IP Library Granted Patent US 10,114,983
Granted Patent B2
US 10,114,983 · App. 15/462,393 · Granted Oct 30, 2018

Spindle supported near field communication device

Inventors: Robert Ehrhardt (Palatine, IL); Robert S. Gawelczyk (Chicago, IL); Derek J. Hampson (Mundelein, IL); Dan Monnier (Arlington Heights, IL); James M. Rehberger (Franklin, WI); Mark B. Urban (Mundelein, IL)
Assignee: ZIH Corp.
G06K1/20B41J2/32B41J3/44B41J15/02B41J33/003B41J35/36G06F3/1211G06F3/1215G06F3/1236G06K1/12G06K7/10009G06K7/10297G06K7/10336G06K15/4025G06K17/00H01Q1/2216H01Q7/08H04B5/0031
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,114,983
App. No.
15/462,393
Granted
Oct 30, 2018
Kind
B2
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 (29)

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.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
NOTICE OF TRANSFER OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049675/0049 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 29, 2019
From: ZIH CORP.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048884/0618 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: ZIH CORP.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 044616/0736 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: EHRHARDT, ROBERT A.; GAWELCZYK, ROBERT S.; HAMPSON, DEREK J.; MONNIER, DAN E.; REHBERGER, JAMES M.; URBAN, MARK B.
To: ZIH CORP.
Reel/Frame 042116/0503 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14642589 · Mar 9, 2015
Continuation In Part 14565381 · Dec 9, 2014
Related Publication 20170193252A1 · Jul 6, 2017