RFID SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING CARRYING ROUTE AND UNLOADING SPOT OF OBJECT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, and, more particularly, to an RFID system for analyzing the carrying path and unloading location of objects, which allows objects to be unloaded at an unloading platform, at which RFID tags are installed at regular unloading locations, through the use of an object carrier equipped with an RFID reader and a mass measuring instrument, thus detecting a location at which objects have been unloaded on the basis of both the information of the unloading location of the objects, received from the RFID tags, and information about variation in the mass of loaded objects. Background Art

[2] Nowadays, with the development of communication technology, Radio Frequency

Identification (RFID) systems have been variously applied to fields of harbor facilities, medical facilities, national defense, and agriculture and fisheries around logistics and distribution fields.

[3] Technology for such an RFID system is a type of radio communication technology, and is a very useful technology in which an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip called an RFID tag is attached to an object, and a unique value recorded on the RFID tag is read using an RFID reader, thus detecting information about the object to which the RFID tag is attached, and, in particular, identifying the location or movement of an object in logistics and distribution fields.

[4] Further, such an RFID system technology has been highlighted because it does not need a specific mark and can solve the problem of the recognition rate decreasing due to the damage of a magnetic strip or a barcode with the passage of time, compared to a conventional recognition technology using the magnetic strip, the barcode or the like.

[5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional RFID system.

[6] Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional RFID system is configured such that a plurality of RFID readers 10 is installed in predetermined different places, and the locations of the RFID readers 10 are registered in a management server 40.

[7] Next, when the location of any object 30 to which an RFID tag 20 is attached is being moved between places at which the RFID readers 10 are installed, the RFID readers 10 detect the object 30, and transmit information about the current location of the object 30 to the management server 40.

[8] That is, the conventional RFID system is problematic in that, since it detects the location of the object 30 on the basis of the locations at which the RFID readers 10 are installed, a large number of RFID readers 10 must be installed in predetermined different places, thus increasing the cost of installation.

[9] Further, the conventional RFID system is problematic in that, in order to detect the object 30, the RFID tag 20 must be attached to the object 30, and thus the locations of objects to which RFID tags 20 are not attached cannot be detected.

[10] Furthermore, the conventional RFID system is problematic in that, as the number of objects 30 increases, a large number of RFID tags 20 must be attached to the respective objects 30.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an RFID system, which can efficiently provide information about the movement of objects that are being carried, and information about the locations of objects that have been unloaded regardless of whether RFID tags are attached to the objects or not.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide an RFID system, which can efficiently provide information about the movement of objects that are being carried and information about the locations of objects that have been unloaded, through the use of only a single RFID reader.

[13] A further object of the present invention is to provide an RFID system, which can detect locations at which objects have been unloaded using a smaller number of RFID tags by attaching the RFID tags to an unloading platform at which the objects are unloaded, without attaching the RFID tags to the objects.

[14]

Technical Solution

[15] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a Radio

Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising an unloading platform at which first RFID tags are installed at regular unloading locations to distinguish from each other locations of objects that have been unloaded, and an object carrier configured to carry the objects to the unloading platform, wherein the object carrier comprises an object carrier body provided with a loading part in which the objects can be loaded, an RFID antenna provided on a portion of the object carrier body and configured to receive information about unloading locations of the objects from the first RFID tags, and an RFID reader provided on a portion of the object carrier body and configured to transmit the unloading location information to an outside of the object carrier in a wireless manner. [16] In a preferred embodiment, the object carrier further comprises a mass measuring instrument provided on the loading part and configured to measure mass of loaded objects and generate object mass information, and the RFID reader receives the object mass information in a wireless or wired manner and transmits the object mass information to an outside of the object carrier in a wireless manner.

[17] In a preferred embodiment, the RFID antenna comprises a plurality of RFID antennas which are identifiable and are installed at locations of the loading part, the locations of the loading part being spaced apart from each other.

[18] In a preferred embodiment, the loaded objects are configured such that second RFID tags for storing identification information of the objects are attached to the loaded objects, and the RFID antenna additionally receives the object identification information from the second RFID tags and transmits the object identification information to the RFID reader in a wireless or wired manner.

