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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/642,589, filed Mar. 9, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/565,381, filed Dec. 9, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/642,589 and 14/565,381 are both hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) and, in particular, to beam shaping near field communication (NFC) devices capable of concentrating near field interrogation signals at a targeted near field interrogation region within a printer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    RFID transponders, either active or passive, are typically used with an RFID transceiver or similar device to communicate information from the transponders. In order to communicate, the transceiver exposes the transponder to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field or signal. In the case of a passive transponder, the RF electromagnetic field energizes the transponder and thereby prompts the transponder to respond to the transceiver by modulating the field in a well-known technique called backscattering. In the case of an active transponder, the transponder may respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting an independently powered reply signal to the transceiver. 
         [0004]    Problems can occur, however, when the RFID transceiver and RFID transponder are confined within the space of an interior housing, such as that of a printer or other apparatus. For example, nearby metallic housing can cause interference and degradation of the magnetically sensitive near field patterns passed between the RFID transceiver and RFID transponder. The interior of the housing may constrain the spatial arrangement of the RFID transceiver and RFID transponder, thus limiting the available space and locations of the near field interrogation region. When the RFID transponder is disposed within the interior of a ribbon supply roll of a printer, the near field interrogation signal may become attenuated when propagating through the ribbon supply roll, and thus more input power is needed for the RFID transceiver to activate the RFID tag. In yet another example, RFID transponders attached to moving elements may have degraded or intermittent communicability with the near field interrogation signals. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, solutions to improve such RFID systems have been realized and are described herein. In general, techniques are provided to improve the concentration of near field interrogation signals at targeted near field interrogation regions within an apparatus. Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device. The spindle supported NFC device may include a spindle and a beam shaping NFC device. The spindle may be configured to mount to a mounting surface. The beam shaping NFC device may include: ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion, wherein the ferromagnetic component concentrates near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the near field interrogation signals may maintain communication with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may further include a bottom flange portion that promotes the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the surface. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may include a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion. The wire coil may be disposed directly around the core portion of the ferromagnetic component between the top flange portion and the bottom flange portion. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may promote the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the beam shaping NFC device further may include a nonconductive bobbin component including a bobbin core portion defining a bobbin cavity. The core portion of the ferromagnetic component may be disposed within the bobbin cavity. The wire coil may be disposed around the bobbin core portion. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the spindle supported NFC device may further include a ribbon supply spool configured to mechanically attach with a ribbon supply roll. The ribbon supply spool may rotate around the spindle. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the spindle supported NFC device may further include the ribbon supply roll including an RFID tag. The near field interrogation signals may maintain communication with an RFID tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the ribbon supply roll may further include: a ribbon supply core; a ribbon; a foil trailer attached to an end of the ribbon, wherein the foil trailer is wrapped around the ribbon supply core and the ribbon is wrapped around foil trailer. The RFID tag may be disposed between the ribbon supply core and the foil trailer. The ferromagnetic component may concentrate the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at the near field interrogation region such that the near field interrogation signals, after propagating through the ribbon and foil trailer, satisfy an activation level of the RFID tag. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the spindle supported NFC device may further include a bearing component configured to facilitate the rotation of the ribbon supply spool around the spindle rod portion of the spindle. In some embodiments, the bearing component may include: a bushing disposed between the exterior surface of the core cavity of the ferromagnetic component and the spindle; a first washer disposed around the bushing; a second washer disposed around the spindle; and a bearing disposed around the spindle between the bushing and the second washer. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the ribbon supply spool may define a spool cavity and the beam shaping NFC device may be disposed within the spool cavity. The ribbon supply spool may further define a protective housing for the beam shaping NFC device when the beam shaping NFC device is disposed within the spool cavity. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the ribbon supply spool may include a hub portion and a spool portion. The spool portion may define a spool cavity and the spindle may be inserted within the spool cavity. The spool portion may further include a fin configured to mechanically secure the ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool. 
