JPH0680236A - Information memory medium and its outputting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide both an information memory medium and its outputting machine where the former surely holds the sufficient electromotive force of batteries for a responding circuit responding to an interrogator when used, and starts supplying the electromagnetic force of the batteries to the responding circuit without manual operations, and the latter is inexpensive and durable for a long time to output the information memory medium which can be stored for a long time. CONSTITUTION:Before a cutform is issued, since a responding circuit 3 is sufficiently apart from an exciting coil, no electric power is generated in a coil 34, a switching element 33 is de-energized, and no power is supplied to an IC 32 from batteries 35. When the cutform is outputted, the exciting coil of an outputting machine is sufficiently close to the coil 34 to induce electromagnetic induction, so that electric power is generated in the coil 34. This constitution thereby causes a switching element 33 to conduct electricity, so that power is supplied to the IC 32 from the batteries 35. Under this condition, the cutform has been outputted, and even though no power is generated because the coil 34 is sufficiently apart from the electromagnetic coil, the aforesaid condition is kept as it is.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information storage medium and its issuing machine, and in particular, in a delivery system such as a courier service, an information storage medium such as an electronic tag for automatically sorting packages by transmitting and receiving radio waves. , And an issuing machine that issues the information storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a courier delivery system, for example, an attempt has been made to automate the sorting work of collected packages by computer management. An electronic tag has been proposed as a device for such automation (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-203021).

A conventional electronic tag is attached to a package separately from a handwritten delivery slip, and identification information such as a delivery destination of the package is written in a memory in advance and identified by receiving a question signal from an interrogator. It has a structure in which a response circuit for transmitting information as a response signal is housed in a package. The response circuit works with the built-in battery. When the parcel with the electronic tag attached is transported by the conveyor of the sorting line, the interrogators installed at various points in the line receive the identification information from the electronic tag, and the delivery destination of the parcel is identified without contact. This enables automatic sorting.

However, if the electronic tag is used in the same manner as an ordinary tag or a delivery slip, it is conceivable that the electronic tag will be used several months to one year or more after the manufacture. In such a case, the electromotive force of the battery built in the electronic tag has already disappeared, and the electronic tag may not be used.

In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present invention has various means for connecting the electrodes of the battery and the electrodes of the response circuit at the time of use, and the power is supplied from the battery when a predetermined conductive member is disconnected. We have proposed such devices that are provided with such switching means and devices that utilize photovoltaic power.

[0006]

However, these electronic tags require manual operations such as cutting off a part of a voucher, bending the voucher, and removing a light-shielding sticker, so that the demand for labor saving is not always met. There was no problem.

Further, it is conceivable that an issuing machine for issuing an electronic voucher is provided with a mechanism for punching a punch hole for cutting a predetermined conductive member of the electronic voucher. There is a problem in that a mechanism for precisely positioning is required, the cost is high, and the service life of the mechanism portion is short.

According to the present invention, the electromotive force of the battery of the response circuit responding to the interrogator is sufficiently secured when it is used, and the electromotive force of the battery of the response circuit can be applied to the response circuit without any manual operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information storage medium that starts to be supplied, and an inexpensive and long-term durable issuing machine that issues such an information storage medium that can be stored for a long period of time.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a battery for supplying power, and identification information stored in advance in response to an inquiry radio wave from an interrogator. In the information storage medium having a response circuit for returning as a response radio wave, the response circuit includes switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power supply path from the battery to the response circuit, and an issuer for issuing the information storage medium. Until the electromagnetic coupling means capable of electromagnetic coupling and the electromagnetic coupling means are electromagnetically coupled to the issuing machine, the switching means is switched to the shutoff side, and when the electromagnetic coupling means is electromagnetically coupled to the issuing machine, The gist of an information storage medium is provided with a switching control means for switching the switching means to a conduction side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the battery for supplying power and the power supply path from the battery are shut off until the battery is electromagnetically coupled to the outside, and when the power is supplied to the outside by electromagnetic coupling. An issuing machine for issuing an information storage medium having a response circuit that is conductive and capable of writing identification information, the electromagnetic coupling means being capable of electromagnetically coupling with the response circuit of the information storage medium, and the electromagnetic coupling means. An issuer of an information storage medium is provided with a writing unit that writes the identification information in the response circuit when power is supplied from the battery to the response circuit by electromagnetic coupling according to.

[0011]

In the information storage medium according to the present invention, the switching control means connects or disconnects the power supply path from the battery to the response circuit until the electromagnetic coupling means electromagnetically couples with the issuing machine. When the electromagnetic coupling means is electromagnetically coupled to the issuing machine, the switching control means,
The switching means is switched to the conduction side.

