Wireless Charging Electronic Tag Battery Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electronic shelf label systems require frequent battery replacements for electronic tags, which is time-consuming and costly, and lack efficient wireless charging and power management solutions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic tag system that integrates wireless power reception, battery monitoring, and communication units to enable magnetic induction or resonance-based wireless charging and power state management, allowing for remote monitoring and control of battery levels, and automatic notification of charge states to a management apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If batteries are regularly replaced in electronic tags, then the electronic tags can maintain operational functionality, but time and cost are continuously consumed for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic tag performs self-charging through wireless power transmission. The power receiving unit automatically receives power from the transmitting device when the tag is placed on the charging platform, eliminating the need for manual battery replacement and reducing maintenance time while ensuring continuous operational functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary charging actions by providing wireless power transmission capability in advance. When the battery charge level drops below a threshold, the tag automatically receives power replenishment from the transmitting device, preventing operational failure before it occurs and reducing the frequency of maintenance interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If wireless power transmission is implemented for charging electronic tags, then battery replacement frequency is reduced, but system complexity increases with additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless power transmission system is designed with multi-functionality. The power transmitting device can serve multiple electronic tags simultaneously, and the electronic tag integrates power receiving, battery management, and communication functions in a single unit. This universal design improves charging efficiency while the integrated architecture minimizes the increase in overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that manages communication between the power transmitting device, electronic tags, and server. This intermediary handles power transmission coordination and data communication, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing control functions and reducing direct complexity between individual components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If power state monitoring is continuously performed, then battery management is optimized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower managementVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring unit performs periodic power state monitoring rather than continuous monitoring. It checks battery charge levels at predetermined intervals and triggers wireless power reception only when the charge level falls below a predetermined threshold. This periodic approach optimizes power management by activating charging only when necessary, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective battery management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where the monitoring unit continuously tracks battery charge levels and provides feedback to the control unit. When the charge level drops below the threshold, the feedback triggers automatic power reception. This feedback mechanism optimizes power management efficiency by ensuring charging occurs only when needed, minimizing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining optimal battery operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This system reduces the need for frequent battery replacements by enabling wireless charging and allows for efficient power management and remote monitoring of electronic tags, thereby minimizing time and cost associated with battery maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

the wireless power transmission scheme may be a magnetic induction scheme or a magnetic resonance scheme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the wireless power transmission scheme may be a magnetic induction scheme or a magnetic resonance scheme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP2884621B1System for wirelessly charging electronic tag
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD
  • EP2884621B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2884621B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2884621B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electronic tag may include a wireless power receiving unit receiving power in a wireless power transmission scheme, a battery being charged with the power received from the wireless power receiving unit, a monitoring unit monitoring a power state of the battery, a display unit displaying information on the power state of the battery from the monitoring unit on a screen, and a first wireless communications unit wirelessly transmitting the information on the power state of the battery from the monitoring unit together with tag identification information in a first wireless communications scheme.