[19] In a preferred embodiment, the RFID reader additionally transmits carrier identification information required to identify the object carrier to the outside of the object carrier in a wireless manner.

[20] In a preferred embodiment, the object carrier is implemented as a forklift truck in which the loading part is a forklift, the mass measuring instrument is provided on a top surface of the fork, and the RFID antenna is provided on a side surface of the fork.

[21] In a preferred embodiment, the unloading platform is implemented as a rack- type unloading platform in which a plurality of loading spaces is formed in each floor, and the first RFID tags are installed in the loading spaces, and the first RFID tags comprise first horizontal RFID tags provided in center portions of bottom surfaces of the loading spaces and first vertical RFID tags provided on both side surfaces of loading spaces, arranged on a bottom floor.

[22] In a preferred embodiment, the unloading platform is implemented as a successive container-type unloading platform in which a plurality of containers is successively connected to each other along a single line, and the first RFID tags are installed in the containers, and the first RFID tags comprise first center RFID tags respectively provided in center portions of successive sides of the containers, and first deflection RFID tags respectively installed on the sides on which the first center RFID tags are installed, but the first deflection RFID tags are installed to right or left of the first center RFID tags while being deflected from the first center RFID tags in an identical direction.

[23] In a preferred embodiment, the unloading platform is implemented as an independent container-type unloading platform provided as a single independent container, and the first RFID tags are installed at a regular angle around a center of the independent container. [24] In a preferred embodiment, the unloading platform is implemented as a multiple container-type unloading platform in which a plurality of independent containers is installed and spaced apart from each other, and the first RFID tags are installed at a regular angle around a center of each independent container, but first RFID tags installed on adjacent independent containers do not face one another.

[25] In a preferred embodiment, the unloading platform is implemented as a planar space- type unloading platform comprising one or more separate planar spaces, and the first RFID tags are installed on respective edges of the planar spaces.

[26] In a preferred embodiment, the first RFID tags are installed such that a plurality of first RFID tags is installed on each of the edges of the planar spaces, and distances between a center portion of each first RFID tag and center portions of adjacent first RFID tags are smaller than a width of the object carrier.

[27]

Advantageous Effects

[28] As described above, the present invention can provide an RFID system, which includes both an unloading platform at which first RFID tags are installed at regular unloading locations, and an object carrier which receives information about the unloading locations of objects from the first RFID tags and transmits the unloading location information to the outside of the object carrier in a wireless manner, thus effectively detecting information about the unloading locations or movement of the objects.

[29] Further, the present invention can provide an RFID system, in which a mass measuring instrument is provided on an object carrier body, so that information about whether loaded objects have been unloaded, information about the movement of the objects and information about the unloading locations of the objects can be provided using object mass information generated by the mass measuring instrument, regardless of whether RFID tags have been attached to the objects or not.

[30] Furthermore, the present invention can provide an RFID system, which can provide information about the movement of loaded objects and information about the unloading locations of the objects, through the use of only a single RFID reader provided on an object carrier.

[31]

Brief Description of Drawings

[32] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional RFID system;

[33] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an RFID system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[34] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of an object carrier included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention; [35] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of an unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention; [36] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of an unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention; [37] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third example of an unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention; and [38] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fourth example of an unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [39] In the drawings of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate components actually having the same construction and function.

[40] <Description of reference characters of important parts>

[41] 100: object carrier 120: RFID antenna

[42] 130: RFID reader 140: mass measuring instrument

[43] 150: first object 150a: second object

[44] 200: rack-type unloading platform 300: successive container-type unloading platform

[45] 400: multiple container-type unloading platform 500: planar space-type unloading platform [46]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [47] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. [48] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an RFID system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [49] Referring to FIG. 2, an RFID system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an unloading platform 200 and an object carrier 100. [50] The unloading platform 200 is a place at which objects are to be unloaded, and at which first RFID tags are installed at regular unloading locations so as to distinguish from each other the locations of objects that have been unloaded. [51] Further, the unloading platform 200 may be formed in various shapes, and the first

RFID tags are respectively installed at predetermined locations of the unloading platform 200 according to the shape of the unloading platform 200. [52] Furthermore, the first RFID tags function to allow the object carrier 100, which will be described later, to detect information about the locations of objects that have been unloaded. [53] The unloading platform 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

[54] The object carrier 100 includes an object carrier body 110, an RFID antenna 120, an

RFID reader 130, and a mass measuring instrument 140.

[55] The object carrier body 110 includes a loading part 110a in which objects desired to be carried can be loaded, and is manufactured in the shape of a cart.

[56] Further, the object carrier body 110 includes a handle 110b and wheels 110c to allow a worker to easily push and move the object carrier by hand.

[57] However, the shape of the object carrier body 110 is only an example, and any shape can be used as that of the object carrier body 110 as long as the loading part 110a enabling objects to be loaded thereon is formed on the object carrier body 110.

[58] The object carrier body 110 may further include a motor (not shown) for rotating the wheels 110c and a remote control unit (not shown) for controlling the motor, thus enabling a worker to move the object carrier body 110 by remotely controlling the remote control unit.

[59] Furthermore, in the loading part 110a, a first object 150 to which a second RFID tag

151 for storing the identification information of the object is attached, and a second object 150a to which the second RFID tag 151 is not attached, may be loaded separately or simultaneously.

[60] The RFID antenna 120 receives unloading location information, indicating information about the location at which each object has been unloaded, from the first RFID tags installed in the unloading platform 200.

[61] The RFID antenna 120 may further receive object identification information, indicating information about the identification of the object to which the second RFID tag 151 is attached, from the second RFID tag 151.

[62] That is, the RFID antenna 120 functions to receive predetermined information from the first and second RFID tags.

[63] Further, the RFID antenna 120 includes a plurality of RFID antennas 120a, 120b and

120c which are individually identifiable and are installed at different locations of the loading part 110a while being spaced apart from each other.

[64] That is, since the plurality of RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c is installed, the reception rate of tag signals can be improved.

[65] However, another purpose of the RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c being individually identifiable is to detect the exact locations of the objects 150 and 150a that have been unloaded, according to whether unloading location information has been received from the first RFID tags attached to the unloading platform 200.

[66] For example, when only one of the RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c receives the unloading location information, the place at which the object carrier stopped to unload the objects 150 and 150a, and portions of the unloading platform 200 at which the objects have been unloaded, can be exactly detected on the basis of the antenna which receives the unloading location information. [67] Preferably, the RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c are installed outside the loading part 110a, thus preventing the occurrence of physical interference with loaded objects

150 and 150a. However, the RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c may also be installed inside the loading part 110a. [68] Meanwhile, the RFID antennas 120a, 120b and 120c may be implemented as a single

RFID antenna, and may be installed to be integrated with the RFID reader 130, which will be described later. [69] The RFID reader 130 is connected to the RFID antenna 120 in a wireless or wired manner, and is configured to receive the unloading location information or the object identification information and to transmit the received information to the external management server 40. [70] Further, the RFID reader 130 additionally transmits the mass information of objects, received from the mass measuring instrument 140, which will be described later, to the management server 40.

[71] Furthermore, the RFID reader 130 may additionally transmit carrier identification information, required to identify the object carrier 100, to the management server 40. [72] That is, when objects are carried using a large number of object carriers 100, the carrier identification information may allow the management server 40 to identify the respective object carriers 100. [73] The mass measuring instrument 140 is provided on the loading part 110a of the object carrier 100, and is configured to measure the mass of the loaded objects 150 and

150a and generate object mass information. [74] That is, the mass measuring instrument 140 measures the mass of the loaded objects

150 and 150a and generates the object mass information, regardless of whether the