In the issuing machine according to the second aspect of the invention, when the electromagnetic coupling means electromagnetically couples the information storage medium to enable the power supply from the battery to the response circuit, the writing means:
The identification information is written in the response circuit that receives the power supply from the battery.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an information storage medium according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram thereof. In FIG. 1, a courier delivery slip 1 which is an information storage medium (electronic tag) is composed of a plurality of various slips, and the conventional delivery slip function and electronic tag function are contained in one slip. . This courier slip 1
It is mainly composed of a handwriting entry field 2, a response circuit 3 and a code display section 4.

In the handwritten entry field 2, the customer (requester) manually writes information such as the delivery destination and the shipping origin, and the arrival code (sorting code), fee, etc. are handwritten at the courier agent. It is the part that The response circuit 3 has, as a basic configuration, an antenna 31 for exchanging data,
An IC 32 for controlling the circuit and storing the delivery data,
In addition to the battery (power source) 35 that supplies power to the IC 32, the coil 34 that generates power by electromagnetically coupling with the starting coil 51 of the issuing machine, and the power of the coil 34 turns on. And a switching element 33 that holds the ON state. Switching element 33
2 is composed of, for example, a flip-flop 37 and a transistor 38, as shown in FIG. The transistor 38 corresponds to switching means, and the flip-flop 37 corresponds to switching control means.

In FIG. 2, since the response circuit 3 is sufficiently separated from the starting coil 51 before the voucher is issued, the coil 34 does not generate electric power, and the S terminal of the flip-flop 37 is at a low level. There is. Further, the R terminal temporarily becomes high level when the battery 35 is connected, but since it is grounded, it immediately becomes low level. Therefore, the inverted output of the flip-flop 37 is at high level. Since this inverted output is output to the base of the transistor 38, the emitter and the collector of the transistor 38 become non-conductive, and the IC 32 is not supplied with power from the battery 35.

Next, when the response circuit 3 is used, the starting coil 51 and the coil 34 provided in the issuing machine, which will be described later, are in a position sufficiently close to generate electromagnetic induction, and power is generated in the coil 34. At that time, the S terminal of the flip-flop 37 becomes high level. On the other hand, since the R terminal remains at low level, the inverted output of the flip-flop 37 becomes low level. Therefore, the emitter and the collector of the transistor 38 are electrically connected to each other, and the power from the battery 35 is supplied to the IC 32. Then, even if the voucher is completed and the coil 34 is sufficiently separated from the starting coil 51 to generate no electric power, this state is succeeded without any change thereafter.

FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram of an electrical configuration of the home delivery slip 1. In FIG. 3, the IC 32 has a modulator 32.
a, a detector 32b, a level comparator 32c, and a CPU 32d
A clock generator 32e and a memory 32f are incorporated. The switching element 33 causes the IC 32 to supply the battery 35.
When the power is supplied from, the operational amplifier 321 of the level comparator 32c compares the voltage of the output signal of the detector 32b with the reference voltage, and if the voltage of the output signal is higher than the reference voltage, the battery 35 and the CPU 32d are clocked. It is connected to the container 32e. The memory 32f is the CPU 3
The received data is stored in addition to the program executed by 2d.

As a substrate material of the response circuit 3, for example, a substrate made of a flexible material such as polyester, polyimide or paper may be used in addition to the hard substrate. The coil 34 is formed by a print pattern or screen printing. Next, the configuration of the issuing machine according to the second aspect of the invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the issuing machine of the home delivery slip 1. In FIG. 4, the issuing machine 5
Is a set slit 57 for inserting the courier slip 1, and
A starting coil 51 for electromagnetically coupling and supplying power to the coil 34 of the response circuit 3 provided on the courier slip 1, and a bar for reading the bar code 43 pre-filled on the courier slip 1 corresponding to the slip number. A code reader 52, a keyboard 53 for inputting baggage information, a writer (corresponding to a writing means) 54 for writing necessary information in the response circuit 3, a display 55 for displaying the written information, and information processing and each unit. It comprises a computer 56 for controlling and a printer 58 for printing necessary information at a predetermined position on the home delivery slip 1.

The writer 54, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 54a that controls each unit, and a clock oscillator 54g that generates a clock signal for driving the CPU 54a
A carrier oscillating circuit 54c that oscillates a carrier wave, a modulating circuit 54b that modulates the carrier wave of the carrier oscillating circuit 54c, an antenna 54e that transmits a query radio wave S1 and receives a response radio wave S2, and a query radio wave S1. It is composed of a circulator 54d for separating the response radio wave S2 and a demodulation circuit 54f for demodulating the data carried on the received response radio wave S2.

