Patent Description:
Consumables such as rolls or cassettes may be used with printers. For example, a roll may include a supply of tape, and such a roll may be received within a label printer for sequentially printing and dispensing printed labels. For example, the tape may include an image-receiving layer and a backing layer, which are secured to one another via an adhesive layer. Such label printers may include a cutting mechanism for cutting off a portion of the tape after an image has been printed onto the image-receiving layer so that the portion of tape having the image can be used as a label. After the tape has been cut, the cut portion of the tape is pulled from the printer through a slit in the printer housing. The backing layer can then be removed allowing the image-receiving layer to be secured to an object using the adhesive layer.

The tape may be of a direct thermal type on which printing is achieved by direct application of heat from printing elements on the print head. Alternatively, an ink ribbon may be provided, whereby ink is transferred from the ribbon to an image receiving tape by application of heat to the ink ribbon via printing elements on the print head. The cassette may include a roll of die cut labels rather than a continuous tape.

Conventional print systems may use mechanical features to secure consumables, and to only allow authentic consumables to be received, such as holes, tabs, or the like, on interfacing parts of consumables. However, such features may be replicable by unauthorized parties. Electronic features, such as detection of a completed circuit when conducting pins or regions are mated, may also be used for authentication. However, such systems only provide a limited amount of information, and may not provide an accurate label count.

A need also remains to deter counterfeiters from introducing counterfeit rolls, to authenticate the source of a consumable placed in a printer, and provide an indication of authenticity of the consumable to the user. It is also desirable to detect the type of consumable and use appropriate print settings. Further, a need remains to provide an indication to a user of the remaining capacity of a consumable.

<CIT> discloses a consumable for use in a printer that has a consumable section (for example, paper or ink ribbon) which is consumed during printing operation of the printer, and an RFID tag that stores the specification data of the consumable section. The printer has a printing section and a wireless receiver for data communication with the RFID tag. The printing section is controlled according to data obtained from the RFID tag through data communication.

<CIT> provides a method and apparatus for reprogramming a programmable product, such as, a printer, a wireless communication device, or a portable computer. An arrangement for reading a code to initiate the automatic setting of printers and other electronic products is provided. The code to be read may be an RFID affixed directly onto material to be used in the printer or other electronic products, or onto separate sheets, labels or purchasing materials.

The printers and consumables described herein are directed at addressing one or more of the above-described difficulties.

The present disclosure describes RFID-detectable print consumables, and systems and methods for print consumable detection.

In one aspect, there is provided a print consumable according to claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect, there is provided a print system according to claim <NUM>.

In further aspects, there are provided methods according to claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

Some optional features are defined according to the dependent claims.

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar to identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The present disclosure includes non-limiting embodiments of RFID-detectable print consumables, and systems and methods for print consumable detection. The embodiments are described in detail herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice printing using the print consumable and associated systems and methods of authenticating the print consumable, detecting the consumable type and setting print settings, and counting the residual life of the print consumable, although it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably. The invention is defined in the claims.

Providing an RFID tag that rotates with a core of a roll of a print consumable provides multiple features such as counting the residual life of the consumable in course of printing, detecting the consumable type and setting appropriate print settings, and authenticating the source of the print consumable.

For example, in embodiments, a print consumable includes a rotatable core, a roll of dispensable print substrate, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The core extends along a core axis. The roll of dispensable print substrate is dispensably secured to the core about the core axis. The RFID tag is secured to the core and configured to rotate about the core axis. The RFID tag includes an RFID antenna coupled to an RFID chip. The RFID chip includes a print counter, a stock-keeping unit (SKU) code, and a consumable authentication code.

Print systems may include a trace antenna for reading or writing information from the RFID tag, by receiving and sending signals from the RFID antenna of the RFID tag. Providing a transverse orientation between the trace antenna and the RFID tag may provide improved readability and reduction or prevention of RFID dead zones. For example, in embodiments, a print system includes a housing, a holder to hold a print consumable, a print head, a transceiver, a trace antenna, and a controller. The housing defines a bay dimensioned to receive the print consumable. The holder is configured to secure the print consumable about a rotation axis aligned with the core axis. The print head is configured to print a pattern on the print substrate. The trace antenna is configured to read the RFID tag. The trace antenna extends in a direction transverse to the rotation axis. The transceiver is coupled to the trace antenna. The controller is coupled to the transceiver, and is configured to receive a signal from the transceiver indicative of one or more of the print counter, the SKU code, and the consumable authentication code received from the RFID antenna.

