Adjustable RFID Pet Collar Resonator for Stable Microchip Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pet monitoring devices using RFID microchips face challenges such as poor accuracy, uncomfortable fit, and durability issues due to the need for flexible and adjustable collars that maintain effective RFID reading performance across varying pet sizes and geometries.
Innovation Solution
A wearable pet monitoring device with a collar featuring 1 to 5 turns of electrical conductor wound circumferentially, coupled with an adjustable RFID reader that automatically adjusts resonance to maintain effective RFID reading through a driving circuit with primary and secondary inductance and a resonance capacitor, ensuring reliable and comfortable pet monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the collar is made flexible and adjustable to fit different pet sizes, then comfort and adaptability are improved, but the RFID antenna geometry changes causing tuning instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic tuning circuit that automatically adjusts the resonant frequency of the RFID antenna system in real-time. The circuit includes variable capacitors and inductors that can change their electrical characteristics based on feedback from the RFID reading quality, thereby maintaining optimal tuning despite geometric changes in the flexible collar
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the RFID reader monitors the coupling between the collar antenna and the microchip antenna. Based on this feedback, the tuning circuit adjusts its parameters to compensate for geometry changes, ensuring stable reading performance across different collar configurations
2Force
If multiple turns of conductor are used in the collar antenna, then magnetic field strength is improved, but connector complexity and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested conductor configuration where multiple turns of conductive material are embedded within layers of flexible collar material. The conductors are nested in a compact spiral or concentric pattern, allowing multiple turns to be contained within a small spatial footprint, thereby maintaining magnetic field strength while simplifying connector requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The collar antenna uses flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) technology or conductive fabric where the multiple turns are formed as thin, flexible traces integrated into the collar material itself. This eliminates the need for separate multi-pole connectors, as the conductive paths are continuously embedded within the flexible structure
3Adaptability or versatility
If a transformer is used to convert single-turn antenna, then compatibility with conventional RFID readers is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the electrical parameters of the single-turn collar antenna by modifying its physical dimensions, conductor material, or proximity to the pet's body to change its inductance and impedance characteristics. This allows the single-turn antenna to directly match the impedance requirements of conventional RFID readers, eliminating the need for a transformer while maintaining compatibility
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 solution provides a comfortable, adjustable, and robust pet monitoring system that maintains accurate RFID reading performance across varying pet sizes and geometries, enhancing the reliability and durability of pet health monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a driving circuit (1100) comprising a primary inductance (Lp) inductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item
Implementation Method 2
a secondary inductance (Ls) and resonance capacitor (Cs) conductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item, wherein the secondary inductance and resonance capacitor form the wearable item resonator with said electrical conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A pet monitoring device (101) for monitoring a sub-dermal RFID microchip (103), the pet monitoring device comprising: a wearable item (1) bearing 1 to 5 turns of electrical conductor (7) wound circumferentially to form a wearable item resonator; and an RFID reader (9) attachable and detachable to said wearable item, wherein said RFID reader comprises: a driving circuit (1100) comprising a primary inductance (Lp) inductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item; a secondary inductance (Ls) and resonance capacitor (Cs) conductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item, wherein the secondary inductance and resonance capacitor form the wearable item resonator with said electrical conductor, wherein the wearable item resonator comprises a circuit (1004) to automatically adjust said resonance capacitor to compensate for a size of said wearable item when fitted to said pet; wherein the driving circuit is operable to drive the wearable item resonator.