JP2606183B2 - Information storage medium and its issuing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information storage medium and an issuing machine for the same. For example, in a delivery system such as a home delivery service, an information storage medium for automatically sorting packages by transmitting and receiving radio waves. It is used for a certain electronic tag and an issuing machine that issues the electronic tag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a delivery system such as a courier service, when a customer (client) requests a delivery of a package to a store or the like designated at a reception center (for example, a courier service agency), the agency uses this service. , Required items (delivery destination, address of client, etc.) are entered in predetermined fields of the delivery slip (tag), and a sorting number designated for each area of the destination home is written in this delivery slip. Attach the slip to the package requested for delivery. The luggage to which the delivery slip is attached is transported to a distribution center by a pickup truck, and a clerk at the distribution center visually sorts the sorting number according to the area of the destination home, and moves to the destination home by the delivery vehicle. Will be delivered.

[0003] In such a delivery system, there is a system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-203221 in order to automate the work of sorting packages performed at a delivery center. In this system, an electronic circuit is provided in a part of a delivery slip, and data such as a destination is written and stored in an electronic circuit portion of the delivery slip (electronic tag) by a dedicated writing device, and transmitted and received by a delivery center by transmitting and receiving radio waves. The data of the destination and the like stored in the electronic circuit section are read out to carry out the sorting work of the package. The writing device that writes data such as the destination to the electronic tag is a handy data input device including a display, a barcode reader, and a keyboard, and operates the barcode reader or the keyboard.
Data such as the destination is written on the electronic tag.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, since a battery is built in as a power source for driving the electronic circuit portion of the electronic tag, the destination data is not used when the tag is not used, that is, after the electronic tag is manufactured. Even when it is stored without being written, the battery continues to be consumed, and when trying to use it, the battery's storage capacity has already been consumed and it can no longer be used as an electronic tag Problem. In particular, in a delivery system such as a courier service, if an electronic tag is to be used in the same way as a conventional tag made of paper pieces, it may actually be used several months to one year or more after production. ,
Thus, there is a problem that it is inconvenient if long-term storage cannot be performed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an information storage medium capable of storing for a long period of time while minimizing the power consumption of a battery built in a response circuit even in a storage state. An object of the present invention is to provide an information storage medium issuing machine that issues an information storage medium that can be stored for a long period of time.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the present invention, a battery for supplying power is provided, and identification information stored in advance is stored in response to an interrogation radio wave from an interrogator. In a sheet-shaped information storage medium having a response circuit for returning a response radio wave on a substrate , the response circuit switches a power supply state from the battery to an energized state and a substantially cut-off state. When a control unit for controlling the switching operation of the switching means, connected to the control unit, and a wired signal transmission lines on the substrate, wherein, the connection state of the signal transmission line Has a function of detecting the connection state of the signal transmission line.
When detecting that the state is not the disconnected state, the switching means is controlled to a substantially cut-off state, and the signal transmission line is disconnected .
When detecting that the connection state is a disconnected state
Is for controlling the switching means to an energized state ,
And the substrate can be cut with the signal transmission line.
An information storage medium characterized by being made of a certain thin sheet material is employed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery for supplying power, and the power supply from the battery is started by cutting off a predetermined signal transmission line to start writing identification information. An issuer that issues an information storage medium having a response circuit, wherein the issuer disconnects the predetermined signal transmission line of the response circuit included in the information storage medium placed at a predetermined position. Writing means for writing the identification information wirelessly by radio waves to the response circuit after the disconnection operation by the disconnection means is completed, employing an information storage medium issuing machine. It is.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the switching means switches the state of power supply from the battery between the energized state and the substantially cut-off state, and the control means determines whether the signal transmission line has been connected or disconnected. The switching operation of the switching means is controlled accordingly.

