KR102002255B1 - Bar code and rfid reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a barcode and RFID reading apparatus. The disclosed barcode and RFID reading apparatus comprises: a terminal for reading a barcode and an RFID; a cradle on which the terminal is separably mounted; and a USB interface connecting the cradle to a server PC. Here, the terminal comprises: an MCU; an RFID antenna responding to an inquiry by the MCU to detect the context of an RFID tag; an RFID reader reading RFID tag information from the context of the RFID tag, before sending the read RFID tag information to the MCU; a barcode reader responding to the inquiry by the MCU to read barcode information, before sending the read barcode information to the MCU; a user input interface providing a selection function choosing one between an RFID reading mode and a barcode reading mode and a hardware setting function for the terminal; a display unit provided at the terminal, and visually showing a user maneuver state of the terminal by means of the user input interface; and a battery to supply electricity required for the operation of the terminal. Here, the cradle receives the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information from the terminal by means of a Bluetooth communication. Furthermore, the server PC receives the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information received by the cradle by using the USB interface. In addition, data processed at the server PC are transmitted to each process management PC by means of the network between the server PC and a plurality of process management PCs to be used for managing each process.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION [0002] BAR CODE AND RFID READING APPARATUS [

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a barcode or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader, and more particularly, to a barcode and RFID reader having both a 1D / 2D barcode reader function and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) function.

A bar code is an indication that makes it optically mechanically readable with respect to the data associated with the object to which it is attached. These barcodes include a 1D barcode that represents data by the width and spacing of parallel lines, and a 2D barcode that represents the data in rectangular, dot, hexagonal, and other two-dimensional patterns. The advantages of bar codes are accuracy and speed. Barcode scanning is much faster than manually typing a series of numbers into a computer with a keyboard or number pad.

RFID systems, on the other hand, are used in many applications. RFID systems are being used for product identification, inventory or sales. Due to the many advantages of RFID technology, a significant portion of barcode scanner technology is being replaced by RFID technology. In the simplest applications of RFID technology, a passive RFID transponder, commonly referred to as a tag or card, is placed on the object to be identified. Then, an RFID reader is used to obtain information from the tag. The reader is powered by a power supply and usually has a transceiver that sends and receives signals. The tag has a transceiver that receives a signal from the reader and sends a response to the reader. Tags are typically driven by passive and induced electromagnetic fields.

Conventionally, in order to know product information with a bar code, a bar code reader has to be used and an RFID reader has to be used in order to know the product information attached with the RFID tag. Accordingly, there has been a need in the past for an apparatus that incorporates an RFID reader and a barcode reader function. Many attempts have been made to integrate RFID readers with barcode readers, but there are limits to satisfying both the characteristics of the barcode reader and the characteristics of the RFID tag reader. In addition, in the past, only the bar code or RFID tag attached to the object close to the PC was read.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an RFID reader and a barcode reading function that integrates RFID reader and barcode reading functions and processes RFID data and barcode data acquired from a server PC and a plurality of process management PCs using a mobile terminal, And to provide a barcode and RFID reader for use in a process management PC.

A barcode and RFID reader according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a terminal for barcode and RFID reading; A cradle in which the terminal is removably mounted; And a USB interface for connecting the cradle to a server PC, wherein the terminal comprises: an MCU; an RFID antenna for detecting the context of the RFID tag in response to a query by the MCU; A barcode reader for reading barcode information in response to a query by the MCU and for sending the read barcode information to the MCU, and a barcode reader for reading RFID data from the RFID reader mode and the barcode reading mode A user input interface for providing a selection function and a hardware setting function of the terminal; a display unit provided to the terminal and visually displaying a user operation state of the terminal through the user input interface; And a battery for supplying power necessary for the battery, The server PC receives the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information from the terminal in Bluetooth communication, and the server PC transmits the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information received from the cradle to the reader / And the data processed by the server PC is transmitted to each of the process management PCs by a network between the server PC and a plurality of process management PCs and used for management of each process.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an LED illumination unit is provided inside the light transmission window to facilitate reading a barcode of the barcode reader while being adjacent to the barcode reader. The LED illumination unit includes R, G, and B LED chips, The MCU adjusts the light intensities of the R, G, and B LED chips by user input through a user input interface, and the illumination unit adjusts the light intensities of the R, G, To illuminate the bar code.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cradle includes a recess for receiving a front end of a main body of the terminal on an upper surface thereof, a charging gender is detachably installed on a lower end of the handle of the terminal, Wherein the cradle includes a port through which the gender is inserted and the port includes an annular metal portion to which the annular magnet of the gender may be attached.

