Duplexed RF tag

Abstract

To increase the possibility, when receiving a radio wave, of transmitting information in response to the radio wave.SOLUTION: A duplexed RF tag 10 includes a passive type RF tag 11 and a passive type RF tag 15. The duplexed RF tag 10 is formed by, for example, by sandwiching the RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 with thin and hard paper (for example, a cardboard or the like) from the front and rear sides. The principal surface of the RF tag 11 and the principal surface of the RF tag 15 are on a same plane. The RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 are not overlapped with each other, and their length directions intersect at right angle with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dual RF (Radio Frequency) tag that functions as a passive RF tag. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an RF tag reader having an opening at the top of a storage compartment, which reads information from a passive RF tag placed inside the storage compartment with the opening open. The sides of the storage compartment are composed of a front, left, back, and right side. The left, back, and right side each include a radio wave absorbing layer and are higher than the front. The interior of the storage compartment is divided by a front storage limiting plate into an attenuation space near the front and an accommodation space near the back. Items with RF tags attached can be accommodated in the accommodation space. Items cannot be accommodated in the attenuation space. A bottom antenna is installed on the top surface of the bottom. The bottom antenna is an antenna that emits radio waves to the RF tag. The bottom antenna is installed to emit high-intensity radio waves toward the storage space and lower-intensity radio waves toward the attenuation space. When the RF tag receives the radio waves radiated from the bottom antenna, it generates power, operates, and transmits information.

[0003] RF tags used in apparel inventory, incoming and outgoing product inspection in logistics, and fixed asset management in the manufacturing industry generally use radio waves in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band, with frequencies between 860 and 960 MHz. At such relatively low frequencies, radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna diffract at the edges of the opening and bend around the reader. However, in the RF tag reader described in Patent Document 1, the tops of the left side, back, and right side are high, so the radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna are attenuated by the time they reach these tops. Although the top of the front is low, the radio waves radiated from the bottom antenna propagate through an attenuation space and are attenuated by the time they reach the front. Therefore, the RF tag reader described in Patent Document 1 can read information from RF tags placed in a storage space.

[0004] This RF tag reader has a low top end on the front side, so that when items or shopping baskets are placed in or removed from the front side, they can be easily placed in or removed from the storage space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7429399 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When the bottom antenna emits linearly polarized radio waves, if the longitudinal direction of the RF tag antenna is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the radio wave polarization, the RF tag antenna cannot receive the radio waves emitted by the bottom antenna, and the RF tag cannot respond to the radio waves and transmit information. Therefore, in this case, the RF tag reader described in Patent Document 1 cannot read information from the RF tag in the storage space.

[0007] Furthermore, when the bottom antenna emits circularly polarized radio waves, or when linearly polarized waves are used and the radio waves are emitted while switching between horizontal and vertical polarization, the RF tag reader described in Patent Document 1 can read information from an RF tag in the storage space, except when the longitudinal direction of the RF tag's antenna is nearly perpendicular to the surface of the bottom antenna. However, even in this case, when the longitudinal direction of the RF tag's antenna is nearly perpendicular to the surface of the bottom antenna, the RF tag's antenna cannot receive the radio waves emitted by the bottom antenna, and the RF tag cannot transmit information in response to those radio waves. Therefore, in this case as well, this RF tag reader cannot read information from an RF tag in the storage space.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a dual RF tag that, when receiving radio waves, increases the possibility of transmitting information in response to the radio waves. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the dual RF tag of the present invention comprises: a first RF tag of a passive type; a passive second RF tag whose main surface is in the same plane as the main surface of the first RF tag, does not overlap the first RF tag, and whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first RF tag; Equipped with.

[0010] Preferably, the dual RF tag of the present invention comprises: The first RF tag and the second RF tag are arranged in an L-shape.

[0011] Furthermore, the dual RF tag of the present invention is a first antenna that transmits a response radio wave when receiving the radio wave; a second antenna whose main surface is in the same plane as the main surface of the first antenna, does not overlap with the first antenna, and whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first antenna, and which transmits a response radio wave when it receives a radio wave; an IC chip attached to the center of the first antenna, connected to the center of the second antenna by a wire, storing information, operating on power generated by radio waves received by the first antenna and / or the second antenna, and causing the first antenna and / or the second antenna to transmit the response radio waves containing the information; Equipped with.

