Batch electronic tag performance test system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a batch electronic tag performance test system. The batch electronic tag performance test system comprises a test camera obscura, a winding and unwinding mechanism, an electronic tag reader and an electronic tag host. The test camera obscura is used for isolating one single-chip electronic tag from other single-chip electronic tags adjacent to the single-chip electronic tag and providing a test environment required for testing the single-chip electronic tags; the electronic tag reader is arranged in the test camera obscura and is used for reading information of a single electronic tag in the test camera obscura; the electronic tag host is connected with the electronic tag reader and is used for judging whether the corresponding single electronic tag is qualified or not according to the information read by the electronic tag reader; and the winding and unwinding mechanism is used for winding and unwinding the coiled electronic tags, so that the coiled electronic tags pass through the test camera obscura. According to the utility model, through the winding and unwinding mechanism, the coiled electronic tags can be directly conveyed to the test camera obscura for detection, and the tested electronic tags can be automatically wound, so that the operation is simple, convenient and efficient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic tags, and in particular to a batch electronic tag performance testing system. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic tags, also known as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, transponders, or data carriers, are products used in the field of communication technology. They consist of a microchip and an antenna, capable of storing and transmitting data, and communicating with readers via wireless radio frequency signals. Typically, electronic tags are produced in rolls, and their quality is usually tested using specialized electronic tag testing equipment. Currently, a common practice is to cut the rolls of electronic tags into individual tags, and then test these individual tags using the testing equipment.

[0003] In implementing existing technologies, it was found that testing the performance of electronic tags requires cutting continuous rolls of tags into individual pieces for performance testing of each piece. However, to simplify the tag encoding and information entry process, the final electronic tags delivered to customers are usually uncut rolls. If the rolls are cut into individual pieces for testing, the resulting individual tags are scattered and cannot be reliably delivered as finished products. Furthermore, performance testing of the cut individual tags requires manual placement of each tag on the test bench, a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. To address this issue, existing methods use the testing of a few tags from the roll as the basis for determining the roll's pass / fail status before delivering the qualified rolls to customers. While simple, this method suffers from inaccurate test results. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a batch electronic tag performance testing system to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model includes:

[0006] This utility model provides a batch electronic tag performance testing system, including a test dark box, a winding and unwinding mechanism, at least one electronic tag reader, and an electronic tag host. The test dark box is used to isolate a single electronic tag from other adjacent single electronic tags and to provide the testing environment required for testing single electronic tags. Each electronic tag reader is disposed in one of the test dark boxes and is used at least to read information of the single electronic tags located in the test dark box. The electronic tag host is connected to the electronic tag reader and is used at least to determine whether the corresponding single electronic tag is qualified based on the information read by the electronic tag reader. The winding and unwinding mechanism is used at least to take in and unwind rolled electronic tags so that the rolled electronic tags pass through the test dark box.

[0007] In a more specific implementation, the inner wall of the testing chamber is provided with an absorbing structure, which includes multiple absorbing cones. Each absorbing cone is a hollow pyramidal structure composed of a rectangular base plate and multiple triangular side plates. Preferably, the absorbing structure includes multiple absorbing triangular pyramids. More preferably, the multiple absorbing triangular pyramids are arranged in an array.

[0008] Specifically, the inner walls of the testing chamber are covered with absorbing triangular pyramids containing microwave-absorbing material to shield against external electromagnetic interference and ensure that the measurement process is not adversely affected by the external electromagnetic environment. The layout of these absorbing triangular pyramids should be designed according to the specific application scenario. Their number can be rationally configured based on the intensity of the electromagnetic wave source and the number of sensitive electronic devices. In this solution, the absorbing material matrix can be, but is not limited to, polyurethane foam. The absorbing material should be laid to ensure that its density and quantity meet the established specifications. Specifically, the absorbing material is laid around the inner walls of the testing chamber in a symmetrical manner, ensuring the symmetry of the absorbing material.

[0009] In a more specific implementation, the test dark box has an unwinding opening and a rewinding opening.