         [0017]    Some embodiments may provide for a printer. The printer may include a housing and a spindle supported NFC device. The housing may define an interior surface of the printer and the spindle supported NFC device may be mechanically secured with the interior surface. The spindle supported NFC device may include a spindle configured to mount to the interior surface of the printer; and a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the interior surface of the printer. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the near field interrogation signals may maintain communication with an RFID tag located while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle within the near field interrogation region. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may further include a bottom flange portion. The bottom flange portion of the ferromagnetic component may promote the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the interior surface of the printer. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may include a top flange portion and a bottom flange portion. The wire coil may be disposed directly around the core portion of the ferromagnetic component between the top flange portion and the bottom flange portion. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component may promote the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the beam shaping NFC device may further include a nonconductive bobbin component including a bobbin core portion defining a bobbin cavity. The core portion of the ferromagnetic component may be disposed within the bobbin cavity. The wire coil may be disposed around the bobbin core portion. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the printer may further include a ribbon supply spool. The ribbon supply spool may be configured to mechanically attach with a ribbon supply roll. The ribbon supply spool may rotate around the spindle. In some embodiments, the printer may further include the ribbon supply roll. The ribbon supply roll may include an RFID tag. The near field interrogation signals may maintain communication with the RFID tag while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the ribbon supply roll may further include: a ribbon supply core; a ribbon; and a foil trailer attached to an end of the ribbon. The foil trailer may be wrapped around the ribbon supply core and the ribbon may be wrapped around foil trailer. The RFID tag may be disposed between the ribbon supply core and the foil trailer. The ferromagnetic component may concentrate the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at the near field interrogation region such that the near field interrogation signals, after propagating through the ribbon and foil trailer, satisfy an activation level of the RFID tag. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the printer may further include a bearing component configured to facilitate the rotation of the ribbon supply spool around the spindle. In some embodiments, the bearing component may include: a bushing disposed between the exterior surface of the core cavity of the ferromagnetic component and the spindle; a first washer disposed around the bushing; a second washer disposed around the spindle; and a bearing disposed around the spindle between the bushing and the second washer. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the ribbon supply spool may include a hub portion and a spool portion. The spool portion may define a spool cavity and the spindle may be inserted within the spool cavity. The spool portion may further define a fin configured to mechanically secure the ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool. 
         [0027]    Some embodiments may provide for a method of interrogating an RFID tag. The method may include: disposing a spindle supported NFC device within an interior surface of a housing of an apparatus, wherein the spindle supported NFC device includes a spindle, a ferromagnetic component, a wire coil, and a ribbon supply spool; attaching a ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool, wherein the ribbon supply roll includes the RFID tag; rotating the ribbon supply roll and the RFID tag around the spindle; energizing a transceiver connected with the wire coil to cause the wire coil to generate near field interrogation signals; and concentrating, with the ferromagnetic component, the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil at a near field interrogation region where the RFID tag is located and away from the interior surface of the apparatus. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the method may further include maintaining communication with an RFID tag via the near field interrogation signals while the RFID tag rotates around the spindle and within the near field interrogation region. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the method may further include concentrating the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil away from the interior surface of the apparatus may include promoting the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle. 
         [0030]    These characteristics as well as additional features, functions, and details of various embodiments are described below. Similarly, corresponding and additional embodiments are also described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Having thus described some embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a printer-encoder in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively show top and side views of an example beam shaping NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional side view of the beam shaping NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a close up view of the beam shaping NFC device disposed within the printer-encoder in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of a near field interrogation signal generated by the beam shaping NFC device at a near field interrogation region in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a beam shaping NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of an example of a spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional side view of the spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  shows an example of a ferromagnetic component in accordance with some embodiments; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  shows an exploded view of an example of a spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  shows an example of a spindle supported NFC device in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0045]    Embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments contemplated herein are shown. Indeed, various embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0046]      FIG. 1  shows an RFID printer-encoder  20  structured for printing and programming a series or stream of media units  24 , in accordance with some embodiments. Some or all of the media units  24  may include transponders. Media units  24  may be labels, cards, etc, that are carried by a substrate liner or web  22  as shown. 
         [0047]    Printer-encoder  20  includes several components, such as a housing  21 , printhead  28 , a platen roller  29 , a feed path  30 , a peeler bar  32 , a media exit path  34 , rollers  36 , a carrier exit path  38 , a take-up spool  40 , a ribbon supply roll  41 , a transceiver  42 , a controller  45 , a near field coupler  50 , and a beam shaping NFC device  60 . The web  22  is directed along the feed path  30  and between the printhead  28  and the platen roller  29  for printing indicia onto the media units  24 . 
         [0048]    Printer-encoder  20  may be configured to provide thermal transfer printing. For example, housing  21  may define an interior surface of the printer-encoder  20 . A ribbon supply spool  70  may be mounted to the housing  21  on the interior surface. The ribbon supply roll  41  may be disposed on the ribbon supply spool  70  attached to the housing  21 . Ribbon supply roll  41  provides a thermal ribbon that extends along a path (not shown to avoid overcomplicating  FIG. 1 ) such that a portion of the ribbon is positioned between the printhead  28  and the media units  24 . The printhead  28  heats up and presses a portion of the ribbon onto the media units  24  to print indicia. The take-up spool  40  is configured to receive and spool the used ribbon. 
         [0049]    Ribbon supply roll  41  may include an RFID tag  62  that can be interrogated by the beam shaping NFC device  60  for purposes such as identification of the ribbon supply roll, a ribbon supply roll type, one or more characteristics of the ribbon supply roll, and/or one or more print control parameters suitable for the ribbon supply roll. The beam shaping NFC device  60  may be further configured to encode the RFID tag  62 . For example, amount data defining the amount of ribbon left on the ribbon supply roll  41  may be encoded (e.g., into a memory of the RFID tag  62 ) such that if the ribbon supply roll were to be removed and then later reinstalled (e.g., onto printer-encoder  20  or a different device) the amount data may be retrieved from the ribbon supply roll  41  and used by the printer to determine an estimate lifetime or replacement time of the ribbon supply  41  and/or one or more of the components (e.g., ribbon  68 ) of the ribbon supply roll  41 . 
