Wireless Tag Communication Device with Camera Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless tag communication devices require operators to be accustomed to finding RFID tags by relying on directional guidance, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, as they need to interpret complex directional cues to locate the tags.
Innovation Solution
A wireless tag communication device equipped with a directional antenna, camera, and controller that estimates the tag direction and position, displaying an intuitive guidance screen by superimposing an explicit area containing the estimated tag position on the captured image, allowing operators to easily recognize the tag's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If directional guidance is displayed on a screen, then the operator can locate RFID tags, but the operator needs to be accustomed to interpreting complex directional cues which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture the actual visual scene and overlays the estimated tag position directly onto the captured image. This allows the operator to see the tag position in the natural visual field rather than interpreting abstract directional cues, eliminating the need for operator acclimation while maintaining precise location information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from displaying directional information in abstract 2D screen space to overlaying position information directly onto the 3D visual scene captured by the camera. This dimensional transformation makes the position information intuitive and immediately understandable without requiring operator interpretation
2Measurement precision
If the operator moves in the direction indicated on the display to find the RFID tag, then the tag can be located, but the search process is time-consuming and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
By capturing the real-world scene with a camera and overlaying the tag position estimate directly onto the captured image, the system provides immediate visual feedback of the tag location in the operator's field of view. This eliminates the trial-and-error movement process, allowing the operator to directly locate and read the tag, significantly improving search efficiency while maintaining accurate position detection
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless tag communication device includes a directional antenna, a communication control circuit configured to communicate with a wireless tag through the directional antenna, a camera positioned such that a direction along which a signal strength of the directional antenna is maximized and a shooting direction of the camera coincide with each other, and a controller. The controller is configured to estimate a tag direction where the wireless tag exists, estimate a position of the wireless tag communication device, estimate a position of the wireless tag based on the estimated tag direction and the estimated position of the wireless tag communication device, and control a display to display a first image captured by the camera and a second image showing an explicit area containing the estimated position of the wireless tag.