RFID SYSTEM, RFID CABLE SYSTEM, AND RFID CABLE LAYING METHOD

• US 20120169479A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: ARAKI, Kenji, UTAKA, Kenji, TAKADA, Masatoshi, YOKOTA, Toshimi, MATSUMOTO, Noritaka, SHIGEMI, Ryosuke, OTA, Chikara
• Granted Patent: US 8,564,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

When an RFID is attached to an object to assist testing operations, the following problems are encountered; (1) the RFID of write type tends to cause a failure and is troublesome due to the necessity of rewrite each time the situation is changed, (2) the incorporation of the reader function in a terminal block increases the cost, and (3) the known techniques are targeted for only the connecting operation and are not adapted for a sequence test that takes the most expense in time and effort. The operations are aided by using an RFID reader and a terminal having the function for accessing a database of circuit information, RFID information, and test procedure information.

Claims

1. An RFID cable system comprising:

a cable, a plurality of RFID tags being attached to said cable in a predetermined order; and

a data storage for storing information stored in said plurality of RFID tags and information of an arrangement order of said plurality of RFID tags attached to said cable, said data storage being arranged at an outside of said cable.

2. The RFID cable system according to claim 1, wherein said data storage stores new cable identification name and information stored in RFID tags arranged on a newly manufactured cable or information stored in an RFID tag arranged on a portion near to a cut portion of said RFID cable which is cut, said data storage stores said new cable identification name, said information stored in RFID tags, and said information of the arrangement order of said plurality of RFID tags.

3. The RFID cable system according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit for receiving information stored in any one of said RFID tags arranged on said cable, and for searching information stored in said data storage to obtain a cable identification name.

4. The RFID cable system according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen, and a processing unit for receiving a cable identification name of a cable to be removed, and for receiving information stored in any one of said RFID tags arranged on said cable, and for searching information stored in said data storage to obtain a cable identification name, and for displaying a message of “

removal”

on said display screen when said cable identification name stored in said data storage is said cable identification name of said cable to be removed, and for displaying a message of “

not removal”

on said display screen when said cable identification name stored in said data storage is not equal to said cable identification name of said cable to be removed.

5. A method for using an RFID cable system comprising the steps of:

attaching a plurality of RFID tags on a cable in a predetermined order; and

storing information sorted in said plurality of RFID tags and information of an arrangement order of said plurality of RFID tags attached to said cable into a data storage arranged at an outside of said cable.

6. The method of using an RFID cable system according to claim 5, wherein said data storage stores new cable identification name and information stored in RFID tags arranged on a newly manufactured cable or information stored in an RFID tag arranged on a portion near to a cut portion of said RFID cable which is cut, said data storage stores said new cable identification name, said information stored in RFID tags, and said information of the arrangement order of said plurality of RFID tags.

7. The method for using an RFID cable system according to claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving information stored in any one of said RFID tags arranged on said cable, and for searching information stored in said data storage to obtain a cable identification name.

8. The method for using an RFID cable system according to claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving a cable identification name of a cable to be removed, and for receiving information stored in any one of said RFID tags arranged on said cable, and for searching information stored in said data storage to obtain a cable identification name, and for displaying a message of “

removal”

on a display screen when said cable identification name stored in said data storage is said cable identification name of said cable to be removed, and for displaying a message of “

not removal”

on said display screen when said cable identification name stored in said data storage is not equal to said cable identification name of said cable to be removed.