JP2018195458A - Object detection sheet and object detection system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an object detection sheet capable of detecting the quantity of objects with a simple configuration of wiring and circuit.SOLUTION: An object detection sheet 10 is configured including: a switch group 22 of plural switches SW connected in parallel to each other, in which a pair of contacts 14, 15 disposed opposing to each other at a predetermined distance from each other which are configured to open/close each electrical path by being brought into contact/noncontact state; a lead wire 23 for detecting a voltage of the switch group 22; and resistance parts 45, 46 each disposed between a pair of contact and lead wire to increase the resistance when the pair of contacts come into contact with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an object detection sheet for detecting the quantity of objects and an object detection system using the same.

  In retail stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, a shortage of merchandise displayed on merchandise shelves results in a loss of sales opportunities, and this loss of sales opportunities has a significant impact on store sales. For this reason, when there is a shortage of products on the product shelf, it is necessary to promptly perform a product management operation (product replenishment operation) for replenishing the shortage products and resolving the shortage state.

  As related to such merchandise management work, an upper sheet having an upper contact and a lower sheet having a lower contact are arranged such that the upper contact and the lower contact face each other with a minute gap therebetween, A product management system is known that uses a membrane switch (sheet-like switch) configured such that when the upper contact is pressed from above and the upper contact contacts the lower contact, both contacts are conducted (see Patent Document 1). In the prior art of Patent Document 1, an object detection sheet having a plurality of membrane switches connected in parallel is placed on the shelf of a product shelf, and when any of the plurality of membrane switches is turned on, It is determined that the product is placed on the.

JP-T-2006-511392

  However, in the prior art of Patent Document 1, only the presence or absence of a product placed on the object detection sheet can be determined, and the quantity of the product placed on the object detection sheet cannot be detected. There was a problem.

  In order to solve this problem, ON / OFF of each switch of a plurality of membrane switches is individually detected, and the number of objects placed on the object detection sheet is detected or estimated based on ON / OFF of each switch However, in this case, since it is necessary to draw out the wiring for each switch, there arises a new problem that the wiring of the switch and the circuit configuration become complicated.

  The present disclosure has been devised in view of the problems of the prior art, and provides an object detection sheet that can detect the number of objects with a simple wiring and circuit configuration, and an object detection system using the same. The main purpose is to provide.

  An object detection sheet according to the present disclosure includes a switch group in which a plurality of switches that open and close an electric circuit by bringing a pair of contact points facing each other at a predetermined interval into contact or non-contact are connected in parallel; It includes a lead wire for detecting a voltage and a resistance portion provided between the pair of contacts and the lead wire in order to increase resistance when the pair of contacts are in contact with each other.

  According to the present disclosure, the number of objects can be detected with a simple wiring and circuit configuration.

The figure which shows the example which applied the object detection system which concerns on this indication to a goods shelf The perspective view which shows the state which mounted the plastic bottle on the object detection sheet | seat Sectional view showing the basic structure of the object detection sheet Plan view showing switch wiring and circuit of object detection sheet Equivalent circuit diagram of analog switch according to the present disclosure (A) Top view which shows an example of the contact part of the analog type switch which concerns on this indication, (b) The top view which shows the conventional contact part The top view which shows another example of the contact part of the analog type switch which concerns on this indication The top view which shows another example of the contact part of the analog type switch which concerns on this indication It is a figure for demonstrating the voltage drop in a switch group, and shows the case where one switch is an ON state It is a figure for demonstrating the voltage drop in a switch group, and shows the case where two switches are in an ON state A graph showing the relationship between the number of contacts in the ON state and the voltage of the switch group Table corresponding to the graph of FIG. Table corresponding to the graph of FIG.

  A first invention made to solve the above problems is a switch in which a plurality of switches that open and close an electric circuit by making a pair of contacts arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval in contact or non-contact are connected in parallel A group, a lead wire for detecting the voltage of the switch group, and a resistance portion provided between the pair of contacts and the lead wire to increase resistance when the pair of contacts are in contact with each other It is characterized by that.

  According to the object detection sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of wires drawn from the object detection sheet is only the number of switch groups. Therefore, the number of objects can be detected with a simple wiring and circuit configuration.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the resistance portion is configured by at least a part of the contact.

  According to the object detection sheet of the second invention, the resistance portion can be configured with a simple configuration.

  The third invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the resistance portion is constituted by at least a part of a portion between the pair of contacts and the lead-out wiring.

  According to the object detection sheet of the third invention, the resistance portion can be configured with a simple configuration.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the resistance portion is configured to have a higher resistivity than the lead wiring.

