Spindle supported near field communication device

• US 10,114,983 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehrhardt, Robert, Gawelczyk, Robert S., Hampson, Derek J., Monnier, Dan, Rehberger, James M., Urban, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Menberu, Beniyam
• Application Number:
  US15/462,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. An example spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device includes a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation; a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle; a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal; a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis.

Claims

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

a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation;

a beam shaping NFC device including;

a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle;

a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal;

a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and

a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis, wherein the core portion and the coil disposed around the core portion are positioned between the first ferromagnetic flange portion and the second ferromagnetic flange portion.

2. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein the core portion defines a cavity to receive a rod of the spindle, and the rod of the spindle defines the axis of rotation.

3. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, further comprising a ribbon supply spool defining a cavity to receive the beam shaping NFC device, the ribbon supply spool to carry the ribbon supply roll and to rotate about the axis of the spindle.

4. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 3, wherein the ribbon supply spool includes a portion capable of sliding toward the beam shaping NFC device.

5. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1, wherein the near field interrogation signal is to maintain communication with a radio frequency tag while the radio frequency tag revolves about the axis of rotation, the radio frequency tag affixed to a ribbon supply roll mounted to the spindle supported NFC device.

6. A media processing device comprising:

a housing;

a spindle to receive a ribbon supply roll having a radio frequency tag, wherein the radio frequency tag is to revolve about an axis of the spindle; and

a beam shaping near field communication (NFC) device including;

a ferromagnetic core portion;

wire disposed around the core portion to generate a near field interrogation signal; and

first and second ferromagnetic flange portions, wherein core portion and the wire disposed around the core portion are positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic flange portions, the first and second ferromagnetic flange portions configured to;

direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially away from the axis of the spindle; and

restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle.

7. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the spindle is mounted to an interior surface of the media processing device, and the first flange portion is configured to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle toward the interior surface of the printer.

8. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the second flange portion is configured to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle away from the interior surface of the printer.

9. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the core portion defines a cavity to receive a rod of the spindle, and the rod of the spindle defines the axis of the spindle.

10. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a ribbon supply spool defining a cavity to receive the beam shaping NFC device, the ribbon supply spool to carry the ribbon supply roll and to rotate about the axis of the spindle.

11. A media processing device as defined in claim 10, wherein the ribbon supply spool includes a portion capable of sliding toward the beam shaping NFC device.

12. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the near field interrogation signal is to maintain communication with the radio frequency tag while the radio frequency tag revolves about the axis of the spindle.

13. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity, and further comprising a bushing disposed between the core cavity and a rod portion of the spindle.

14. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a printhead.

15. A media processing device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a transceiver in communication with the wire.