Portable printer with RFID encoder

• US 6,409,401 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Lamontagne, Michael L., Amani, Majid, Petteruti, Steven F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/817,529
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 400/76, 400/70, 400/61
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• 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 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/02 the verifying forming a part of the marking action
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 1/00 Machines for printing and issuing tickets printing mechanisms per se B41; output mechanisms of digital computers G06C11/00

Abstract

A portable printer is provided having a printer mechanism capable of printing on media and an RFID encoder for encoding information onto RFID circuits coupled to the media. The printer mechanism and RFID encoder are contained in the housing of the printer with a programmed controller for controlling the printer mechanism and RFID encoder. The printer mechanism includes a print head and motor for driving a platen roller to advance the media across the print head and passed the antenna of the RFID encoder. The media may be stored in a compartment in the housing on a roll or fan-fold in which multiple RFID circuits are provided along the length of the media. The programmed controller in the housing operates, responsive to communication received from a host terminal or computer, to send information to the print head to print information on the media and/or information to the encoder to encode the RFID circuit.

Claims

1. A portable printer for printing information on media comprising:

means for printing first information on media in which said media has at least one RFID circuit coupled thereto;

means for encoding second information onto said RFID circuit; and

a portable housing comprising at least said printing means and said encoding means, wherein said housing weighs less than two pounds.

2. The portable printer according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for storing said media in said housing on one of a roll and fan fold orientation.

3. The portable printer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a controller in said housing capable of providing said first information to said printing means and said second information to said encoding means in which said printing means and encoding means operate responsive to said controller.

4. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said first information on said media is associated with said second information encoded on the RFID circuit.

5. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for reading an RFID circuit to receive an address associated with the RFID circuit.

6. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for reading an RFID circuit to verify that an encoded RFID circuit was successfully encoded.

7. The portable printer according to claim 1 further comprising said media in which said media has a plurality of different ones of said RFID circuit capable of being encoded by said encoding means and printed upon by said printing means.

8. A method for encoding an RFID circuit in a portable printer capable of communication with a host, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving commands and data from the host;

verifying that a RFID circuit stored in the printer is valid; and

encoding information on the RFID circuit in accordance with said received commands and data, wherein said receiving, verifying and encoding steps are carried out in a portable printer weighing less than two pounds.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said RFID circuit represents one of a plurality of RFID circuits in said printer.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said verifying step further comprises the steps:

reading an address from the RFID circuit; and

determining whether the read address is valid.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said read address of the RFID circuit is transmitted to the host.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein said RFID circuit is coupled to media in said printer, said information encoded represents first information, and said method further comprises the step of printing on said media second information in accordance with said commands and data, in which said first information corresponds to said second information.

13. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of reporting to the host whether the RFID circuit was successfully encoded.

14. A portable printer for printing information on media comprising:

media having one or more RFID circuits;

a housing having a printhead capable of printing on said media, an encoder capable of reading or encoding information on the RFID circuits of said media, and a controller for controlling said printhead and said encoder; and

a rotatable platen roller and a motor coupled to said platen roller in said housing which operates responsive to said controller to drive said media across said printhead and to position each of said RFID circuits for reading or encoding by said encoder, wherein said housing weighs less than two pounds.

15. The printer according to claim 14 wherein said media represents one of adhesive backed labels, plastic strip, and paper having said RFID circuits coupled thereto along the length of the media.

16. The printer according to claim 14 wherein said housing is portable.

17. The printer according to claim 14 wherein said media is supplied by one of a roll or fanfold of said media stored in said housing.

18. The printer according to claim 14 wherein said information encoded on each of said RFID circuits represents first information and said printhead prints second information on said media which is associated with said first information encoded on the RFID circuit adjacent said printed second information.

19. A method for printing information on media in a portable printer comprising the steps of:

printing on media in which said media has at least one RFID circuit coupled thereto; and

encoding said RFID circuit, wherein the printing and encoding steps are carried out in a housing weighing less than two pounds.

20. A portable printer for printing information on media comprising:

media having one or more RFID circuits; and

a housing having a printhead capable of printing on said media, an encoder capable of reading or encoding information on the RFID circuits of said media, and a controller for controlling said printhead and said encoder, wherein said housing weighs less than 2 pounds.