RFID tags 500a have been attached to the objects 150 and 150a or not. [75] In other words, the mass measuring instrument 150 functions to determine whether the objects 150 and 150a have been loaded or unloaded according to variation in the object mass information. [76] Therefore, even in the case of the object 150a to which the second RFID tag 151 is not attached, whether the objects 150 and 150a have been loaded can be determined using the mass measuring instrument 140. [77] Further, the mass measuring instrument 140 is formed in the shape of a pad and is provided on the entire or partial portion of the bottom surface of the loading part 110a. [78] That is, the mass measuring instrument 140 can measure the mass of all or some of the loaded objects 150 and 150a. [79] Meanwhile, the object carrier may further include a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (not shown), thus enabling the current location information of the loaded objects 150 and 150a to be provided to the management server 40. [80]

Mode for the Invention

[81] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of an object carrier included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[82] Referring to FIG. 3, another example of the object carrier included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that, compared to the above example of the object carrier of the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the object carrier is a forklift truck in which a loading part 110a is implemented as a fork 110aa.

[83] Further, mass measuring instruments 140 are provided on the top surfaces of the fork

1 lOaa and are configured to measure the mass of objects 150 and 150a carried by the fork 1 lOaa and generate object mass information.

[84] Further, RFID antennas 120 are provided on the side surfaces of the fork 1 lOaa and spaced apart from each other.

[85] That is, another example of the object carrier of the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is merely different from the above example of the object carrier in that the object carrier body 110 is a forklift truck and the mass measuring instruments 140 and the RFID antennas 120 are provided on the fork 1 lOaa of the forklift truck. The remaining components are substantially identical to those of the above example.

[86] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of an unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[87] Referring to FIG. 4, the first example of the unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the unloading platform is implemented as a rack-type unloading platform 200 in which a plurality of loading spaces 210 is formed in each floor.

[88] Further, first RFID tags are installed in the loading spaces 210, and include first horizontal RFID tags 210a and first vertical RFID tags 121b.

[89] Further, the first horizontal RFID tags 210a are arranged in the center portions of the bottom surfaces of the respective loading spaces 210 and the first vertical RFID tags 121b are provided on both side surfaces of loading spaces 210, arranged on a bottom floor 200a.

[90] Further, locations to which the first vertical RFID tags 121b are attached are locations corresponding to the height in which the RFID antennas 120 installed on the object carrier 100 are vertically spaced apart from the earth. [91] The reason for this is to allow the RFID antennas 120 to more desirably detect the first vertical RFID tags 121b.

[92] Further, the first RFID tags enable the locations of the objects 150 and 150a that have been unloaded to be detected according to an order in which the first RFID tags are read by the RFID antennas 120 of the object carrier 100.

[93] That is, the location information of the first RFID tags is transmitted to the object carrier 100, and the locations at which the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded are detected, without the RFID tags detecting the unloaded objects 150 and 150a and transmitting information about whether the objects have been unloaded.

[94] For example, when Xl, X2, and X3 which are the first vertical RFID tags 120b are sequentially detected and Yl and Y2 which are the first horizontal RFID tags 210a are sequentially detected, the RFID tags may allow the server 10 to determine that the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded at the loading space 'a' which is one of the loading spaces 210.

[95] Meanwhile, whether the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded can be detected by variation in the object mass information.

[96] That is, in the case where the object mass information decreases after Xl, X2 and X3 which are the first vertical RFID tags 120b are sequentially detected, and Yl and Y2 which are the first horizontal RFID tags 210a are sequentially detected, this case means that the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded at the loading space 'a'.

[97] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of the unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[98] Referring to FIG. 5, the second example of the unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the unloading platform is implemented as a successive container- type unloading platform 300 in which a plurality of containers 300a and 300b are successively connected to each other along a single line, and first RFID tags are installed in the containers 300a and 300b.

[99] Further, the first RFID tags include first center RFID tags 310 and first deflection

RFID tags 320.

[100] Furthermore, the first center RFID tags 310 are respectively installed in the center portions of successive sides 300aa and 300bb of the containers 300a and 300b. The first deflection RFID tags 320 are respectively installed on the above sides 300aa and 300b, but they are installed to the left or right of the first center RFID tags 310 while being deflected from the first center RFID tags 310 in the same direction.