         [0050]    Printer-encoder  20  may be further configured to use the amount data to generate ribbon supply roll orders. For example, controller  45  may be configured provide the amount data to a remote (e.g., cloud) server configured to monitor and generate ribbon supply roll orders based on amount data received from printer-encoders. In another example, controller  45  may be configured to perform the monitoring and generate the ribbon supply orders. 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, ribbon supply roll  41  may further include a ribbon supply core  64 , a (e.g., foil) trailer  66 , and a ribbon  68 . The ribbon supply core  64  may be a hollow cylindrical shape to provide structural support for the ribbon supply roll  41  and to interface with the (e.g., rod-shaped) ribbon supply spool  70 . The ribbon supply core  64  may be cardboard, plastic, or other nonconductive material. The foil trailer  66  may be attached to an end of the ribbon  68 . The foil trailer  66  may be wrapped around the ribbon supply core  64 , and the ribbon  68  may be wrapped around the foil trailer  66 . RFID tag  62  may be disposed between the ribbon supply core  64  and the foil trailer  66 . 
         [0052]    Printer-encoder  20  may be configured to provide for the wireless interrogation of the RFID tag  62  of the ribbon supply roll  41  with the beam shaping near field communication (NFC) device  60 . In  FIG. 1 , the beam shaping NFC device  60  is shown in outline to indicate that beam shaping NFC device  60  is disposed behind the ribbon supply roll  41  proximate the interior surface of housing  21 . The RFID tag  62  may include a transponder configured to provide a tag identifier and/or other information stored within the RFID tag  62  (e.g., in a memory) to the printer-encoder  20 . The tag identifier may be different for different ribbon supply rolls  41  and/or different ribbon supply roll types, and thus may be used by the printer-encoder  20  to configure print control parameters suitable for the ribbon supply roll  41  or ribbon supply roll type. The ribbon supply roll  41  may be disposed at the interior side of the housing  21  proximate to the beam shaping NFC device  60  such that the RFID tag  62  is located at a near field interrogation region of the beam shaping NFC device  60 . 
         [0053]    Some example print control parameters may include sensitivity, darkness and print speed. The sensitivity parameter is associated with the temperature of the printing elements of the printhead  28 . The darkness parameter is associated with the amount of time that the printing elements are activated or the amount of energy used for the same amount of time. The print speed is associated with the rate that the ribbon  68  is passed through the printhead  28 . In general, different ribbon supply roll types may have different print media characteristics suitable for different print control parameters. Printer-encoder  20  may include a memory configured to store (and/or may access separate data storage, such as through a network) of tag identifiers, each tag identifier associated with a set of print control parameters most suitable for ribbon supply roll  41  identified by the tag identifier. As such, in response to receiving the tag identifier via the response signal from RFID tag  62  of the ribbon supply roll  41 , controller  45  may be configured to access the associated print control parameters from the memory, and to configure the components of the print-encoder  20  for print operation in accordance with the print control parameters. In some embodiments, controller  45  may be further configured to monitor the status of the ribbon supply roll  41 . For example, the revolutions of the ribbon supply spool  70  may be recorded by controller  45  and used to monitor the lifespan and quality of the ribbon supply roll  41 . In some embodiments, the tag identifier may be unique to each ribbon supply roll  41 , and thus controller  45  may also track the placement of particular ribbon supply rolls  41  within printer-encoder  20 . 
         [0054]    As discussed in greater detail below, beam shaping NFC device  60  may be configured to generate near field interrogation signals or patterns that are concentrated in the near field interrogation region (e.g., within  10  cm or less) of the beam shaping NFC device  60 . The near field interrogation signals or patterns, as used herein, refers to electric or magnetic field signals or patterns, rather than the electromagnetic field patterns associated with conventional far field RFID technologies. The near field interrogation signals may be received by RFID tag  62  disposed at the near field interrogation region. RFID tag  62  may include one or more passive or active RFID transponders. For a passive transponder, the near field interrogation signals induce current within the RFID tag  62  that causes backscattering of a response signal to the beam shaping NFC device  60 . The RFID tag  62  may be configured to provide the tag identifier and/or other information stored within the transponder via the backscattering. For an active transponder, the RFID tag  62  may be configured to power (e.g., via a battery and/or other power source separate from the interrogation signals) the broadcast the tag identifier and/or other information, such as in response to receiving an interrogation signal from the beam shaping NFC device  60 . Furthermore, the components of the beam shaping NFC device  60  and their arrangement may provide for reduced degradation of the near field interrogation signals when the beam shaping NFC device  60  is disposed at the (e.g., metallic) interior surface of the printer-encoder  20  defined by housing  21 . 
