U.S. patent application number 16/416590 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-21 for consumable carrier with code reader.
The applicant listed for this patent is CODONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Peter ADAM, Arlber CHANG, Kevin S. LITVAK, Lawrence SRNKA, Christopher TAINER.
Application Number | 20200156887 16/416590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55440435 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200156887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SRNKA; Lawrence ; et
al. |
May 21, 2020 |
CONSUMABLE CARRIER WITH CODE READER
Abstract
Provided is a container for transporting a consumable such as a
medium on which an image is to be printed. The container includes a
support surface and a reading component coupled to the support
surface to read a computer-readable code accompanying the
consumable. A relay interface is operatively connected to the
reading component to receive a signal indicative of the
computer-readable code read by the reading component, and
communicate with a compatible reader provided to the receiving
apparatus to convey information about the computer-readable code
read by the reading component to the receiving apparatus. The relay
interface can be coupled to the tray at a location remotely located
from the reading component and having an orientation that is
different from an orientation of the reading component.
Inventors: |
SRNKA; Lawrence; (Northfield
Center, OH) ; LITVAK; Kevin S.; (Parma, OH) ;
TAINER; Christopher; (Strongsville, OH) ; ADAM;
Peter; (Kirkland, WA) ; CHANG; Arlber;
(Middleburg Heights, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CODONICS, INC. |
Middleburg Heights |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55440435 |
Appl. No.: |
16/416590 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15507513 |
Feb 28, 2017 |
10294049 |
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PCT/US2015/048878 |
Sep 8, 2015 |
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16416590 |
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62046246 |
Sep 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 1/266 20130101;
B65H 1/04 20130101; B65H 2405/111 20130101; B65H 2553/52
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 1/04 20060101
B65H001/04; B65H 1/26 20060101 B65H001/26 |
Claims
1. A container for transporting a consumable, the container
comprising: a support surface on which the consumable to be
introduced to a receiving apparatus is supported; a reading
component coupled to the support surface to read a
computer-readable code accompanying the consumable supported by the
support surface; and a relay interface operatively connected to the
reading component to receive a signal indicative of the
computer-readable code read by the reading component and
communicate with a compatible reader provided to the receiving
apparatus to convey information about the computer-readable code
read by the reading component to the receiving apparatus, the relay
interface being coupled to the tray at a location remotely located
from the reading component and having an orientation that is
different from an orientation of the reading component.
2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a perimeter wall
oriented at an angle greater than ten (10.degree.) degrees relative
to the support surface, wherein the relay interface is supported
adjacent to the perimeter wall and the reading component is
supported adjacent to the support surface.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein: the reading component
comprises a first antenna comprising a first coil wound in a plane
that is substantially parallel with the support surface and a coil
of a consumable antenna storing the computer-readable code
accompanying the consumable, and the relay interface comprises a
second antenna comprising a second coil wound in a plane that is
substantially parallel with the perimeter wall.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the angle is greater than or
equal to forty five (45.degree.) degrees relative to the support
surface, and the perimeter wall extends longitudinally along a
periphery of the tray.
5. The container of claim 2, wherein the angle is approximately
ninety (90.degree.) degrees relative to the support surface, and
the perimeter wall extends longitudinally along a periphery of the
tray.
6. The container of claim 1 further comprising a hardwired
connection extending between the reading component and the relay
interface.
7. The container of claim 1 further comprising a second reading
component operatively connected to the relay interface and coupled
to the support surface at a second location that is different from
a location of the reading component, wherein the reading component
and the second reading component are arranged along the support
surface to read different computer-readable codes at different
positions relative to the consumable provided to the container.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the relay interface comprises
an antenna through which a current is inductively generated by an
alternating field emitted by the compatible reader provided to the
receiving apparatus, the relay interface being adapted to transmit
a signal to be received by the reading component to initiate
reading of the computer-readable code in response to the
current.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the reading component
comprises a radio-frequency antenna that transmits an interrogation
signal in response to receiving the signal transmitted by the relay
interface to energize a RFID antenna storing the computer-readable
code provided to the consumable.
