JP4759174B2 - Non-contact communication type information carrier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a non-contact communication type information carrier comprising a container including an IC chip having an antenna coil formed on one surface or a lid for closing the opening.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a blood test or the like is performed using, for example, a test tube, a small piece of recording paper on which information on the test or the like is printed or a small piece of paper on which a barcode is printed has been attached to the peripheral surface of the test tube.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there is a problem that the paper on which information is recorded becomes dirty or peels off from the test tube during handling of the test tube or during inspection in a hot and humid environment. Further, when reading the information on the recording paper with the eyes, it was necessary to rotate the test tube to the position where the recording paper could be seen. Also, when reading barcode information optically, it is necessary to rotate the test tube to the position where the barcode is opposite to the optical head, which requires a test tube rotation and positioning mechanism in the reader, which complicates the structure. Incurs adverse effects such as increased size and cost.
[0004]
On the other hand, in recent years, a non-contact communication type information carrier using an IC chip in which an antenna coil is integrally formed on one surface has been studied. However, the IC chip with the integrated antenna coil is hard, and if the IC chips come into contact with each other, the coil forming surface is easily damaged. Therefore, the IC chip cannot be packaged or supplied by the parts feeder, and it depends on expensive material handling. I must.
[0005]
In addition, an IC chip integrally formed with an antenna coil is very thin (thickness is about 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm) and has high brittleness, so cracking or chipping due to stress on the coil forming surface side (or the back surface side) occurs. It is easy and secondary processing is difficult.
[0006]
Furthermore, insert molding of chips using resin is possible, but because of the large physical characteristics difference between the IC chip integrally formed with the antenna coil and the mold resin, the moldability is poor, and it is difficult to take a large number of chips. It has disadvantages such as high.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to eliminate such drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a non-contact communication type information carrier that has good handling and productivity and is inexpensive.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first means of the present invention is to insert an IC chip integrally formed with an antenna coil into the concave portion of the core piece body having a concave portion and a caulking allowance. Heating and softening inside while pressing the caulking allowance from the upper side, forming a caulking portion that holds the IC chip, and constituting a core piece carrying the IC chip in the recess,
The core piece is attached to the center position of the bottom of the cylindrical container or the center position of the lid that closes the opening of the container.
[0009]
According to a second means of the present invention, in the first means, a fitting recess is formed at a central position of the container or the lid, and the core piece is press-fitted and fixed in the fitting recess. Is.
[0010]
According to a third means of the present invention, in the second means, an annular convex portion or an annular concave portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the core piece, and an annular concave portion or an annular convex portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the fitting concave portion of the container or the lid. Is formed, and the core piece is attached to the container or the lid by the engagement of the annular convex portion and the annular concave portion.
[0011]
According to a fourth means of the present invention, in the first means, an IC chip is disposed in the recess of the core piece main body so that the antenna coil faces the bottom of the core piece main body, and the bottom of the core piece main body is the bottom surface of the container. The core piece is attached to the container or the lid so as to be disposed on the side or the top surface of the lid, and the bottom surface of the core piece body is not protruded from the bottom of the container or the top of the lid. is there.
[0012]
According to a fifth means of the present invention, in the first means, the IC chip is square, and the antenna coil is formed on the IC chip so that the winding center of the antenna coil substantially coincides with the center of the IC chip. The core piece main body has a disk shape, and a concave portion whose diameter is substantially equal to the diagonal length of the IC chip is formed at the center position of the core piece main body, and the IC chip is mounted in the concave portion to constitute the core piece,
The fitting recess formed at the center position of the container or the lid has a cylindrical shape, and the core piece is mounted in the fitting recess.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of an information carrier core piece according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an IC chip used for the core piece, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a core piece body used for the core piece, and FIG. 6 is a front view of a part of the core piece body in cross section.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a rectangular spiral antenna coil 3 is integrally formed on the surface of the square IC chip 1 on the circuit forming side through an insulating layer 2 (see FIG. 11) made of polyimide resin or the like. Has been. The antenna coil 3 is formed in a rectangular shape along the outer shape of the IC chip 1. In this embodiment, the coil width is about 14 μm, the gap between the coils is about 4 μm, and the number of turns is about 47 turns. Both ends of the antenna coil 3 are connected to input / output terminals 4 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna coil 3 is formed on the IC chip 1 by a photoresist method or the like so that the center O1 of the IC chip 1 and the winding center O2 of the rectangular spiral antenna coil 3 coincide. The length of one side of the IC chip 1 integrally formed with the antenna coil 3 is about 3 mm to 4 mm, and the thickness is about 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.
