RFID Tag-Reader Modulation for Equipment State Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor technologies for monitoring manufacturing processes and object tracking 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 apparatus states by interpreting tag presence, absence, and metrics, without the need for complex implementation, through a state computing system that processes tag read data using predefined rules to generate predicted states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering 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 made, but the implementation becomes complex and tedious requiring configuration, installation, testing, and programming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring accuracyVSAvoidimplementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses RFID tags and readers as a simplified copy or alternative to complex sensor systems. Instead of implementing elaborate camera, laser, or radar systems, the invention employs RFID technology which naturally provides the monitoring capability with far simpler implementation, reducing configuration, installation, testing, and programming requirements while maintaining the ability to track and monitor manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical sensor systems (camera sensors, laser/photo eye sensors, radar, LIDAR) with an electromagnetic field-based RFID system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical and optical complexity of traditional sensors while achieving similar monitoring objectives through radio frequency communication between tags and readers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If complex sensor technologies are implemented for monitoring, then detailed process monitoring is achieved, but resource waste increases and automation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess monitoring capabilityVSAvoidresource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs RFID tags which are inexpensive, simple devices that can be easily attached and removed. These tags provide the necessary monitoring data without the resource-intensive requirements of complex sensor systems, reducing both material costs and energy consumption while maintaining process monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The RFID system provides multiple functions through a single technology platform - tracking object location, monitoring process states, and enabling automated decision-making. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate sensor systems, thereby reducing resource waste and improving automation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250298999A1Detecting equipment state via tag-reader modulations

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICAN INC

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.