         [0055]    The transceiver  42  is configured for generating and transmitting RF communication signals that are broadcasted by the beam shaping NFC device  60 . The transceiver  42  and the beam shaping NFC device  60  will be referred to collectively as forming at least part of a communication system. The system may be configured to communicate using any suitable communication interface, such as the serial peripheral interface (SPI). The controller  45  may be connected with the transceiver  42  and may be configured to energize the transceiver  42  to cause the beam shaping NFC device  60  to generate the near field interrogation signals. The communication system transmits the near field interrogation signal or pattern in proximity to the near field interrogation region to establish a mutual coupling between the transceiver  42  and the RFID tag  62 . The transceiver  42  may also receive the response signal from beam shaping NFC device  60 , and may provide the response signal to the controller  45  to identify the ribbon supply roll  41  and/or ribbon supply roll type, set suitable print control parameters, among other things. 
         [0056]    In general, the transceiver is a device configured to generate, process, and receive electrical communication signals. One in the art would appreciate that similar devices such as transmitters, receivers, or transmitter-receivers may be used within this invention. “Transceiver” as used in the present application and the appended claims refers to the devices noted above and to any device capable of generating, processing, or receiving electrical and/or electromagnetic signals. 
         [0057]    After printing, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the media unit web  22  proceeds to the media exit path  34  where the media units are typically individually removed from the web  22 . For example, in one embodiment, pre-cut media units  24  may be simply peeled from the web  22  using the peeler bar  32  as shown. In other embodiments, a group of multiple media units may be peeled together and transmitted downstream to an in-line cutter for subsequent separation (not shown). Various other known media unit removal techniques may be used as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In applications, such as the depicted embodiment, in which the media units  24  are supported by a web  22 , the web  22  may be guided out of the printer-encoder  20  along the carrier exit path  38  by rollers  36  or other devices. 
         [0058]    The transceiver  42 , or a separate transceiver such as transceiver  54 , may be configured for generating and transmitting RF communication signals that are broadcasted by the near field coupler  50  located proximate the media feed path  30 . Thus transceiver  42  (or transceiver  54 ) and the near field coupler  50  may also form at least a part of a communication system that transmits a near field electromagnetic signal or pattern in proximity to a transponder operating region. The communication system may be configured to establish a mutual coupling between the transceiver and a targeted transponder of a media unit that is located in the transponder operating region. As the media web  22  proceeds along the media feed path  30  through the transponder operating region, data may be read from and written to transponders disposed on media units  24  carried by the web  22 . Additional details regarding near field couplers and communications between printer-encoder  20  and transponders, applicable in some embodiments, are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,306,474, titled “Multi-element RFID Coupler,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The beam shaping NFC device  60  is configured to target RFID tag  62  of the ribbon supply roll  41  for interrogation, and to avoid interrogation of the non-targeted RFID transponders of the media units located within the interior of the housing  21  by concentrating the near field interrogation signals at the near field interrogation region of the beam shaping NFC device  60 . In some embodiments, a printer including beam shaping NFC device  60  may be independent of any media unit encoding and/or interrogation. Here, the printer may not include components such as transceiver  54  and near field coupler  50 . 
         [0059]    In some embodiments, the printer-encoder  20  may further include a beam shaping NFC device configured to interrogate a media unit supply roll. For example, the media unit supply roll may be mounted to the housing  21  and may include an RFID tag, as discussed herein for the ribbon supply roll  41  and RFID tag  62 . Through the beam shaping NFC device, printer-encoder  20  may be further configured to read and write data to the media unit supply roll for purposes such as identification of the media unit supply roll, a media unit supply roll, one or more characteristics of the media unit supply roll, one or more print control parameters suitable for the media unit supply roll. In another example, the beam shaping NFC device may be further configured to encode the RFID tag of the media unit supply roll, such as with data defining the amount of unused media units remaining on the media unit supply roll. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively show top and side views of an example beam shaping NFC device  60  in accordance with some embodiments.  FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional side view of the beam shaping NFC device  60 . While beam shaping NFC device  60  is discussed herein as being included in printer-encoder  20 , it may also be used in other contexts where it is advantageous to concentrate near field interrogation signals within a near field interrogation region (e.g., to avoid undesired interrogation of any nearby, non-targeted transponders outside of the near field interrogation region) that are also directed away from nearby conductive components (e.g., metallic housing  20 ) that would otherwise cause interference or detuning of the interrogation signals (and/or response signals). 
