DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM AND WIRELESS TAG

• US 20110234380A1
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: ITO, Hisahiro
• Application Number:
  US13/015,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• 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: G06K 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous

Abstract

A data collection system includes: a plurality of wireless tags; and a data collection device that performs time-division multiplexing communication with the plurality of wireless tags, the wireless tag including a tag-side transmission unit that transmits a signal in a frequency band higher than the LF band to the data collection device, a tag-side reception unit that receives an LF signal transmitted from the data collection device, a timer that performs time measurement, and a storage that stores information.

Claims

1. A data collection system comprising:

a plurality of wireless tags; and

a data collection device that performs time-division multiplexing communication with the plurality of wireless tags,

the data collection device including

a collection device-side transmission unit that is provided on a gate or in the vicinity of the gate so as to transmit an LF signal in a low-frequency band (LF band) to the wireless tag,

a collection device-side reception unit that receives a signal in a frequency band higher than the LF band transmitted from the wireless tag,

a time information generator that generates time information representing time, and

a time slot number information generator that generates time slot number information representing a time slot number which represents a time zone where data can be transmitted from the wireless tag to the data collection device,

the wireless tag including

a tag-side transmission unit that transmits a signal in a frequency band higher than the LF band to the data collection device,

a tag-side reception unit that receives an LF signal transmitted from the data collection device,

a timer that performs time measurement, and

a storage that stores information,

wherein the data collection device transmits the time slot number information and time information representing a current time to the wireless tag using the collection device-side transmission unit when the wireless tag passes through the gate, and

wherein the wireless tag receives the time slot number information and the time information using the tag-side reception unit, stores the time slot number information in the storage, corrects time measurement information of the timer based on the time information to cause the timer to perform time measurement, and transmits data to the data collection device using the tag-side transmission unit in a time zone corresponding to the time slot number.

2. The data collection system according to claim 1,

wherein ID information of the wireless tag is stored in the storage, and

wherein the wireless tag is configured to transmit the ID information to the data collection device using the tag-side transmission unit in a time zone corresponding to the time slot number.

3. The data collection system according to claim 2,

wherein the wireless tag includes a sensor that detects a physical quantity, and

wherein the wireless tag is configured to transmit the result of the detection by the sensor to the data collection device together with the ID information using the tag-side transmission unit in a time zone corresponding to the time slot number.

4. The data collection system according to claim 1,

wherein a management area which is managed by the data collection device and to/from which entering and exiting through the gate is allowed is set, and

wherein the data collection device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the wireless tag is positioned in the management area.

5. The data collection system according to claim 1,

wherein a management area which is managed by the data collection device and to/from which entering and exiting through the gate is allowed is set,

wherein the gate includes an inner gate that is positioned close to the management area and an outer gate that is positioned on a side of the inner gate opposite the management area,

wherein the collection device-side transmission unit includes a first transmission unit that is provided on the inner gate or in the vicinity of the inner gate and a second transmission unit that is provided on the outer gate or in the vicinity of the outer gate,

wherein the collection device-side reception unit includes a first reception unit that is provided on the inner gate or in the vicinity of the inner gate and a second reception unit that is provided on the outer gate or in the vicinity of the outer gate, and

wherein the data collection device includes a movement direction determination unit that determines a movement direction of the wireless tag based on information received by the collection device-side reception unit when the wireless tag passes through the gate.

6. The data collection system according to claim 1,

wherein a first management area and a second management area which are managed by the data collection device and which are separated by a distance such that signals in a frequency band higher than the LF band do not interfere with each other are set, and

wherein the time slot numbers are set to be shared by the wireless tag positioned in the first management area and the wireless tag positioned in the second management area.

7. A wireless tag that performs time-division multiplexing communication with a data collection device, comprising:

a tag-side transmission unit that transmits a signal in a frequency band higher than a low-frequency (LF) band to the data collection device;

a tag-side reception unit that receives an LF signal transmitted from the data collection device;

a timer that performs time measurement; and

a storage that stores information.

8. The wireless tag according to claim 7,

wherein the wireless tag includes a sensor that detects a physical quantity.