Methods and systems for encoding radio frequency identification (RFID) labels
Systems and methods for encoding radio frequency identification (RFID) labels are provided. The method includes, but not limited to: determining a slow-down position, an encoding complete position, and an encoding window for each label; determining if the encoding complete position is positioned on a front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction; in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on the front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, causing the media to reduce the printing speed when the trailing edge of the encoding window reaches the slow-down position; and in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on a back side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, causing the media to maintain the printing speed at the predetermined printing speed.
1. A method for encoding radio frequency identification (RFID) labels comprising:
determining, by a controller component of a printer, a slow-down position and an encoding complete position along a media moving direction in the printer and an encoding window associated with an RFID label for performing an encoding process on at least one RFID inlay of the RFID label, wherein the encoding window comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the RFID label is part of a media that is traveling along the media moving direction in the printer at a printing speed and driven by an electrical drive;
starting, by the controller component, the encoding process on the at least one RFID inlay in an instance in which the leading edge reaches an encoding area of an RFID antenna;
determining, by the controller component, if the encoding complete position is positioned on a front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction;
in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on the front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, transmitting, by the controller component, commands to the electrical drive via an input/output (I/O) device interface unit to reduce the printing speed when the trailing edge of the encoding window reaches the slow-down position; and
in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on a back side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, transmitting, by the controller component, commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to maintain the printing speed at a predetermined printing speed.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the leading edge is positioned on a front side of the trailing edge when viewed from the media moving direction.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the printing speed is reduced to zero in an instance in which the trailing edge reaches a downstream edge of the encoding area of the RFID antenna.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the encoding complete position is determined based on the predetermined printing speed and an encoding speed of the RFID antenna.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller component, if the encoding process is completed;
in an instance in which the encoding process is completed, transmitting, by the controller component, commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to increase the printing speed; and
in an instance in which the encoding process is not completed, transmitting, by the controller component, commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to continue reducing the printing speed.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the printing speed is increased to the predetermined printing speed after the encoding process is completed.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the slow-down position is determined based on the predetermined printing speed.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the RFID antenna is communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to transmit signals to encode the at least one RFID inlay.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the printer further comprises a print head communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to print contents on the RFID label.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the printer further comprises a dispenser communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to output the media.
11. A printer for encoding radio frequency identification (RFID) labels, comprising:
an RFID antenna;
an electrical drive for driving a media to travel along a media moving direction in the printer at a printing speed, wherein the media comprises an RFID label; and
a controller component communicatively coupled to the electrical drive and configured to:
determine a slow-down position and an encoding complete position along the media moving direction in the printer and an encoding window associated with the RFID label for performing an encoding process on at least one RFID inlay of the RFID label, wherein the encoding window comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the RFID label is part of the media;
start the encoding process on the at least one RFID inlay in an instance in which the leading edge reaches an encoding area of the RFID antenna;
determine if the encoding complete position is positioned on a front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction;
in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on the front side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, transmit commands to the electrical drive via an input/output (I/O) device interface unit to reduce the printing speed when the trailing edge of the encoding window reaches the slow-down position; and
in an instance in which the encoding complete position is positioned on a back side of the slow-down position when viewed from the media moving direction, transmit commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to maintain the printing speed at a predetermined printing speed.
12. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the leading edge is positioned on a front side of the trailing edge when viewed from the media moving direction.
13. The printer according to claim 12 , wherein the printing speed is reduced to zero in an instance in which the trailing edge reaches a downstream edge of the encoding area of the RFID antenna.
14. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the encoding complete position is determined based on the predetermined printing speed and an encoding speed of the RFID antenna.
15. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the controller component is further configured to:
determine if the encoding process is completed;
in an instance in which the encoding process is completed, transmit commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to increase the printing speed; and
in an instance in which the encoding process is not completed, transmit commands to the electrical drive via the I/O device interface unit to continue reducing the printing speed.
16. The printer according to claim 15 , wherein the printing speed is increased to the predetermined printing speed after the encoding process is completed.
17. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the slow-down position is determined based on the predetermined printing speed.
18. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the RFID antenna is communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to transmit signals to encode the at least one RFID inlay.
19. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the printer further comprises a print head communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to print contents on the RFID label.
20. The printer according to claim 11 , wherein the printer further comprises a dispenser communicatively coupled to the controller component and configured to output the media.