[101] In other words, the first deflection RFID tags 320 are installed to the right of the first center RFID tags 310 or to the left of the first center RFID tags 310 while being spaced apart from the first center RFID tags 310 by a predetermined distance. [102] The reason for this is that problems may arise in that, when only the first center RFID tags 310 are installed, the distance between the RFID tags required for detection increases, and thus the object carrier 100 cannot detect unloading location information, and in that, when only the first deflection RFID tags 320 are installed, it is impossible to exactly determine which of the containers 300a and 300b is the container at which the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded.

[103] For example, at the time point at which object mass information transmitted from the object carrier 100 decreases, when a, b and c among the first RFID tags are simultaneously detected, the objects 150 and 150a may be determined to have been unloaded at the first container 300a from among the containers 300a and 300b, whereas, when b and c among the first RFID tags are simultaneously detected, the objects 150 and 150a may also be determined to have been unloaded at the first container 300a.

[104] Furthermore, the movement path of the object carrier 100 can be detected according to the order of recognition of the first RFID tags.

[105] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third example of the unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[106] Referring to FIG. 6, the third example of the unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the unloading platform is implemented as a multiple container-type unloading platform 400 in which a plurality of independent containers 410 to 440 is installed and spaced apart from one another.

[107] However, the unloading platform may be implemented as a single container-type unloading platform in which only a single independent container is installed.

[108] Further, first RFID tags are installed on each of the independent containers 410 to 440 at a regular angle, for example, 90 or 60 degrees, around the center of the independent container 410 to 440.

[109] That is, four first RFID tags 410a to 41Od may be installed at an angle of 90 degrees, and six first RFID tags may be installed at an angle of 60 degrees.

[110] Further, the first RFID tags 410a to 41Od installed on any one independent container 410 are provided not to face the first RFID tags 420a to 42Od and 430a to 43Od installed on adjacent independent containers 420 and 430.

[I l l] In other words, the first RFID tags 410a to 41Od installed on any one independent container 410 are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees, but they are installed in the shape of '+'. The first RFID tags 420a to 42Od and 430a to 43Od, installed on the containers 420 and 430 adjacent to the container 410, are arranged in the shape of 'X'.

[112] The reason for this is to allow the object carrier 100 to detect the closest first RFID tag.

[113] For example, in the case where the first RFID tags installed in all of the independent containers 410 to 440 are arranged in the shape of '+' in each container, when the object carrier 100 is located between any two independent containers, it is impossible to determine which independent container is closer to the object carrier 100.

[114] Further, when the object carrier 100 sequentially detect a, b, c and d of the first RFID tags, and the object mass information decreases, it can be determined that the object carrier 100 has moved along a path in which the tags a, b, c and d are installed, and the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded at the fourth independent container 440 among the independent containers 410, 420, 430 and 440.

[115] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the unloading platform included in the RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[116] Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth example of the unloading platform included in the

RFID system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the unloading platform is implemented as a planar space-type unloading platform 500 including one or more separate planar spaces 510 and 520.

[117] Further, first RFID tags are installed on respective edges of the planar spaces 510 and 520.

[118] In the present example, the first RFID tags are installed in such a way that two first RFID tags are installed on each of the edges of the planar spaces 510 and 520.

[119] Further, the first RFID tags are installed such that distances X and Xl between the center portion of each first RFID tag and the center portions of adjacent first RFID tags are smaller than the width of the object carrier 100.

[120] The reason for this is to allow the object carrier 100 to simultaneously detect adjacent first RFID tags, thus easily determining which of the planar spaces 510 and 520 is the place at which the objects 150 and 150a have been unloaded.

[121] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, these are only embodiments for description, and various modifications and variations are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[122] As described above, the present invention provides an RFID system, in which a mass measuring instrument is provided on an object carrier, so that information about whether loaded objects have been unloaded, information about the movement of the objects, and information about the unloading locations of the objects, can be provided using object mass information generated by the mass measuring instrument, regardless of whether RFID tags are attached to objects or not, and so that information about the movement and unloading locations of loaded objects can be provided using only a single RFID reader provided on the object carrier. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to various fields, such as logistics warehouses or large-scale markets in which the movement of objects frequently occurs, or cattle sheds or farms in which loaded objects must be measured in mass units.