Explosion-Proof Modem Wireless Power via NFC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modems used in environments with flammable gases and dust require separate certifications for wireless standards and explosion-proof standards for each country, leading to increased time, cost, and personnel requirements, and existing battery-powered modems face challenges with energy recharging and size/weight issues.
Innovation Solution
A modem design utilizing near-field communication (NFC) for wireless connectivity between a terminal device and modem, and wired communication with field devices, eliminating the need for a physical power connection and incorporating a power supply that converts non-contact AC power to DC power, reducing certification time without increasing size or weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a battery is provided in the modem main body to enable rechargeable operation, then battery replacement becomes unnecessary, but energy for recharging becomes a major problem in terms of explosion-proof structure and increase in size and weight are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the battery from the modem main body and places it in the terminal device instead. The modem receives power wirelessly through the terminal device's battery, eliminating the need for a battery in the modem itself. This resolves the contradiction by removing the weight and volume of the battery from the modem while still providing continuous power supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device acts as an intermediary that houses the battery and wirelessly transmits power to the modem. This mediator approach allows the modem to operate continuously without having its own battery, solving both the power supply duration issue and the size/weight constraint.
2Reliability
If separate wireless standard certification and explosion-proof certification are obtained for each country, then compliance with laws and regulations is achieved, but large amount of time, costs, and personnel are required
Solution Approach 1:
The modem is designed with a conductive case that serves multiple functions: it provides electromagnetic shielding for wireless certification compliance and simultaneously serves as the explosion-proof structure. This multi-functionality allows a single design to meet both wireless standard requirements and explosion-proof requirements, eliminating the need for separate certification processes for each country.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the electromagnetic shielding structure with the explosion-proof case into a single integrated component. By combining these two previously separate requirements into one unified structure, the modem can obtain both certifications simultaneously rather than undergoing separate certification processes.
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
This design streamlines certification processes and eliminates the need for battery replacement, maintaining stable power supply and efficient communication while adhering to explosion-proof standards without size or weight increments.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply that converts non-contact AC power to DC power
Implementation Method 2
A modem design utilizing near-field communication (NFC) for wireless connectivity between a terminal device and modem
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A modem configured to communicatively connect a terminal device to a field device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communicator configured to operate by power supplied in a noncontact manner from the terminal device and to perform short-range wireless communication with the terminal device, a wired communicator configured to operate by power supplied in a noncontact manner from the terminal device and to perform wired communication with the field device, and a controller configured to operate by power supplied in a noncontact manner from the terminal device and to control data exchanged between the wireless communicator and the wired communicator.