RFID Tag Communication Device with Optical Imaging Verification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RFID tag identification technologies face inaccuracies due to multiple path reflections of radio waves, leading to potential operations being performed on incorrect RFID tags.
Innovation Solution
A tag communication device equipped with a light emitting unit, a communication unit, and an imaging unit that acquires RFID tag IDs, transmits light emission instructions, determines light emission presence, and performs operations only on RFID tags that emit light within the imaging area, ensuring accurate identification and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radio communication alone is used to identify RFID tag position, then the device complexity is low, but the identification accuracy deteriorates due to multiple path reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radio communication (communication unit) with optical imaging (imaging unit) to identify RFID tag positions. The control unit integrates information from both the communication unit and imaging unit to determine tag positions, merging two different sensing modalities to achieve higher identification accuracy while compensating for the limitations of radio wave-only systems affected by multiple path reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit acts as an intermediary that provides optical verification of RFID tag positions. Instead of relying solely on radio communication, the system uses the imaging unit to capture images and verify the actual physical positions of tags, serving as a mediator between the radio communication system and the final position identification to eliminate errors caused by radio wave reflections.
2Reliability
If radio waves are used for tag identification, then the ease of operation is high, but the reliability deteriorates due to incorrect tag identification
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using the imaging unit to verify the positions of RFID tags identified through radio communication. The control unit compares the radio-identified tag positions with the optically captured images, creating a feedback loop that confirms or corrects tag position identification, thereby improving operation reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit performs preliminary action by capturing images of RFID tag positions before the communication unit processes tag identification. This preliminary optical recording allows the system to verify subsequent radio communication results against pre-captured positional information, ensuring reliable tag identification before operations are executed.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of RFID tag identification and operation by combining radio wave and optical signals, preventing incorrect operations on non-target RFID tags.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit that images at least a part of a communicable range of the communication unit
Data Source
AI summary
A tag communication device performing radio communication with an RFID tag includes a light emitting unit. The tag communication device includes a communication unit, an imaging unit, and a control unit. The control unit (i) acquires a tag ID of RFID tags present in the communicable range of the communication unit, (ii) transmits a light emission instruction to some of RFID tags corresponding to the acquired tag ID, (iii) determines presence/absence of light emission of the light emitting unit based on the light emission instruction within an imaging area of the imaging unit on the basis of a result of imaging acquired by the imaging unit, and (iv) performs a predetermined operation for an RFID tag to which the light emission instruction has been transmitted in a case in which it is determined that light emission of the light emitting unit based on the light emission instruction is present.