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WO2020026482A1 - Rfid system and rack storage device with installed rfid tag - Google Patents

Rfid system and rack storage device with installed rfid tag Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020026482A1
WO2020026482A1 PCT/JP2019/006189 JP2019006189W WO2020026482A1 WO 2020026482 A1 WO2020026482 A1 WO 2020026482A1 JP 2019006189 W JP2019006189 W JP 2019006189W WO 2020026482 A1 WO2020026482 A1 WO 2020026482A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
conductor
rfid tag
storage device
rack storage
rfid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2019/006189
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
越智　達也
Original Assignee
株式会社村田製作所
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 株式会社村田製作所 filed Critical 株式会社村田製作所
Priority to JP2019536998A priority Critical patent/JP6590131B1/en
Publication of WO2020026482A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020026482A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/50—Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/59—Responders; Transponders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
    • H04B5/40—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems characterised by components specially adapted for near-field transmission
    • H04B5/48—Transceivers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) system and a rack storage device with an RFID tag used in the RFID system.
  • RFID Radio-Frequency IDentification
  • Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an RFID tag is attached to the surface of a rack storage device stored in a server rack, and the RFID tag is read by an identification information reading unit provided in the server rack so as to face the RFID tag.
  • an identification information reading unit provided in the server rack so as to face the RFID tag.
  • the conductor blocks wireless communication between the identification information reading unit and the RFID tag, and reads the RFID tag. Things that can't be done can happen.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an RFID system and a rack storage device with an RFID tag that can read an RFID tag more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
  • the RFID system comprises: A rack having a metal surface inside the housing, A rack storage device that is housed inside the housing so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction, An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes, A cable-shaped reader / writer antenna wired inside the housing and capable of wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag;
  • An RFID system comprising: The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction, The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion and removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
  • the rack storage device with an RFID tag includes: Rack storage equipment that is stored inside the rack so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction, An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes, With The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction, The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
  • the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an RFID system including a reader / writer device according to an embodiment. It is a front view of the RFID system of FIG.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the RFID system of FIG. 1. It is a top view showing an example of an RFID tag.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of an RFIC element. It is a schematic structure figure showing an example of a reader / writer antenna.
  • FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 6B is a plan view of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 7A.
  • FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader antenna of FIG. 6A. It is a front view which shows the modification which attached the RFID tag to the bottom face of rack storage equipment. It is a front view which shows the modification which attached the RFID tag to the side surface of the rack storage apparatus.
  • An RFID system includes: A rack having a metal surface inside the housing, A rack storage device that is housed inside the housing so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction, An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes, A cable-shaped reader / writer antenna wired inside the housing and capable of wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag;
  • An RFID system comprising: The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction, The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
  • the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
  • the rack may be a server rack having metal surfaces on a plurality of inner surfaces of a rectangular parallelepiped housing.
  • a plurality of the rack storage devices are stored so as to be arranged in a vertical direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction, and the reader / writer antenna has one end connected to a power supply unit, And a second conductor extending from one end to the other end along the first conductor, and the other end of the first conductor And a matching circuit board having a matching circuit portion connected to the first portion and the other end of the second conductor for matching the impedance of the first conductor and the impedance of the second conductor. May be arranged to extend in the up-down direction along the inner surface of the housing. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be read more efficiently by one reader / writer antenna, and the length of the reader / writer antenna can be further reduced.
  • the RFID tag and the cable-shaped main body may be arranged on the inner side of the housing so as to be biased toward the upstream side in the insertion / extraction direction. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna.
  • the cable-shaped main body may be provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element of the RFID tag in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction and the vertical direction. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna.
  • the rack storage device with an RFID tag includes: Rack storage equipment that is stored inside the rack so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction, An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes, With The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction, The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
  • the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an RFID system including a reader / writer device according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the RFID system of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view showing the inside of the RFID system of FIG.
  • the RFID system is a system that manages a plurality of rack storage devices stored inside a server rack installed in a data center using an RFID tag. According to this system, for example, even if the rack storage device is offline, it is possible to manage the rack storage device by reading the information of the RFID tag.
  • an RFID system 1 includes a server rack 2, which is an example of a rack, a rack storage device 3 stored in the server rack 2, and a cable-shaped reader / writer antenna 4.
  • the server rack 2 has a metal surface inside the housing 21 which is an outer shell.
  • the server rack 2 has metal surfaces on a plurality of inner surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped housing 21. More specifically, in the case 21, the upper inner surface 21A, the lower inner surface 21B, and the left and right inner surfaces 21C and 21D are made of metal.
  • the front surface (the right side in FIG. 3) and the rear surface (the left side in FIG. 3) of the housing 21 are open surfaces. However, for example, a door that can be opened and closed may be provided.
  • the rack storage device 3 is a device housed inside the housing 21 of the server rack 2 so as to be able to be inserted and removed in the insertion and removal direction X.
  • a plurality of rack storage devices 3 are stored in the housing 21 so as to be arranged in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • Each rack storage device 3 has a bottom portion supported by, for example, a pair of rails (not shown) provided to extend in the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • Metal columns 21E and 21F extending in the vertical direction Z are provided on the left and right inner side surfaces 21C and 21D of the housing 21, respectively.
  • Each rack storage device 3 is fixed to the metal columns 21E and 21F by fastening members such as bolts.
  • the interval between the rack storage devices 3 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z is, for example, 5 cm.
  • Each rack storage device 3 has a tag mounting surface 3A parallel to the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A is made of a conductor such as a metal.
  • the RFID tag 5 is attached to the tag attachment surface 3A in parallel with the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • the RFID tag 5 stores, for example, device information and position information of the rack storage device 3.
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 is wired inside the housing 21 and is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with the RFID tag 5.
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 includes a cable-shaped main body 41, a communication module 42 connected to one end of the cable-shaped main body 41, and a matching circuit board 43 connected to the other end of the cable-shaped main body 41. ing.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction Z along the inner side surface 21C of the housing 21.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21 ⁇ / b> A of the housing 21.
  • the communication module 42 includes an external communication antenna (not shown), transmits information of the RFID tag 5 read through the cable-shaped main body 41 to an external device, and transmits information received from the external device to the cable-shaped main body 41. Is written to the RFID tag 5 through the.
  • the RFID tag 5 and the cable-shaped main body portion 41 are arranged inside the housing 21 so as to be biased toward the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 3) in the insertion / removal direction X.
  • a “reader / writer device” that wirelessly communicates with the RFID tag 5 by the server rack 2 and the reader / writer antenna 4 to read and write information from / to the RFID tag 5 is configured.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the RFID tag 5.
  • the RFID tag 5 includes an RFIC (Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit) element 51 having a pair of terminal electrodes 51a and 51b, a radiating element 52 connected to one terminal electrode 51a, and the other terminal. And a ground conductor 53 connected to the electrode 51b.
  • RFIC Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit
  • the radiating element 52 protrudes from the rack storage device 3 in the insertion / extraction direction X, and at least a part of the ground conductor 53 has a tag mounting surface 3 ⁇ / b> A Attached to face.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element 52 of the RFID tag 5 in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction Y orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction X and the vertical direction Z. I have.
  • the cable-shaped main body portion 41 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the RFID tag 5 when viewed from the front in the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the RFIC element 51.
  • the RFIC element 51 is, for example, an RFIC element corresponding to a communication frequency in a 900 MHz band, that is, a UHF band.
  • the RFIC element 51 includes a multilayer substrate 51A, an RFIC chip 51B built in the multilayer substrate 51A, and a matching circuit 51C.
  • the multilayer substrate 51A is composed of three laminated sheet-like insulating layers 51Aa, 51Ab, and 51Ac.
  • a pair of terminal electrodes 51a and 51b are provided on the upper surface of the uppermost insulating layer 51Aa with a space therebetween.
  • a first coil pattern 51Ca is provided at a position facing one terminal electrode 51a
  • a second coil pattern 51Cb is provided at a position facing the other terminal electrode 51b.
  • One end of the first coil pattern 51Ca is connected to one terminal electrode 51a via an interlayer connection conductor
  • the other end of the first coil pattern 51Ca is connected to the other end of the second coil pattern 51Cb.
  • One end of the second coil pattern 51Cb is connected to the other terminal electrode 51b via an interlayer connection conductor.
  • a through hole H1 into which the RFIC chip 51B is inserted is provided between the first coil pattern 51Ca and the second coil pattern 51Cb.
  • a third coil pattern 51Cc is provided at a position facing the first coil pattern 51Ca, and a fourth coil pattern 51Cd is provided at a position facing the second coil pattern 51Cb. Is provided.
  • An RFIC chip 51B is mounted between the third coil pattern 51Cc and the fourth coil pattern 51Cd.
  • One end of the third coil pattern 51Cc is connected to one end of the first coil pattern 51Ca via an interlayer connection conductor, and the other end of the third coil pattern 51Cc is connected to one input / output terminal of the RFIC chip 51B. I have.
  • One end of the fourth coil pattern 51Cd is connected to one end of the second coil pattern 51Cb via an interlayer connection conductor, and the other end of the fourth coil pattern 51Cd is connected to the other input / output terminal of the RFIC chip 51B. I have.
  • the matching circuit 51C includes a first coil pattern 51Ca, a second coil pattern 51Cb, a third coil pattern 51Cc, a fourth coil pattern 51Cd, and each interlayer connection conductor.
  • the matching circuit 51C functions to match the impedance between the RFIC chip 51B and the radiating element 52 and the ground conductor 53.
