Wireless Tag Reader With Movable Antennas For Shopping Cart Checkout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless tag reading apparatuses lack a specific configuration to efficiently read wireless tags attached to items placed in multiple shopping baskets on a shopping cart in a single process.

Innovation Solution

A wireless tag reading apparatus with a housing that accommodates a shopping cart, featuring movable antennas along the surfaces of the accommodation space, a communication interface, and a processor that controls the antennas to read identification information from wireless tags, generate item registration information, and output it to a payment device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shopping baskets are placed on a shopping cart, then the capacity and functionality of the shopping cart is improved, but the complexity of reading all wireless tags in a single process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshopping cart capacityVSAvoidtag reading process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the reading process into multiple sequential stages, reading tags in different spatial zones (front, rear, left, right sides of the cart) separately. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple baskets without overwhelming complexity, as each antenna reads only the tags in its specific zone during its designated time slot.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic control of antenna activation and movement, where antennas are selectively activated and positioned based on the detected location of tags. The system dynamically adjusts which antennas are active and their reading sequences based on real-time tag detection, optimizing the reading process for varying cart configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple antennas are used to read wireless tags, then the reading speed and efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag reading speedVSAvoidantenna system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each antenna is assigned to read tags in a specific local zone of the shopping cart (front, rear, left, or right side). This local quality approach ensures that each antenna focuses on a defined area, improving reading efficiency while keeping the overall system manageable through clear functional division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic activation of multiple antennas in a time-division multiplexing scheme, where antennas are activated sequentially rather than simultaneously. This periodic action allows multiple antennas to share the reading workload efficiently, achieving high productivity while reducing peak complexity through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of time

If tags are read in a single process, then the time required for checkout is reduced, but the risk of reading errors and interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecheckout timeVSAvoidtag reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains continuous tag reading throughout the entire shopping cart by having multiple antennas operate in overlapping time windows and spatial zones. This continuity ensures that no tags are missed while the systematic coordination of antennas minimizes interference, achieving both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the processor monitors reading results from each antenna and dynamically adjusts the reading process. If tags are missed or interference is detected, the system can re-read specific zones, ensuring high accuracy while maintaining overall process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 the reading of wireless tags attached to items in multiple shopping baskets on a shopping cart in a single process, improving efficiency and reducing the time required for reading tags.

Implementation Method 1

one or more antennas movable along one or more surfaces of the accommodation space... read identification information from one or more wireless tags

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250140084A1Wireless tag reading apparatus, method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

A wireless tag reading apparatus includes a housing having an accommodation space in which a shopping cart is placeable, the shopping cart including an upper rack and a lower rack on which one or more items or one or more shopping baskets containing the one or more items are placeable; one or more antennas movable along one or more surfaces of the accommodation space; a communication interface; and a processor configured to when the shopping cart is placed in the accommodation space, control the antennas to move along the surfaces, and read identification information of one or more items in the shopping cart from one or more wireless tags attached thereto, generate item registration information based on the read identification information, and control the communication interface to output the item registration information to a payment device for payment of the items.