         [0061]    With reference to  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 , the beam shaping NFC device  60  may include a substrate  202 , a ferromagnetic component  204 , a wire coil  206 , a bobbin component  208 , and a connector  210 . The substrate  202  defines a first substrate surface  212  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a second substrate surface  214  opposite the first substrate surface  212 . As discussed in greater detail below, the beam shaping NFC device  60  may be disposed within the printer-encoder  20  such that the first substrate surface  212  faces the interior side of the printer-encoder  20  (e.g., defined by housing  21 ) and the second substrate surface  214  faces the near field interrogation region  502  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the beam shaping NFC device  60 . Substrate  202  may be formed of a nonconductive material such as plastic, fiberglass, phenolics, printed circuit board material, among other things. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , ferromagnetic component  204  includes a core portion  216  and a bottom flange portion  218 . The core portion  216  and the bottom flange portion  218  may be formed of a single ferromagnetic piece, or alternatively, may be separate pieces that are joined together. The core portion  216  and the bottom flange portion  218  may each include a cylindrical shape, with core portion  216  including a smaller radius than the bottom flange portion  218  to define the flange structure. However, other shapes for the core portion  216  and/or bottom flange portion  218  may also be used. The ferromagnetic component  204  may be a high frequency (e.g., 13.56 MHZ range) transformer core material, such as K1 ferrite. The ferromagnetic component  204  may be mechanically attached with the second substrate surface  214  via the bottom flange portion  218 , such as by a nonconductive adhesive material. 
         [0063]    The wire coil  206  is disposed around the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204 , such as in the region defined between the bottom flange portion  218  of the ferromagnetic component  204  and the bobbin top flange portion  220  of the bobbin component  208  (discussed in greater detail below). The wire coil  206  may be connected with the transceiver  42  via the contacts  210 . When the controller  45  energies the transceiver  42 , an interrogation signal is generated by the transceiver  42  and transmitted to the wire coil  206  via the contacts  210 . The resulting current caused by the interrogation signal that travels through the wire coil  206  induces near field patterns. The ferromagnetic component  204  is structured to direct and/or shape the (e.g., magnetic) field pattern generated by the wire coil by causing the field pattern generated by the wire coil  206  to be less concentrated in the regions of the ferromagnetic component  204 , and more concentrated in the other regions of the field pattern generated by the wire coil  206  (e.g., at the interrogation region of the beam shaping device  60 ). 
         [0064]    The beam shaping NFC device  60  may further include the bobbin component  208  to provide a nonconductive separation between the ferromagnetic component  204  and the wire coil  206 . The bobbin component  208  may be formed of a nonconductive material, such as a polymer material. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the bobbin component  208  may include a bobbin core portion  220  and a bobbin top flange portion  222 . The bobbin core portion  220  defines a cavity configured to receive the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204 . Where the core portion  216  includes a cylindrical shape, the cavity of the bobbin core portion  220  may include a corresponding cylindrical shape, and the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204  may be mechanically secured with the bobbin core portion  220  (e.g., via a nonconductive adhesive material). Once secured, the bobbin top flange portion  222  and the bottom flange portion  218  of the ferromagnetic component  204  are disposed at opposite ends of the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204 . The wire coil  206  may be disposed around the bobbin core portion  220  between the bobbin top flange portion  222  and the bottom flange portion  218  of the ferromagnetic component  204 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  shows a close up view of beam shaping NFC device  60  disposed within printer-encoder  20  in accordance with some embodiments. Here, ribbon supply roll  41  has been removed from ribbon supply spool  70 , visually exposing the beam shaping NFC device  60  (e.g., shown in outline behind ribbon supply roll  41  in  FIG. 1 ). The printer-encoder  20  may include a holder  72  mounted to the interior surface of the housing  21  and configured to removably receive the beam shaping NFC device  60 . The holder  72  may be formed of a conductive material and may secure the beam shaping NFC device  60  to housing  21 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of a near field interrogation pattern generated by the beam shaping NFC device  60  at a near field interrogation region, in accordance with some embodiments. As discussed above, the beam shaping NFC device  60  may be secured with the interior surface of the housing  21  such that the second substrate surface  214  of the beam shaping NFC device  60  faces perpendicular to an outer surface of the RFID tag  62 . The beam shaping NFC device  60  and the RFID tag  62  oriented 90 degrees with respect to each other provides a perpendicular mutual coupling between the beam shaping NFC device  60  and the RFID tag  62 . 
         [0067]    The ferromagnetic component  204  concentrates the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil  206  at the near field interrogation region  502  (as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 5 ). For example, the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204  concentrates the flux of the near field concentrations away from the interior of wire coil  206  where the core potion  216  is located. Furthermore, bottom flange portion  218  of the ferromagnetic component  204  concentrates the flux of the near field concentrations away from the metallic interior surface of the printer-encoder  20 . The energy which has been concentrated away or captured from these regions are transferred or projected to the near field interrogation region  502 , thereby enhancing the strength of the near field interrogation signal at the desired near field interrogation region  502  and reducing the strength at the undesirable locations, such as locations near conductive components of the printer-encoder  20 . 