[0010] In a more specific implementation, the unwinding and take-up mechanism includes at least an unwinding roller, a take-up roller, a support, and a drive motor. The support is disposed on both sides of the test chamber. The unwinding roller and the take-up roller are respectively disposed on the support on both sides of the test chamber to fix the position of the rolled electronic tag roll. The rolled electronic tags enter the test chamber from the unwinding port via the unwinding roller and exit from the take-up port via the take-up roller. The drive motor is disposed in the peripheral area of ​​the test chamber and connected to the unwinding roller and the take-up roller. The drive motor is used to control the rotational speed of the unwinding roller and the take-up roller. Preferably, the unwinding roller and the take-up roller are air-expanding shafts. An air-expanding shaft is a specially designed roller that can bulge on the surface after being inflated by high pressure and rapidly retracts after deflating. By introducing a retractable roller mechanism outside the testing dark box, automated testing of rolled electronic tags is achieved. This allows for continuous testing of rolled electronic tags, replacing the traditional method of manually picking up electronic tags one by one and improving testing efficiency.

[0011] In a more specific implementation, a test platform is provided inside the test chamber, the test platform is used to hold rolled electronic tags, and the electronic tag reader is located below the bottom of the test platform.

[0012] Specifically, the test stand serves as a support device for placing the electronic tag under test. Its structure varies, including different configurations such as a bracket, cylindrical platform, or tripod. During electronic tag performance testing, the test stand acts as an intermediary, ensuring the smooth progress of the testing process. It is important to note that the choice of material for the test stand is crucial; it must be a non-metallic material that has minimal impact on the electromagnetic wave emission characteristics of the electronic tag, such as paper, wood, or plastic, to guarantee the accuracy of the test results.

[0013] In a more specific implementation, the electronic tag host includes a threshold testing module, a backscattering testing module, and a directionality testing module.

[0014] The threshold testing module is used to record the transmit and receive power of the electronic tag's response through frequency scanning. Specifically, this threshold testing module is used to evaluate key performance indicators of the electronic tag at different operating frequencies, such as activation sensitivity, activation electric field strength, backscatter power, and reading distance. By setting a specific frequency scanning range and recording the transmit and receive power of the electronic tag when it responds correctly at each frequency point, the activation sensitivity, backscatter power, theoretical reading distance, and electric field strength of the electronic tag can be calculated.

[0015] The backscattering test module is used to conduct in-depth analysis of electronic tags from two dimensions: first, the corresponding changes in the backlink and forwardlink of the electronic tag; and second, the limiting factors of the theoretical reading distance of the electronic tag, namely the interaction between the forward and backlinks of the electronic tag.

[0016] The directional testing module is used to measure the performance characteristics of electronic tags at different azimuth angles at specific frequencies, covering parameters such as electronic tag activation power, theoretical reading distance, and electronic tag backscattering power.

[0017] In a more specific implementation, the electronic tag host further includes a reading distance testing module, which is used to set the testing frequency and frequency step size. The electronic tag reader is used to read the test data of each test point of each individual electronic tag according to the testing frequency and frequency step size.

[0018] Specifically, the reading distance test module is used to investigate the variation in the actual reading distance of electronic tags under different reader and antenna configurations. In a pre-set experimental environment, the reading distance of the electronic tags was analyzed in depth. By independently setting the test frequency range, frequency step size, test power range, power step size, and key parameters such as the reader's receiving sensitivity, transmitting power, and antenna gain, a test environment closer to real-world application scenarios was simulated.

[0019] In a more specific implementation, the batch electronic tag performance testing system further includes a display module connected to the reading distance testing module, used to display the test results for each test point of each individual electronic tag. Specifically, the test results can be displayed in charts.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model include at least the following:

[0021] This utility model provides a batch electronic tag performance testing system that, through a winding and unwinding mechanism, can directly transport rolled electronic tags to a testing chamber for testing and automatically wind up the tested electronic tags. The system is simple and efficient to operate, saves manpower, and is suitable for large-scale electronic tag testing, realizing rapid and batch testing of electronic tags.

[0022] This utility model provides a batch electronic tag performance testing system. Since it does not use a sampling inspection method to test the performance of electronic tags, it can improve the accuracy of testing rolls of electronic tags and can deliver rolls of electronic tags directly to customers.

