# US 2018/0025591 A1 · Reading apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025591 A1 - Document ID: US20180025591A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/647,791 - Filed: 2017-07-12 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yutaka TAKANO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025591A1 ## CPC - G07G 1/009: {the reader being an RFID reader} - G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer} - G06K 7/10099: {the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse} - G06K 7/10316: {using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers (antennas in general H01Q1/22)} - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G06Q 20/208: {Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing} - H01Q 1/2216: {used in interrogator/reader equipment} - G07G 1/0018: {Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means} - H01Q 1/22: by structural association with other equipment or articles - H01Q 9/0407: {Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40)} - G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A reading apparatus includes a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side, an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag, and a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. The controller reads data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit. The tray includes at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reading apparatus, comprising: a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side; an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag; and a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag, the controller being configured to read data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit, wherein the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an antenna moving mechanism attached to the first surface side of the tray and configured to support the antenna unit and move the antenna unit along a direction that is parallel to the first surface side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the antenna moving mechanism includes a rail attached to the first surface side of the tray and the antenna moving mechanism is configured to move the antenna unit along the rail when the antenna unit is transmitting the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray comprises a metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray comprises a sheet of metal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray comprises a resin sheet and a metal foil covering a surface of the resin sheet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is an RFID tag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing into which the tray, the antenna unit, and the controller are installed as an integrated unit; and a countertop above the housing, wherein a portion of the countertop directly above the integrated unit is substantially transparent to the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. ### Claim 9 A reading apparatus, comprising: a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side; an antenna moving mechanism attached to the tray on the first surface side; an antenna supported by the antenna moving mechanism on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit and receive radio waves for reading information from a wireless tag; and a control board disposed on the second surface side of the tray and including a processor for controlling the antenna moving mechanism and the antenna in a tag reading process for reading information from the wireless tag, wherein the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna and the control board so as to block the radio waves transmitted by the antenna during the tag reading process from reaching the processor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tray comprises a flat plate portion and a rib on an outer perimeter of the flat plate portion, the rib projecting from the flat plate towards the first surface side, the flat plate portion is between the antenna and the control board, and the flat plate portion is a sheet of metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the antenna moving mechanism includes a rail attached to the first surface side of the tray and the antenna moving mechanism is configured to move the antenna along the rail during the tag reading process. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tray comprises a metal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tray comprises a sheet of metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tray comprises a resin sheet and a metal foil covering a surface of the resin sheet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the wireless tag is an RFID tag. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the antenna moving mechanism comprises: a rail that is attached to the tray, the rail including a case and a shaft housed in the case; a motor connected to the shaft; and a slider attached to the antenna and connected to the shaft, and the slider being configured to move along the rail when the shaft rotates. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The reading apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a housing into which the tray, the antenna, and the control board are installed as an integrated unit; and a countertop above the housing, wherein a portion of the countertop directly above the integrated unit is substantially transparent to the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. ### Claim 18 A sales checkout station, comprising: a countertop having a portion that is substantially transparent to a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag associated with an item of merchandise; a housing below the portion of the countertop; and an integrated reading apparatus disposed in the housing and comprising: a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side; an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag; and a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag, the controller being configured to read data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit, wherein the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sales checkout station according to claim 18, wherein the integrated reading apparatus further comprises: an antenna moving mechanism attached to the first surface side of the tray and configured to support the antenna unit and move the antenna unit along a direction that is parallel to the first surface side. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The sales checkout station according to claim 18, further comprising: a point-of-sale terminal connected to the integrated reading apparatus to receive tag information from the integrated reading apparatus corresponding to items of merchandise on the portion of the countertop during a tag reading process.