Abstract:
An optical communication system includes at least one optical ID tag and at least one optical reader. Identification information is communicated between the optical ID tag and the optical reader using light as a communication medium. The optical ID tag includes storing means for storing the identification information; reflecting means for reflecting incident light in the incident direction; and modulating means for modulating reflected light on the basis of the identification information stored in the storing means. The optical reader includes random number generating means for generating a random number; emitting means for emitting light having an oscillation frequency specific to the generated random number; photoelectric conversion means for performing photoelectric conversion to the reflected light incident in the emitting direction; extracting means for extracting a signal component having the oscillation frequency from the signal resulting from the photoelectric conversion; and demodulating means for demodulating the signal component.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-089009 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 28, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an optical communication system, an optical reader, and a method of reading information. The present invention is preferably applied to reading of identification information from compact wireless IC chips. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, radio frequency identification (RFID) has gained attention as a technology of identifying or managing articles, with which barcodes are replaced. 
         [0006]    In the RFID, identification information specific to articles is stored in a compact wireless device called a wireless IC tag (or wireless IC chip) and the articles are identified or managed on the basis of the identification information. 
         [0007]    Various readers for reading identification information from wireless IC tags or wireless signals transmitted from wireless IC tags have been proposed. Some readers perform optical communication with wireless IC tags to transmit and receive identification information (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-11948). 
         [0008]    In the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-11948, each optical reader includes an optical reader unit that emits a light beam to each optical ID tag and receives an optical signal reflected from the optical ID tag to read out identification information specific to the optical ID tag. 
         [0009]    The optical ID tag includes a memory in which the specific identification information is stored, an optical converter that modulates the light beam emitted from the optical reader in accordance with the identification information stored in the memory to convert the modulated light beam into an optical signal, and a light reflector that reflects the light signal after the modulation in the incident direction of the light beam. 
         [0010]    With the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-11948, the multiple optical ID tags that are arranged in proximity to each other in a space can be identified from remote locations, so that the optical readers can be used in the same manner as remote controllers to read the identification information concerning the optical ID tags. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    However, the optical ID tag having the above structure has a problem in that, if multiple light beams have been emitted at similar angles of incidence, the identification information is not transmitted to the optical readers that have emitted the light beams at the similar angles of incidence or different pieces of identification information are simultaneously transmitted to the optical readers, because the reflected light beams converge in the incident direction (a congestion state). 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an optical communication system, an optical reader, and a method of reading information, which are capable of appropriately communicating identification information. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical communication system includes at least one optical ID tag and at least one optical reader. Identification information is communicated between the optical ID tag and the optical reader using light as a communication medium. The optical ID tag includes storing means for storing the identification information; reflecting means for reflecting incident light in the incident direction; and modulating means for modulating reflected light on the basis of the identification information stored in the storing means. The optical reader includes random number generating means for generating a random number; emitting means for emitting light having an oscillation frequency specific to the generated random number; photoelectric conversion means for performing photoelectric conversion to the reflected light incident in the emitting direction; extracting means for extracting a signal component having the oscillation frequency from the signal resulting from the photoelectric conversion; and demodulating means for demodulating the signal component. 
         [0014]    In this optical communication system, the optical reader can extract the identification information superimposed on the reflected light returned from the target optical ID tag as the feedback light even if the reflected light returned as the feedback light from the optical ID tag which is irradiated with the light emitted from the optical reader is congested with the reflected light from other optical ID tags. Accordingly, it is possible for the optical reader to read out the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag in the optical communication system even if other optical ID tags exist in the vicinity of the target optical ID tag and light is incident on the other optical ID tags at angles of incidence similar to the angle of the incidence of the target optical ID tag. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an optical reader communicating with an optical ID tag, in which identification information is stored, using light as a communication medium includes random number generating means for generating a random number; emitting means for emitting light having an oscillation frequency specific to the generated random number; photoelectric conversion means for performing photoelectric conversion to reflected light which is reflected from the optical ID tag in the emitting direction of the light emitted from the emitting means into the optical ID tag and which is modulated on the basis of the identification information; extracting means for extracting a signal component having the oscillation frequency from the signal resulting from the photoelectric conversion; and demodulating means for demodulating the signal component. 