The RFID reader and the RFID reader according to the present invention integrate the RFID reading function and the bar code reading function and store the RFID data and the barcode data obtained using the mobile terminal at a remote location from the server PC and the plurality of process management PCs, To be used in the process control PC.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a barcode and RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal of a barcode and RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted on a cradle.
3 is a perspective view of a terminal of a barcode and RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention and a cradle separated from each other.
4 is a front view showing the terminal.
5 is a side view of the terminal.

A preferred embodiment of a barcode and RFID reader according to the present invention will now be described in detail. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Protection range. For example, elements and / or features of other exemplary embodiments may be combined with one another, or interchanged with one another, within the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a barcode and RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The barcode and RFID reader according to the present embodiment includes a terminal 1 for reading a barcode and an RFID, a cradle 2 in which the terminal 1 is detachably mounted and communicates with the terminal 1 through Bluetooth communication, And a USB interface 3 for connecting the cradle 2 with the server PC 4. [ In addition, the barcode and RFID reader according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of process management PCs 6 connected to the server PC 4 by a network.

The terminal 1 includes an RFID antenna 10, an RFID reader 20, an MCU (Micro Control Unit) 30, a barcode reader 40, a display unit 50, a trigger 60 and a user input interface 70, . The RFID antenna 10 is connected to an RFID reader 20 including an RF circuit.

The RFID antenna 10 is configured to detect the context of an arbitrary RFID tag in response to a query by the MCU 30. [ The MCU 30 is in RFID read mode. In response to the information feedback of the RFID tag, the RFID reader 20 reads the information of the RFID tag and sends it to the MCU 30. The RFID tag information acquired by the RFID reader 20 controlled by the MCU 30 is transmitted to and processed by the server PC 3 by the Bluetooth communication by the Bluetooth module 90, The processed data can be transmitted to each process management PC 6 via the network and used for management of each process.

The bar code reader 40 is configured to read a bar code attached to an arbitrary object in response to a query by the MCU 30. [ In the barcode reading mode, the MCU 30 responds to barcode information feedback, and the barcode reader 40 reads the barcode information and sends it to the MCU 30. The barcode information obtained by the barcode reader 40 controlled by the MCU 30 is transmitted to the Bluetooth module 90 via the Bluetooth communication between the terminal 1 and the cradle 2 and the Bluetooth communication between the cradle 2 and the server PC The data processed by the server PC 3 is transmitted to the server PC 3 by the USB interface 3 between the server PC 3 and the process management PCs 6 It can be transferred to each process control PC 6 by the network and used for management of each process.

The display unit 50 may be an LCD and provides visual information to the user so that the user can select a mode or set the terminal hardware in the corresponding mode. According to the present embodiment, the display unit 50 displays "BCR" indicating a barcode mode option, "RFID" indicating an RFID mode option, and "CONFIG" indicating a hardware setting option. A user input interface 70 is provided adjacent to the display unit 50. The user input interface 70 includes an up button and a down button for selecting an option and an OK button for determining a selected option. For example, in the case of the barcode mode, "BCR" of the display unit 50 may be activated. If the mode is to be changed to the RFID mode, the RFID mode is selected using the down button, To change to the RFID mode. To configure settings such as Bluetooth communication speed control, long key control, debug, and display off standby status of the display unit, select the CONFIG mode by using the up button or the down button, and then select the Bluetooth communication speed control, long key control, debug, Off-standby state.

Also, the terminal 1 includes a rechargeable battery 80 for wireless use. When the terminal 1 is mounted on the cradle 2, the gender connected to the battery 80 is connected to the charging terminal of the charger provided in the cradle 2 so that the battery 80 can be charged have. In addition, the terminal 1 includes a trigger 60. In the RFID mode or the barcode mode, the user activates the trigger 60 to perform RFID reading on the RFID tag or reading on the 1D or 2D barcode.

The terminal 1 includes a Bluetooth module 90. The cradle 2 communicates data with the terminal 1 through the Bluetooth communication by the Bluetooth module 90 and transmits the data to the server 1 via the USB interface 3 connecting the cradle 2 and the server PC 4. [ And communicates with the PCB 4. The cradle 2 receives the barcode data or the RFID data acquired by the terminal 1 via the Bluetooth communication and then transmits it to the server PC 4 via the USB interface 3. The USB interface 3 preferably uses a class 1 USB cable that guarantees a distance of 100 m. The server PC 4 transmits the barcode data or the RFID data to a plurality of process management PCs 6, thereby making it easier to manage various processes.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal of the barcode and RFID reader according to the embodiment of the present invention while being mounted on a cradle, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a terminal and a cradle separated from each other, And FIG. 5 is a side view showing the terminal.

