Desktop system for reading wireless tag and method for controlling reading of wireless tag

• US 20060214774A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Mochida, Sadayoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/362,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.200
• 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

Abstract

A system according to an aspect of the invention includes an article-range finder for finding a range in which an article with an RFID tag is placed; a reader having an antenna for communicating with the RFID tag; and a carrier for carrying the antenna of the reader within the range of the article found.

Claims

1. A desktop system for reading a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag, the system comprising:

an article-range finder for finding a range in which an article with an RFID tag is placed;

a reader having an antenna for communicating with the RFID tag; and

a carrier for carrying the antenna of the reader within the found range of the article.

2. The desktop system for reading an RFID tag, according to claim 1, wherein the article-range finder includes an optical sensor and a photodetector disposed so as to sandwich the article.

3. The desktop system for reading an RFID tag, according to claim 1, wherein the article-range finder is a mechanical sensor capable of moving so as to sandwich the article.

4. A desktop system for reading an RFID tag, comprising:

an article-range finder for measuring the length of an article with an RFID tag in one direction, the article being disposed on a casing;

an antenna disposed in the casing, for communicating with the RFID tag;

a carrier disposed in the casing, for carrying the antenna in one direction of the article; and

a communication section for allowing the antenna to communicate with the RFID tag when the antenna is moved by the carrier within the length of the article in one direction.

5. The desktop system for reading an RFID tag, according to claim 4, wherein the article-range finder includes an optical sensor and a photodetector disposed so as to sandwich the article.

6. The desktop system for reading an RFID tag, according to claim 4, wherein the article-range finder is a mechanical sensor capable of moving so as to sandwich the article.

7. A method for controlling the reading of an RFID tag, the method comprising:

an article-range finding step of finding a range in which an article with an RFID tag is placed;

a carrying step of carrying an antenna that communicates with the RFID tag within the range in which the article is placed; and

a communication step of communicating with the RFID tag while moving the antenna within the range in the carrying step.

8. The method for controlling the reading of an RFID tag according to claim 7, wherein, in the article-range finding step, the range in which the article is placed is found using an optical sensor and a photodetector disposed so as to sandwich the article.

9. The method for controlling the reading of an RFID tag according to claim 7, wherein, in the article-range finding step, the range in which the article is placed is found using a mechanical sensor capable of moving so as to sandwich the article.