         [0068]    The near field concentrations propagate through the ribbon  68  and the foil trailer  66  (not shown in  FIG. 5  to avoid overcomplicating the drawing) and to the RFID tag  62  disposed between the ribbon supply core  64  and the foil trailer  66 . 
         [0069]    Advantageously, the concentration of the near field interrogation signals at the near field interrogation region  502  allows for the near field interrogation signals to satisfy (e.g., exceed or meet) the activation level of the RFID tag  62  after the near field interrogation signals have propagated through the ribbon supply core  64  and the foil trailer  66  at a lower power level than would otherwise be possible. Therefore, the amount of power that is needed by the beam shaping NFC device  60  for effective interrogation of the RFID tag  62  within the ribbon supply roll  41  is reduced by the ferromagnetic component  204  via the concentration of the near field pattern at the near field interrogation region  502  and reduction of the near field pattern outside of the near field interrogation region  502   
         [0070]    Furthermore, where the interior surface of the printer-encoder  20  is metallic, the ferromagnetic component  204  concentrates the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil away from the interior surface (e.g., facing the first substrate surface  212  of the housing), thereby reducing degradation of the near field interrogation signals when the beam shaping NFC device  60  is disposed at and/or near the metallic interior surface of the printer-encoder as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . As such, via the shaping of the field pattern, the ferromagnetic component  204  concentrates the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil  206  toward the near field interrogation region (e.g., where the RFID tag  62  of the ribbon supply roll  41  is disposed) and away from the (e.g., conductive) interior surface of the housing  62 . 
         [0071]    The wire coil that generates the near field patterns is not limited to the coiled wiring shown in  FIGS. 2A-5 . In some embodiments, the wire coil  206  may be formed as wire traces on a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate.  FIG. 6  shows an example beam shaping NFC device  600  in accordance with some embodiments. The wire trace coil  602  may define a center region where a ferromagnetic component  604  may be disposed through the PCB substrate  606 . The discussion above regarding ferromagnetic component  204  may be applicable to ferromagnetic component  604 . The PCB  606  may include an aperture configured to receive the core portion of the ferromagnetic component  604 . The bottom flange portion  610  of the ferromagnetic component  604  may be disposed at the opposite surface of PCB substrate  606 . In some embodiments, printer-encoder electronics  608  may also be disposed on the same PCB substrate  606 , such integrated circuitry configured to perform the functionality of one or more of transceiver  42  or controller  45  as discussed above. 
       Spindle Supported NFC Device 
       [0072]    Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device. A spindle supported NFC device may include a beam shaping NFC device integrated with the ribbon supply spool. As discussed in greater detail below, the spindle supported NFC device may be configured to generate near field interrogation signals that maintain communication with an RFID tag of a ribbon supply roll while the RFID tag and the ribbon supply roll rotate around the spindle supported NFC device. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 7-10  show examples of a spindle supported NFC device  700  in accordance with some embodiments. With reference to  FIG. 7 , which shows an exploded view, the spindle supported NFC device  700  may include a spindle  702 , a beam shaping NFC device  704 , a ribbon supply spool  706 , and a bearing component  708 . 
         [0074]    The spindle  702  may include a spindle rod portion  714  and a spindle base portion  716 . The spindle rod portion  714  may provide an axis of rotation for the ribbon supply spool  706 . A ribbon supply roll with RFID tag (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5 ) may be mechanically secured with the ribbon supply spool  706 . As such, the spindle rod portion  714  may further provide an axis rotation for the ribbon supply roll and RFID tag. The spindle base portion  716  may be configured to mount to a mounting surface, such as an internal surface of a housing of a printer or other apparatus. For example, spindle base portion  716  may be mechanically secured with the mounting surface based on screws, bolts, adhesive, or any other suitable technique. 
         [0075]    Beam shaping NFC device  704  may include a ferromagnetic component  710  and a wire coil  712 . Some or all of the discussion above regarding beam shaping NFC device  60  may be applicable to beam shaping NFC device  704 , such as the material characteristics discussed above. With reference to  FIG. 8 , ferromagnetic component  710  may include a core portion  802  defining a core cavity. The core cavity may be structured to receive spindle rod portion  714  of spindle  702  such that spindle  702  is inserted through the core cavity. 
         [0076]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component  710  may further include one or more flange portions, such as a bottom flange portion  804  and/or a top flange portion  806 . The core portion  802 , the bottom flange portion  804 , and/or the top flange portion  806  may be formed of a single ferromagnetic piece, or alternatively, may be separate pieces that are joined together. The core portion  802 , the bottom flange portion  804 , and the top flange portion  806  may each include a cylindrical shape, with core portion  802  including a smaller radius than the flange portions to define the flange structure. Alternatively, in some embodiments, ferromagnetic component  710  may include a cylindrical shape, or other non-flanged shape. A bobbin component  730  is omitted from  FIG. 8 , and in some embodiments may be omitted from the spindle supported NFC device as discussed in greater detail below in connection with  FIGS. 11-13 . 
