Power Cable RFID Tube Layout for Mechanical Stress Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to effectively protect fragile RFID devices in power cables subjected to mechanical stress, leading to operational failures.

Innovation Solution

A power cable design with a tube housing the RFID device and a support cord within an interstice, allowing the device to move freely and withstand mechanical stress, enhancing transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the RFID device is placed directly in the cable without protection, then the cable structure remains simple, but the RFID device is damaged by mechanical stresses from twisting or bending

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRFID device operational reliabilityVSAvoidcable structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RFID device is nested inside a protective tube that is positioned within the cable structure. This nested configuration allows the tube to protect the RFID device from mechanical stresses while maintaining a compact integrated cable design, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the protective tube containing the RFID device is separated from the electrical conductors. This segmentation isolates the fragile RFID components from mechanical stresses while preserving overall cable functionality, addressing the reliability-complexity trade-off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the RFID device is placed close to electrical conductors, then the cable structure remains compact, but transmission and reception by the RFID device are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRFID transmission and reception qualityVSAvoidcable volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A dielectric tube serves as an intermediary element between the RFID device and electrical conductors. This intermediate structure increases the distance between the RFID components and conductors, improving transmission and reception quality while maintaining cable compactness through optimized spacing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the RFID device is fixed rigidly in the cable, then the device position is stable, but the device cannot withstand mechanical tension and movement stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRFID device durability under mechanical stressVSAvoidRFID device position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The RFID device is allowed to move dynamically within the protective tube rather than being rigidly fixed. This dynamic arrangement enables the device to accommodate mechanical tensions and movements of the cable while maintaining operational stability, resolving the contradiction between durability and position stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12462953B2Power cable equipped with an electronic device for radiofrequency identification

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 NEXANS SA

AI summary

A power cable (10) includes at least one electrical conductor (12) and at least one interstice (14) in the vicinity of the electrical conductor (12). The cable (10) further has at least one electronic device (18) for radiofrequency identification and at least one tube (16) arranged in the at least one interstice (14) and containing the electronic device (18) for radiofrequency identification.