         [0016]    The optical reader can extract the identification information superimposed on the reflected light returned from the target optical ID tag as the feedback light even if the reflected light returned as the feedback light from the optical ID tag which is irradiated with the light emitted from the optical reader is congested with the reflected light from other optical ID tags. Accordingly, it is possible for the optical reader to read out the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag even if other optical ID tags exist in the vicinity of the target optical ID tag and light is incident on the other optical ID tags at angles of incidence similar to the angle of the incidence of the target optical ID tag. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of reading identification information stored in an optical ID tag using light as a communication medium includes the steps of generating a random number in random number generating means; emitting light having an oscillation frequency specific to the generated random number in emitting means; extracting, in extracting means, a signal component having the oscillation frequency from a signal resulting from photoelectric conversion to reflected light which is reflected from the optical ID tag in the emitting direction of the light emitted from the emitting means into the optical ID tag and which is modulated on the basis of the identification information; and demodulating the signal component in demodulating means. 
         [0018]    With the method of reading identification information, the optical reader can extract the identification information superimposed on the reflected light returned from the target optical ID tag as the feedback light even if the reflected light returned as the feedback light from the optical ID tag which is irradiated with the light emitted from the optical reader is congested with the reflected light from other optical ID tags. Accordingly, it is possible for the optical reader to read out the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag even if other optical ID tags exist in the vicinity of the target optical ID tag and light is incident on the other optical ID tags at angles of incidence similar to the angle of the incidence of the target optical ID tag. 
         [0019]    According to the present invention, the optical reader can read out the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag even if other optical ID tags exist in the vicinity of the target optical ID tag and light is incident on the other optical ID tags at angles of incidence similar to the angle of the incidence of the target optical ID tag. Consequently, it is possible to realize the optical communication system, the optical reader, and the method of reading information, which are capable of appropriately communicating the identification information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an example of the entire structure of an optical communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical ID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a modulation process according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  schematically show a variation in the amount of light between emitted light and feedback light; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show how the optical ID tag is housed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an optical reader according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information extracting unit in the optical reader according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a process of extracting information according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  schematically shows congestion of the feedback light. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0000]    Structure of Optical Communication System  FIG. 1  shows an example of the entire structure of an optical communication system  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication system  1  includes multiple optical ID tags and multiple optical readers. Each optical ID tag is denoted by an optical ID tag  2   i  (“i” is equal to 1, 2, 3, . . . , or m (m is an integer)) and each optical reader is denoted by optical reader  3   j  (“j” is equal to 1, 2, 3, . . . , or n (n is an integer)). 
         [0030]    The optical ID tag  2   i  is provided for a target article. Identification information concerning the target article is recorded in the optical ID tag  2   i . 
         [0031]    Specifically, for example, when the optical ID tags  2   1  to  2   m  are used to manage articles, the optical ID tag  2   i  is provided for each article, and manufacturing information concerning the article, such as the serial number and the manufacturing date of the article, is stored in the optical ID tag  2   i  as the identification information. 
         [0032]    When the optical ID tags  2   1  to  2   m  are used to provide information, the optical ID tag  2   i  is provided for each advertising medium, and provision information concerning the advertising medium, such as a uniform resource locator (URL) of the Web page of a related company of the advertising medium and information concerning the advertised article, is stored in the optical ID tag  2   i  as the identification information. 
         [0033]    The optical ID tag  2   i  reflects a light beam L 1  with which the optical ID tag  2   i  is irradiated in the emitting direction of the light beam L 1  and modulates the light beam L 1  on the basis of the identification information stored in the optical ID tag  2   i  to return reflected light L 2  resulting from the modulation. 
         [0034]    The optical reader  3   j  is manufactured as a dedicated mobile terminal or is mounted in a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant. The optical reader  3   j  is distributed to each user. 
         [0035]    In order to read out the identification information stored in the optical ID tag  2   i , the user directs the distributed optical reader  3   j  emitting the light beam L 1  toward the target optical ID tag  2   i . 
         [0036]    In this case, the optical reader  3   j  extracts the identification information in the optical ID tag  2   i , which is superimposed on the reflected light L 2  returned from the target optical ID tag  2   i  toward which the light beam L 1  is emitted. 
         [0037]    As described above, in the optical communication system  1 , the user can use the optical reader  3   j  as a remote controller. 