2 to 5, the terminal 1 includes a housing 100, and the RFID antenna 10, the RFID reader 20 (see FIG. 1), the MCU 1), a display unit 50, a trigger 60, a user input interface 70, and a battery 80 (see FIG. 1). The housing 100 includes a handle 110 and a body 120 integrally formed with the handle 110. A light transmitting window 130 is provided at the tip of the body 120. [ An LED illumination unit 140 is provided adjacent to the inside of the light transmission window 130 to help the barcode reader 40 and the barcode reader 40 read the barcode. An RFID antenna 10 is installed so as to surround the periphery of the barcode reader 40 and the LED illumination unit 140. The RFID antenna 10 is visually obscured by the light shielding portion 132 around the light transmission window 130. [ The RFID antenna 10 covered by the light shield portion 132 is shown with a hatch line for the sake of simplicity. Therefore, both the bar code data and the RFID data can be acquired by placing the light transmission window 130 provided at the front end of the terminal 1 on the bar code or near the RFID tag. The illumination unit 140 includes R, G, and B LED chips.

The light intensities of the R, G, and B LED chips can be relatively adjusted through the user input interface 70 (see FIG. 1). By such relative adjustment of the light intensity, the illumination unit 140 can illuminate the barcode by making light suitable for the state of the barcode, which enables a more reliable barcode reading.

As described above, the display unit 50 may be an LCD, and provides visual information to the user so that the user can select the mode or set the terminal hardware in the corresponding mode. According to the present embodiment, the display unit 50 displays "BCR" indicating a barcode mode option, "RFID" indicating an RFID mode option, and "CONFIG" indicating a hardware setting option. A user input interface 70 is provided adjacent to the display unit 50. The user input interface 70 includes an up button 71 and a down button 72 for selecting an option, Button 73 as shown in FIG.

A trigger 60 is provided in front of the handle 110. The user can press the trigger 70 with his / her fingers to perform the above-described modes, namely, the 1D / 2D barcode reading mode and the RFID tag reading mode The barcode or the RFID tag is read out.

The cradle 2 accommodates the front end of the main body portion where the light transmission window 130 is located among the various portions of the terminal 1 and provides a recess 201 for allowing the terminal 1 to be stably mounted on the top surface . Meanwhile, a charging gantry 220 is detachably installed on the lower end of the handle 110 of the terminal 1. [ This gender 220 includes an annular magnet. The cradle 2 includes a port 102 into which the gender 220 is inserted and the port 102 includes an annular metal portion to which the magnet of the gender 220 can be attached. The annular magnet is attached to the annular metal part when the gantry 220 is connected to the port 102 so that a more reliable and stable charging connection of the cradle 2 and the terminal 1 is possible.

The above embodiments of the present invention provide a barcode and RFID reader. The device employs bar code and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enhance the applicability of the device. The device also meets most industrial requirements with high safety, durability, scalability and reliability. In addition, the device is compact in size for most packaging, rough and dust working environments.

While this disclosure has been shown and described with reference to a number of embodiments, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 .................................. terminal
2 .................................. Cradle
3 ................................. USB interface
4 .................................. Server PC
6 .................................. Process control PC
10 ................................. RFID antenna
20 ................................. RFID reader
30 ................................. MCU
40 ................................. Barcode reader

Claims (3)

A terminal for barcode and RFID reading;
A cradle in which the terminal is removably mounted; And
And a USB interface for connecting the cradle to a server PC,
A housing disposed in the housing and configured to detect the context of the RFID tag in response to a query by the MCU; An RFID reader disposed in the housing and reading the RFID tag information from the context of the RFID tag and sending the read RFID tag information to the MCU; and an RFID reader disposed in the housing and responsive to a query by the MCU, A barcode reader for reading information and sending the read barcode information to the MCU, a user input interface for providing a function for selecting any one of an RFID reading mode and a barcode reading mode and a hardware setting function of the terminal, , A user operation of the terminal through the user input interface And a battery for supplying power required for operation of the terminal, wherein the cradle receives the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information from the terminal via Bluetooth communication, The server PC receives the read RFID tag information and the read barcode information received from the cradle using a USB interface, and the data processed by the server PC is transmitted to a network between the server PC and a plurality of process management PCs And an LED illumination unit for reading a bar code of the bar code reader is provided inside the light transmission window adjacent to the bar code reader, R, G, and B LED chips, and the MCU includes a user input G, and B LED chips by adjusting the light intensity of the R, G, and B LED chips by user input through the face, and the illumination unit generates light corresponding to the state of the barcode, Wherein the RFID antenna is shielded by an optical shield portion around the light transmission window while being installed so as to surround the periphery of the barcode reader and the LED illumination portion. delete The portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle includes a recess for receiving a front end of a main body of the terminal on an upper surface thereof, a charging gender is detachably installed on a lower end of the handle of the terminal, Wherein the cradle includes a port into which the gender is inserted, and the port includes an annular metal portion to which the annular magnet of the gender can be attached.

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