         [0077]    Returning to  FIG. 7 , the wire coil  712  may be disposed around the core portion of ferromagnetic component  710 . Similar to wire coil  206  discussed above, wire coil  712  may be connected with the transceiver  42 . When the controller  45  energizes the transceiver  42 , an interrogation signal is generated by the transceiver  42  and transmitted to the wire coil  712 . The resulting current caused by the interrogation signal that travels through the wire coil  712  induces near field patterns. The ferromagnetic component  710  is structured to direct and/or shape the (e.g., magnetic) field pattern generated by the wire coil  712  by causing the field pattern generated by the wire coil  712  to be less concentrated in the regions of the ferromagnetic component  710 , and more concentrated in the other regions of the field pattern generated by the wire coil  712 . For example, the near field interrogation signals may be concentrated toward a near field interrogation region of the beam shaping device  704 , and away from the mounting surface to which spindle  702  may be mounted. 
         [0078]    In some embodiments, the beam shaping NFC device  704  may further include a bobbin component  730  to provide a nonconductive separation between the ferromagnetic component  710  and the wire coil  712 . The bobbin component  714  may be formed of a nonconductive material, such as a polymer material. With reference to  FIG. 7 , the bobbin component  730  may include a bobbin core portion. The bobbin core portion defines a bobbin cavity configured to receive the ferromagnetic component  710 . Where the core portion of the ferromagnetic component  710  includes a cylindrical shape, the bobbin cavity may include a corresponding cylindrical shape, and the core portion  216  of the ferromagnetic component  204  may be mechanically secured with the bobbin core portion (e.g., via a nonconductive adhesive material). In some embodiments, the bobbin component  730  may further include a bobbin top flange portion and/or a bottom flange portion. Here, the wire coil  712  may be disposed around the bobbin core portion between the bobbin top flange portion and the bottom flange portion of bobbin component  730  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0079]    The ribbon supply spool  706  may be configured to mechanically attach with a ribbon supply roll, and rotate about the spindle  702 , thereby providing for the rotation of the ribbon supply roll and the RFID tag attached with the ribbon supply roll. The ribbon supply spool  706  may include a hub portion  718  and a spool portion  732 . The spool portion  732  and hub portion  718  may define a spool cavity  808  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) and the spindle rod portion  714  of the spindle  702  may be inserted within the spool cavity  808 . Spool cavity  808  may further define a region in which the beam shaping NFC device  704  may be inserted, thereby defining a protective housing for the beam shaping NFC device  704  when disposed within the spool cavity  808 . In some embodiments, the spool portion  706  may further define a fin  734  configured to mechanically secure the ribbon supply roll with the ribbon supply spool  706 . In some embodiments, the spool portion  732  may be made of a (e.g., conductive) metallic material and the hub portion  718  may be made of (e.g., non-conductive) plastic material. 
         [0080]      FIGS. 9 and 10 , respectively, show examples of a partially assembled spindle supported NFC device and an assembled spindle supported NFC device, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the spool portion  706  may be slidably attached with spindle  702  such as to be capable of sliding via the spindle  702  toward the beam shaping NFC device  704 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , when spool portion  706  is fully assembled with the beam shaping NFC device  704 , the beam shaping NFC device  704  may be covered and protected from exposure. 
         [0081]    Returning to  FIG. 7 , the spindle supported NFC device  700  may further include a bearing component  708  configured to facilitate rotation of the ribbon supply spool  706  around the axis defined by the spindle rod portion  732  of the spindle  702 . Bearing component  708  may include a bushing  722  disposed between the core cavity of the ferromagnetic component  710  and the spindle rod portion  714  of the spindle  702 . Bushing  722  may include a body portion and a flange portion as shown in  FIG. 7 . A washer  724  may be disposed on the body portion of the bushing  722 . A bearing  726  may be disposed on the spindle rod portion  714  proximate to the flange portion of bushing  722 . A washer  728  may be disposed on the spindle rod portion  714  proximate to the bearing  726 , and on the opposite side of the bearing  726  relative to the flange portion of bushing  722 . 
         [0082]    The structure and features of the spindle supported NFC device  700  may allow the spindle supported NFC device  700  to be particularly adapted for near field communication with an RFID tag. With reference to  FIG. 8 , showing a cross sectional view, spindle supported NFC device  700  may define a near field interrogation region  810 . An RFID tag (not shown in  FIG. 8  to avoid overcomplicating the drawing) of a ribbon supply roll  814  may be secured to the spindle supported NFC device  700 , such as for use during printer operation. 