  According to the object detection sheet according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the resistance at the time of contact between the pair of contacts can be increased with a simple configuration.

  Further, a fifth invention is the above-mentioned fourth invention, wherein the resistance portion is made of the same material as that constituting the lead-out wiring and is long so that the resistivity is higher than that of the lead-out wiring. It is characterized by being thin or thin.

  According to the object detection sheet of the fifth aspect of the invention, the resistance portion can be configured to have a higher resistivity than the lead wiring with a simple configuration.

  In addition, a sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fifth invention, the resistance portion is formed so as to surround the contact.

  According to the object detection sheet of the sixth aspect of the invention, the length of the resistance portion can be increased, thereby increasing the resistance when the pair of contacts are in contact.

  According to a seventh aspect, in the sixth aspect, the resistance portion is formed concentrically around the contact.

  According to the object detection sheet of the seventh aspect, the length of the resistance portion can be increased with a simple configuration.

  An eighth invention includes the object detection sheet according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, and on the object detection sheet based on a change in voltage of the switch group of the object detection sheet. An object detection system configured to detect the number of objects present.

  According to the object detection system of the eighth invention, it is possible to detect the number of objects existing on the object detection sheet based on the voltage change of the switch group of the object detection sheet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, for example, a case will be described in which the quantity of products displayed on a product shelf is detected in a retail store such as a supermarket or a convenience store.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an object detection system 1 according to the present disclosure is applied to a product shelf 2. The product shelf 2 includes a plate-like support member 3 extending in the vertical direction, and a plurality of shelf plates 4A-4E that are supported at one end by the support member 3 and extend in the horizontal direction. (Referred to as “shelf 4”). The shelf boards 4A-4E are arranged at predetermined intervals from top to bottom in that order. The product shelf 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and for example, the number and shape of the shelf boards 4 can be changed as appropriate.

  The object detection system 1 according to the present disclosure includes an object detection sheet 10A-10T (hereinafter simply referred to as “sheet 10” when collectively referred to) placed on each shelf plate 4 and a cable 5 through each cable 5. It comprises a store terminal 6 connected to the object detection sheet 10 and a management device 8 connected to the store terminal 6 via a network 7 such as the Internet. Each sheet 10 is connected to the cable 5 via the connector 9.

  Four sheets 10 are placed on each shelf board 4, sheets 10 </ b> A- 10 </ b> D on shelf board 4 </ b> A, sheets 10 </ b> E- 10 </ b> H on shelf board 4 </ b> B, and sheets 10 </ b> I- 10 </ b> L on shelf board 4 </ b> C. However, the sheet 10M-10P is placed on the shelf board 4D, and the sheet 10Q-10T is placed on the shelf board 4E.

  On each sheet 10, for example, a product such as a plastic bottle is placed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the plastic bottle P is placed on the sheet 10. In the example of FIG. 2, the plastic bottles P are placed on the sheet 10 in 6 rows and 6 columns. Note that FIG. 2 is an example, and the number of plastic bottles P placed on the sheet 10 can be appropriately changed according to the size and shape of the sheet 10. Further, the product is not limited to the plastic bottle P, and may be various products such as cans, bottles, other containers and packaging.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the basic structure of the sheet 10. As shown in FIG. 3, in the sheet 10, an upper sheet 11 and a lower sheet 12 are arranged to face each other with a predetermined interval through a spacer 13. The upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 are made of, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like, and a conductive circuit (see FIG. 4) is formed by printing conductive ink (for example, silver paste, carbon paste) on the sheet surface. Yes.

  The upper sheet 11 has an upper contact 14 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “contact 14”) on a lower surface thereof (a surface facing the lower sheet 12), and the lower sheet 12 has an upper surface (a surface facing the upper sheet 11). ) Has a lower contact 15 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “contact 15”). The upper contact 14 and the lower contact 15 are opposed to each other with a minute gap because the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 are separated by the spacer 13. In this way, a switch having the upper contact 14 and the lower contact 15 as contact portions is configured.

  When a product such as a plastic bottle is placed on the sheet 10 (see FIG. 2), the upper sheet 11 is bent and deformed toward the lower sheet 12. Thereby, the upper contact 14 contacts the lower contact 15, and the switch is turned on. And if goods are removed from the sheet | seat 10, bending deformation will be cancelled | released and the upper sheet | seat 11 will return to an original position. Thereby, the upper contact 14 and the lower contact 15 are separated again, and the switch is turned OFF. A detection board (not shown) for detecting the switch state (ON / OFF) of the sheet 10 is provided at the end of each sheet 10 on the connector 9 (see FIG. 1) side. The detection result of the detection board is transmitted to the management device 8 via the store terminal 6.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, a protective sheet for protecting the upper sheet 11 is provided on the upper surface of the upper sheet 11 (the surface on which the product is placed), and the lower surface of the lower sheet 12 (the side opposite to the upper sheet 11). The base sheet for reinforcing the entire sheet 10 is disposed on each of the surfaces. Further, a pusher sheet provided with a projection of a predetermined size at a position corresponding to the upper contact 14 may be disposed on the upper surface of the upper sheet 11. By adding this pusher sheet, it is possible to detect a product located at a position slightly deviated from directly above the upper contact 14, and thereby the display state of the product placed on the sheet 10 can be detected. Even if it is somewhat disturbed, the product can be detected.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the wiring and circuit of the switch of the sheet 10. This sheet 10 includes two types of switches, a novel type switch (hereinafter referred to as “analog type switch” 20) and a conventional type switch (hereinafter referred to as “digital switch”) 30 according to the present disclosure. It has a switch. The layout of the analog switch 20 and the digital switch 30 on the sheet 10 is configured to be symmetric in the width direction of the sheet 10.

  The analog switches 20 are arranged so as to cover the entire surface of the sheet 10, and a switch group 22 in which 48 contact portions 21 are arranged in a row is arranged in 20 rows in the width direction of the sheet 10. Therefore, the analog switch 20 has a total of 960 contact portions 21 of 48 × 20 rows. Each switch group 22 is connected to a detection board (not shown) by a lead wire (lead wire) 23. Therefore, the analog switch 20 has 20 lead wires 23.

  The digital switch 30 is disposed at a front portion of the seat 10, that is, a portion corresponding to the front end of the shelf plate 4 whose rear end is supported by the support member 3. In the digital switch 30, 20 rows of switch groups 32 in which three contacts 31 are arranged in a row are arranged in the width direction of the sheet 10. Therefore, the digital switch 30 has a total of 60 contacts 31 of 3 × 20 rows. Each row of the switch group 32 of the digital switch 30 is arranged so as to be in line with each row of the switch group 22 of the analog switch 20.

  Each switch group 32 is connected to a detection board (not shown) by a lead wire (lead wire) 33. On the end side in the width direction (the right side in FIG. 4), six contacts 31 for two rows are connected to a detection board (not shown) by one lead wire 33 in order to reduce the number of lead wires 33. Has been. Therefore, the digital switch 30 has a total of 18 lead wires 33. The structure of this sheet | seat 10 is not limited to this, The number of the contacts 31 and the extraction wirings 23 and 33 can be changed suitably.

  FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the analog switch 20. 5 are the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 of the sheet 10, and the voltage source 41, the pull-up resistor 42, and the ground 43 are provided on the lead-out wiring 23 of the sheet 10 and a detection board (not shown). Is provided. The sheet 10 has a plurality of switches SW constituted by an upper contact 14 and a lower contact 15, and n switches SW of the switch SW1, the switch SW2, the switch SW3,..., The switch SWn are connected in parallel. Has been. As described above, in this embodiment, each switch group 22 includes 48 contact portions 21, and therefore n is 48.

  A probe 50 for measuring the voltage between the switch SW and the ground 43 is connected between the pull-up resistor 42 and the ground 43 via the probe wiring 44. Although not shown in FIG. 5, the probe 50 is connected to a detection circuit (not shown), and the measurement result of the probe 50 is input to the detection circuit.

  As shown in FIG. 5, resistance portions 45 and 46 (hereinafter simply referred to as “resistances 45 and 46”) are provided in the vicinity of each switch SW of the analog switch 20. The resistor 45 is provided between the contact 14 on the power supply side and the pull-up resistor 42, and the resistor 46 is provided between the contact 15 on the ground side and the ground 43. The resistors 45 and 46 and the switches SW (contacts 14 and 15) form a parallel circuit.

  The resistors 45 and 46 have a resistance value that is significantly larger than the resistance value of contacts of a normal membrane switch sheet (generally about 500Ω), for example, a resistance value of several tens of kΩ. As will be described later, the resistance values of the resistors 45 and 46 are set to values at which the probe 50 can detect the voltage change of the parallel circuit according to the number of ON of the switch SW of the switch group 22.

  Such resistors 45 and 46 can be realized, for example, by forming the contacts 14 and 15 with only carbon paste without using silver paste, as shown in FIG. The resistivity of the carbon paste is generally higher than that of the silver paste, and pastes having various resistivity can be prepared depending on the particle diameter, particle size distribution, vehicle composition, and the like. By forming the contacts 14 and 15 only with such a carbon paste whose resistivity is intentionally adjusted, a resistor 45 having a resistivity higher than that of the lead-out wiring 23 in the vicinity of the contacts 14 and 15. 46 can be provided. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional contact. As shown in FIG.6 (b), the conventional contact is comprised from the silver paste and the carbon paste which covers it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a high resistance member 47 made of a material having a resistivity higher than that of the lead-out wiring 23 is disposed in a portion between the lead-out wiring 23 and the contacts 14 and 15, and the high The resistors 45 and 46 may be configured by the resistance member 47. The material of the high resistance member 47 is not particularly limited, and various materials can be used as long as the resistivity higher than the resistivity of the lead-out wiring 23 can be realized.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B, a connection portion 48 or 49 that connects the lead-out wiring 23 and the contacts 14 and 15 is formed long, and the connection portions 48 and 49 allow the resistance 45 to be reduced. , 46 may be configured. Alternatively, although not shown, the resistors 45 and 46 may be configured by forming the connection portion 48 or 49 thin or thin. Since the resistivity is proportional to the distance through which the current flows and inversely proportional to the thickness of the paste or the cross-sectional area in the conductive direction, by forming the connection portion 48 or 49 long, thin, or thin, the resistance of the connection portion 48 or 49 can be reduced. The resistivity can be increased.

  8 (a) and 8 (b), the connecting portions 48 and 49 are formed so as to surround the contacts 14 and 15 concentrically so that the connecting portion 48 or 49 is formed long. The connection portions 48 and 49 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are examples, and the lengths and shapes of the connection portions 48 and 49 can be changed as appropriate. Further, in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the illustration of the carbon paste covering the silver paste constituting the lead-out wiring 23 is omitted.

  Next, a voltage drop in the switch group 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The voltage of the voltage source 41 is 5V.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when all the switches SW of the analog switch 20 are OFF (that is, when there is no product on the area of the analog switch 20 in the seat 10), the voltage source of the equivalent circuit Since the resistance between the terminal 41 and the ground 43 is infinite, the voltage 5 V of the voltage source 41 is applied to the switch group 22. That is, the voltage value detected by the probe 50 is 5V.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when only the switch SW <b> 1 is turned on, the current flows to the ground 43 through the pull-up resistor 42, the resistor 45, SW <b> 1 (contact 14, contact 15), and the resistor 46. At this time, the resistance value of the switch SW1 is the sum of the resistance value of the resistor 45 and the resistance value of the resistor 46. As a result, the voltage 5V of the voltage source 41 is divided by the pull-up resistor 42 and the resistors 45 and 46 around the switch SW1, so that the voltage applied to the switch group 22 is reduced by the voltage drop caused by the resistors 45 and 46. It becomes lower than 5V. That is, the voltage of the switch group 22 detected by the probe 50 is lower than 5V.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the switch SW1 and the switch SW2 are turned on, the switch SW1 and the switch SW2 constitute a combined resistor connected in parallel. The resistance value of the combined resistance is lower than the resistance value of the switch SW1 (the sum of the resistance value of the resistor 45 and the resistance value of the resistor 46). For this reason, the voltage applied to the switch group 22 is even lower than when only SW1 is turned on. That is, the voltage of the switch group 22 detected by the probe 50 is lower than when only SW1 is turned on. Thus, as the number of ON switches SW increases, the voltage of the switch group 22 detected by the probe 50 decreases.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of contacts in the ON state and the voltage of the switch group 22, and FIGS. 12A and 12B are tables corresponding to the graph of FIG. In the examples of FIGS. 11, 12A, and 12B, the pull-up resistor 42 is 500Ω, and the resistors 45 and 46 are 10 kΩ. As for the voltage of the switch group 22, the potential at the probe 50 is received by the analog port of the CPU of the detection board, A / D converted, and digitized (quantized by 10 bits).

  The horizontal axis of the graph in FIG. 11 indicates the number of contacts 14 and 15 in the ON state. Since each switch SW is composed of a pair of contacts 14 and 15, for example, when three switches SW are turned on, the number of contacts 14 and 15 in the on state is six. The vertical axis in FIG. 11 indicates the resistance value of the combined resistance constituted by the switch SW in the ON state and the voltage value of the switch group 22 detected by the probe 50. As described above, the voltage value of the switch group 22 is converted to an analog value by an A / D conversion port of a detection board (not shown) and sent to the management device 8 via the store terminal 6.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the combined resistance value and the A / D conversion value decrease in a curve as the number of ON switches SW increases. Thus, there is a certain relationship based on Ohm's law between the number of switches in the ON state and the voltage value of the switch group 22. Therefore, when the voltage value of the switch group 22 is known, the number of switches SW in the ON state can be known. Note that the shape of the curve of the combined resistance value and the A / D conversion value depends on both the resistance values of the resistors 45 and 46 around the contacts of the switch SW and the resistance value of the pull-up resistor 42.

  Moreover, since the number of switches SW which the product (pet bottle P) placed on the sheet 10 steps is determined by the shape of the bottom surface of the product, it can be obtained in advance. Therefore, if the number of switches SW in the ON state is known, the number of products existing on the sheet 10 can be estimated based on the number of switches SW. For example, if it is known in advance that the number of switches SW that one PET bottle P steps on is 8, if the number of switches SW in the ON state is 80, the PET bottles existing on the sheet 10 It can be estimated that the number of P is ten.

  Note that the quantity of merchandise includes not only the actual number of merchandise but also the number in a predetermined range. For example, when the number of ON state switches SW is 80, the quantity of products may be estimated with a range of 8 to 12 and a predetermined range.

  Further, since the number of switches SW in the ON state is obtained for each switch group 22, based on the detection result of each switch group 22 arranged in 20 rows in the width direction of the sheet 10, It is also possible to detect whether it exists at a position. In addition, it is possible to detect a product deviation in the width direction of the sheet 10.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the digital switch 30 is energized when the upper contact and the lower contact of any one of the contact portions 31 are in contact with each other, like the conventional general membrane switch. Is configured to detect ON / OFF. Since the digital switch 30 is arranged on the front end side of the seat 10 (the front side of the shelf board 4), whether there is a product on the front side of the shelf board 4 by detecting the ON / OFF of the digital switch 30. Whether or not can be detected. From the viewpoints of appearance problems and loss of sales opportunities, etc., it is desirable that the merchandise is arranged on the front side of the shelf board 4, and generally a merchandise management operation called a face-up is often performed. Therefore, if the digital switch 30 can detect whether or not there is a product on the front side of the shelf board 4, it is possible to grasp the implementation status of the product management work, which is very beneficial.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the quantity data of the products detected in each sheet 10 configured in this way is transmitted to the store terminal 6 via the connector 9 and the cable 5. Then, the store terminal 6 transmits the quantity data received from each sheet 10 to the management device 8 via the network 7 at a predetermined timing or in response to a request from the management device 8. As a result, the user of the management device 8 can know the quantity of products displayed on each shelf board 4 of the product shelf 2.

  As mentioned above, although this indication was explained based on specific embodiments, these embodiments are illustrations to the last, and this indication is not limited by these embodiments. In addition, each component of the object detection sheet and the object detection system according to the present disclosure shown in the above embodiment is not necessarily essential, and can be appropriately selected as long as it does not deviate from the scope of the present disclosure. is there.

  The object detection sheet and the object detection system according to the present disclosure are useful as an object detection sheet and an object detection system that can detect the quantity of objects with a simple wiring and circuit configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Object detection system 2 Product shelf 3 Support member 4 Shelf board 5 Cable 6 Store terminal 7 Network 8 Management apparatus 9 Connector 10 Object detection sheet 14 Upper contact 15 Lower contact 20 Analog switch 21 Contact part 22 Switch group 23 Lead wiring 41 Voltage Source 42 Pull-up resistor 43 Ground 44 Probe wiring 45 Resistance portion 46 Resistance portion 50 Probe SW switch

Claims (8)

A switch group in which a plurality of switches that open and close an electric circuit by making a pair of contacts opposed to each other at a predetermined interval contact or non-contact are connected in parallel;
A lead wire for detecting the voltage of the switch group;
An object detection sheet comprising a resistance portion provided between the pair of contacts and the lead-out wiring in order to increase resistance when the pair of contacts are in contact.   The object detection sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resistance portion includes at least a part of the contact.   The object detection sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resistance portion is configured by at least a part of a portion between the pair of contacts and the lead-out wiring.   The object detection sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resistance portion is configured to have a higher resistivity than the lead wiring.   5. The resistance portion is made of the same material as that constituting the lead-out wiring, and is formed long, thin, or thin so that the resistivity is higher than that of the lead-out wiring. The object detection sheet described in 1.   The object detection sheet according to claim 5, wherein the resistance portion is formed so as to surround the contact.   The object detection sheet according to claim 6, wherein the resistance portion is formed concentrically around the contact point. The object detection sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An object detection system configured to detect the number of objects present on the object detection sheet based on a change in voltage of the switch group of the object detection sheet.

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