10. A media cartridge for storing a consumable medium on which
content is to be rendered utilizing a hardcopy product apparatus
for generating a hardcopy of the content, the media cartridge
comprising: a housing comprising support surface on which the
consumable medium rests and a perimeter wall that extends upwardly,
from a portion of a periphery of the support surface to define a
cavity in which the medium is to be stored for consumption by the
hardcopy production apparatus; a first reading component coupled to
the housing and comprising an interrogation antenna that emits an
interrogation signal in response to being energized to read a
computer-readable code stored by a storage device accompanying the
consumable medium, the interrogation antenna comprising a first
orientation relative to the housing; and a relay interface
operatively connected to communicate with the first reading
component and comprising a relay antenna in a second orientation
relative to the housing that is different from the first
orientation of the interrogation antenna, wherein, in response to
receiving a signal from a compatible reader provided to the
hardcopy production apparatus with the relay antenna, the relay
interface transmits an energizing signal to energize the
interrogation antenna and initiate reading of the computer-readable
code.
11. The media cartridge of claim 10, wherein the interrogation
antenna is coupled to the support surface, inward of the perimeter
wall extending along the portion of the periphery of the support
surface, and the relay antenna is coupled to the perimeter wall, at
the periphery of the support surface.
12. The media cartridge of claim 10, wherein the interrogation
antenna is arranged to be substantially parallel with a major plane
of the consumable medium supported by the support surface, and the
relay antenna is approximately orthogonal to the interrogation
antenna.
13. The media cartridge of claim 10 further comprising a second
reading component operatively connected to the relay interface and
coupled to the support surface at a second location inward of the
perimeter wall that is different from a location of the first
reading component.
14. The media cartridge of claim 13 further comprising a hardwired
connection extending between each of the first and second reading
components and the relay interface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/046,246, filed Sep. 5, 2014, which is
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This application relates generally to a tray, container or
other carrier of consumables that can be used to identify the
consumable therein and, more specifically, to a method and
apparatus for relaying information encoded by a computer-readable
code identifying the consumables in the tray, container or other
carrier to a reader.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] As an example of a component carrier, a media tray is
commonly used to store printing media such as paper, film, and
other types of media on which hardcopies of images, text and other
printable content are created. To load a printer with media, the
media tray is inserted into a media bay from where the printer can
retrieve the blank media, on demand, each time a hardcopy is to be
generated. However, users must manually identify the specific media
in the tray loaded into a printer that can utilize two or more
different types and/or sizes of media.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a media tray or
other carrier of consumables that can be utilized to interrogate or
read a computer-readable code accompanying the consumables within
the tray to identify at least one characteristic of the
consumables.
[0005] According to one aspect, the subject application involves a
container for transporting a consumable. The container includes a
support surface on which the consumable to be introduced to a
receiving apparatus is supported, and a reading component coupled
to the support surface to read a computer-readable code
accompanying the consumable supported by the support surface. A
relay interface is operatively connected to the reading component
to receive a signal indicative of the computer-readable code read
by the reading component and communicate with a compatible reader
provided to the receiving apparatus to convey information about the
computer-readable code read by the reading component to the
receiving apparatus. The relay interface is coupled to the tray at
a location remotely located from the reading component and having
an orientation that is different from an orientation of the reading
component.
[0006] According to another aspect, the subject application
involves a media cartridge for storing a consumable medium on which
content is to be rendered utilizing a hardcopy product apparatus
for generating a hardcopy of the content. The media cartridge
according to the present aspect includes a housing comprising
support surface on which the consumable medium rests and a
perimeter wall that extends upwardly, from a portion of a periphery
of the support surface to define a cavity in which the medium is to
be stored for consumption by the hardcopy production apparatus. A
first reading component is coupled to the housing and includes an
interrogation antenna that emits an interrogation signal in
response to being energized to read a computer-readable code stored
by a storage device accompanying the consumable medium. The
interrogation antenna includes a first orientation relative to the
housing. A relay interface is operatively connected to communicate
with the first reading component and includes a relay antenna in a
second orientation relative to the housing that is different from
the first orientation of the interrogation antenna. In response to
receiving a signal from a compatible reader provided to the
hardcopy production apparatus with the relay antenna, the relay
interface transmits an energizing signal to energize the
interrogation antenna and initiate reading of the computer-readable
code.