  • the RFIC chip 51B is activated by receiving a current induced by the reception. Further, the activated RFIC chip 51B generates a high-frequency signal, and outputs the generated signal to the outside as a radio wave via the radiating element 52 and the ground conductor 53.
  • the radiation element 52 and the ground conductor 53 are partially formed in a meander shape. Thereby, the length in the longitudinal direction can be compressed while maintaining the entire electrical length.
  • the end 53a of the ground conductor 53 is configured to be capacitively coupled to the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 respectively.
  • the radiating element 52 is designed to have an electrical length longer than that of the ground conductor 53. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the ground conductor 53 may be designed so that the electrical length is longer than the radiating element 52.
  • the RFIC element 51, the radiating element 52, and the ground conductor 53 are provided on the base 54.
  • the base material 54 is a rectangular thin plate and has a uniform thickness.
  • the end 52a of the radiating element 52 and the end 53a of the ground conductor 53 are both configured to be capacitively coupled to the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 via the base material 54.
  • the substrate 54 is made of, for example, a dielectric material having a low dielectric constant of 10 or less.
  • the base material 54 is made of, for example, a flexible dielectric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a fluorine-based resin, a urethane-based resin, and paper.
  • FIG. 6A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the reader / writer antenna 4.
  • FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a matching circuit unit provided in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 7A is a plan view of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 7A.
  • FIG. 7C is an equivalent circuit diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A.
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 includes a cable-shaped main body 41 formed of a coaxial cable.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 has an inner conductor 44 which is an example of a first conductor, and an outer conductor 45 which is an example of a second conductor provided along the inner conductor 44.
  • the internal conductor 44 is a linear conductor having one end connected to the power supply unit 46 and extending from one end to the other end.
  • the power supply unit 46 is built in the communication module 42 shown in FIGS.
  • the outer conductor 45 is a tubular conductor extending from one end to the other end along the inner conductor 44 so as to cover the inner conductor 44 via an insulator (not shown).
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 includes a matching circuit 47 provided at one end of the cable-shaped main body 41 and an external conductor 45 at a position away from the one end of the cable-shaped main body 41. And a magnetic body 48 provided along the outer peripheral surface.
  • the matching circuit unit 47 is connected to the other end of the internal conductor 44 and the other end of the external conductor 45 so as to match the impedance of the internal conductor 44 with the impedance of the external conductor 45. It works.
  • the matching circuit unit 47 includes a planar first conductor layer 471 connected to the internal conductor 44, a via-hole conductor 472, and a planar second conductor layer 472 as an example of the “electrode pattern”. And two conductor layers 473.
  • the first conductor layer 471 and the second conductor layer 473 have a width wider than the outer diameter of the outer conductor 45 and extend along the direction in which the inner conductor 44 extends.
  • the first conductor layer 471 and the second conductor layer 473 are provided to face each other with an insulator 474 interposed therebetween, and are connected to each other by two via-hole conductors 472.
  • the length of the second conductor layer 473 in the extending direction of the cable-shaped main body 41 is longer than that of the first conductor layer 471. Thereby, a part of the second conductor layer 473 and the external conductor 45 are provided so as to face each other with the insulator 474 interposed therebetween.
  • FIG. 7B in order to show both the via-hole conductor 472 and the internal conductor 44 in a cross section, the cut surface is shifted in the middle for convenience as shown by the line A1-A1 in FIG. 7A.
  • the inner conductor 44 is electrically connected to the first conductor layer 471.
  • the first conductor layer 471 is electrically connected to the second conductor layer 473 via two via-hole conductors 472.
  • the second conductor layer 473 is connected to the external conductor 45 by capacitive coupling having a capacitor component 475 via an insulator 474. That is, as shown in FIG. 7C, the inner conductor 44 and the outer conductor 45 are connected via the matching circuit unit 47 having the capacitor component 475 and the inductor component 476.
  • the magnetic body 48 is made of, for example, ferrite. As shown in FIG. 6A, the magnetic body 48 functions to separate the reader / writer antenna 4 into a radiating section 61 that performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 5 and a non-radiating section 62 that does not communicate with the RFID tag 5. I do. That is, the radiating portion 61 extends from one end of the cable-shaped main body 41 to the magnetic body 48. The non-radiating portion 62 extends from the magnetic body 48 to the other end of the cable-shaped main body 41. The non-radiating portion 62 functions as a shield member. The other end of the cable-shaped main body 41 is connected to the power supply section 46. The external conductor 45 is connected to the ground so as to be electrically stable.
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 is an antenna using a standing wave generated in the external conductor 45, and is not a loop antenna using a so-called induced magnetic field.
  • the detection area (radio wave area) of the reader / writer antenna 4 is limited to about 1 m or less.
  • the frequency characteristics do not change much.
  • the reader / writer antenna 4 can be relatively freely arranged two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. Since the reader / writer antenna 4 is formed in a cable shape, the detection range of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be adjusted according to the length of the reader / writer antenna 4.
  • the matching circuit section 47 is provided on the matching circuit board 43 shown in FIGS.
  • the matching circuit board 43 has a second conductor layer 473 which is an electrode pattern formed on the facing surface OS facing the external conductor 45 via the insulator 474.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is directly or indirectly attached to the upper inner surface 21A via a spacer such that the second conductor layer 473 intersects the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21 which is a metal surface.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A where the angle formed by the second conductor layer 473 with respect to the upper inner surface 21A is in a range of 45 degrees or more and 135 degrees or less.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A such that the second conductor layer 473 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the upper inner surface 21A.
  • the second conductor layer 473 is provided at a predetermined distance or more from a metal surface different from the upper inner surface 21A to which the matching circuit board 43 is attached. For example, when a metal door is provided on the front surface (the right side in FIG. 3) of the housing 21, the second conductor layer 473 is provided at a distance of 5 cm or more from the door.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A so that the second conductor layer 473 intersects the upper inner surface 21A which is a metal surface, the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A Can be made smaller. Thereby, it is possible to suppress generation of a capacitance component between the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A. As a result, a decrease in the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be suppressed.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A so that the second conductor layer 473 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the upper inner surface 21A, the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A. It is possible to further suppress the generation of a capacitance component between the capacitor and the capacitor 21A. As a result, the deterioration of the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further suppressed.
  • the cable-shaped main body portion 41 is disposed so as to extend in the up-down direction Z along the inner side surface 21C of the housing 21, and the matching circuit board 43 is connected to the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21 or It is attached to the lower inner surface 21B.
  • the plurality of RFID tags 5 arranged in the housing 21 can be efficiently read by one reader / writer antenna 4, and the length of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further reduced.
  • the second conductor layer 473 is provided at a predetermined distance or more away from the metal surface different from the upper inner surface 21A to which the matching circuit board 43 is attached. The influence from the metal surface can be suppressed. As a result, the deterioration of the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further suppressed.
  • the RFID tag 5 is attached such that the radiating element 52 projects from the rack storage device 3 in the insertion / extraction direction X, and at least a part of the ground conductor 53 faces the tag attachment surface 3A. ing.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A is made of a conductor such as a metal
  • the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag 5 can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device 3. Further, since the RFID tag 5 is not attached to the front or back of the rack storage device 3 where the interface is usually provided, the visibility of the interface can be prevented from lowering, and the connection of the wiring to the interface is not hindered.
  • the RFID tag 5 and the cable-shaped main body 41 are arranged inside the housing 21 so as to be biased toward the upstream side in the insertion / removal direction X. According to this configuration, the RFID tags 5 of the plurality of rack storage devices 3 can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna 4.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element 52 of the RFID tag 5 in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction X and the vertical direction Z. ing. According to this configuration, the RFID tags 5 of the plurality of rack storage devices 3 can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna 4.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the lower inner surface 21 ⁇ / b> B of the housing 21. Further, the matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the inner side surfaces 21C and 21D of the housing 21. Further, the matching circuit board 43 is not limited to being mounted on the inner surface of the housing 21, but may be mounted on a metal surface provided in the housing 21. For example, when the server rack 2 has a metal partition, the matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the partition.
  • the “metal surface” is not limited to a flat surface, and may be, for example, a mesh surface.
  • the matching circuit board 43 is attached so that the longitudinal direction is along the upper inner surface 21A as shown in FIG. 1, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the matching circuit board 43 may be attached so that the short direction is along the upper inner surface 21A.
  • the plurality of rack storage devices 3 are arranged in the vertical direction Z, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the plurality of rack storage devices 3 may be arranged in the horizontal direction Y.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 may be attached to the inner surface of the housing 21 so as to extend in the horizontal direction Y.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 is made of a conductor such as a metal, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the tag attachment surface 3A may be a surface in which a conductor such as a metal is coated with a resin.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 is the upper surface of the rack storage device 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 may be any surface that is parallel to the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • the tag attachment surface 3A is the bottom surface of the rack storage device 3, and the RFID tag 5 may be attached to the bottom surface.
  • the tag mounting surface 3A is a side surface of the rack storage device 3, and the RFID tag 5 may be mounted on the side surface.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 when the cable-shaped main body 41 is positioned on an extension of the RFID tag 5 in the extending direction, it becomes difficult for the cable-shaped main body 41 to read the information of the RFID tag 5. For this reason, it is preferable that the cable-shaped main body 41 be provided at a position that does not overlap with the RFID tag 5 in a front view as viewed from the insertion / extraction direction X.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 of the reader / writer antenna 4 is configured by a coaxial cable, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided along a strip-shaped insulator, a strip-shaped first conductor provided along one main surface of the insulator, and along the other main surface of the insulator. It may be constituted by a flat cable including a band-shaped second conductor.
