Patent ID: 12223384

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Overview of Reading System S

FIG.1andFIG.2are figures depicting an overview of a reading system S of the present embodiment.FIG.1depicts the configuration of the reading system S.FIG.2depicts the look of reading of tags by reading devices. The reading system S includes reading devices1, reading devices2and a vehicle control device3that are provided to a vehicle100, and a reading control device4.FIG.1illustrates a case where the positions of the reading devices1and the reading devices2as seen in the leftward/rightward direction of the vehicle100are the same positions.

The vehicle100is a vehicle having a pair of openable and closable left and right wings that are provided to the sides of its cargo bed. As depicted inFIG.1, a plurality of the reading devices1and the reading devices2are arranged on the cargo bed. The plurality of reading devices1and reading devices2are arranged along the front/back direction of the vehicle100. As depicted inFIG.2, the reading devices1and the reading devices2are provided at positions that are on the left and right wings of the vehicle100, and face the cargo compartment. The reading devices1and the reading devices2read tags5that are attached to items by near field wireless communication such as RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier). For example, the tags5are RFID tags not including batteries. The tags5have stored thereon identification information for identifying the tags. For example, the identification information is TIDs (Tag IDs) or EPCs (Electronic Product Codes).

The reading devices1and the reading devices2supply electric power for wireless communication to tags5by a contactless power supply scheme such as a radio wave scheme, and receive identification information transmitted by the tags5. The plurality of reading devices1and reading devices2can read tags5almost simultaneously while reducing interference between radio waves of the plurality of reading devices1and reading devices2by slightly staggering the timing of emission of electromagnetic waves. In addition, the reading devices1and the reading devices2can read a plurality of tags5almost simultaneously by slightly staggering the timing of communication with the plurality of tags5.

The reading devices1or2read tags5by emitting electromagnetic waves downward in a state where a wing to which the reading devices are attached are opened, as represented by a downward broken line inFIG.2. On the other hand, in a state where none of the left and right wings are opened, both the reading devices1and the reading devices2read tags5. The reading devices1and the reading devices2transmit information read out from tags5to the reading control device4.

For example, the vehicle control device3is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The vehicle control device3drives a motor (not depicted), and opens and closes the left and right wings. The vehicle control device3communicates with the reading control device4via wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The vehicle control device3transmits, to the reading control device4, state information representing the opened and closed states of the pair of left and right wings.

For example, the reading control device4is a smartphone used by a driver. The reading control device4communicates with the reading devices1, the reading devices2and the vehicle control device3via wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The reading control device4controls reading of tags5by the reading devices1or the reading devices2.

First, the reading control device4identifies that either one of the pair of wings of the vehicle100is opened, on the basis of the state information received from the vehicle control device3. The reading control device4identifies an opened wing. At this time, if the reading control device4causes reading devices attached to an unopened wing to emit electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic waves from the reading devices are emitted toward the other wing as indicated by a horizontal broken-line arrow inFIG.2. There is a possibility that due to the emission of the electromagnetic waves to the outside of the cargo bed, the reading control device4reads tags outside the cargo compartment. Because of this, the reading control device4does not cause the reading devices attached to the unopened wing to emit electromagnetic waves.

The reading control device4causes reading devices attached to the opened wing to emit electromagnetic waves for reading tags5. Since the electromagnetic waves emitted by the reading devices attached to the opened wing are emitted downward from the reading devices, they are unlikely to be emitted to the outside of the cargo compartment. In this manner, the reading control device4can reduce reading of even tags outside the cargo compartment when the reading control device4is reading tags5below the reading devices.

Configuration of Reading Control Device4

FIG.3depicts the configuration of the reading control device4. The reading control device4includes a touch panel41, a communication section42, a display section43, a storage section44and a control section45. The touch panel41detects user manipulation on the display section43by using a touch sensor. The communication section42is a communication module for communication with the reading devices1, the reading devices2and the vehicle control device3by wireless communication such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The display section43displays characters, images and the like.

For example, the storage section44is configured by using a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. The storage section44stores various types of program and various types of data for causing the control section45to perform its functions.