[0015]
The core piece body 5 is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polycarbonate resin or epoxy resin, and has a circular recess 6 at the center position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a protruding caulking around the opening of the recess 6. The teenager 7 is integrally formed.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 5, the inner diameter D of the recess 6 is designed to be approximately equal to the diagonal length L (see FIG. 3) of the IC chip 1, and the center of the IC chip 1 is inserted by inserting the IC chip 1 into the recess 6. The IC chip 1 (antenna coil 3) is positioned at the center so that O1 and the center O3 of the core piece body 5 coincide with each other, that is, within the core piece body 5. On the outer periphery of the core piece body 5, one or more annular protrusions 11 (one in the present embodiment) are formed.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the IC chip 1 is inserted into the recess 6 with the antenna coil 3 side down, and an ultrasonic welding horn (not shown) is pressed from above the core piece body 5 to heat the caulking allowance 7 inward. Softening and caulking, forming caulking portions 9 that hold (lock) the four corners 1a to 1d of the IC chip 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the IC chip 1 rattles in the recess 6 The core piece 10 is constituted by being supported without any problems. In addition, a notch part or a notch may be provided at the upper end portion of the caulking allowance 7 so as to facilitate bending of the caulking allowance 7 to the inside.
[0018]
In this example, the IC chip 1 is inserted into the recess 6 with the antenna coil 3 side down, and the antenna coil 3 is protected by the bottom 12 of the recess 6. 1 is inserted into the recess 6, the surface of the antenna coil 3 is lowered from the upper surface of the core piece body 5 by the thickness of the caulking portion 9. There is a protective effect without damaging 3. If the core piece body 5 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, it is convenient to check whether the IC chip 1 is mounted.
[0019]
7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the test tube 13 to which the core piece 10 is attached. FIG. 7 shows a state before the core piece 10 is attached, and FIG. 8 shows a state after the core piece 10 is attached. .
[0020]
The test tube 13 is made of a synthetic resin that is translucent or transparent, such as polypropylene resin, and has excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc., and a fitting recess 15 is formed at the center of the bottom portion 14 as shown in FIG. An annular recess 16 is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof.
[0021]
The core piece 10 is press-fitted into the fitting recess 15 so that the bottom 12 of the core piece 10 is located below the fitting recess 15. By this press-fitting, the annular convex portion 11 provided in the core piece 10 is fitted into the annular concave portion 16 provided in the fitting concave portion 15, and the engagement between the two results in the bottom portion 14 of the test tube 13 as shown in FIG. 8. The core piece 10 is fitted. In this state, the bottom surface of the core piece 10 does not protrude from the bottom surface of the test tube 13, and the core piece 10 (antenna coil 3) is positioned at the center position of the test tube 13. The core piece 10 fixed in this way does not fall off when the test tube 13 is handled or washed.
[0022]
Thus, the information carrier according to the present embodiment is constituted by the test tube 13 to which the core piece 10 is attached. When a blood test or the like is performed using the test tube 13, for example, 1D information of the subject, information on test conditions, information on test results, and the like are stored in the IC chip 1 of the core piece 10 or stored in the IC chip 1. Information is read out.
[0023]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a reader / writer 17 that reads / writes information from / to an information carrier such as the test tube 13. The reader / writer 17 has an upper case 18 and a lower case (chassis) 19. A printed wiring board 20 is installed in the inner space, and various electronic components 21 and a communication core 22 are mounted thereon. Further, a lead wire 24 and the like are also connected to the printed wiring board 20 via a switch 25 and a connector 23.
[0024]
The communication core 22 is composed of a cylindrical ferrite sintered body (see FIG. 11), and a concave holder positioning portion 25 is provided at a position corresponding to the communication core 22 of the upper case 18, and the holder positioning portion 25. The top surface of the communication core 22 is exposed on the bottom surface of the holder, and the bottom surface of the holder positioning portion 25 and the top surface of the communication core 22 are flush with each other. It protrudes slightly. .
[0025]
A holder 26 made of a synthetic resin molding is replaceably attached to the concave holder positioning portion 25. A tapered insertion hole 27 that penetrates vertically and slightly expands upward is formed at the center position of the holder 26, and the inner diameter of the lower portion of the insertion hole 27 is outside the test tube 13 to exchange information. It is almost the same size as the diameter.
