Abstract:
A sheet media system comprising an apparatus for utilizing sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transceiver associated with said apparatus for communicating with a transponder associated with sheet media utilized by said apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     “This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119 of the earlier filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/372,628, filed Aug. 11, 1999, entitled Camera Having Radio-Frequency Identification Transponder, by Manico et al. and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/372,287, filed Aug. 11, 1999, entitled Film Unit Having Radio-Frequency Identification Transponder, by Manico et al., also U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/218,595, filed on Dec. 22, 1998, entitled A Printer with Donor and Receiver Media Supply Trays Each Adapted to Allow a Printer to Sense Type of Media Therein, and Method of Assembling the Printer and Trays, by Spurr et al. disclosure(s) of which are incorporated herein”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to sheet media systems and more particularly to a cartridge or other packaging containing sheet media for use in such sheet media imaging systems, the cartridge or other packaging having a radio-frequency identification transponder associated with it. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sheet media imaging systems include laser imaging systems which produce medical images on photosensitive sheet film from digital medical images generated by diagnostic imaging systems (MRI, CT, US, PET), computed radiography systems, medical image digitizers, digital or analog medical image archives, direct digital radiography or the like. The sheet film can be packaged in optically opaque packaging which is removed under dark room conditions and loaded into a film supply of a laser imager. Dark room film loading is eliminated by the resealable film cartridge disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,400, issued Dec. 5, 1995, inventors Lemberger et al. The disclosed cartridge allows for daylight loading and can be reused and removed from the laser imager. U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,585, issued Jul. 20, 1993, inventors Lemberger et al., discloses a bar code system which uses this resealable cartridge to control a laser imaging system. The cartridge has attached to it an optical bar code with a unique cartridge ID, film size, film type information and film sensitometric information. The laser imager has a bar code scanner which reads information from the bar code as the cartridge is opened. An imager management system controls the laser imager as a function of the input data and the information read from the bar code. A film processor develops the film as a function of film type information read from the bar code. The laser imager stores information relating to film usage of the cartridge. 
     Although the optical bar code system disclosed in the latter two patents is useful for the purposes for which they were intended, certain limitations are inherent in this technology as follows. 
     1. The optical bar code has a limited data storage capability. 
     2. There are a limited number of unique bar codes. 
     3. The data is fixed and cannot be changed. 
     4. The bar code must be located on the outside of the cartridge to allow scanning, exposing the bar code to wear and dirt which result in bar code read failures. 
     5. Film usage information is stored in the image management system of the laser imaging system. 
     Other technologies for encoding data on a cartridge are also limited. Thus, magnetic encodement allows data to be changed but requires precise contact between a magnetic layer on the cartridge and a magnetic head. Electrical contact with a memory chip mounted on a cartridge also requires precise positioning of the cartridge relative to the read/write device. Both technologies are complex and expensive and are susceptible to wear and degradation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,659, issued Jun. 27, 1995, inventors Renner et al. discloses a device for transferring electrical signals and electric energy to the memory device of a cassette by radio frequency signals by means of a capacitive coupling device. Although the disclosed device is useful for the purpose for which it was intended, it requires precise positioning of the cassette for transfer of data and direct contact between the cartridge and the cartridge receiver. 
     There is thus a need for a sheet media system which uses sheet media packaging having encoded data which has a large data storage, which allows reading of and writing to the data storage, which is resistant to degradation due to dirt, wear and tear, and which is simple and economical to implement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the needs discussed above. 
     A sheet media system comprising an apparatus for utilizing sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transceiver associated with said apparatus for communicating with a transponder associated with sheet media utilized by said apparatus. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has the following advantages. 
     1. Sheet media packaging is provided having large encoded data storage. 
     2. The encoded data storage can be read and written to. 
     3. Encoded data can be read or written too quickly. 
     4. The RFID system is resistant to degradation due to dirt, wear and tear. 
     5. The RFID system is simple and economical to implement. 
     6. The RFID system encodes film usage as well as initial film count. 
     7. The RFID system can encode information on recycling of the cartridge such as number of times cartridge is recycled, time from last recycling, quality of cartridge to prevent bad cartridge from being reused. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser imager which uses the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively plan and side elevational views of a resealable cartridge incorporating the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a transponder, which can be used in the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6-8 are diagrammatic views of other embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 9-11 are perspective views of a cartridge receiving base with transceiver according to an aspect of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a cartridge/film manufacturing process. 
