Laminated Shim With Embedded RFID for Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminated products, such as adjustment shims for mechanical assemblies, face issues with serial number marking that becomes illegible or lost when adjusting thickness, particularly on composite materials, and have limited information storage capacity due to small size.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electronic identification component with a memory and transmission device within the laminated product's stack, allowing for storage and transmission of extensive identification information, including serial numbers and other details, and enabling remote querying and writing, while being compact and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If serial number marking is done by stamping on the upper side of the shim, then identification is provided at manufacturing, but the marking becomes illegible or lost when the upper sheets are removed during thickness adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an electronic identification component that stores identification information (serial number, manufacturing data, traceability information) in a memory device. This electronic copy of the identification information remains intact even when the physical shim is adjusted, eliminating the need for physical stamping that gets removed. The electronic component can be read remotely without touching the shim surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical stamping system with an electronic identification system. Instead of physically stamping serial numbers on the shim surface, an electronic component with memory stores the identification data and transmits it remotely via electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the mechanical marking that is removed during adjustment.
2Reliability
If marking is done on composite material surfaces, then identification is provided, but the marking is difficult to read on smooth or hatched surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic identification component stores all identification information in its memory, creating a digital copy that is independent of the physical surface characteristics. The component can be read remotely through electromagnetic transmission, eliminating the need for visual inspection of markings on smooth or hatched composite surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces optical/mechanical marking systems with electromagnetic transmission systems. Instead of relying on visual readability of stamped marks on composite surfaces, the electronic component uses electromagnetic fields to transmit identification data remotely, overcoming the surface texture problems.
3Ease of operation
If shims are made small in size for adjustment operations, then ease of operation is improved, but the volume of information that can be marked is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic identification component stores extensive identification information (serial number, manufacturing data, material certificates, traceability records) in its memory, creating a comprehensive digital copy that is not limited by the physical size of the shim. All this information can be read remotely without requiring additional space on the small shim surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves information storage from the two-dimensional surface of the shim to a three-dimensional electronic component with memory capacity. The electronic component can store large amounts of data internally, and this information is accessed through electromagnetic transmission rather than physical space on the shim surface.
4Reliability
If an electronic identification component is added to the laminated product, then identification reliability and information storage capacity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic identification component is nested within the existing laminated product structure. The component is placed in a housing that is integrated into the stack of sheets and adhesive layers, using the product's own structure to house and protect the electronic component rather than adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic identification component serves multiple functions: it stores identification information, transmits data remotely, and can be read without physical contact. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems (marking, storage, transmission, reading) into a single integrated component.
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated product having a thickness that can be adjusted by chipping, and including alternating sheets and layers of an adhesive material in a stack, each sheet possessing an intrinsic resistance to tearing and each layer of adhesive material connecting adjacent sheets in the stack with a linking force which is weaker than the resistance of the sheets to tearing, enabling each sheet to be detached from the stack without tearing. The product includes a housing which is disposed inside the thickness of the stack, and an electronic identification element which is disposed in the housing.