[0012] Preferably, the dual RF tag of the present invention comprises: The first antenna and the second antenna are arranged in an L shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, when a radio wave is received, the possibility of transmitting information in response to the radio wave can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a dual RF tag including a dual RF tag, in which Fig. 1A is a plan view of the dual RF tag, and Fig. 1B is a front view of the dual RF tag. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an RF tag reader that reads information from a duplicated RF tag. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 3 is a plan view of an example of a storage section in the RF tag reader of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram showing an example in which a duplicated RF tag is accommodated in the accommodation section of the RF tag reader of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a dual RF tag which is an example of a configuration different from that of the dual RF tag shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7A is a plan view of the dual RF tag, and Fig. 7B is a front view of the dual RF tag. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, a dual RF tag according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In all drawings illustrating the embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a dual RF tag 10 including dual RF tags 11 and 15. FIG. 1(A) is a plan view of the dual RF tag. FIG. 1(B) is a front view of the dual RF tag. The dual RF tag 10 includes an RF tag 11 and an RF tag 15. The RF tags 11 and 15 are passive RF tags. The main surfaces of the RF tags 11 and 15 are flush with each other. As can be seen from FIG. 1(B), the dual RF tag 10 is thin. The dual RF tag 10 is, for example, configured by sandwiching the RF tags 11 and 15 between thin, hard papers (e.g., cardboard) on the front and back sides. These thin, hard papers allow radio waves to pass through. The RF tags 11 and 15 do not overlap but are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are perpendicular to each other. The RF tags 11 and 15 are arranged, for example, in an L-shape.

[0017] The RF tag 11 has an antenna 12 and an IC chip 13. The RF tag 11 communicates with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader / writer or the like using radio waves in the UHF band with a frequency of 860 to 960 MHz, for example. When the antenna 12 receives radio waves emitted by the antenna of the RFID reader / writer or the like, power is generated. The IC chip 13 operates using this power. The IC chip 13 stores information including a unique tag ID (identifier) ​​that is determined so as to uniquely identify an item. The RF tag 11 transmits a response radio wave in response to the radio waves emitted by the antenna of the RFID reader / writer or the like. The response radio wave contains information including the tag ID.

[0018] The RF tag 15 has an antenna 16 and an IC chip 17. The IC chip 17 operates using power generated by radio waves received by the antenna 16. The RF tag 15 operates in the same manner as the RF tag 11. The IC chip 13 and the IC chip 17 may store the same information, including a tag ID, or may store different tag IDs but the same information other than the tag ID. Furthermore, the information stored in the IC chip 13 and the information stored in the IC chip 17 may be different.

[0019] Depending on the orientation of the antenna of the RFID reader / writer or the like and the orientation of the antenna 12 of the RF tag 11, the antenna 12 may not be able to receive radio waves, and the RF tag 11 may not be able to transmit response radio waves. However, the longitudinal direction of the antenna 12 and the longitudinal direction of the antenna 16 of the RF tag 15 are perpendicular to each other. Even if the antenna 12 cannot receive radio waves, the antenna 16 can receive radio waves, and the RF tag 15 can transmit response radio waves. Similarly, depending on the orientation of the antenna of the RFID reader / writer or the like and the orientation of the antenna 16, the antenna 16 may not be able to receive radio waves, and the RF tag 15 may not be able to transmit response radio waves. However, even if the antenna 16 cannot receive radio waves, the antenna 12 can receive radio waves, and the RF tag 11 can transmit response radio waves. Note that the RF tag 11 is an example of a first RF tag in the present disclosure, and the RF tag 15 is an example of a second RF tag in the present disclosure.

[0020] Next, the RF tag reader 1 described in Patent Document 1 will be described. The RF tag reader 1 can read information from a duplicated RF tag 10. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the RF tag reader 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an example of the storage section 100 in the RF tag reader 1 of Fig. 2. The RF tag reader 1 has the storage section 100 and a control section 200. An opening 110 is provided at the top of the storage section 100.

[0021] An opening 110 of the storage unit 100 of the RF tag reader 1 can take in and out an article to which a dual RF tag 10 is attached. The article is, for example, a product. The storage space inside the storage unit 100 can store the article. The storage space will be described later.

[0022] Furthermore, opening 110 allows for the insertion and removal of a shopping basket containing items. The storage space inside storage unit 100 can store part or all of the shopping basket. For example, when RF tag reader 1 is incorporated into a self-checkout register and used in a store, items with duplicated RF tags 10 attached are displayed on shelves or tables inside the store. Customers select items they like and place them in their shopping baskets. Then, the customer places part or all of the shopping basket into the storage space through opening 110.

