Sheet of printing paper, a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile, a document scanner, a method of controlling a printer, a method of controlling a document scanner, a method of controlling a scanner, a printer and a communication unit

• US 20020170973A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Teraura, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,827,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/021 Adaptations for printing on specific media
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

A sheet of printing paper has an RFID tag for receiving, storing, and transmitting data through radio wave signals. A printer detects the RFID data to be written in the RFID tag in the received data and records the RFID data in the RFID tag on a sheet of printing paper in addition to the general printing operation. A copy machine can copy the RFID data from the RFID tag on the sheet of document paper to the RFID tag on the sheet of printing paper in addition to the image copying. ID data or inhibit/permission data from the RFID tag is used to control the copy operation and transmission in a facsimile. ID data is recorded on the RFID tag on the sheet of the document paper or the printing paper on copying or transmission. The RFID data is transmitted by the facsimile in addition to image data transmission.

Claims

1. A sheet of printing paper comprising:

a sheet of paper which is printable; and

an RFID tag supported by said sheet of paper for receiving, storing, and transmitting data through radio wave signals and storing said data.

2. The sheet of printing paper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is arranged at a corner of said sheet of paper.

3. The sheet of printing paper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is embedded in said sheet of paper.

4. A printer for printing an image on a sheet of printing paper with an RFID tag on the basis of data for vision included in received data which further includes RFID data to be recorded in said RFID tag comprising:

printing means for printing said image on said sheet on the basis of said data for vision; and

recording means for recording said RFID data in said RFID tag.

5. The printer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said received data selectively includes said RFID data, said printer further comprising:

detecting means for detecting whether said received data includes said RFID data; and

paper feeding means having first paper tray for containing at least a sheet of first printing paper with said RFID tag and second paper tray for containing at least a sheet of second printing paper without said RFID tag, wherein said paper feeding means feeds said sheet of first printing paper with said RFID tag from said first paper tray to print said image with said printing means on said sheet of first printing paper and to record said RFID data in said RFID tag of said sheet of first printing paper when said detection means detects that said received data includes said RFID data.

6. A copying machine comprising:

image reading means for reading an image on a sheet of document paper with a first RFID tag for receiving, storing, and transmitting first data;

printing means for printing said image on a sheet of printing paper which includes a second RFID tag for receiving, storing, and transmitting second data;

data reading means for reading said first data from said first RFID tag; and

data recording means for recording said first data from said data reading means as said second data in said second RFID tag.

7. The copy machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sheet of document paper selectively includes said first RFID tag, said copying machine further comprising:

detecting means for detecting whether said sheet of document paper includes said first RFID tag; and

paper feeding means having first paper tray for containing at least a sheet of first printing paper with said RFID tag and second paper tray for containing at least a sheet of second printing paper without said RFID tag, wherein said paper feeding means feeds a sheet of said first printing paper with said RFID tag from said first paper tray to print said image from said image reading means with said printing means on a sheet of first printing paper and to record said RFID data in said RFID tag of said sheet of said first printing paper when said detection means detects that said sheet of document paper has said first RFID tag.

8. The copying machine as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said copy machine; and

identification data recording means for operating said data recording means to record said identification data from said inputting means as said first data in said first RFID tag when said detection means detects that said sheet of document paper includes said first RFID tag.

9. The copying machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said copy machine; and

identification data recording means for operating said data recording means to record said identification data from said inputting means as said first data in said first RFID tag.

10. The copying machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said copy machine; and

identification data recording means for operating said data recording means to record said identification data from said inputting means as said second data in said second RFID tag.

11. The copying machine as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

permission data reading means for operating said data reading means to read permission data including identification data in said first data from said RFID tag, wherein said control means operating said inputting and comparing means when said permission data reading means can read said permission data and permits said printing means to copy said image on said printing paper when said identification data from identification data reading means agrees with said identification data from said inputting means when said permission data reading means can read said permission data.

12. The copying machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

identification data reading means for operating said data reading means to read identification data in said first RFID tag;

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said copy machine;

comparing means for comparing said identification data from identification data reading means with identification data from said inputting means;

control means for permitting said printing means to copy said image on said printing paper when said identification data from identification data reading means agrees with said identification data from said inputting means.

