KR100837615B1 - Rfid reader capable of controlling external device - Google Patents

Abstract

An RFID(Radio Frequency IDentification) reader equipped with a function for controlling an external device is provided to simplify entire structure of an RFID system for an FA(Factory Automation) field and reduce a cost and a space for installation by installing an external device control function in the RFID reader. A digital module includes a PLC(Programmable Logic Circuit) block(380) for transferring a signal received from an external input device to middleware(100) or controlling operation of an external output device according to a command received from the middleware. The PLC block includes a microprocessor, a memory, an input unit interfacing with the external input device, an output unit interfacing with the external output device, and network interface interfacing a network with the middleware. The memory includes a program memory storing a scheduler program, a data memory, and a system. The microprocessor controls the external input or output device autonomously by the scheduler program when tag information received from a processor block satisfies a predetermined condition.

Description

RF Reader Capable of Controlling External Device

1 is a schematic block diagram of an RFID system used in the field of conventional factory automation;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an RFID reader shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a detailed block diagram of an RFID reader having an external device control function according to the present invention;

4 is a detailed block diagram illustrating the inside of a PLC block in FIG. 3.

*** Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ***

10: middleware, 20: RFID reader

22: antenna, 24: main body,

24a: RF section, 24b: digital section,

30: RFID tag, 40: controller,

50: external device, 100: middleware,

310: antenna, 320: RF module,

330: ADC block, 335: DAC block,

340: status display block, 345: power block,

350: FFGA block, 352: modem section,

354: SDRAM, 360: processor block,

362: JTAG, 364: processor,

366: SDRAM, 368: Flash ROM,

370: basic host I / F block, 371: Ethernet port,

372: serial port, 373: USB port,

375: optional host I / F block, 376: WLAN,

377: CDMA, 380: PLC Block,

381: microprocessor, 382: memory,

383: input unit, 384: output unit,

385: network interface, 390: digital module,

600: external input device, 602: limit switch,

604: proximity switch, 606: photoelectric switch,

610: external output device, 612: electronic switchgear,

614: solenoid, 616: lamp

The present invention relates to an RFID reader having an external device control function, and in particular, an RFID device having an external device control function, which simplifies the overall configuration of the RFID system by including an external device control function in the RFID reader in an RFID system used in factory automation. It's about the leader.

Generally recognized radio frequency (RFID: R adio F requency Id entification) recognizes the tag is attached to goods, animals, people, and by the non-contact type read information from or writes from a tag with a unique identification information by using a radio frequency , Technology that enables tracking and management. Such an RFID system has a plurality of tags (Electronic Tag or Transponder; hereinafter simply referred to as 'tag') attached to an object or animal with unique identification information and an RFID reader (Reader or Interrogator) for reading or writing the information of the tag. (Hereinafter referred to simply as 'leader'). RFID systems are also classified into mutual induction and electromagnetic waves according to the intercommunication method between the reader and the tag, and are classified into active and passive according to whether the tag operates on its own power. It is divided into short wave, microwave and microwave. In accordance with the above classification, various kinds of standards are enacted or in preparation for enactment. On the other hand, such an RFID system is being actively used in logistics and factory automation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an RFID system used in a conventional factory automation field, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an RFID reader shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the schematic configuration of an RFID system used in the field of conventional factory automation or the like is largely attached to a plant component, for example, a place or a part of a conveyor and is unique to the component or component. A plurality of RFID tags 30, RFID reader 30, and a plurality of RFID reader 20, RFID reader 20 for reading the tag information stored in the RFID tag 30 by performing wireless communication with the RFID tag 30 Configure the factory according to the instructions of the middleware 10 and the middleware 10 to set the various operation items for the operation, maintenance, maintenance and management, collect tag information received from the RFID reader 20 and perform the necessary operation A plurality of controllers 40 for controlling the various devices can be made.

In the above-described configuration, the RFID reader 20 again emits an RF signal toward the main body 24 and the RFID tag 30 on which various electronic components are mounted on the PCB substrate, and backscattering modulation from the RFID tag 30 It may include at least one antenna 22 for receiving the RF signal emitted by the back-scattering modulation (modulation) to the main body 24. The main body unit 24 converts the tag information processed by the RF unit 24a and the RF unit 24a, which transmits / receives an RF signal with the RFID tag 30, to a digital signal, and transfers the digital signal to the middleware 10. The digital unit 24b may be configured to control the RF unit 24a according to various setting values received from the middleware 10.

