NFC Chips for Passive Server Component Inventory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current baseboard management controllers (BMCs) cannot inventory passive, non-electronic components such as heat sinks, baffles, and non-electrically identifiable cables within servers, leading to potential installation errors that may not be detected during manufacturing tests.
Innovation Solution
A system where non-electronic components are equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) identification chips, allowing a passive component inventory controller to identify these components using an NFC electromagnetic field emitted by an NFC emitter, enabling the BMC to determine their presence and characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional electronic inventory methods are used, then electronic components can be inventoried, but passive non-electronic components cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces NFC identification chips as intermediary elements attached to passive components. These chips act as mediators between the passive components and the BMC, enabling the BMC to read identification information from non-electronic components through electromagnetic field interaction. This resolves the contradiction by providing a bridge that allows passive components to be inventoried without requiring them to have inherent electronic identification capabilities.
2Reliability
If manufacturing tests are run for sufficient duration to detect all failures, then installation errors can be detected, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by attaching NFC identification chips to passive components during the assembly process and immediately inventorying them using the NFC reader. This allows installation errors to be detected at the point of assembly rather than requiring extended post-assembly testing. The system performs the identification action beforehand, enabling rapid detection of incorrect or missing components without delaying production.
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 accurate inventorying of non-electronic components, preventing installation errors and ensuring correct server configuration by providing detailed identification and location information, thus enhancing manufacturing quality control.
Implementation Method 1
an NFC electromagnetic field that is emitted from an NFC electromagnetic field emitter... inducing a current in the NFC identification chip
Data Source
AI summary
A system contains one or more non-electronic components, each of which has a near field communication (NFC) identification chip attached thereon and/or associated therewith. A non-electronic component inventory controller identifies the non-electronic components in the system by interrogating the NFC identification chips with an NFC electromagnetic field that is emitted an NFC electromagnetic field emitter.