[0007] The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or
methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview
of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended
to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such
systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some
concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is presented later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in
detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a
media cartridge including a plurality of reading components at
different locations operatively connected to communicate with a
common relay interface;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the illustrative
embodiment of the media cartridge appearing in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a media imager comprising
a plurality of vertically-arranged media bays and a contactless,
computer-readable code reader provided adjacent to a lateral side
of each of the media bays;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement of
an antenna relative to a RFID tag for directly reading data stored
by the RFID tag;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement of
an antenna relative to a RFID tag for reading data and/or updating
data stored by the RFID tag utilizing a relay interface having an
orientation other than parallel to the RFID tag for indirectly
reading and/or updating the data via the relay interface;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of a media cartridge including a single interrogation antenna
configured to establish a plurality of reading regions at different
locations along a bottom surface of a media cartridge operatively
connected to communicate with a common relay interface; and
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of a
media cartridge including a single interrogation antenna configured
to establish a plurality of reading regions at different locations
along a bottom surface of a media cartridge operatively connected
to communicate with a common relay interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and
is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.
Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to
the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or
similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be
shown in somewhat schematic form.
[0017] It is also to be noted that the phrase "at least one of", if
used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of
the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For
example, the phrase "at least one of a first widget and a second
widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the
second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise,
"at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third
widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the
second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second
widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget
and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and
the third widget.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a media cartridge 10 as an
example of a container for transporting a consumable such as film
or paper, for example. Although any container that stores a
consumable item is within the scope of the present disclosure, for
the sake of brevity the container will be described with reference
to the media cartridge 10 storing film to be supplied to a medical
imager 32 (FIG. 3) for generating hardcopy images on film (e.g.,
x-ray images, CT scan images, other medical images for diagnostic
purposes, etc . . . ). An example of such a medical imager 32 is
the Horizon.RTM. multi-media imager from Codonics, Inc.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the media cartridge 10 forms a housing
that includes a support surface 12 on which the film or other
consumable medium to be introduced to the medical imager 32, an
office printer, or other receiving apparatus that consumes media is
to be supported. The support surface 12 can be substantially
planar, optionally including one or more apertures 14 granting
access to an interior of the media cartridge 10 while the media
cartridge 10 is in use. A perimeter wall 16 extends upwardly from
the support surface 12, along a portion (e.g., entirely about;
along at least some; or most, but less than all) of the periphery
of the support surface 12 to define a cavity-like recess in which
the consumable medium is to be placed, and from where it can be
retrieved by the medical imager 32. The peripheral wall forms an
angle of ten (10.degree.) degrees relative to the support surface
12, but can be at least forty five (45.degree.) degrees or
approximately ninety (90.degree.) degrees relative to the support
surface 12, without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0020] The media cartridge 10 also includes at least one reading
component 18 coupled to the housing at a location such as a portion
of the support surface 12. The reading component 18 can be a RFID
reader terminal, for example. For such embodiments, the reading
component 18 includes an electronic circuit 20 that controls
delivery of an alternating interrogation signal to an interrogation
antenna 22 in the form of a loop of an electrically-conductive
material such as copper to generate an alternating electromagnetic
field that is used to excite a compatible antenna provided with the
media in the cartridge 10, and receipt of a computer-readable code
emitted by the corresponding antenna excited by the electromagnetic
field in return. More specifically, this field generated by the
interrogation antenna can be used to inductively generate a current
through a compatible antenna provided to a RFID tag accompanying
the film or other print media resting on the support surface 12 and
storing the computer-readable code. The RFID tag can optionally be
adhered or otherwise coupled to an optional liner made of paper or
other suitable material that separates the film from the support
surface 12, placed between the film or other media from the support
surface 12, or otherwise inserted into the cartridge 10 along with
the film or other media. Such a current inductively generated in
the antenna of the RFID tag accompanying the film in response to
being exposed to the field generated by the interrogation antenna
22 is sufficient to temporarily energize a circuit including a
computer-readable memory (e.g., solid state memory) provided to the
RFID tag accompanying the film. Once energized, this circuit
transmits the computer-readable code identifying the film stored in
the memory by modulating the current flowing through the antenna
provided to the RFID tag to emit a suitable response signal, or
otherwise transmitting the code as a signal through the antenna of
the RFID tag, which also generates a field that is sensed by the
interrogation antenna 22 provided to the reading component 18,
thereby allowing the reading component to "read" the
computer-readable code from the RFID tag accompanying the film.