Therefore, in the information recording medium, the power supply from the battery is substantially cut off unless the signal transmission line connected to the control means is cut off. In, the power consumption of the battery can be reduced. And the board is
Thin sheet-like material that can be cut with signal transmission lines
Consists of Thus, for example, punching with a punch hole
Or signal cut by cut-off line
The transmission line can be cut. In other words, punch holes and cutouts
Signal transmission only by a simple cutting process such as
The transmission line can be cut off. Therefore, the signal transmission line
There is no need to provide special switches and other parts in the middle of the process.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an information storage medium having a response circuit which starts a power supply from a battery by cutting a predetermined signal transmission line to be in a writing start state of identification information is issued. An issuing machine, the disconnecting means included in the issuing machine disconnects a predetermined signal transmission line of a response circuit included in the information storage medium placed at a predetermined position, and the writing means completes the cutting operation by the cutting means. Later, the identification information is written into the response circuit.

Therefore, the issuing device of the information recording medium disconnects the predetermined signal transmission line of the information recording medium by the disconnecting means at the time of issuance, and responds to the response circuit in which the writing of the identification information is started. Since the identification information is written by the writing means, it is suitable for issuing an information recording medium capable of reducing the power consumption of the battery before issuance.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to an electronic tag and its issuing machine in a home delivery system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an information storage medium according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a courier slip 1, which is an information storage medium (electronic tag), is composed of a plurality of various slips, and includes a conventional delivery slip function and an electronic tag function in one slip. . The home delivery slip 1 mainly includes a handwriting entry field 2, a response circuit 3, and a code display unit 4. The handwriting entry field 2 is a portion where information such as a destination and a shipping source is entered by handwriting by a customer (client), and a store arrival code (sorting code) and a fee are entered by handwriting at a courier service agency. is there.

The response circuit 3 is basically composed of an antenna 32 for exchanging data, an IC 31 for controlling the circuit and storing delivery data, and a battery (power supply) 33 for supplying power to the IC 31. I have. This IC
The input of data to 31 is performed by a non-contact communication method using radio waves, for example, using an issuer described later.

The stored data is composed of fixed data and variable data, and the fixed data is a slip number described on the slip (that is, a symbol indicating the identification code of the package).
However, as the variable data, a sorting code, a telephone number, and the like are input at the time of package transfer.

The code display section 4 is for reading the slip number optically or magnetically, and is a well-known OCR.
A number, code, or the like corresponding to the slip number is preliminarily entered at the time of manufacturing the slip, and is formed of one or a combination of two or three of the character 41, the MICR character 42, and the bar code 43.

Next, the configuration of the response circuit 3 built in the home delivery slip 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a specific configuration of the response circuit 3. In FIG. 2, a response circuit 3 includes an IC chip 31 for performing internal signal processing, an antenna 32 for receiving an interrogation radio wave S1 and transmitting a response radio wave S2, a built-in battery 33 for driving the IC chip 31, and a response before starting use. It comprises an operation start line 34 (corresponding to a signal transmission line) for stopping the operation of the circuit 3 and an operation end line 35 for ending the operation of the response circuit 3 when it is used. A punch hole 36 is provided on the operation start line 34, and a cutout line 37 is provided on the operation end line 35. The substrate material of the response circuit 3 is
For example, a punch hole 36 formed in the response circuit 3 is formed by using a material such as polyester, polyimide, or paper.
Are formed so that a punching device provided in an issuing machine described later can easily punch.

The IC chip 31 has a detector 3 for extracting information included in the interrogation radio wave S1 received by the antenna 32.
1a, a level comparator 31b for determining the reception of the interrogation radio wave based on the signal level from the detector 31a and supplying power to each circuit, and a memory 31c for storing luggage information and the like.
A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 31d for performing a transmission operation based on the package information stored in the memory 31c when power is supplied from the level comparator 31b;
A clock generator 31e for generating a clock signal for operating the U31d, a modulator 31f for modulating the interrogation radio wave S1 based on an output signal from the CPU 31d and transmitting a response radio wave S2 from the antenna 32, and a starting circuit 31g;
And a discharge circuit 31h. The starting circuit 31g mainly includes a transistor Tr corresponding to switching means and an inverter INV corresponding to control means.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
In FIG. 2, before the response circuit 3 is used, that is, when the home delivery slip is in the storage state, the operation start line 34 is in the connected state, so that the input to the inverter INV becomes low level, and the transistor Tr is turned on. It is in the cutoff state.