[0023] The duplicated RF tag 10 is used, for example, to collectively manage multiple items throughout the entire supply chain, including production, intermediate logistics, and sales. The duplicated RF tag 10 is used, for example, for inventory management (inspection and inventory) of products in factories, inspection and inventory of products in intermediate logistics, and self-checkouts in stores.

[0024] When an article to which a duplicated RF tag 10 is attached is stored inside the storage unit 100, the RF tag reader 1 reads information including a tag ID from the duplicated RF tag 10. The RF tag reader 1 communicates with the duplicated RF tag 10 using radio waves in the UHF band with a frequency of 860 to 960 MHz, for example.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 , the housing 100 has a top surface, a bottom surface 120, a front surface 121, a left side surface 122, a rear surface 123, a right side surface 124, a mounting plate 150, a front storage limiting plate 151, a front guide portion 153, and a bottom antenna 160. The top surface has the opening 110 described above. The bottom surface 120 forms the bottom of the housing 100. The bottom surface 120 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The bottom surface 120 includes a flat plate 130 and a radio wave shielding layer 140. The radio wave shielding layer 140 covers, for example, the upper surface of the flat plate 130. However, the bottom surface 120 does not necessarily have to include the radio wave shielding layer 140. However, it is desirable for the bottom surface 120 to include the radio wave shielding layer 140, for example, to suppress radio waves from penetrating into the housing 100 from the outside.

[0026] The radio wave shielding layer is a radio wave absorbing layer or a radio wave reflecting layer. The radio wave shielding layer may also include both a radio wave absorbing layer and a radio wave reflecting layer. The radio wave absorbing layer absorbs radio waves. The radio wave absorbing layer is made of, for example, a radio wave absorbing sheet. The radio wave absorbing sheet is a sheet made of a material, for example, rubber mixed with magnetic metal powder. The radio wave reflecting layer reflects radio waves. The radio wave reflecting layer is made of, for example, metal. In the present disclosure, a structure in which a radio wave absorbing layer is stacked on the inner surface (or upper surface) of the housing section 100 and a radio wave reflecting layer is stacked on the outer surface (or lower surface) is also considered to be a type of radio wave absorbing layer.

[0027] The sides of the housing 100 are composed of a front portion 121, a left side portion 122, a back portion 123, and a right side portion 124. The front portion 121 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The front portion 121 stands perpendicular to the bottom portion 120 from the front edge of the bottom portion 120. The front portion 121 includes a flat plate 131 and a radio wave shielding layer 141. The radio wave shielding layer 141 covers, for example, the inner surface of the flat plate 131. However, the front portion 121 does not necessarily have to include the radio wave shielding layer 141. However, it is desirable for the front portion 121 to include the radio wave shielding layer 141, for example, to suppress radio waves from entering the housing 100 from the outside. The top end of the front portion 121 is lower than the top ends of the left side portion 122, the back portion 123, and the right side portion 124.

[0028] One end and the other end of the left side surface portion 122 are fixed to one end of the front surface portion 121 and one end of the back surface portion 123, respectively. The left side surface portion 122 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The left side surface portion 122 includes a flat plate 132 and an electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 142. The electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 142 covers, for example, the inner surface of the flat plate 132. The left side surface portion 122 stands perpendicular to the bottom surface portion 120 from the left edge of the bottom surface portion 120. The upper end of the left side surface portion 122 is higher than the upper end of the front surface portion 121.

[0029] The rear portion 123 faces the front portion 121. One end and the other end of the rear portion 123 are fixed to the other end of the left side portion 122 and one end of the right side portion 124, respectively. The rear portion 123 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The rear portion 123 includes a flat plate 133 and an electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 143. The electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 143 covers, for example, the inner surface of the flat plate 133. The rear portion 123 stands perpendicular to the bottom portion 120 from the edge of the rear side of the bottom portion 120. The upper end of the rear portion 123 is higher than the upper end of the front portion 121.

[0030] The right side surface portion 124 faces the left side surface portion 122. One end and the other end of the right side surface portion 124 are fixed to the other end of the back surface portion 123 and the other end of the front surface portion 121, respectively. The right side surface portion 124 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The right side surface portion 124 includes a flat plate 134 and a radio wave absorbing layer 144. The radio wave absorbing layer 144 covers, for example, the inner surface of the flat plate 134. The right side surface portion 124 stands perpendicular to the bottom surface portion 120 from the right edge of the bottom surface portion 120. The upper end of the right side surface portion 124 is higher than the upper end of the front surface portion 121.

