Wireless tag scanning system

• US 7,554,433 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/364,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/825.49, 340/10.3, 235/385, 700214-217, 700221-237
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• 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

Abstract

Under the step management of a stepping motor, a move distance of an antenna of a wireless tag scanning device is calculated, and wireless tags are scanned in synchronization with a step move amount. The antenna controls its directivity using shield members etc., and lowers electromagnetic susceptibility in the moving direction. Accordingly, it becomes possible to detect a wireless tag located on a certain position, enabling position management with high resolution.

Claims

1. A wireless tag scanning system that scans a wireless tag using an electromagnetic wave, comprising:

movable means for moving an antenna section of a wireless tag scanning device in parallel with one axis on which a plurality of management objects having attached thereto wireless tags with their directivity aligned are arranged;

position detection means for detecting a distance by which the antenna section moves;

directivity control means for selectively directing the directivity of the antenna section of the wireless tag scanning device to a direction perpendicular to the move axis; and

means for detecting the existence position of a wireless tag using detected identification information of the wireless tag and a move distance of the antenna section;

wherein the arrangement space for the plural management objects is larger than half of the spatial resolution determined by the directivity in the move axis direction of the antenna section.

2. The wireless tag scanning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the movable means uses a stepping motor.

3. The wireless tag scanning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the position detection means calculates a move distance based on the step management of a stepping motor.

4. The wireless tag scanning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directivity control means for the antenna section blocks an electromagnetic wave emitted in the move axis direction by using at least two shield members.

5. The wireless tag scanning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in case identical identification information is scanned at plural scan positions, the means for detecting the existence position of a wireless tag sets the middle point among the plural scan positions to the existence position.