Systems, methods and associated RFID antennas for processing a plurality of transponders

• US 10,528,774 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Tsirline, Boris Y., Torchalski, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Daniel I
• Application Number:
  US16/101,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20190138760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/045 the record carrier being of the non-contact type, e.g. RFID, and being specially adapted for attachment to a disc, e.g. a CD or DVD
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/086 sensing passive circuit, e.g. resonant circuit transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders is provided. The RFID system may include a transponder conveyance system adapted to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding area along a feeding direction and an antenna having a resonant inductor and a ferrite material, wherein the ferrite material at least partially covers the resonant inductor and defines an exposed portion of the resonant inductor. In one antenna-transponder alignment, the exposed portion extends substantially parallel to the feeding direction.

Claims

1. A printer having a radio frequency identification encoding system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among adjacent transponders, the printer comprising:

an antenna mounted within the printer, the antenna comprising a coil coiled around a coil axis, wherein the coil axis is perpendicular to a plane of the coil;

a media feed path, wherein the antenna is positioned adjacent to the media feed path;

a printhead extending across the media feed path, wherein;

a length of the printhead extends in a length direction perpendicular to the media feed path, the length of the printhead corresponding to a longest edge of the printhead; and

the length direction is parallel with the coil axis.

2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a shielding element.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein the shielding element extends around the antenna leaving an exposed area to direct magnetic flux generated by the antenna.

4. The printer of claim 1, wherein magnetic flux generated by the antenna extends from a side of the targeted transponder toward a center of the targeted transponder.

5. The printer of claim 1, wherein the antenna is positioned at a point between a center of the media feed path and an outside edge of the media feed path.

6. The printer of claim 1, wherein the antenna emits magnetic flux to encode the targeted transponder moving along the media feed path.

7. The printer of claim 1, wherein:

the targeted transponder is disposed between an upstream transponder and a downstream transponder; and

the upstream transponder, the targeted transponder, and the downstream transponder are movable along the media feed path through a communication area along a feed direction.

8. The printer of claim 7, wherein the feed direction is perpendicular to the coil axis and the direction.

9. The printer of claim 1, wherein the antenna is disposed on a printed circuit board.

10. The printer of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled to a power source of the printer.