Radio frequency identification labels and systems and methods for making the same

• US 20060171756A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Berson
• Original Assignee: William Berson
• Inventors: Berson, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/279
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.

Claims

1. A method for printing indicia onto a receiver, comprising:

controlling feed of a ribbon through a printing system, the ribbon comprising indicia, at least one of which comprises programmable circuitry;

selectively transfer printing the indicia to the receiver; and

programming the programmable circuitry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises:

advancing the ribbon to a predetermined position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises:

monitoring guide elements located on the ribbon.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

coordinating feed of the receiver in connection with the feed of the ribbon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data that defines how the indicia is to be printed on the receiver, wherein the controlling and the printing are executed based on the data.

6. The method of claim 1, the indicia comprising:

at least one element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one element comprises circuitry.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one element comprises a power source.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one element comprises an antenna.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one element comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises at least one donor layer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a conductive material.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a non-conductive material.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises an optical material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer printing comprises thermal transfer printing.

16. The met hod of claim 1, wherein the transfer printing comprises pressure transfer printing.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

testing at least one indicium.

18. A method for generating a label, comprising:

providing a ribbon comprising a plurality of donor layers and a plurality of elements; and

selectively transfer printing onto a receiver a portion of at least one of the donor layers and at least one of the elements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer printing comprises thermal transfer printing.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer printing comprises pressure transfer printing.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the printed portion comprises an antenna.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the printed portion comprises a conductor.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the printed portion comprises a test node.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the printed portion comprises machine-readable indicia.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the printed portion comprises a human-readable indicia.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer printing comprises:

electrically coupling at least one of the elements with the printed portion.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer printing comprises:

electrically coupling a first transfer printed element and a second transfer printed element with the printed portion.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the portion is a first portion, and wherein the transfer printing comprises:

printing the first portion before printing the at least one element.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

transfer printing a second portion of at least one of the donor layers after the first portion is printed.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second portion is printed on top of the at least one element and first portion.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the donor layers comprises a predetermined ink.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined ink is selected from a group consisting of a conductive ink, a non-conductive ink, an optical ink, or a combination thereof.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the elements comprises programmable circuitry.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the elements comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the elements comprises an antenna.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the elements comprises a power source.

37. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

programming at least one of the elements.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the programming is performed before, during, or after the element is transfer printed to the receiver.

39. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

testing at least one of the elements.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the testing is performed before, during, or after the element is transfer printed to the receiver.

41. The method defined in claim 19, further comprising:

receiving data that defines the label is to be printed; and

generating control signals based on the data to control the selective transfer printing.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the received data is proved in response to a user input.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

using the control signals to control a feed of the ribbon.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

using the control signals to control a feed of the receiver.

45. A method for generating labels using a printing system that includes a ribbon comprising a conductive ink layer and radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry, the method comprising:

monitoring the position of the ribbon;

selectively feeding the ribbon based on the monitored position;

transfer printing the RFID circuitry and conductive ink when the ribbon is fed to one or more predetermined positions; and

programming the RFID circuitry.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the RFID circuitry and the conductive ink are transfer printed to a receiver.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

testing the RFID circuitry.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the transfer printing comprises:

using a pressure transfer device to transfer print the RFID circuitry.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the transfer printing comprises:

using a thermal transfer device to transfer print the conductive ink.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the transfer printing comprises:

printing an antenna from the conductive ink; and

electrically coupling the RFID circuitry and the antenna with the conductive ink.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the ribbon further comprises a power source, the method further comprising:

transfer printing the power source when the ribbon is fed to one of the predetermined positions, wherein the conductive ink is transfer printed to electrically couple the power source and the RFID circuitry.

52. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

providing control signals, wherein the control signals control the feed of the ribbon, the transfer printing, and the programming.

53. A method for producing a label on demand, comprising:

feeding a ribbon through a printing system;

thermally transferring a first portion of said ribbon to a receiver; and

applying pressure to a second portion of said ribbon to transfer said second portion to said receiver.

54. A method for producing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

providing a ribbon comprising RFID circuitry and conductive ink;

printing the RFID circuitry and the conductive ink onto a receiver such that an antenna, which is printed on the receiver from the conductive ink, is electrically coupled to the RFID circuitry by the conductive ink.

55. A method for producing labels, comprising:

providing a ribbon comprising elements and a conductive donor layer;

transferring said elements to a receiver; and

selectively transferring said conductive donor layer to said receiver to electrically couple predetermined transferred elements to each other.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said ribbon further comprises an optical donor layer, said method further comprising:

transferring said optical layer to said receiver.

