Wireless Tag Reader Interrogation for User Interaction Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless technologies face challenges in power efficiency, size, and ease of wireless enablement and communication, particularly in enabling user interactions with wireless tags in various devices and environments.

Innovation Solution

The system employs wireless tags with integrated circuits and floating connections that allow users to interact by touching, effectively creating antennas or ground planes, enabling communication with wireless tag readers, and includes a computing device to process and provide feedback based on RF signal parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If wireless tags use traditional wireless communication methods, then communication capability is achieved, but power consumption is high and device size is large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a reader device as an intermediary that performs the complex wireless communication and processing tasks. The wireless tag only needs to store data and respond to reader queries, significantly reducing its power consumption and complexity while maintaining reliable communication through the reader's sophisticated radio interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless tag is designed to be passive, harvesting energy from the reader's electromagnetic field to power its circuitry. This eliminates the need for an internal power source, dramatically reducing size and power consumption while the tag autonomously responds to reader interrogation using the harvested energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If wireless tags include complete wireless communication components, then communication reliability is improved, but device size and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication system is segmented into two distinct components: a sophisticated reader device that handles complex communication protocols, signal processing, and error correction, and a simple wireless tag that only stores data and provides basic response signals. This segmentation allows the tag to remain small and simple while the system as a whole achieves high communication reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reader device is designed as a universal platform that can communicate with multiple different types of wireless tags using standardized protocols. This multi-functionality consolidates complex communication capabilities into a single device, allowing individual tags to remain simple while the system supports diverse applications

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

3Ease of manufacture

If wireless tags are made smaller and simpler, then ease of manufacture and deployment is improved, but power harvesting and communication efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The reader acts as an intermediary that compensates for the tag's simplicity. It provides powerful signal processing, error correction, and protocol management that enhances communication efficiency despite the tag's minimal components. The reader's sophisticated transceiver makes up for the tag's lack of complex communication hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses adjustable communication parameters such as modulation schemes, data rates, and power levels that can be optimized based on the specific application. The reader dynamically adjusts these parameters to maintain high communication efficiency while working with simple, small wireless tags that have limited capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enhances user interaction capabilities with wireless tags by improving power harvesting and communication efficiency, allowing for reliable and versatile user engagement with various objects and environments.

Implementation Method 1

power harvesting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a conductive element connects the wireless antenna with the wireless tag

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10360420B2Systems and methods for enabling user interactions with wireless tags
Publication Date: 2019.07.23 DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC
  • US10360420B2 patent drawing
  • US10360420B2 patent drawing
  • US10360420B2 patent drawing

AI summary

There is provided a system including a wireless tag reader, a first wireless antenna, a wireless tag including an integrated circuit (IC), a conductive element electronically connecting the wireless tag to the first wireless antenna, a non-transitory memory storing an executable code, a hardware processor executing the executable code to transmit an interrogation signal, receive a tag signal from the wireless tag electronically connected to the first wireless antenna in response to the interrogation signal, the tag signal including a wireless tag identification (ID) uniquely identifying the wireless tag, and determine an interaction by a user with the wireless tag based on the tag signal.