Electronic Tracking Labels With Flexible Circuits for Shipment Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking systems lack integrated sensors, multiple communication interfaces, and efficient power management, leading to limited functionality and increased thickness, and fail to detect shipment faults until items arrive at their destination.
Innovation Solution
Electronic tracking labels with flexible circuits, sensors, and multiple communication interfaces, including short-range and long-range options, that activate upon use and switch between modes to conserve power, enabling real-time shipment monitoring and fault detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic tracking labels use rigid battery holders or metal tabs to couple batteries to circuit boards, then the electrical connection is stable, but the label thickness increases and the label cannot be fed through printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) to replace rigid battery holders and metal tabs. The FPC is folded to create a flexible battery connector that maintains stable electrical connection while being thin enough to allow the label to be fed through printers without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the rigid, planar battery connector into a three-dimensional folded structure. By folding the FPC, the connector achieves both mechanical stability for electrical connection and reduced projection thickness for printer compatibility.
2Productivity
If tracking tags consume battery power continuously, then real-time tracking functionality is maintained, but the battery lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking tag uses periodic wake-up cycles where the microcontroller enters low-power sleep mode between measurements. The sensor takes measurements periodically rather than continuously, and the system wakes up only when needed to process data or communicate, significantly extending battery life while maintaining tracking functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and communication interfaces are integrated into a single label, then tracking functionality is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single universal tracking label platform. The label can include various sensor types (temperature, humidity, shock, light), multiple communication interfaces (RFID, Bluetooth, cellular), and GPS tracking, all built on a common FPC architecture that reduces overall system complexity through standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic tracking system that identifies when shipments experience problems such as lost items, separated shipments, or incomplete deliveries. Items in a shipment may be tagged with electronic tracking labels, and gateways included with shipments or installed in transportation vehicles may determine which items are in their vicinity and transmit this data to a central database. The database may include shipment descriptions that identify the items in a shipment and their intended destination. Analysis of the database may indicate that one or more item tracking labels have not recently responded, suggesting that the items may be lost, or that one or more items are located on the wrong transportation vehicle. Shipment status may be updated as new item tracking label data is received. Electronic tracking labels may also have sensors that track whether items have experienced excessive temperatures or shocks during shipping.