JPH1075879A - Locker management system and power supply controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable reduction of power consumption of a read-write antenna provided in each locker in a locker management system using a non-contact ID system. SOLUTION: A locker management system is provided with tag insertion openings through which tags are inserted into a power supply control box 5, and read-write antennas 13-1 to 13-n to detect the insertion of tags into the entries. If no tag is serted, it means that the tag is in use, and a power input command signal is outputted to a power on/off control board 6. The power on/off control board 6 supplies power for read-write antennas 3-1 to 3-n only when the signal is obtained. The read-write antennas 3-1 to 3-n are provided to each locker and communicated with tags to lock or unlock the lockers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a locker management system and a power supply control device used therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sauna, a pool, a sports gym, or the like, in which a number of lockers are juxtaposed, a key is lent to a user at a front desk before using the locker, and the user is designated using the key. Use lockers. Instead of a system using such a key, a tag for holding identification data of each locker is provided in advance, and locker management using a non-contact ID system such that the locker key is locked or unlocked using this tag. A system has been proposed. In this case, the tag is configured in the form of a watch or a card, for example, as shown in FIG. The tag has a memory unit for holding identification data for identifying a unique locker inside the tag, and a data transmission unit for performing non-contact data transmission between a read / write antenna provided in the locker. . The tags will be rented to the user at the front desk before using the locker. When using the designated locker, the user brings the tag closer to the read / write antenna in front of the locker. The locker's read / write antenna controls locking and unlocking of the locker alternately when a tag having predetermined identification data approaches.

[0003]

However, in such a locker management system using the non-contact ID system, power is always supplied to the read / write antenna of each locker so that the user may come close at any time. Need to be kept. The tag, the read / write antenna of each locker, and the tag are difficult to use unless the communicable distance is increased to some extent, and the power used increases in proportion to the cube of the distance if the communicable distance is increased. However, there is a drawback that the power consumption of the entire locker management system increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to reduce unnecessary power consumption in a locker room.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory storing identification data unique to each locker,
And a data transmission means for transmitting data read from the memory, a tag to be lent to a locker user, and a plurality of lockers, each of which is provided with a unique identification data, holds a unique identification data, A first group of data reading means for reading out the identification data and locking / unlocking the locker at the time of coincidence, a tag storage portion for storing each tag at a predetermined position when the tag is not used, and a tag storage portion for each of the tag storage portions, respectively. A second group of data reading means for reading the identification data from the memory of the provided and stored tags, and the identification data of each tag is read from the second group of data reading means, and the tags are stored at predetermined storage positions. A power supply control device having control means for outputting a power-on command signal for the first group of data reading means corresponding to the tag identified when the tag is not present; It is characterized in that it comprises a power supply on / off control means for supplying power to the specified data reading means of said first group with power supply command signal, the.

The invention of claim 2 of the present application has a memory storing identification data unique to each locker, and data transmission means for transmitting data read from the memory, and is lent to a user of the locker. A tag storage unit for storing each tag at a predetermined position when the tag is not used; a plurality of data reading means provided in each of the tag storage units and reading identification data from a memory of the stored tag; The data of the data reading means provided in the storage part of each tag is read, and a power-on command of another data reading means provided in the locker corresponding to the tag identified when the tag is not stored in the predetermined storage position. Control means for outputting a signal.

Here, the first group of data reading means respectively hold identification data unique to the locker, perform data transmission with the tag in a non-contact manner, read the identification data of the tag, and determine the coincidence. . Locking and unlocking of the locker are performed alternately when they match.

According to the present invention having such features,
While the tag is stored in the power supply control device, the storage is confirmed by the second group of data reading means,
No power is supplied to the first group of data reading means. When a tag is taken out from the tag storage section by the power supply control device, power is supplied to only the first group of data reading means corresponding to the tag via the power on / off control means. Therefore, it is not necessary to always keep the first group of data reading means having large power consumption in the operating state, and the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of this locker management system, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing its appearance. In FIG. 2, a locker room 1 is provided with a plurality of lockers 2-1 to 2-n, and each locker has a read / write antenna (RWA) 3-1 to 3-n as a first group of data reading means. Is attached. The read / write antennas 3-1 to 3-n perform data communication with a tag, and lock or unlock the locker when a tag having unique identification data is detected. On the other hand, the front room 4 is provided with a power supply control box 5 for storing tags to be described later and supplying power to the read / write antenna. A power supply on / off control panel 6 is connected to the power supply control box 5 via a signal line. The power on / off control panel 6 is arranged in the locker room 1 and read / write antennas 3-1 to 3-
n for controlling the power supply.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a power supply control box 5 used in a front room 4 for lending a tag to a user. As shown in this figure, the tag lent to the user is N
o. 1 to No. n, the insertion ports 11-1 to 11-n for inserting the respective tags when they are not used.
Is provided. At the upper part, the numbers of the respective tags are displayed, and indicator lights 12-1 to 12- indicating the use state of the tags.
n is provided. Then, a read / write antenna 13 serving as a second group of data reading means is inserted into an insertion port of each tag.
-1 to 13-n are provided. Since the second group of read / write antennas 13-1 to 13-n are provided close to the respective tag insertion ports 11-1 to 11-n, the communicable distance may be small. Therefore, the power consumption is small. The power supply control box 5 is also provided with a buzzer 14.