However, according to the conventional RFID system in the field of factory automation as described above, the RFID reader only plays a role of delivering the tag information received from the tag to the middleware, and the control of the external device is a controller installed separately from the RFID reader. Because it is performed by the system not only complicated system, but also had a problem of expensive installation space and cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and in the RFID system used in the field of factory automation, the RFID reader is equipped with an external device control function to simplify the overall configuration of the RFID system, thereby saving installation space and cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an RFID reader having an external device control function.

RFID reader having an external device control function of the present invention for achieving the above object is an antenna for emitting an RF signal of a predetermined frequency band toward the RFID tag, and captures the RF signal emitted by the RFID tag; When communicating with an RF module and an RFID tag that output the RF signal through the antenna, coordination with other readers is performed, various settings and control commands received from middleware are performed, and communication is received with an RFID tag. It includes a digital module for transmitting a tag information to the middleware, the PLC module for transmitting a signal input from the external input device to the middleware or drive control the external output device in accordance with the command received from the middleware inside the digital module It is provided.

In the above-described configuration, the PLC block includes a microprocessor that collectively controls the overall operation of the block; A memory including a program memory storing a control program, a data memory storing various setting values or current value information, and a system memory storing a system program; An input unit in charge of an interface with an external input device; It may include an output unit that is in charge of the interface between the external output device and a network interface that is in charge of the network interface between the middleware.

Furthermore, in a state in which a scheduler program is mounted in the memory of the PLC block, the microprocessor of the PLC block may be configured as an external input device or itself by the scheduler program when the tag information received from the processor block satisfies a predetermined requirement. You can also control external output devices.

Hereinafter, an RFID reader having an external device control function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a detailed block diagram of an RFID reader having an external device control function of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reader having the external device control function of the present invention radiates an RF signal largely toward the tag, and captures an RF signal emitted by the tag, and a predetermined frequency band toward the tag. For example, various settings received from the middleware 100 while adjusting a collision between the RF module 320 for transmitting an RF signal in the UHF (900MHz) band and another reader when communicating with a tag. It may include a digital module 390 to perform the details and control commands, and communicate the tag information received in communication with the tag to the middleware (100).

In the above-described configuration, the digital module 390 again includes a modem unit 352 which performs transmission and reception of data with a tag, collision coordination with another reader when occupying a frequency for communication with the tag, and the like. An RFID reader block (commonly referred to as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) hereinafter, referred to as an "FPGA block") 350, which is composed of an SDRAM 354 for temporarily storing various data generated in the control process, an FPGA FPGA block by converting the analog data received from the tag through the DAC block 335 and the RF module 320, which converts the digital data generated in the block 350 into an analog signal and provides the RF signal to the RF module 320. The ADC block 330, the RF module 320, and the digital module 390 which transmits to the 350, a power block 345 which provides various operating powers, and a state display block 340 which displays various states of the RFID reader. , Middleware Commands issued by the middle host 100, a basic host I / F block 370 composed of a basic communication interface for performing communication with the 100, and an optional host I / F block 375 composed of an optional communication interface. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) block 380 for controlling various external devices and tag information is transferred to the middleware 100 through the basic host I / F block 370 or the optional host I / F block 375. In addition, the processor block 360 may collectively control each block of the digital module 390 including the FPGA block 350 according to various settings and instructions received from the own program or the middleware 100. In this case, the PLC can be programmed to perform special functions such as logic, sequencing, timing, counting and operation via digital or analog I / O modules. "A digital device that uses Mori and controls various types of devices or processors."

Meanwhile, the processor block 360 may debug a microprocessor, for example, an ARM9 processor 364 or a digital module 390, which is a 32-bit RISC processor for an embedded device developed by an ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) company. Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) 362, a flash ROM 368 for storing a program required for the operation of the processor 364, and an SDRAM 366 for temporarily storing various data generated during the operation of the processor 364. Can be made. The basic host I / F block 370 further includes an Ethernet port 371 for performing Ethernet communication, serial communication such as RS-232 or RS-422, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication with the middleware 100, respectively. It may consist of a serial port 372 and a USB port 373. The option host I / F block 375 may further include a wireless LAN (WLAN) unit 376 and a code division multiple access (CDMA) unit 377.

