Method and apparatus for programming a transponder

• US 7,479,870 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McMillan, Thad, Masuyama, Jinsaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/401,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 340571-5729, 340 56- 561, 340/5.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 235/451, 235/375, 235383-385, 235/462.1, 235/462.07
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

A radio frequency identification transponder apparatus includes a transceiver. A control logic device is coupled to the transceiver. A transponder programming device is coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information, whereby the information stored is determined by the presence or absence of a printing material adjacent the transponder programming device. A conventional printing device may program the transponder programming apparatus and print transponder labels by positioning printing material adjacent the transponder programming device.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification transponder apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver;

a control logic device coupled to the transceiver; and

a transponder programming device coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information using a plurality of transponder programming cells, each transponder programming cell operable to delete a printed information material when the printed information material is positioned adjacent that transponder programming cell, wherein information stored on the transponder programming device is programmed on the transponder programming device by positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of the transponder programming cells such that the information stored on the transponder programming device depends on the presence or absence of the printed information material adjacent the plurality of transponder programming cells.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed information material comprising a material that at least partially blocks lights, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise photo-sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of light in order to detect the printed information material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed information material comprises a magnetic material, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise electromagnetic-sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the magnetic material in order to detect the printed information material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed information material comprises a conductive material, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise a plurality of conductive cells that are operable to detect a connection between the plurality of conductive cells through the conductive material in order to detect the printed information material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed information material comprises a chemical material, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise chemical sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the chemical material in order to detect the printed information material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the transceiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power rectifier coupled to the transceiver, the control logic, and the transponder programming device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply coupled to the transceiver, the control logic, and the transponder programming device.

9. A radio frequency identification transponder apparatus, comprising:

a substrate;

a transponder coupled to the substrate, the transponder comprising;

a transceiver;

a control logic device coupled to the transceiver; and

a transponder programming device coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information using a plurality of transponder programming cells each transponder programming cell operable to detect a printed information material when the printed information material is positioned adjacent that transponder programming cell; and

a printing medium coupled to the substrate and positioned adjacent the transponder, wherein information stored on the transponder programming device is programmed on the transponder programming device by positioning the printed information material on the printing medium adjacent at least one of the transponder programming cells such that the information stored on the transponder programming device depends on the presence or absence of the printed information material adjacent the plurality of transponder programming cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the substrate comprises an adhesive surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of transponders coupled to the substrate, each transponder comprising;

a transceiver;

a control logic device coupled to the transceiver; and

a transponder programming device coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information using a plurality of transponder programming cells, each transponder programming cell operable to detect a printed information material when the printed information material is positioned adjacent that transponder programming cell, wherein information stored on the transponder programming device is programmed on the transponder programming device by positioning the printed information material on the printing medium adjacent at least one of the transponder programming cells such that the information stored on the transponder programming device depends on the presence or absence of the printed information material adjacent the plurality of transponder programming cells, and wherein the printing medium is coupled to the substrate and positioned adjacent the plurality of transponders.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the printed information material comprises a material that at least partially blocks light, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise photo-sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of light in order to detect the printed information material.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the printed information material comprises a magnetic material, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprise electromagnetic-sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the magnetic material in order to detect the printed information material.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the printed information material comprises a conductive material, and the plurality of transponder programming device comprises a plurality of conductive cells that are operable to detect a connection between the plurality of conductive cells through the conductive material in order to detect the printed information material.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the printed information material comprises a chemical material, and the plurality of transponder programming cells comprises chemical-sensitive cells that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the chemical material in order to detect the printed information material.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the transceiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a power rectifier coupled to the transceiver, the control logic, and the transponder programming device.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a power supply coupled to the transceiver, the control logic, and the transponder programming device.

19. A method for programming a transponder, comprising:

providing a transponder comprising a transponder programming including a plurality of transponder programming cells that are each operable to detect a printed information material when the printed information material is positioned adjacent that transponder programming cell; and

programming the transponder by positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of the transponder programming cells such that information stored on the transponder programming device depends on the presence or absence of the printed information material adjacent the plurality of transponder programming cells.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the programming comprises positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of a plurality of photo-sensitive transponder programming cells on the transponder programming device in order to prevent light from reaching the at least one of the plurality of photo-sensitive transponder programming cells, and wherein the plurality of photo-sensitive transponder programming cells are operable to detect the presence or absence of light in order to detect the printed information material.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

coupling the transponder to an object, wherein the programming comprises programming the transponder with identification information corresponding to the object.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying the object by receiving a signal from the transponder.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the printed information material comprises a material that at least partially blocks light, and wherein the programming comprises positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one or a plurality of photo-sensitive transponder programming cells on the transponder programming device that are operable to detect the presence or absence of light in order to detect the printed information material.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the printed information material comprises a magnetic material, and wherein the programming comprises positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of a plurality of electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells on the transponder programming device that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the magnetic material in order to detect the printed information material.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the printed information material comprises a chemical material, and wherein the programming comprises positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of a plurality of chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells on the transponder programming device that are operable to detect the presence or absence of the chemical material in order to detect the printed information material.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the printed information material comprises a conductive material, and wherein the programming comprises positioning the printed information material adjacent at least one of a plurality of conductive transponder programming cells on the transponder programming device that are operable to detect a connection between the plurality of conductive transponder cells through the conductive material in order to detect the printed information material.