Electronic Label for Failure Documentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for documenting failures in electronic products are prone to human errors, inefficient, and require manual data mining, as they rely on paper notes or database entries that can be incomplete or damaged, lacking automation for identifying failed parts and acting on failure information.
Innovation Solution
An electronic label with multiple regions is used to display failure information in both human-readable and machine-readable forms, which can be written electronically and remains visible even when power is removed, allowing for automatic updating of failure information directly on the product or from external sources, reducing human intervention and errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paper or database methods are used to document failures, then failure information can be stored and retrieved, but human errors occur and information may be incomplete or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic product itself writes failure information to its own label without requiring technician intervention. The product autonomously detects its own failure state and documents it, eliminating human error in the documentation process and ensuring accurate, complete failure information is recorded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual paper documentation and database entry systems with an electronic label that automatically stores failure information. This substitution of mechanical/human-based systems with electronic automation eliminates transcription errors and ensures consistent, accurate failure recording.
2Productivity
If manual diagnosis and documentation methods are used, then failure information can be captured, but the process is inefficient and requires manual data mining
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic label is pre-configured with failure detection capabilities and automatically writes failure information when a failure occurs. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for later manual data mining and analysis, as the failure information is already documented and ready for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The product performs self-diagnosis and self-documentation of failures automatically. The electronic label monitors the product's operational state and autonomously records failure information without requiring technician time for diagnosis or data extraction, significantly improving efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If technician intervention is required for failure diagnosis, then failure information can be documented, but human errors are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic product autonomously detects its own failure state and writes failure information to its label without requiring technician intervention. This self-service approach eliminates human error while maintaining ease of operation, as the product handles its own failure documentation automatically.
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 solution provides reliable, automated documentation of electronic product failures, reducing human error and the need for manual data analysis, while enabling quick identification and action on failure information, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in the electronics industry.
Implementation Method 1
These are thin plastic films that allow the display of information in a non-volatile manner such that the display state remains when power is removed
Data Source
AI summary
A label on an electronic product may be written electronically and maintains the last display state when power is removed from the label. There are many different types of digital paper and electronic paper known in the art that would be suitable for use as such labels. The label includes multiple defined regions that may be independently written, with one of the regions defined to display failure information for the electronic product. In one implementation, the failure information is available on the electronic product itself. In another implementation, the failure information includes information received from a source external to the electronic product. The display of failure information on the label may be in human-readable and/or machine-readable form. The result is a label on an electronic product that provides reliable information regarding a failure of the electronic product.