RFID Tag With GPS Receiver for Long-Range Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID tracking systems face limitations in range and cost due to power constraints and the need for multiple readers, and struggle to differentiate between movement within or out of a monitored area, especially in military and shipping applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an ultra-sensitive RFID receiver and a GPS receiver in RFID tags, allowing for extended range communication and accurate location determination, reducing the need for multiple readers and enabling selective power conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If an array of multiple readers is installed to cover a large area, then the tracking coverage is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having multiple readers cover different areas, the patent inverts the approach by giving each tag the capability to determine its own location using GPS. This allows a single reader to communicate with tags across a large area, reducing the number of readers needed while maintaining extensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces GPS satellite signals as an intermediary mechanism. Rather than readers directly detecting tags through wireless signals, the tags use GPS satellites to determine their location, which is then communicated to readers. This intermediary system enables long-range communication without requiring multiple readers.
2Reliability
If RFID tags transmit wireless signals continuously for tracking, then the tracking reliability is improved, but the battery power is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission where tags transmit their location information at intervals rather than continuously. The tags determine their location using GPS and transmit updates periodically, maintaining tracking reliability while significantly reducing battery power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The tags perform self-location determination using GPS receivers built into the tag itself. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous active communication with readers, as tags can independently determine and report their location only when necessary, conserving battery power while maintaining tracking functionality.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If motion sensors are used to detect item movement, then the movement detection capability is improved, but the ability to differentiate between movement within and outside monitored area is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical motion sensors with an electronic GPS-based location determination system. Instead of detecting physical movement through mechanical sensors, the system uses GPS satellite signals to determine the tag's precise location, providing both movement detection and contextual location information that distinguishes between movement within and outside monitored areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The GPS receiver in the tag serves multiple functions: it determines precise location coordinates, detects movement by comparing location changes over time, and provides contextual information about whether the tag is within or outside monitored areas. This multi-functional approach replaces the limited capability of motion sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A tag has a transmitter for transmitting first wireless signals, and a receiver for receiving second wireless signals from which the tag can determine its current physical location. A different embodiment includes a tag having a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals, and a reader having a receiver for receiving the wireless signals, the receiver in the reader being an ultra-sensitive receiver.