SPINDLE SUPPORTED NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20160162229A1
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehrhardt, Robert Alfred, Gawelczyk, Robert S., Hampson, Derek John, Monnier, Dan Everett, Rehberger, James Matthew, Urban, Mark Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/02 Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/32 using thermal heads
• 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: B41J 33/003 Ribbon spools
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 35/36 Alarms, indicators, or feed disabling devices responsive to ink ribbon breakage or exhaustion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1211 Improving printing performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1215 achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/20 Simultaneous marking of record carrier and printing-out of data, e.g. printing-punch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4025 Managing optional units, e.g. sorters, document feeders
• 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 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device including a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, and a beam shaping NFC device. The beam shaping NFC device may include: a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may be configured to concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface, or other components capable of causing interference or degradation of the near field interrogation signals.

Claims

1. A spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device, comprising:

a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface; and

a beam shaping NFC device including;

a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and

a wire coil disposed around the core portion, wherein the ferromagnetic component concentrates near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface.

2. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein the near field interrogation signals maintain communication with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region.

3. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein:

the ferromagnetic component further includes a bottom flange portion; and

the bottom flange portion of the ferromagnetic component promotes the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the surface.

4. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic component further includes a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion and the wire coil is disposed directly around the core portion of the ferromagnetic component between the top flange portion and the bottom flange portion.

5. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic component promotes the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle.

6. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein:

the beam shaping NFC device further includes a nonconductive bobbin component including a bobbin core portion defining a bobbin cavity;

the core portion of the ferromagnetic component is disposed within the bobbin cavity; and

the wire coil is disposed around the bobbin core portion.

7. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 1 further comprising a ribbon supply spool, wherein:

the ribbon supply spool is configured to mechanically attach with a ribbon supply roll; and

the ribbon supply spool rotates around the spindle.

8. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 7 further comprising the ribbon supply roll including an RFID tag, wherein the near field interrogation signals maintain communication with an RFID tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region.

9. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 8, wherein:

the ribbon supply roll further includes

a ribbon supply core;

a ribbon; and

a foil trailer attached to an end of the ribbon, wherein the foil trailer is wrapped around the ribbon supply core and the ribbon is wrapped around foil trailer; and

the RFID tag is disposed between the ribbon supply core and the foil trailer; and

the ferromagnetic component concentrates the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at the near field interrogation region such that the near field interrogation signals, after propagating through the ribbon and foil trailer, satisfy an activation level of the RFID tag.

10. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 7 further including a bearing component configured to facilitate the rotation of the ribbon supply spool around the spindle rod portion of the spindle.

11. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 10, wherein the bearing components includes:

a bushing disposed between the exterior surface of the core cavity of the ferromagnetic component and the spindle;

a first washer disposed around the bushing;

a second washer disposed around the spindle; and

a bearing disposed around the spindle between the bushing and the second washer.

12. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 7, wherein:

the ribbon supply spool defines a spool cavity and the beam shaping NFC device is disposed within the spool cavity;

the ribbon supply spool defines a protective housing for the beam shaping NFC device when the beam shaping NFC device is disposed within the spool cavity.

13. The spindle supported NFC device of claim 7, wherein

the ribbon supply spool includes a hub portion and a spool portion;

the spool portion defines a spool cavity and the spindle is inserted within the spool cavity; and

the spool portion further includes a fin configured to mechanically secure the ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool.

14. A printer, comprising:

a housing defining an interior surface of the printer;

a spindle supported NFC device mechanically secured with the interior surface, the spindle supported NFC device including;

a spindle configured to mount to the interior surface of the printer; and

a beam shaping NFC device including;

a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and

a wire coil disposed around the core portion, wherein the ferromagnetic component concentrates near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the interior surface of the printer.

15. The printer of claim 14, wherein the near field interrogation signals maintain communication with an RFID tag located while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle within the near field interrogation region.

16. The printer of claim 14, wherein:

the ferromagnetic component further includes a bottom flange portion; and

the bottom flange portion of the ferromagnetic component promotes the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the interior surface of the printer.

17. The printer of claim 14, wherein the ferromagnetic component further includes a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion and the wire coil is disposed directly around the core portion of the ferromagnetic component between the top flange portion and the bottom flange portion.

18. The printer of claim 14, wherein the ferromagnetic component promotes the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle.

19. The printer of claim 14, wherein:

the beam shaping NFC device further includes a nonconductive bobbin component including a bobbin core portion defining a bobbin cavity;

the core portion of the ferromagnetic component is disposed within the bobbin cavity; and

the wire coil is disposed around the bobbin core portion.

20. The printer of claim 14 further comprising a ribbon supply spool, wherein:

the ribbon supply spool is configured to mechanically attach with a ribbon supply roll; and

the ribbon supply spool rotates around the spindle.

21. The printer of claim 20 further comprising the ribbon supply roll including an RFID tag, wherein the near field interrogation signals maintain communication with the RFID tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region.

22. The printer of claim 21, wherein:

the ribbon supply roll further includes;

a ribbon supply core;

a ribbon; and

a foil trailer attached to an end of the ribbon, wherein the foil trailer is wrapped around the ribbon supply core and the ribbon is wrapped around foil trailer; and

the RFID tag is disposed between the ribbon supply core and the foil trailer; and

the ferromagnetic component concentrates the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at the near field interrogation region such that the near field interrogation signals, after propagating through the ribbon and foil trailer, satisfy an activation level of the RFID tag.

23. The printer of claim 20 further including a bearing component configured to facilitate the rotation of the ribbon supply spool around the spindle.

24. The printer of claim 23, wherein the bearing components includes:

a bushing disposed between the exterior surface of the core cavity of the ferromagnetic component and the spindle;

a first washer disposed around the bushing;

a second washer disposed around the spindle; and

a bearing disposed around the spindle between the bushing and the second washer.

25. The printer of claim 20, wherein the ribbon supply spool includes a hub portion and a spool portion;

the spool portion defines a spool cavity and the spindle is inserted within the spool cavity; and

the spool portion further defines a fin configured to mechanically secure the ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool.

26. A method of interrogating an RFID tag, comprising:

disposing a spindle supported NFC device within an interior surface of a housing of an apparatus, wherein the spindle supported NFC device includes a spindle, a ferromagnetic component, a wire coil, and a ribbon supply spool;

attaching a ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool, wherein the ribbon supply roll includes the RFID tag;

rotating the ribbon supply roll and the RFID tag around the spindle;

energizing a transceiver connected with the wire coil to cause the wire coil to generate near field interrogation signals; and

concentrating, with the ferromagnetic component, the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at a near field interrogation region where the RFID tag is located and away from the interior surface of the apparatus.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising maintaining communication with the RFID tag via the near field interrogation signals while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising concentrating the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil away from the interior surface of the apparatus includes promoting the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle.