Cylindrical Antenna and Shielding for Specimen Tag Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage apparatuses using wireless tags for specimen containers face issues with data misreading when containers are arranged in racks, requiring labor-intensive antenna positioning and increasing examination time due to the need for shielding and precise alignment.

Innovation Solution

A storage apparatus with a cylindrical antenna surrounding the specimen container and shielding members to prevent electromagnetic wave leakage, allowing reliable and efficient reading/writing of data from wireless tags regardless of container orientation, using a common external antenna and switching mechanism to connect only the relevant antenna.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wireless tag is attached to a blood collection tube to enable wireless reading of identification information, then data can be read regardless of the direction of the tube, but data misreading occurs from adjacent tubes in a rack

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereading capabilityVSAvoiddata accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage space into separate compartments using partition walls between adjacent blood collection tubes. This segmentation prevents electromagnetic waves from one tube's wireless tag from being detected by readers intended for other tubes, thereby eliminating data misreading while preserving the directional independence benefit of wireless tags.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a partition wall as an intermediary element between adjacent blood collection tubes. This partition wall acts as a barrier that blocks electromagnetic wave interference, allowing each tube's wireless tag to be read accurately without interference from neighboring tubes, thus resolving the data misreading issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If partition walls are provided between blood collection tubes to prevent data misreading, then data accuracy is improved, but antenna positioning becomes more complex and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidantenna positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the partition wall to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the rack, creates physical separation between tubes, and simultaneously acts as an electromagnetic wave barrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate antenna positioning adjustments, reducing complexity while maintaining data accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall structure automatically provides electromagnetic shielding without requiring additional active components or complex positioning mechanisms. The passive geometric structure of the partition wall itself performs the shielding function, eliminating the need for labor-intensive antenna positioning and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If partition walls are used to shield electromagnetic waves, then data misreading is prevented, but examination time increases due to the need to move antennas close to each wireless tag

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidexamination time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The partition walls are pre-installed in the rack structure before blood collection tubes are placed. This preliminary configuration of the shielding structure eliminates the need for time-consuming antenna repositioning and adjustment during the examination process, as the electromagnetic shielding is already in place to guide and contain the wireless signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of moving antennas close to each tag with a field-based approach using partition walls to confine and direct electromagnetic waves. This substitution eliminates the need for physical antenna repositioning, significantly reducing examination time while maintaining data accuracy through electromagnetic wave containment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 reliable and rapid data processing from wireless tags on specimen containers, reducing labor and examination time by stabilizing reading accuracy across various orientations and preventing data misreading between adjacent containers.

Implementation Method 1

a cylindrical antenna 4 which surrounds a periphery of the specimen container (1) stored in the storage case (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of shielding members (22), each of which shields electromagnetic waves by surrounding an outside of each of the cylindrical antennas (4)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentUS10976328B2Storage apparatus storing specimen container and examination system using the same

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

There is provided a storage apparatus including a storage case which stores a specimen container accommodating a specimen inside and having a wireless tag recorded with identification information on a side surface, and an antenna surrounding the periphery of the specimen container stored in the storage case.