The present disclosure describes methods for using print consumables and systems. For example, in embodiments, a method for authenticating a source of a print consumable includes receiving, by a controller, a signal from a transceiver indicative of a consumable authentication code from an RFID tag. The method further includes authenticating, by the controller, the source of the print consumable based on the consumable authentication code. The method further includes permitting or preventing operation of the print system, by the controller, in response to the source of the print consumable.

Thus, print consumables, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure may use the same RFID tag to provide multiple functions such as detecting the consumable type (or SKU), counting the units of printed media, and authenticating the source of the consumable. Various embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a print consumable <NUM> including a rotatable core <NUM>, a roll of dispensable print substrate <NUM>, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag <NUM>. The core <NUM> extends along a core axis A. For example, the core <NUM> may extend between a first core end <NUM> and a second core end <NUM>. In embodiments, the core <NUM> has a hollow cylindrical shape defining an outer surface and an inner surface. In other embodiments, the core <NUM> may have any suitable hollow or solid cross-section, for example, a curved or polygonal cross-section that is suitable for rotatably dispensing the print substrate <NUM> about the core <NUM>. The core <NUM> may be made of plastic, paper, cardboard, or any suitable medium. In embodiments, the portion of the core <NUM> that carries the RFID tag does not include a material that may interfere with RF (radio-frequency) signals. For example, such a portion of the core <NUM> may be free of metals or alloys, or the entire core <NUM> may be free of metals or alloys.

The roll of dispensable print substrate <NUM> is dispensably secured to the core <NUM> about the core axis A. For example, the print substrate <NUM> may initially be wound about core <NUM>, and as printing proceeds, portions of the print substrate <NUM> may be unwound by rotating core <NUM>.

The dispensable print substrate <NUM> may include a print layer <NUM> and a backing layer <NUM>. For example, the print layer <NUM> may be printed upon by a print head of a printing system, and the printed portion may be dispensed from the printer. In some embodiments, a user may retrieve the print layer <NUM> with the backing layer <NUM>, and peel off the backing layer from the print layer. In other embodiments, a print system may separate the backing layer <NUM> from a portion of the print layer <NUM> on which a pattern has been printed, and a user may retrieve the separated portion of the print layer <NUM>. The print layer <NUM> may have an adhesive to facilitate applying the printed portion to a substrate.

The print substrate <NUM> may include a substantially continuous print layer <NUM> with perforations, channels, or other features that permit removal of portions of the print layer. In some embodiments, no such features may be present, and the printed portion may be separated from the roll using a cutting tool, for example, a blade. The print layer <NUM> may include any suitable print medium, such as paper, a non-woven substrate, a polymeric substrate, a composite, or the like. In embodiments, the print layer <NUM> includes a thermal coating, on which ink-free patterns can be printed by a thermal print head. In embodiments, the print layer may receive patterns of ink, pigment, or colorant from a print head.

In some embodiments, the print substrate <NUM> includes a plurality of labels (portions or regions of print layer <NUM>) secured to the backing layer. The labels <NUM> may have a permanent, tacky, removable, or readjustable adhesive layer for securing the labels to a desired substrate. Edges of neighboring and sequential labels <NUM> may be in contact, or may be spaced apart. Each label <NUM> may include or define a feature indicative of a single label. For example, each label <NUM> may be associated with a single hole in the print substrate <NUM>, and a detection of a hole by a print system may indicate the advancing or printing of a single label by the print system.

As the print layer <NUM> of the print substrate <NUM> is dispensed by rotation of core <NUM> (or of the roll as a whole), the RFID tag <NUM> rotates with the core <NUM> about the core axis A. The RFID tag may be readable by a trace antenna <NUM>, for example, of a print system in which the print consumable is used.