For example, the control section45is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). By executing the programs stored on the storage section44, the control section45functions as a manipulation accepting section451, an acquiring section452, an identifying section453, a reading control section454and an output section455.

The manipulation accepting section451accepts user manipulation via the touch panel41. For example, the manipulation accepting section451accepts user manipulation for instructing the reading devices1or the reading devices2to read tags5.

The acquiring section452communicates with the vehicle control device3via the communication section42. The acquiring section452acquires, from the vehicle control device3, the state information representing the opened and closed states of the pair of wings of the vehicle100. The acquiring section452outputs the acquired state information to the identifying section453.

The identifying section453identifies that either one of the pair of wings of the vehicle100is opened. The identifying section453identifies that either one of the pair of wings is opened, and identifies an opened wing on the basis of the state information acquired by the acquiring section452.

The reading control section454controls reading of tags5by the reading devices1or2. For example, in a case where the manipulation accepting section451accepted user manipulation for instructing to read tags5, the reading control section454generates control information for instructing to read tags5, and transmits the generated control information to the reading devices1or2.

In a case where the identifying section453identified that either one of the pair of wings is opened, the reading control section454causes reading devices attached to the opened wing in the pair of wings to emit electromagnetic waves for reading tags5. At this time, the reading control section454does not cause the reading devices1or2that are attached to an unopened wing to emit electromagnetic waves.

In a case where the identifying section453identified that none of the pair of wings are opened, the reading control section454causes both the reading devices1and the reading devices2attached to the pair of wings to emit electromagnetic waves.FIG.4depicts the look of reading of tags5by the reading control section454in a state where the wings are not opened. In the state where the wings are not opened, the electromagnetic waves from the reading devices1and2are not emitted to the outside of the cargo compartment almost at all. Because of this, by causing both the reading devices1and the reading devices2to emit electromagnetic waves, the reading control section454can reduce the occurrence of a situation where there are unread tags5when tags5of items transferred into the cargo compartment are to be read. Note that the reading control section454may cause either the reading devices1or the reading devices2to emit electromagnetic waves in the state where the wings are not opened.

The reading control section454causes the reading devices to emit electromagnetic waves at different intensities depending on whether a wing is opened or a wing is not opened. For example, in a case where the identifying section453identifies that either one of the pair of wings is opened, the reading control section454causes reading devices attached to an opened wing in the pair of wings to emit electromagnetic waves at first electric power. The first electric power is set to such electric power that tags5outside the cargo compartment of the vehicle100are not read by reading devices.

In a case where the identifying section453identified that none of the pair of wings are opened, the reading control section454causes the reading devices1or2attached to at least one of the pair of wings to emit electromagnetic waves at second electric power. The second electric power is greater than the first electric power. For example, the second electric power is the maximum electric power of the reading devices1or2. Since the reading control section454causes the reading devices1or2to emit electromagnetic waves at the relatively low first electric power in a state where a wing of the vehicle100is opened, it is possible to reduce reading of tags outside the cargo compartment by the reading devices1or2. The reading control section454reads identification information for identifying tags5from the tags5. The reading control section454outputs the read identification information to the output section455.

The output section455outputs, to the display section43, the identification information about the tags5read out by the reading control section454. For example, the output section455displays the identification information about a plurality of the tags5in a list on the display section43.

Configuration of Reading Devices1and2

FIG.5is a figure depicting the configuration of the reading devices1and2. It is assumed that both the reading devices1and the reading devices2have the same configuration. Each reading device1or2includes a communication section11, a near field communication section12, a storage section13and a control section14.

The communication section11is a communication module for communication with the reading control device4by wireless communication such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. For example, the near field communication section12is a communication unit including a coiled antenna, a modulation circuit and a demodulation circuit. By using the coiled antenna, the near field communication section12receives an electromagnetic wave emitted by a tag5provided to an item in the cargo compartment, and demodulates the received electromagnetic wave by using the demodulation circuit. The near field communication section12supplies electric power for wireless communication to a tag5by a contactless power supply scheme such as a radio wave scheme, and receives information transmitted by the tag5.

