Signal-transmission type production supervising system including IC card and wireless type interface unit

• US 4,942,534 A
• Filed: 12/02/1988
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hidetaka, Ogino, Koichi, Yokoyama, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/278,888
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468, 364/478, 364/138, 364/571.04, 235/375, 235/376, 235/380, 235/492, 340/825.13, 340/825.06, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 41/00 Combinations or associations of metal-working machines not directed to a particular result according to classes B21, B23, or B24 B23Q37/00, B23Q39/00 take precedence; features relating to operations performed, if the different metal-working operations are of the same kind, see the subclass for the kind of operation, e.g. punching B21D, welding B23K, grinding B24B; features relating to technically specified combinations of different metal-working operations B23P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/74 Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/128 the workpiece itself serves as a record carrier, e.g. by its form, by marks or codes on it
• 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 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In a production supervising system of a work, a wireless type production supervising data processing apparatus is mounted on the work. The wireless type production supervising data processing apparatus includes a wireless type interface unit, and an IC card. The IC card includes CPU, EEPROM for storing the production supervising data, ROM for storing the program data, and RAM capable of storing other data than the production supervising data. The wireless type interface unit includes antennas, a receiver, a transmitter, a demodulator connected to the receiver, and a modulator connected to the transmitter. During the production of the work, the production supervising data previously stored in EEPROM are read from the IC card and processed in the interface unit and thereafter transmitted from the interface unit toward the external data controlling apparatus.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus comprising:

an IC (integrated circuit) card including a central processing unit, a first memory unit for storing program data for operating said central processing unit;

a second memory unit for storing production supervising data, a third memory unit capable of storing data other than said production supervising data, and said other data being transferred from an external data controlling apparatus; and

,

interface means detachably coupled to said IC card for receiving at least an instruction signal transmitted from said external data controlling apparatus to convert said instruction signal into a production supervising data read signal, whereby said production supervising data read signal is processed by the central processing unit so as to read said production supervising data from said second memory unit, and for transmitting said production supervising data read from said second memory unit via said interface means to said external data controlling apparatus, while said IC card is electrically connected to said interface means.

2. A signal-transmission production supervising data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data processing/storing means is an IC card including at least a central processing unit, a first memory unit for previously storing program data for operating said central processing unit;

and a second memory unit for storing said production supervising data.

3. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said IC card further comprises a third memory unit capable of storing any data other than said production supervising data, said first-mentioned data being transferred from said data external controlling apparatus, and an input/output port for communicating at least said production supervising data with said interface means.

4. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said IC card further includes a first electric contact terminal connected to said central processing unit and first memory unit;

and said interface means further includes a second electric terminal contact, said first electric contact terminal being detachably and electrically coupled to said second electric contact terminal so as to communicate said production supervising data between said interface means and IC card.

5. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface means includes:

a wireless type receiver section for receiving said control signal sent from said external data controlling apparatus; and

,

a wireless type transmitter section for transmitting said production supervising data read out from said production supervising data processing/storing means toward said external data controlling apparatus.

6. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said wireless type receiver section includes:

a receiving antenna, a receiver, and a demodulator; and

said wireless type transmitter section includes;

a transmitting antenna, a transmitter, and a modulator.

7. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface means includes;

an optical signal-transmission type receiver unit for optically receiving said control signal sent from said external data controlling apparatus; and

,

an optical signal-transmission type transmitter unit for optically transmitting said production supervising data derived from said production supervising data processing/storing means to said external data controlling apparatus.

8. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said optical signal-transmission type receiver unit includes a light receiving element and a light receiver;

and said optical signal-transmission type transmitter unit includes a light transmitting element and a light transmitter unit.

9. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said light receiving element is an infrared photodiode, and said light transmitting element is an infrared light emitting diode.

10. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface means includes:

an ultrasonic signal-transmission type receiver unit for ultrasonically receiving said control signal transferred from said external controlling apparatus; and

,

an ultrasonic signal-transmission type transmitter unit for ultrasonically transmitting said production supervising data derived from said production supervising data processing/storing means toward said external data controlling apparatus.

11. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ultrasonic signal-transmission type receiver unit includes an ultrasonic receiving element;

and said ultrasonic signal-transmission type transmitter unit includes an ultrasonic transmitting element, and an ultrasonic-wave transmitter.

12. A data processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said production supervising data processing/storing means is a memory card having an optical input including at least a memory board for storing said input control signal and storing said production supervising data;

and a pair of first and second light signal transmitters and receivers; and

said interface means includes a pair of third and forth light signal transmitters and receivers for optically communicating said production supervising data and input control signal with said first and second light-signal transmitters and receivers of said memory card.