57. A printing system for generating a at least one label on demand, comprising:

control circuitry; and

printing apparatus electrically coupled to and controlled by the control circuitry, the printing apparatus comprising;

a receiver drive unit for feeding a receiver through the printing system;

a ribbon drive unit for feeding a ribbon through the printing system;

at least one print transfer device for transfer printing portions of the ribbon to the receiver; and

a programming device for programming electronic circuitry residing on the ribbon or the receiver.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the printing apparatus further comprises:

at least one guide element sensor that monitors guide elements located on the ribbon.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the at least one print transfer device comprises a thermal transfer print device that thermally transfers a portion of the ribbon to the receiver.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the at least one print transfer device comprises a pressure transfer print device that applies pressure to a portion of the ribbon to cause that portion to be pressure transferred to the receiver.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller comprises a receiver controller electrically coupled to and operative to control the receiver drive unit, thereby controlling the feed of the receiver.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller comprises a ribbon controller electrically coupled to and operative to control the ribbon drive unit, thereby controlling the feed of the ribbon.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller comprises a print controller communicatively coupled to and operative to control the at least one print transfer device.

64. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller comprises a ribbon controller communicatively coupled to and operative to control the ribbon drive unit and the at least one guide element sensor.

65. The system of claim 57, wherein the programming device is further operative to test the label.

66. The system of claim 57, further comprising at least one storage device communicatively coupled to the control circuitry, the storage device having data stored therein that provides instructions to the control circuitry for generating the label on demand.

67. The system of claim 57, further comprising at least one input source communicatively coupled to the control circuitry.

68. The system of claim 57, wherein the ribbon comprises indicia that is selectively transfer printed to the receiver by the at least one print transfer device.

69. The system of claim 68, the indicia comprising:

at least one element; and

at least one donor layer.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least element comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one element comprises programmable circuitry.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one element comprises a power source.

73. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one element comprises an antenna.

74. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a conductive material.

75. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a non-conductive material.

76. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises an optical material.

77. The system of claim 57 is contained within a portable housing.

78. A system for printing indicia onto a receiver, the system comprising a printing apparatus operative to:

control feed of a ribbon comprising indicia, at least one which comprises programmable circuitry;

selectively transfer print the indicia to the receiver; and

program the programmable circuitry.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

monitor guide elements located on the ribbon; and

advance the ribbon to a predetermined position based on the monitored guide elements.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

coordinate feed of the receiver in connection with the feed of the ribbon.

81. The system of claim 78, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

receive data that defines how the indicia is to be printed on the receiver; and

print the indicia based on the received data.

82. The system of claim 78, the indicia comprising:

at least one element.

83. The system of claim 82, where in the at least one element comprises circuitry.

84. The system of claim 82, wherein the at least one element comprises a power source.

85. The system of claim 82, wherein the at least one element comprises an antenna.

86. The system of claim 82, wherein the at least one element comprises radio frequency identification circuitry.

87. The system of claim 78, wherein the indicia comprises at least one donor layer.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a conductive material.

89. The system of claim 87, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises a non-conductive material.

90. The system of claim 87, wherein the at least one donor layer comprises an optical material.

91. The system of claim 78, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

thermal transfer print the indicia to the receiver.

92. The system of claim 78, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

pressure transfer print the indicia to the receiver.

93. The method of claim 78, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

test at least one indicium.

94. A system for generating a least one label, the system comprising a printing apparatus that uses a ribbon comprising a conductive ink layer and radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry, the printing apparatus operative to:

monitor the position of the ribbon;

selectively feed the ribbon based on the monitored position;

transfer print the RFID circuitry and conductive ink when the ribbon is fed to one or more predetermined positions; and

program the RFID circuitry.

95. The system of claim 94, wherein the RFID circuitry and the conductive ink are transfer printed to a receiver.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

test the RFID circuitry.

97. The system of claim 94, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

use a pressure transfer device to transfer print the RFID circuitry.

98. The system of claim 94, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

use a thermal transfer device to transfer print the conductive ink.

99. The system of claim 94, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

print an antenna from the conductive ink; and

electrically couple the RFID circuitry and the antenna with the conductive ink.

100. The system of claim 94, wherein the ribbon further comprises a power source, the printing apparatus:

transfer print the power source when the ribbon is fed to one of the predetermined positions, wherein the conductive ink is transfer printed to electrically couple the power source and the RFID circuitry.

101. The system of claim 94, wherein the printing apparatus is operative to:

receive control signals, the control signals control the feed of the ribbon, the transfer printing, and the programming.

102-240. -240. (canceled)