For example, the storage section13is configured by using a ROM, a RAM and the like. The storage section13stores various types of program and various types of data for causing the control section14to perform its functions. For example, the control section14is a CPU. By executing the programs stored on the storage section13, the control section14functions as a reception control section141, a reading section142and a transmission control section143.

The reception control section141communicates with the reading control device4via the communication section11. For example, the reception control section141receives, from the reading control device4, control information for instructing to read a tag5. The reception control section141outputs the received control information to the reading section142.

The reading section142reads a tag5via the near field communication section12. In a case where the reception control section141received the control information for instructing to read a tag5, the reading section142reads a tag5by emitting an electromagnetic wave toward the tag5. For example, the reading section142acquires identification information about the tag5from the tag5. The reading section142outputs the acquired identification information to the transmission control section143.

The transmission control section143communicates with the reading control device4via the communication section11. For example, the transmission control section143transmits, to the reading control device4, the identification information about the tag5acquired by the reading section142.

Processing Procedure Performed by Reading Control Device4to Read Tags5

FIG.6is a flowchart depicting a processing procedure performed by the reading control device4to read tags5. For example, this processing procedure is started when the manipulation accepting section451accepted user manipulation for instructing the reading devices1or the reading devices2to read tags5. First, the identifying section453identifies whether or not either one of the pair of wings attached to the sides of the cargo bed of the vehicle100is opened (S101). In a case where either one of the pair of wings is opened (YES at S101), the identifying section453identifies an opened wing (S102). The reading control section454transmits control information for instructing to read tags5to reading devices attached to the opened wing in the pair of wings, and causes the reading devices to read the tags5(S103). At this time, the reading control section454does not transmit the control information for instructing to read tags5to reading devices attached to an unopened wing.

In a case where the identifying section453identified that none of the pair of wings are opened in the assessment at S101(NO at S101), the reading control section454transmits control information for instructing to read tags5to both the reading devices1and the reading devices2attached to the wings, and causes the reading devices1and2to read tags5(S104).

Modification Examples

Examples of the reading control device are not limited to smartphones. For example, the reading control device may be an in-vehicle controller mounted on a vehicle.FIG.7depicts an example of a case where the reading control device201is mounted on a vehicle200. The reading devices1, the reading devices2and the vehicle control device3depicted inFIG.7are similar to the reading devices1, the reading devices2and the vehicle control device3depicted inFIG.2. The reading control device201depicted inFIG.7is an infotainment device such as display audio equipment, for example. Since the reading control device201is similar to the reading control device inFIG.1except that it is mounted on the vehicle200, an explanation thereof is omitted. In addition, the reading control device may be a personal computer installed at a warehouse or the like, and may be configured to read tags5provided to items when vehicles enter the warehouse.

Effects Attained with Reading Control Device of Present Embodiment

The reading control device4of the present embodiment causes reading devices attached to an opened wing to emit electromagnetic waves for reading tags5. On the other hand, the reading control device4does not cause the reading devices2attached to an unopened wing to emit electromagnetic waves. In this manner, the reading control device4can reduce reading of even tags outside the cargo compartment when the reading control device4is reading tags5below the reading devices.

Although the present invention has been explained thus far by using an embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the scope of the description of the embodiment described above, but can be modified and changed variously within the scope of the gist. For example, all or some of devices can be configured in a functionally or physically distributed/integrated manner in any units. In addition, embodiments of the present invention include also new embodiments that are generated by combining any ones of a plurality of embodiments. Effects of the new embodiments generated by the combination combine effects of the original embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: Reading device2: Reading device3: Vehicle control device4: Reading control device5: Tag11: Communication section12: Near field communication section13: Storage section14: Control section41: Touch panel42: Communication section43: Display section44: Storage section45: Control section100: Vehicle141: Reception control section142: Reading section143: Transmission control section200: Vehicle201: Reading control device451: Manipulation accepting section452: Acquiring section453: Identifying section454: Reading control section455: Output section