[0031] The lower end of front portion 121, the lower end of left side surface portion 122, the lower end of back portion 123, and the lower end of right side surface portion 124 are each fixed to each edge of bottom surface portion 120. Bottom surface portion 120, front surface portion 121, left side surface portion 122, back surface portion 123, and right side surface portion 124 form storage portion 100 that opens upward. This opening is opening 110 described above.

[0032] The bottom antenna 160 is an antenna installed on the top surface of the bottom portion 120. The bottom antenna 160 radiates radio waves upward for communicating with the dual RF tag 10 and receives response radio waves transmitted from the dual RF tag 10. The bottom antenna 160 is, for example, a planar antenna or a sheet antenna. The bottom antenna 160 radiates, for example, circularly polarized radio waves, or radiates radio waves while switching between horizontally polarized waves and vertically polarized waves.

[0033] The mounting plate 150 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The mounting plate 150 is located above the bottom surface portion 120. The mounting plate 150 is fixed parallel to the bottom surface portion 120, at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface portion 120, for example, to the inner surfaces of the front surface portion 121, the left side surface portion 122, the rear surface portion 123, and the right side surface portion 124. The mounting plate 150 is transparent to radio waves. The front accommodation limiting plate 151 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The front accommodation limiting plate 151 is spaced a predetermined distance from the front surface portion 121 and stands vertically from the top surface of the mounting plate 150 between the front surface portion 121 and the rear surface portion 123. The front accommodation limiting plate 151 is transparent to radio waves.

[0034] The front guide portion 153 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate. The lower end of the front guide portion 153 is fixed to the upper end of the front accommodation limiting plate 151. The front guide portion 153 extends diagonally upward, and its upper end is fixed to the upper end of the front portion 121. One end and the other end of the front guide portion 153 are fixed to the inner surface of the left side surface portion 122 and the inner surface of the right side surface portion 124, respectively. The front guide portion 153 allows radio waves to pass through.

[0035] The space above the loading plate 150, surrounded by the front storage limiting plate 151, the left side surface 122, the back surface 123, and the right side surface 124, is the storage space. The storage space is a space that can store some or all of an item and / or a shopping basket. The item or shopping basket is placed on the loading plate 150. The loading plate 150 divides the interior of the storage section 100 into the space between the bottom surface 120 and the loading plate 150, and the space above the loading plate 150. Here, no item or shopping basket is stored in the space between the bottom surface 120 and the loading plate 150. This space is a space where radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna 160 propagate while spreading. The space above the loading plate 150 is a storage space that can store an item or a shopping basket.

[0036] The front storage limiting plate 151 divides the interior of the storage unit 100 into a space between the front portion 121 and the front storage limiting plate 151, and a space between the front storage limiting plate 151 and the rear portion 123. Here, no items or shopping baskets are stored in the space between the front portion 121 and the front storage limiting plate 151. This space is an attenuation space where radio waves radiated from the bottom antenna 160 propagate while attenuating. The space between the front storage limiting plate 151 and the rear portion 123 is the storage space. The bottom antenna 160 is installed on the top surface of the bottom portion 120 in a position where it radiates radio waves with a high intensity toward the storage space and radiates radio waves with a lower intensity than the radio waves radiated toward the storage space toward the attenuation space.

[0037] The control unit 200 has a transmitting / receiving unit 211, an acquiring unit 212, and an I / F (interface) 213. The transmitting / receiving unit 211 causes the bottom antenna 160 to emit circularly polarized radio waves, or when linearly polarized waves are used, causes the bottom antenna 160 to emit radio waves while switching between horizontally polarized waves and vertically polarized waves. When the bottom antenna 160 receives a response radio wave, the transmitting / receiving unit 211 acquires information including the tag ID from the response radio wave.

[0038] The RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 obtain the power necessary to operate by receiving radio waves transmitted from the bottom antenna 160. If the radio waves received by the RF tags 11 and 15 are weaker than a predetermined strength, the RF tags 11 and 15 do not operate and do not transmit response radio waves.

[0039] For example, if the front part 121 includes the radio wave shielding layer 141, waves diffracted at the upper end of the front part 121 leak to the outside of the accommodating part 100. However, radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna 160 are attenuated while propagating through the attenuation space between the front part 121 and the front accommodation limiting plate 151. The transceiver 211 causes the bottom antenna 160 to radiate radio waves toward the attenuation space, at an intensity that will prevent the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 located outside the accommodating part 100 from operating due to the radio waves diffracted at the upper end of the front part 121 and leaking to the outside of the accommodating part 100 through the opening 110.