  • the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
  • a plurality of rack storage devices stored inside a server rack installed in a data center can be used. This is useful for an RFID system that manages devices using an RFID tag.

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Abstract

This RFID system according to the present invention is an RFID system including: racks having a metal surface inside a housing; a rack storage device stored inside the housing to be insertable/extractable in an insertion/extraction direction; an RFIC element having a pair of terminal electrodes; an RFID tag including a radiation element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes and a ground conductor connected to the other one of the pair of terminal electrodes; and a cable-shaped reader/writer antenna that is wired inside the housing and can wirelessly communicate with the RFID tag. The rack storage device has a tag installation surface that is parallel to the insertion/extraction direction. The RFID tag is installed such that the radiation element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion/extraction direction and at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag installation surface.

Description

ＲＦＩＤシステム及びＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器RFID system and rack storage device with RFID tag
　本発明は、ＲＦＩＤ（Radio-Frequency IDentification）システム、及び当該ＲＦＩＤシステムに用いられるＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器に関する。 The present invention relates to an RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) system and a rack storage device with an RFID tag used in the RFID system.
　従来、この種のＲＦＩＤシステムとして、例えば、特許文献１に記載されたＲＦＩＤシステムが知られている。特許文献１には、サーバラック内に収納されるラック収納機器の表面にＲＦＩＤタグを取り付け、当該ＲＦＩＤタグに対向するようにサーバラックに設けられた識別情報読取部によってＲＦＩＤタグを読み取るように構成されたＲＦＩＤシステムが記載されている。 Conventionally, for example, an RFID system described in Patent Document 1 is known as this type of RFID system. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an RFID tag is attached to the surface of a rack storage device stored in a server rack, and the RFID tag is read by an identification information reading unit provided in the server rack so as to face the RFID tag. A described RFID system is described.
特開２０１１－２２１９１１号公報JP 2011-221911 A
　しかしながら、従来のＲＦＩＤシステムにおいては、ラック収納機器の表面が金属などの導電体である場合には、当該導電体が識別情報読取部とＲＦＩＤタグとの無線通信を阻害して、ＲＦＩＤタグを読み取ることできないことが起こり得る。 However, in the conventional RFID system, when the surface of the rack storage device is a conductor such as a metal, the conductor blocks wireless communication between the identification information reading unit and the RFID tag, and reads the RFID tag. Things that can't be done can happen.
　本発明の目的は、ラック収納機器の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができるＲＦＩＤシステム及びＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器を提供することにある。 An object of the present invention is to provide an RFID system and a rack storage device with an RFID tag that can read an RFID tag more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
　本発明に係るＲＦＩＤシステムは、
　筐体の内側に金属面を有するラックと、
　前記筐体の内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
　前記筐体の内側に配線され、前記ＲＦＩＤタグと無線通信可能なケーブル状のリーダライタアンテナと、
　を備えるＲＦＩＤシステムであって、
　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するとともに、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられるように構成されている。 The RFID system according to the present invention comprises:
A rack having a metal surface inside the housing,
A rack storage device that is housed inside the housing so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
A cable-shaped reader / writer antenna wired inside the housing and capable of wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag;
An RFID system comprising:
The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion and removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
　本発明に係るＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器は、
　ラックの内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
　を備え、
　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するとともに、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられるように構成されている。 The rack storage device with an RFID tag according to the present invention includes:
Rack storage equipment that is stored inside the rack so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
With
The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
　本発明によれば、ラック収納機器の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができる。 According to the present invention, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
本実施形態に係るリーダライタ装置を備えるＲＦＩＤシステムの概略構成を示す斜視図である。FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an RFID system including a reader / writer device according to an embodiment. 図１のＲＦＩＤシステムの正面図である。It is a front view of the RFID system of FIG. 図１のＲＦＩＤシステムの内部を透過して示す側面図である。FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the RFID system of FIG. 1. ＲＦＩＤタグの一例を示す平面図である。It is a top view showing an example of an RFID tag. ＲＦＩＣ素子の一例を示す分解斜視図である。FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of an RFIC element. リーダライタアンテナの一例を示す概略構成図である。It is a schematic structure figure showing an example of a reader / writer antenna. 図６Ａのリーダライタアンテナが備える整合回路部の概略図である。FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna of FIG. 6A. 図６Ａのリーダライタアンテナが備える整合回路部の平面図である。FIG. 6B is a plan view of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna of FIG. 6A. 図７ＡのＡ１－Ａ１線断面図である。FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 7A. 図６Ａのリーダアンテナが備える整合回路部の等価回路図である。FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader antenna of FIG. 6A. ＲＦＩＤタグをラック収納機器の底面に取り付けた変形例を示す正面図である。It is a front view which shows the modification which attached the RFID tag to the bottom face of rack storage equipment. ＲＦＩＤタグをラック収納機器の側面に取り付けた変形例を示す正面図である。It is a front view which shows the modification which attached the RFID tag to the side surface of the rack storage apparatus.
　本発明の一態様に係るＲＦＩＤシステムは、
　筐体の内側に金属面を有するラックと、
　前記筐体の内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
　前記筐体の内側に配線され、前記ＲＦＩＤタグと無線通信可能なケーブル状のリーダライタアンテナと、
　を備えるＲＦＩＤシステムであって、
　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するとともに、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられるように構成されている。 An RFID system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
A rack having a metal surface inside the housing,
A rack storage device that is housed inside the housing so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
A cable-shaped reader / writer antenna wired inside the housing and capable of wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag;
An RFID system comprising:
The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
　この構成によれば、タグ取付面が金属などの導電体で構成される場合であっても、当該導電体をブースターアンテナとして利用することができ、アンテナの利得を向上させることができる。すなわち、前記構成によれば、ラック収納機器の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができる。 According to this configuration, even when the tag mounting surface is made of a conductor such as a metal, the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
　なお、前記ラックは、直方体形状の筐体の複数の内面に金属面を有するサーバラックであってもよい。 The rack may be a server rack having metal surfaces on a plurality of inner surfaces of a rectangular parallelepiped housing.
　また、前記筐体には、複数の前記ラック収納機器が前記挿抜方向に対して直交する上下方向に並ぶように収納され、前記リーダライタアンテナは、一端部が給電部に接続され、前記一端部から他端部まで延在する第１導体と、前記第１導体に沿って一端部から他端部まで延在する第２導体と、を有するケーブル状本体部と、前記第１導体の他端部と前記第２導体の他端部とに接続され、前記第１導体のインピーダンスと前記第２導体のインピーダンスとを整合させる整合回路部を有する整合回路基板と、を備え、前記ケーブル状本体部は、前記筐体の内面に沿って前記上下方向に延在するように配置されてもよい。この構成によれば、１本のリーダライタアンテナによって複数のラック収納機器のＲＦＩＤタグをより効率良く読み取ることができ、リーダライタアンテナの長さをより短くすることができる。 In the housing, a plurality of the rack storage devices are stored so as to be arranged in a vertical direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction, and the reader / writer antenna has one end connected to a power supply unit, And a second conductor extending from one end to the other end along the first conductor, and the other end of the first conductor And a matching circuit board having a matching circuit portion connected to the first portion and the other end of the second conductor for matching the impedance of the first conductor and the impedance of the second conductor. May be arranged to extend in the up-down direction along the inner surface of the housing. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be read more efficiently by one reader / writer antenna, and the length of the reader / writer antenna can be further reduced.
　また、前記ＲＦＩＤタグと前記ケーブル状本体部とは、前記筐体の内側において前記挿抜方向の上流側に偏って配置されてもよい。この構成によれば、１本のリーダライタアンテナによって複数のラック収納機器のＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができる。 The RFID tag and the cable-shaped main body may be arranged on the inner side of the housing so as to be biased toward the upstream side in the insertion / extraction direction. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna.
　また、前記ケーブル状本体部は、前記挿抜方向及び前記上下方向に対して直交する横方向から見た側面視において、前記ＲＦＩＤタグの前記放射素子と重なる位置に設けられてもよい。この構成によれば、１本のリーダライタアンテナによって複数のラック収納機器のＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができる。 The cable-shaped main body may be provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element of the RFID tag in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction and the vertical direction. According to this configuration, the RFID tags of a plurality of rack storage devices can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna.
　本発明の一態様に係るＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器は、
　ラックの内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
　を備え、
　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するとともに、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられるように構成されている。 The rack storage device with an RFID tag according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
Rack storage equipment that is stored inside the rack so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
With
The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
The RFID tag is configured such that the radiating element protrudes from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction, and is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
　この構成によれば、タグ取付面が金属などの導電体で構成される場合であっても、当該導電体をブースターアンテナとして利用することができ、アンテナの利得を向上させることができる。すなわち、前記構成によれば、ラック収納機器の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができる。 According to this configuration, even when the tag mounting surface is made of a conductor such as a metal, the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device.
　以下、実施の形態に係るＲＦＩＤシステム及びＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器について、添付図面を参照しながら説明する。なお、図面において実質的に同一の部材については同一の符号を付している。 Hereinafter, the RFID system and the rack storage device with the RFID tag according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, substantially the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals.
　また、以下では、説明の便宜上、通常使用時の状態を想定して「上」、「下」、「横」等の方向を示す用語を用いている。しかしながら、これらの用語は、本発明のＲＦＩＤシステム及びＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器の使用状態等を限定することを意味するものではない。 In the following, for convenience of description, terms indicating directions such as “up”, “down”, and “horizontal” are used assuming a state of normal use. However, these terms do not mean that the usage status of the RFID system and the rack storage device with the RFID tag of the present invention is limited.
