Printer and system for detecting void RFID transponders supported in a printing media and communicating the same

• US 7,498,942 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Anthony, Schwan, Martin, Donato, Daniel F., Torchalski, Karl, Shuff, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/379,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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

Abstract

A printer controller system for controlling printing on media (e.g., a strip of labels) supporting a series of RFID transponders and for communicating detection of void RFID transponders to downstream devices. The printer controller system includes a void detection system for detecting void RFID transponders, a printing system for controlling printing to the media and a void communication system for communicating detection of the void RFID transponder to downstream devices. This allows the downstream device, such as a label peeler, to anticipate the void RFID transponder and deal with it accordingly. The printer controller may include a media advancement system that is configured to continue advancing the media and RFID transponders past the print head even when the RFID transponder is detected and avoid slowing the printing process. The printer controller system may be configured to submit void indicia to a print head and recommunicate a formatted image when a RFID transponder has been voided.

Claims

1. A printer controller system for controlling printing on media supporting a series of RFID transponders and communicating detection of void RFID transponders to one or more downstream devices, said printer controller comprising:

a void detection system configured to communicate with a transceiver for detecting a void one of the RFID transponders supported by the media;

a printing system configured to process and communicate a formatted image to a print head for printing the formatted image on the media in proximity to one of the RFID transponders supported by the media, said printing system including a controller board having an external communication pathway wherein the external communication pathway comprises a connector originally equipped with the printer system; and

a void communication system configured to communicate at least one external signal indicating detection of the void RFID transponder to the downstream device via the external communication pathway.

2. The printer controller of claim 1, further comprising a media advancement controller configured to continuously advance the media and RFID transponders even when the void RFID transponder is detected.

3. The printer controller of claim 2, wherein the media advancement controller is further configured to advance to a next RFID transponder supported on the media and wherein the printing system is further configured to re-communicate the formatted image to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

4. The printer controller of claim 3, further comprising an end print detection system configured to determine and communicate when printing of the formatted image on the media is completed and wherein the printing system is configured to communicate a next formatted image to the print head in response to non-detection of the void RFID transponder and completed printing of the formatted image.

5. The printer controller of claim 4, wherein the printing system is configured to process and communicate void indicia to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

6. The printer controller of claim 5, wherein the end print detection system is further configured to determine and communicate when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

7. The printer controller of claim 6, wherein the void communication system is further configured to maintain the external void signal through communication of the void indicia to the print head and determination and communication of when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

8. The printer controller of claim 1, wherein the connector is a multiple pin connector.

9. The printer controller of claim 1, wherein the connector is a fifteen pin connector.

10. A printer for printing on a media supporting a series of RFID transponders in coordination with a downstream device, said printer comprising:

a print head configured to print on the media;

at least one transceiver configured to communicate with the RFID transponders on the media;

a media supply system configured to advance the media past the print head and the transceiver; and

a printer controller system for controlling printing by the print head and advancement of the media supply system, said printer comprising;

a void detection system configured to communicate with the transceiver for detecting a void one of the RFID transponders supported by the media;

a printing system configured to process and communicate a formatted image to the print head for printing the formatted image on the media in proximity to one of the RFID transponders supported by the media; and

a void communication system configured to communicate at least one external signal indicating detection of the void RFID transponder to the downstream device said printer controller including a controller board that communicates via an external communication pathway wherein the external communication pathway comprises a connector originally equipped with the printer.

11. The printer of claim 10, wherein the printer controller system further comprises a media advancement controller configured to communicate with the media supply system to continuously advance the media and RFID transponders even when the void RFID transponder is detected.

12. The printer of claim 11, wherein the media advancement controller is further configured to advance to a next RFID transponder supported on the media and wherein the printing system is further configured to re-communicate the formatted image to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

13. The printer of claim 12, wherein the printer controller system further comprises an end print detection system configured to determine and communicate when printing of the formatted image on the media is completed and wherein the printing system is configured to communicate a next formatted image to the print head in response to non-detection of the void RFID transponder and completed printing of the formatted image.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein the printing system is configured to process and communicate void indicia to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

15. The printer of claim 14, wherein the end print detection system is further configured to determine and communicate when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

16. The printer of claim 15, wherein the void communication system is further configured to maintain the external void signal through communication of the void indicia to the print head and determination and communication of when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

17. The printer of claim 10, wherein the connector is a multiple pin connector.

18. The printer of claim 10, wherein the connector is a fifteen pin connector.

19. A method of printing on a media supporting a series of RFID transponders and communicating detection of void RFID transponders to one or more downstream devices, said method comprising:

processing and communicating, using a printer system, a formatted image to a print head for printing the formatted image on the media in proximity to one of the RFID transponders supported by the, media;

communicating with a transceiver to detect a void one of the RFID transponders supported by the media; and

communicating via an external communication pathway at least one external signal indicating detection of the void RFID transponder to the downstream device wherein the external communication pathway comprises a connector originally equipped with the printer system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising continuously advancing the media and RFID transponders even when the void RFID transponder is detected.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising advancing to a next RFID transponder supported on the media and re-communicating the formatted image to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining and communicating when printing of the formatted image on the media is completed and communicating a next formatted image to the print head in response to non-detection of the void RFID transponder and completion of printing of the formatted image.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising processing and communicating void indicia to the print head in response to detection of the void RFID transponder.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining and communicating when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising maintaining the external void signal through communication of the void indicia to the print head and communication of when printing of the void indicia on the media is completed.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the connector is a multiple pin connector.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the connector is a fifteen pin connector.