[0040] Since the strength of the radio waves radiated from the bottom antenna 160 into the storage space between the front storage limiting plate 151 and the rear part 123 is high, there is little chance of failing to read information from the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 in the storage space. On the other hand, the strength of the radio waves radiated from the bottom antenna 160 into the attenuation space between the front part 121 and the front storage limiting plate 151 is low. If the dual RF tag 10 were in the attenuation space, there is a possibility that information would not be read from the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10. However, the dual RF tag 10 is never placed in the attenuation space.

[0041] Furthermore, the top ends of the left side surface portion 122, the back surface portion 123, and the right side surface portion 124 are higher than the top end of the front surface portion 121. The radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna 160 are attenuated by the time they reach the top ends of the left side surface portion 122, the back surface portion 123, and the right side surface portion 124. The attenuated radio waves are diffracted at these top ends (i.e., the periphery of the opening 110), pass over these top ends, and leak from the opening 110 to the outside of the accommodating portion 100. The transceiver unit 211 causes the bottom antenna 160 to radiate radio waves of an intensity that will not cause the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 located outside the accommodating portion 100 to operate due to the radio waves diffracted at these top ends and leaking from the opening 110 to the outside of the accommodating portion 100.

[0042] Furthermore, radio waves emitted from the bottom antenna 160 may be reflected by the ceiling and reach the dual RF tag 10 outside the storage unit 100. However, the radio waves are attenuated before they reach the ceiling, and the reflected waves are further attenuated before they reach the dual RF tag 10 outside the storage unit 100. The transmitter / receiver 211 causes the bottom antenna 160 to emit radio waves of an intensity that will prevent the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 outside the storage unit 100 from operating due to the radio waves reflected by the ceiling.

[0043] If the RF tags 11 and 15 are not operating, they will not transmit response radio waves, and therefore the RF tag reader 1 will not acquire information from the RF tags 11 and 15 contained in the duplicated RF tag 10 located outside the storage unit 100. Therefore, when the bottom antenna 160 receives response radio waves from the RF tags 11 and 15, the RF tag reader 1 can acquire only the information read from the RF tags 11 and 15 contained in the duplicated RF tag 10 located inside the storage unit 100.

[0044] The acquisition unit 212 acquires information about the RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 contained in the response radio wave received by the bottom antenna 160. The I / F 213 transmits the information about the RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 acquired by the acquisition unit 212 to an external device (such as an accounting device) and receives operation instructions for the RF tag reading device 1 from the external device.

[0045] If the RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 have a function for transmitting a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), the transmitting / receiving unit 211 may acquire information including the RSSI and tag ID from the response radio wave when the bottom antenna 160 receives the response radio wave. Here, the RSSI indicates the strength of the radio wave emitted from the bottom antenna 160 and received by the RF tag 11 or the RF tag 15. Even if the transmitting / receiving unit 211 causes the bottom antenna 160 to emit radio waves of an intensity at which the RF tags 11 and 15 included in the dual RF tag 10 located outside the accommodating unit 100 can operate, the acquiring unit 212 can determine whether the dual RF tag 10 including the RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 from which the RSSI was acquired is located inside or outside the accommodating unit 100, based on the RSSI acquired from the response radio wave received by the bottom antenna 160.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows an example in which a duplicated RF tag 10 is accommodated in the accommodation unit 100 of the RF tag reader 1 of Fig. 2. The duplicated RF tag 10 is placed on the mounting plate 150 so that the longitudinal direction of the RF tag 11 is parallel to the surface of the bottom antenna 160. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the RF tag 15 is perpendicular to the surface of the bottom antenna 160. In this case, the acquisition unit 212 cannot acquire information from the RF tag 15, but can acquire information from the RF tag 11.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a dual RF tag 20, which is a different configuration from the dual RF tag 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7(A) is a plan view of the dual RF tag 20. FIG. 7(B) is a front view of the dual RF tag 20. The dual RF tag 20 has dual antennas 22 and 26, and an IC chip 23. The main surfaces of the antennas 22 and 26 are on the same plane. As can be seen from FIG. 7(B), the dual RF tag 20 is thin. The dual RF tag 20 is configured, for example, by sandwiching the antennas 22 and 26, and the IC chip 23 between thin, hard papers (e.g., cardboard) on the front and back sides. These thin, hard papers allow radio waves to pass through. The IC chip 23 is attached to the center of the antenna 22. The IC chip 23 stores information including the tag ID.