<FIG> is a conceptual block diagram of the RFID tag <NUM>. The RFID tag <NUM> includes an RFID antenna <NUM> coupled to an RFID chip <NUM>. The RFID chip <NUM> may include one or more of a print counter <NUM>, a stock-keeping unit (SKU) code <NUM>, and a consumable authentication code <NUM>. In embodiments, the RFID <NUM> tag may include an ICODE® SLIX2 RFD tag (NXP semiconductors, Eindhoven, Netherlands). The RFID tag <NUM> may communicate with the trace antenna <NUM> (and ultimately, with a controller coupled to the trace antenna <NUM>) via any suitable communications protocol. In embodiments, the RFID tag <NUM> communicates with an RFID reader using an NFC (near-field communication) wireless communication protocol, such as one conforming to standard ISO <NUM>.

While in <FIG>, a single RFID chip <NUM> is shown, the RFID tag <NUM> may include more than one chip, and one or more of print counter <NUM>, a stock-keeping unit (SKU) code <NUM>, and a consumable authentication code <NUM> may be stored in different chips. Further, one or more of the print counter <NUM>, the stock-keeping unit (SKU) code <NUM>, and the consumable authentication code <NUM> may be stored in a same memory unit of the RFID chip <NUM>, or in different memory units. For example, one or more may be password-protected, or read-only, or otherwise protected such that only the print counter <NUM> may be updated during operation, with the SKU code <NUM> and the authentication code <NUM> not being modifiable or accessible by a user.

The RFID chip <NUM> may be configured to update the print counter <NUM> in response to a counter update signal. For example, the RFID chip <NUM> may update the print counter <NUM> in response to the completion of a print job associated with dispensing a single label, or a predetermined number of labels. In some embodiments, the RFID chip <NUM> may update the print counter <NUM> in response to a signal indicative of the detection of a single label printed by the print system. For example, each label may be associated with a detectable hole or another feature of the print substrate <NUM>. In some embodiments, the RFID chip <NUM> may update the print counter <NUM> in response to a signal indicative of a completion of a print job. The RFID chip <NUM> itself may receive an external signal, for example, from the controller through the trace antenna <NUM>. For example, the controller may send a counter update signal through the trace antenna <NUM>, received by the RFID antenna <NUM>, to the RFID chip <NUM>, causing RFID chip <NUM> to update the print counter <NUM>.

In some embodiments, in addition to, or instead of, the print counter <NUM> on RFID tag <NUM>, another print counter may be present and updated in the controller, or in another chip or component.

The RFID tag <NUM> is secured to the core <NUM> such that it rotates about the core axis A. For example, the RFID tag <NUM> may be secured by adhesive, or by a fastener to a surface of core <NUM>. In some embodiments, the RFID tag <NUM> is secured to an outer surface of the core <NUM>. In some other embodiments, the RFID tag is secured to an inner surface of the core <NUM>. In some embodiments, the RFID tag <NUM> may be folded such that it extends between the inner and outer surface of the core <NUM>. For example, the RFID antenna <NUM> may extend along one of the inner and outer surface, and the RFID chip <NUM> may extend along the other of the inner and outer surface.

The RFID tag <NUM> may be placed at any suitable location along the core <NUM> that facilitates reading of the RFID tag <NUM>, for example, based on an expected position of the trace antenna <NUM> relative to the print consumable <NUM>. In some embodiments, the RFID tag <NUM> is secured to the core <NUM> adjacent one of the first core end <NUM> or the second core end <NUM>. Such a configuration may facilitate sufficient proximity for detection of the RFID tag by the trace antenna <NUM>, for example, if the trace antenna <NUM> is placed adjacent the first core end <NUM> or the second core end <NUM> of the core <NUM>. Further, such a configuration may facilitate providing the trace antenna <NUM> in a transverse orientation relative to the RFID tag <NUM>, which may prevent or reduce dead zones, or otherwise promote readability of the RFID tag <NUM>, as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram of an assembly <NUM> showing RFID dead zones in a parallel orientation of the trace antenna <NUM> relative to the RFID tag <NUM> on the cylindrical core <NUM>. For example, the field <NUM> generated by the trace antenna <NUM> may reach the RFID tag <NUM> in the position on the left, but may not reach the RFID tag <NUM> in the position on the right. In particular, such a difference in the reach and extent of the field <NUM> may be present if the trace antenna <NUM> is placed along a surface of core <NUM>, for example, parallel to or along core axis A. However, such a configuration is in conventional use because of better radio frequency coupling (energy transfer).

