JP4589494B2 - Article detection system using data carrier and article detection method using data carrier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article detection system using a data carrier and an article detection method using a data carrier. In particular, the reader / writer device supplies an alternating magnetic field toward a service area and transmits from the reader / writer device. A command or data is sent by modulating the magnetic field, and the data carrier rectifies the electromotive force induced by the alternating magnetic field supplied from the reader / writer device to the coil incorporated in the data carrier and uses it for the operating power supply. It is suitable for use in the data carrier system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Data carrier systems comprising a data carrier (child device) in which an IC chip is disposed on a plastic card and a reader / writer device (parent) that wirelessly supplies an alternating magnetic field to the data carrier have become widespread. .
[0003]
In such a data carrier system, a plurality of items are placed on the article placement means, and data attached to each item is detected by detecting that the article placement means has come within a normal detection area. It is going to start communicating with the carrier.
[0004]
In such a data carrier system, in order to detect that the article placement means has come to a regular detection area, for example, a dedicated sensor based on light, ultrasonic waves, load, etc. is provided to output the sensor. Based on this, communication between the reader / writer device and the data carrier is started.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of a conventional data carrier system, a dedicated sensor is provided to detect that the article placement means has come within the normal detection area. Expense was necessary.
[0006]
In addition, a part of the article placement means has come out before a series of processing steps for reading and writing data carriers attached to items placed on the article placement means is completed. If there was a problem, it was difficult to detect.
[0007]
In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible to first detect that an article placement means on which an item with a data carrier is placed is in a regular service area without providing a special sensor. The purpose.
Secondly, it is possible to reliably detect that the article placement means remains in the regular service area until a series of processing steps for reading and writing the data carrier attached to the item is completed. The purpose.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the article detection system using the data carrier of the present invention, the reader / writer device supplies an alternating magnetic field toward the service area, and modulates the alternating magnetic field transmitted from the reader / writer device to send commands and data. The data carrier is an article detection system using a data carrier in which an electromotive force induced by receiving an alternating magnetic field supplied from the reader / writer device is rectified in a built-in coil and used as an operating power source. The article placing means for placing an item with a data carrier that communicates with the reader / writer device includes at least one of a tray, a pallet, and a container, and is provided at four corners of the article placing means. attaching a communicable data carrier and the reader / writer device, the four attached to four corners of the article loading means By communicating with all Takyaria, that the article mounting means came to normal service area, characterized in that the detectable by the reader / writer device.
In addition, another feature of the present invention is that the reader / writer device is configured so that the article mounting means is in a regular state until a series of communication processes for reading from and writing to the data carrier attached to the item is completed. It has the means to detect having stayed in the service area of.
[0009]
In the article detection method using the data carrier of the present invention, the reader / writer device supplies an alternating magnetic field toward the service area, and modulates the alternating magnetic field transmitted from the reader / writer device to send a command or data. The data carrier is an article detection method using a data carrier in which an electromotive force induced by receiving an alternating magnetic field supplied from the reader / writer device is rectified in a built-in coil and used as an operating power source. The article placing means for placing an item with a data carrier that communicates with the reader / writer device includes at least one of a tray, a pallet, and a container, and is provided at four corners of the article placing means. attaching a communicable data carrier and the reader / writer device, four Detaki attached to four corners of the article loading means By communicating with all rear, that the article mounting means came to normal service area and detecting by the reader / writer device.
In addition, another feature of the present invention is that the reader / writer device is configured so that the article mounting means is in a regular state until a series of communication processes for reading from and writing to the data carrier attached to the item is completed. It is characterized in that processing for detecting that the user has stayed in the service area is performed.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of an article detection system using a data carrier and an article detection method using a data carrier of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an article detection system using a data carrier of the present invention, and shows an example in which a tray 11 on which food containers 12 to 15 are placed is detected by a reader / writer device 1.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 11 according to the present embodiment is used to place a container for containing food. In the example of FIG. 1, a bowl 12 containing rice, a hamburger, and an garnish. This is an example in which a large plate 13 on which is placed, a small plate 14 on which boiled food is placed, and a bowl 15 in which miso soup is placed.
[0013]
As shown in the bottom views of FIGS. 2 and 3, tags 111, 112, 113, and 114 are attached to the back surface of the tray 11 at four corners. A tag 121 is also attached to the back surface of the bowl 12.
[0014]
When the tags 111 to 114 and 121 attached as described above come to the detection area 10 provided on the counter 20, their presence is detected by the reader / writer device 1, and the tags 111 to 114 and 121 Predetermined communication is performed with the reader / writer device 1, and the data stored in the tags 111 to 114 and 121 is read to the reader / writer device 1.