When the response circuit 3 is used, first, a punch hole 36 of the response circuit 3 is punched by a punching device provided in an issuing machine described later. Then, since the operation start line 34 is disconnected, the input to the inverter INV becomes high level, the transistor Tr is turned on, and the response circuit 3 starts its operation. Since the current consumption of the response circuit 3 before the punched holes 36 are punched is about 0.1 μA, for example, even if the home delivery slip 1 is kept in a storage state for one year, a battery of only 0.9 mAh in one year is required. It only consumes capacity and has a circuit configuration that minimizes battery consumption during storage.

When the luggage information is written into the response circuit 3 by the issuing machine after the response circuit 3 operates, an interrogation signal S1 from the issuing machine (a write command and luggage information are carried in the first transmission signal). Is received by the antenna 32,
The received signal causes the level comparator 31b to operate the CPU 31d.
Then, power supply to the clock generator 31e is started. Then, the CPU 31d determines the writing of the package information by receiving the write command, and stores the package information in the memory 31c.
To write to The memory 31c is operable immediately before the writing operation, and stores and holds the baggage information with a battery backup.

When the interrogation radio wave S1 is received again by the antenna 32 after the package information is written in the memory 31c, the level comparator 31b uses the received signal to cause the
Power supply to 1d and the clock generator 31e is started. Then, the CPU 31d modulates the interrogation radio wave 31 with the parcel information stored in the memory 31c, and causes the antenna 32 to transmit the interrogation radio wave 31 as a response radio wave S2 having the parcel information. At this time, it is better to use two stages for transmission of one bit, such as Manchester or F2F code, in order to reduce errors in information transmission of the response radio wave S2.

Then, when the use of the courier slip 1 is completed, radio interference and malfunction (for example, when the box to which the used courier slip is pasted is to be used again, a new courier slip is automatically sorted. In addition, the response radio wave is also transmitted from the used courier slip, and a malfunction occurs at the time of automatic sorting, so that the cutoff line 37 is cut off and the operation end line 35 of the response circuit 3 is cut off. Then, the discharge circuit 31h operates to discharge the electric power remaining in the internal battery 33, and the home delivery slip 1 becomes unusable.

Next, a detailed configuration of the above-described issuing machine will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of the issuing machine of the home delivery slip 1. In FIG. 3, the issuing machine 5 includes a setting slit 57 for inserting the courier slip 1, a punching device (corresponding to a cutting means) 51 for punching a punch hole 36 of the response circuit 3 provided in the courier slip 1, A bar code reader 52 for reading a bar code 43 corresponding to a slip number, which has been previously written on the courier slip 1, a keyboard 53 for inputting luggage information, and a writer (writing means) for writing necessary information to the response circuit 3. 54), a display 55 for displaying writing information, a computer 56 for performing information processing and controlling each section, and a printer 58 for printing necessary information at a predetermined position on the courier slip 1. I have.

Here, a slip issuing procedure in the home delivery service delivery system will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer 56 provided in the issuing machine 5.

In FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 6, when a request for delivery of a package is sent from a client to a courier service agent, first, the requester inputs a package delivery destination, Required items such as numbers are entered. Subsequently, a courier agent confirms the entry, and then uses the keyboard 53 to input the destination telephone number, delivery fee, package type, and the like to the issuing machine 5. The computer 56 which has detected the input of the telephone number (step 100) searches the destination sorting code from the input telephone number (step 110). Then, after the input is completed, the clerk sets the table (the side where the handwritten entry column 2 is provided) of the courier service slip 1 on the setting slit 57 of the issuing machine 5 so as to be in the foreground.

