System and method for detecting transponders used with printer media
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a communication location of a transponder supported by a printer media, said calibration apparatus comprising:
- a transceiver configured to communicate with the transponder;
a controller connected in communication with the transceiver and including communication logic configured to operate the transceiver and determine when the transceiver has successfully and unsuccessfully communicated with the transponder; and
said controller further including location logic configured to determine the location of the transponder relative to the transceiver based on at least one unsuccessful and one successful communication with the transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A calibration apparatus for determining a location of a transponder supported by a printer media. The calibration apparatus uses a transceiver to attempt to read, write or otherwise communicate with the transponder. Controller logic of the calibration apparatus uses successful and unsuccessful attempts to communicate to determine the location of the transponder. For example, the controller may be configured to move the media in increments, each of the increments associated with a successful or unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the transponder. The successful attempts, and their relative media positions, are correlated with the position of the transponder. Also, the controller may be configured to use different power levels for the transceiver and its one or more couplers to determine which power levels are required to successfully communicate with the transponder. These power levels are correlated with characteristics of the performance of the transponder to determine its distance from the antenna/coupler.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a communication location of a transponder supported by a printer media, said calibration apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to communicate with the transponder; a controller connected in communication with the transceiver and including communication logic configured to operate the transceiver and determine when the transceiver has successfully and unsuccessfully communicated with the transponder; and said controller further including location logic configured to determine the location of the transponder relative to the transceiver based on at least one unsuccessful and one successful communication with the transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting a transponder communication location on media, said method comprising:
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attempting to communicate with the transponder using a transceiver; detecting at least one successful attempt to communicate with the transponder; detecting at least one unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the transponder; and locating the transponder relative to the transceiver based on the at least one unsuccessful and one successful communication with the transponder. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. For use in apparatus in which a passive RF transponder is located in the field of an RF transceiver configured to communicate with the transponder, a method for determining when a predetermined state of communication between the transponder and transceiver exists, the method comprising:
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causing the transceiver to send a signal to the transducer and sensing a characteristic of the signal that is returned by the transponder; one or more times adjusting a parameter of the communication link established to cause the signal returned by the transponder to change; and determining from the parameter adjustments and return signal variations when a predetermined state of communication exists between the transponder and the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. For use in a thermal printer in which a label carrying a passive RFID transponder is located in the field of an RF transceiver configured to communicate with the transponder for purposes of encoding or reading the transducer, a method for determining when an optimal or acceptable state of communication exists between the transponder and transceiver, the method comprising:
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causing the transceiver to send a signal to the transducer and sensing the amplitude or power of the signal that is returned by the transponder; one or more times adjusting the power of the transceiver or the physical location of the transponder to cause the signal returned by the transponder to change; and determining from the return signal variations that occur when transceiver power or transponder location adjustments are made when a state of optimal or acceptable communication exists between the transponder and the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification