RFID Tag Assembly with Shield Strip for Tree Growth Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring tree characteristics, such as diameter and circumference, are often manual, time-consuming, and require significant human labor, leading to inaccuracies and high costs, especially in forestry and tree nursery industries, where precise data is crucial for inventory management and revenue optimization.
Innovation Solution
A tag assembly system comprising a band with spaced tags and a shield strip that adapts to the tree's growth, allowing only unshielded tags to be read, eliminating the need for power sources and reducing costs by using passive RFID tags that emit signals without external power, enabling remote and accurate data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual methods are used to measure tree characteristics, then human labor can directly observe and record data, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an automated electronic system consisting of RFID tags, readers, and processing units. This substitution eliminates human error in measurement and recording, providing precise automated data collection without requiring continuous human labor.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system operates autonomously once deployed. RFID tags automatically transmit tree characteristic data to readers without requiring manual intervention for each measurement, enabling continuous self-service data collection that reduces both time loss and improves accuracy.
2Productivity
If battery-powered systems are used for remote measurement, then continuous power supply enables automated data collection, but the system complexity and cost increase due to power source requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the power source component from the measurement system. By using passive RFID tags that harvest energy from the reader's electromagnetic field, the system removes batteries and power management components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining automated data collection productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary energy transfer medium. The reader generates an electromagnetic field that serves as both the communication carrier and the power source for passive tags, eliminating the need for direct electrical power connections and reducing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple tags are placed along the band to measure growth at different positions, then measurement coverage is improved, but the cost and complexity of reading all tags increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic tag reading strategy where the system selectively activates and reads only the subset of tags that are currently relevant for measurement. As the band moves or expands, different tags become active, allowing comprehensive growth coverage while maintaining simple real-time reading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is segmented into multiple independent RFID tags distributed along the band, each capable of autonomous communication. This segmentation allows the reader to selectively query individual tags or groups based on current measurement needs, reducing the complexity of reading all tags simultaneously while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
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
The system reduces the time and cost of collecting tree growth data, maintains accurate inventory, and increases revenue by providing efficient, remote, and accurate measurements of tree characteristics without the need for battery-powered systems, applicable to various industries beyond forestry.
Implementation Method 1
The shield strip prevents the shielded tags from being read or emitting signals
Data Source
AI summary
A tag assembly for measuring a characteristic of a tree includes a band and a shield strip. The band is configured to encircle the tree and has a plurality of tags spaced apart along the band. The shield strip extends along the band to thereby shield a number of tags in the plurality of tags such that the plurality of tags includes shielded tags and unshielded tags. The shield strip prevents the shielded tags from being read or emitting signals and while the unshielded tags can be read or emit signals such that the characteristic of the tree can be determined.