Document Buffer With Shielded Compartments For Parallel RFID Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document buffers for accessing electronically readable identification documents are inefficient due to sequential loading, complexity, and large space requirements, as well as electromagnetic interference between RFID stations.

Innovation Solution

A document buffer with adjacent, electromagnetically shielded storage compartments and wireless read/write devices, allowing for parallel access and reduced electromagnetic interference, enabling efficient loading and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tower-like document buffer with vertically arranged document holders is used, then wireless access to RFID chips is enabled, but loading becomes slow and time-consuming due to sequential feeding requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading efficiencyVSAvoidloading time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The document buffer is divided into multiple independent receiving compartments arranged adjacently in a plane, each capable of independently receiving and processing identification documents. This segmentation allows parallel loading operations across multiple compartments simultaneously, eliminating the sequential feeding bottleneck of tower-like structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple RFID stations are placed in adjacent receiving compartments, then parallel access to multiple identification documents is enabled, but electromagnetic interference occurs between the RFID stations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparallel access capabilityVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Conductive shielding walls are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent receiving compartments containing RFID stations. These shielding walls act as electromagnetic barriers that block interference between neighboring RFID stations while allowing each station to maintain full communication capability with its own identification document, thus enabling parallel operation without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If a tower-like document buffer structure is used, then vertical space utilization is achieved, but a large amount of installation space is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidaccess efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The document buffer transitions from a vertical tower-like structure to a horizontal planar arrangement of receiving compartments. This dimensional change allows multiple document holders to be positioned adjacently in the horizontal plane, reducing the vertical height requirement while maintaining the capability to hold and access multiple identification documents simultaneously, thus improving space utilization without sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If document holders are vertically arranged in a tower structure, then compact vertical profile is achieved, but access to identification documents becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading complexityVSAvoidinstallation footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple receiving compartments are merged into a single planar structure with adjacent document holders arranged in the horizontal plane. This merging approach combines the functionality of multiple vertical stacks into one integrated horizontal unit, simplifying the loading process by allowing simultaneous access to all document holders from the same side, while reducing the overall installation footprint through efficient horizontal space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables faster and more efficient access to identification documents with reduced space requirements and minimized electromagnetic interference, facilitating automated loading and simultaneous communication with multiple RFID chips.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive shielding wall is arranged between adjacent receiving compartments for electromagnetic shielding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

wireless read/write devices for wireless communication with each wirelessly readable circuit of an identification document

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRFID electromagnetic communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2951755B1Document buffer
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP2951755B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2951755B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a document buffer (200) for accessing wirelessly readable circuits of electronically readable identification documents, comprising a plurality of adjacent receiving compartments (101). Each receiving compartment (101) is provided in order to receive an identification document, and a conductive shielding wall (105, 107, 201, 203) is arranged between adjacent receiving compartments (101) for an electromagnetic shielding. The document buffer also comprises a plurality of wireless read/write devices (113) for wirelessly communicating with a respective wirelessly readable circuit of an identification document (103), one wireless write-read device (113) being arranged in each receiving compartment (101).