IP Library Granted Patent US 11,970,015
Granted Patent B2
US 11,970,015 · App. 17/425,812 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Printer, printer control method of printer and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Inventors: Hidekazu Arai (Saitama, JP); Yuji Saito (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B41J3/4075B41J3/50G06K7/015
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,970,015
App. No.
17/425,812
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printer configured to print on a printing medium having an RFID, comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with the RFID, and a search unit configured to move the communication unit to a position with respect to the RFID to search for a position communicable with the RFID, wherein the search unit determines communication success/failure between the RFID and the communication unit at a plurality of positions with respect to the RFID, and on the basis of a region including a plurality of positions determined as the communication being successful, identifying a communication position between the RFID and the communication unit.

Claims (44)

1. A printer configured to print on a printing medium having an RFID, the printer comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with the RFID; and

a search unit configured to move the communication unit to a position with respect to the RFID to search for a position at which the communication unit is communicable with the RFID,

wherein the search unit:

determines communication success/failure between the RFID and the communication unit at a plurality of positions with respect to the RFID, and on the basis of a region including a plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful,

weighs each of the plurality of positions based on a number of adjacent positions at which the communication has been determined to be successful to obtain a highest weighted position among the plurality of weighted positions,

identifies a communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, based on the communication position having the highest weighted position, and

causes the communication unit to move based on the communication position having the highest weighted position.

2. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein

the search unit causes the communication unit to move in a spiral or rectangular manner from a position determined in advance, to search for a position communicable with the RFID.

3. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein

the search unit stores the identified communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, and identifies the communication position with the communication unit on the basis of the stored communication position.

4. The printer according to claim 3 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

5. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

6. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein

the search unit identifies a center of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful as the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit.

7. The printer according to claim 6 , wherein

the search unit stores the identified communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, and identifies the communication position with the communication unit on the basis of the stored communication position.

8. The printer according to claim 7 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

9. The printer according to claim 6 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

10. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein

the search unit stores the identified communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, and identifies the communication position with the communication unit on the basis of the stored communication position.

11. The printer according to claim 10 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

12. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein

the search unit extracts an area of the region including the plurality of positions at which the search unit has determined that the communication was successful and identifies the communication position between the RFID and the communication unit on the basis of a center of the region having the largest area.

13. A control method of a printer configured to print on a printing medium having a RFID,

the printer comprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with the RFID; and a search unit configured to move the communication unit to a position with respect to the RFID to search for a position communicable with the RFID,

the method comprising:

determining communication success/failure between the RFID and the communication unit at a plurality of positions with respect to the RFID;

weighing each of the plurality of positions based on a number of adjacent positions at which the communication has been determined to be successful to obtain a highest weighted position among the plurality of weighted positions;

identifying a communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, based on the communication position having the highest weighted position; and

causing the communication unit to move the communication unit based on the communication position having the highest weighted position.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program executable by a computer of a printer configured to print on a printing medium having an RFID,

the printer comprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with the RFID; and a search unit configured to move the communication unit to a position with respect to the RFID to search for a position communicable with the RFID,

the program causing the computer to:

determine communication success/failure between the RFID and the communication unit at a plurality of positions with respect to the RFID;

weigh each of the plurality of positions based on a number of adjacent positions at which the communication has been determined to be successful to obtain a highest weighted position among the plurality of weighted positions;

identify a communication position between the RFID and the communication unit, based on the communication position having the highest weighted position; and

cause the communication unit to move based on the communication position having the highest weighted position.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SATO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072085/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: ARAI, HIDEKAZU; SAITO, YUJI
To: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 056978/0594 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-068596 · Mar 29, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220161571A1 · May 26, 2022