[0023] Third, the batch electronic tag performance testing system provided by this utility model includes at least one test chamber isolated from the outside environment. The function of this test chamber is to isolate individual electronic tags and their adjacent electronic tags, while providing the necessary testing environment for performance testing of individual electronic tags. In this way, interference from surrounding electronic tags can be effectively shielded, and interference from external electromagnetic signals can be reduced, thereby improving the accuracy of the test. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a batch electronic tag performance testing system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the test chamber provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 1. Electronic tag host; 2. Testing dark box; 3. Electronic tag reader; 4. Testing table; 5. Testing electronic tag; 6. Unwinding roller; 7. Electronic tag to be tested; 8. Computer host; 9. Computer display screen; 10. Rewinding roller; 11. Rewinding end. Detailed Implementation

[0028] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of this case, through long-term research and extensive practice, has come up with the technical solution of this utility model. The following will further explain the technical solution, its implementation process, and its principles.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 2 This embodiment provides a batch electronic tag performance testing system, including an electronic tag host 1, a test dark box 2, a winding and unwinding mechanism, and an electronic tag reader 3. The test dark box 2 is used to isolate a single electronic tag from other adjacent single electronic tags and to provide the testing environment required for testing single electronic tags. Each electronic tag reader 3 is disposed within one of the test dark boxes and is used at least to read information from the single electronic tags located within the test dark box. The electronic tag host 1 is connected to the electronic tag reader 3 and is used at least to determine whether the corresponding single electronic tag is qualified based on the information read by the electronic tag reader 3. The winding and unwinding mechanism is used at least to take in and unwind rolled electronic tags so that the rolled electronic tags pass through the test dark box inside the test dark box.

[0030] In this solution, the electronic tag reader 3 can be understood as a device that reads and writes information to the electronic tag's memory. The electronic tag reader 3 consists of three parts: a radio frequency module, a control processing module, and an antenna. The electronic tag is read by the reader, receives feedback, and undergoes information processing within the host computer, ultimately forming test data on the software side. The electronic tag host 1 is connected to the electronic tag reader 3 via a radio frequency cable to acquire the test data read by the electronic tag reader 3 and perform performance testing. During large-scale performance testing of rolled electronic tags, the electronic tag reader 3 can independently evaluate the performance of the test electronic tag 5 within the test dark chamber, effectively isolating interference from other electronic tags around the test electronic tag 5 and significantly reducing interference from external electromagnetic signals. During the testing process, the roll of electronic tags can be directly transported to the test dark chamber for testing via a winding and unwinding mechanism, and the tested electronic tags are automatically wound up. The operation is simple and efficient, saving manpower and making it very suitable for large-scale electronic tag performance testing.

[0031] Specifically, the test chamber 2 has an unwinding port (not shown in the figure) and a rewinding port 11. The unwinding and rewinding mechanism is used to transport the rolled electronic tags between the unwinding port and the rewinding port 11, so that the rolled electronic tags can pass through the test chamber. Preferably, the positions of the unwinding port and the rewinding port 11 can be set according to the height of the test electronic tags and the position that is convenient for the tester to perform the test.

[0032] The testing chamber contains a testing platform 4, which supports the electronic tag 5. The electronic tag reader 3 is directional, meaning it needs to be directly facing the electronic tag during testing. In this case, the electronic tag reader 3 can be placed at the bottom of the testing platform 4, i.e., on the lower surface of the testing chamber, or it can be suspended on the upper surface of the testing chamber. Figure 2 The inner wall of the test chamber is provided with a wave-absorbing structure, which includes multiple wave-absorbing triangular pyramids. Each wave-absorbing triangular pyramid is a hollow pyramid structure composed of a rectangular base plate and multiple triangular side plates, and the multiple wave-absorbing triangular pyramids are arranged in an array.

[0033] Specifically, absorbing material is placed on the inner walls of the testing chamber around a triangular pyramidal shape, arranged in a top-bottom, left-right, and right-side configuration. This material shields against external electromagnetic interference, ensuring the measurement process is protected from adverse effects by the external electromagnetic environment. The absorbing material matrix used is polyurethane foam.