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram of an assembly <NUM> showing an absence of RFID dead zones in a transverse orientation of the trace antenna <NUM> relative to the RFID tag <NUM> on the cylindrical core <NUM>. In <FIG>, the trace antenna <NUM> is transverse to the core axis A of core <NUM>, and is thus transverse to the plane of the RFID tag <NUM> (or at least to the plane of the RFID antenna <NUM> of the RFID tag <NUM>) in any rotational position of the RFID tag. While the RF coupling and energy transfer is not optimum in the transverse orientation, such a transverse configuration may provide a uniform readability of the RFID tag <NUM> regardless of the position of the RFID tag <NUM> (or the rotation of the core <NUM>). Further, such a configurations avoids the need for multiple trace antennas placed at different angles in view of dead zones. In embodiments, the RFID trace antenna <NUM> can read the RFID tag <NUM> in any rotational orientation of the print consumable <NUM>.

Thus, the print consumable <NUM> may facilitate counting the residual life, setting appropriate print settings according to consumable type or SKU, and allow authentication in a print system. While the print consumable <NUM> may be in the form of a roll or a cylindrical structure, the print consumable <NUM> may be provided any suitable shape or geometry. Further, while print consumable <NUM> may include a roll of the print substrate <NUM>, in some embodiments, the print consumable <NUM> may include a housing holding, surrounding, or covering a portion or an entirety of the roll. In embodiments, the print consumable <NUM> may include a cartridge or cassette containing a roll similar to print consumable <NUM>.

Any suitable printing system may be used to print a predetermined pattern on print consumable <NUM>. For example, a print system described with reference to <FIG> may use print consumables according to the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a print system <NUM> in an open-bay configuration, including a housing <NUM> for holding the print consumable <NUM>, and the trace antenna <NUM> for reading the RFID tag <NUM> of the print consumable <NUM>. <FIG> is a partial top view of the print system <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> is a partial exposed cross-sectional perspective view of the print system <NUM> of <FIG> in a closed-bay configuration, showing a transverse orientation of the trace antenna <NUM> relative to the RFID tag <NUM> of the print consumable <NUM> in the bay of the housing. While the operation of the print system <NUM> is described with reference to the print consumable <NUM>, the print system <NUM> may be used with any suitable print consumable.

The housing <NUM> defines a bay <NUM> dimensioned to receive the print consumable <NUM>. The bay <NUM> may be defined by one or more components of the housing <NUM>. In embodiments, at least a portion of the bay <NUM> may be defined by a base of the housing <NUM>. In embodiments, at least a portion of the bay <NUM> may be defined by a lid <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. For example, the bay <NUM> may be defined between a base and the lid <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The bay <NUM> is dimensioned to receive and accommodate the print consumable <NUM>, and allow print consumable <NUM> to dispense print substrate.

The housing <NUM> may include a holder <NUM> configured to secure the print consumable <NUM> about a rotation axis B aligned with the core axis <NUM>. For example, the holder <NUM> may include two holder portions at sides of the housing <NUM>, and the core <NUM> (and ultimately, the roll of the print substrate <NUM>) may be held between the holder portions of the holder <NUM>. While two holder portions are shown in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include a single holder portion in other embodiments. The RFID trace antenna <NUM> is adjacent the holder <NUM> such that the RFID tag <NUM> is adjacent the RFID trace antenna <NUM> when the print consumable <NUM> is secured to the holder <NUM>. One or more portions of the holder may extend partly through a hollow interior of the core <NUM>, or may securely engage and end surface of the core <NUM>. In some embodiments, the holder <NUM> may include a motor for rotating the core <NUM>, or a gear or other rotating component mechanically rotatably coupled to a motor.

The print system <NUM> includes a print head (not visible in <FIG>) configured to print a pattern on the print substrate <NUM>. For example, the print head may be adjacent a dispensing slot <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, through which a printed portion of the print substrate is dispensed. The print head may include an inkjet head, a laser head, a thermal print head, or any suitable printing mechanism. Print system <NUM> may include a reservoir for storing ink, pigment, or toner, or otherwise receive ink, pigment, or toner through a cartridge or cassette internal to print system <NUM>, or from a container external to print system <NUM>.