[0021] Since the reader component 18 lacks an onboard, robust power
supply and communication circuitry that would facilitate active
communications with a RFID reader 36 provided to a lateral side of
the medical imager 32 as discussed below with reference to FIGS. 3
and 4, the RFID reader 36 of the medical imager 32 does not
communicate directly with the reading component 18 wirelessly
(e.g., inductively). Further, the medical imager 32 shown in FIG. 3
can receive a plurality of different media cartridges 10 in a
vertically-stacked arrangement, each storing a different imaging
medium accompanied by RFID tags storing different computer-readable
codes identifying those media. The RFID reader 36 of the imager 32
does not generate a field of sufficient strength to interrogate the
RFID tags accompanying the different media cartridges 10 directly
because such a wide-range field would interrogate more than one
RFID tag, and would not differentiate the data sent in return,
which could include multiples of the same computer-readable code.
And since the media cartridge(s) 10 is/are removable, there are no
hardwired connections between the reading component 18 of each
media cartridge 18 and the RFID reader provided to the medical
imager 32. To allow for the use of a relatively low-power
interrogation signal to limit the range of interrogation to a
specific media cartridge 10 (e.g., and not interrogate the RFID tag
provided to more than one cartridge), the media cartridge 10 can
also include a relay interface 24, also shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] As shown, the reading component 18 is coupled to the support
surface 12 inward of the of the perimeter wall 16 extending along
the portion of the periphery of the support surface, and the relay
antenna is coupled to the perimeter wall 16, at the periphery of
the support surface 12. The reading component 18 can even be
arranged adjacent to a central region of the support surface 12.
The relay interface 24 can be hardwired with wires 26 made of an
electrically-conductive material optionally embedded in the support
surface 12 (e.g., disposed to run within longitudinal channels
formed in the support surface 12), or otherwise operatively
connected to communicate with the reading component 18. Like the
reading component 18, the relay interface 24 includes a relay
antenna 28 in an orientation relative to a portion of the housing
such as the support surface 12, for example, that is different from
the orientation of the interrogation antenna 22 relative to that
same portion (e.g., the support surface 12). In this manner, the
interrogation antenna 22 of the reading component 18 can be
arranged to be substantially parallel with a major plane of the
consumable medium supported by the support surface 12, allowing the
interrogation antenna 22 to be substantially parallel with the
antenna of the RFID tag accompanying the print medium in the media
cartridge 10. The relay antenna 28 can thus be arranged
approximately orthogonal to the interrogation antenna 22, yet
communication between the relay component 24 and the RFID reader
provided to the medical imager 32 through RF communication can be
established.
[0023] For the medical imager 32 appearing in FIG. 3, space
considerations between a plurality of vertically-aligned media bays
34 provided to the imager 32 may prevent a RFID reader 36 from
being positioned on the medical imager 32 adjacent to, and parallel
with the support surface 12 of the media cartridge 10. Ideally, and
as schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, a RFID reader 36 positioned
as such would be parallel with the support surface 12, and emit an
excitation field 38 extending generally perpendicular to, or at
least outwardly from the plane in which a coil RFID antenna 40 of
the RFID reader 36 is arranged. The excitation field 38 for such an
arrangement would induce a current through an antenna provided to
the RFID tag 46 accompanying the film or other print media on the
support surface 12, thereby temporarily energizing the circuitry of
that RFID tag 46 to emit a signal indicative of the type of film
and/or other quality of the media contained by the media cartridge
10. However, due to the limited space between the media bays 34
shown in FIG. 3, arranging the RFID reader 36 in this manner
between the media bays 34 may not be practical, or even
possible.
[0024] Instead, the media cartridge 10 discussed herein allows for
the installation of the RFID reader 36, or other computer-readable
code reader, adjacent to a lateral side 42 of a receiving bay 34
where the media cartridge(s) 10 is/are to be inserted, as shown in
FIG. 3. The medical imager 32 can optionally include a sensor that
detects when a media cartridge 10 is inserted. In response to
detection insertion of the media cartridge 10, the RFID reader 36
can be energized using power supplied to the medical imager 32
through a conventional AC mains wall outlet to conduct a current
through the antenna 40 and generate the field 38, as shown in FIG.