[0048] The antenna 22 and the antenna 26 do not overlap, and are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are perpendicular to each other. The RF tag 11 and the RF tag 15 are arranged, for example, in an L shape. The center of the antenna 26 is connected to the IC chip 23 by a predetermined wiring 28. The dual RF tag 20 communicates with an RFID reader / writer or the like using radio waves in the UHF band with a frequency of 860 to 960 MHz, for example.

[0049] When antenna 26 receives radio waves emitted by an antenna such as an RFID reader / writer, electric power is generated. A portion of this electric power is supplied to IC chip 23 via wiring 28. That is, when antenna 22 and / or antenna 26 receive radio waves emitted by an antenna such as an RFID reader / writer, electric power is generated. IC chip 23 operates using this electric power. Information stored in IC chip 23 is transmitted to antenna 26 via wiring 28. Antenna 26 transmits a response radio wave containing the information. That is, antenna 22 and antenna 26 transmit a response radio wave containing the information stored in IC chip 23. Antenna 22 is an example of a first antenna in the present disclosure, and antenna 26 is an example of a second antenna in the present disclosure.

[0050] Although the above-described embodiment shows an example in which the dual RF tag of the present disclosure is used in an RF tag reader, the dual RF tag of the present disclosure can be used for other purposes as well. For example, the dual RF tag of the present disclosure can be used in a location information acquisition system in which an RFID reader / writer antenna is installed on the ceiling or the like of each room in a building having multiple rooms. When each person in the building wears the dual RF tag of the present disclosure, the location information acquisition system can acquire the location information of each person.

[0051] Furthermore, in the example of the RF tag reading device described above, the bottom antenna 160 emits circularly polarized radio waves or emits radio waves while switching between horizontally and vertically polarized waves, but the dual RF tag of the present disclosure can of course be used in an RFID reader / writer or the like that has an antenna that emits linearly polarized radio waves (i.e., horizontally polarized radio waves or vertically polarized radio waves).

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the RF tags 11 and 15 are arranged in an L-shape so as not to overlap, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the RF tags 11 and 15 do not overlap and their longitudinal directions are perpendicular to each other. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, the antennas 22 and 26 are arranged in an L-shape so as not to overlap, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the antennas 22 and 26 do not overlap and their longitudinal directions are perpendicular to each other.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example of a dual RF tag has been shown in which two RF tags are sandwiched between thin, hard paper (for example, cardboard) from the front and back sides, but this is not limiting, and the configuration may also be such that, for example, two RF tags are attached to one side of a thin, flat plastic plate, or similarly, two antennas are attached to one side of a thin, flat plastic plate.

[0054] As described above, according to the present invention, when a radio wave is received, the possibility of transmitting information in response to the radio wave can be increased.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and combinations that may be required due to design or manufacturing convenience or other factors are included within the scope of the invention described in the claims and the invention corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...RF tag reader, 10, 20...dual RF tag, 11, 15...RF tag, 12, 16, 22, 26...antenna, 13, 17, 23...IC chip, 28...wiring, 100...accommodation section, 110...opening, 120...bottom section, 121...front section, 122...left side section, 123...back section, 124...right side section, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134...flat plate, 140, 141...radio wave shielding layer, 142, 143, 144...radio wave absorbing layer, 150...mounting plate, 151...front accommodation limiting plate, 153...front guide section, 160...bottom antenna, 200...control section, 211...transmitting / receiving section, 212...acquisition section, 213...I / F (interface)

Claims

1. a first passive RF tag; a passive second RF tag whose main surface is in the same plane as the main surface of the first RF tag, does not overlap the first RF tag, and whose longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first RF tag; A dual RF tag comprising:

2. 2. The dual RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the first RF tag and the second RF tag are arranged in an L-shape.

3. a first antenna that transmits a response radio wave when receiving the radio wave; a second antenna having a main surface in the same plane as the main surface of the first antenna, not overlapping with the first antenna, and a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first antenna, which transmits a response radio wave when receiving a radio wave; an IC chip attached to a central portion of the first antenna, connected to a central portion of the second antenna by a wire, storing information, operating on power generated by radio waves received by the first antenna and / or the second antenna, and causing the first antenna and / or the second antenna to transmit the response radio waves containing the information; A dual RF tag comprising:

4. 4. The dual RF tag according to claim 3, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged in an L-shape.

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