     FIG. 13 is a general block diagram of a radiographic laser imager. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views of other embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a sheet media imaging system such as digital imager  10  which is configured to operate with a resealable photographic film cartridge  12 . In the embodiment shown, laser imager  10  includes a cartridge-receiving base  16  into which film cartridge  12  with film sheets  14  is loaded. A cartridge opening/closing mechanism  18  is mounted to base  16 . Film cartridge  12  is loaded into base  16 , and sealed within a light-tight compartment. Opening/closing mechanism  18  then opens cartridge  12  to permit access to film sheets  14  in cartridge  12 . Sheets  14  are removed from the opened cartridge  12  and transported to other subsystems of imager  10  (as described below). 
     Opening/closing mechanism  18  is also actuated to close cartridge  12  before the cartridge is removed from imager  10 . Since cartridge  12  is resealable, it can be removed from imager  10  before all the film within the cartridge has been exposed. Cartridges  12  with different sizes or types of film media can therefore be conveniently loaded into and removed from laser imager  10  as needed, without wasting and unused film remaining within the cartridge. 
     As shown, imager  10  includes an optical scanning module  208 , electronics module  210 , and integrated thermal processor  310  enclosed in enclosure  201 . 
     Film sheet  14  is transported out of cartridge by suction feed mechanism  228 , fed into staging area  230  where sheet  14  is transported by bidirectional film staging mechanism  232  into optical scanning module  208 . 
     Module  208  is mounted onto optical frame  240 , for aligning and holding film sheet  14  during the image scanning process. Optical frame  240  is constructed from a rolled sheet metal which is welded to a box-shaped housing. Film sheet  14  transported onto cylindrical film platen  244  where it is scanned. 
     Film alignment devices  248 , align film sheet  14  on platen  244 . Once the scanning of the image is complete then exposed film sheet  14  is transported out of film platen  244  toward bidirectional film staging mechanism  232  for transportation of exposed film sheet  14  to thermal processor  310 . Bidirectional film staging mechanism  232  includes a set of three rollers  238 ,  234 , and  236  where center roller  234  is driven and rollers  238 ,  236  are idlers. Film staging mechanism  232  is designed such that exposed film sheet  14  can be transported out of film platen  244  between rollers  234  and  236  while simultaneously transporting unexposed film sheet  14  onto film platen  244  between rollers  234  and  238 , if desired. 
     Electronics module  210  includes imager control systems. The operator can interface with the electronics through either a keypad mounted on a console, a portable keypad or a modem. 
     The imager control system receives information from densitometer  264  reads and compares optical density information from an optical density patch generated during the scanning process having a predetermined target optical density on the trailing edge of developed film sheet  14 . If necessary, the exposure is adjusted to compensate for any minor differences in optical density. 
     Enclosure  201  is divided into two primary chambers, upper chamber  202  and lower chamber  204 , with a passage for transporting film sheet  14  between the two chambers. Thermal processor  310  is preferably located in upper chamber  202 . Lower chamber  204  containing optical scanning module  208 , electronics module  210 , and power supply  211  and is kept at a positive pressure with respect to upper chamber  202  to prevent damage of the optics due to volatile materials outgassed from film sheet  14  during thermal processing and to protect optical scanning module  208  from detrimental temperature increases. Thermal processor  310  includes rotatable heated member  314  and guiding members  316  for heat development of exposed film sheet  14 . 
     Enclosure  201  can include an openable cover  266 . For example, openable cover  266  can be pivotally connected to the remainder of enclosure  201 . Guiding members  316  can be attached to cover  266  so that when cover  266  is opened, guiding members  316  are lifted away from heated member  314  providing easier access to heated member  314 . After processing, developed film sheet  14  is cooled and deposited in output tray  280 . 