       Configuration of Optical ID Tag 
       [0038]    Examples of the configurations of the optical ID tags  2   1  to  2   m  will now be described. Since the optical ID tags  2   1  to  2   m  have the same configuration, an example of the configuration of the optical ID tag  2   1  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2  for convenience. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the optical ID tag  2   1  includes an optical receiver  11 , an electric storage device  12 , a reflected light converting unit  13 , and a memory  14 . The reflected light converting unit  13  includes an optical unit  21  and a modulation circuit  22 . In the optical unit  21 , a reflector plate  21   a , a liquid crystal display (LCD)  21   b , and a polarizing plate  21   c  are sequentially arranged. The modulation circuit  22  is connected to the LCD  21   b  and the memory  14 . 
         [0040]    For example, when the optical ID tag  2   1  is irradiated with the light beam L 1  emitted from the optical reader  3   1 , the optical receiver  11  performs photoelectric conversion to the light beam L 1 . The electric storage device  12  stores a voltage induced in the photoelectric conversion and, if the stored voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, supplies the voltage to the modulation circuit  22  in the reflected light converting unit  13 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a modulation process performed in the modulation circuit  22 . After the modulation circuit  22  receives the voltage supplied from the electric storage device  12 , then in Step SP 0 , the modulation circuit  22  starts the modulation process. In Step SP 1 , the modulation circuit  22  is activated by using the voltage supplied from the modulation circuit  22  as a drive voltage. In Step SP 2 , the modulation circuit  22  reads out identification information from the memory  14 . 
         [0042]    In Step SP 3 , the modulation circuit  22  modulates the voltage supplied from the electric storage device  12  in accordance with the identification information read out from the memory  14  according to a modulation method, for example, Manchester encoding and supplies the modulation result to the LCD  21   b  in the optical unit  21 . In the LCD  21   b , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is varied with the voltage varied in accordance with the identification information. 
         [0043]    The modulation circuit  22  continues to vary the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the LCD  21   b  until the voltage supply from the electric storage device  12  is stopped. In Step SP 4 , the modulation circuit  22  determines whether the voltage supply from the electric storage device  12  is stopped. If the modulation circuit  22  determines that the voltage supply from the electric storage device  12  is stopped, then in Step SP 5 , the modulation circuit  22  terminates the modulation process. 
         [0044]    In the optical unit  21  in the reflected light converting unit  13 , only certain polarized components in the light beam L 1  emitted from the optical reader  3   1  pass through the polarizing plate  21   c . The light filtered in the polarizing plate  21   c  is reflected from the reflector plate  21   a  in the incident direction into the reflector plate  21   a  (that is, toward the target optical reader  3   1 ). 
         [0045]    The light reflected from the reflector plate  21   a  in the incident direction varies its polarization state in accordance with the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the LCD  21   b . The light of an amount corresponding to the polarization state is emitted through the polarizing plate  21   c  as the reflected light L 2 . 
         [0046]    Accordingly, if the light beam L 1  of a predetermined amount per unit of time is emitted from the optical reader  3   1  into the reflected light converting unit  13 , as shown in an example in  FIG. 4A , the reflected light L 2  from the optical ID tag  2   1  which is irradiated with the light beam L 1  is varied in accordance with the identification information stored in the memory  14 , as shown in an example in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0047]    As described above, when the voltage supply is stopped, the optical ID tag  2   1  varies the amount of reflected light L 2  of the light beam L 1  emitted from the optical reader  3   1  in accordance with the identification information stored in the memory  14  and superimposes the identification information on the reflected light L 2  in order to transmit the identification information to the optical reader  3   1 . 
         [0048]    In the optical ID tag  2   1  according to this embodiment of the present invention, the optical receiver  11 , the electric storage device  12 , the reflected light converting unit  13 , and the memory  14  are housed in a thin case made of resin. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent dust or moisture from entering into the case and a user can easily carry the optical ID tag  2   1  included in the case. 
         [0049]    Specifically, for example, the electric storage device  12  is provided at a predetermined position on a substrate BS in a thin rectangular case BD, and the optical receiver  11  is provided at a predetermined position on one surface (the surface on which the light beam L 1  is incident) of the substrate BS, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The optical unit  21  is provided in the central part of the substrate BS, which is close to the optical receiver  11 . The modulation circuit  22  and the memory  14  are provided at a predetermined position on the other surface of the substrate BS as an IC chip CP. 
         [0050]    In the structure shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the light beam L 1  emitted from the optical reader  3   j  is incident on only one surface of the case BD in the thickness direction, so that it is possible to ensure a larger mounting area for the optical unit  21  and the optical receiver  11 , compared with a case where both the IC chip CP and the optical unit  21  are provided on the same surface of the substrate BS. 
