Transponder reading device and also control system for controlling the handling of transponder-bearing objects by means of transponder reading devices

• US 6,294,981 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hermos Gesellschaft Fur Technische Informik mbH
• Original Assignee: Hermos Gesellschaft Fur Technische Informik mbH
• Inventors: Herrmannsdörfer, Dieter, Buchmann, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/242,245
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.02, 340/825.58, 340/825.22, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/10.33, 340/10.5, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51, 342/50, 375/329
• US Class Current: 340/286.02
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L

Abstract

A transponder reading device and a control system for controlling the handling and/or processing of transponder-bearing objects by such transponder reading devices. The transponder reading device is equipped with its own microcontroller, and with its own control unit. The microcontroller is, as a component (node) of a control unit, able to communicate with other devices of the same design to exchange information. Consequently, several such devices can be operated simultaneously in a confined space without interfering with each other.

Claims

1. Control system for controlling the processing of transponder bearing objects by transponder reading devices respectively comprising,

a device for transmitting information between a transponder and the transponder reading device by a frequency shift keying process in the high frequency range, and

a microcontroller which is operated in a decentrally operating control network, wherein processing stations include the transponder reading devices which are jointly connected in the decentrally operating control network,

characterized in

that a transponder reading device. upon starting identification of or read-out of information from a transponder, asks other transponder reading devices of the control network located in the vicinity whether these other transponder reading devices are in operation, or informs these other transponder reading devices when it itself assumes operation.

2. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that

each microcontroller has processing units, one processing unit processes the application program and at least one processing unit processes information exchanged inside the control network.

3. Control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the decentrally operating network has modular units, modular unit is provided at least at an intersection of transfer paths of the objects for the decentral control of the movement of the objects at the intersection.

4. Control system according to claim 3, wherein a device is provided between each modular unit and the rest of the network which device transmits information which is of interest only to other modular units or a network manager.

5. Control system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each modular unit is provided at a transfer path intersection and includes at least one transponder reading device to recognize objects, at least one secondary control unit for a device to change the direction of movement of objects, and a main control unit linked to at least one transponder reading, unit and at least one secondary control unit to exchange information, which optimize transfer routes of objects via the intersection.

6. Control system according to claim 4, wherein a modular unit is provided for a transfer route intersection, and includes four tracks, each arranged in pairs for incoming and outgoing objects, and four devices to change the direction of movement of objects by rotating plates, wherein one rotating plate is provided for each track for incoming objects, and one rotating plate is provided for each track of outgoing objects of two adjacent pairs, a transponder reading device is provided for each track for incoming objects, a secondary control unit is provided for each rotating plate, and including a main control unit.