     Resealable cartridge  12  can be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown, cartridge  12  includes a optically opaque polymer film-receiving tray  20  and flexible, optically opaque polymer cover  22 . Cover  22  is resealably mounted to tray  20  by adhesive coating  24 A- 24 D. Other resealing techniques can be used such as magnetic strips. Tray  20  is preferably molded in one piece from a polymeric material. 
     Tray  20  is a relatively shallow member and includes a generally planar bottom wall  26 , front wall  28 A, rear wall  28 B and side walls  28 C and  28 D. Lips  30 A- 30 D extend outwardly from the upper edges of respective walls  28 A- 28 D, and circumscribe a film access opening of tray  20 . Inwardly projecting guides  32  are formed on walls  28 A- 28 D to properly position sheets of film (not shown) within tray  20 . Feet  34 A- 34 D are formed into and extend downwardly from bottom wall  26  to support cartridge  12  within base  16  of laser imager  10 . Bottom wall  26  also includes positioning recesses  36  which are tapered and extend into tray  20  from the bottom wall. Positioning recesses  36  are configured to receive positioning lugs extending from base  16 . The positioning lugs secure and properly orient cartridge  12  within laser imager  10 . In the embodiment shown, positioning recesses  36  are molded into feet  34 A and  34 B adjacent to front wall  28 A. A media presence monitoring well  35  is also formed in bottom wall  26 . Media presence monitoring sensors of imager  10  (not shown) extend into well  35  below the surface of bottom wall  26  when all film has been removed from tray  20 . 
     Feet  34 A and  34 B (i.e., those adjacent to front wall  28 A) also include ramp surfaces  38  which slope downwardly from the lower edge of the front wall to the bottom of the feet. 
     Ramp surfaces  38  guide feet  34 A and  34 B over the positioning lugs in imager base  16  as cartridge  12  is being loaded into the base. The embodiment of tray  20  illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 also includes a recess  40  in bottom wall  26  which forms a platform on the bottom exterior of tray  20 . A pair of feet  41  are formed as releases in bottom wall  26  adjacent recess  40 . Reinforcing ribs (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) can also be molded into bottom wall  26  and/or side walls  28 A- 28 D to increase the rigidity of tray  20 . 
     The forward most or leading edge of front lip  30 A also includes a series of spaced cut-out sections  42 . Cut-out sections  42  form a series of spaced projections  44  on the leading edge of lip  30 A. Cut-out sections  42  and projections  44  cooperate with yet to be described aspects of cover  22  and opening/closing mechanism  18  to facilitate the opening and subsequent closing of cartridge  12 . 
     Cover  22  is a flexible, photo-inert and optically opaque sheet of material sized to extend over the access opening of tray  20 . Cover  22  has edges  23 A- 23 D (only edges  23 A and  23 D are shown in FIG. 2) which extend between and mate with tray lips  30 A- 30 D, respectively. 
     The front edge  23 A of cover  22  extends over the tray cut-out sections  42 , and includes elongated apertures  46  which are positioned over the cut-out sections when the cover is sealed onto tray  20 . Apertures  46  facilitate the engagement of opening/closing mechanism  18  with cover  22  in a manner described below. 
     Cartridge  12  is provided with a stack of photosensitive sheet media, such as unexposed radiographic film used in laser imagers. The film may be processable by conventional wet processing techniques or by thermographic dry processing techniques. According to the present invention cartridge  12  has a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder associated with it. As shown in FIG. 4, an inlay transponder  50  is mounted on the bottom of liner  52  facing the bottom wall of cartridge  12 . 
     Radio-frequency identification transponders are widely available in a variety of forms. Inlay transponders have a substantially flat shape. FIG. 5 shows an inlay transponder  50  having a flexible support sheet  54  carrying a planar flat coil antenna  56  and integrated circuit chip  58  having a non-volatile digital memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Stored in non-volatile memory are relevant encoded digital data. Sheet  54  is electrically insulating plastic and antenna  56  is a layer of conductive material deposited on sheet  54 . Connectors  59  and necessary insulation are provided as deposited layers. Inlay transponders of this type are marketed by Texas Instrument Inc., Dallas, Tex. as Tag-it™ inlays. Transponders supplied from other sources may also be used. The transponder is interrogated by an RF signal from an external transceiver which is not in contact with the transponder and may be some distance from it. The transponder has a unique ID code which is transmitted to the transceiver upon interrogation. Data can be both written to and read from the non-volatile memory. In this embodiment other transponder configurations can be used in place thereof. For example, the transponder can be cylindrical. 
