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JP-2026074675-A - RFID reader and RFID reading method

JP2026074675AJP 2026074675 AJP2026074675 AJP 2026074675AJP-2026074675-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a technology that efficiently reads information from multiple RF tags. [Solution] The reading unit reads the information contained in the RF tag (hereinafter referred to as tag information) via the antenna unit during a set reading period. The confirmation unit confirms the status of the tag information reading by the reading unit. If the reading status confirmed by the confirmation unit does not satisfy the predetermined reading completion conditions even after the reading period has ended, the re-reading unit causes the reading unit to re-execute the reading of the tag information after the interval period has elapsed. [Selection Diagram] Figure 7

Inventors

  • 横井 浩二
  • 澤田 真司
  • 垣内 雄晟

Assignees

  • マスプロ電工株式会社
  • 株式会社ダスキン

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241021

Claims (13)

  1. An antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves for tag reading, A reading unit configured to read information contained in the RF tag (hereinafter referred to as tag information) via the antenna unit during a set reading period, A confirmation unit configured to confirm the status of the tag information reading by the reading unit, Even after the aforementioned reading period has ended, if the reading status confirmed by the confirmation unit does not satisfy the predetermined reading completion conditions, a re-reading unit is configured to cause the reading unit to re-execute the reading of the tag information after the interval period has elapsed. An RFID reader equipped with [a specific feature].
  2. The RFID reader according to claim 1, The interval period is set to the length of time required for the RF tag, which has responded to the tag reading radio wave, to be able to respond again after the irradiation of the tag reading radio wave has been interrupted. RFID reader.
  3. The RFID reader according to claim 1, The re-reading unit uses the read completion condition, which is set to include the fact that the read rate, which is the percentage of RF tags to be read in which the tag information has been successfully read, is equal to or greater than a threshold. RFID reader.
  4. The RFID reader according to claim 1, The RFID reader device terminates reading the tag information when the number of re-reads, which is the number of times the reader has re-executed the reading process, reaches a predetermined number.
  5. The RFID reader according to claim 1, The antenna section comprises a plurality of antenna units, each independently controlled for transmitting and receiving the radio waves for tag reading. RFID reader.
  6. The RFID reader according to claim 5, The aforementioned multiple antenna units are mixed together in an RFID reader that transmits and receives signals with different polarizations.
  7. The RFID reader according to claim 5, At least one of the plurality of antenna units is arranged such that the direction of radio wave irradiation is different from that of the other antenna units. RFID reader.
  8. The RFID reader according to claim 5, The RFID reader device changes the combination of antenna units used for each re-read.
  9. The RFID reader according to claim 5, At least one of the aforementioned multiple antenna units is a movable antenna whose position or orientation changes according to instructions from the reading unit. The RFID reader device includes a reading unit that changes the position or orientation of the movable antenna during reading or with each subsequent reading.
  10. The RFID reader according to claim 5, An RFID reader in which at least one of the plurality of antenna units is a handheld antenna.
  11. The RFID reader according to claim 5, The structure further comprises a storage space for accommodating an article to which the RF tag is attached, and an opening for inserting and removing the article from the storage space, At least one of the plurality of antennas is provided on the structure to transmit radio waves toward the accommodation space and to receive radio waves arriving from the accommodation space. RFID reader.
  12. The RFID reader according to claim 11, At least a portion of the surface of the structure and the opening/closing body provided in the opening to open and close the opening is provided with a reflective layer that reflects radio waves. RFID reader.
  13. The process involves reading the information contained in the RF tag (hereinafter referred to as "tag information") for a set reading period via an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves for tag reading, and A step to confirm the reading status of the tag information that has been read, If, even after the aforementioned reading period has ended, the confirmed reading status does not satisfy the predetermined reading completion conditions, the process includes the step of re-executing the reading of the tag information via the antenna unit after the interval period has elapsed. RFID reading method including

Description

This disclosure relates to a technology for contactless reading of RFID. RFID readers are known for their contactless reading of identification information from RF tags attached to multiple items. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. When reading identification information from multiple RF tags, collisions occur due to multiple RF tags responding at approximately the same time, and interference occurs between RF tags as their radiation interferes with each other. Such interference between RF tags can cause reading errors. To read identification information from a large number of RF tags, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for devising the arrangement of multiple antennas placed within a gate, and Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for performing reading while moving the antennas. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-043533Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-101379 This is a perspective view showing the exterior of an RFID reader.This is a functional configuration diagram of an RFID reader.This is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of each part on the left wall and the arrangement of the unit antennas on the side antenna unit.This is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the unit antennas in the right-side antenna unit.This is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of unit antennas in the top antenna unit.This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a racket antenna.This is a flowchart of the reading process performed by the reader/writer.This is a table showing the combinations of antenna units used in each reading phase.This graph shows the relationship between the reading time in the first phase and the average number of pages read in the first phase alone.This graph shows the relationship between the operating time of the second phase and the average number of pages read during the second phase alone.This graph shows the relationship between the downtime in the second phase and the average number of pages read during the second phase alone.This graph shows the relationship between the interval time between the first and second phases and the average number of pages read during the second phase alone.This graph shows the relationship between the interval time between the first and second phases and the average number of pages read when the first and second phases are combined. The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1. Structure] The RFID reader 1 shown in Figure 1 includes a gate-shaped structure (hereinafter referred to as "gate") 10 that forms a storage space for storing articles. The RFID reader 1 reads tag information (i.e., RFID) from RF tags attached to articles stored in the storage space by communicating with the RF tags. The RF tag is a passive tag equipped with a semiconductor chip and an antenna. The RFID and a flag are stored in the semiconductor chip of the RF tag. The RFID is information for individually identifying an article to which an RF tag is attached (hereinafter referred to as "target article"). The flag is information indicating whether the RFID has already been read (hereinafter referred to as "flag A") or has not yet been read (hereinafter referred to as "flag B"). Gate 10 is a tunnel-type gate with a rectangular tubular wall that is open at both ends and hollow inside. The containment space formed by gate 10 is large enough for a worker to enter and exit while standing, along with a cart loaded with goods. The rectangular tubular wall of gate 10 comprises two opposing side walls 11 and 12, a ceiling 13, and a floor 14 opposite the ceiling 13. Here, the direction perpendicular to the opening surface of the gate 10, that is, the direction in which articles are inserted into and removed from the gate-like structure, is defined as the front-to-back direction. The direction perpendicular to the ceiling 13 and floor 14 is defined as the up-and-down direction, and the direction perpendicular to the side walls 11 and 12 is defined as the left-to-right direction. However, the left-to-right direction is defined as viewed from the front, with side wall 11 also referred to as the left-side wall and side wall 12 as the right-side wall. Of the openings in the gate 10, a shield curtain 15 is installed in the front opening, and a double-opening shield door 16, which is designed to open and close freely, is installed in the rear opening. The shield curtain 15 is attached to a curtain rail 131 provided above the front opening of the gate 10. The shield door 16 has a window 161 that allows the interior to be seen from the outside when the shield door 16 is closed. The shield curtain 15 and the shield door 16 have a reflective layer made of a material that reflects electromagnetic waves. The window 161 is made of a transparent material such as acrylic or glass, and a transparent film is attached to the surface of the window 161 to suppress the leakage of electromagnetic waves to the out