JPH05170331A - Electronic tag - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electronic tag which can easily and certainly input data at a distributing agency and can process all the delivery process from delivery arrangement to delivery with a computer. CONSTITUTION:A home delivery slip memorizing symbolized delivery data such as cargo destination and communicating the delivery data with external equipment by using electric waves is provided with a circuit 18 for codes provided corresponding to the symbols referring to delivery data and a cut-off section 26 for cutting off the conduction of a part of the circuit 18 for codes. Based on the signal state of the circuit 18 for codes, which is changed by the cut-off section 26, the contents of the delivery data are judged by a CPU 22 and memorized on an EEPROM.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic tag, which is used, for example, in a delivery system for automatic sorting by transmitting and receiving radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in courier services, packages are collected and delivered based on the contents of a delivery slip. That is, the client of the package fills in the delivery slip, the sender, etc. on the delivery slip, and the agency stores the code, and attaches the delivery slip with this code to the package. Then, the parcel collected from the agency is sent to the distribution center, and the contents of the delivery slip are input to a computer with a keyboard or the like for processing.

Separately from this, as an electronic tag system using radio waves, data such as a destination is previously input to the electronic tag using a dedicated writing device, and the data stored in the electronic tag at the distribution center. Automatically read,
A technique of inputting to a computer has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-211821).

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional one, there is a problem that a dedicated writing device must be arranged in each agency in order to digitize the delivery slip as described above. Moreover, the operation of the device is difficult,
In some cases, there was a risk of entering the data incorrectly. That is, it is not always easy for the agent at the agency to definitely use the electronic delivery slip (electronic tag) if the agent is not familiar with a complicated device such as a writing device. ..

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic tag which enables easy and reliable input of delivery data even at an agency. It is a thing.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the delivery data such as the delivery destination of the parcel is encoded and stored, and
In an electronic tag for data communication of the delivery data with the outside by using radio waves, an electric circuit provided corresponding to the code indicating the delivery data, and a continuity changing unit for respectively changing a conduction state of the electric circuit, The electronic tag is characterized by comprising: data storage means for storing the contents of the delivery data based on the signal state of each electric circuit changed by the conduction changing means.

[0007]

With the above structure, when the conduction state of each electric circuit corresponding to a specific code is changed by the conduction changing means among the plurality of electric circuits formed corresponding to the code indicating the delivery data, The data storage means stores the contents of the delivery data in the memory or the like of the electronic tag based on the changed signal state of the electric circuit.

Therefore, the delivery data stored in the electronic tag can be determined by changing the conduction state of the specific electric circuit.

[0009]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a courier slip used in a delivery system such as courier service.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a voucher for courier service, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its electrical configuration. The courier slip according to the present embodiment is an electronic tag that stores delivery data such as the delivery destination and is attached to the package, and responds with the delivery data and the like stored inside by a radio signal from the interrogator during sorting. To do.

As shown in FIG. 1, a courier slip 1 has a handwritten slip paper 2, a copy paper 3 for copying, and an electronic slip sheet (electronic sheet) 4, which are connected at their ends to form an integrated body. Further, perforations 6 are formed so that they can be separated from each other.

Then, on the front surface of the slip paper 2, copy paper 3 and electronic sheet 4, a handwritten entry space 10 for describing delivery data of a delivery destination, a client, etc., and a code space 11 for encoding the delivery data. Is provided and the code column 1
1 is provided with ten punch holes 12 in the lateral direction corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, and the punch holes 12 are arranged in four rows.

Among them, in the electronic sheet 4, as shown in FIG. 2, a plate-shaped antenna 14, modulation and demodulation circuits 15, 1 are provided on the surface of a flexible printed circuit board 13.
6, a data processing unit 17 including an IC chip, a code circuit 18 in which circuits corresponding to numbers are formed, a paper battery (power source) 19, and the like are arranged, and the response circuit 2
0 is formed.

It should be noted that the antenna 14 is arranged so as to overlap with the handwriting entry field 10 so as not to disturb the handwriting, while the code circuit 18 allows the delivery data to be encoded. , And is arranged so as to overlap the code column 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the code circuit 18 has a terminal 22 at the upper portion of the CPU 22 in the data processing section 17.
In a, four horizontal conductor patterns 23 weighted as 1, 2, 4, 8 are formed, and ten vertical conductor patterns 24 are formed so as to intersect with the four horizontal conductor patterns 23. And is connected to the lower terminal 22b of the CPU 22. And each vertical conductor pattern 24 is 0-9.
As indicated by the numeral, the horizontal conductor pattern 23 and the diode 25 are appropriately connected.

