GNSS Position Acquiring Device for Pallets with Movement and Signal Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing position-information acquiring terminals consume unnecessary electrical power by determining position regardless of the environmental conditions, including situations where satellite position signals cannot be appropriately received.

Innovation Solution

A position acquiring device attached to a target object to be transported, equipped with a movement determining unit, a reception-state determining unit, and an acquiring unit. The device acquires position information from a GNSS system only when the movement determining unit determines that the target object is being moved and the reception-state determining unit confirms a favorable reception state of the position signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If position determination is performed whenever movement is detected, then position information can be acquired continuously, but electrical power is consumed unnecessarily when satellite signals cannot be received

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition information acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on signal reception conditions. When satellite signals are properly received, the device performs position determination upon movement detection. When signal reception is poor, the device suspends position determination to conserve power, creating a dynamic adaptation to environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device continuously monitors satellite signal reception quality and uses this feedback to control whether position determination should be performed. The reception state determining unit provides feedback about signal quality to the acquiring unit, which then adjusts its position acquisition behavior accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If position determination is performed in all environments, then position information is always attempted to be acquired, but power is wasted in environments where satellite signals cannot be received

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition information acquisition frequencyVSAvoiduseless power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing position determination in all movement cases (excessive action), the system performs position determination only in partial cases where satellite signals are properly received. This partial action approach avoids wasting power on impossible position acquisitions while still maintaining productivity in favorable conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250172397A1Position acquiring device and recording medium in which position acquiring program is recorded

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A position acquiring device attached to a pallet to be transported and configured to acquire position information indicating a position of the pallet from a GNSS system includes: a movement determining unit configured to determine a movement state of the pallet; a reception-state determining unit configured to determine a reception state of a position signal from the GNSS system; and an acquiring unit configured to acquire the position information in accordance with a result of determination by the movement determining unit and a result of determination by the reception-state determining unit.