（実施の形態）
　図１は、本実施形態に係るリーダライタ装置を備えるＲＦＩＤシステムの概略構成を示す斜視図である。図２は、図１のＲＦＩＤシステムの正面図である。図３は、図１のＲＦＩＤシステムの内部を透過して示す側面図である。 (Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an RFID system including a reader / writer device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the RFID system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the inside of the RFID system of FIG.
　本実施形態に係るＲＦＩＤシステムは、データセンタに設置されるサーバラックの内側に収納される複数のラック収納機器を、ＲＦＩＤタグを利用して管理するシステムである。このシステムによれば、例えば、ラック収納機器がオフラインであっても、ＲＦＩＤタグの情報を読み取ることによってラック収納機器の管理を行うことが可能になる。 The RFID system according to the present embodiment is a system that manages a plurality of rack storage devices stored inside a server rack installed in a data center using an RFID tag. According to this system, for example, even if the rack storage device is offline, it is possible to manage the rack storage device by reading the information of the RFID tag.
　図１～図３に示すように、本実施形態に係るＲＦＩＤシステム１は、ラックの一例であるサーバラック２と、サーバラック２に収納されるラック収納機器３と、ケーブル状のリーダライタアンテナ４とを備えている。 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an RFID system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a server rack 2, which is an example of a rack, a rack storage device 3 stored in the server rack 2, and a cable-shaped reader / writer antenna 4. And
　サーバラック２は、外郭となる筐体２１の内側に金属面を有している。本実施形態において、サーバラック２は、直方体形状の筐体２１の複数の内面に金属面を有している。より具体的には、筐体２１は、上側内面２１Ａ、下側内面２１Ｂ、及び左右の内側面２１Ｃ，２１Ｄが金属で構成されている。なお、本実施形態において、筐体２１の前面（図３の右側）及び背面（図３の左側）は、開口面としているが、例えば、開閉可能な扉が設けられてもよい。 The server rack 2 has a metal surface inside the housing 21 which is an outer shell. In the present embodiment, the server rack 2 has metal surfaces on a plurality of inner surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped housing 21. More specifically, in the case 21, the upper inner surface 21A, the lower inner surface 21B, and the left and right inner surfaces 21C and 21D are made of metal. In the present embodiment, the front surface (the right side in FIG. 3) and the rear surface (the left side in FIG. 3) of the housing 21 are open surfaces. However, for example, a door that can be opened and closed may be provided.
　ラック収納機器３は、サーバラック２の筐体２１の内側に挿抜方向Ｘに挿抜可能に収容される機器である。本実施形態において、筐体２１には、複数のラック収納機器３が挿抜方向Ｘに対して直交する上下方向Ｚに並ぶように収納される。各ラック収納機器３は、例えば、挿抜方向Ｘに延在するように設けられた一対のレール（図示せず）に底部を支持される。また、筐体２１の左右の内側面２１Ｃ，２１Ｄには、上下方向Ｚに延在する金属柱２１Ｅ，２１Ｆが設けられている。各ラック収納機器３は、ボルトなどの締結部材により金属柱２１Ｅ，２１Ｆに固定される。互いに上下方向Ｚに隣接するラック収納機器３の間隔は、例えば５ｃｍである。 The rack storage device 3 is a device housed inside the housing 21 of the server rack 2 so as to be able to be inserted and removed in the insertion and removal direction X. In the present embodiment, a plurality of rack storage devices 3 are stored in the housing 21 so as to be arranged in a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the insertion / extraction direction X. Each rack storage device 3 has a bottom portion supported by, for example, a pair of rails (not shown) provided to extend in the insertion / extraction direction X. Metal columns 21E and 21F extending in the vertical direction Z are provided on the left and right inner side surfaces 21C and 21D of the housing 21, respectively. Each rack storage device 3 is fixed to the metal columns 21E and 21F by fastening members such as bolts. The interval between the rack storage devices 3 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z is, for example, 5 cm.
　各ラック収納機器３は、挿抜方向Ｘに対して平行なタグ取付面３Ａを有している。タグ取付面３Ａは、金属などの導電体で構成されている。タグ取付面３Ａには、ＲＦＩＤタグ５が挿抜方向Ｘに対して平行に取り付けられている。ＲＦＩＤタグ５には、例えば、ラック収納機器３の機器情報や位置情報などが記憶されている。 Each rack storage device 3 has a tag mounting surface 3A parallel to the insertion / extraction direction X. The tag mounting surface 3A is made of a conductor such as a metal. The RFID tag 5 is attached to the tag attachment surface 3A in parallel with the insertion / extraction direction X. The RFID tag 5 stores, for example, device information and position information of the rack storage device 3.
　リーダライタアンテナ４は、筐体２１の内側に配線され、ＲＦＩＤタグ５と無線通信可能に構成されている。リーダライタアンテナ４は、ケーブル状本体部４１と、ケーブル状本体部４１の一端部に接続された通信モジュール４２と、ケーブル状本体部４１の他端部に接続された整合回路基板４３とを備えている。 The reader / writer antenna 4 is wired inside the housing 21 and is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with the RFID tag 5. The reader / writer antenna 4 includes a cable-shaped main body 41, a communication module 42 connected to one end of the cable-shaped main body 41, and a matching circuit board 43 connected to the other end of the cable-shaped main body 41. ing.
　ケーブル状本体部４１は、筐体２１の内側面２１Ｃに沿って上下方向Ｚに延在するように配置されている。整合回路基板４３は、筐体２１の上側内面２１Ａに取り付けられている。通信モジュール４２は、外部通信用アンテナ（図示せず）を備え、ケーブル状本体部４１を通じて読み取ったＲＦＩＤタグ５の情報を外部装置に送信するとともに、外部装置から受信した情報をケーブル状本体部４１を通じてＲＦＩＤタグ５に書き込むように構成されている。ＲＦＩＤタグ５とケーブル状本体部４１とは、筐体２１の内側において挿抜方向Ｘの上流側（図３の右側）に偏って配置されている。 The cable-shaped main body 41 is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction Z along the inner side surface 21C of the housing 21. The matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21 </ b> A of the housing 21. The communication module 42 includes an external communication antenna (not shown), transmits information of the RFID tag 5 read through the cable-shaped main body 41 to an external device, and transmits information received from the external device to the cable-shaped main body 41. Is written to the RFID tag 5 through the. The RFID tag 5 and the cable-shaped main body portion 41 are arranged inside the housing 21 so as to be biased toward the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 3) in the insertion / removal direction X.
　本実施形態においては、サーバラック２とリーダライタアンテナ４とで、ＲＦＩＤタグ５と無線通信して、ＲＦＩＤタグ５に対して情報の読み取り及び書き込みを行う「リーダライタ装置」が構成されている。 In the present embodiment, a “reader / writer device” that wirelessly communicates with the RFID tag 5 by the server rack 2 and the reader / writer antenna 4 to read and write information from / to the RFID tag 5 is configured.
　図４は、ＲＦＩＤタグ５の一例を示す平面図である。図４に示すように、ＲＦＩＤタグ５は、一対の端子電極５１ａ，５１ｂを有するＲＦＩＣ（Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit）素子５１と、一方の端子電極５１ａに接続される放射素子５２と、他方の端子電極５１ｂに接続される接地導体５３とを備えている。 FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the RFID tag 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the RFID tag 5 includes an RFIC (Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit) element 51 having a pair of terminal electrodes 51a and 51b, a radiating element 52 connected to one terminal electrode 51a, and the other terminal. And a ground conductor 53 connected to the electrode 51b.
　ＲＦＩＤタグ５は、図１に示すように、放射素子５２がラック収納機器３から挿抜方向Ｘに突出するとともに、図４にて点線で示すように接地導体５３の少なくとも一部がタグ取付面３Ａに対向するように取り付けられる。ケーブル状本体部４１は、図３に示すように、挿抜方向Ｘ及び上下方向Ｚに対して直交する横方向Ｙから見た側面視において、ＲＦＩＤタグ５の放射素子５２と重なる位置に設けられている。また、ケーブル状本体部４１は、図２に示すように、挿抜方向Ｘから見た正面視において、ＲＦＩＤタグ５と重ならない位置に設けられている。 In the RFID tag 5, as shown in FIG. 1, the radiating element 52 protrudes from the rack storage device 3 in the insertion / extraction direction X, and at least a part of the ground conductor 53 has a tag mounting surface 3 </ b> A Attached to face. As shown in FIG. 3, the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element 52 of the RFID tag 5 in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction Y orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction X and the vertical direction Z. I have. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cable-shaped main body portion 41 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the RFID tag 5 when viewed from the front in the insertion / extraction direction X.
　図５は、ＲＦＩＣ素子５１の一例を示す分解斜視図である。ＲＦＩＣ素子５１は、例えば、９００ＭＨｚ帯、すなわち、ＵＨＦ帯の通信周波数に対応するＲＦＩＣ素子である。本実施形態において、ＲＦＩＣ素子５１は、多層基板５１Ａと、多層基板５１Ａに内蔵されたＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂ及び整合回路５１Ｃを備えている。 FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the RFIC element 51. The RFIC element 51 is, for example, an RFIC element corresponding to a communication frequency in a 900 MHz band, that is, a UHF band. In the present embodiment, the RFIC element 51 includes a multilayer substrate 51A, an RFIC chip 51B built in the multilayer substrate 51A, and a matching circuit 51C.