4 is a detailed block diagram illustrating the inside of a PLC block in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the PLC block 380 according to the present invention includes a microprocessor 381 which largely controls the overall operation of the block, and a program written by a user through a loader according to a system standard to be controlled is stored. It includes program memory, input / output relay, auxiliary relay, data memory to store contact status of timer and counter and various setting value and current value, and system memory to store system program created by PLC manufacturer. Input 383 which is responsible for interfacing with various switches or sensors such as memory 382, limit switch 602 which is an external input device 600, proximity switch 604 or photoelectric switch 606, external output Between various actuators such as electronic switchgear 612, solenoid 614, lamp 616, or motor, which is a device 610 It can be made to include a network interface 385 responsible for various network interfaces between the output unit 384 and the middleware 100 in charge of the interface.

In the above-described configuration, the input unit 383 and the output unit 384 of the PLC block 380 must match the electrical standard with the external devices 600 and 610, respectively, and the external device (eg, using a photo coupler or the like) The noise from the 600 and 610 should not be transmitted to the microprocessor 381 side, the connection with the external devices 600 and 610 should be easy, and the status of each input / output contact could be monitored. Must meet such requirements as The input unit 383 is an input device which is directly manipulated by a user, and is attached to a pushbutton switch, a selection switch or a toggle switch attached to a control panel or a control panel, various components or components of a factory, and inputs its own detection value, that is, a sensing value. A photo coupler, an analog digital converter (ADC), a high speed counter, or the like is provided in response to an external input device 600 such as a limit switch 602, a photoelectric switch 606, a proximity switch 604, or a level switch. Can be used. Next, as the output unit 384, a solenoid valve (solenoid) 614 which is an actuator attached to a pilot lamp 616, a buzzer, various components of a factory, etc., which is a display alarm output attached to a control panel or an operation panel, an electromagnetic clutch, an electronic A photo coupler, a relay switch, a transistor switch, or a solid state relay (SSR) may be used in correspondence with an external output device 610 such as a brake, an electronic switch 612 or a motor. The network interface 385 may be implemented with a conventional Ethernet card or the like.

According to the RFID reader having the external device control function of the present invention having the above-described configuration, each RFID reader communicates with the tag and wirelessly receives the tag information from the tag and then transfers the tag information to the middleware 100. Then, the middleware 100 analyzes it and then directly issues a command to the PLC block 380 of the RFID reader or a command to the PLC block 380 via the processor 364 of the processor block 360. The necessary input values are received from the device 600 or the external output device 610 is driven.

The RFID reader having the external device control function of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, when the scheduler program is mounted in the above-described PLC block and the tag information received from the tag satisfies a predetermined requirement without an instruction from the middleware 100, the processor 364 of the processor block 360 indicates the instruction. In some cases, the external device may be controlled by itself.

According to the RFID reader having the external device control function of the present invention as described above, by providing the external device control function to the RFID reader in the RFID system used in the field of factory automation, the overall configuration of the RFID system is simplified, and accordingly This saves installation space and costs.

Claims (3)

An antenna that radiates an RF signal of a predetermined frequency band toward the RFID tag and captures an RF signal emitted by the RFID tag; When communicating with an RF module and an RFID tag that output the RF signal through the antenna, coordination with other readers is performed, various settings and control commands received from middleware are performed, and communication is received with an RFID tag. Including a digital module that delivers a tag information to the middleware, And an external device control function in the digital module, having a PLC block for transmitting a signal input from an external input device to the middleware or driving control of an external output device according to a command received from the middleware. The method of claim 1, The PLC block includes a microprocessor that collectively controls the overall operation of the block; A memory including a program memory storing a control program, a data memory storing various setting values or current value information, and a system memory storing a system program; An input unit in charge of an interface with an external input device; An output unit in charge of an interface with an external output device; and RFID reader having an external device control function, comprising a network interface in charge of the network interface with the middleware. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The scheduler program is mounted in the memory of the PLC block, The microprocessor of the PLC block controls an external input device or an external output device by the scheduler program when the tag information received from the processor block satisfies a predetermined requirement. Having RFID reader.

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