Systems and apparatus for writing data to multiple RF tags contained on print media

• US 20060104689A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Marowski, Raymond Michael, Underwood, Mark Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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

Abstract

Print media (28) having a plurality of radio frequency data storage devices (88) passes through a print media pathway (110) of a printer assembly (14). The devices (88) can be programmed using groups (142, 144) of antennas which are arranged about the print media pathway (110) such the simultaneous programming of multiple devices (88) can be achieved. A data programming device (94) consisting of multiple reader/programmers (94a, 94b, 94c) can be utilized in combination with one or more RF multiplexors (152, 154) to reduce the time necessary to program the devices (88) separately.

Claims

1. A system for writing data to radio frequency storage devices contained on print media comprising:

a printer assembly with a print media pathway through which print media is fed;

two or more radio frequency antennas; and

at least one data programmer for transmitting radio frequency signals via said radio frequency antennas;

wherein print media having two or more radio frequency data storage devices is fed through said print media pathway and wherein a first said antennas simultaneously writes data to at least one of said data storage devices while a second of said antennas writes data to another of said data storage devices thereby reducing the time required to write data to the storage devices separately.

2. The system of claim 1wherein said radio frequency data storage devices are arranged in columns on said print media and wherein said radio frequency programmers are configured to write data to said storage devices based on the column location of a storage device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said radio frequency antennas are arranged into at least two groups of antennas about an axis perpendicular to the print media direction of travel.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a first of said groups is used to write data to storage devices located in even columns and wherein the second of said groups is used to write date to storage devices in odd columns.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein a first of said group contains two radio frequency antennas and the second of said groups contains three radio frequency antennas.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a controller operably coupled to said two groups of radio frequency antennas and configured to arbitrate which group writes data to a particular radio frequency storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said data programmer comprises separate reader/programmers for each of said one or more radio frequency antennas.

8. A radio frequency label printing system comprising:

a printer assembly having a print media pathway through which print media is fed;

at least two radio frequency programmers having antennas for writing data to radio frequency tags;

a controller operably coupled to said at least two radio frequency programmers for determining which antenna is used to write data to radio frequency tags;

wherein print media having a plurality of radio frequency tags is fed 10 through said print media pathway and wherein said controller causes said radio frequency programmers to simultaneously write data to multiple of said plurality of radio frequency tags thereby reducing the time required to write data to said plurality of radio frequency tags separately.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said radio frequency tags are arranged in columns on said print media and wherein said radio frequency programmers are configured to write data to said tags based on the column location of a tag.

12. The system of claim 8-wherein said radio frequency antennas are arranged into at least two groups of antennas.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each group consists of at least two antennas.

14. The system of claim 13.wherein at least one of said groups has at least three antennas.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a multiplexor for selecting an appropriate antenna associated with a tag.

10. The system of claim 10 wherein each radio frequency programmer is associated with a specific column of tags.

11. The system of claim 11 wherein a radio frequency programmer associated with a column is configured to rout data to tags in said column.

16. Apparatus for writing data to radio frequency tags on print media being fed through a printer assembly comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency antennas;

a plurality of radio frequency programmers associated with said antennas; and

a controller for causing said radio frequency programmers to write data to radio frequency tags contained on print media being fed through a print media pathway within a printer assembly said data being simultaneously written to multiple radio frequency tags thereby reducing the time required to write data to said radio frequency tags separately.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said radio frequency antennas comprises first and second groups of antennas.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein first and second of said plurality of radio frequency programmers utilize said first and second groups of antennas, respectively.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising at least one multiplexor between a first radio frequency programmer and radio frequency antennas for selecting a particular antenna from a particular group of antennas.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said radio frequency tags are arranged in columns on said print media and where said first and second groups are arranged for writing data according to the column position of radio frequency tags.