       Configuration of Optical Reader 
       [0051]    Examples of the configurations of the optical readers  3   1  to  3   n  will now be described. Since the optical readers  3   1  to  3   n  have the same configuration, an example of the configuration of the optical reader  3   1  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 6  for convenience. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the optical reader  3   1  includes a control circuit  30 , an input unit  31 , an output unit  32 , and an information extracting unit  33 . The input unit  31 , the output unit  32 , and the information extracting unit  33  are connected to the control circuit  30 . The control circuit  30  controls the entire optical reader  3   i . The input unit  31  receives various instructions corresponding to user operations. The output unit  32  visibly and acoustically indicates the content of processes in response to the instructions and the user operations. The information extracting unit  33  emits the light beam L 1  and extracts the identification information superimposed on the feedback light of the light beam L 1 . 
         [0053]    The control circuit  30  is a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a clock generator, and a flash memory. 
         [0054]    When the input unit  31  receives an instruction to read out the identification information, the control circuit  30  extracts the identification information recorded in the optical ID tag  2  through the information extracting unit  33  to store the identification information in the flash memory and to indicate the content of the identification information through the output unit  32 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information extracting unit  33  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the information extracting unit  33  includes a transmission processing section  41  and a reception processing section  42 . 
         [0056]    The transmission processing section  41  includes a random number generator  51 , a signal generator  52 , an amplifier  53 , and a light emitting diode (LED)  54 . The random number generator  51  generates a random number in response to each control instruction supplied from the control circuit  30  ( FIG. 6 ) and supplies the generated random number to the signal generator  52 . 
         [0057]    The signal generator  52  includes a table showing the correspondence between the random numbers and oscillation frequencies. The signal generator  52  selects an oscillation frequency corresponding to the random number supplied from the random number generator  51  on the basis of this table and supplies the value of the selected oscillation frequency to the reception processing section  42 . 
         [0058]    In addition, the signal generator  52  generates a signal having the selected oscillator frequency and applies the generated signal to the LED  54  through the amplifier  53 . As a result, the LED  54  emits the light beam L 1  ( FIG. 6 ) having the oscillation frequency corresponding to the random number. 
         [0059]    In the manner described above, the transmission processing section  41  can emit the light beams L 1  having different oscillation frequencies each time the control instruction is received. 
         [0060]    The reception processing section  42  includes a photodiode (PD)  55 , a detector  56 , a bandpass filter (BPF)  57 , and a demodulation circuit  58 . The PD  55  performs the photoelectric conversion to the reflected light L 2  ( FIG. 6 ) which is reflected from the optical ID tag  2  and on which the identification information is superimposed and supplies an alternating current signal resulting from the photoelectric conversion to the detector  56 . 
         [0061]    The detector  56  detects the alternating current signal and supplies the envelope of the detected alternating current signal to the BPF  57  as a detected signal. 
         [0062]    The BPF  57  sets a value of the oscillation frequency of the signal supplied from the signal generator  52  in the transmission processing section  41 . The BPF  57  extracts a signal component having the set oscillation frequency from the detected signal supplied from the detector  56  and supplies the extracted signal component to the demodulation circuit  58 . 
         [0063]    The demodulation circuit  58  performs a demodulation process corresponding to the same modulation method as in the modulation circuit  22  ( FIG. 2 ) in the optical ID tag  2  to the signal component supplied from the BPF  57  and supplies the identification information resulting from the demodulation to the control circuit  30  ( FIG. 6 ). The identification information is stored in the flash memory in the control circuit  30  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0064]    In the manner described above, the reception processing section  42  can extract the identification information which is superimposed on the reflected light L 2  from the reflected light L 2  ( FIG. 6 ) of the light beam L 1  ( FIG. 6 ), emitted from the transmission processing section  41 . 