     The transponder associated with cartridge  12  can be mounted in other areas thereof. FIG. 6 shows transponder  50  mounted on upper sheet  22 . FIG. 7 shows transponder  50  mounted on the side of cartridge  12 . FIG. 8 shows transponder  50  mounted on the outside surface of cartridge  12  can also be mounted on the inside surface of the bottom of the cartridge  12 . It will be understood that transponder  50  can be mounted on cartridge  12  in any convenient area on the inside or outside thereof. Alternatively, the transponder can be molded as part of the cartridge. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, there is shown cartridge receiving base  16  and opening and closing mechanism  18 . Base  16  is mounted in imager  10  (FIG.  1 ). Base  16  has a bottom member  70  side members  72 ,  74 , rear member  76 , and front member  78 . Lugs  80 ,  82  engage recess  36  of cartridge  12  to position cartridge  12  in base  16 . Opening/closing mechanism  18  has a unit  84  which engages the apertures  46  of cover  22  to roll it back for removal of film sheets from cartridge  12 . Mechanism  18  rides in tracks  86 ,  88 . The operation of mechanism  18  is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,724, issued Jul. 21, 1992, inventors Lemberger et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and will not be repeated here. 
     The transceiver for communicating with transponder  50  includes an antenna  90  and read/write electronics  92  electrically connected to antenna  90 . Antenna  90  is located in proximity to transponder  50  when cartridge  12  is positioned in base. 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary manufacturing process for making film cartridge  12 . As shown, process A produces a wide web film base which is coated in process B to produce unexposed film. A large roll of wide film is then slit into narrower strips which are cut into sheets (process C). A five sided cartridge with an open top is molded in process D and adhesive added to the upper edges of the cartridge. A liner with transponder is inserted into the bottom of the cartridge and a resealable cover is applied in process E. In process F, the cartridge is opened and a stack of film sheets is inserted into the cartridge on top of the insert. In process G, the resealable cover is closed. In process H, one or more film or cartridge processes or other relevant digital data are stored in the transponder. 
     Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a block diagram of imager  10 . A film cartridge  400  containing unexposed radiographic film and having a transponder  402  is loaded into a cartridge receiver station  100 . RFID transponder  402  is interrogated by RFID transceiver  404  under the control of control system  406 . Cartridge/Film Handling system  408 , opens the film cartridge, removes a sheet of film, and transports it to Film Exposure Station  410 . Image Source  412 , such as a digital radiographic image storage, transmits an image to be reproduced to Image Processor  414 , where the image can be processed for various parameters including ones which have been derived from data supplied by RFID transponder  402 . Such data can include film size, film sensitometry, film age, etc. The processed image is reproduced by Laser Scanner  416  on a film sheet located at Film Exposure Station  410 . The exposed film is then processed by Film Processor  418  which can be a wet process film processor or a dry film processor. An exemplary laser imager for use with heat processable dry film is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,971, issued Dec. 28, 1999, inventors Star et al. 
     According to the invention the cartridge transponder can store one or more of the following types of relevant digital data, among others. 
     1. Unique transponder ID number 
     2. Cartridge ID number 
     3. Film type, lot number, all manufacturing machines or processes that film saw (e.g., those associated with processes A, B, and C of FIG.  12 ). 
     4. Film expiration date 
     5. Film size and initial number of film sheets in cartridge 
     6. All manufacturing machines or processes that cartridge saw (e.g., those associated with processes D, E, F, G of FIG. 12) 
     7. Messages for customers, sales or service 
     8. Upgrade software for the laser imager 
     According to a further feature of the invention, the laser imager transceiver can transmit one or more of the following types of data to the film cartridge transponder after installation in the laser imager. 
     1. Number of film sheets remaining in the cartridge. 
     2. Any measured laser imager parameter such as film calibration, image processing look up tables, motor speeds, temperature, errors, transfer functions, laser imager ID number, imager film usage, density patch tracking for Automatic Image Quality Control. 
