RFID Tag-Reader Modulation for Simplified Equipment State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies for monitoring manufacturing processes require tedious configuration, installation, testing, and programming, leading to inefficiencies and potential inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing tag-reader-based technologies, such as RFID, to monitor the state of apparatus by analyzing the presence or absence of tags and their read characteristics, eliminating the need for complex implementation and allowing for automated state prediction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor technologies (camera sensors, laser/photo eye sensors, radar, LIDAR) are used to monitor manufacturing processes, then robust insights and inferences can be obtained, but the configuration, installation, testing, and programming become tedious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RFID tags and readers as intermediary components between the manufacturing process and the monitoring system. Instead of directly implementing complex sensor technologies, the system uses simple tag-reader interactions to generate state information, which is then processed to provide robust manufacturing insights
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical sensor-based monitoring systems with an information-based system using RFID technology. Instead of using mechanical/optical sensors to directly detect physical states, the system uses tag-reader communication to infer apparatus states through information processing
2Reliability
If complex sensor technologies are implemented for monitoring, then detailed process monitoring is achieved, but resource utilization increases due to extensive configuration and programming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tags automatically provide identification and state information when queried by readers, eliminating the need for manual configuration and programming. The system serves itself by using the natural presence or absence of tags to generate monitoring data without requiring extensive setup resources
3Ease of operation
If tag-reader based monitoring is used, then implementation complexity is reduced, but the ability to capture detailed process insights may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms simple tag presence/absence data into meaningful process insights by changing the parameter interpretation. Instead of viewing RFID merely as identification technology, the system interprets tag-reader interaction patterns (presence, absence, read frequency) as indicators of apparatus states, thereby extracting detailed process information from simple data sources
Data Source
AI summary
In general, various embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, apparatus, and technologies, and/or the like for generating predicted states of apparatus, equipment, items, and/or the like based at least in part on associated tag-reader modulations such as, for example, a presence of an RFID tag, an absence of an RFID tag, a combination of the two, and/or a metric of one or more reads of an RFID tag.