　本実施形態において、多層基板５１Ａは、積層された３つのシート状の絶縁層５１Ａａ，５１Ａｂ，５１Ａｃによって構成されている。図５において最上位に位置する絶縁層５１Ａａの上面には、一対の端子電極５１ａ，５１ｂが互いに間隔を空けて設けられている。 In the present embodiment, the multilayer substrate 51A is composed of three laminated sheet-like insulating layers 51Aa, 51Ab, and 51Ac. In FIG. 5, a pair of terminal electrodes 51a and 51b are provided on the upper surface of the uppermost insulating layer 51Aa with a space therebetween.
　図５において中位に位置する絶縁層５１Ａｂには、一方の端子電極５１ａに対向する位置に第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａが設けられるとともに、他方の端子電極５１ｂに対向する位置に第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂが設けられている。第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａの一端部は層間接続導体を介して一方の端子電極５１ａに接続され、第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａの他端部は第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂの他端部に接続されている。第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂの一端部は、層間接続導体を介して他方の端子電極５１ｂに接続されている。第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａと第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂとの間には、ＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂが挿入される貫通穴Ｈ１が設けられている。 In the middle insulating layer 51Ab in FIG. 5, a first coil pattern 51Ca is provided at a position facing one terminal electrode 51a, and a second coil pattern 51Cb is provided at a position facing the other terminal electrode 51b. Is provided. One end of the first coil pattern 51Ca is connected to one terminal electrode 51a via an interlayer connection conductor, and the other end of the first coil pattern 51Ca is connected to the other end of the second coil pattern 51Cb. One end of the second coil pattern 51Cb is connected to the other terminal electrode 51b via an interlayer connection conductor. A through hole H1 into which the RFIC chip 51B is inserted is provided between the first coil pattern 51Ca and the second coil pattern 51Cb.
　図５において最下位に位置する絶縁層５１Ａｃには、第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａに対向する位置に第３コイルパターン５１Ｃｃが設けられるとともに、第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂに対向する位置に第４コイルパターン５１Ｃｄが設けられている。第３コイルパターン５１Ｃｃと第４コイルパターン５１Ｃｄとの間には、ＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂが実装されている。第３コイルパターン５１Ｃｃの一端部は層間接続導体を介して第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａの一端部に接続され、第３コイルパターン５１Ｃｃの他端部はＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂの一方の入出力端子に接続されている。第４コイルパターン５１Ｃｄの一端部は層間接続導体を介して第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂの一端部に接続され、第４コイルパターン５１Ｃｄの他端部はＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂの他方の入出力端子に接続されている。 In the lowermost insulating layer 51Ac in FIG. 5, a third coil pattern 51Cc is provided at a position facing the first coil pattern 51Ca, and a fourth coil pattern 51Cd is provided at a position facing the second coil pattern 51Cb. Is provided. An RFIC chip 51B is mounted between the third coil pattern 51Cc and the fourth coil pattern 51Cd. One end of the third coil pattern 51Cc is connected to one end of the first coil pattern 51Ca via an interlayer connection conductor, and the other end of the third coil pattern 51Cc is connected to one input / output terminal of the RFIC chip 51B. I have. One end of the fourth coil pattern 51Cd is connected to one end of the second coil pattern 51Cb via an interlayer connection conductor, and the other end of the fourth coil pattern 51Cd is connected to the other input / output terminal of the RFIC chip 51B. I have.
　本実施形態において、整合回路５１Ｃは、第１コイルパターン５１Ｃａと、第２コイルパターン５１Ｃｂと、第３コイルパターン５１Ｃｃと、第４コイルパターン５１Ｃｄと、各層間接続導体とで構成されている。整合回路５１Ｃは、ＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂと放射素子５２及び接地導体５３との間でインピーダンスを整合するように機能する。ＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂは、アンテナとして機能する放射素子５２及び接地導体５３が外部から高周波信号を受信すると、その受信によって誘起された電流の供給を受けて起動する。また、起動したＲＦＩＣチップ５１Ｂは、高周波信号を生成し、その生成信号を放射素子５２及び接地導体５３を介して電波として外部に出力する。 In the present embodiment, the matching circuit 51C includes a first coil pattern 51Ca, a second coil pattern 51Cb, a third coil pattern 51Cc, a fourth coil pattern 51Cd, and each interlayer connection conductor. The matching circuit 51C functions to match the impedance between the RFIC chip 51B and the radiating element 52 and the ground conductor 53. When the radiating element 52 and the ground conductor 53 functioning as an antenna receive a high-frequency signal from the outside, the RFIC chip 51B is activated by receiving a current induced by the reception. Further, the activated RFIC chip 51B generates a high-frequency signal, and outputs the generated signal to the outside as a radio wave via the radiating element 52 and the ground conductor 53.
　放射素子５２と接地導体５３とは、図４に示すように、それぞれ一部がミアンダ状に形成されている。これにより、全体の電気長を保ちながら長手方向の長さを圧縮することができる。また、本実施形態において、接地導体５３の端部５３ａとは、それぞれラック収納機器３のタグ取付面３Ａと容量結合可能に構成されている。放射素子５２は、接地導体５３よりも電気長が長くなるように設計されている。なお、本発明はこれに限定されず、接地導体５３が、放射素子５２よりも電気長が長くなるように設計されてもよい。 As shown in FIG. 4, the radiation element 52 and the ground conductor 53 are partially formed in a meander shape. Thereby, the length in the longitudinal direction can be compressed while maintaining the entire electrical length. In the present embodiment, the end 53a of the ground conductor 53 is configured to be capacitively coupled to the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 respectively. The radiating element 52 is designed to have an electrical length longer than that of the ground conductor 53. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the ground conductor 53 may be designed so that the electrical length is longer than the radiating element 52.
　ＲＦＩＣ素子５１と、放射素子５２と、接地導体５３とは、基材５４上に設けられている。基材５４は、矩形状の薄板であって、一様な厚さを有している。本実施形態において、放射素子５２の端部５２ａと接地導体５３の端部５３ａとは、いずれもラック収納機器３のタグ取付面３Ａと基材５４を介して容量結合可能に構成されている。基材５４は、例えば、比誘電率が１０以下の低誘電率を有する誘電体材料で構成されている。基材５４は、例えば、ポリエチレンテレフタレート（ＰＥＴ）、フッ素系樹脂、ウレタン系樹脂、紙などの可撓性を有する誘電体材料で構成されている。 The RFIC element 51, the radiating element 52, and the ground conductor 53 are provided on the base 54. The base material 54 is a rectangular thin plate and has a uniform thickness. In the present embodiment, the end 52a of the radiating element 52 and the end 53a of the ground conductor 53 are both configured to be capacitively coupled to the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 via the base material 54. The substrate 54 is made of, for example, a dielectric material having a low dielectric constant of 10 or less. The base material 54 is made of, for example, a flexible dielectric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a fluorine-based resin, a urethane-based resin, and paper.
　図６Ａは、リーダライタアンテナ４の一例を示す概略構成図である。図６Ｂは、図６Ａのリーダライタアンテナ４が備える整合回路部の概略図である。図７Ａは、図６Ａのリーダライタアンテナ４が備える整合回路部の平面図である。図７Ｂは、図７ＡのＡ１－Ａ１線断面図である。図７Ｃは、図６Ａのリーダライタアンテナ４が備える整合回路部の等価回路図である。 FIG. 6A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the reader / writer antenna 4. FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a matching circuit unit provided in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 7A is a plan view of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is an equivalent circuit diagram of a matching circuit unit included in the reader / writer antenna 4 of FIG. 6A.
　リーダライタアンテナ４は、図６Ａに示すように、同軸ケーブルで構成されるケーブル状本体部４１を備えている。ケーブル状本体部４１は、第１導体の一例である内部導体４４と、内部導体４４に沿って設けられた第２導体の一例である外部導体４５とを有している。内部導体４４は、一端部が給電部４６に接続され、一端部から他端部まで延在する線状の導体である。給電部４６は、図１～図３に示す通信モジュール４２に内蔵されている。外部導体４５は、絶縁体（図示せず）を介して内部導体４４を覆うように、内部導体４４に沿って一端部から他端部まで延在する管状の導体である。 As shown in FIG. 6A, the reader / writer antenna 4 includes a cable-shaped main body 41 formed of a coaxial cable. The cable-shaped main body 41 has an inner conductor 44 which is an example of a first conductor, and an outer conductor 45 which is an example of a second conductor provided along the inner conductor 44. The internal conductor 44 is a linear conductor having one end connected to the power supply unit 46 and extending from one end to the other end. The power supply unit 46 is built in the communication module 42 shown in FIGS. The outer conductor 45 is a tubular conductor extending from one end to the other end along the inner conductor 44 so as to cover the inner conductor 44 via an insulator (not shown).
　また、リーダライタアンテナ４は、図６Ａに示すように、ケーブル状本体部４１の一端部に設けられた整合回路部４７と、ケーブル状本体部４１の一端部から離れた位置で外部導体４５の外周面に沿うように設けられた磁性体４８とを有している。 Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the reader / writer antenna 4 includes a matching circuit 47 provided at one end of the cable-shaped main body 41 and an external conductor 45 at a position away from the one end of the cable-shaped main body 41. And a magnetic body 48 provided along the outer peripheral surface.
　整合回路部４７は、図６Ｂに示すように、内部導体４４の他端部と外部導体４５の他端部とに接続され、内部導体４４のインピーダンスと外部導体４５のインピーダンスとを整合させるように機能するものである。 As shown in FIG. 6B, the matching circuit unit 47 is connected to the other end of the internal conductor 44 and the other end of the external conductor 45 so as to match the impedance of the internal conductor 44 with the impedance of the external conductor 45. It works.
