Passive RFID Electronic Seal with Segmented Antenna
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic seals with passive RFID chips can only detect two states - whether a bolt or cable is inserted or cut - due to the design of the RFID antenna, which is compromised when the bolt or cable is cut, limiting the ability to determine other states, and existing solutions lack the capability to read and rewrite memory codes effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electronic seal system with a passive RFID chip and antenna, featuring two configuration pins and antenna pins, where the RFID chip stores a configuration word and memory code that changes based on electrical states, allowing a RFID reader to read and rewrite memory codes to assign multiple state values, including a fourth state value when the chip is read under specific conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the RFID antenna extends through the bolt member or cable, then the antenna can be integrated into the seal structure, but when the bolt member or cable is cut, the antenna is cut as well, preventing the RFID reader from reading the identification code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the antenna from the bolt member/cable structure. The antenna is integrated into the seal body housing rather than extending through the bolt or cable, so that cutting the bolt or cable does not affect the antenna's integrity or the RFID reading capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is extracted from the bolt member/cable and placed into the seal body. This extraction ensures that the antenna remains intact even when the bolt or cable is cut, maintaining the reading capability of the RFID system.
2Device complexity
If the RFID chip uses only two memory code values, then the system is simple, but the RFID reader can only detect two states (bolt inserted or cut), unable to detect other states such as when the bolt is not inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses two distinct memory areas in the RFID chip with different functions: a configuration word (first memory area) that stores state information, and a memory code (second memory area) that provides additional state values. This local differentiation allows the system to detect multiple states while maintaining relatively simple chip structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of memory storage by using two different memory areas within the RFID chip. The configuration word provides one set of state information while the memory code provides another set, enabling the detection of multiple states (not inserted, inserted, cut) rather than just two states.
3Ease of operation
If the RFID reader can only read the memory code, then the reading process is simple, but the system cannot distinguish between different states that require both configuration word and memory code interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID reader performs a two-step reading process: first reading the configuration word to determine the basic state, then reading the memory code to refine the state determination. This feedback mechanism allows accurate distinction between multiple states (not inserted, inserted, cut) while maintaining a relatively simple operational process.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic seal system includes an electronic seal and a RFID reader. A passive RFID chip in the electronic seal has a configuration word and a seal state identification code inside. The value of the configuration word changes according to the state of the state configuration pins of the passive RFID chip. The state of the configuration pins is determined by the state of a bolt of the electronic seal. The RFID reader rewrites the seal state identification code according to the configuration word and the seal state identification code read by the RFID reader.