5. The field 38 emitted by the RFID reader 36 provided to the
medical imager 32 induces a current through the relay antenna 28 of
the relay interface 24 which, in turn, transmits an energizing
signal that is conducted by the wires 26 to the reading component
18 to energize the interrogation antenna 22, which is arranged
substantially orthogonal to the relay antenna 28 on the media
cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment. In response to
being energized, the interrogation antenna 22 emits a field 44
similar to the field 38 emitted in response to energizing the
antenna 40 to initiate reading of the computer-readable code stored
by the RFID tag 46 accompanying the print medium stored by the
media cartridge 10. This field emitted by the interrogation antenna
22 induces a current in the antenna provided to the RFID tag 46
accompanying the media contained by the media cartridge 10, which
can be used to temporarily energize an onboard circuit provided to
RFID tag 46. Once energized, the circuit provided to the RFID tag
46 can read and/or update data stored by a computer memory provided
to the RFID tag 46. If data is read, this read data is returned as
a modulated version of the field 44, which is sensed by the
interrogation antenna 22 and, in turn, conducted back to the relay
interface 24 via the wires 26, from where it can be wirelessly
transmitted as a modulated field 38 back to the antenna 40 provided
to the RFID reader 36 on the medical imager 32.
[0025] Examples of the data that can be read from and/or stored to
the RFID tag 46 utilizing the present media cartridge include, but
are not limited to at least one of: a type of media contained in
the media cartridge 10, a quantity of media contained in the media
cartridge, a source (e.g., a manufacturer) of the media contained
in the media cartridge, and a quality or any other specification
relating to the media contained in the media cartridge 10.
[0026] Due to the different orientation of the relay antenna 28
relative to the interrogation antenna 22, the present media
cartridge 10 provides added flexibility for the location of the
RFID reader 36 provided to the medical imager 10.
[0027] According to alternate embodiments, the support surface 12
can also include a second reading component 30 operatively
connected to the relay interface 24 via wires 26. The second
reading component 30 can be coupled to the support surface 12 at a
second location inward of the perimeter wall 16 that is different
from the location of the reading component 18. Thus, different
media may be accompanied by RFID tags at different locations. To
render the media cartridge 10 compatible with such different media,
a reading component can be provided at each location where the RFID
tag accompanying the different media is expected to be
positioned.
[0028] Each of the embodiments described above involves the use of
a passive system to read a computer-readable code accompanying a
medium contained by the cartridge 10 to allow the imager 32 or
other hardcopy production device to identify that medium. As such,
the cartridge 10 lacked an onboard power supply such as a battery
or interface that electrically connects the cartridge 10 to the
imager 32. However, according to alternate embodiments, the
cartridge 10 can include a battery provided to the relay interface
24, the reading component 18, or other component; or include an
electrical connector that establishes electrical continuity between
an external power source (e.g., a power supply provided to the
imager 32) and the relay interface 24 and/or reading component 18
to create an "active" repeating system. Such active systems include
a relay interface 24 that communicates wirelessly with the RFID
reader 36, but can actively process and facilitate with the RFID
tag accompanying the medium in the cartridge 10 using the available
power supply, and without being energized by current induced by the
RFID reader 36.
[0029] An alternate embodiment of a media cartridge 10 is shown in
FIG. 6. The embodiments discussed above utilize one interrogation
antenna 22 to communicate with a RFID tag arranged at a fixed
location corresponding to that interrogation antenna 22. A
plurality of distinct interrogation antennas 22 can be arranged
along the support surface 12 at different locations as shown in
FIG. 1 to support communications with RFID tags at a plurality of
respective locations above those interrogation antennas 22. As
shown in FIG. 6, however, the cartridge 10 includes a single,
continuous interrogation antenna 22 configured to extend about, and
establish a plurality of reading regions 50 at different locations
along a support surface 12 of the media cartridge 10. Thus, the
plurality of different reading regions 50 established by the
interrogation antenna 22 are operatively connected to communicate
with a common relay interface 24.
[0030] Each reading region 50 can correspond to a location defined
by a "loop" formed by the interrogation antenna 22 vertically below
where the RFID tag is expected to be arranged with the medium in
the cartridge 10 to be read. For the embodiment in FIG. 6, there
are two reading regions 50 arranged to read the computer-readable
code from an RFID tag arranged in the cartridge 10 vertically above
those reading regions 10, or within reasonably-close proximity
thereof to allow for the interrogation of the RFID tag described
herein to be performed. Although referred to as being defined by
"loops", the reading regions 50 do not necessarily have to be
perfectly circular in shape or be fully enclosed, but merely have
to form a continuous periphery that defines a majority of a
complete enclosure. For the example shown in FIG. 6, each loop is
somewhat rectangular in shape when viewed from directly above the
reading regions 50, and form approximately three of four sides
(3/4) of an enclosed rectangle, with openings leading to an
intervening low-intensity region 52 separating the reading regions
50.