Now, as shown in FIG. 2, the second group of read / write antennas 13-1 to 13- in the power supply control box.
n is connected to the microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 supplies power to the power control on / off control panel 6 via a communication interface (I / F) 16 based on information indicating the presence or absence of a tag from each read / write antenna, as described later. Control means for outputting a command signal. The communication interface 16 performs P / S conversion and S / P conversion and inputs and outputs data to and from a data transmission line. For example, RS422 is used as the transmission line.

Next, the power on / off control panel 6 has a communication interface 21 for S / P conversion and P / S conversion of a signal input / output from a data transmission line, and a microcomputer 2.
2 are provided. The microcomputer 22 is connected to a plurality of power supply circuits 23-1 to 23n for directly supplying power to the respective read / write antennas of the first group in the locker room. The microcomputer 22 turns on and off the power of the read / write antennas 3-1 to 3-n of each locker via individual power circuits 23-1 to 23-n in response to a command signal from the power supply control box 5. After the power supply is interrupted, the power supply control box 5 is notified via the communication interface 21 of the completion of the power supply or power cutoff processing.

Next, a tag used in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this tag. The tag has a coil L1 and a capacitor C as shown.
A diode bridge 32 and a constant voltage circuit 33 are connected to a resonance circuit 31 composed of
A constant voltage is supplied to each part in the circuit. Also the resonance circuit 31
ASK data demodulation circuit 3 for demodulating the data clock
4 is also connected. These carrier pulse and data clock signal are input to the communication logic unit 37 in the IC via the Schmitt trigger circuits 35 and 36. A nonvolatile E ² PROM memory 38 is connected to the communication logic unit 37. The E ² PROM memory 38 holds identification data corresponding to each locker. A voltage detection circuit 39 for detecting the voltage of the constant voltage circuit is connected in the IC, and the communication operation is started when the voltage reaches a predetermined value. The communication logic unit 37 reads the identification data of the E ² PROM memory 38 based on a given command, and is configured to short-circuit both ends of the resonance circuit 31 via the shunt circuit 40 by the read data. ing.

Next, the first group of read / write antennas 3-1
As for the signals .about.3-n, the oscillation circuit 52 is connected to the signal processing / data determination circuit 51 as shown in FIG. The signal processing / data discriminating circuit 51 transmits a command for reading the identification data of the tag at a constant period, and compares the received identification data with the unique data. When they match, an electronic key opening / closing signal is output to the electronic key opening / closing section 53. The electronic key opening / closing section 53 locks or unlocks the locker key every time an input is made. The oscillating circuit 52 transmits a carrier signal to the data carrier side by changing a constant cycle or a duty ratio, and transmits a command according to the duty ratio. Receiver circuit 54
Is connected to the receiving coil L3, and receives data depending on the presence or absence of reverberation. The demodulation circuit 55 demodulates the received data and outputs it to the signal processing / data discrimination circuit 51. Note that the read / write antennas 13-1 to 13-n, which are the second group of data reading means, have almost the same configuration, and do not have the electronic key opening / closing section 53, but output a coincidence signal to the microcomputer 15. .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When all the lockers in the locker room are not used, all tags are inserted into the tag insertion ports 11-1 to 11-n. In this state, the indicator light 12a indicating the use of the locker
-12n are in a light-off state. The power supply control box 5 communicates with a tag inserted from each read / write antenna at a constant cycle, and confirms that the tag corresponding to the position of each read / write antenna is properly stored (step). S1). Now, it is assumed that a specific tag, for example, the tag of the locker No. 3 has been taken out from the tag insertion slot of the power supply control box. In this way, the read / write antenna 13-3 cannot communicate with the tag, and it is determined that the tag inserted at that position does not exist. In this way, it is detected that the tag has been removed, and the process proceeds to step S2, where the power on / off control panel 6
, A power-on command is transmitted to turn on the power of the read / write antenna 3-3 of the locker No. 3.

