Sensor device, setting device, reading device, and article administration system

• US 6,882,273 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
• Inventors: Kano, Shiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/296,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.24, 340/501, 340/505, 340/506, 340/521, 340/522, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/870.18, 340/10.1, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/18 with arrangements for signalling that a predetermined value of an unspecified parameter has been exceeded G01D1/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A sensor apparatus (2) has a coil (20) for receiving an electromagnetic wave energy applied from outside, a power supply section (21) for generating an internal power supply from the electromagnetic wave energy, and a sensing circuit (24) having a sensor device mounted thereon. The sensor apparatus receives and decodes a tolerance value intrinsic to the sensor apparatus and set by a configuration/read-out apparatus (1) based on the output of the sensing circuit of the sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment, and stores the tolerance value in a nonvolatile memory (23). The sensor apparatus placed under a measuring environment sends out the output of the sensing circuit and the tolerance value to the configuration/read-out apparatus.

Claims

1. A sensor apparatus comprising:

a sensing circuit having a sensor device mounted thereon;

a coil for taking in electromagnetic wave energy sent from electromagnetic wave energy radiating means provided outside;

a power supply section connected to said coil for generating an internal power supply;

an information decoding section for decoding information by which the electromagnetic wave energy is modulated and which includes a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by said sensing circuit;

a nonvolatile memory for storing the tolerance value decoded by said information decoding section; and

a transmitting section for sending information based on an output of said sensing circuit to the outside.

2. The sensor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an output comparison section for comparing the output of said sensing circuit with the tolerance value.

3. The sensor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said output comparison section stores a result of the comparison into said nonvolatile memory.

4. The sensor apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a resonance circuit including said coil, and

means for changing over a resonance frequency of said resonance circuit in accordance with a result of the comparison in said output comparison section.

5. A configuration apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 3;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment; and

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information.

6. A read-out apparatus comprising:

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 3; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

7. A commodity management system comprising:

the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and mounted on a commodity;

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment;

transmitting means radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information, said transmitting means radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

8. The sensor apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a resonance circuit including said coil, and

means for changing over a resonance frequency of said resonance circuit in accordance with a result of the comparison in said output comparison section.

9. A configuration apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 8;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment; and

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information.

10. A read-out apparatus comprising:

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 8; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

11. A commodity management system comprising:

the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and mounted on a commodity;

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment;

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information, said transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

12. A configuration apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 2;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment; and

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information.

13. A read-out apparatus comprising:

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 2; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

14. A commodity management system comprising:

the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and mounted on a commodity;

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment;

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information, said transmitting means radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

15. A configuration apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment; and

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information.

16. A read-out apparatus comprising:

transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.

17. A commodity management system comprising:

the sensor apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and mounted on a commodity;

receiving means for receiving information from the sensor apparatus;

configuration means for setting a tolerance value for a parameter being detected by the sensing circuit of said sensor apparatus, based on the information received by said receiving means from said sensor apparatus placed under a prescribed environment;

said transmitting means for radiating electromagnetic wave energy which is modulated by the information;

transmitting means radiating electromagnetic wave energy to the sensor apparatus; and

receiving means for collecting information from said sensor apparatus.