Patent Publication Number: US-2022223997-A1

Title: User-Installable Wireless Communications Module

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Media processing devices such as printers may communicate with other computing devices using various distinct communications technologies. However, each user of such devices may only employ a subset of those technologies, e.g. a single one. Equipping such devices with the necessary components for each of a variety of communications technologies may therefore increase the cost of the devices with little or no benefit to each individual user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a printer viewed from above. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the printer of  FIG. 1 , viewed from the underside thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the printer of  FIG. 2 , with a communications module door opened. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the printer of  FIG. 3 , with the door removed. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section of the printer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of a wireless communications module, viewed from below. 
         FIG. 6B  is an isometric view of the wireless communications module, viewed from above. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the wireless communications module of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of certain internal components of the printer of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are isometric views of the printer components of  FIG. 8  during installation of the wireless communications module of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the printer of  FIG. 4 , following insertion of the wireless communications module of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples disclosed herein are directed to an installable wireless communications module for a media processing device, the module comprising: a body configured for placement into a chamber of the media processing device, the body including an alignment feature configured to engage with a mating feature within the chamber; an electrical interface supported on the body and configured to engage with a connector of the media processing device disposed within the chamber; a communications controller supported on the body and connected with the electrical interface; an antenna support extending from the body and configured for receipt in a channel extending from the chamber of the media processing device; and an antenna affixed to the antenna support and electrically connected to the controller. 
     Additional examples disclosed herein are directed to a media processing device, comprising: a housing including a set of exterior walls; a door removable to expose an opening in a first one of the walls; a chamber defined within the housing and accessible via the opening, the chamber configured to receive a wireless communications module; a connector disposed within the chamber, configured to engage with an electrical interface of the module; and a channel defined within the housing and extending from the chamber, to receive an antenna support of the module. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a media processing device  100 , also referred to herein as a printer  100 . The printer  100  can be, for example, a desktop label printer configured to accept media such as a roll of labels, and to apply indicia to the labels, which may then exit the printer  100  via an outlet  104 . The outlet  104  is defined at least in part by a housing  108  of the printer  100 . The housing  108  includes a set of walls that defining an enclosure containing various components of the printer  100 , and defining an interior region for storing the above-mentioned media. The media may be received within the interior of the housing  108  in the form of a cartridge containing a roll of labels, for example. 
     The printer  100  also includes a lid  112  movably coupled to the housing  108 . The lid  112  is movable between the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , and an open position (not shown) permitting access to the interior of the housing  108 , e.g. to install or replace the media supply. 
     The printer  100  further includes a control panel  116 , e.g. including a power button and other control elements. The printer  100  may receive data from another computing device (not shown) defining a printing task. Such data may be received using a variety of communications technologies. For example, the printer  100  may include one or more of a network port (e.g. an Ethernet port), a local connection port such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, or the like. The printer  100  may also include one or more wireless communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth™ transceiver or the like. In this example, the printer  100  is equipped for the installation of a wireless communications interface, such as a WiFi module. That is, the printer  100  is manufactured without WiFi connectivity (e.g. according to the 802.11 family of communication standards), but can receive a user-installable module to provide WiFi connectivity to the printer  100 . Manufacturing cost and complexity of the printer  100  may therefore be reduced, with the additional cost of WiFi connectivity borne only by those users who require such connectivity. 