[0034] In this embodiment, the unwinding and rewinding mechanism includes an unwinding roller 6, a rewinding roller 10, a bracket (not shown in the figure), and a drive motor (not shown in the figure). The unwinding roller 6 and the rewinding roller 10 are rotatable around their own axes and are connected to the drive motor to rotate under the drive of the drive motor, for conveying the electronic tag 7 to be tested. Specifically, the bracket is set on both sides of the test chamber, and the unwinding roller 6 and the rewinding roller 10 are respectively set on the brackets on both sides of the test chamber to fix the position of the rolled electronic tag. The electronic tag 7 to be tested enters the test chamber from the unwinding port through the unwinding roller 6 and exits from the rewinding port 11 of the test chamber through the rewinding roller 10. The drive motor is set in the outer area of ​​the test chamber and is connected to the unwinding roller 6 and the rewinding roller 10. The drive motor is used to control the rotational speed of the unwinding roller 6 and the rewinding roller 10. The unwinding roller 6 and the rewinding roller 10 are air shafts. An air-expanding shaft is a special type of shaft specifically designed for winding and unwinding operations. When inflated under high pressure, its surface expands significantly; upon deflating, the surface quickly retracts. In modern industrial equipment, air-expanding shafts have become an indispensable key component in winding operations. The introduction of a retractable rolling mechanism to the exterior of the testing chamber enables automated testing of rolled electronic tags. This allows for continuous testing of rolled electronic tags, replacing the traditional method of manually picking up each tag individually, thus improving testing efficiency.

[0035] The testing process is as follows: First, the rolled sample electronic tag is fixed to the unwinding roller 6. Then, the electronic tag 7 to be tested passes through the testing chamber and is fixed to the take-up roller 10, completing the device setup. Subsequently, the drive motor is started to control the unwinding and take-up process. After each electronic tag is tested, the take-up roller 10 automatically performs a take-up action, causing the rolled electronic tag to move and move the next electronic tag to be tested to the testing platform for continuous testing until the entire rolled electronic tag has been tested. The integrated design of the unwinding and take-up mechanism with the testing chamber and testing system significantly improves the convenience of batch testing.

[0036] Furthermore, the batch electronic tag performance testing system also includes a reading distance testing module, which is connected to the electronic tag host 1 and used to set the test frequency and frequency step size. The electronic tag host 1 is connected to the electronic tag reader 3 via an RF cable and to the reading distance testing module via a network cable. The electronic tag reader 3 is used to read the test data of each test point of each individual electronic tag according to the test frequency and frequency step size.

[0037] Specifically, the effective communication distance between an RFID tag and an RFID reader, i.e., the tag reading distance, refers to the distance within which data information can be transmitted accurately and without error. In other words, once this distance is exceeded, the information within the RFID tag will not be recognized by the reader. In the preparation stage of RFID tag performance testing, the reading distance testing module is used to set the first frequency, the second frequency, and the frequency step size. This reading distance testing module is located in the computer host 8. On the computer, the reading distance of the RFID tag can be tested using a specific testing software module. This software is connected to the testing instrument to evaluate the RFID tag reading performance. The first frequency is the maximum frequency, and the second frequency is the minimum frequency. The operating frequency range of this testing system is between 860 MHz and 960 MHz. Therefore, the minimum frequency is 860 MHz, and the maximum frequency is 960 MHz. The frequency step size can be adjusted according to specific needs; in this embodiment, the frequency step size can be set to 5 MHz.

[0038] During the performance testing phase of the electronic tag, the electronic tag reader 3 tests each electronic tag's test points according to the maximum frequency, minimum frequency, and test frequency step size, obtaining test data corresponding to each test point of each electronic tag. The number of test points for each electronic tag is set according to the frequency step size. In this embodiment, the frequency range is 860MHz to 960MHz, the frequency step size is 5MHz, so the test points are sequentially 860 MHz, 865 MHz, 870 MHz, 875 MHz, 880 MHz... up to 960 MHz.

[0039] The distance reading test module also reads the test data corresponding to each test point and plots the test data for each test point into a first graph, which is a power-frequency table. In the first graph, the data for each test point can be understood as the minimum response power corresponding to each frequency point. After all test points for each electronic tag are completed, the distance reading test module also reads the reading distance for each test point and plots the relationship between the reading distance and frequency for each test point into a second graph, while simultaneously generating a third graph. The second graph is a distance-frequency table, and the third graph is a fitted power-frequency table. The third graph is used to display the data fitting results from the first graph.