Next, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, the slip issuing process in the delivery system for home delivery will be described. When the request for parcel delivery is sent from the client to the courier agency, the requester first fills in the handwritten entry field 2 of the parcel delivery slip 1 with the necessary items such as the delivery address and telephone number of the parcel. Subsequently, the clerk of the courier service agent confirms the information to be entered, and then inputs the baggage information such as the telephone number of the delivery destination, the shipping fee, and the baggage type by using the keyboard 53 of the issuing machine 5. When the computer 56 detects the input of the telephone number (step 100), it searches the sorting code of the delivery destination from the input telephone number (step 110). After the input is completed, the clerk sets the slit 57 for setting of the issuing machine 5 so that the front surface (the side where the handwritten entry field 2 is provided) of the courier slip 1 is in front.

When the CPU 56 detects that the courier slip 1 is set in the setting slit 57 (step 1
20), the reading instruction signal is output to the barcode reader 52 to read the information content of the barcode 43 printed on the code display portion 4 of the courier slip 1 (step 13).
0), the ID number of the home delivery slip 1 is detected. At this time, if the courier slip 1 is not set normally,
Since the bar code 43 cannot be read normally, the reading state of the bar code 43 is determined (step 140). If the bar code 43 is not normal, a display instruction signal is output to the display 55 to display an error (step 150). ), Urge the courier slip 1 to be reset.

When it is determined that the bar code 43 is normally read, the CPU 56 outputs a start instruction signal to the start coil 51 to supply the coil 34 of the response circuit 3 with electric power by electromagnetic coupling ( Step 160), followed by
The writing instruction signal is output to the writing device 54. CPU to which the write instruction signal output from the computer 56 is input
The modulation circuit 54b modulates the carrier wave from the carrier oscillation circuit 54c in accordance with the sent package information. This modulated signal is transmitted from the antenna 54e as an inquiry radio wave S1 (writing radio wave) to the response circuit 3 of the courier slip 1 via the circulator 54d, and the response circuit 3 receives the inquiry radio wave S1 and receives the package information. Is stored in the memory 32f, and after completion of the storage process, a confirmation signal (response radio wave S2) for confirming the stored contents is transmitted to the writer 54.

The confirmation signal transmitted from the response circuit 3 is demodulated by the demodulator 54f via the antenna 54e and the circulator 54d and output to the CPU 54a. C
The PU 54a detects the demodulated confirmation signal, outputs the detection result to the computer 56, and outputs the response circuit 3
The write operation for is ended.

In this way, package information such as the ID number, sorting code, delivery charge, and package type of the home delivery slip 1 is written in the response circuit 3 (step 170). further,
A print instruction signal is output to the printer 58 to print necessary items (step 180). When a series of data is input, the parcel delivery slip 1 is attached to the package requested by the requester, a slip of the slip is given to the client, and necessary slips are extracted and stored at the parcel delivery agent. In this case, at the courier agency, instead of storing the slip pieces,
The data at the time of issuing may be stored in the internal or external memory of the issuing machine 5. Further, by connecting the issuing machine 5 to the computer of the delivery center online, the input data can be immediately transmitted to the delivery center, and the home delivery information can be centrally managed.

The delivery system having the courier slip 1 and the issuing machine 5 configured as described above is generally shown in FIG.
The system is shown in. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when a request for parcel delivery from the client is made at the courier agency, the requester first writes in the handwritten entry field 2 of the parcel delivery slip 1 the necessary items such as the delivery destination of the parcel and the telephone number. Filled in,
Subsequently, the issuing machine 5 activates the courier slip 1, writes baggage information on the courier slip 1, prints, and the like, and the courier slip 1 is attached to the parcel 6 requested for delivery.

Package 6 to which this courier slip 1 is attached
Are carried to a distribution center H by a shipping company and sorting work is automatically performed. That is, in the distribution center H, the parcel 6 is placed on the belt conveyor 40,
By transmitting an inquiry signal from the interrogator 30 (the basic circuit configuration is the same as that of the above-mentioned writer 54) provided in the vicinity, the response circuit 3 operates as follows.

