Furniture and building structures comprising sensors for determining the position of one or more objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laboratories and working environments, objects such as microscopes, beakers, and tools are frequently misplaced, leading to delays, unnecessary duplication, and increased costs due to the inability to track their location effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising furniture and building structures equipped with position sensors and RFID tags that detect and track the location of objects, transmitting signals to a controller for real-time monitoring and preventing loss, with a user interface for easy object retrieval and warning systems for improper placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual tracking of objects is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity decreases due to time delays when objects cannot be found
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors embedded in furniture and building structures automatically detect objects with RFID tags, eliminating the need for manual searching and significantly improving productivity while managing device complexity through automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service tracking where objects with RFID tags automatically interact with sensors in the environment. When objects are placed on or near furniture, the sensors automatically detect them and transmit location information to the controller, allowing the system to track objects without human intervention.
2Ease of operation
If sensors are embedded within structures, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensing functionality directly into existing furniture and building structures. Sensors are embedded within desks, tables, shelves, and other familiar objects, combining the tracking system with existing infrastructure to improve ease of operation while distributing complexity across multiple integrated components rather than requiring a separate complex system.
3Measurement precision
If RFID sensors and tags are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of energy increases due to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or event-triggered monitoring rather than continuous monitoring. RFID tags and sensors activate or communicate periodically, or only when objects are detected moving or placed, maintaining measurement precision for object location while reducing energy consumption by avoiding constant active monitoring of all sensors.
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 significantly reduces the likelihood of objects being lost or misplaced, enhances efficiency in finding misplaced items, and provides a low-cost solution for tracking objects in various settings, including laboratories and classrooms.
Implementation Method 1
the sensors are RFID sensors and the sensor tags are RFID sensor tags
Data Source
AI summary
A system, device and method for determining the position of objects comprising one or more furniture items and/or building structures having one or more sensors and a controller coupled to the sensors. The sensors detect when one or more objects having at least one sensor tag are positioned proximate one of the sensors and transmit a signal to the controller including an identifier of the object and the sensor that detected the objects. As a result, the controller is able to track the position of the objects in relation to the furniture and/or building structures preventing the items from being lost and increasing efficiency when looking for misplaced objects.