On the other hand, the power on / off control panel 6 waits for a command signal for turning on or off the power of the read / write antenna of one of the lockers from the power supply control box 5 in steps S21 and S22 in FIG. When the power-on command is received, the power supply of the read / write antenna 3-3 of the locker designated in step S23 is turned on.
This allows the user to open and close the locker of locker No. 3 using the tag. The power on / off control panel 6 transmits a response indicating that the power is turned on in step S24. In FIG. 6, when the power supply control box 5 receives this response, the process proceeds to step S4 and the indicator light 1 of the tag insertion port No. 3
Light 2-3. Then, in step S5, it waits for the tag to return to the tag insertion port 11-3.

When the use of the locker is completed and the user returns the tag to the front desk, the frontman inserts the tag into the tag insertion port 11-3 of the power supply control box 5. Then, the process proceeds to step S6 to read the identification data from the read / write antenna 13-3. Then, in a step S7, it is determined whether or not the locker number No. 3 matches the identification data of the tag. If they match, step S8
Then, a power shutoff command for shutting off the power of the read / write antenna 3-3 is transmitted to the power on / off control panel 6. In FIG. 7, when the power supply control box 5 receives the power supply cutoff command from the power supply control box 5, it proceeds to S25 and S26 from step S22, turns off the power supply, and turns off the power supply of the locker No. 3 in the power supply control box 5. Returns a response. The power supply control box 5 waits for this response in step S9, and if a response is obtained, the process proceeds to step S10 to display the No. 3 indicator light 12-3.
Is turned off and the process returns to the first process. On the other hand, if the locker No. does not match the tag data in step S7, the flow advances to step S11 to drive the buzzer 14. Then, the frontman can be notified that the tag has been inserted at the wrong position. When the frontman takes out the tag, the process proceeds from step S12 to S13 to stop driving the buzzer, and returns to step S5 to repeat the same processing.
When the tag is inserted at the correct position in this way, the indicator light can be turned off.

Here, a second group of read / write antennas 13-1 to 13-n corresponding to the number of lockers used are provided in the power supply control box 5, and these are driven at a constant period, for example. Have been. However, since the tags are inserted into the tag insertion ports 11-1 to 11-n of the power supply control box, the distance between the second group of read / write antennas and the tags is small, and the transmission coil L2 shown in FIG.
The value of the current flowing through is very small. Therefore, by controlling the power supplied to the first group of read / write antennas provided on the front surface of the locker requiring a large amount of power, it is possible to significantly reduce the power consumption.

[0019]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the non-contact ID system is used in the locker management system, the first group of data reading means mounted on the front surface of the locker supplies power only when necessary. Since the power is supplied, the power consumption of the entire locker management system can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a locker management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the external appearance of the locker management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a power supply control box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a tag according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a read / write antenna according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power supply control box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power on / off control panel according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing an example of a conventional tag.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Locker room 2-1 to 2-n Locker 3-1 to 3-n, 13-1 to 13-n Read / write antenna 4 Front room 5 Power supply control box 6 Power on / off control panel 11 Tag insertion port 12- 1-12-n Indicator light 14 Buzzer 15,22 Microcomputer 16,21 Communication interface 23-1-23-n Power supply circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A memory which stores identification data unique to each locker, and a data transmission means for transmitting data read from the memory, a tag lent to a user of the locker, and a plurality of lockers. A first group of data reading means which are respectively installed and hold identification data unique to each other, read identification data of adjacent tags and lock / unlock the locker when a match occurs, and respective tags when the tag is not used; , A second group of data reading means for reading identification data from a memory of a tag provided and stored in each of the tag storages, and a second group of data reading means. The identification data of each tag is read, and the first data corresponding to the tag identified when the tag is not stored in the predetermined storage position is read.
A power supply control device having control means for outputting a power-on command signal of the data read means of the group; and a power-on command signal supplied from the power supply control apparatus, for supplying power to the designated data read means of the first group. And a power supply on / off control means for supplying. 2. A locker, comprising: a memory storing identification data unique to each locker; and data transmission means for transmitting data read from the memory, wherein each of the tags lent to a locker user is used when not in use. A tag storage unit for storing a tag at a predetermined position; a plurality of data reading means provided in each of the tag storage units for reading identification data from a memory of the stored tag; and a plurality of data reading units provided in the storage unit for each of the tags Control means for reading data of the read data reading means and outputting a power-on command signal of another data reading means provided in the locker corresponding to the tag identified when the tag is not stored in the predetermined storage position; , A power supply control device.