RFID Chess Piece Positioning With Magnetic Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID antenna circuits are inadequate for efficiently positioning and recognizing multiple chess-like game pieces on a board, especially when dealing with a large number of pieces, leading to difficulties in accurate recognition and stability during vibrations or inclinations.
Innovation Solution
A piece positioning and recognition system utilizing a microcontroller unit, RFID module, multi-channel analog switches, electromagnet and communication signal switch unit, electromagnetic drive unit, silicon steel blocks, and antennas, which enable precise location and recognition of pieces through RF antenna paths and magnetic attraction, allowing for flexible arrangements on planar, layered, or polyhedral boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single RFID antenna circuit is used for piece recognition, then the system is simple, but it cannot meet the requirements for recognizing multiple pieces on a board
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the board into multiple regions, with each region having its own RFID antenna. This segmentation allows simultaneous recognition of multiple pieces across different board regions, resolving the contradiction between recognizing multiple pieces and maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each RFID antenna is designed to serve multiple functions: piece recognition, positioning, and magnetic fixation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, maintaining relative simplicity while enabling multi-piece recognition.
2Measurement precision
If multiple RFID antennas are deployed for multi-piece recognition, then recognition capability improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the RFID antenna with an electromagnet into a single integrated component. This merging allows the same structure to perform both radio frequency communication and magnetic fixation functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicon steel block serves as an intermediary that enhances the magnetic field efficiency of the electromagnet while being integrated with the RFID antenna structure. This intermediary component improves positioning accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional RFID systems are used, then piece recognition is achieved, but pieces drift on the board due to vibrations or inclinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the RFID antenna with an electromagnet into a single integrated component. This combination allows the system to both recognize piece positions via RFID and actively fix pieces using magnetic attraction, eliminating drift caused by vibrations or inclinations while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnet automatically activates to fix pieces when detected, providing self-service stabilization without requiring external intervention. This self-service mechanism improves reliability by automatically counteracting drift issues.
4Reliability
If an electromagnet is added to fix pieces, then position stability improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnet is integrated with the existing RFID antenna structure, sharing the same mounting location and control circuitry where possible. This merging approach adds fixation capability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity compared to a separate electromagnet system.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated antenna-electromagnet component performs multiple functions: RFID communication for piece recognition and electromagnetic attraction for piece fixation. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating the need for separate systems.
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
The system effectively recognizes and fixes pieces on the board, ensuring they do not drift, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various board layouts, supporting diverse chess-like games with high accuracy and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antennas are an important component of RFID card recognition circuits
Implementation Method 2
the silicon steel blocks are configured as a core of the electromagnet, generating a magnetic attraction to the pieces after being magnetized
Implementation Method 3
the electromagnetic drive unit is configured to drive an electromagnet
Data Source
AI summary
A chess-like piece positioning and recognition system, including: an MCU, an RFID module, multi-channel analog switches, an electromagnet and communication signal switch unit, an electromagnetic drive unit, antennas, silicon steel blocks, and pieces. The MCU is used for communication with the RFID module, selecting channels of the multi-channel analog switches, and electromagnet and communication signal switch selection. The RFID module is used for reading information from the pieces. The multi-channel analog switches are used for group gating and intra-group channel gating of the RF channels. The electromagnet and communication signal switch unit is used for switching between the electromagnetic drive unit and the RF channels. The electromagnetic drive unit is used for driving an electromagnet. The antenna is used for sending and receiving signals from the pieces and also serves as the coil for the electromagnet. The silicon steel block is used as the core of the electromagnet, which generates a magnetic attraction to the pieces after being magnetized.