Miniaturized BLE Tag for Eyeglasses Using Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Bluetooth-based locating systems are unsuitable for small items like eyeglasses due to size limitations and inadequate electrical energy storage, failing to provide effective solutions for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tag with sufficient battery capacity, integrated into eyeglasses or their accessories, communicates with a cell phone application to provide visual, aural, and tactile feedback for locating lost items, including eyeglasses, using graphical and audible directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a Bluetooth tag is made small enough to fit in eyeglasses, then it can be used for small items like eyeglasses, but the battery capacity becomes insufficient for adequate operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the locating function into two separate components: a minimal BLE tag embedded in the eyeglasses that consumes minimal power, and a separate smartphone application that performs the locating operations. This segmentation allows the eyeglass tag to remain small with sufficient battery life while the smartphone handles the energy-intensive processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone acts as an intermediary between the user and the BLE tag. Instead of requiring the tag to perform complex locating functions independently, the smartphone mediates by receiving signals from the tag and providing location information to the user through visual and audible feedback, reducing the energy requirements of the tag.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing Bluetooth locating systems are used, then they can locate items, but they provide only audible feedback which is useless to deaf or hard of hearing individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone application provides multiple feedback modalities including visual feedback through screen displays and graphical interfaces, and audible feedback through speakers. This multi-functionality ensures the system is accessible to both hearing and deaf users, making the locating system universally applicable regardless of hearing ability.
3Volume of moving object
If a Bluetooth tag is made small for eyeglasses, then it fits the application, but existing tags are too large like the Tile product
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the minimal essential function (BLE transmitting capability) from the tag and embeds it directly into the eyeglasses, separating this simple function from the complex locating processing that resides in the smartphone. This extraction allows for a much smaller tag design while maintaining full locating functionality through the smartphone partnership.
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
Enables efficient tracking and locating of small items like eyeglasses with enhanced battery life and multi-modal feedback, addressing the limitations of existing systems by providing a compact, rechargeable BLE tag with a cell phone application for precise location determination.
Implementation Method 1
an RFID transponder physically connected to the object and configured to receive an interrogation signal and to send a radio frequency response signal in response to the received interrogation signal
Data Source
AI summary
A system for locating remote objects and for directing users to remote objects, and for tracking remote objects such as eye glasses, watches, and the like, the system including an RFID transponder physically connected to the object, and RFID interrogator configured to interrogate the RFID transponder and receive a signal in response thereto, and a portable electronic device in electronic communication with the RFID interrogator and configured to process the received signal and determine a location of the object relative to the RFID interrogator and to provide information to a user regarding the location of the object.