.

Example 4. In the fourth embodiment, the computer 2
The time information 16b written in the data carrier 1 from 0 is not time information but time information designating a time zone such as from 3:00 to 5:00, and the request from the carrier 12 is limited to this time zone. Accept. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the configuration of the data carrier operation control method configured as described above. The valid time range information sent from the computer 20 and the operation instruction information corresponding to the ID code are stored in advance in a predetermined area of the memory (step ST11, step ST12). Next, it is judged whether or not there is a request for operation instruction information from the carrier (step ST13), and if there is a request, the current time detected by the timepiece element 6 is within the valid time range stored in the memory. It is determined whether or not it is within the range (step ST14). If the current time is within the valid time range, the operation instruction information corresponding to the ID code is read from the memory 5 (step S
(T15), the call is transmitted to the carrier 12 that has made the request (step ST16).

Other Embodiments In Embodiments 1 to 4, the work 50 to which the data carrier 1 is attached is transferred by the transfer vehicle 12. However, the data carrier is attached to the object and the object moves. The data carrier and the operation control method of the data carrier described in the first to fourth embodiments can be applied to any system.

[0055]

According to the data carrier and the method of controlling the operation of the data carrier of the present invention, since the signal is actively transmitted based on the information stored in advance without passing through the external computer, the external carrier The load on the computer can be reduced and the system configuration can be simplified. Further, according to the data carrier and the data carrier operation control method of the present invention, since it is configured to identify a specific external device and transmit a signal, the load on the computer is reduced and the reliability and flexibility are high. You can build a line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram using the data carrier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a data carrier operation control method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a data carrier operation control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a format diagram of data written in the memory of the data carrier according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a data carrier operation control method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram using a conventional data carrier.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional data carrier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 data carrier 2 input interface 3 output interface 4 central processing unit 5 memory 6 clock element 7 battery

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A data carrier, characterized by comprising transmitting means for actively transmitting a signal to the outside based on information stored in advance. 2. An input interface and an output interface capable of contactlessly communicating with an external device, a data storage unit for recording command data and time data received from the outside via the input interface, a timepiece element, and a timepiece element. A data carrier, comprising: a central processing unit for reading a current time, comparing the time with the time data, and actively transmitting a signal based on the command data via the output interface, and a battery. 3. The data received from the outside through the input interface includes time information and operation instruction information to an external device, and the central processing unit has a current time read from a clock element that matches the time information. A method of controlling operation of a data carrier, characterized in that the operation instruction information is actively transmitted to the outside through an output interface. 4. The data received from the outside through the input interface includes ID data for determining whether or not the device is a specific external device and operation instruction information for the external device, and corresponds to the ID data through the input interface. A method for controlling operation of a data carrier, characterized in that the operation instruction information is transmitted to the outside through an output interface when a request is made from an external device. 5. The data received from the outside via an input interface includes time information indicating a valid time range, ID data for determining whether the device is a specific external device, and operation instruction information for the external device. A method of controlling operation of a data carrier, comprising transmitting the operation instruction information to the outside via an output interface when a request is made from an external device corresponding to the ID data via the input interface within a time range.