[0031] Separating at least two reading regions 50 can be a
low-intensity region 52 where the spacing separating regions of the
conductive material forming the interrogation antenna 22 is less
than the spacing of that material forming the reading regions 50
separated by the low-intensity region 52. This material can be, for
example, a co-axial cable, a controlled impedance PCB strip line,
twisted pair wires, or any other connection system that effectively
transmits energy and data between the relay antenna 28 and the
interrogation antenna 22. For the illustrative embodiment shown in
FIG. 6, the distance D1 separating the material forming the
low-intensity region 52 is less than the distance D2 between the
antenna material on opposite sides of a "loop" to establish the
reading region 50 on either side of the low-intensity region
52.
[0032] The interrogation antenna material is configured in to
low-intensity regions 52 to minimize magnetic field flux. This is
achieved by pinching down opposing polarities of the target antenna
into tightly-coupled differential pair traces, for example. The
result of this antenna shaping is to maximize field flux and energy
density in the regions vertically above the reading regions 50
where the RFID tag identifying the medium in the cartridge 10 are
expected to be located and minimize energy density in other regions
where the RFID tags are not expected to be located. Due to the
low-energy levels of the current induced by the RFID reader 36, the
relatively-large loops of the interrogation antenna 22 achieve
suitable energy transfer and communication signal strength to read
the computer-readable code from the RFID tag identifying the medium
in the cartridge 10. In contrast, the low-intensity regions 52 do
not achieve suitable energy transfer and communication signal
strength to read the computer-readable code from the RFID tag.
[0033] Another embodiment of the interrogation antenna 22 is shown
in FIG. 7. According to the present embedment, a single
interrogation antenna 22 is configured to establish a plurality
(three in FIG. 7) of reading regions 50 at different locations
along a support surface 12 of a media cartridge 10 operatively
connected to communicate with a common relay interface 24. The
distances shown in FIG. 7 are expressed in inches, and are provided
only as an example of the different dimensions of the reading
regions 50 and the relatively-low-intensity regions 52 separating
those reading regions 50 from each other. The dimensions are not to
be considered to be the only suitable dimensions, or limiting the
scope of the present disclosure, as different dimensions also fall
within the scope of the present application. The dimensions
appearing in FIG. 7 are merely illustrative, and are provided
simply to highlight the concept that the reading regions 50
generally have greater separation between the material forming the
interrogation antenna 22 in those regions than the material forming
the interrogation antenna 22 in the low-intensity regions 52
between the reading regions 50.
[0034] Each of the relay antenna 28 and the interrogation antennas
22 can optionally be connected to the relay interface 24 using
electronics (referred to generally at 54 in FIG. 7) to match the
impedance of those antennas to the impedance of the relay interface
24. This matching can be performed using a process referred to as
"tuning" or "impedance matching" that is widely known in the art.
The purpose of tuning is to maximize power transfer from one
antenna to the other, maximize signal integrity of the system, and
minimize signal reflections at the interfaces between the relay
interface 24 and the antennas 28, 22. The tuning can be performed
once the entire system positioned in the final orientation in the
product or environment in which the system is expected to operate
(e.g., once the cartridge 10 has been fully inserted into the
imager 32 and is in position for use to produce hardcopies onto the
medium in the cartridge 10). This way, any effects of surrounding
metal or other objects will be taken into account in the final
tuning values.
[0035] The relay interface 24 or other portion of the present
system can also include an amplifier, repeater, or other device
(generally referred to at 56 in FIG. 7) to repeat the signal and/or
amplify the power transmitted between the relay antenna 28 and the
interrogation antenna 22. This device 56 would typically be powered
by an energy source independent of the relay antenna 28 (e.g.,
powered by a source of electric energy such as a battery, or power
supply provided to the imager 32, for example, that does not
consume the current induced in the relay antenna 28).
[0036] Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above
devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications
without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is
intended to include all such modifications and alterations within
the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that
the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or
the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner
similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted
when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
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