IP Library Granted Patent US 8,537,015
Granted Patent B2
US 8,537,015 · App. 12/743,765 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Tag communication device, tag communication system, and tag communication method

Inventors: Hidekatsu Nogami (Kyoto, JP); Hirokazu Kasai (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: Omron Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,537,015
App. No.
12/743,765
Granted
Sep 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is possible to provide a tag communication device, a tag communication system, and a tag communication method which can secure an optimal communication region even when an antenna installation environment or a peripheral environment changes. A tag A is arranged in a preset communication region while a tag B is arranged outside the communication region. A reader/writer ( 3 ) repeatedly scans a radio beam M emitted from a scan antenna ( 4 ) and then controls the radio beam so that all the tags A can be read while no tag B can be read according to the ID which has been read.

Claims (30)

1. A tag communication device that wirelessly communicates with an RFID tag by emitting a radio beam from an antenna, the tag communication device comprising:

a receiving means for receiving identification information respectively from a first RFID tag arranged in a communication desired region as a spatial region in which communication is desired, and a second RFID tag arranged outside the communication desired region and at a position adjacent to the communication desired region; and

a control means for controlling the radio beam so as to be communicable with the first RFID tag and non-communicable with the second RFID tag according to the identification information received by the receiving means.

2. The tag communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the control means controls the radio beam by adjusting a direction of the radio beam.

3. The tag communication device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the control means controls the radio beam by adjusting a strength of a transmission power of the radio beam.

4. The tag communication device according to claim 1 , wherein

the RFID tag is given to an object; and

the object is a movable body that moves on a movement path, the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag being arranged along the movement path.

5. The tag communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a scan antenna for scanning the radio beam.

6. The tag communication device according to claim 5 , wherein the control means controls a timing of reading by the scan antenna.

7. A tag communication system that wirelessly communicates with an RFID tag by emitting a radio beam from an antenna, the tag communication system comprising:

a tag communication device including a receiving means for receiving identification information respectively from a first RFID tag arranged in a communication desired region as a spatial region in which communication is desired, and a second RFID tag arranged outside the communication desired region and at a position adjacent to the communication desired region; and

a control device including a control means for controlling the radio beam so as to be communicable with the first RFID tag and non-communicable with the second RFID tag according to the identification information received by the receiving means.

8. The tag communication system according to claim 7 , wherein the control means controls the radio beam by adjusting a direction of the radio beam.

9. The tag communication system according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein the control means controls the radio beam by adjusting a strength of a transmission power of the radio beam.

10. The tag communication system according to claim 7 , wherein

the RFID tag is given to an object; and

the object is a movable body that moves on a movement path, the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag being arranged along the movement path.

11. The tag communication system according to claim 7 , wherein the antenna is a scan antenna for scanning the radio beam.

12. The tag communication system according to claim 11 , wherein the control means controls a timing of reading by the scan antenna.

13. A tag communication method of wirelessly communicating with an RFID tag by emitting a radio beam from an antenna, the tag communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving identification information respectively from a first RFID tag arranged in a communication desired region as a spatial region in which communication is desired, and a second RFID tag arranged outside the communication desired region and at a position adjacent to the communication desired region; and

controlling the radio beam so as to be communicable with the first RFID tag and non-communicable with the second RFID tag according to the received identification information.

14. The tag communication method according to claim 13 , wherein the controlling is carried out by adjusting a direction of the radio beam.

15. The tag communication method according to claim 13 or 14 , wherein the controlling is carried out by adjusting a strength of a transmission power of the radio beam.

16. The tag communication method according to claim 13 , wherein

the RFID tag is given to an object; and

the object is a movable body that moves on a movement path, the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag being arranged along the movement path.

17. The tag communication method according to claim 13 , wherein the antenna is a scan antenna for scanning the radio beam.

18. The tag communication method according to claim 17 , wherein the controlling is carried out by controlling a timing of reading by the scan antenna.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2010
From: NOGAMI, HIDEKATSU; KASAI, HIROKAZU
To: OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024589/0430 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-001541 · Jan 8, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100271210A1 · Oct 28, 2010