The print system <NUM> further includes the trace antenna <NUM> configured to read the RFID tag <NUM>. In some embodiments, the trace antenna <NUM> is parallel to a portion of the holder <NUM>, or extends within a holder <NUM>. In embodiments, the trace antenna <NUM> extends in a direction transverse to the rotation axis B (and thus also transverse to the core axis A). While trace antenna <NUM> may be exactly perpendicular to the rotation axis B, defining a relative angle of <NUM>°, in other examples, trace antenna may be angled in a range close to <NUM>°, for example, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, <NUM>° ± <NUM>°, or <NUM>° ± <NUM>°. Further, it is understood that manufacturing and measurement tolerances may result in a slight deviation from an angle of <NUM>°, or from any other predetermined angle or dimension.

The print system <NUM> may include a transceiver (not shown in <FIG>) coupled to the trace antenna <NUM>, and a controller (not shown in <FIG>) coupled to the transceiver. <FIG> is a conceptual block diagram of a control assembly <NUM> of the print system <NUM> of <FIG>, including a print head <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a controller <NUM> for controlling various components of the print system <NUM>. The control assembly may further include additional components such as a power regulator <NUM> and a motor driver <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is configured to receive a signal from the transceiver <NUM> indicative of one or more of the print counter <NUM>, the SKU code <NUM>, and the consumable authentication code <NUM> received from the RFID antenna <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may also send signals to the RFID chip <NUM> through the transceiver <NUM> and RFID antenna <NUM>. The RFID chip <NUM> may update the print counter <NUM> in response to a signal sent by the controller <NUM> via the transceiver and received by the RFID tag <NUM> through the RFID antenna <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be further configured to send a counter update signal to the transceiver <NUM> for transmission to the RFID tag <NUM>, where the RFID chip <NUM> is configured to update the print counter <NUM> in response to the counter update signal.

In embodiments, the controller <NUM> is further configured to modify print settings for the print head <NUM> in response to the SKU code <NUM>. For example, the SKU code <NUM> may be associated with dimensions and substrate material of the print substrate <NUM>, such as label dimensions, and with the number of labels or print capacity of the print consumable. Thus, based on the SKU code <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may set appropriate print settings, such as print area, margins, label template, dots per inch (DPI), print quality, and the like. The controller <NUM> may also determine a residual capacity of the print consumable <NUM> based on the initial capacity and the present capacity associated with the value of the print counter <NUM>.

In embodiments, the controller <NUM> is further configured to permit or prevent operation of the print system <NUM> in response to the consumable authentication code <NUM>. For example, if the authentication code detected by the controller is associated with a party authorized to manufacture a genuine and compatible print consumable <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may set print settings and send signals to the print head <NUM> to initiate printing. The controller <NUM> may also send signals to the motor driver <NUM>, which ultimately drivers a stepper motor <NUM>, to cause a predetermined rotation of the print consumable <NUM> to dispense a printed portion of the print substrate <NUM>. The stepper motor <NUM> is configured to rotate the print consumable <NUM> secured to the holder <NUM> about the rotation axis B. In contrast, if the authentication code is not associated with an authorized party or manufacturer, controller <NUM> will not send signals to the print head <NUM> and/or the motor driver <NUM>, and thus prevent the operation of the print system <NUM>.

The control assembly <NUM> may include further components to connect or control other components of the print system <NUM>. For example, print system <NUM> may include one or more switches <NUM>, LEDs (light emitting diodes) <NUM>, or network connections <NUM> (for example, a USB hub), and the controller <NUM> or another component of the control assembly may receive or send signals to operate such components.

The pattern to be printed by print system <NUM> may be received through the network connection <NUM>. While a wired (USB) network connection <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, in other embodiments, print system <NUM> may include one or both of wireless or wired network controllers to receive print patterns, user print settings, or firmware updates.

Print consumables and systems according to the present disclosure, for example, the print consumable <NUM> and print system <NUM>, may be used together to provide functions and features described throughout the present disclosure. Embodiments of methods are described with reference to print consumable <NUM>, print system <NUM>, and control assembly <NUM>. However, such methods may be practiced using any suitable consumables, systems, and assemblies according to the disclosure.

For example, a method for authenticating a source of the print consumable <NUM> secured in the print system <NUM> may include receiving, by the controller <NUM>, a signal from the transceiver <NUM> indicative of the consumable authentication code <NUM> from the RFID tag <NUM>. The method may include authenticating, by the controller <NUM>, the source of the print consumable <NUM> based on the consumable authentication code <NUM>. The method may further include permitting or preventing operation of the print system, by the controller <NUM>, in response to the source of the print consumable <NUM>.

