Reading apparatus and a reading method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reading apparatuses for registering commodities with wireless tags face challenges due to blocked radio waves from commodities or other items, leading to communication errors and incomplete registration.
Innovation Solution
A reading apparatus comprising a wireless tag reader and a processor that emits radio waves to detect and register commodity codes from tags placed in a predetermined area, with optional features like a sensor for detecting a person's presence and a scale for determining commodity placement, ensuring accurate registration within a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless tag reader emits radio waves only to the dedicated area, then the reading apparatus can focus on commodities in the shopping basket, but radio waves may be blocked by commodities or other items, leading to communication errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the radio wave emission from a two-dimensional dedicated area to a three-dimensional space that includes the scale and its periphery. This spatial expansion allows radio waves to reach wireless tags from multiple directions and positions, overcoming the blocking effect caused by commodity placement and orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The reading apparatus performs preliminary reading of wireless tags in the broader area including the scale periphery before the commodity is fully placed in the dedicated area. By detecting and registering commodity codes in advance, the system ensures accurate registration even when tags are temporarily blocked during the placement process.
2Measurement precision
If the reading apparatus waits for commodities to be placed in the dedicated area before reading, then registration can be confirmed, but communication errors occur due to blocked radio waves during placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of wireless tags in the broader area including the scale periphery before the commodity is fully placed in the dedicated area. This preliminary action allows the reading apparatus to detect and register commodity codes in advance, reducing the overall registration time while maintaining accuracy through subsequent confirmation.
Solution Approach 2:
The reading apparatus continuously emits radio waves and monitors for wireless tag responses in the broader area, rather than performing discrete read operations only after placement. This continuous monitoring ensures that tags are detected as soon as they enter the readable area, reducing registration time while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Reliability
If the reading apparatus reads wireless tags only when commodities are in the dedicated area, then registration can be confirmed, but tags may be blocked by commodities or other items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expands the reading area from the two-dimensional dedicated area to a three-dimensional space that includes the scale and its periphery. This spatial expansion provides multiple reading positions and angles, making it less likely that commodities will block all radio wave paths to the wireless tags.
Solution Approach 2:
The reading apparatus performs preliminary reading of wireless tags in the broader area before the commodity is fully placed in the dedicated area. This preliminary reading occurs when tags are more accessible and less likely to be blocked, ensuring that commodity codes are detected before potential blocking occurs during final placement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the accuracy and reliability of commodity registration by emitting radio waves to cover a broader area, including the scale and its periphery, allowing for successful reading of tags even when commodities are not directly aligned, thereby reducing communication errors and improving the checkout process.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless tag reader configured to emit a radio wave and read information in a radio wave returned from a wireless tag
Data Source
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AI summary
A reading apparatus for reading a wireless tag attached to a commodity includes a wireless tag reader configured to emit a radio wave and read information in a radio wave returned from a wireless tag, and a processor configured to control the wireless tag reader to emit the radio wave, upon detection of radio waves returned from one or more wireless tags, determine one or more commodity codes based on information contained in the radio waves, and upon detection of at least one commodity placed in a predetermined area, register the one or more commodity codes determined within a predetermined time prior to the placement of said at least one commodity in the predetermined area.