Each vertical conductive pattern 24 is formed with a cutoff portion 26 surrounded by a circular perforation corresponding to the punch hole 12 so as to cut off the conduction.
Therefore, for example, when a hole is formed in the blocking portion 26 corresponding to the number "0", the vertical conductive pattern 24 from the holed portion C is
Since electricity does not flow through the PU 22, it is possible to determine the number "0" corresponding to the vertical conductive pattern 24 through which no current flows.

Next, the entire electrical configuration of this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the response circuit 20, FIG.
Is a block diagram functionally showing it. In FIG. 4, the response circuit 20 is a circuit that is supplied with power from the power supply 19 and performs internal information processing based on a signal from the antenna 14 that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the modulation circuit 1
5, demodulation circuit 16, CPU 22, clock generator 30,
And an EEPROM 32 is built in. In addition, CP
U22, clock generator 30, and EEPROM 32
Corresponds to the data processing unit 17, and the EEPROM 32 stores the received data in addition to the program executed by the CPU 22.

Therefore, when the response circuit 20 is functionally expressed, as shown in FIG.
The transmission unit 44, the reception unit 46 and the like are included. A conductor pattern 48, which will be described later, is formed in the arithmetic unit 40 so as to cross the perforations 6.

The response circuit 20 operates as follows. The demodulation circuit 16 extracts an inquiry signal from the electromagnetic wave received by the antenna 14, and outputs this inquiry signal to the CPU 22. Then, if the content of the inquiry signal is a request command for delivery data such as a delivery destination, the CPU 22 causes the EEPROM
Execute the program previously stored in 32 to
The data stored in the PROM 32 is read out, and a signal corresponding to the data is output to the modulation circuit 15. This modulation circuit 15
The conduction / non-conduction of the diode 15a is changed by the signal output from the CPU 22, so that the interrogator 49 (FIG. 9) is changed by changing the impedance in this way.
The electromagnetic wave from is modulated and data is transmitted from the antenna 14.

Next, regarding the electric operation when the electronic sheet 4 is separated and used, the block diagram of FIG. 6 and FIG.
It will be described in detail based on the timing chart of FIG. As is well known, there is a CPU 22 that can switch between a standby mode, which is an operation standby state, and an operation mode. In this embodiment, the courier slip 1 is used by using such a CPU 22. It keeps the circuit from operating until the time.

In FIG. 6, a conductive pattern 48 whose one end is connected to a ground terminal is connected to an input port P ₀₁ for switching the mode of the CPU 22. The conductive pattern 48 is connected to the power source 19 via the resistor 50. When the electronic sheet 4 is cut off at the perforations 6, the conductive pattern 48 is cut and the mode of the CPU 22 is switched.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the power supply 19 is attached at the time of manufacturing, first, the power a is supplied to the power supply 1.
9 to the CPU 22, the clock generator 30, and the voltage detection circuit 52, so that the voltage detection circuit 52 outputs C
The level of the signal c supplied to the reset terminal RST of the PU 22 changes. Therefore, the CPU 22 performs the initialization operation based on the clock signal e from the clock generator 30 in response to the change in the level of the signal c. At this time, since the signal d of the input port P ₀₁ is at low level, the standby state is immediately entered.

Thereafter, when the electronic sheet 4 is cut off when the courier slip 1 is used, the signal d of the input port P ₀₁ of the CPU 22 changes to the high level.
2 is in the operating state. Therefore, from the initialization operation to the point of use (the period of I to II in the figure), the CPU 22 is in the standby state, the power consumption is extremely low, and the life of the home delivery slip 1 is long.

Then, the electronic sheet 4 is cut off and the CP
When U22 is in the operating state, the above-mentioned code circuit 18
The CPU 22 judges the code based on the signal from
A process of storing the code in the EEPROM 32 is performed.

Next, a method of using the courier slip 1 having the electronic sheet 4 that operates in this manner will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, first, the client, the addressee, etc. are handwritten in the handwriting entry field 10 (step 1
00), encode the entered contents (step 20)
0). Then, the punch hole 12 corresponding to the code is formed on the slip sheet 2, the copy sheet 3, and the electronic sheet 4.
Punch with the tip of a ball-point pen etc.
00). As a result, the code circuit 18 corresponding to the code indicating the delivery data is formed.

Therefore, when the electronic sheet 4 is separated (step 400), the CPU 22 is activated as described above, and a predetermined code is output to the CPU 22 by the conduction state of the code circuit 18 and stored in the EEPROM 32 ( Step 500). After that, this electronic sheet 4
Is attached to the package 60 (FIG. 9) and sent to the distribution center.

