Object tagged with RFID tag and device and method for processing it

• US 20050242953A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Teli Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Teli Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Minoru, Nakagawa, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 61/00 Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/128 the workpiece itself serves as a record carrier, e.g. by its form, by marks or codes on it
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33199 Transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45047 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The device will make it easy to recognize an individual object located at a specific location using radio frequency ID tags. The device includes an object having an object main body, a tag provided with the object main body, and a display section provided with the object main body to display the information corresponding to the ID information stored on the tag.

Claims

1. An object a radio frequency information data (RFID) tag, comprising:

an object main body;

an RFID tag provided with the main body; and

a display unit provided with the main body to display optical attribute information corresponding to identification information stored in the RFID tag.

2. The object with the RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the optical attribute information on the display unit is a numeric figure, character, graphic, pattern, barcode or the combination thereof.

3. A device for processing an object with an RFID tag attached, comprising:

an object having an object main body, an RFID tag provided with the main body and a display unit provided with the main body to display the optical attribute information of the object;

a reading device for recognizing the attribute information by reading the display unit when the object with the RFID tag is located at a prescribed position; and

an access device for accessing the RFID tag of the object with the RFID tag when the reading device recognizes the attribute information.

4. The device for processing the object with the RFID tag according to claim 3, wherein the device also comprises of a carrying device for moving the object with a RFID tag attached to a prescribed position.

5. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 4, wherein the reading device is a video camera, and the access device is composed of a controller ad a radio communication unit connected to the video camera.

6. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 4, wherein the access device is incorporated in the video camera.

7. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 4, wherein the radio communication unit or a part thereof is located at a place distant from the video camera.

8. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 4, wherein the display unit is a number originally provided with the object.

9. A method for processing an object with a RFID tag attached composed of an object main body, a RFID tag provided with the main body and a display unit provided with the main body to display optical attribute information of the object, comprising:

disposing the object with a RFID tag attached at a prescribed position;

reading the display unit and recognizing the attribute information; and

accessing the RFID tag of the object with a RFID tag attached when recognizing the attribute information.

10. A device for processing RFID tag information comprising:

an object with an RFID tag;

a device for disposing the object with a RFID tag attached at a prescribed position;

an optical camera system for capturing the image of the object at a prescribed position and with the RFID tag;

a processing device for processing the electronic information acquired from the camera; and

a reading/writing device for the RFID tag for writing the optical attribute information of the object, acquired from processing the electronic information with the processing device, onto the RFID tag of the object.

11. A device for processing an object with a RFID tag, comprising:

an object with a RFID tag;

a device for disposing the object with a RFID tag attached at a prescribed position;

an optical camera system for capturing the image of an object at a prescribed position and with the RFID tag;

a primary processing unit for processing electronic information acquired from the camera and acquiring optical attribute information of the object;

a second processing unit for reading tag information of the RFID tag by radio; and

a third processing unit for generating an operation signal to operate the object in response to the content of the attribute information, content of the tag information of the RFID tag, or the content of both.

12. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 11, wherein the third processing unit for generating the operation signal outputs the control signal for a robot to sort the object.

13. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 11, wherein the third processing unit for generating the operation signal acquires registered image data including identification information (ID) same as ID included in the tag information from a server.

14. The device for processing the object with a RFID tag attached according to claim 13, wherein the third processing unit for generating the operation signal displays image data acquitted form the camera and the registered image data acquired from the server on a monitor.