Wireless IC Tag Reader Beam Steering to Prevent Dead Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless IC tag readers face challenges in reading information from tags due to dead spots caused by interference between direct and reflected radio waves, especially in areas with weaker signal strength, and existing solutions either increase costs or fail to prevent these spots effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wireless IC tag reader design that combines a receiving antenna with a wide half-value angle and a transmitting antenna with a narrower half-value angle, along with a maximum beam direction changing unit, to prevent interference by adjusting the transmitting antenna's beam direction and ensuring the main lobe encompasses the tag's position, thereby avoiding dead spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate type antenna configuration is used to transmit radio waves and receive response waves, then the ability to read wireless IC tags is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna into a single integrated antenna structure. The antenna includes both a transmitting element for radiating radio waves and a receiving element for capturing response waves, eliminating the need for separate antenna systems and thereby reducing cost while maintaining reading capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated antenna performs multiple functions - it acts as both the transmitting antenna for sending radio waves to wireless IC tags and the receiving antenna for capturing the tags' response waves. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall system structure and reduces component count, leading to lower manufacturing costs.
2Area of stationary object
If a transmitting antenna with wide half-value angle is used to uniformly transmit radio waves, then the coverage area is improved, but dead spots still appear in the communication area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a beam direction control unit that dynamically adjusts the beam direction of the transmitting antenna. The system can change the maximum beam direction based on the position of wireless IC tags, allowing the antenna to adaptively direct radio waves to avoid dead spots while maintaining broad coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the beam direction parameter of the transmitting antenna dynamically. By adjusting the maximum beam direction according to tag positions, the system optimizes the radio wave transmission pattern to prevent dead spots while maintaining wide coverage area.
3Ease of manufacture
If a common type antenna configuration is used, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to separate response waves from transmitted radio waves is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is segmented into distinct transmitting and receiving elements within the integrated structure. The transmitting element and receiving element are spatially separated within the antenna assembly, allowing the system to distinguish between transmitted radio waves and received response waves, thereby maintaining signal separation capability while using a simpler integrated 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
This design effectively prevents dead spots, allowing for reliable and efficient reading of information from wireless IC tags without increasing costs, by optimizing antenna configurations to minimize interference and ensure consistent signal reception.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitting antenna with a maximum beam direction and a half-value angle narrower than the half-value angle of the receiving antenna
Implementation Method 2
a receiving antenna with a maximum beam direction and a half-value angle
Implementation Method 3
prevent a direct radio wave which is transmitted from the transmitting antenna and a reflected radio wave which is reflected on a floor surface or a wall surface from interfering each other
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless IC tag reader includes a receiving antenna, a transmitting antenna and a beam direction control unit. The receiving antenna has a maximum beam direction and a half-value angle. The transmitting antenna has a maximum beam direction and a half-value angle narrower than the half-value angle of the receiving antenna. The beam direction control unit changes the maximum beam direction of the transmitting antenna.