Device for recognizing articles having radio frequency tag attached to the articles

• US 20070046473A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Masakazu
• Application Number:
  US11/511,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

An article recognition device includes a scanner base. A first tag communication antenna and a second tag communication antenna are provided on the scanner base. A direction of an axis of directivity of the first tag communication antenna faces a direction of an axis of directivity of a first tag antenna that a first radio frequency tag provided on an article has. A direction of an axis of directivity of the second tag communication antenna faces a direction of an axis of directivity of a second tag antenna that a second radio frequency tag provided on the same article has. The respective axes of directivity of the first tag communication antenna and the second tag communication antenna cross each other.

Claims

1. An article recognition device, comprising:

a first tag communication antenna having an axis of directivity in a direction facing a direction of an axis of directivity of a first tag antenna that a first radio frequency tag has, the first radio frequency tag being provided on an article and shaped to have a short edge and a long edge which is greater than the short edge;

a second tag communication antenna having an axis of directivity in a direction facing a direction of an axis of directivity of a second tag antenna that a second radio frequency tag has, the second radio frequency tag being provided on the article and shaped to have a short edge and a long edge which is greater than the short edge; and

a scanner base having provided thereon the first tag communication antenna and the second tag communication antenna,

wherein the respective axes of directivity of the first tag communication antenna and the second tag communication antenna cross each other.

2. The article recognition device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first guide provided on the scanner base to guide movement of the first tag communication antenna;

a second guide provided on the scanner base to guide movement of the second tag communication antenna; and

a motor which moves the first tag communication antenna and the second tag communication antenna.

3. The article recognition device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first guide is larger than a length of the first tag communication antenna with respect to a direction in which the first tag communication antenna moves.

4. The article recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the respective axes of directivity of the first tag communication antenna and the second tag communication antenna are orthogonal to each other.

5. The article recognition device according to claim 1, further comprising a file box capable of housing a plurality of the articles, each of which is equipped with the first radio frequency tag and the second radio frequency tag.

6. An article with radio frequency tags, comprising:

an article main body;

a first radio frequency tag provided on the article main body, the first radio frequency tag providing a first tag antenna having directivity on a base having a short edge and a long edge greater than the short edge; and

a second radio frequency tag provided on the article main body, the second radio frequency tag providing a second tag antenna having directivity on a base having a short edge and a long edge greater than the short edge,

wherein respective axes of directivity of the first tag antenna and the second tag antenna cross each other.

7. The article with radio frequency tags according to claim 6, wherein shapes of the respective bases of the first radio frequency tag and the second radio frequency tag are the same.

8. The article with radio frequency tags according to claim 6, wherein a direction of the long edge of the base in the first radio frequency tag and a direction of the long edge of the base in the second radio frequency tag are in an orthogonal relationship.

9. The article with radio frequency tags according to claim 6, wherein the respective axes of directivity of the first tag antenna and the second tag antenna are in an orthogonal relationship.

10. An article housing, comprising:

housing main bodies capable of housing an article therein;

a first radio frequency tag provided on the housing main bodies, the first radio frequency tag providing a first-tag antenna having directivity on a base having a short edge and a long edge greater than the short edge; and

a second radio frequency tag provided on the housing main bodies, the second radio frequency tag providing a second tag antenna having directivity on a base having a short edge and a long edge greater than the short edge,

wherein respective axes of directivity of the first tag antenna and the second tag antenna cross each other.

11. The article housing according to claim 10, wherein a direction of the long edge of the base in the first radio frequency tag and a direction of the long edge of the base in the second radio frequency tag are in an orthogonal relationship.

12. The article housing according to claim 10, wherein the respective axes of directivity of the first tag antenna and the second tag antenna are in an orthogonal relationship.

13. The article housing according to claim 10, wherein the first radio frequency tag and the second radio frequency tag each are removably provided with respect to the housing main body.