       Process of Extracting Information 
       [0065]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a process of extracting information in the control circuit  30  in the optical reader  3   1  described above. It is assumed that the optical reader  3   1  is directed to the optical ID tag  2   1 , among the optical ID tags  2   1  to  2   m  ( FIG. 1 ), that is, the optical reader  3   1  reads the identification information from the optical ID tag  2   1 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , it is also assumed that, for example, the optical ID tag  2   2  and the optical ID tag  2   3  exist in the vicinity of the optical ID tag  2   1  and that optical readers  3   2  and  3   3  read out the identification information from the optical ID tag  2   2  and  2   3  at angles of incidence similar to the angle of incidence of the optical reader  3   1 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , after the control circuit  30  receives an instruction to read out the identification information from the input unit  31 , then in Step SP 10 , the control circuit  30  starts the process of extracting information. In Step SP 11 , the control circuit  30  controls the random number generator  51  ( FIG. 7 ) so as to generate a random number and controls the signal generator  52  ( FIG. 7 ) so as to emit a signal having the oscillation frequency corresponding to the generated random number in order to cause the LED  54  in the transmission processing section  41  ( FIG. 7 ) to emit the light beam L 1  ( FIG. 6 ) having the oscillation frequency corresponding to the random number. 
         [0068]    The optical ID tag  2   1  is irradiated with the light beam L 1  and returns a reflected light L 2   1  ( FIG. 9 ) on which the identification information stored in the optical ID tag  2   1  is superimposed. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the reflected light L 2   1  is congested with reflected light beams L 2   2  and L 2   3  incident from the optical ID tag  2   2  and  2   3  into the optical reader  3   2  and  3   3 . As a result, the reflected light L 2   1  which is congested with the reflected light beams L 2   2  and L 2   3  is incident into the optical reader  3   1 . 
         [0069]    In Step S 12 , the control circuit  30  performs the photoelectric conversion to the reflected light L 2   1  incident in the emitting direction in Step SP 11 . In Step SP 13 , the control circuit  30  controls the reception processing section  42  ( FIG. 7 ) so as to extract the identification information from the signal component which has the oscillation frequency of the light beam L 1  emitted in Step SP 11  and on which the identification information is superimposed, on the basis of the result of the photoelectric conversion. 
         [0070]    In Step SP 14 , the control circuit  30  controls the output unit  32  so as to indicate the content of the extracted identification information. In Step SP 15 , the control circuit  30  terminates the process of extracting information. 
         [0071]    As described above, the control circuit  30  emits the light beam L 1   1  having the oscillation frequency corresponding to the random number and extracts the identification information from the signal component having the oscillation frequency in the received reflected light L 2   1 . Accordingly, it is possible to properly acquire the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag  2   1  and to indicate the acquired identification information even if the reflected light L 2   1  is congested with the reflected light beams L 2   2  and L 3 . 
       Operations and Advantages 
       [0072]    In the configurations described above, the optical reader  3   j  in the optical communication system  1  generates a random number in accordance with the reading operation and emits a light beam having an oscillation frequency specific to the generated random number through the LED  54  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0073]    The optical reader  3   j  performs the photoelectric conversion, in the PD  55  ( FIG. 7 ), to the reflected light which is reflected from the optical ID tag  2   i  in the emitting direction of the light emitted from the LED  54  into a predetermined optical ID tag  2   i  and which is modulated on the basis of the identification information. The optical reader  3   j , then, extracts a signal component having the oscillation frequency from the signal resulting from the photoelectric conversion through the BPF  57  ( FIG. 7 ) and demodulates the signal component in the demodulation circuit  58  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0074]    Accordingly, the optical reader  3   j  can extract the identification information that is superimposed on the reflected light returned from the target optical ID tag  2   1  ( FIG. 9 ) as feedback light, even if the reflected light returned from the target optical ID tag  2   1  as the feedback light is congested with the reflected light from the optical ID tags  2   2  and  2   3  ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0075]    Consequently, in the optical communication system  1 , it is possible for the optical reader  3   1  to read out the identification information stored in the target optical ID tag  2   1  even if the optical ID tags  2   2  and  2   3  exist in the vicinity of the optical ID tag  2   1  and the optical ID tags  2   2  and  2   3  are irradiated with light at angles of incidence similar to the angle of incidence of the optical ID tag  2   1 , for example, if the optical ID tag  2   i  is provided on an advertising poster hung in a train and multiple users simultaneously read out identification information stored in the optical ID tag  2   i  using their own optical readers  3   j . As a result, it is possible to lighten restrictions on the arrangement of the optical ID tag  2   i  in the optical communication system  1 . 
         [0076]    With the above configurations, it is possible to realize the optical communication system  1  capable of appropriately communicating the identification information regardless of how the optical ID tag  2   i  is arranged or the readout state of the optical ID tag  2   i  by the optical reader  3   j . 
         [0077]    It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.