　整合回路部４７は、図７Ａ及び図７Ｂに示すように、内部導体４４に接続された平面状の第１導体層４７１と、ビアホール導体４７２と、「電極パターン」の一例である平面状の第２導体層４７３とを有している。第１導体層４７１と第２導体層４７３とは、外部導体４５の外径よりも広い幅を有し、内部導体４４の延在方向に沿って延在している。また、第１導体層４７１と第２導体層４７３とは、絶縁体４７４を介して互いに対向するように設けられ、２つのビアホール導体４７２によって互いに接続されている。第２導体層４７３は、第１導体層４７１よりもケーブル状本体部４１の延在方向の長さが長く形成されている。これにより、第２導体層４７３の一部と外部導体４５とが、絶縁体４７４を介して互いに対向するように設けられている。なお、図７Ｂでは、ビアホール導体４７２及び内部導体４４の両方を断面で図示するために、図７ＡのＡ１－Ａ１線で示すように、便宜上、切断面を途中でずらしている。 As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the matching circuit unit 47 includes a planar first conductor layer 471 connected to the internal conductor 44, a via-hole conductor 472, and a planar second conductor layer 472 as an example of the “electrode pattern”. And two conductor layers 473. The first conductor layer 471 and the second conductor layer 473 have a width wider than the outer diameter of the outer conductor 45 and extend along the direction in which the inner conductor 44 extends. The first conductor layer 471 and the second conductor layer 473 are provided to face each other with an insulator 474 interposed therebetween, and are connected to each other by two via-hole conductors 472. The length of the second conductor layer 473 in the extending direction of the cable-shaped main body 41 is longer than that of the first conductor layer 471. Thereby, a part of the second conductor layer 473 and the external conductor 45 are provided so as to face each other with the insulator 474 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 7B, in order to show both the via-hole conductor 472 and the internal conductor 44 in a cross section, the cut surface is shifted in the middle for convenience as shown by the line A1-A1 in FIG. 7A.
　内部導体４４は、第１導体層４７１に電気的に接続されている。第１導体層４７１は、２つのビアホール導体４７２を介して第２導体層４７３に電気的に接続されている。第２導体層４７３は、絶縁体４７４を介するキャパシタ成分４７５を有する容量結合によって外部導体４５に接続されている。すなわち、図７Ｃに示すように、内部導体４４と外部導体４５とは、キャパシタ成分４７５とインダクタ成分４７６とを有する整合回路部４７を介して接続されている。 The inner conductor 44 is electrically connected to the first conductor layer 471. The first conductor layer 471 is electrically connected to the second conductor layer 473 via two via-hole conductors 472. The second conductor layer 473 is connected to the external conductor 45 by capacitive coupling having a capacitor component 475 via an insulator 474. That is, as shown in FIG. 7C, the inner conductor 44 and the outer conductor 45 are connected via the matching circuit unit 47 having the capacitor component 475 and the inductor component 476.
　磁性体４８は、例えば、フェライトで構成されている。磁性体４８は、図６Ａに示すように、ＲＦＩＤタグ５に対して無線通信を行う放射部６１と、ＲＦＩＤタグ５に対して通信しない非放射部６２とにリーダライタアンテナ４を区切るように機能する。すなわち、放射部６１は、ケーブル状本体部４１の一端部から磁性体４８まで延在する。非放射部６２は、磁性体４８からケーブル状本体部４１の他端部まで延在する。非放射部６２は、シールド部材として機能する。ケーブル状本体部４１の他端部は、給電部４６に接続されている。また、外部導体４５は、電気的に安定するように、グランドに接続されている。 The magnetic body 48 is made of, for example, ferrite. As shown in FIG. 6A, the magnetic body 48 functions to separate the reader / writer antenna 4 into a radiating section 61 that performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 5 and a non-radiating section 62 that does not communicate with the RFID tag 5. I do. That is, the radiating portion 61 extends from one end of the cable-shaped main body 41 to the magnetic body 48. The non-radiating portion 62 extends from the magnetic body 48 to the other end of the cable-shaped main body 41. The non-radiating portion 62 functions as a shield member. The other end of the cable-shaped main body 41 is connected to the power supply section 46. The external conductor 45 is connected to the ground so as to be electrically stable.
　なお、リーダライタアンテナ４は、外部導体４５に生じる定在波を利用したアンテナであって、いわゆる誘導磁界を利用するループアンテナではない。また、リーダライタアンテナ４の検知領域（電波エリア）は、約１ｍ以内に限られる。また、リーダライタアンテナ４の近傍に金属体や磁性体があっても、周波数特性は大きく変わらない。また、リーダライタアンテナ４は、屈曲させても屈曲部分間での干渉等が生じない。このため、リーダライタアンテナ４は、２次元的又は３次元的に比較的自由に配置することが可能である。リーダライタアンテナ４はケーブル状に形成されているので、リーダライタアンテナ４の長さに応じて、リーダライタアンテナ４の検知範囲を調整することが可能になる。 The reader / writer antenna 4 is an antenna using a standing wave generated in the external conductor 45, and is not a loop antenna using a so-called induced magnetic field. The detection area (radio wave area) of the reader / writer antenna 4 is limited to about 1 m or less. In addition, even if there is a metal body or a magnetic body near the reader / writer antenna 4, the frequency characteristics do not change much. Further, even when the reader / writer antenna 4 is bent, no interference or the like occurs between the bent portions. Therefore, the reader / writer antenna 4 can be relatively freely arranged two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. Since the reader / writer antenna 4 is formed in a cable shape, the detection range of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be adjusted according to the length of the reader / writer antenna 4.
　また、整合回路部４７は、図１～図３に示す整合回路基板４３に設けられている。整合回路基板４３は、図７Ｂに示すように、絶縁体４７４を介して外部導体４５と対向する対向面ＯＳに形成された電極パターンである第２導体層４７３を有している。整合回路基板４３は、第２導体層４７３が金属面である筐体２１の上側内面２１Ａに対して交差するように、上側内面２１Ａに直接又はスペーサを介して間接的に取り付けられている。例えば、整合回路基板４３は、第２導体層４７３が上側内面２１Ａに対して成す角度が４５度以上１３５度以下の範囲となる上側内面２１Ａに取り付けられている。本実施形態において、整合回路基板４３は、第２導体層４７３が上側内面２１Ａに対して直交又は略直交するように、上側内面２１Ａに取り付けられている。 (4) The matching circuit section 47 is provided on the matching circuit board 43 shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7B, the matching circuit board 43 has a second conductor layer 473 which is an electrode pattern formed on the facing surface OS facing the external conductor 45 via the insulator 474. The matching circuit board 43 is directly or indirectly attached to the upper inner surface 21A via a spacer such that the second conductor layer 473 intersects the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21 which is a metal surface. For example, the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A where the angle formed by the second conductor layer 473 with respect to the upper inner surface 21A is in a range of 45 degrees or more and 135 degrees or less. In the present embodiment, the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A such that the second conductor layer 473 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the upper inner surface 21A.
　また、第２導体層４７３は、整合回路基板４３が取り付けられる上側内面２１Ａとは異なる金属面に対して、予め決められた距離以上離れて設けられている。例えば、筐体２１の前面（図３の右側）に金属製の扉が設けられる場合、第２導体層４７３は、当該扉に対して５ｃｍ以上離れて設けられる。 {Circle around (2)} The second conductor layer 473 is provided at a predetermined distance or more from a metal surface different from the upper inner surface 21A to which the matching circuit board 43 is attached. For example, when a metal door is provided on the front surface (the right side in FIG. 3) of the housing 21, the second conductor layer 473 is provided at a distance of 5 cm or more from the door.
　本実施形態によれば、第２導体層４７３が金属面である上側内面２１Ａに対して交差するように整合回路基板４３を上側内面２１Ａに取り付けているので、第２導体層４７３と上側内面２１Ａとの対向面積をより小さくすることができる。これにより、第２導体層４７３と上側内面２１Ａとの間に容量成分が生じることを抑えることができる。その結果、リーダライタアンテナ４のアンテナ特性の低下を抑えることができる。 According to the present embodiment, since the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A so that the second conductor layer 473 intersects the upper inner surface 21A which is a metal surface, the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A Can be made smaller. Thereby, it is possible to suppress generation of a capacitance component between the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A. As a result, a decrease in the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be suppressed.
　また、本実施形態によれば、第２導体層４７３が上側内面２１Ａに対して直交又は略直交するように整合回路基板４３を上側内面２１Ａに取り付けているので、第２導体層４７３と上側内面２１Ａとの間に容量成分が生じることを一層抑えることができる。その結果、リーダライタアンテナ４のアンテナ特性の低下を一層抑えることができる。 Further, according to the present embodiment, since the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A so that the second conductor layer 473 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the upper inner surface 21A, the second conductor layer 473 and the upper inner surface 21A. It is possible to further suppress the generation of a capacitance component between the capacitor and the capacitor 21A. As a result, the deterioration of the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further suppressed.
　また、本実施形態によれば、ケーブル状本体部４１が筐体２１の内側面２１Ｃに沿って上下方向Ｚに延在するように配置され、整合回路基板４３が筐体２１の上側内面２１Ａ又は下側内面２１Ｂに取り付けられている。この構成によれば、筐体２１内に配置された複数のＲＦＩＤタグ５を１本のリーダライタアンテナ４で効率良く読み取ることができ、リーダライタアンテナ４の長さをより短くすることができる。 Further, according to the present embodiment, the cable-shaped main body portion 41 is disposed so as to extend in the up-down direction Z along the inner side surface 21C of the housing 21, and the matching circuit board 43 is connected to the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21 or It is attached to the lower inner surface 21B. According to this configuration, the plurality of RFID tags 5 arranged in the housing 21 can be efficiently read by one reader / writer antenna 4, and the length of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further reduced.