At the distribution center, as shown in FIG. 9, the package 60 is conveyed by the conveyor 61 of the sorting line, and the interrogators 49 installed at various points of the line are used by the response circuit 20 of the electronic sheet 4 attached to the package 60. Send a question signal to. Then, the delivery data such as the delivery destination is received from the response circuit 20 by the inquiry signal, and the delivery destination of the parcel 60 is contactlessly identified. Then, the sorting device 62 performs automatic sorting based on the area of the destination thus identified.

As described above, in this embodiment, the electronic sheet 4 is used.
Since the code circuit 18 is provided in and the punching hole 12 and the blocking section 26 are pulled out and opened, the code indicating the delivery data is stored in the EEPROM 32.
At the agency, without using a special writing device,
The delivery data can be stored in the electronic sheet 4 very easily.

Further, since the punched holes 12 that have been opened can be visually confirmed, there is a remarkable feature that the delivery data can be reliably input. Furthermore, if a circuit for correction and another set of punch holes are provided in advance, the work of correction is easy.

Next, a first modification of the code circuit 18 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, 0-9
When the cutoff portion 86e corresponding to the number of is punched according to the punch hole 79, the CPU 88 is activated at this timing and the corresponding numerical data is notified to the CPU 88. That is, when the cutoff portion 86e is punched, the connection line punched by the pull-up resistor 86f becomes high, and upon receipt of this high signal, the activation circuit 86g turns on the power of the CPU 88. At the same time, the encoder 86h performs binary conversion according to the high signal, and the terminal 88c of the CPU 88 is notified of the numerical data of 0 to 9 corresponding to the punched holes 79. In this case, the number of punch holes required on the code column 73 is 4 × 10 = 40 when the code is input as a 4-digit number.

With such a configuration, when punching the punch hole 79, not only the predetermined code can be input, but also the response circuit of the courier slip can be started. Therefore, before punching the punch hole 79. That is, when not in use, the battery with the built-in response circuit can reduce the power consumption of the battery by operating only the starter circuit 86g, and the storage in the electronic slip becomes useful.

Next, a second modification of the code circuit 18 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, in the second modification, the punch hole 79 is directly input as binary data, and the CPU 88 is punched by punching the punch hole 79.
Power is supplied to. That is, the pull-up resistor 86j is used to cut off the breaking unit 8 corresponding to "ON".
When 6e is punched according to the punch hole 79, the input of the starting circuit 86k becomes high, and the power of the CPU 88 is turned on. At the same time, the cutoff portion 86i corresponding to the punch hole 79 is punched according to the binary number corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9, and the numerical data is electrically stored.

By specifying the digit at the terminal 88d of the CPU 88, the data of each digit can be read from the terminal 88e with the same simplicity as reading from the ROM. In this case, the number of punch holes required on the code column 73 is 4 when the code is input as a 4-digit number.
Since x4 + 1 = 17 pieces are required, the number of punch holes can be reduced as compared with the first example.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it may be applied to a delivery system that collects the electronic sheet 4 at the end of the delivery of the home delivery slip 1 and manages the package 60 consistently from the collection to the end of the delivery.

Further, the response circuit 20 in the above embodiment has a data storage means (memory 32) and can store package information other than the delivery code. However, in the system where only the delivery information is required, the data storage means is not necessary, and when the delivery code is needed, the CPU may access the code circuit.

[0036]

As described above, in the present invention, the conduction change means and the data storage means can change the conduction state of a specific electric circuit to determine the delivery data stored in the electronic tag. There is an excellent effect that even a worker who is not familiar with the electronic tag can easily and reliably store the delivery data in the electronic tag.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a home delivery slip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an electrical configuration of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a code circuit.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a response circuit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram functionally showing a response circuit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the response circuit at the start of use.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the response circuit at the start of use.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for using a courier slip.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a work of sorting packages.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a first modification of the code circuit.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a second modification of the code circuit.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Delivery slip 4 Electronic slip sheet (electronic sheet) 12 Punch hole 14 Antenna 18 Code circuit 19 Paper battery (power source) 20 Response circuit 22 CPU 26 Breaking unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic luggage tag that encodes and stores delivery data such as a delivery destination of a package, and communicates the delivery data with the outside by using radio waves. An electric circuit, a conduction changing means for changing the conduction state of the electric circuit, and a data storage means for storing the contents of the delivery data based on the signal state of each electric circuit changed by the conduction changing means. An electronic tag that includes: