IC Tag Unit for Instruments with Transparent Cover Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID tag systems are ineffective for managing and calibrating instruments with metal exteriors and scale plates, as they are influenced by metal components, leading to visibility issues and degradation due to dust and rain, and are difficult to integrate with glycerin-enclosed instruments.
Innovation Solution
An instrument with an IC tag unit featuring a transparent cover plate and a sandwiched IC tag configuration that prevents overlap with the scale and pointer, using a transparent antenna arrangement and a thermoplastic resin layer for secure attachment, allowing contactless communication and resistance to aqueous solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical RFID tag is used on the exterior portion of the instrument, then data can be written and read contactlessly, but the tag is influenced by metal components causing reading issues
Solution Approach 1:
A non-metallic transparent cover plate is introduced as an intermediary between the RFID tag and the metal scale plate. This cover plate allows radio waves to pass through while physically separating the RFID tag from the metal surface, eliminating signal interference while maintaining the contactless data storage and retrieval functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID tag is extracted from direct contact with the metal scale plate and mounted on a separate transparent cover plate. This separation removes the harmful metal interference from the immediate vicinity of the RFID tag while preserving the instrument's metal construction and functionality
2Productivity
If an RFID tag is mounted on the scale plate, then instrument management is automated, but the tag hinders visibility of the scale
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is made transparent to maintain visual clarity and scale visibility. The RFID tag is positioned on this transparent surface, allowing light to pass through uninterrupted while the tag remains functional for automated instrument management
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID tag is positioned on the outer surface of the transparent cover plate, creating a layered structure where the tag exists in a different spatial dimension from the scale. This allows both the tag and scale to coexist without overlapping in the visual field
3Reliability
If the instrument uses a metal casing with glycerin enclosure for vibration resistance, then durability is improved, but RFID tag integration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent cover plate serves as an intermediary mounting surface that is compatible with both the glycerin-enclosed metal instrument body and the RFID tag. This allows the RFID functionality to be integrated without compromising the vibration-resistant glycerin enclosure design
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 reliable and non-invasive data writing and reading of instrument information without affecting the metal components, maintaining visibility and durability, and supporting efficient maintenance operations even in glycerin-enclosed instruments.
Implementation Method 1
an IC chip and an antenna, capable of communicating stored information by radio wave in a contactless manner
Data Source
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AI summary
An IC tag unit, for an instrument, which allows an IC tag into and from which instrument information, calibration information, inspection information, and the like can be written and read to be mounted to an instrument without affecting the IC tag by a metal portion of an instrument body, hindering visibility of a scale of the instrument, and further causing degradation due to dust, raindrops, or the like, and an instrument with the IC tag, are provided. An IC tag 11 having an IC chip 12 and an antenna 13, and mounting means configured to mount the IC tag to an instrument, are provided, and the instrument has scale increments and a pointer, and a transparent cover plate 53 that covers the scale increments 56a and the pointer. The mounting means includes: a first sheet disposed on an outer side surface of the instrument; a second sheet that is disposed on an inner side surface of the instrument and that sandwiches the IC tag; and an attachment layer that allows both the sheets attached to each other to be attached to the transparent cover plate. The IC tag is disposed between both the sheets so as not to overlap the scale increments 56a and an indicator portion 55a of the pointer 55 in a viewing direction, and a developed plane of the antenna is arranged along both the sheets, when the IC tag is mounted to the transparent cover plate.