APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A RFID TAG AND CARTRIDGE FOR INCLUDING AT LEAST A RFID TAG

• US 20080297318A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohashi, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag comprises: a container holder configured to detachably attach a container for including at least a RFID tag which contains a tag medium on which a RFID circuit element is arranged; and an apparatus magnetic-path forming portion configured to form a magnetic path for a communication magnetic flux in a feeding path of said tag medium in said container for including at least a RFID tag when said container for including at least a RFID tag is attached to said container holder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag comprising:

a container holder configured to detachably attach a container for including at least a RFID tag which contains a tag medium on which a RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit part storing information and a tag loop antenna connected to said IC circuit part is arranged, capable of continuous supply of said tag medium; and

an apparatus magnetic-path forming portion configured to form a magnetic path for a communication magnetic flux in a feeding path of said tag medium in said container for including at least a RFID tag when said container for including at least a RFID tag is attached to said container holder.

2. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein:

said container holder is a cartridge holder configured to detachably attach a cartridge for including at least a RFID tag as said container for including at least a RFID tag which contains said tag medium substantially in a sheet state or a tape state on which said RFID circuit element is arranged, capable of continuous supply of said tag medium; and

said apparatus magnetic-path forming portion includes a first apparatus loop antenna and a second apparatus loop antenna configured to be provided on one side and the other side respectively on a face of said cartridge holder substantially perpendicular to a face direction in the feeding path at an attachment of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag to said cartridge holder, for sandwiching said feeding path therebetween and to be excited and driven in phases opposite to each other so as to transmit/receive information with said IC circuit part by a magnetic induction.

3. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

said first and second apparatus loop antennas are arranged such that each of apparatus coil faces respectively provided at the apparatus loop antennas is located substantially on a same plane with each other.

4. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

said first and second apparatus loop antennas are provided such that a magnetic flux generated by an apparatus coil provided at each of the apparatus loop antennas intersects with a face direction of said tag medium in the feeding path of said tag medium.

5. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

at least one of said first and second apparatus loop antennas is provided at an apparatus projection portion arranged so as to project toward the side of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag in said cartridge holder.

6. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag has said feeding path of said tag medium at a cartridge projection portion provided so as to project toward the side of said cartridge holder; and

said cartridge holder has a recess portion so as to arrange said cartridge projection portion to be inserted between said first apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus loop antenna.

7. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

said cartridge holder and said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag are configured such that an end face of said feeding path of said tag medium on the side of said cartridge holder is located close to or substantially on the same plane with respect to a face connecting end portions of said first and second apparatus loop antennas on the side of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag.

8. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said first apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus loop antenna is arranged obliquely such that an axis line of the apparatus coil provided at each of the antennas respectively has an outward angle θ

with respect to the face direction of the feeding path of said tag medium.

9. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 8, wherein:

said angle θ

is in a range of 15 to 45 degrees.

10. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said first apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus loop antenna has a non-circular cross-sectional profile shape such that a dimension in the transport direction of the cross-sectional shape of the magnetic path is smaller than that a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of said cross-sectional shape of said magnetic path.

11. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 10, wherein:

each of said first apparatus loop antenna and second apparatus loop antenna has a flat or triangular cross-sectional profile shape.

12. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, further comprising a first apparatus magnetic member composed of a magnetic material, provided at a inner side of the apparatus from said cartridge holder so as to be located on the side opposite to said feeding path in said magnetic path generated by said apparatus coils of said first apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus loop antenna.

13. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein:

said cartridge holder is configured to be able to detachably attach said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag which contains a roll of tape with RFID tags around which a tag tape where a plurality of said RFID circuit elements are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction is wound as said tag medium.

14. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 13, wherein:

each of said first apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus loop antenna is arranged such that a magnetic flux generated by the apparatus loop antenna intersects with said tag medium at a feeding-out position of said roll of tape with RFID tags.

15. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 2, further comprising a printing device configured to make a print on said tag medium fed or a print-receiving medium to be bonded to said tag medium.

16. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein:

said container holder is a cartridge holder configured to detachably attach a cartridge for including at least a RFID tag as said container for including at least a RFID tag which contains said tag medium substantially in a sheet state or a tape state on which said RFID circuit element is arranged, capable of continuous supply of said tag medium; and

said apparatus magnetic-path forming portion is a third apparatus loop antenna configured to be provided so as to face a side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag or a recess-portion side wall provided in said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag substantially in parallel with said side wall of said cartridge at an attachment of the cartridge for including at least a RFID tag to said cartridge holder and to transmit/receive information with said IC circuit part by a magnetic induction.

17. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 16, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is provided such that a magnetic path generated by an apparatus coil provided at said third apparatus loop antenna intersects with a face direction of said tag medium in the feeding path of the tag medium.

18. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is provided so as to face a side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag at an attachment of the cartridge for including at least a RFID tag to said cartridge holder.

19. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is provided so as to face a first recess-portion side wall provided as if cutting into a side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag, substantially in parallel with said side wall at an attachment of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag to said cartridge holder.

20. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is provided so as to face a second recess-portion side wall provided as if cutting into a bottom wall substantially perpendicular to a side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag, substantially in parallel with said side wall at an attachment of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag to said cartridge holder.

21. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 18, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is configured such that a dimension of a tag coil constituting said tag loop antenna in a width direction of the feeding-path of said tag medium is substantially equal to that of said apparatus coil in said feeding-path width direction.

22. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 21, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is disposed such that a center axis of said tag coil in said width direction of the feeding-path and a center axis of said apparatus coil in said width direction of the feeding-path substantially coincide with each other.

23. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 18, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is configured such that a dimension H of said tag coil constituting said tag loop antenna in said width direction of the feeding-path is larger than a dimension h of said apparatus coil in said width direction of the feeding-path.

24. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 23, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is disposed such that a center axis of said tag coil in said width direction of the feeding-path and a center axis of said apparatus coil in said width direction of the feeding-path substantially coincide with each other.

25. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 23, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is disposed such that an end-portion position of said tag coil on one side in said width direction of the feeding-path and an end-portion position of said apparatus coil on one side in said width direction of the feeding-path substantially coincide with each other.

26. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 18, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is configured such that a dimension H of said tag coil constituting said tag loop antenna in said width direction of the feeding-path is smaller than a dimension h of said apparatus coil in said width direction of the feeding-path.

27. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 26, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is disposed such that a center axis of said tag coil in said width direction of the feeding-path and a center axis of said apparatus coil in said width direction of the feeding-path substantially coincide with each other.

28. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 26, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is disposed such that an end-portion position of said tag coil on the other side in said width direction of the feeding-path and an end-portion position of said apparatus coil on the other side in said width direction of the feeding-path substantially coincide with each other.

29. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 21, wherein:

said third apparatus loop antenna is configured such that a dimension x of said apparatus coil in a transport direction of said feeding path is smaller than a dimension y of said tag coil in the transport direction of said feeding path.

30. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 29, wherein:

said dimension y of said tag coil in the transport direction of said feeding path is set larger than a value obtained by multiplying a feeding velocity of said tag medium by a time te required for information transmission and reception with said RFID circuit element and adding said dimension x of said apparatus coil in the transport direction of said feeding path.

31. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 16, wherein:

said cartridge holder is configured to be able to detachably attach said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag which contains a roll of tape with RFID tags around which a tag tape where a plurality of said RFID circuit elements as said tag medium are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction is wound.

32. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 16, further comprising a printing device configured to make a print on said tag medium fed or a print-receiving medium to be bonded to said tag medium.

33. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein:

said apparatus magnetic-path forming portion includes;

a fourth apparatus loop antenna configured to be located in the vicinity of said feeding path in said container for including at least a RFID tag at an attachment of the container for including at least a RFID tag to said container holder and to transmit/receive information with said IC circuit part by a magnetic induction; and

a second apparatus magnetic member around which a coil constituting said fourth apparatus loop antenna is wound and composed of a magnetic material.

34. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 33, wherein:

said container holder is a cartridge holder configured to be able to detachably attach a cartridge for including at least a RFID tag which contains said tag medium substantially in a sheet state or a tape state.

35. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 33, wherein:

said container holder or said cartridge holder is configured such that a side wall or a bottom wall of said container for including at least a RFID tag or a cartridge for including at least a RFID tag is substantially in parallel with a face direction of said tag medium in said feeding path at an attachment; and

said second apparatus magnetic member is arranged such that an end portion on at least one side faces said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag so that a magnetic path generated by said coil intersects with said face direction of said feeding path.

36. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 35, wherein:

said second apparatus magnetic member is arranged such that an end portion on said one side faces said side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag; and

an end portion on the other side faces said bottom wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag.

37. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 35, wherein:

said second apparatus magnetic member is arranged such that an end portion on said one side faces said side wall of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag or a first recess-portion side wall provided at said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag substantially in parallel with the side wall; and

an end portion on the other side faces a second recess-portion side wall provided at said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag so as to face said side wall or said first recess-portion side wall with said feeding path between them.

38. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 36, wherein:

said second apparatus magnetic member is configured such that a dimension x of each of said end portion on said one side and said end portion on said other side in a transport direction of said feeding path is smaller than a dimension y of said tag loop antenna in the transport direction of said feeding path.

39. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 38, wherein:

said dimension y of said tag loop antenna in the transport direction of said feeding path is set larger than a value obtained by multiplying a feeding velocity v of said tag medium by a time te required for information transmission and reception with said RFID circuit element and adding said dimension x of said end portion of said second apparatus magnetic member in the transport direction of said feeding path.

40. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 36, wherein:

said second apparatus magnetic member is configured such that a dimension h of said second apparatus magnetic member in a width direction perpendicular to the direction of said feeding-path is smaller than a dimension H of said tag loop antenna in said width direction.

41. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 35, wherein:

said coil is provided at a portion of said second apparatus magnetic member, said portion being inner side of the apparatus from an attached face of said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag in said cartridge holder.

42. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 34, wherein:

said cartridge holder is configured to be able to detachably attach said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag containing a roll of tape with RFID tags around which a tag tape where a plurality of said RFID circuit elements are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction is wound as said tag medium.

43. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 42, wherein:

said fourth apparatus loop antenna and said second apparatus magnetic member are arranged so that a magnetic path generated by said coil does not reach said roll of tape with RFID tags.

44. An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag according to claim 33, further comprising a printing device configured to make a print on said tag medium fed or a print-receiving medium to be bonded to said tag medium.

45. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag configured to be detachably attached to a cartridge holder of an apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag, comprising:

a tag medium on which a RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit part storing information and a tag loop antenna connected to said IC circuit part are arranged; and

a cartridge magnetic-path forming portion configured to form a magnetic path for a communication magnetic flux in a feeding path of said tag medium in said cartridge for including at least a RFID tag at an attachment to said cartridge holder.

46. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 45, wherein:

said cartridge magnetic-path forming portion is a first cartridge magnetic member provided at least on one side of in a face direction of a feeding path of said tag medium so as to be located in a magnetic flux generated by an apparatus coil of each of first apparatus loop antennas and said second apparatus loop antenna provided in said apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag at an attachment to said cartridge holder, said first cartridge magnetic member being composed of a magnetic material.

47. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 45, wherein:

said cartridge magnetic-path forming portion is provided in a housing containing said tag medium capable of continuous supply to said apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag, and is a side wall of said housing disposed so as to face a third apparatus loop antenna provided at said apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag or a recess-portion side wall provided substantially in parallel with said side wall, at mounting on said cartridge holder.

48. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 47, further comprising a feeding-position regulating portion configured to regulate a position of said feeding path so that a distance between said feeding path of said tag medium and said third apparatus loop antenna is substantially constant at mounting to said cartridge holder.

49. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 48, wherein:

said recess-portion side wall is disposed so as to face said third apparatus loop antenna and regulates the position of said feeding path as said feeding-position regulating portion.

50. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 47, wherein:

said tag loop antenna is disposed such that a center axis of said tag medium in a width direction of said feeding-path substantially coincides with a center axis of said tag coil in said width direction of said feeding-path.

51. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 47, wherein:

said tag loop antenna is disposed such that a distance between an edge-portion position of said tag medium on one side in a width direction of said feeding-path and an edge-portion position of said tag coil on said one side in said width direction of said feeding-path becomes a predetermined fixed value.

52. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 45, wherein:

said cartridge magnetic-path forming portion is a second cartridge magnetic member provided so as to be located in a magnetic path of a magnetic flux generated by a coil constituting a fourth apparatus loop antenna provided at said apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag at an attachment to said cartridge holder, said second cartridge magnetic member being composed of a magnetic material.

53. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 52, wherein:

a dimension of said second cartridge magnetic member in a width direction perpendicular to a transport direction of said tag medium is smaller a dimension of said tag loop antenna in a width direction.

54. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 52, wherein:

said second cartridge magnetic member is arranged on the side opposite said fourth apparatus loop antenna with respect to said feeding path of said tag medium.

55. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 52, wherein:

said second cartridge magnetic member is arranged on the same side as said fourth apparatus loop antenna with respect to said feeding path of said tag medium.

56. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 52, wherein:

said tag medium includes an adhesive layer configured to bond a print-receiving medium; and

said second cartridge magnetic member is arranged on the side opposite said adhesive layer with respect to said feeding path of said tag medium.

57. A cartridge for including at least a RFID tag according to claim 52, wherein:

said second cartridge magnetic member is respectively arranged on both sides of said feeding path of said tag medium.