Method and apparatus for programming a transponder

A radio frequency identification transponder apparatus includes a transceiver. A control logic device is coupled to the transceiver. A transponder programming device is coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information, whereby the information stored is determined by the presence or absence of a printing material adjacent the transponder programming device. A conventional printing device may program the transponder programming apparatus and print transponder labels by positioning printing material adjacent the transponder programming device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to transponders, and more particularly to programming a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder.

Transponders such as, for example, RFID transponders, may be used to track objects. RFID transponders are wireless electronic tags which broadcast preprogrammed data stored in a non-volatile memory. The RFID transponder is typically programmed to identify an object and then coupled to that object such that an RFID transceiver can receive the broadcast from the RFID transponder in order to identify the object. The programming of the RFID transponder raises a number of issues.

Conventionally, RFID transponders includes an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) which may be programmed by an RFID transceiver using radio waves. However, sometimes it is desirable to include a label on the RFID transponder which allows human-readable information to be printed on the RFID transponder in order to provide a single object tag which may be coupled to an object and read by both machines and humans.

In order to create these RFID transponder labels, an RFID transponder label printer is typically provided. The RFID transponder is included in a label which may be printed on. The RFID transponder label printer includes an RFID transceiver such that the RFID transponder label printer may be used to print the object information on the label while programming the RFID transponder with information corresponding to the object.

However, this method for programming a transponder requires that a user have the RFID transponder label printer, as a conventional printer does not include the RFID transceiver necessary to program the RFID transponder. This results in increased costs to the user, as the user must purchase a relatively expensive RFID transponder label printer to create RFID transponder labels.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for programming a transponder absent the disadvantages discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a transponder apparatus includes a transceiver, a control logic device coupled to the transceiver, and a transponder programming device coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information, whereby the information stored is determined by the presence or absence of printing material adjacent the transponder programming device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, a transponder apparatus100is illustrated. The transponder apparatus100includes a transponder102including a conventional transceiver104, a conventional antenna106, a conventional power rectifier108, a conventional control logic device110, and a transponder programming device112, each coupled to the transponder102and to each other as described in further detail below.

The conventional transceiver104is a device known in the art which is capable of sending and receiving signals. The transceiver104is operably coupled to the antenna106such that the transceiver104may send signals to and receive signals from the antenna106. The transceiver104is operably coupled to the control logic device110such that the transceiver104may send signals to and receive signals from the control logic device110. The transceiver104is operably coupled to the power rectifier108such that the transceiver104may receive power from the power rectifier108.

The conventional antenna106is a device known in the art which is capable of radiating and receiving radio signals. The antenna106is operably coupled to the transceiver104such that the antenna106may send signals to and receive signals from the transceiver104. The antenna106is operably coupled to the power rectifier108such that the antenna106may send signals to the power rectifier108.

The conventional power rectifier108is a device known in the art which is capable of receiving a signal from the antenna106and converting the energy from that signal into power which may then be sent to components of the transponder102. The power rectifier108is operably coupled to the transceiver104such that the power rectifier108may send power to the transceiver104. The power rectifier108is operably coupled to the antenna106such that the power rectifier108may receive signals from the antenna106. The power rectifier108is operably coupled to the control logic device110such that the power rectifier108may send power to the control logic device110. The power rectifier108is operably coupled to the transponder programming device112such that the power rectifier108may send power to the transponder programming device112.

The conventional control logic device110is a device known in the art which is capable of controlling components of the transponder102. The control logic device110is operably coupled to the transceiver104such that the control logic device110may send signals to and receive signals from the transceiver104. The control logic device110is operably coupled to the power rectifier108such that the control logic device110may receive power from the power rectifier108. The control logic device110is operably coupled to the transponder programming device112such that the control logic device110may send signals to and receive signals from the transponder programming device112.

The transponder programming device112is operably coupled to the power rectifier108such that the transponder programming device112may receive power from the power rectifier108. The transponder programming device112is operably coupled to the control logic device110such that the transponder programming device112may send signals to and receive signals from the control logic device110. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112includes an array of one or more transponder programming cells114, as illustrated inFIG. 1. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112may include as few as one transponder programming cell114or as many transponder programming cells114as are needed depending on the amount of information the transponder programming device112is being designed to hold. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112includes a photo-sensitive device and the transponder programming cells114include photo-sensitive cells such as, for example, photo-transistors, photo-diodes, solar cells, combinations thereof, and/or a variety of other photo-sensitive cells known in the art. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112includes an electromagnetic-sensitive device and the transponder programming cells114include electromagnetic-sensitive cells such as, for example, Hall Effect transistors and/or a variety of other electromagnetic-sensitive cells known in the art. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112includes a chemical-sensitive device and the transponder programming cells114include chemical-sensitive cells. In an embodiment, the transponder programming device112includes a plurality of conductive cells114such as, for example, transistors, copper pads, and/or a variety of other conductive cells known in the art.

