RFID Sensory Chessboard with Ferrite Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensory chess boards are either expensive or interfere with the electrical signals due to the use of metal weights in chess pieces, and existing RFID systems are not practical for detecting pieces on a chess board due to wide antenna coverage patterns.

Innovation Solution

A sensory chess board using 64 RFID antennas embedded in the board and RFID tags in chess pieces, with a ferrite sheet to prevent electromagnetic interference from metal weights, allowing precise detection of piece positions and movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If metal weights are used in chess pieces to provide stability and feel, then the chess pieces have better playing characteristics, but the metal weights interfere with electrical signals from sensory boards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaying characteristicsVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A ferrite sheet is introduced as an intermediary layer between the metal weight and the RFID tag in the chess piece. The ferrite material shields the RFID tag from electromagnetic interference generated by the metal weight, allowing both the stabilizing metal weight and the functional RFID tag to coexist without signal disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chess piece incorporates a composite structure combining metal weight material with ferrite shielding material. This composite construction allows the piece to maintain both its playing characteristics from the metal weight and its RFID functionality protected by the ferrite layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If RFID tags are placed in chess pieces for detection, then piece position detection is enabled, but existing RFID systems have wide antenna coverage patterns that are not practical for chess board detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiece position detectionVSAvoidantenna coverage pattern

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chess board is divided into 64 individual square zones, each with its own RFID antenna. This segmentation allows each antenna to be responsible for detecting only the chess piece on its specific square, eliminating the problem of wide coverage patterns causing detection ambiguity across multiple squares

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each RFID antenna is configured with localized detection characteristics optimized for its specific square. The antenna coverage is tailored to detect only pieces on its home square, creating local detection zones rather than broad coverage areas, which enables precise position identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Extent of automation

If existing sensory chess board technologies are used to detect piece positions, then move recording is enabled, but the systems are either expensive or interfere with electrical signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemove recordingVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional sensory board technologies using complex electromagnetic sensors or magnetic detection systems are replaced with passive RFID tags and simple RFID reader antennas. This substitution dramatically reduces system complexity and cost while maintaining automated piece position detection and move recording capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive RFID tags that can be easily manufactured and integrated into chess pieces. These low-cost tags replace expensive sensory components, making automated chess boards affordable while the ferrite shielding ensures long-term reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Enables accurate and cost-effective detection of chess piece positions and movement, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by using RFID technology with ferrite shielding to prevent signal interference.

Implementation Method 1

a ferrite sheet positioned below the metal weight and in proximity thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna positioned under the square and operatively arranged to detect the RFID tag in the chess piece

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11369862B2Sensory chessboard and method for detecting positions of chess pieces on a chessboard and transmitting those positions to a computer or other electronic recording device

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 ZMARTFUN ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A chess board, comprising a top layer comprising sixty-four (64) squares of alternating color arranged in eight parallel ranks and eight parallel files, and a bottom layer comprising a circuit board, the circuit board comprising sixty-four (64) radio frequency identification antennas arranged in registration with the sixty-four (64) squares of alternating color in the top layer, and an electronic circuit operatively arranged to sense positions and movement of chess pieces on the sixty-four (64) squares of the top layer and communicate the positions and movement to a computer.