In embodiments, a method for setting print settings for the print consumable <NUM> secured in the print system <NUM> includes receiving, by the controller <NUM>, a signal from the transceiver <NUM> indicative of the SKU code <NUM> from the RFID tag <NUM>, and setting, by the controller <NUM>, print settings suitable for the print consumable <NUM> based on the SKU code <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may set print settings such as print area, margin, substrate type, and the like for the print head <NUM>.

In embodiments, a method for updating a print counter <NUM> for the print consumable <NUM> secured in the print system <NUM> includes, before a print job, receiving, by the controller <NUM>, a signal from the transceiver <NUM> indicative of the print counter <NUM> from the RFID tag <NUM>, and after the print job, sending, by the controller, a counter update signal to the RFID tag <NUM>.

In embodiments, the controller <NUM> may detect a feature such as a hole associated with a single label, and send a counter update signal in response to the detection of a label to the RFID tag <NUM>. In such embodiments, the RFID chip <NUM> of the RFID tag <NUM> updates the print counter <NUM> in response to the counter update signal.

In embodiments, the controller <NUM> may detect the advancing or printing of a label by detecting the displacement of stepper motor and based on a predetermined length of the label. For example, the SKU code <NUM> may be associated with predetermined label dimensions, such as label length. In some embodiments, the length of a label may be associated with a predetermined number of stepper motor pulses. In some embodiments, the number of measured step pulses divided by a predetermined expected step pulses per label may be used to detect the label count associated with the measured step pulses.

The print counter <NUM> may be used to alert the user as the capacity of the consumable is approached. In embodiments, the method further includes generating an alert, by the controller <NUM>, in response to determining that the print counter <NUM> is within a predetermined threshold of a maximum print count associated with the print consumable <NUM>. The maximum print count may be determined based on the SKU code <NUM>. For example, an embedded counter in an ICODE SLIX2 chip may be used to store a count of printed units or labels. In embodiments, the counter has a monotonic function, can only count upwards, and can only be incremented by <NUM> unit on each access. For example, each time the RFID tag <NUM> is read, the counter is incremented by <NUM> unit. In some embodiments, each time a counter update signal is sent by the controller <NUM> to the RFID chip <NUM>, the RFID chip increments the print counter <NUM> by <NUM> unit. The initial counter value may be set to a maximum counter value minus the sum of the label count of a full roll and the margin, where the margin provides a threshold to alert a user to change the consumable as end of capacity approaches. The counter may be set during production with other SKU parameters.

<FIG> is a conceptual block diagram showing authentication of a print consumable using RFID components. A signing algorithm may be used to provide a signature based on a private key, and each RFID tag may have a unique ID. For example, the signature may be initially set based on the unique ID and the private and public key pair, using ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) calculation (ECDSA - 128bit). A verification algorithm may use a public key and the associated unique ID to verify the signature and authenticate the source of the RFID tag <NUM> (and thus, the source of the consumable <NUM>). The signature, once assigned to the RFID tag, cannot be changed by the end user. In embodiments, the authentication code <NUM> includes the signature.

In contrast, the print counter <NUM> and SKU code <NUM> are present in an accessible, but password-protected memory. Thus, the manufacturer of the consumable <NUM> may apply any RFID tag <NUM> to the consumable <NUM>, and assign an SKU code <NUM> to the tag.

Claim 1:
A print consumable (<NUM>) comprising:
a rotatable core (<NUM>) extending along a core axis;
a roll of dispensable print substrate (<NUM>) dispensably secured to the core (<NUM>) about the core axis; and
a radio-frequency identification, RFID, tag (<NUM>) secured to the core (<NUM>) and configured to rotate about the core axis,
wherein the RFID tag (<NUM>) comprises an RFID antenna (<NUM>) coupled to an RFID chip (<NUM>), characterized in that the RFID chip (<NUM>) comprises a print counter (<NUM>), a stock-keeping unit, SKU, code (<NUM>), and a consumable authentication code (<NUM>), wherein the print counter (<NUM>) and the SKU code (<NUM>) are password-protected, and wherein the consumable authentication code and the SKU code are not modifiable or accessible.