RFID Printer Antenna Position Search for Faster Tag Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers struggle to efficiently identify the optimum antenna position for communication with RFID elements on printing media, leading to suboptimal communication conditions.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a movable communication unit that searches for and identifies an optimal antenna position by determining communication success/failure at multiple positions, using a search unit to adjust the antenna's position based on successful communication regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the antenna position is identified on the basis of an initial position and a final position at which communication with the RFID was successful, then the communication position can be determined, but it takes excessive time to search for the optimum antenna position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna position search space into multiple regions and performs segmented searches. Instead of searching the entire range from initial to final position uniformly, the search is divided into multiple stages with different search intervals, allowing efficient exploration of the position space while reducing overall search time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a multi-dimensional search approach by considering multiple search intervals and regions. The search is not performed linearly from initial to final position but explores multiple dimensional aspects of the position space simultaneously, enabling faster convergence to the optimum position.
2Reliability
If the communication unit searches for RFID at multiple positions to identify the optimum antenna position, then communication reliability is improved, but the complexity of the search process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first determining an approximate communication position using initial search criteria, then uses this preliminary result to guide the subsequent refined search. This preliminary action reduces the search space for the detailed search, improving reliability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where communication success/failure results at each position are fed back to adjust the search strategy. The search unit uses feedback from previous search results to determine the next search position and interval, creating an adaptive search process that improves reliability without requiring overly complex predetermined search patterns.
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 allows for more efficient identification of the optimum antenna position, ensuring effective communication with RFID elements on printing media.
Implementation Method 1
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology transmits and receives, via contactless communication, information on an IC chip
Data Source
AI summary
A printer configured to print on a print medium having an RFID includes: a communication unit configured to communicate with the RFID; a controller configured to attempt communication between the RFID and the communication unit while a relative position between the RFID and the communication unit is adjusted, the controller is configured to operate in first and second modes in which the controller attempts the communication at respective first and second pluralities of relative positions between the RFID and the communication unit and determines a radio wave strength at relative positions at which the communication is successful, and identifies an optimum communication position based on the radio wave strength at relative positions at which the communication is successful.