Enhanced article management system and method

• US 6,595,418 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Incorporated (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Incorporated (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Toshio, Igarashi, Keisuke, Otani, Yukio, Miura, Yuzo, Akaike, Kazuo, Aridome, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/663,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/435, 235/443, 235/449, 235/450, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.46, 235/472.02, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

An article management system generally includes an exit monitoring device, a storage shelf unit and a non-contact id tag. Each of these components are optionally equipped with a detection enhancing device for enhancing the transmission and or reception of signals between the non-contact id tag and the exit monitoring device or between the non-contact id tag and the storage shelf unit. The detection enhancing device includes a loop conductive line or an additional loop antenna.

Claims

1. A method of keeping track of a plurality of articles in a predetermined area, comprising:

placing a non-contact id tag on one surface of each of the articles to be monitored by RF detection, the non-contact id tag containing information;

placing a sensing portion of a non-contact id tag reader-writer at a predetermined location within the predetermined area;

placing a non-contact id tag detection enhancing device separately placed on another surface of the articles at a predetermined angle with respect to the non-contact id tag without connection to the non-contact id tag so as to increase the RF detection of the non-contact id tag by the non-contact id reader-writer; and

detecting the non-contact id tag near the non-contact id reader-writer in the predetermined area.

2. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 1 further comprising:

reading the information from the non-contact id tag; and

writing additional information in the non-contact id tag.

3. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 2 wherein the articles are books and the information includes a check-out status, a due date and a borrower of the books.

4. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 2 wherein the articles are books and the information includes a shelf position of the books.

5. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 2 wherein the articles are goods and the information includes inventory information.

6. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 1 further comprising:

reading the information from the non-contact id tag of a first article; and

generating an alarming signal based upon the read information.

7. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 6 wherein the alarm signal is generated when the first article is taken out from the predetermined area without proper authorization.

8. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 6 wherein the alarm signal is generated when the first article is placed at a location other than the predetermined location within the predetermined area.

9. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 1 wherein the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device has a first magnetic field direction, the non-contact id tag having a second magnetic direction, the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device is placed on each of the article so that the first magnetic field direction is perpendicular to the second magnetic field direction.

10. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 1 wherein the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device is a loop antenna having a first magnetic field direction and connected to the non-contact id reader-writer, the sensing portion having a second magnetic field direction, the first magnetic field direction is perpendicular to the second magnetic field direction.

11. The method of keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 1 further comprising:

placing the sensing portion of the non-contact id tag reader-writer near each of subdivided areas of the predetermined area;

placing a corresponding one of the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device; and

switching among the sensing portions of the non-contact id tag reader-writer.

12. A system for keeping track of a plurality of articles in a predetermined area, comprising:

a non-contact id tag placed on one surface of each of the articles to be monitored by RF detection, the non-contact id tag containing information;

a non-contact id tag reader-writer located near the predetermined area, said non-contact reader-writer having a sensing portion for detecting the non-contact id tag placed near the non-contact id reader-writer; and

a non-contact id tag detection enhancing device also separately placed on another surface of the articles at a predetermined angle with respect to the non-contact id tag without connection to the non-contact id tag so as to increase the RF detection of the non-contact id tag by the non-contact id reader-writer.

13. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 wherein said non-contact id tag is an IC card tag having a memory for storing the information.

14. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 wherein said non-contact id tab reader-writer reads the information from the non-contact id tag as well as writes additional information in the non-contact id tag.

15. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 14 wherein the articles are books, said non-contact id tag reader-writer reading and writing the information on a check-out status, a due date and a borrower of the books.

16. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 14 wherein the articles are books, said non-contact id tag reader-writer reading and writing the information on a shelf position of the books.

17. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 14 wherein the articles are goods, said non-contact id tag reader-writer reading and writing the information on inventory.

18. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 wherein said non-contact id tag reader-writer reads the information from the non-contact id tag and generates an alarming signal based upon the read information.

19. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 wherein the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device is a loop conductive line having a first magnetic field direction, said non-contact id tag having a second magnetic field direction, the first magnetic field direction on each of the article being perpendicular to the second magnetic field direction.

20. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 wherein the non-contact id tag detection enhancing device is a loop antenna connected to said non-contact id reader-writer and having a first magnetic field direction, said sensing portion having a second magnetic field direction, the first magnetic field direction being perpendicular to the second magnetic field direction.

21. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of said non-contact id tag reader-writers placed near each of subdivided areas of the predetermined area; and

a plurality of said non-contact id tag detection enhancing devices corresponding to each of said non-contact id tag reader-writers; and

a switch for switching among the sensing portions of the non-contact id tag reader-writer.

22. The system for keeping track of a plurality of articles according to claim 21 further comprising:

a central processing unit connected to said plurality of said non-contact id tag reader-writers and said switch for reading the information from said non-contact id tag reader-writers in a coordinated manner; and

a storage unit connected to said central processing unit for storing the read information.

23. A non-contact id tag module, comprising:

an IC card tag placed on one surface of an article having a memory unit for storing information, a control unit connected to said memory unit for reading and writing the information, a resonance circuit for resonating an RF signal, a power generating unit connected to the resonance circuit for generating power from the RF signal, and a data demodulation unit and a data modulation unit connected to said control unit for respectively modulating and demodulating the information to generate the RF signal; and

a loop conductive line separately placed on another surface of the article at a predetermined angle with respect to said IC card tag without connection to said IC card tag without connection to said IC card tag for enhancing reception and transmission of the RF signal.

24. The non-contact id tag module according to claim 23 wherein said loop conductive line forms a first magnetic field direction that is perpendicular to a second magnetic field direction formed by the resonance circuit.

25. The non-contact id tag module according to claim 23 wherein said loop conductive line is connected to a capacitor.

26. A storage shelf unit for detecting a non-contact id tag on articles, comprising:

a plurality of shelves;

a plurality of movable loop antennas placed on said shelves for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the non-contact id tag, a first one of said plurality of said movable loop antennas having a first magnetic field direction and a second one of said plurality of said movable loop antennas having a second magnetic field direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first magnetic field direction;

an antenna switcher connected to said movable loop antennas for switching from one of said movable loop antennas to another one of said movable loop antennas;

a data modulator/demodulator connected to said antenna switcher for modulating and demodulating the signals;

a processing unit connected to said data modulator/demodulator for processing the signals; and

a communication interface connected to said processing unit for providing an interface in transmitting the processed signals and in receiving other signals from an outside unit.

27. The storage shelf unit for detecting a non-contact id tag according to claim 26 wherein each of said movable loop antennas is a part of a movable bookend.

28. The storage shelf unit for detecting a non-contact id tag according to claim 27 wherein said movable bookend comprises a first one of said loop antennas having a first magnetic field direction and a second one of said loop antennas having a second magnetic field direction that is perpendicular to the first magnetic field direction.

29. A storage shelf unit for detecting a non-contact id tag on articles, comprising:

a plurality of shelves;

a plurality of pairs of loop antennas placed on said shelves for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the non-contact id tag, each of said pairs of said loop antennas having magnetic field directions that are perpendicular to each other;

an antenna switcher connected to said loop antennas for switching from one of said pairs of said loop antennas to another one of said pairs of said loop antennas;

a data modulator/demodulator connected to said antenna switcher for modulating and demodulating the signals;

a processing unit connected to said data modulator/demodulator for processing the signals; and

a communication interface connected to said processing unit for providing an interface in transmitting the processed signals and in receiving other signals from an outside unit.

30. An exit monitor device for detecting a non-contact id tag on articles, comprising:

a plurality of pairs of loop antennas placed near an exit for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the non-contact id tag, each of said pairs of said loop antennas having magnetic field directions that are perpendicular to each other;

an antenna switcher connected to said loop antennas for switching from one of said pairs of said loop antennas to another one of said pairs of said loop antennas;

a data modulator/demodulator connected to said antenna switcher for modulating and demodulating the signals;

a processing unit connected to said data modulator/demodulator for processing the signals; and

a communication interface connected to said processing unit for providing an interface in transmitting the processed signals and in receiving other signals from an outside unit.