Referring now toFIGS. 2a,2b,and2c,a method200for programming a transponder is illustrated. The method200begins at step202where the transponder apparatus100, described above with reference toFIG. 1, is provided. The method200then proceeds to step204where the transponder apparatus100is coupled to a substrate and a printing medium. In an embodiment, the transponder apparatus100is coupled to a substrate204ahaving a front surface204aaand a rear surface204ablocated opposite the front surface204aa.In an embodiment, the front surface204aaand/or the rear surface204abof the substrate204amay include an adhesive known in the art. A printing medium204bis provided having a front surface204baand a rear surface204bblocated opposite the front surface204ba.In an embodiment, the rear surface204bbof the printing medium204bmay include an adhesive known in the art. The printing medium204bis coupled to the substrate204asuch that the rear surface204bbof the printing medium204bis located adjacent the front surface204aaof the substrate204aand the printing medium204bis located adjacent the transponder apparatus100, as illustrated inFIG. 2c,providing an transponder label204c.In an embodiment, the printing medium204bis at least partially translucent such that light may be detected by the transponder programming device112through the printing medium204b.In an embodiment, the substrate204aand the printing medium204bprovide a conventional sticker or label with the transponder apparatus100embedded. However, in an embodiment, the transponder apparatus100may be embedded in a variety of other mediums such as, for example, plastic, to provide the transponder apparatus100in, for example, a card, a key fob, a container, or a variety of other objects which are desired to be tracked. While the printing medium204bhas been illustrated as a separate material located adjacent the transponder programming device100, in an embodiment, the printing medium may be the transponder programming device112itself.

Referring now toFIGS. 2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f,2g,and2h,the method200then proceeds to step206where the transponder102is programmed by positioning printing material adjacent the transponder programming device112. A conventional printing device206ais provided which includes a printing member206abcontaining a printing material. In an embodiment, the printing material may be any substance capable of blocking light from passing through a translucent material on which the printing material is applied such as, for example, a conventional ink, a conventional toner, any conventional masking material, and/or a variety of other printing materials known in the art. The transponder label204is positioned in the printing device206aand moved in a direction A past the printing member206absuch that printing material from the printing member206abmay be positioned on the front surface204baof the printing medium204b,as illustrated inFIG. 2d.The printing material is positioned on the printing medium204bsuch that it includes a transponder programming section206blocated adjacent the transponder programming device112and a human-readable section206clocated adjacent the transponder programming section206b,as illustrated inFIG. 2e.In an embodiment, the transponder programming section206bdefines a plurality of portions206baof the transponder programming section206bin which there is no printing material. In an embodiment, the printing material may extend through the printing medium204bfrom the front surface204bato the rear surface204bbsuch that the printing material engages the transponder programming device112and the transponder programming cells114. While the transponder programming cells114have been illustrated as a substantially rectangular array, a variety of different arrangements of the transponder programming cells114are envisioned such as, for example, arrangements which may be programmed by standard bar codes or dot codes, the programming which will be described in more detail below according to different embodiments.

The method200then proceeds to step208where the transponder apparatus100is coupled to an object. An object208ais provided, and the transponder label204cis coupled to the object208aby, for example, using an adhesive located on the rear surface204abof the substrate204a.The method200then proceeds to step210where the object208ais identified with the transponder apparatus100. A conventional reader transceiver (not shown) sends a signal which is received by the antenna106on transponder102. That signal is sent by the antenna106to the power rectifier108and to the transceiver104. The power rectifier108converts the signal into energy to power the different components of the transponder102. The transceiver104receives the signal and sends it to the control logic device110. The control logic device110then reads the transponder programming device112, which has been programmed by the positioning of the printing material on the printing medium204bin step206and will be explained in more detail below according to a variety of embodiments, and sends that information to the transceiver104. The transceiver104then sends a signal including the information on the transponder programming device112to the reader transceiver using the antenna106.