         [0083]    The near field interrogation region  810  may be defined based on the locations where the near field interrogation signals  812  of the beam shaping NFC device  702  are capable of coupling with and interrogating the RFID tag. Although two dotted boxes are shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the near field interrogation region  810  may be a substantially continuous region at the periphery of the beam shaping NFC device  702 . Throughout the rotation of the RFID tag, the RFID tag may be maintained within the near field interrogation region  810 . Advantageously, the near field interrogation signals generated by the spindle supported NFC device can thus maintain communication (e.g., without blind spots and/or intermittent signal loss) with the RFID tag as the RFID tag rotates around the spindle rod portion  714  of the spindle  702 . 
         [0084]    As discussed above, the ferromagnetic component  710  may concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil  712  toward and/or at the near field interrogation region  810 . For example, the flux  1  of the near field interrogation signals may be defined by Equation 1: 
         [0000]      Φ= IN /( R   o   +R   i ),
 
         [0085]    where Φ is the magnetic flux (Webers), IN is the number of Ampere-turns of the wire coil, R o  is the reluctance or magnetic resistance of region outside of the wire coil (e.g., air), and R i  is the reluctance or magnetic resistance for the region inside of the wire coil (e.g., of the ferromagnetic core  710 ). Based on Equation  1 , the flux Φ of the near field interrogation signals is increased based on the reluctance R i  of the ferromagnetic component  710  being smaller than the reluctance R o  of regions outside of the coil (e.g., where a ferromagnetic component is not present), thereby concentrating the near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil  712  toward and/or at the near field interrogation region  810 . The increased flux Φ of the near field interrogation signals may help ensure that near field concentrations, after propagating through a ribbon and/or a foil trailer of the ribbon supply roll  814 , satisfy an activation level of the RFID tag. 
         [0086]    The ferromagnetic component  710  may be further configured to shield the near field interrogation signals away from various nearby components may otherwise cause interference and degradation of the magnetically sensitive near field patterns passed between the spindle supported NFC device and RFID tag. For example and with reference to  FIG. 8 , the spindle rod portion  714  of spindle  702  may be a metallic material that is shielded from the near field interrogation signals  812  by the ferromagnetic component  710 . 
         [0087]    In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic component  710  may be configured to concentrate the near field interrogation signals away from the spindle base portion  716  of spindle  702  and/or the (e.g., metallic) mounting surface to which the spindle base portion  716  is mounted. For example, the ferromagnetic component  710  may further include a bottom flange portion  804  and/or a top flange portion  806  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11 . The bottom flange portion  804  of the ferromagnetic component  710  may promote the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from spindle base portion  716  and/or the mounting surface. Similarly, the top flange portion  806  of the ferromagnetic component  710  may promote the concentration of the near field interrogation signals away from various components located above the ferromagnetic component  710  that may be metallic or otherwise include metallic elements, such as bearing component  708 . For example, bushing  722 , washer  728 , and/or bearing  726  (e.g., the ball bearings) may be of a metallic material. In some embodiments, a nonconductive washer  724  may be disposed between the ferromagnetic component  710  and the metallic bushing  722  to electrically isolate the ferromagnetic component  710  away from the metallic portions of the bearing component  708 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 11  shows an example of a ferromagnetic component  1100  in accordance with some embodiments. The ferromagnetic component  1100  is an example of a ferromagnetic component that may be included within a spindle supported NFC device. The ferromagnetic component  1100  may include a core portion  1102 , a top flange portion  1104 , a bottom flange portion  1106 , and a core cavity  1108 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 12  shows an exploded view of an example of a spindle supported NFC device  1200  including the ferromagnetic component  1100 , and  FIG. 13  shows an assembled view of the spindle supported NFC device  1200 , in accordance with some embodiments. Spindle supported NFC device  1200  may include a spindle  1202 , a beam shaping NFC device  1204 , a ribbon supply spool  706 , and a bearing component  1208 . The beam shaping NFC device  1204  may include a flanged ferromagnetic component  1100  and a wire coil  1212  wound around the core portion  1102  between the top flange portion  1104  and the bottom flange portion  1106 . Unlike the beam shaping NFC device  704  of  FIG. 7 , however, beam shaping NFC device  1200  does not include a bobbin component. The bearing component  1208  may include a bushing  1222  and a bearing  1226 . A single washer  1228  is disposed on the spindle rod portion  1214  of the spindle  1202  proximate to the bearing  1226 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0090]    Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the ferromagnetic core discussed herein is particularly adapted for concentrating near field interrogation signals based on the relative positions of the beam shaping NFC device and the RFID tag, but other ferromagnetic core structures may be appropriate based on beam shaping need. In another example, the beam shaping NFC device discussed herein may be used within devices or apparatuses other than printer-encoders, such as non-encoding printers, mobile devices, desktop devices, among other things. In yet another example, the beam shaping NFC device may be used during ribbon supply roll manufacturing to write and verify part numbers, such as the ribbon supply type being wound to a (e.g., universal) ribbon supply core. Therefore, it is to be understood that embodiments and implementations are not to be limited to the specific example embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.