[0040] Furthermore, the batch electronic tag performance testing system also includes a display module, which is connected to the reading distance testing module and is used to display the test results of each test point of each individual electronic tag.

[0041] Specifically, the display module here can be understood as computer screen 9, used to display the first chart, the second chart, and the third chart. Once all test points of an electronic tag have been tested, the test is complete, and the tag leaves the test chamber 2 through the rewind port and is rewound. Simultaneously, a new electronic tag test begins. Clicking "Start" on computer screen 9 initiates the reading distance test, obtaining the reading distance. This process is repeated until all electronic tags have been tested. During testing, the reading distance test module sets a acceptable distance. The acceptable distance range is uncertain; the reading distance of different electronic tags is not consistent and must be set according to the inherent performance of each batch of electronic tags. Different types of electronic tags have different reading distances. When testing electronic tags of the same batch (of the same type), an acceptable distance can be set, which should be determined based on actual needs. When the reading distance is greater than or equal to the acceptable distance, the electronic tag is considered acceptable; when the reading distance is less than the acceptable distance, the electronic tag is considered unacceptable. For example, if the required reading distance of the electronic tag is 5 meters or more, then electronic tags with a reading distance of 5 meters or more are considered acceptable, while those with a reading distance of less than 5 meters are considered unacceptable.

[0042] After testing all the electronic tags, the pass rate of the batch can be directly obtained. For example, using the reading distance at 920 MHz as the reference distance, if the reference distance is greater than or equal to the pass distance, the electronic tag is considered a pass tag; if the reference distance is less than the pass distance, the electronic tag is considered a fail tag. It should be noted that different countries use different frequency bands for UHF electronic tags, generally the 920-925 MHz band. Therefore, in actual testing, the reading distance of the electronic tag at 920 MHz can be used as the evaluation standard, but is not limited to this.

[0043] It should be understood that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical concept and features of this utility model, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of this utility model and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A batch electronic tag performance testing system, characterized in that, This includes a testing darkroom, a roll-up / roll-down mechanism, at least one electronic tag reader, and an electronic tag host. The test dark box is used to isolate a single electronic tag from other adjacent single electronic tags, and to provide the test environment required for testing single electronic tags; Each of the aforementioned electronic tag readers is disposed within one of the test dark boxes and is used at least to read information from a single electronic tag located within the test dark box; The electronic tag host is connected to the electronic tag reader and is used at least to determine whether the corresponding single electronic tag is qualified based on the information read by the electronic tag reader; The winding and unwinding mechanism is at least used to take in and unwind rolled electronic tags so that the rolled electronic tags can pass through the test dark box.

2. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the test chamber is equipped with a wave-absorbing structure, which includes multiple wave-absorbing cones. Each wave-absorbing cone is a hollow pyramid structure composed of a rectangular base plate and multiple triangular side plates.

3. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The test chamber has an unwinding opening and a rewinding opening.

4. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The unwinding and rewinding mechanism includes at least an unwinding roller, a rewinding roller, a support, and a drive motor. The support is located on both sides of the test chamber. The unwinding roller and the rewinding roller are respectively located on the support on both sides of the test chamber to fix the position of the rolled electronic tag roll. The rolled electronic tag enters the test chamber from the unwinding port through the unwinding roller and exits from the rewinding port of the test chamber through the rewinding roller. The drive motor is located in the outer area of ​​the test chamber and is connected to the unwinding roller and the rewinding roller. The drive motor is used to control the rotation speed of the unwinding roller and the rewinding roller.

5. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The testing chamber contains a testing platform, which is used to hold the electronic tags being tested. The electronic tag reader is located at the bottom of the testing platform.

6. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electronic tag host includes a threshold test module, a backscatter test module, and a directivity test module. The threshold test module is used to record the transmission and reception power of the electronic tag response through frequency scanning.

7. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The electronic tag host also includes a reading distance testing module, which is used to set the test frequency and frequency step size. The electronic tag reader is used to read the test data of each test point of each individual electronic tag according to the test frequency and frequency step size.

8. The batch electronic tag performance testing system according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a display module, which is connected to the reading distance test module and is used to display the test results of the electronic tag.

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