Wireless IC tag
View Patent ↗To provide a wireless IC tag which is readable even in a plurality of countries (destination countries) using different radio frequency bands for reading. The wireless IC tag of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a case ( 20 ); an antenna ( 60 ), which is provided in the case ( 20 ); a metal plate ( 901 ), which is disposed in the case opposite to the antenna ( 60 ); and a mechanism for altering the resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag ( 10 ) by moving at least one of the antenna ( 60 ) and the metal plate ( 901 ) in the case ( 20 ), thereby altering the distance (D) between the metal plate ( 901 ) and the antenna ( 60 ). With such wireless IC tag ( 10 ), the capacitance of an equivalent tuning capacitor consisting of the antenna ( 60 ) and the metal plate ( 901 ) can be arbitrarily altered by a distance alteration unit, and thereby, the resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag ( 10 ) can be altered in accordance with the frequency band of reading radio wave used by a reader/writer.
1. A wireless IC tag which is readable in a plurality of countries with a plurality of different radio frequency bands for reading and is used in international material distribution management, the wireless IC tag comprising:
a case;
an antenna, which is provided in the case and is movable with respect to a metal object opposite to the antenna; and
distance varying means for varying resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag by moving the antenna in the case and altering a distance between the metal object and the antenna, wherein
the wireless IC tag has a plurality of indicators corresponding to the plurality of different frequency bands, respectively, for setting the distance between the metal object and the antenna as a distance corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of different frequency bands,
the distance between the metal object and the antenna is variable by a user's operation to the distance varying means, and
resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag are adjustable in accordance with a radio frequency band used in a destination country by the user's operation to the distance varying means in accordance with a respective one of the indicators that corresponds to the destination country.
2. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1 , wherein the case is mounted to the metal object.
3. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1 , wherein the metal object is disposed in the case opposite to the antenna.
4. The wireless IC tag according to claim 3 , wherein the metal object is movably disposed in the case.
5. The wireless IC tag according to claim 4 , wherein the distance varying means alters the resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag by moving the metal object in the case and altering the distance between the metal object and the antenna.
6. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1 , wherein the metal object is replaceably mounted on an external face of the case so as to be opposed to the antenna.
7. The wireless IC tag according to claim 6 , wherein plural types of replaceable metal objects exist, and the metal objects are different from one another in at least one of area, thickness, quality of material, and shape so as to obtain resonance characteristics suitable for any one of a plurality of different frequency bands.
8. The wireless IC tag according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is connected to an IC device having functions including at least one of a transmission/reception function, a storing function, and an input/output control function.
9. The wireless IC tag according to claim 8 , wherein the IC device is disposed in the case.
10. A wireless IC tag, comprising:
a case;
an antenna, which is provided in the case and is movable with respect to a metal object opposite to the antenna; and
distance varying means for varying resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag by moving the antenna in the case and varying a distance between the metal object and the antenna, wherein
the distance varying means varies the distance between the metal object and the antenna so as to obtain resonance characteristics suitable for any of a plurality of different frequency bands in response to a user's operation,
wherein the distance varying means comprises:
a retainer, which retains the antenna and is movable opposite to the metal object;
an inclined cam, which is coupled with the retainer and is disposed in a state in which the cam is inclined in the case;
a pressing unit for moving the retainer and altering a distance between the antenna and the metal object by applying a pressing force upon the inclined cam at a plurality of positions along the inclined cam; and
a biasing unit for applying a biasing force against the pressing force on the retainer.
11. The wireless IC tag according to claim 10 , wherein the pressing unit is made up of one slide member that slides along the inclined cam.
12. The wireless IC tag according to claim 10 , wherein the pressing unit is made up of a plurality of pushbuttons disposed at predetermined intervals along the inclined cam.
13. A wireless IC tag, comprising:
a case;
an antenna, which is provided in the case and is movable with respect to a metal object opposite to the antenna; and
distance varying means for varying resonance characteristics of the wireless IC tag by moving the antenna in the case and varying a distance between the metal object and the antenna, wherein
the distance varying means varies the distance between the metal object and the antenna so as to obtain resonance characteristics suitable for any of a plurality of different frequency bands in response to a user's operation,
wherein the distance varying means comprises:
a retainer, which retains the antenna and is movable opposite to the metal object;
a rack, which is coupled with the retainer; and
a rotary element having a gear engaged with the rack.