Tracking system and method for tracking an object which can be tracked using electromagnetic signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking systems for objects in treatment processes, such as laundry cleaning, require additional electronics in each treatment station and networking, making them material-intensive and costly, and necessitate user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that uses external devices to detect trackable objects via electromagnetic signals, eliminating the need for readout electronics in treatment stations and allowing tracking without modifying existing machinery, using UWB and BLE technologies for accurate positioning and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID readers are integrated into each treatment station to register RFID tags, then tracking reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional electronics and networking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary tracking device that acts as a mediator between the trackable object and the treatment station. This external device performs the tracking function without requiring integration into the treatment station's machinery, thus maintaining tracking reliability while avoiding the complexity of modifying existing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking functionality is extracted from the treatment station and placed in a separate external device. This allows the treatment station to remain unchanged and simple, while the tracking responsibilities are handled by the dedicated external tracking device that moves with the object.
2Measurement precision
If RFID readers are integrated into each treatment station, then tracking precision is improved, but loss of substance increases due to material-intensive implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking electronics are extracted from the treatment station and placed in a portable external device. This eliminates the need to install additional electronic components in each treatment station, reducing material consumption while maintaining tracking precision through the external device's positioning capabilities.
3Device complexity
If external tracking devices are used to detect trackable objects, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen due to external positioning limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/electronic integration (physical installation of readers in treatment stations) with electromagnetic field-based tracking (UWB/BLE signals). This substitution achieves accurate positioning without requiring physical modification of the treatment station, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving positioning accuracy through advanced signal processing.
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 cost-effective and unobtrusive tracking of objects through treatment processes without additional user interaction, maintaining the integrity of treatment stations and units, and allowing tracking outside the process with improved positioning accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
detecting and determining, by means of a device arranged and configured externally to the at least one treatment station and unit, the presence of trackable objects in the interior space and their object position by means of electromagnetic signals
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
Tracking system and method for tracking an object capable of being tracked by means of electromagnetic signals. The invention relates to a tracking system for spatially tracking trackable objects (9-12, 14) by means of electromagnetic signals in an interior space (1) with at least one treatment station (20-23) each comprising at least one treatment unit (3-8, 16), wherein the system has a device (2) which is arranged and configured externally in the interior space (1) to the at least one treatment station (20-23) and the at least one treatment unit (3-8, 16), and is configured and configured to detect the presence of the trackable objects (9-12, 14) in the interior space (1) by means of electromagnetic signals and to spatially determine their object position and, based on the determined object position and a treatment position of the at least one treatment station (20-23) and/or unit (3-8, 16) known to the tracking system,16) to derive a movement profile, dwell time and/or respective treatment of the tracking-capable objects (9-12, 14) in the interior (1) in the at least one treatment station (20-23) and/or treatment unit (3-8, 16). The invention further relates to a corresponding method.