RFID Printing Device Error Step Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing devices for RFID tags cannot identify the specific step at which an error occurs during the writing process, requiring additional time and effort to diagnose the issue.

Innovation Solution

A printing device equipped with an error detection unit that identifies the type of error by detecting errors at multiple steps and storing corresponding error patterns, allowing for immediate identification of the error type on the RFID sheet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional printing devices only print generic error patterns, then the device complexity is low, but the diagnostic precision is insufficient and cannot identify specific error steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror identification precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the error detection process into multiple distinct steps (reading information, writing information, verifying written information), with each step having its own error detection capability and corresponding error type pattern. This segmentation allows precise identification of which specific step failed, improving diagnostic precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular error handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses different error type patterns (which may include different visual characteristics such as patterns, colors, or symbols) to represent different error steps. By printing distinct visual patterns corresponding to different error types, the system enables quick visual identification of the specific error step without requiring complex diagnostic interfaces or additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If the printing device communicates with RFID tag again to clarify error cause, then the measurement precision of error diagnosis is improved, but the time consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation loss about error causeVSAvoidtime loss for error diagnosis
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary error detection and classification during the initial writing process itself. The error detection unit identifies and categorizes errors at specific steps (reading, writing, verifying) while the process is ongoing, rather than requiring a separate subsequent communication session. This preliminary action captures error information in real-time, preventing information loss while avoiding the time penalty of re-communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements immediate feedback by detecting errors during the writing process and directly printing the corresponding error type pattern on the RFID sheet. This real-time feedback mechanism provides instant information about the error cause without requiring additional communication cycles, thus eliminating both information loss and time loss associated with repeated communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If no error type patterns are printed on RFID sheet, then the ease of operation is high, but the productivity is reduced due to manual error investigation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service error identification by automatically detecting errors during the writing process and printing the corresponding error type patterns directly on the RFID sheet. This self-service mechanism allows the RFID sheets to carry their own diagnostic information, eliminating the need for manual investigation while maintaining operational simplicity. Users can quickly identify error types by visual inspection of the printed patterns without requiring complex diagnostic tools or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2206607B1Printing device
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 SATO HLDG CORP
  • EP2206607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2206607B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2206607B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The object of the present invention is to provide a printing device capable of easily understanding an error type, that is, at which step an error has occurred and capable of saving time and effort for identifying the cause of the error. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A printing device includes a reader/writer for writing information into an RFID tag (4) and detecting errors at a plurality of steps in a procedure for writing the information into the RFID tag (4) and a ROM for storing each of error patterns (50a, 50b, 50c) at respective steps at which errors have been detected by the reader/writer. When an error is detected by the reader/writer (15), a control unit reads, from the ROM, one of the error patterns (50a, 50b, 50c) corresponding to a step at which the error has been detected and prints the one on an RFID label (5).