     As discussed herein, the module mentioned above and the printer  100  include various structural features to enable simple (and, if necessary, removal) of the wireless communication module. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the module discussed herein may implement wireless communication standards other than those related to WiFi, or may include transceivers for more than one type of wireless communications. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a bottom of the printer  100  is shown, including a bottom wall  200  and a side wall  204  of the housing  108 . The bottom wall  200  includes an opening, which in  FIG. 2  is covered by a door  208 . The opening, when the door  208  is removed, enables access to a chamber defined within the housing  108  into which a communications module can be installed. The door  208 , in the illustrated example, includes rigid latching elements at a first end  212 , and flexible latching elements at a second end  216  thereof. Therefore, a user may deform the latching elements at the second end  216 , e.g. by inserting a finger into a recess  220  defined in the bottom wall  200 . Having deformed the latching elements to unlatch the second end  216  from the bottom wall  200 , the user can rotate the door  208  about the first end  212  and then remove the door  208 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the printer  100  with the door  208  opened following disengagement of the latching elements at the second end  216  from the bottom wall  200 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the printer  100  following removal of the door  208 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the door  208  may be implemented in various other ways. For example, the door  208  may be fastened to the bottom wall  200  with screws or other fasteners. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , removal of the door  208  reveals an opening in the bottom wall  200  that enables access from the exterior of the printer  100  to a chamber  400  defined within the housing  108 . The chamber  400  is configured to receive the wireless communications module. The chamber  400  includes, in particular, a lower surface  404  carrying a connector  408 . When the module is installed in the chamber  400 , the connector  408  engages with an electrical interface of the module, in order to electrically connect the components of the module (e.g. a wireless communications controller) with a controller of the printer  100 . The lower surface  404  can, as in the illustrated example, be defined by a circuit board supported within the housing  108  adjacent to the bottom wall  200 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a cross-section of the printer  100  is shown, taken at the plane F 5  illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  reveals that the printer  100  also includes a channel  500  extending away from the chamber  400  substantially at a right angle. The channel  500  accommodates an antenna support of the module, as will be discussed below in greater detail. The interior portion of the printer  100  defining the chamber  400  and the channel  500 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , are not cross-sectioned. 
     Before further discussion of the chamber  400  and the channel  500 , the module itself will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a wireless communications module  600  configured to insertion into the chamber  400  and channel  500  mentioned above. The module  600  includes a body  604  configured for placement into the chamber  400 , and an antenna support  608  extending from the body  604 . The body  604  supports a wireless communications controller  612 , e.g. on an upper surface of the body  604 . The body  604  further supports an electrical interface  616  on a lower surface of the body  604 . The electrical interface  616  is connected with the controller  612  (e.g. via conductive elements of a circuit board  620  (e.g. a printed circuit board (PCB)) on which the controller  612  and the interface  616  are mounted), and is configured to engage with the connector  408  within the chamber  400  when the module  600  is installed within the printer  100 . In other examples, the controller  612  itself may also be mounted on the lower surface of the body  604 . 
     The body  604  also includes at least one alignment feature configured to engage with a mating feature within the chamber  400 . In particular, the alignment feature in the illustrated example includes an alignment post  624  extending from a lower surface of the body  604  adjacent to the interface  616 . The post  624  engages with a corresponding hole in the chamber  400 , as will be discussed below. 
     The body  604  can include additional alignment features. For example, as illustrated, the body  604  includes a second alignment post  628  extending from the lower surface of the body  604  and configured to engage with a second hole in the chamber  400 . 
     Either or both of the posts  624  and  628  can, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , include chamfered distal ends to ease fitting of the posts  624  and  628  into the corresponding holes of the chamber  400 . In other examples, the alignment features of the body  604  can include holes rather than posts (with the chamber  400  including posts rather than holes), or a combination thereof. 
     The antenna support  608  supports an antenna  630 , which can include a conductive strip of material, a printed circuit, or the like. The antenna  630  can be affixed to a surface of the antenna support  608  by a suitable adhesive, for example. As seen in  FIG. 6B , the antenna  630  is connected to the controller  612  via a wire  632 , circuit trace, or the like travelling between the antenna  630  and the body  604 . The module  600  may also, in some examples, include a ferrite bead between the wire  632  and the board  620 . 
     In the present example, the antenna support  608  includes a proximal portion  636  extending from the body  604  at an angle  640  of more than 90 degrees relative to the lower surface of the body  604 . For example, the angle  640  can be about 135 degrees, although various other angles between 90 and 135 degrees, or between 135 and 180 degrees, may also be employed. The antenna support  608  further includes a distal portion  644  extending from the proximal portion  636 , at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the lower surface of the body  604 . The proximal portion  636  is therefore at an incline between the body  604  and the distal portion  644 , to mitigate against severe bends (e.g. bends of 90 degrees or greater) in the wire  632 , which may result in damage to the wire  632 . 
     The antenna support  608 , as will be apparent, slides into the channel  500  of the printer  100  when the module  600  is installed. The antenna support  608  can include one or more ridges, such as a ridge  648  illustrated in  FIG. 6A  extending from the distal portion  644 , to engage with corresponding grooves in the channel  500  to guide installation of the module  600  and to provide structural rigidity to the antenna support  608 . 
     As will also be apparent, when the module  600  is installed in the printer  100 , the antenna  630  is placed inside the housing  108  and adjacent to the wall  204 . That is, the distance between the antenna  630  and the exterior of the printer  100  is minimized, and thus interference between the antenna  630  and other components of the printer  100  may be reduced. 
     In other examples, the structure of the antenna support  608  and the angle of the antenna support  608  relative to the body  604  may vary depending on the shape of the printer  100  (e.g. to place the antenna  630  adjacent to an outer wall of the printer  100 , such as the wall  204 ), and the shape of the antenna  630  itself. The module  600  can, in some examples, include a cover extending over the body  604  to enclose the controller  612  and other components on the board  620 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , an exploded view of the module  600  is shown illustrating an example construction of the module  600 . In particular, in the illustrated example the module  600  includes a frame  700 , e.g. a single piece of plastic or other suitable material. The frame  700  defines the antenna support  608  and a portion of the body  604 . In particular, the frame  700  defines a perimeter of the body  604 , including the alignment posts  624  and  628 . The perimeter includes support pads  704  for the circuit board  620  carrying the controller  612  and the interface  616  (not visible in  FIG. 7 ). As will therefore be apparent, the circuit board  620  forms the remainder of the body  604 . 
     The circuit board  620  can be affixed to the frame  700  by, for example, placing an edge of the circuit board  620  underneath a ledge  708  to align a hole  712  in the board  620  with a post  716  on the frame  700  and place the underside of the board  620  on the support pads  704 . The board  620  may then be fastened to the frame  700  via a fastener such as a screw  720  that engages the frame  700  at an aperture opposite the post  628 . The antenna  630  may then be affixed to the antenna support  608 , and the wire  632  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) may then be coupled to the board  620  and the antenna  630 , e.g. by soldering. 
     The module  600  may include additional structural features to facilitate installation or removal into or from the printer  100 . For example, the module  600  as illustrated includes a lip  724  at the perimeter thereof, enabling insertion of a fingertip thereunder to facilitate removal of the module  600  from the printer  100 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , certain internal components of the printer  100  are shown in isolation. In particular, a PCB  800  carrying the connector  408  (and various other components, omitted here for simplicity), and a chamber frame  804  that defines the channel  500  and a portion of the lower surface of the chamber  400 . As will be apparent, the PCB  800  defines the remainder of the lower surface of the chamber  400 . The PCB includes a first alignment hole  808  adjacent to the connector  408 , for receiving the post  624 , and a second alignment hole  812  for receiving the post  628 . In this example, the hole  812  is defined by the frame  804 , but in other examples the hole  812  may also be defined by the PCB  800 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate the installation of the module  600  relative to the PCB  800  and the frame  804 . In particular, following removal of the door  208 , the module  600  is positioned above the chamber  400  with the antenna support  608  aligned with the channel  500 . The module  600  is then inserted downwardly into the chamber  400  and channel  500 , such that the antenna support  608  occupies the channel  500 , as shown in  FIG. 9B . As will be apparent, upon insertion the posts  624  and  628  engage with the holes  808  and  812 , respectively, and the interface  616  engages with the connector  408 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 10 , the printer  100  is shown with the module  600  installed, prior to replacement of the door  208 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the body  604  of the module  600  occupies the chamber  400 , and the antenna support  608  (illustrated in dashed lines) lies behind the wall  204  of the housing  108 . 
     Following insertion of the module  600  as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 10 , the door  208  is replaced to cover the opening in the wall  200 . The door  208  can also, when installed, exert downward pressure on the module  600  (e.g. by pressing on the ledge  708 ) to drive the interface  616  into consistent engagement with the connector  408 . The door  208  can thus provide such consistent engagement without the need for additional fasteners to be applied to the module  600 , allowing installation and removal of the module  600  to be toolless. 
     As will be apparent, the module  600  can also be removed from the printer  100  by reversing the above process. That is, the door  208  is removed, the module  600  is withdrawn from the chamber  400  and channel  500 , and the door  208  is replaced to cover the opening in the wall  200 . 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising.” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”. “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. 
     Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.