When it is detected that the courier service slip 1 has been set in the setting slit 57 (step 120), a reading instruction signal is output to the bar code reader 52 and printed on the code display section 4 of the courier service slip 1. Of the bar code 43 (step 130),
The ID number is detected and input. At this time, if the courier slip 1 is not set properly, the bar code 4
3 is not normally read, the reading state of the bar code 43 is determined (step 140). If the bar code 43 is not normal, a display instruction signal is output to the display 55 to display an error (step 150). The user is prompted to reset the flight slip 1.

If it is determined that the barcode 43 has been read normally, a punching instruction signal is output to the punching device 51 to punch out the punched hole 36 on the operation start line 34 of the response circuit 3 (step 160). Subsequently, a write instruction signal is output to the writer 54, and the ID number of the courier service slip 1,
Baggage information such as a sorting code, a delivery fee, and a baggage type is written into the response circuit 3 (step 170). Further, a print instruction signal is output to the printer 58 to print necessary items (step 180).

When a series of data input is completed,
The home delivery slip 1 is attached to the luggage requested by the client, a slip copy is given to the client, and necessary slip pieces are extracted and stored at the home delivery agency. In this case, the home delivery agent may store the data at the time of issuance in the internal or external memory of the issuing machine instead of storing the slip pieces. Further, by connecting the issuing machine to the computer of the distribution center (FIG. 5) online, the input data can be transmitted immediately to the distribution center, and the home delivery information can be managed throughout the year.

Next, a detailed configuration of the writer 54 constituting the issuing machine 5 will be described. FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a specific configuration of the writing unit 54. In FIG. 4, a writer 54 includes a CPU 54a for controlling each unit, and a CPU 54a.
A clock oscillator 54g that generates a clock signal for driving the clock signal 54a, a carrier oscillation circuit 54c that oscillates a carrier, a modulation circuit 54b that modulates the carrier of the carrier oscillation circuit 54c, Antenna 54e for receiving response radio wave S2, and circulator 5 for separating interrogation radio wave S1 and response radio wave S2
4d, and a demodulation circuit 54f for demodulating data carried on the received response signal S2.

The operation of the writer 54 having the above configuration will now be described. The CPU 54a, which has input the luggage information output from the computer 56, modulates the carrier wave from the carrier oscillation circuit 54c according to the luggage information. Modulation. The modulated signal is transmitted as an interrogation radio wave S1 (writing radio wave) from the antenna 54e via the circulator 54d to the response circuit 3 of the courier slip 1, and the response circuit 3 receives the interrogation radio wave S1 and receives the package information. Is stored in the memory 31c, and after the storage operation is completed, a confirmation signal for confirming the stored contents (the response radio wave S
2) to the writer 54.

The confirmation signal transmitted from the response circuit 3 is demodulated by the demodulator 54f via the antenna 54e and the circulator 54d, and output to the CPU 54a. C
The PU 54a detects the demodulated confirmation signal, outputs the detection result to the computer 56, and
Ends the write operation for.

The delivery system having the courier slip 1 and the issuing device 5 configured as described above is a system shown in FIG. 5 as a whole. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the overall flow of the delivery system in the present embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when a request for delivery of a luggage is sent from a client to a courier service agent, the requester first enters the luggage delivery address, telephone number, etc. The required items are filled in, and then the issuer 5
The home delivery slip 1 is activated, the package information is written and printed on the home delivery slip 1, and the package 14 requested to be delivered is
Is attached to the home delivery slip 1.

Baggage 1 on which this courier slip 1 is pasted
No. 4 is carried to the distribution center H by the delivery company, and the sorting operation is automatically performed. That is, in the delivery center H, the luggage 14 is placed on the belt conveyor 40, and an interrogator 30 (the basic circuit configuration is the same as the above-described writer 5) provided near the belt conveyor 40 transmits an interrogation signal. As a result, a response radio wave having parcel information such as a sorting code is returned from the courier slip 1 attached to the parcel 14, and the parcel 14 is received by receiving the response radio wave.
Is output to the computer 45.