In an embodiment, the transponder programming cells114are photo-sensitive cells, and the transponder programming section206balong with the portions206baof the transponder programming section206bin which there is no printing material selectively block light from reaching some of the photo-sensitive transponder programming cells114, as illustrated inFIG. 2f,such that the photo-sensitive transponder programming cells114contain the identifying information for the object208abased on which photo-sensitive transponder programming cells114can detect light. The human-readable section206cprovided on the transponder label204cin step206of the method200also includes identifying information corresponding to the object208a.Thus, a method and apparatus are provided which allow a transponder to be labeled and programmed using a conventional printing device. In an embodiment, the use of photo-sensitive transponder programming cells114may provide additional security in the case in which the object208aand the transponder label204care placed inside of an opaque container, as no light will reach any of the photo-sensitive transponder programming cells114, preventing the information on the transponder102from being read.

In an embodiment, the transponder programming cells114are electromagnetic-sensitive cells, and the printing material provided in the printing member206abis a conventional magnetic ink, a conventional magnetic toner, or a variety of other conventional magnetic printing materials known in the art. The transponder programming section206bwill be detected by the electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells114while the portions206baof the transponder programming section206bin which there is no printing material will not be detected by the electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells114, as illustrated inFIG. 2f,such that the electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells114contain the identifying information for the object208abased on which electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells114can detect the printing material. The human-readable section206cprovided on the transponder label204cin step206of the method200also includes identifying information corresponding to the object208a.Thus, a method and apparatus are provided which allow a transponder to be labeled and programmed using a conventional printing device using a magnetic printing material. In an embodiment, the use of electromagnetic-sensitive transponder programming cells114allows the transponder102to be read in a situation where there is no light on the transponder programming device112.

In an embodiment, the transponder programming cells114are chemical-sensitive cells, and the printing material provided in the printing member206abis a printing material which may be detected by the chemical-sensitive cells. The transponder programming section206bwill be detected by the chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells114while the portions206baof the transponder programming section206bin which there is no printing material will not be detected by the chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells114, as illustrated inFIG. 2f,such that the chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells114contain the identifying information for the object208abased on which chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells114can detect the printing material. The human-readable section206cprovided on the transponder label204cin step206of the method200also includes identifying information corresponding to the object208a.Thus, a method and apparatus are provided which allow a transponder to be labeled and programmed using a conventional printing device using a printing material which may be detected by the chemical-sensitive cells. In an embodiment, the use of chemical-sensitive transponder programming cells114allows the transponder102to be read in a situation where there is no light on the transponder programming device112.

In an embodiment, the transponder programming cells114are conductive cells, and the printing material provided in the printing member206abis a conventional conductive ink, a conventional conductive toner, and/or a variety of other conductive printing materials known in the art. The transponder programming section206bwill provide a connection between different conductive transponder programming cells114, as illustrated inFIG. 2h,such that the conductive transponder programming cells114contain the identifying information for the object208abased on which conductive transponder programming cells114are connected together by the printing material. The human-readable section206cprovided on the transponder label204cin step206of the method200also includes identifying information corresponding to the object208a.Thus, a method and apparatus are provided which allow a transponder to be labeled and programmed using a conventional printing device using a conductive printing material. In an embodiment, the use of conductive transponder programming cells114allows the transponder102to be read in a situation where there is no light on the transponder programming device112.

Referring now toFIG. 3, in an embodiment, a transponder apparatus300is illustrated which is substantially similar in design and operation to the transponder apparatus100, described above with reference toFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f,2g, and2h, with the provision of a conventional power supply302in place of the power rectifier108. The conventional power supply302may be, for example, a battery, a solar cell operable to convert solar energy to electrical energy, and/or a variety of other power supplies known in the art. The power supply302is operably coupled to the transceiver104such that the power supply302may send power to the transceiver104. The power supply302is operably coupled to the control logic device110such that the power supply302may send power to the control logic device110. The power supply302is operably coupled to the transponder programming device112such that the power supply302may send power to the transponder programming device112. In an embodiment, the power supply302allows the transponder102to be read by a reader transceiver from a greater distance than the transponder programming device100.

Referring now toFIGS. 2b,2c, and4, in an embodiment, a sheet of transponder apparatus400is substantially similar in design and operation to the transponder apparatus100described above with reference toFIGS. 1,2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f,2g, and2h, with the provision of a plurality of transponder programming labels204cincluded in a sheet. In an embodiment, the sheet of transponder apparatus400includes perforations402separating adjacent transponder programming labels204c.The sheet of transponder apparatus400allows a conventional printing device to print and program a plurality of transponders for a plurality of different objects on a single sheet using the method200described above.