Printer Antenna Positioning for Wireless Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers with wireless communication functions often experience communication retries and errors due to obstacles in their setup environment, leading to delayed printing, particularly in spaces like kitchens where there is limited space and frequent interference.
Innovation Solution
The printer incorporates an antenna positioned within a space-requiring portion of the casing, such as a sheet replacing part or air inlet/outlet, allowing for unobstructed wireless communication by placing the antenna in a non-blocking area or using multiple antennas for diversity switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna is mounted on a conventional surface of the printer, then the printer structure is simple, but wireless communication is blocked by obstacles in the setup environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the antenna on the rear surface of the printer casing, utilizing a different spatial dimension compared to conventional top or side surface mounting. This dimensional change allows the antenna to operate in a space less likely to be blocked by typical obstacles such as walls or devices placed on/around the printer, thereby improving wireless communication reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent identifies and utilizes the rear surface of the printer as a specific local area with favorable communication properties. By concentrating the antenna placement in this particular region rather than distributing it across multiple surfaces, the solution achieves reliable communication while maintaining simple device structure
2Reliability
If the antenna is placed in a location that requires space around it, then wireless communication is unobstructed, but the printer cannot be set up in space-constrained environments like kitchens
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the antenna to the rear surface of the printer, the patent creates a communication zone that extends backward from the device. This dimensional repositioning allows the antenna to maintain clear line-of-sight for wireless signals even when the printer is placed in compact spaces like kitchens, as the rearward projection of the communication zone avoids typical obstacles positioned in front or on top of the printer
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the printer to be positioned in a specific orientation relative to obstacles, the patent inverts the approach by positioning the antenna such that the obstacles naturally fall outside its communication zone regardless of typical setup configurations. This inversion makes the system adaptable to various environments without requiring specific placement conditions
3Reliability
If communication retries are performed frequently to overcome obstacles, then communication reliability improves, but printing startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by strategically positioning the antenna on the rear surface during printer assembly, before deployment. This pre-configured positioning ensures that the antenna operates from an optimal location that minimizes the need for communication retries during actual operation, thereby reducing printing startup time while maintaining high communication reliability
Data Source
AI summary
This printer is a printer having a wireless communication function, and includes an antenna (321f) in a front surface (110f) of a casing (110), which is a surface having a space requiring portion where space is required in a vicinity of the casing (110). The space requiring portion is a sheet delivery slot (120f) and a sheet receiving portion cover (130f) for replacing sheets.