Radio IC tag reader, radio IC tag read apparatus and radio IC tag read system

• US 7,176,802 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hidemi, Fukuoka, Shinichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr.; John
• Application Number:
  US10/653,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 700/215, 700/217, 700/221, 235/385, 235/439, 343/872, 343/873
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A radio IC tag reader includes an antenna capable of conducting radio communications with an IC tag on which predetermined data is recorded, the IC tag being attached to an article. An antenna sheath for housing the antenna is formed as a flat body and both sides of the flat body are placed in an open state.

Claims

1. A radio IC tag reader comprising:

an antenna capable of conducting radio communications with an IC tag on which predetermined data is recorded, the IC tag being attached to an article;

a main unit for supplying power to the antenna; and

an antenna sheath for housing the antenna, the antenna sheath having a flat body, wherein the antenna sheath has a first side being attached to the main unit and a second side having a chamfered edge for preventing damage to the article when the antenna sheath is inserted between at least two such articles.

4. The radio IC tag reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is formed of a metal wire.

5. The radio IC tag reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat body has a plate body having flat surfaces opposed to each other.

6. The radio IC tag reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein corners of the second side of the antenna sheath are chamfered for preventing damage to the article when the antenna sheath is inserted between at least two such articles.

7. The radio IC tag reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main unit has a housing space inside thereof for housing the antenna and the antenna sheath.

2. A radio IC tag reader comprising:

an antenna capable of conducting radio communications with an IC tag on which predetermined data is recorded, the IC tag being attached to an article;

a main unit for supplying power to the antenna; and

an antenna sheath for housing the antenna, the antenna sheath having a flat body attached to a front side of the main unit; and

a hold portion having a plurality of hold parts arranged at different hold angles to accommodate a hand of a user.

3. The radio IC tag reader as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main unit and the hold portion are formed integrally.

8. A radio IC tag read apparatus comprising:

a radio IC tag reader including an antenna capable of conducting radio communications with an IC tag on which predetermined data is recorded, the IC tag being attached to an article;

a main unit for supplying power to the antenna, and a hold portion attached to the main unit, the hold portion having a plurality of hold parts arranged at different hold angles to accommodate a hand of a user;

an antenna sheath for housing the antenna, the antenna sheath having a flat body attached to a front side of the main unit; and

a communication controller being connected to the radio IC tag reader for performing communication control.

9. The radio IC tag read apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flat body of the antenna sheath has a plate body having flat surfaces opposed to each other.

10. A radio IC tag read system comprising:

a radio IC tag reader including an antenna capable of conducting radio communications with an IC tag on which predetermined data is recorded, the IC tag being attached to an article;

a main unit for supplying power to the antenna;

an antenna sheath for housing the antenna, the antenna sheath having a flat body attached to a front side of the main unit;

a communication controller being connected to the radio IC tag reader for performing communication control; and

a computer that can be connected to the communication controller for receiving the predetermined data recorded on the IC tag from the communication controller and checking the received data,

wherein the radio IC tag reader further includes a hold portion attached to the main unit, the hold portion having a plurality of hold parts arranged at different hold angles to accommodate a hand of a user.