RFID Antenna Enclosing Fluidic Element for Compact Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RFID tag systems are cumbersome and lack integration of fluidic functions, making them unsuitable for compact biomedical or biochemical sensors, and they often require separate protective layers and handling procedures, which increase costs and risk contamination.
Innovation Solution
A device with an RFID tag featuring an antenna that encloses a significant portion of a fluidic element's area, allowing for co-planarity and compactness, enabling both communication and fluidic functions in a single space, such as a disposable cartridge with a loop antenna or other shapes, suitable for frequencies like 10-15 MHz and 860-960 MHz, and incorporating storage for calibration data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional RFID tag systems are used, then communication function is provided, but the device becomes cumbersome and requires separate protective layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the RFID antenna with the fluidic element housing into a single integrated structure. The antenna is formed as part of the housing walls that enclose the fluidic element, eliminating the need for separate protective layers and reducing device complexity while maintaining communication functionality and preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection for the fluidic element, forms the RFID antenna for wireless communication, and acts as a sealed enclosure to prevent contamination. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Reliability
If separate protective layers are used for RFID tags, then protection is provided, but costs increase and handling becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing and RFID antenna are merged into a single molded component. The housing walls themselves form the antenna traces, eliminating the need for separate protective layers and reducing manufacturing steps, tooling requirements, and assembly operations while maintaining protection functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If antenna area is increased for better reception, then radio reception improves, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is formed in the planar walls of the three-dimensional housing structure. By utilizing the surface area of the housing walls rather than adding a separate planar antenna element, the design achieves adequate antenna area for communication while maintaining a compact overall device volume.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device such as a disposable cartridge has an RFID tag (30) having an antenna (10), and a fluidic element (20, 160), the antenna having a shape to at least partly enclose an area, at least a part of the fluidic element being located in this area. By having such a structure, the device can be made more compact or the antenna can be made larger, and hence the costs for a given performance can be reduced, or the storage space for a given number of devices can be reduced.