RF tag module, RF tagged article and RF tag reading apparatus utilizing same
First Claim
1. An RF tag reading apparatus for reading data from a plurality of articles each having a face surface provided with an RF tag, the apparatus comprising:
- an article container configured to contain the plurality of articles;
a reader antenna device to which the article container is disposed in a prescribed relationship, the reader antenna device having its maximum gain direction; and
an interrogator configured to read data from the RF tags on the face surfaces of the plurality of articles, the RF tag having its maximum gain direction, wherein the articles are arranged face to face with each other within the article container so that maximum gain directions of the RF tags are uniformly oriented, and the article container is disposed so that the maximum gain direction of the reader antenna device is opposed to the maximum gain directions of the RF tags of the articles in the article container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF tag reading apparatus reads information from RF tags affixed to postal envelopes by a single operation. An article container contains a large number of postal envelopes provided with RF tags. A reader antenna, which is connected to an interrogator via a coaxial cable, is disposed under the article container. Maximum gain directions of the RF tags of the respective postal envelopes are uniformly directed to the reader antenna. The respective postal envelopes contained in the article container are arranged face to face with each other in a direction orthogonal to the maximum directions of the RF tags. Since a maximum gain direction of the reader antenna is oriented toward a base end surface of the article container, the maximum gain directions of the RF tags are opposed to the maximum gain direction of the reader antenna.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An RF tag reading apparatus for reading data from a plurality of articles each having a face surface provided with an RF tag, the apparatus comprising:
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an article container configured to contain the plurality of articles;
a reader antenna device to which the article container is disposed in a prescribed relationship, the reader antenna device having its maximum gain direction; and
an interrogator configured to read data from the RF tags on the face surfaces of the plurality of articles, the RF tag having its maximum gain direction, wherein the articles are arranged face to face with each other within the article container so that maximum gain directions of the RF tags are uniformly oriented, and the article container is disposed so that the maximum gain direction of the reader antenna device is opposed to the maximum gain directions of the RF tags of the articles in the article container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of reading data retained in the respective RF tags provided to a plurality of articles by an RF tag reading apparatus including an article container, a reader antenna and an interrogator, comprising the steps of:
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containing and arranging the plurality of articles in the article container in a direction nearly orthogonal to maximum gain directions of the RF tags in a manner that the maximum gain directions of the RF tags are uniformly oriented;
arranging the reader antenna and the article container so that a maximum gain direction of the reader antenna connected to the interrogator opposes the maximum gain directions of the RF tags; and
reading data from RF tags of the plurality of articles in the article container by the interrogator through the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification