Antenna Positioning for Stable Wireless Tag Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face unstable wireless communication between the antenna and the wireless tag in the developer storage container due to metal components, limiting the flexibility in arranging the antenna and potentially disrupting communication.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a radio wave communication method between the wireless communication portion and the wireless tag, along with a positional relationship changing mechanism that adjusts the relative position between the antenna and the wireless tag, allowing for increased flexibility in antenna placement and reducing communication instability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna is arranged in the image forming apparatus to communicate with the wireless tag in the developer storage container, then wireless communication can be established, but the metal components in the casing cause unstable communication and limit antenna placement flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the antenna movable relative to the casing by providing a movable portion that can change the antenna's position. The antenna is configured to move in a direction extending from the inside of the casing toward the outside, allowing dynamic adjustment of the antenna's location to achieve stable wireless communication while maintaining placement flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the antenna arrangement into a third dimension by moving it partially outside the casing. The antenna protrudes from the casing in the radial direction, creating a spatial separation between the antenna and the metal components inside the casing, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference while maintaining compact overall structure.
2Length of moving object
If the antenna is placed inside the casing close to the wireless tag, then communication distance is reduced, but metal components cause signal interference and communication instability
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is configured to move between an initial position inside the casing and a moved position outside the casing. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adjust the communication distance adaptively - closer when needed for short-range communication, and farther when needed to avoid metal interference, thereby achieving both short communication distance and stable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameter of the antenna position dynamically. By adjusting the antenna's location from inside to outside the casing, the system modifies the physical parameters of the communication path, including distance and interference conditions, to optimize both communication distance and stability for different operational scenarios.
3Reliability
If the antenna is moved outside the casing to avoid metal interference, then communication stability improves, but the antenna arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antenna with the movable portion of the developing device. The antenna is integrated into the movable portion that is already designed to move for developer supply operations. This merging of functions means the antenna movement is achieved through the existing movable structure, avoiding the need for separate complex antenna positioning mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion serves multiple functions: it supplies developer to the developing device and simultaneously positions the antenna for optimal wireless communication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated antenna positioning mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while achieving both developer supply and stable communication.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the communication distance and stability between the antenna and the wireless tag, enabling more flexible antenna arrangement and stable wireless communication, even in the presence of metal components within the casing.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna is used for performing wireless communication with the wireless tag of the developer storage portion attached to the attaching portion using a radio wave method
Implementation Method 2
there is known an image forming apparatus that accesses, using an antenna provided opposed to a wireless tag provided in the developer storage portion, the wireless tag by an electromagnetic induction method
Data Source
AI summary
A developer supplying apparatus includes an attaching portion, an antenna, and a positional relationship changing portion. A developer storage portion including a wireless tag is attached to the attaching portion. The antenna is used for performing wireless communication with the wireless tag of the developer storage portion attached to the attaching portion using a radio wave method. The positional relationship changing portion changes a positional relationship between the wireless tag and the antenna.