[0015]
FIG. 4 shows an example of communication performed between the tags 111 to 114 and 121 and the reader / writer device 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, first, in the first step S41, initialization of the program (Initialize) is performed. That is, a process is performed in which all data on the recording medium is erased to return to the state before writing and the memory and peripheral devices are returned to the initial state. This initialization is automatically performed when the power is turned on.
[0016]
Next, it progresses to step S42 and the drive of an alternating magnetic field is started. Thus, when the tray 11 enters the detection area 10 on the counter 20, driving power is supplied to the tags 111 to 114 attached to the back surface of the tray 11, and the tags 111 to 114 are operable. .
[0017]
Next, in step S43, a command for detecting the tray 11 is transmitted from the reader / writer device 1. The tags 111 to 114 attached to the back surface of the tray 11 are assigned ID numbers. When a command is transmitted from the reader / writer device 1, each tag 111 to 114 responds to the command. The reader / writer device 1 is notified that the tray 11 has come into the detection area 10.
[0018]
Replies from the tags 111 to 114 are received by the reader / writer device 1 in step S44. When replies from all the tags 111 to 114 are received, the process proceeds to step S45, where the reader / writer device 1 Send a detection command.
[0019]
When a command for detecting a food container is transmitted from the reader / writer device 1, the command is received by the tag 121 attached to the back surface of the food container such as the bowl 12, the platter 13, the small dish 14, and the bowl 15. When the tag attached to the back surface of each food container receives a command from the reader / writer device 1, it returns the assigned ID to the reader / writer device 1.
[0020]
The reader / writer device 1 receives a reply from the tag attached to each food container in step S46, and communicates with each tag until all the food containers are recognized. When all the food containers are recognized, the process proceeds to step S47, and the data received from each tag is processed.
[0021]
Thereafter, in step S48, it is determined whether or not an end operation has been performed. If no end operation has been performed, the process returns to step S43 and the above-described processing is repeated.
[0022]
Next, an embodiment of the data processing performed in step S47 of FIG. 4 is performed.
This example is an example in which the calorie of food placed on the tray 11 is calculated. For example, by calculating the calorie of the food that the employee eats in the employee cafeteria, it can be used for employee health management. A possible example.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, first, in the first step S51, it waits for the input of the ID number of the holder of the tray 11 to be performed. And if ID input is performed, it will progress to step S52 and the process which reads the calorie of the food currently mounted in the recognized food container from a database (not shown) will be performed. Since the number of calories in each food container is stored in the database as a table corresponding to the food container to which the tag is attached, the reader / writer device 1 can easily determine the food content and the number of calories if the tag ID is known. Can know.
[0024]
If the number of calories of the food corresponding to each food container is known, the process proceeds to step S53, and the number of calories of all foods placed on the tray 11 is calculated. When the number of calories of all foods is known, the calculation result is printed out in step S4, and then the number of calories of all foods is stored in the database in step S55.
[0025]
Note that pudding and out in step S54 are not necessarily performed each time, and may be performed at a predetermined timing such as once a week or once a month.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, as described above, the tray 11 has a predetermined function by using the function of the reader / writer device 1 that communicates with the tag attached to the food container placed on the tray 11. Since it has been detected that it has come into the detection area 10, a sensor for detecting that the tray 11 has come to a predetermined position, for example, a dedicated sensor for light, ultrasonic waves, load, etc., is not required. Can do.
[0027]
In addition, since the means for detecting the tray 11 and the means for acquiring predetermined data by communicating with the tag attached to the food container placed on the tray 11 are the same, You can be sure that there is no tag for food container management.
[0028]
When the tray 11 approaches, the tray 11 management tag returns a response, so that the reader / writer device 1 recognizes that the tray 11 is approaching, but at the beginning of communication, it is attached to the four corners of the tray 11. Since only a part of the tags 111 to 114 responded, it can be recognized that the tray 11 has not yet come to the normal position.
[0029]
When the tray 11 is sent to the regular position, the reader / writer device 1 recognizes that the tray 11 has come to the regular position because all the tags 111 to 114 attached to the four corners of the tray 11 respond. Can do.
[0030]
Therefore, in another embodiment, when the container corresponding to the tray 11 is automatically transported, etc., in the state in which the container is stopped in the detection area by instructing the transport system to pause. The tag attached to the item on the container can be read and written.
[0031]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a pallet management tag 63 is attached on the pallet 62, a cardboard 64 having a tag (not shown) is placed on the pallet 62, and a plurality of cardboards 64 are conveyed. It can be used effectively in some cases.
