Contactless Data Carrier With External Sensor Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contactless data carriers equipped with sensors face challenges such as increased size, weight, and cost due to power requirements and limited versatility, making them inconvenient for multiple measurements and applications.

Innovation Solution

A contactless data carrier system with a measurement port, threshold generator, comparator, and controller that allows for external sensors to be connected, enabling repeated comparisons with varying threshold values to determine physical quantities, eliminating the need for batteries and allowing for a wide range of measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a contactless data carrier is equipped with built-in sensors, then measurement capability is improved, but size, weight, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensor from the contactless data carrier itself, allowing the carrier to remain small and lightweight while still enabling measurement capabilities through external sensor connections. The carrier includes a measurement port that can interface with external sensors, separating the data carrier function from the sensing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The contactless data carrier is designed with universal measurement ports that can accommodate various types of external sensors. This allows a single carrier design to serve multiple measurement applications by simply changing the external sensor, rather than manufacturing different carrier types for each sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If built-in sensors are added to provide measurement capability, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor component is extracted from the carrier manufacturing process entirely. The carrier is manufactured as a standard unit without integrated sensors, and measurement capability is added only when needed by connecting external sensors during use or installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A single standardized carrier design with universal measurement ports can be mass-produced at low cost, then adapted to different measurement applications through external sensor attachments, eliminating the need for expensive multi-sensor integrated units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple built-in sensors are integrated, then measurement versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement versatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensors are extracted from the carrier and placed externally. The carrier maintains a simple, unified design with measurement ports that can accept various sensor types, avoiding the complexity of integrating multiple sensors and their associated circuitry within the carrier itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If built-in sensors and signal-processing circuitry are added, then measurement capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power-consuming signal-processing circuitry is extracted from the contactless data carrier and placed in the external sensor or interrogator system. The carrier itself requires minimal power for its basic functions, extending its operational capability from the interrogator signal without needing additional batteries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The system is small, lightweight, and cost-effective, enabling a single contactless data carrier to perform a variety of measurements by using external sensors, reducing manufacturing costs and expanding application ranges.

Implementation Method 1

a comparator for comparing the external signal with the threshold values

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage comparison:

Data Source

PatentUS7604177B2Contactless data carrier, interrogator, contactless data carrier system, and method of acquiring data

Publication Date: 2009.10.20 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A contactless data carrier has a measurement port receiving an external signal to be compared, a threshold generator that generates different threshold values, a comparator that compares the external signal with the threshold values, and a controller that controls the variable threshold generator on command from an interrogator and returns the comparison results to the interrogator. The comparison results returned to the interrogator may be the results of the individual comparisons, or information derived from a threshold value at which the comparison result changes. The contactless data carrier is small, lightweight, and inexpensive, and can be used to perform an essentially unlimited variety of measurements by connecting suitable sensors to the measurement port.