13. The copying machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

inhibition data reading means for operating said data reading means to read inhibition data in said first data from said RFID tag; and

control means for inhibiting said printing means from copying said image on said printing paper when said inhibition data can be read from said first RFID tag

15. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sheet of document paper selectively includes said first RFID tag, said facsimile further comprising:

detecting means for detecting whether said sheet of document paper includes said first RFID tag, wherein said transmitting means further transmits said first RFID data when said detecting means detects that said sheet of document paper includes said first RFID tag.

16. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, wherein said received data selectively includes said second RFID data, said facsimile further comprising:

detecting means for detecting whether said received data includes said second RFID data; and

paper feeding means having first paper tray for containing at least a sheet of first printing paper with said second RFID tag and second paper tray for containing at least a sheet of second printing paper without said second RFID tag, wherein said paper feeding means feeds said sheet of first printing paper with said first RFID tag from said first paper tray to print said second image with said printing means on said sheet of first printing paper and record said second RFID data in said second RFID tag of said sheet of said second printing paper when said detection means detects that said received data includes said second RFID data.

17. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said facsimile; and

identification data recording means for operating said data recording means to record said identification data from said inputting means as said first data in said first RFID tag.

18. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said facsimile; and

identification data transmission means for operating said transmitting means to transmit said identification data from said inputting means as said first data.

19. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

identification data reading means for operating said data reading means to read identification data in said first RFID tag;

inputting means for inputting identification data of an operator operating said copy machine;

comparing means for comparing said identification data from identification data reading means with identification data from said inputting means;

control means for permitting said transmitting means to transmit said first data when said identification data from identification data reading means agrees with said identification data from said inputting means.

20. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

permission data reading means for operating said data reading means to read permission data including identification data in said first data from said RFID tag, wherein said control means operates said inputting and comparing means when said permission data reading means can read said permission data and permits said transmitting means to transmit said first data when said identification data from identification data reading means agrees with said identification data from said inputting means when said permission data reading means can read said permission data.

21. The facsimile as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

inhibition data reading means for operating said data reading means to read inhibition data in said first data from said RFID tag; and

control means for inhibiting said transmitting means to transmit said first data when said inhibition data can be read from said first RFID tag

22. The facsimile as claimed in claim 17, further comprising copying means for effecting a copying function to operate said image reading means and said printing means to copy said image as said second image on said printing paper, wherein said identification data recording means operates said RFID data recording means to record said identification data from said inputting means as said second RFID data when said copying means effects said copying function.

14. A facsimile comprising:

image reading means for reading an image on a sheet of document paper including a first RFID tag to generate first image data, said first RFID tag receiving, transmitting, and storing first RFID data;

transmitting means for transmitting first data including said image data;

RFID data reading means for reading first RFID data from said first RFID tag, said transmitting means transmitting said first RFID data together with said first data;

receiving means for receiving second data including second image data and second RFID data;

printing means for printing said second image on a sheet of printing paper with a second RFID tag, said second RFID tag receiving, transmitting, and storing second RFID data; and

RFID data recording means for recording said second RFID data in second RFID tag of said sheet of printing paper.

23. A document scanner comprising:

image reading means for reading an image on a document paper with an RFID tag for receiving, storing, and transmitting RFID data;

RFID data reading means for reading said RFID data from said RFID tag; and

outputting means for outputting first data indicative of said image and said RFID data.

24. A method of controlling a printer for printing an image on a sheet of printing paper with an RFID tag on the basis of data for vision included in received data which selectively includes RFID data to be written in said RFID tag comprising the steps of:

detecting whether said received data including RFID data; and

recording said RFID data in said RFID tag when said received data includes said RFID data in addition to printing said image on said printing paper.

25. A method of controlling a scanner comprising:

reading an image on a sheet of document paper with an RFID tag for receiving, storing, and transmitting RFID data;

reading said RFID data from said RFID tag; and

outputting means for outputting first data indicative of said image and said read RFID data.

26. A method of controlling a scanner, a printer, and a communication unit coupled to a network comprising the step of:

reading an image on a sheet of document paper including a first RFID tag to generate first image data with said scanner, said first RFID tag receiving, transmitting, and storing first RFID data;

transmitting first data including said image data with the use of said communication unit;

reading first RFID data from said first RFID tag;

transmitting said first RFID data together with said first data;

receiving second data including second image data and second RFID data with the use of said communication unit;

printing said second image on a sheet of printing paper with a second RFID tag with the use of said printer, said second RFID tag receiving, transmitting, and storing second RFID data; and

recording said second RFID data in second RFID tag of said sheet of printing paper.