     3. Any information relating to recycling of the cartridge such as: number of times recycled, date of recycling, time from last recycle, error codes that can prevent cartridge from being reused. 
     4. Laser imager failures, such as: sheet film jams, optic failure, communication problems, recalibration. 
     5. Times to scheduled service, preventive maintenance, error fix, film supply. 
     6. Codes to facilitate auditing of film, cartridge, customer, imager. 
     Although the present invention is described as associated with a cartridge containing sheet media, it will be understood that the RFID transponder can be used with other types of sheet media packaging, such as the flexible packaging disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,768, issued Oct. 26, 1999, inventors Mazion et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, flexible packaging  4000  includes a light tight enclosure for a stack of light sensitive media sheets  4020 . Packaging  4000  is made of a bag having sides  4040 ,  4060 , rolled up end  4080  secured by tape  4100  and tapered end  4120 . Packaging  4000  can be inserted in a light tight sheet media supply in a laser printer and removed in the printer by mechanical means to leave the stack of media sheets  4020  in the printer supply. (Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,091, issued Jun. 9, 1998, inventors Kovach et al., for an exemplary apparatus in which the packaging  4000  may be used). 
     According to a feature of the present invention, RFID transponder  4140  is associated with packaging  4000 . Transponder  4140  stores relevant digital data as further explained above. The apparatus utilizing packaging  4000  includes a transceiver for communicating with the transponder associated with the packaging as further explained above. 
     Instead of associating the RFID transponder with a sheet media cartridge of other packaging containing the sheet media, another feature of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 15, involves placing a removable transponder in apparatus utilizing sheet media, in proximity to a transceiver located in the apparatus. For example, as shown, a removable insert  500  having transponder  502  associated therewith, is inserted in sheet media supply drawer  504 . Sheet media are stacked on insert  500  in drawer  504 . Drawer  504  is inserted into sheet media utilization apparatus  506  through slot  508 . Apparatus  506  includes transceiver  510  which communicates with transponder  502 . Other techniques for providing transponder  502  will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     It will also be understood that other types of sheet media can be used in association with the transponder of the present invention. Thus, sheet media used in other printing systems such as ink jet, thermal, dye transfer, electrographic, lithographic, ink contact, or the like are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  digital imager 
       12  film cartridge 
       14  sheet film 
       16  cartridge-receiving base 
       18  opening/closing mechanism 
       20  tray 
       22  polymer cover 
       23 A- 23 D edges 
       24 A- 24 D adhesive coating 
       26  planar bottom walls 
       28 A- 28 D walls 
       30 A- 30 D lips 
       32  guides 
       34 A- 34 D feet 
       35  well 
       36  recess 
       38  ramp surface 
       40  recess 
       41  feet 
       42  cut-out sections 
       44  projections 
       46  apertures 
       50  transponder 
       52  liner 
       54  support sheet 
       56  coil antenna 
       58  circuit chip 
       59  connectors 
       70  bottom number 
       72 - 74  side members 
       76  rear member 
       78  front member 
       80 - 82  lugs 
       84  unit 
       86 - 88  tracks 
       90  antenna 
       92  electronics 
       100  receiver station 
       110  exposure station 
       118  film processor 
       201  enclosure 
       202  upper chamber 
       204  lower chamber 
       208  scanning module 
       210  electronic module 
       211  power supply 
       228  suction fed mechanism 
       230  staging area 
       232  film staging mechanism 
       234  center roller 
       236 - 238  idler rollers 
       244  film platen 
       244  film feed slot 
       248  film alignment device 
       264  densitometer 
       266  openable cover 
       280  output tray 
       310  thermal processor 
       314  heated member 
       316  guide member 
       402  transponder 
       404  transceiver 
       406  control system 
       408  cartridge/film handling system 
       410  film exposure station 
       412  image source 
       414  image processor 
       416  laser scanner 
       500  insert 
       502  transponder 
       504  drawer 
       506  apparatus 
       508  slot 
       510  transceiver 
       4000  flexible packaging 
       4020  media sheets 
       4040 - 4060  sides 
       4080  end 
       4100  tape 
       4120  end 
       4140  transponder