[0026]
The holder 26 shown in FIG. 9 is for a thin test tube, but several types are prepared according to the outer diameter of the test tube 13 to be used. For example, the holder 26 shown in FIG. For containers. As described above, the inner diameter of the insertion hole 27 varies depending on the thickness of the test tube 13 to be applied, but the outer diameter of each holder 26 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the holder positioning portion 25 of the reader / writer 17. The heights of the holders 26 may be the same or different. In short, any height may be used as long as the test tube 13 and the like can be held vertically in a stable state.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 9, a holder 26 having an inner diameter suitable for the outer diameter of the test tube 13 is selected and mounted on the holder positioning unit 25, whereby the holder 26 on the communication core 22 is positioned, and the communication is performed. The center of the core 22 and the center of the insertion hole 27 coincide. In this state, when the test tube 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 27 with the bottom portion 14 facing down, the core piece 10 attached to the bottom portion 14 of the test tube 13 comes into contact with the upper surface of the communication core 22 and is guided by the insertion hole 27. The center of the core piece 10 (antenna coil 3) coincides with the center of the upper surface of the communication core 22.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 11, an antenna coil 28 is wound around the outer periphery of the communication core 22. The figure shows a correspondence relationship between the antenna coil 3 of the core piece 10 and the antenna coil 28 of the communication core 22, but in the figure, the antenna coil 3 of the core piece 10 is represented by a solid line, so that the core piece 10 is a communication core. The core piece 10 is actually in contact with the upper surface of the communication core 22.
[0029]
By holding the test tube 13 vertically as described above, the plane of the antenna coil 3 is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the communication core 22, and the center of the antenna coil 3 and the center of the communication core 22 are automatically set. Match.
[0030]
By aligning the center in this way, the test tube 13 (antenna coil 3) is magnetically coupled between the antenna coil 3 and the antenna coil 28 regardless of the orientation of the test tube 13 (antenna coil 3) on the plane. Data is exchanged.
[0031]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a data transmission system among the test tube 13 (information carrier), the reader / writer 17 and the host computer 44 according to the present invention.
The IC chip 1 in the core piece 10 attached to the test tube 13 includes an antenna coil 3, a power generation circuit 33, a memory 34, a control circuit 35, and the like. The reader / writer 17 includes an antenna coil 28 that is magnetically coupled to the antenna coil 3 on the test tube 13 side, a transceiver / receiver 37, a controller 38, and the like. The relationship between the components is as shown in the figure. Based on a command from the host computer 44, various data is written to the memory 34 attached to the test tube 13 via the reader / writer 17, Reading is performed.
[0032]
FIG. 13 is a side view of a lid body 45 showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The lid 45 is for closing the opening of the test tube 13 and is formed of a synthetic resin excellent in elasticity, heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc., such as polypropylene, for example, at the center position on the upper surface of the lid 45. A core piece 10 is attached. Since this mounting structure is the same as that of the test tube 13 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the description thereof is omitted. In this example, the bottom 12 (antenna coil 3) of the core piece 10 shown in FIG. 45 is disposed on the upper surface side.
[0033]
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a petri dish 46 showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The Petri dish 46 is a relatively shallow cylindrical container made of a synthetic resin molding, and is used, for example, for culturing bacteria. The core piece 10 is attached to the center of the bottom surface of the bottom. Since this mounting structure is the same as that of the test tube 13 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the description thereof is omitted. Instead of the Petri dish 46, the core piece 10 can be attached to the center position of the upper surface of the lid 47.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, an example using a communication core is shown, but a coreless reader / writer side antenna coil that does not use a communication core can also be used.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the case where the IC chip is mounted on the core piece has been described. However, it is also possible to directly mount the IC chip in which the antenna coil is integrally formed on one surface to the container or the lid.
[0036]
The non-contact communication type information carrier according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied to various industrial fields.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an IC chip integrally formed with an antenna coil is inserted into the concave portion of the core piece body having a concave portion and a caulking allowance, and the caulking allowance is pressed from the upper side of the core piece main body. However, it is heated and softened inward to form a caulking portion that holds the IC chip and constitutes a core piece that carries the IC chip in the recess, so that the IC chip can be carried without rattling in the recess, In addition, since the coil forming surface can be protected and the size can be easily handled, it is possible to supply by bagging or parts feeder, and to provide an inexpensive non-contact communication type information carrier with good handling and productivity. it can.
[0038]
Even if the shape and size of the container and lid that make up the information carrier are different, the same core piece can be used in common if the shape of the mounting part (mounting part) with the core piece is kept constant, reducing costs. Can be planned.
[0039]
Further, conventionally, since a small piece of recording paper or a barcode-printed paper has been attached to the peripheral surface of a container such as a test tube, there has been a disadvantage that the paper is peeled off and lost. Since it is fixed, there is no worry about loss.
[0040]
Furthermore, conventionally, when the information described on the recording paper is read with the eyes, it is necessary to rotate the test tube to a position where the recording paper can be seen. When reading barcode information optically, it is necessary to rotate the test tube to the position where the barcode is opposite to the optical head, and the reader must be equipped with a test tube rotation and positioning mechanism. However, in the present invention, since the core piece is provided at the center position of the container or the lid, it is not necessary to rotate the container or the lid.