[0032]
If necessary, a read command is sent to the pallet management tag 63 at any time to confirm that the container remains in the regular service area. For example, when the processing for the tag in the container is completed at regular time intervals, a read command is finally sent to the pallet management tag 63 to confirm that the container remains in the regular service area 60.
[0033]
Thereby, it can be confirmed that the processing for each of the plurality of cardboards 64 has been properly completed. For example, if the pallet 62 is moved during the process, an alarm is issued so that the pallet management tag 63 attached to the cardboard 64 mounted on the pallet 62 is given. It is possible to reliably prevent inconvenience that the communication to be performed becomes incomplete.
[0034]
In addition, as described above, according to the article detection system using the data carrier of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to use a sensor using light, a load, a sound wave, or the like. You can go down.
[0035]
Further, if a failure or an operation failure such as noise occurs, a problem occurs in the detection of the article placement means such as the tray 11 or the pallet 62. Therefore, the article placement means is allowed to flow while having a problem in the item detection process. Can prevent inconvenience.
[0036]
For example, when the environment such as noise suddenly becomes abnormal and it becomes difficult to detect the signal from the tag, and the tag of the article placement means is detected, the detection of the article placement means management tag is also abnormal. Therefore, the communication abnormality between the reader / writer device 1 and the tag can be reliably detected.
[0037]
That is, for example, an article using the data carrier of the present embodiment is not known even if there is a failure in communication with the tag due to a metal tray placed on the article placing means. In the case of a detection system, since it communicates with the article mounting means management tag and the tag attached to the item, if it cannot communicate with the article placement means management tag, communicate with the item management tag. I can't.
[0038]
In addition, when communication with the article placement means management tag is possible, it is possible to communicate with the item management tag, so if there is an abnormality in communication with the article placement means management tag, an alarm is issued or the transport system is You can give instructions and try again.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the data carrier capable of communicating with the reader / writer device is attached to the article placing means for placing the item with the data carrier that communicates with the reader / writer device, Since the reader / writer device detects that the article placing means is in the regular service area, it is possible to detect that the article placing means is in the regular service area without providing a special sensor. It becomes possible to detect, and the cost at the time of comprising a system can be reduced.
[0040]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the article placement means remains in a regular service area until a series of communication processes for reading from and writing to the data carrier attached to the item is completed. So that if it moves out of the normal detection area before a series of processing steps to read and write the data carrier attached to the item is completed, it is surely detected. It is possible to reliably prevent the inconvenience that communication with the data carrier attached to the item is interrupted in an incomplete state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an article detection system using a data carrier of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a state in which a tag is attached to the back surface of the tray.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing a state in which a tag is attached to the back surface of the tea bowl.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an article detection method using a data carrier.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of data processing.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of an article detection system using a data carrier.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Reader / Writer Device 10 Detection Area 11 Tray 12 Tea Bowl 13 Large Plate 14 Small Plate 15 Rice Bowl 20 Counter 111-114 Tag 121 Tag

Claims (4)

The reader / writer device supplies an alternating magnetic field toward the service area, modulates the alternating magnetic field transmitted from the reader / writer device, sends a command or data, and the data carrier sends the reader / writer to the built-in coil. An article detection system using a data carrier in which an electromotive force induced by receiving an alternating magnetic field supplied from a writer device is rectified and used as an operation power source,
Article placing means for placing an item with a data carrier that communicates with the reader / writer device includes at least one of a tray, a pallet, and a container, and the reader is provided at four corners of the article placing means. / The data carrier that can communicate with the writer device is attached, and the article placement means has come within the regular service area by communicating with all four data carriers attached to the four corners of the article placement means. Can be detected by the reader / writer device. Article detection system using data carrier The reader / writer device detects that the article placement means remains in a regular service area until a series of communication processes for reading and writing with the data carrier attached to the item is completed. An article detection system using a data carrier according to claim 1 . The reader / writer device supplies an alternating magnetic field toward the service area, modulates the alternating magnetic field transmitted from the reader / writer device, sends a command and data, and the data carrier sends the reader / writer to the built-in coil. An article detection method using a data carrier that rectifies an electromotive force induced by receiving an alternating magnetic field supplied from a writer device and uses it for an operating power source,
Article placing means for placing an item with a data carrier that communicates with the reader / writer device includes at least one of a tray, a pallet, and a container, and the reader is provided at four corners of the article placing means. / The data carrier that can communicate with the writer device is attached, and the article placement means has come within the regular service area by communicating with all four data carriers attached to the four corners of the article placement means. An article detection method using a data carrier, wherein the reader / writer device detects The reader / writer device detects that the article placement means has remained in a regular service area until a series of communication processes for reading from and writing to the data carrier attached to the item is completed. The article detection method using the data carrier according to claim 3 , wherein:

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