　また、本実施形態によれば、整合回路基板４３が取り付けられる上側内面２１Ａとは異なる金属面に対して、第２導体層４７３が予め決められた距離以上離れて設けられているので、複数の金属面から受ける影響を抑えることができる。その結果、リーダライタアンテナ４のアンテナ特性の低下を一層抑えることができる。 Further, according to the present embodiment, the second conductor layer 473 is provided at a predetermined distance or more away from the metal surface different from the upper inner surface 21A to which the matching circuit board 43 is attached. The influence from the metal surface can be suppressed. As a result, the deterioration of the antenna characteristics of the reader / writer antenna 4 can be further suppressed.
　また、本実施形態によれば、ＲＦＩＤタグ５は、放射素子５２がラック収納機器３から挿抜方向Ｘに突出するとともに、接地導体５３の少なくとも一部がタグ取付面３Ａに対向するように取り付けられている。この構成によれば、タグ取付面３Ａが金属などの導電体で構成される場合であっても、当該導電体をブースターアンテナとして利用することができ、アンテナの利得を向上させることができる。すなわち、前記構成によれば、ラック収納機器３の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグ５をより確実に読み取ることができる。また、通常インターフェースが設けられるラック収納機器３の前面又は背面には、ＲＦＩＤタグ５が取り付けられないので、インターフェースの視認性の低下を抑えることができるとともに、インターフェースへの配線の接続を阻害しない。 According to the present embodiment, the RFID tag 5 is attached such that the radiating element 52 projects from the rack storage device 3 in the insertion / extraction direction X, and at least a part of the ground conductor 53 faces the tag attachment surface 3A. ing. According to this configuration, even when the tag mounting surface 3A is made of a conductor such as a metal, the conductor can be used as a booster antenna, and the antenna gain can be improved. That is, according to the configuration, the RFID tag 5 can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device 3. Further, since the RFID tag 5 is not attached to the front or back of the rack storage device 3 where the interface is usually provided, the visibility of the interface can be prevented from lowering, and the connection of the wiring to the interface is not hindered.
　また、本実施形態によれば、ＲＦＩＤタグ５とケーブル状本体部４１とが、筐体２１の内側において挿抜方向Ｘの上流側に偏って配置されている。この構成によれば、１本のリーダライタアンテナ４によって複数のラック収納機器３のＲＦＩＤタグ５をより確実に読み取ることができる。 According to the present embodiment, the RFID tag 5 and the cable-shaped main body 41 are arranged inside the housing 21 so as to be biased toward the upstream side in the insertion / removal direction X. According to this configuration, the RFID tags 5 of the plurality of rack storage devices 3 can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna 4.
　また、本実施形態によれば、ケーブル状本体部４１は、挿抜方向Ｘ及び上下方向Ｚに対して直交する横方向から見た側面視において、ＲＦＩＤタグ５の放射素子５２と重なる位置に設けられている。この構成によれば、１本のリーダライタアンテナ４によって複数のラック収納機器３のＲＦＩＤタグ５をより確実に読み取ることができる。 Further, according to the present embodiment, the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided at a position overlapping with the radiating element 52 of the RFID tag 5 in a side view as viewed from a lateral direction orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction X and the vertical direction Z. ing. According to this configuration, the RFID tags 5 of the plurality of rack storage devices 3 can be more reliably read by one reader / writer antenna 4.
　なお、本発明は前記実施の形態に限定されるものではなく、その他種々の態様で実施できる。例えば、前記では、整合回路基板４３は、筐体２１の上側内面２１Ａに取り付けられるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。整合回路基板４３は、筐体２１の下側内面２１Ｂに取り付けられてもよい。また、整合回路基板４３は、筐体２１の内側面２１Ｃ，２１Ｄに取り付けられてもよい。また、整合回路基板４３は、筐体２１の内面に取り付けられることに限定されず、筐体２１内に設けられた金属面に取り付けられてもよい。例えば、サーバラック２が金属製の間仕切りを有する場合、整合回路基板４３は、当該間仕切りに取り付けられてもよい。なお、「金属面」は、平板状の面に限定されるものではなく、例えば、メッシュ状の面であってもよい。 Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other modes. For example, in the above description, the matching circuit board 43 is attached to the upper inner surface 21A of the housing 21, but the present invention is not limited to this. The matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the lower inner surface 21 </ b> B of the housing 21. Further, the matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the inner side surfaces 21C and 21D of the housing 21. Further, the matching circuit board 43 is not limited to being mounted on the inner surface of the housing 21, but may be mounted on a metal surface provided in the housing 21. For example, when the server rack 2 has a metal partition, the matching circuit board 43 may be attached to the partition. Note that the “metal surface” is not limited to a flat surface, and may be, for example, a mesh surface.
　また、前記では、整合回路基板４３は、図１に示すように、長手方向が上側内面２１Ａに沿うように取り付けられるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。例えば、整合回路基板４３は、短手方向が上側内面２１Ａに沿うように取り付けられてもよい。 In the above description, the matching circuit board 43 is attached so that the longitudinal direction is along the upper inner surface 21A as shown in FIG. 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the matching circuit board 43 may be attached so that the short direction is along the upper inner surface 21A.
　また、前記では、複数のラック収納機器３が上下方向Ｚに並べられるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。例えば、複数のラック収納機器３は、横方向Ｙに並べられてもよい。この場合、ケーブル状本体部４１は、横方向Ｙに延在するように筐体２１の内面に取り付けられてもよい。 In the above description, the plurality of rack storage devices 3 are arranged in the vertical direction Z, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the plurality of rack storage devices 3 may be arranged in the horizontal direction Y. In this case, the cable-shaped main body 41 may be attached to the inner surface of the housing 21 so as to extend in the horizontal direction Y.
　また、前記では、ラック収納機器３のタグ取付面３Ａは、金属などの導電体で構成されるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。例えば、タグ取付面３Ａは、金属などの導電体を樹脂でコーティングした面であってもよい。なお、タグ取付面３Ａが導電体で構成され、当該タグ取付面３ＡにＲＦＩＤタグ５を直接取り付けた場合には、アンテナの特性が向上し、ＲＦＩＤタグ５の情報の読み取り精度を高くすることができる。 In the above description, the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 is made of a conductor such as a metal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tag attachment surface 3A may be a surface in which a conductor such as a metal is coated with a resin. When the tag mounting surface 3A is formed of a conductor and the RFID tag 5 is directly mounted on the tag mounting surface 3A, the characteristics of the antenna can be improved, and the reading accuracy of the information of the RFID tag 5 can be increased. it can.
　また、前記では、図１～図３に示すように、ラック収納機器３のタグ取付面３Ａがラック収納機器３の上面であるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。ラック収納機器３のタグ取付面３Ａは、挿抜方向Ｘに対して平行な面であればよい。例えば、図８に示すように、タグ取付面３Ａは、ラック収納機器３の底面であり、当該底面にＲＦＩＤタグ５が取り付けられてもよい。また、例えば、図９に示すように、タグ取付面３Ａは、ラック収納機器３の側面であり、当該側面にＲＦＩＤタグ５が取り付けられてもよい。なお、この場合、ケーブル状本体部４１がＲＦＩＤタグ５の延在方向の延長線上に位置すると、ケーブル状本体部４１がＲＦＩＤタグ５の情報を読み取りにくくなる。このため、挿抜方向Ｘから見た正面視において、ケーブル状本体部４１は、ＲＦＩＤタグ５と重ならない位置に設けることが好ましい。 In the above description, the tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 is the upper surface of the rack storage device 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. The tag mounting surface 3A of the rack storage device 3 may be any surface that is parallel to the insertion / extraction direction X. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the tag attachment surface 3A is the bottom surface of the rack storage device 3, and the RFID tag 5 may be attached to the bottom surface. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the tag mounting surface 3A is a side surface of the rack storage device 3, and the RFID tag 5 may be mounted on the side surface. In this case, when the cable-shaped main body 41 is positioned on an extension of the RFID tag 5 in the extending direction, it becomes difficult for the cable-shaped main body 41 to read the information of the RFID tag 5. For this reason, it is preferable that the cable-shaped main body 41 be provided at a position that does not overlap with the RFID tag 5 in a front view as viewed from the insertion / extraction direction X.
　また、前記では、リーダライタアンテナ４のケーブル状本体部４１が同軸ケーブルで構成されるものとしたが、本発明はこれに限定されない。例えば、ケーブル状本体部４１は、帯状の絶縁体と、当該絶縁体の一方の主面に沿って設けられた帯状の第１導体と、当該絶縁体の他方の主面に沿って設けられた帯状の第２導体とを備えるフラットケーブルで構成されてもよい。 In the above description, the cable-shaped main body 41 of the reader / writer antenna 4 is configured by a coaxial cable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cable-shaped main body 41 is provided along a strip-shaped insulator, a strip-shaped first conductor provided along one main surface of the insulator, and along the other main surface of the insulator. It may be constituted by a flat cable including a band-shaped second conductor.
　本発明は、添付図面を参照しながら好ましい実施の形態に関連して充分に記載されているが、この技術に熟練した人々にとっては種々の変形や修正は明白である。そのような変形や修正は、添付した請求の範囲による本発明の範囲から外れない限りにおいて、その中に含まれると理解されるべきである。 While the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that such changes and modifications are intended to be included therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
　本発明によれば、ラック収納機器の表面の材質に依存せず、ＲＦＩＤタグをより確実に読み取ることができるので、例えば、データセンタに設置されるサーバラックの内側に収納される複数のラック収納機器を、ＲＦＩＤタグを利用して管理するＲＦＩＤシステムに有用である。 According to the present invention, the RFID tag can be read more reliably without depending on the material of the surface of the rack storage device. For example, a plurality of rack storage devices stored inside a server rack installed in a data center can be used. This is useful for an RFID system that manages devices using an RFID tag.
　　１　　　ＲＦＩＤシステム
　　２　　　サーバラック
　　３　　　ラック収納機器
　　３Ａ　　タグ取付面
　　４　　　リーダライタアンテナ
　　５　　　ＲＦＩＤタグ
　２１　　　筐体
　２１Ａ　　上側内面
　２１Ｂ　　下側内面
　２１Ｃ，２１Ｄ　内側面
　２１Ｅ，２１Ｆ　金属柱
　４１　　　ケーブル状本体部
　４２　　　通信モジュール
　４３　　　整合回路基板
　４４　　　内部導体（第１導体）
　４５　　　外部導体（第２導体）
　４６　　　給電部
　４７　　　整合回路部
　４８　　　磁性体
　５１　　　ＲＦＩＣ素子
　５１ａ，５１ｂ　端子電極
　５１Ａ　　多層基板
　５１Ａａ，５１Ａｂ，５１Ａｃ　絶縁層
　５１Ｂ　　ＲＦＩＣチップ
　５１Ｃ　　整合回路
　５１Ｃａ　　第１コイルパターン
　５１Ｃｂ　　第２コイルパターン
　５１Ｃｃ　　第３コイルパターン
　５１Ｃｄ　　第４コイルパターン
　５２　　　放射素子
　５２ａ　　端部
　５３　　　接地導体
　５３ａ　　端部
　５４　　　基材
　６１　　　放射部
　６２　　　非放射部
４７１　　　第１導体層
４７２　　　ビアホール導体
４７３　　　第２導体層（電極パターン）
４７４　　　絶縁体
４７５　　キャパシタ成分
４７６　　インダクタ成分
　Ｈ１　　　貫通穴 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 RFID system 2 Server rack 3 Rack storage equipment 3A Tag mounting surface 4 Reader / writer antenna 5 RFID tag 21 Housing 21A Upper inner surface 21B Lower inner surface 21C, 21D Inner surface 21E, 21F Metal pillar 41 Cable-shaped main body 42 Communication module 43 Matching circuit board 44 Internal conductor (first conductor)
45 outer conductor (second conductor)
46 Power supply unit 47 Matching circuit unit 48 Magnetic material 51 RFIC element 51a, 51b Terminal electrode 51A Multilayer substrate 51Aa, 51Ab, 51Ac Insulating layer 51B RFIC chip 51C Matching circuit 51Ca First coil pattern 51Cb Second coil pattern 51Cc Third coil pattern 51Cd Fourth coil pattern 52 Radiating element 52a End 53 Ground conductor 53a End 54 Base 61 Radiating section 62 Non-radiating section 471 First conductor layer 472 Via hole conductor 473 Second conductor layer (electrode pattern)
474 Insulator 475 Capacitor component 476 Inductor component H1 Through hole

Claims (7)

  1. 　筐体の内側に金属面を有するラックと、
    　前記筐体の内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
    　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
    　前記筐体の内側に配線され、前記ＲＦＩＤタグと無線通信可能なケーブル状のリーダライタアンテナと、
    　を備えるＲＦＩＤシステムであって、
    　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
    　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するとともに、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられている、
    　ＲＦＩＤシステム。     A rack having a metal surface inside the housing,
    A rack storage device that is housed inside the housing so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
    An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
    A cable-shaped reader / writer antenna wired inside the housing and capable of wirelessly communicating with the RFID tag;
    An RFID system comprising:
    The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
    The RFID tag is attached so that the radiating element projects from the rack storage device in the insertion / extraction direction, and at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface.
    RFID system.
  2. 　前記ラックは、直方体形状の筐体の複数の内面に金属面を有するサーバラックである、請求項１に記載のＲＦＩＤシステム。 The RFID system according to claim 1, wherein the rack is a server rack having metal surfaces on a plurality of inner surfaces of a rectangular parallelepiped casing.
  3. 　前記筐体には、複数の前記ラック収納機器が前記挿抜方向に対して直交する上下方向に並ぶように収納され、
    　前記リーダライタアンテナは、
    　一端部が給電部に接続され、前記一端部から他端部まで延在する第１導体と、前記第１導体に沿って一端部から他端部まで延在する第２導体と、を有するケーブル状本体部と、
    　前記第１導体の他端部と前記第２導体の他端部とに接続され、前記第１導体のインピーダンスと前記第２導体のインピーダンスとを整合させる整合回路部を有する整合回路基板と、を備え、
    　前記ケーブル状本体部は、前記筐体の内面に沿って前記上下方向に延在するように配置されている、請求項１又は２に記載のＲＦＩＤシステム。     In the housing, a plurality of the rack storage devices are stored so as to be arranged in a vertical direction orthogonal to the insertion and extraction direction,
    The reader / writer antenna,
    A cable having one end connected to the power supply unit and extending from the one end to the other end, and a second conductor extending from the one end to the other end along the first conductor. Shaped body,
    A matching circuit board that is connected to the other end of the first conductor and the other end of the second conductor, and that has a matching circuit unit that matches the impedance of the first conductor with the impedance of the second conductor. Prepared,
    The RFID system according to claim 1, wherein the cable-shaped main body is arranged to extend in the up-down direction along an inner surface of the housing.
  4. 　前記ＲＦＩＤタグと前記ケーブル状本体部とは、前記筐体の内側において前記挿抜方向の上流側に偏って配置されている、請求項３に記載のＲＦＩＤシステム。 4. The RFID system according to claim 3, wherein the RFID tag and the cable-shaped main body are arranged on the inner side of the housing so as to be biased toward an upstream side in the insertion / removal direction. 5.
  5. 　前記ケーブル状本体部は、前記挿抜方向及び前記上下方向に対して直交する横方向から見た側面視において、前記ＲＦＩＤタグの前記放射素子と重なる位置に設けられている、請求項４に記載のＲＦＩＤシステム。 The said cable-shaped main-body part is provided in the position which overlaps with the said radiation element of the said RFID tag in the side view seen from the horizontal direction orthogonal to the said insertion / extraction direction and the said up-down direction, The claim | item 4. RFID system.
  6. 　ラックの内側に挿抜方向に挿抜可能に収納されるラック収納機器と、
    　一対の端子電極を有するＲＦＩＣ素子と、前記一対の端子電極の一方に接続される放射素子と、前記一対の端子電極の他方に接続される接地導体と、を備えるＲＦＩＤタグと、
    　を備え、
    　前記ラック収納機器は、前記挿抜方向に対して平行なタグ取付面を有し、
    　前記ＲＦＩＤタグは、前記放射素子が前記ラック収納機器から前記挿抜方向に突出するように、前記接地導体の少なくとも一部が前記タグ取付面に対向するように取り付けられている、ＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器。     Rack storage equipment that is stored inside the rack so that it can be inserted and removed in the insertion and extraction direction,
    An RFID tag including an RFID element having a pair of terminal electrodes, a radiating element connected to one of the pair of terminal electrodes, and a ground conductor connected to the other of the pair of terminal electrodes,
    With
    The rack storage device has a tag mounting surface parallel to the insertion / extraction direction,
    The RFID tag-equipped rack storage device, wherein the RFID tag is attached so that at least a part of the ground conductor faces the tag attachment surface so that the radiating element projects from the rack storage device in the insertion / removal direction. machine.
  7. 　前記タグ取付面は、導電体で構成されている、請求項６に記載のＲＦＩＤタグ付きラック収納機器。 The rack storage device with an RFID tag according to claim 6, wherein the tag mounting surface is made of a conductor.
PCT/JP2019/006189 2018-07-30 2019-02-20 Rfid system and rack storage device with installed rfid tag WO2020026482A1 (en)

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US20070205894A1 (en) * 2006-03-01 2007-09-06 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Radio frequency identification for asset management
US20120211397A1 (en) * 2008-04-09 2012-08-23 Dieter Kilian Container for Receiving Articles
CN202486829U (en) * 2011-12-13 2012-10-10 无锡互惠信息技术有限公司 Data center intelligent management system based on radio frequency identification
JP2016062576A (en) * 2014-09-22 2016-04-25 大日本印刷株式会社 IC tag label
WO2018012427A1 (en) * 2016-07-14 2018-01-18 株式会社村田製作所 Attention tag for retail article and retail article having same attached thereto
WO2018043012A1 (en) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-08 株式会社村田製作所 Rack for merchandise display and merchandise management system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070205894A1 (en) * 2006-03-01 2007-09-06 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Radio frequency identification for asset management
US20120211397A1 (en) * 2008-04-09 2012-08-23 Dieter Kilian Container for Receiving Articles
CN202486829U (en) * 2011-12-13 2012-10-10 无锡互惠信息技术有限公司 Data center intelligent management system based on radio frequency identification
JP2016062576A (en) * 2014-09-22 2016-04-25 大日本印刷株式会社 IC tag label
WO2018012427A1 (en) * 2016-07-14 2018-01-18 株式会社村田製作所 Attention tag for retail article and retail article having same attached thereto
WO2018043012A1 (en) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-08 株式会社村田製作所 Rack for merchandise display and merchandise management system

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