[0041]
The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a fitting recess is formed at the center position of the container or the lid, and the core piece is press-fitted and fixed in the fitting recess. According to the third aspect of the present invention, an annular convex portion or an annular concave portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the core piece, and an annular concave portion or an annular convex portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the fitting concave portion of the container or the lid. The core piece is attached to the container or the lid body by the engagement between the portion and the annular recess. By taking such a configuration, it is easy to attach the core piece to the container or the lid.
[0042]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the IC piece is disposed in the recess so that the antenna coil faces the bottom of the core piece main body, and the core piece is arranged so that the bottom of the core piece main body is disposed on the surface side of the information carrier. Since it is attached to the carrier and the bottom surface of the core piece body does not protrude from the surface of the information carrier, the coil forming surface can be protected and the information carrier can be handled (for example, when the information carrier is taken in and out of the reader / writer). The information carrier is not caught by the core piece, and the handling is smooth.
[0043]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the IC chip is square, the antenna coil is formed on the IC chip so that the winding center of the antenna coil substantially coincides with the center of the IC chip, and the core piece body has a disc shape. A concave portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diagonal length of the IC chip is formed at the central position of the core piece body, and the core piece is configured by mounting the IC chip in the concave portion. The central position of the container or lid The fitting recess formed in the cylindrical shape has a cylindrical shape, and the core piece is mounted in the fitting recess. Therefore, there is no need to consider the directionality when a small IC chip is mounted on the core piece body, the IC chip mounting process is simplified, and productivity can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a core piece for a non-contact communication type information carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1A-A in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an IC chip integrally formed with an antenna coil used for the core piece.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion shown in FIG. 3B.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the core piece body.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a part of the core piece body in cross section.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a test tube before a core piece is attached.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a test tube to which a core piece is attached.
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a reader / writer.
FIG. 10 is a front view of another holder used for the reader / writer.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a correspondence relationship between an antenna coil on the information carrier side and an antenna coil on the reader / writer side.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a data transmission system of a contactless communication type information carrier, a reader / writer, and a host computer.
FIG. 13 is a front view of a lid according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a Petri dish according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 IC chip 1a to 1d IC chip corner 3 Antenna coil 5 Core piece main body 6 Recess 7 Caulking allowance 9 Caulking portion 10 Core piece 11 Annular convex 12 Bottom 13 Test tube 14 Bottom 15 Engaging concave 16 Annular concave 17 Reader / writer 18 Top Case 19 Lower case 20 Printed wiring board 21 Electronic component 22 Communication core 25 Holder positioning portion 26 Holder 27 Insert hole 28 Antenna coil 45, 47 Cover 46 Petri dish O1 IC chip center O2 Antenna coil winding center O3 Core piece body Center D Core core body recess diameter L IC chip diagonal length

Claims (5)

An IC chip in which an antenna coil is integrally formed on one surface is inserted into the recess of the core piece body having a recess and a caulking allowance, and the inner side is heated and softened while pressing the caulking allowance from the upper side of the core piece body. Forming a caulking portion for holding the IC chip, and forming a core piece carrying the IC chip in the recess;
A non-contact communication type information carrier characterized in that the core piece is attached at the center of the bottom of the cylindrical container or at the center of the lid that closes the opening of the container. 2. The non-contact communication type information carrier according to claim 1, wherein a fitting recess is formed at a central position of the container or the lid, and the core piece is press-fitted and fixed in the fitting recess. Communication information carrier. 3. The non-contact communication type information carrier according to claim 2, wherein an annular convex portion or an annular concave portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the core piece, and an annular concave portion or an annular convex portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the fitting concave portion of the container or lid. Then, the core piece is attached to the container or the lid body by the engagement of the annular convex portion and the annular concave portion. 2. The non-contact communication type information carrier according to claim 1, wherein an IC chip is disposed in the recess of the core piece body so that the antenna coil faces the bottom of the core piece body, and the bottom of the core piece body is the bottom side of the container or A non-contact communication type characterized in that the core piece is attached to the container or the lid so as to be arranged on the upper surface side of the lid, and the bottom surface of the core piece body does not protrude from the bottom of the container or the top of the lid Information carrier. 2. The non-contact communication type information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the IC chip is square, the antenna coil is formed on the IC chip so that the winding center of the antenna coil substantially coincides with the center of the IC chip, and the core piece body. Has a disk-like shape, and a recess having a diameter substantially equal to the length of the diagonal of the IC chip is formed at the center position of the core piece body, and an IC chip is mounted in the recess to constitute the core piece.
A non-contact communication type information carrier, wherein a fitting recess formed in a central position of the container or the lid has a cylindrical shape, and the core piece is mounted in the fitting recess.

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