For example, when the antenna 31 receives the inquiry signal transmitted from the interrogator 30 installed in the automatic sorting line, the detector 32b extracts the inquiry signal from the electromagnetic wave received by the antenna 31. The inquiry signal is output to both the level comparator 32c and the CPU 32d. Level comparator 32c
Then, the voltage level of the output signal of the detector 32b is compared with the reference voltage. When the voltage of the output signal of the detector 32b is higher than the reference voltage, the battery 35 is connected to the CPU 32d and the clock generator 32e. In this way, the CPU 32d and the clock generator 32e are activated. When activated, the CPU 32d executes the program stored in the memory 32f based on the clock signal. And the detector 32b
If the received data output from is data that needs to be stored, the received data is stored in the memory 32f. In the case of calling the stored data, the CPU 32d
Executes a program stored in advance in the memory 32f, reads the data stored in the memory 32f, and outputs a signal corresponding to the data to the modulator 32a. Modulator 32a
The diode 32g changes its conduction / non-conduction according to the signal output from the CPU 32d. In this way, by changing the impedance, the electromagnetic wave from the interrogator 30 is modulated and the data is transmitted from the antenna 31.

In this way, a response radio wave having package information such as a sorting code is sent back from the courier slip 1 attached to the package 6, and the computer 50 receives the package information of the package 6 by receiving the response radio wave. Output to. The computer 50 controls the operation of the automatic sorter 60 based on the read package information to classify the package 6 for each delivery destination area. The distinguished packages 6 are sent to the delivery bases of the respective districts, and from there to the destinations. It should be noted that necessary slip pieces are cut out in the process of delivering the parcel 6, but the barcode 43 or the like is written on each slip piece, so that the normal use of the barcode 43 or the like is performed. Voucher processing becomes possible. Further, instead of cutting out the slip pieces, it is also possible to read the package information with an interrogator (the same configuration as the interrogator 30) and apply it to slip processing.

As described above, the courier slip 1 according to the present embodiment supplies the electric power by the electromagnetic coupling to the coil 34 of the response circuit 3 by the starting coil 51 provided in the issuing machine 5 for the first time. Since it operates, the power consumption of the built-in battery 35 can be suppressed as much as possible in the storage state, and long-term storage can be enabled.

The above-mentioned issuing machine 5 is provided with a printer 58 which prints necessary information at a predetermined position on the home delivery slip 1, and the required information is displayed on the display 55.
The printer 58 may be omitted by displaying it on the screen and handwriting it by an agent of the courier agency.

Examples of the information storage medium other than the above-mentioned courier slip include a lift ticket in a ticket gate system of a ski lift platform, and a ticket (count ticket) in a ticket gate system for vehicles and the like. The present invention can be applied as long as it has a response circuit of (1), and power consumption in a storage state becomes a problem.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the information storage medium can reduce the power consumption of the battery before the power is supplied by the electromagnetic coupling means of the response circuit. Therefore, there is an excellent effect of reducing the power consumption of the battery when not issued, that is, in the storage state, and enabling storage for a long period of time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the information storage medium approaches within the range where electromagnetic induction is generated, the response circuit is supplied with power from the battery. Can be made rough, and the expensive alignment mechanism can be eliminated,
It is possible to reduce the cost and extend the life of the issuing machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a courier slip of an embodiment of an information storage medium according to the invention of claim 1.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a home delivery slip.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a detailed electrical configuration of a home delivery slip.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a delivery service slip issuing machine.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a specific electrical configuration of a writer provided in the issuing machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a computer provided in the issuing machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the overall flow of the delivery system in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... courier slip 3 ... response circuit 5 ... issuing machine 3
0 ... Interrogator 31 ... Antenna 33 ... Switching element 34 ...
Coil 35 ... Battery 37 ... Flip-flop 38 ... Transistor 51 ... Startup coil 54 ... Writing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information storage medium having a battery for supplying power and having a response circuit for returning identification information stored in advance as a response radio wave in response to an inquiry radio wave from an interrogator, wherein the response circuit comprises: Switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power supply path from the battery to the response circuit, electromagnetic coupling means capable of electromagnetically coupling with an issuer for issuing the information storage medium, and the electromagnetic coupling means for electromagnetically coupling with the issuer. Until then, the switching means is switched to the shut-off side, and when the electromagnetic coupling means is electromagnetically coupled to the issuing machine, there is provided switching control means for switching the switching means to the conducting side. Information storage medium. 2. A battery for supplying power and a power supply path from the battery are shut off until electromagnetically coupled to the outside,
An issuer that issues an information storage medium having a response circuit that is electrically connected to the outside to render the power supply path conductive so that identification information can be written. Electromagnetic coupling means capable of coupling, and writing means for writing the identification information in the response circuit when power is supplied from the battery to the response circuit by electromagnetic coupling by the electromagnetic coupling means. Issuing machine for information storage media.