The computer 45 controls the operation of the automatic sorter 47 based on the read baggage information, and
4 is distinguished for each destination area. This distinguished luggage 1
4 is sent to the distribution base in each district, from where it is delivered to the destination. In the process of delivering the package 14, necessary slip pieces are cut out. Since each slip piece has a bar code 43 or the like, the bar code 43 or the like is used.
The slip processing as normally performed can be performed. Also,
Instead of cutting out the slip pieces, it is also possible to read the baggage information with an interrogator (same configuration as the interrogator 30) and apply it to the slip processing.

As described above, the home delivery slip 1 in this embodiment operates (substantially) only after the punching holes 36 of the response circuit 3 are punched out by the punching device 51 provided in the issuing machine 5. Therefore, in the storage state, power consumption of the built-in battery 33 can be suppressed as much as possible, and long-term storage can be performed.

In the issuing machine 5 described above, a printer 58 for printing necessary information at a predetermined position on the courier slip 1 is provided.
The necessary information is displayed on the display 5.
5, the printer 58 may be omitted if it is displayed by handwriting and handwritten by a courier service representative.

Examples of the information storage medium other than the above-mentioned courier slip include a lift ticket in a ticket system for a ski lift and a ticket (coupon) in a ticket system for vehicles. The present invention can be applied as long as it has a response circuit of the above type and the power consumption in the storage state poses a problem.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the power consumption of the battery can be reduced in the information recording medium before the signal transmission line of the response circuit is disconnected. That is, there is an excellent effect that the power consumption of the battery in the storage state is reduced and the storage is possible for a long time. Moreover, disconnection of the signal transmission line is simple.
Pure cutting (eg, punched holes, cut lines)
Therefore, do not install special switches and other parts in the middle of the signal line.
You may not. As a result, the size of the information storage medium can be reduced.
Or when parts such as special switches are stored
There is no such a problem that it comes off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a home delivery slip 1 which is an information storage medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a specific configuration of a response circuit 3 configured in the home delivery slip 1;

FIG. 3 is an issuer 5 that is an information storage medium issuer of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a writer 54 configured in the issuing machine 5;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overall flow of the delivery system in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a computer 56 included in the issuing machine 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Courier slip 5 Issuer 31g Starter circuit 34 Operation start line 51 Punch unit 54 Writer

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet-like sheet having a battery for supplying power and having a response circuit on a substrate for responding to interrogation radio waves from an interrogator and returning pre-stored identification information as response radio waves. In the information storage medium, the response circuit includes: a switching unit that switches a power supply state from the battery to an energized state and a substantially cut-off state; a control unit that controls a switching operation of the switching unit; and a connection to the control unit. And a signal transmission line wired on the substrate , wherein the control means detects a connection state of the signal transmission line .
The connection state of the signal transmission line is disconnected.
When detecting that it is not in the state, the switching means is controlled to a substantially cut-off state, and the connection of the signal transmission line is controlled.
When detecting that the state is a disconnected state, the switching means is controlled to be in an energized state , and the substrate is cut along with the signal transmission line.
An information storage medium comprising a sheet-like material . 2. An information storage medium having a battery for supplying power, and having a response circuit which starts a power supply from the battery by cutting a predetermined signal transmission line to be in a writing start state of identification information. An issuing machine for issuing, the issuing machine comprises: cutting means for cutting a transmission line into the predetermined signal of the response circuit included in the information storage medium placed at a predetermined position; After completion of the writing, the writing of the identification information wirelessly by radio waves to the response circuit
Issuer information storage medium characterized by comprising a Comite stage, the. 3. The substrate is made of polyester, polyimide,
And at least one of paper and paper
The information storage medium according to claim 1, wherein: