WO2006008684A1

WO2006008684A1 - Desktop device for writing user data to a transponder

Info

Publication number: WO2006008684A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/052255
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wa Chu
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2004-07-12
Filing date: 2005-07-07
Publication date: 2006-01-26

Abstract

A device (1) for writing user data to a transponder (7a) is disclosed, which device (1) comprises a body (2) for housing a substrate (6) with a multitude of transponders (7a..7c), which body (2) has a base (3a, 3b) for placing the device (1) on a surface, a write module (4) for writing the user data to a transponder (7a..7c), wherein the device (1) is designed for pulling the substrate (6) out of the device (1) by hand. The substrate (6) is in the form of a reel or zigzag folded for example. For that reason the device (1) also preferably comprises separating means (5a..5d) for separating transponders (7a. 7c) by hand. Finally it is possible that the write module (4) has also reading capability and is provided for communication with a computer.

Description

Desktop device for writing user data to a transponder

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for writing user data to a transponder, in particular to a RFID-tag, comprising a body for housing a substrate with a multitude of transponders, which body has a base for placing the device on a surface, and a write module for writing the user data to a transponder.

Furthermore the invention relates to a substrate with a multitude of transponders for use in the inventive desktop device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Radio Frequency Tags, also referred to as RFID-tags, are widely used for different applications. For example, pricing of goods, identification of objects and inventory of different products can easily be achieved by use of said RFID-tags, which tags store different data for the different purposes such as price, ingredients, identification number etc. Therefore a transponder can be understood as a wireless accessible data storage within the scope of the invention. Because the use of RFID-tags is still growing there is a need for devices which are capable of writing user data to a transponder. Those devices are commonly named "reader", and such a reader can comprise both functions: reading and writing data.

One example of a device of said type is published in US 2003/0189490, "Radio-Frequency Identification Tag and tape applicator, Radio-Frequency Identification Tag applicator, and methods of applying Radio-Frequency Identification Tags", dated Oct. 9, 2003. It discloses an applicator that includes a tag and tape handling system having a base, a tape supply holder attached to the base, a tag supply holder attached to the base, a tag applying mechanism attached to the base for applying a tag to a length of tape, and that includes a taping head for applying the tag and the length of tape to an object. Obviously this machine is stationary and built for heavy use, thus for industrial customers.

Yet another example of a device of said type is published in US 2004/0032443, "Portable printer with RFID read/write capability", dated Feb. 19, 2004. It discloses a portable printer including a number of input devices mounted in the printer housing including a barcode scanner, keypad, communication interface in a receive mode and an RFID read/write module in a read mode. The portable printer also includes a number of output devices including a printing system, the communication interface in a transmit mode and the RFID read/write module in a write mode for writing to an external RFID chip. Taking into account its complexity it is also more suitable for commercial purposes and middle usage. Since the disclosed device is portable it is also designed to be used on location, that means bringing the reader device to the objects rather than bringing the objects to the reader device. Additionally at least one hand is needed to use this device.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the aforesaid reasons the prior art lacks of a simple construction which is semi stationary and can be operated intuitively. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for writing user data to a transponder which overcomes these restrictions. The object of the invention is achieved by a device of the aforesaid kind, wherein the device is designed for pulling the substrate out of the device by hand. Advantageously such a device can be built with relatively low technical effort and thus also low financial effort. Furthermore such a device is easy to use since it does not comprise a lot of complex parts, which also leads to high reliability of the inventive device. Thus the invention might help to increase the user acceptance for such devices.

It is advantageous when the device is designed in a way such that the device, situated on a desktop, does not slip away and does not tilt when it is in operation. This is important if the operation of the device, either when the substrate with transponders is pulled out of the device or when the transponders are separated, causes a lateral force parallel to the base of the device. To provide one-hand operation the friction between the base and the surface where the device is placed should be kept in the static range for all lateral forces. Therefore the friction force caused by the weight force of the device and the friction factor between base and surface should be higher than any lateral component of the operating forces. In addition, the stand moment caused by the weight force of the device and the distance from this vector to the outside dimensions of the base should be higher than the tilt moment caused by a lateral force and the distance from this vector to the base. Of course any transversal component of the operating forces should also be considered as it increases or decreases the friction force and the stand moment. Furthermore it should be considered whether the device shall be operated on an inclined surface. In conclusion it can be said that the provision of the aforesaid feature can be achieved by choosing a fitting combination of weight, shape and friction factor. Advantageously there is no need to hold the device while it is operating under the above-mentioned conditions.

It is further advantageous if the weight of the device is chosen to be such that the device can be carried by hand and is prevented from lifting when it is in operation. To make the device portable it is proposed to keep the weight as low as possible so that it can easily be carried by hand. On the other hand, its weight should be such that it prevents the device from lifting when it is operated. This is important in particular if the substrate is pulled out of the device in a vertical direction or an operating force has a substantial component in the upper vertical direction. Advantageously there is no need to hold the device while it is operating under the aforesaid conditions.

Another preferable embodiment of the invention is a device, where the body comprises a bearing for pivotably mounting a reel of the substrate with transponders. This is advantageous because substrate reels can be produced comparatively easily, so that it can be assumed that also the supply is achieved easily.

It is further preferable that the bearing is semicircularly shaped. In this manner a reel with an axle can easily be mounted. But also other shapes are conceivable which provide easy mounting as well as a stable position of the reel. One example is an L- shaped recess wherein an operating force keeps the reel at a stop position. Another example is an inclined recess which works in the same manner. Finally a cap can be provided as part of the body, which cap also comprises a part of the bearing, in particular also a semicircular part, and which closes the bearing when the cap is mounted. Yet another preferable embodiment of the invention is a device, where the body is designed to house a zigzag folded substrate with transponders. A zigzag folded substrate is also easy to produce and requires less space than a reel for the same number of transponders.

It is also proposed that the device comprises separating means for separating transponders by hand. In general there are two possibilities for substrates with transponders. According to one possibility the transponders are fixed on or in a preferably adhesive substrate. According to the other possibility the transponders are fixed on or in adhesive labels which themselves are attached to the substrate. The substrate can be a strip made of paper or plastic for example. Especially for the case where transponders are directly attached to the substrate it is advantageous when the device comprises separating means because the substrate usually is one single part. But also a perforation on the substrate can be provided for that purpose.

It is further proposed that the device comprises an interface for communicating with a computer. Besides the possibility that the device can comprise an interface for portable storage devices such as a memory card or the like, it is advantageous if the device can receive user data which is to be written to a transponder directly from a computer.

Preferably the computer interface is arranged for working as defined in the standard for Universal Serial Bus, commonly referred to as USB. A USB-interface is well known and highly reliable. Nearly every PC comprises such an interface, so that the inventive device can be easily attached to any PC. It is further preferable if the device additionally comprises a read module, or that the write module additionally has reading capability. In this case user data can also be read from a transponder, thus achieving a tag-copy function for instance. In this case objects which are already provided with written RFID tags could serve as a prototype for further RFID tags with the same or at least a similar content. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is given by a device wherein the read module or the combined read/write module is designed for communication with a computer. In this case a separate computer interface can be omitted because the reading capability of a read module or a combined read/write module serves for the communication with a computer, thus keeping the technical effort for the device low. In addition, wireless communication between device and computer is possible, which increases ease of use.

It is further advantageous if the write module and/or the read module or the combined read/write module is arranged for working as defined in the standard for Near Field Communication, commonly referred to as NFC. The NFC technology evolved from a combination of contactless identification, namely the RFID technology, and interconnection technologies. NFC operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency range, over a distance of typically a few centimeters, but engineers also work on a system which operates with greater distances of up to Im.. NFC technology is standardized in ISO 18092, ECMA 340 and ETSI TS 102 190. NFC is also compatible with the widely established contactless smart card infrastructure based on ISO 14443. Because of the said reasons and because computers are probably provided with such interfaces in the near future, the NFC technology is preferably used for the inventive device. In this way a read module or a read/write module can be used in a synergetic and thus economic manner. Further information is accessible at the internet address http://www.nfc-forum.org.

An additional preferable embodiment of the invention is given by a device wherein the write module is designed for rewriting all transponders within the device at the same time. This is advantageous, in particular, if more objects of the same type have to be provided with transponders, which are also of the same type in this case. This embodiment of the invention provides the one step writing of all transponders within the device. It is not necessary that all transponders are used for one type of objects. It is also possible that for example two or three transponders of a first type are separated and then the remaining transponders are rewritten with second user data.

Finally, a substrate with a multitude of transponders for use in the inventive device is proposed, which comprises visible marks between the transponders. This is advantageous especially in cases where the partition between the transponders within the substrate is not easy to recognize. One example is an opaque substrate with built-in transponders. But this feature is also useful for transparent substrates or labels on a substrate when the position for separation must be highlighted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained by means of preferred examples which are illustrated in the following Figures and which are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Figure 1 : shows an inventive device for use with a reel of a substrate.

Figure 2: shows the device of Figure 1 wherein the reel is mounted.

Figure 3: shows an inventive device for use with a zigzag folded substrate.

Figure 4: shows the device of Figure 3 wherein the substrate is inserted into the body.

Figure 5: shows a device similar to that of Figure 3, but which differs in that the substrate is pulled out in the vertical direction. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an inventive device 1 which comprises a body 2, a write module 4, separating means 5a, two semicircularly shaped bearings 8a and a computer interface 9. The body 2 furthermore comprises a base 3 a which is provided for placing the device 2 on a surface, for example on top of a desk, and a semicircularly shaped recess for housing a reel of a substrate 6. The base 3a can consist of a different material than the body 2 itself. The base 3a can also be in the form of feet. Preferably the weight of the device 1 and the material of the base 3a is chosen such that the friction force between the base 3a and common desk materials is higher than lateral operating forces. Rubber may serve as an example of a material for the base 3 a. Additionally the device 1 should not tilt when it is in operation. The form of the device 1 counteracts tilting since the stand moment is comparably high because of the longish shape of body 2. The write module 4 preferably operates according to the standard for NFC. The computer interface 9 is provided as a USB-socket. The separating means 5a are in the form of a zigzag shaped cutting edge. Alternatively the body 2 can also be provided with another base 3b on the rear side, which allows using the device 1 perpendicularly to the position shown. In this case a substrate 6 is pulled out of the device 1 in the vertical direction.

Figure 2 shows the device 1 of Figure 1 with a mounted reel of a substrate 6 with a number of transponders 7a..7c. Furthermore the computer interface 9 is omitted, assuming that the write module 4 additionally has read capability and is provided for communication with a computer. So user data is transmitted from a computer to the read/write module 4 and subsequently transmitted to the transponder 7a. It does not matter whether other transponders 7b..7c are also rewritten in the same step, because if transponder 7a is separated the transponders 7b..7c can be rewritten once more. Preferably all transponders of the reel are written at the same time so that a user can take out as many transponders as he wants after a single write command. Figure 2 furthermore shows alternative forms of bearings 8b..8d. Bearing 8b is L-shaped, whereby the operating force holds the reel in a stop position. Bearing 8c is an extended form of the semicircular bearing 8a. Because the axle of the reel is deeper in the body 2, a more secure operation of the device 1 is ensured. Finally, bearing 8d shows an inclined slot which also keeps the reel from falling out of the device 1. Additionally, visible marks 1 Ia..1 Ic are shown on the substrate 6 which make the separation of the transponders 7a..7c easier. This is advantageous in particular for substrates 6 which give no, or only a minor, possibility to recognize the partition between the transponders 7a..7c within the substrate 6. In the shown example, the visible marks 1 Ia..1 Ic are furthermore in the form of a written brand name. Of course the mark can also be only a line or any other symbol or information, for instance an internet address which identifies a supplier of the reel and makes ordering of further reels much more easier.

Figure 3 shows a further inventive device 1 which comprises a body consisting of a base body 2a and a cap 2b, a write module 4, separating means 5a and a computer interface 9. The body 2a, 2b again comprises a base 3 a which is provided for placing the device 1 on a surface. For choosing weight and form of the device 1 as well as the material of the base 3 a the same laws of nature have to be considered as for the embodiment according to Figure 1. The write module 4 again operates according to the standard for NFC. The computer interface 9 is also provided as a USB-socket. The separating means 5a are in the form of a zigzag shaped cutting edge again and alternatively the body 2a, 2b can also be provided with another base 3b on the rear side which allows using the device 1 perpendicularly to the position shown. In this case a substrate 6 is pulled out of the device 1 in the vertical direction. Because mounting the cap 2b on the base body 2a is more complicated in this case, Figure 5 shows another embodiment which is more directed to this operating position.

Figure 4 shows the device 1 according to Figure 3, which device is loaded with a zigzag folded substrate 6 containing a couple of transponders 7a..7c. It is furthermore assumed that the write module 4 additionally has read capability. In this case two communication channels to a computer are possible, one via the read/write module 4 and one via the computer interface 9, thus increasing the connectivity to computers. The behavior during the writing of user data to a transponder 7a..7c can be the same as stated for Figure 2. Figure 4 also shows alternative forms of separating means 5a..5c. Whereas separating means 5a are triangular teeth which can optionally be pyramidal, separating means 5b are in the form of a cutting edge. It is needless to say that the cutting angle is usually smaller than in the Figure, where the larger size is shown for clarity. Separating means 5c consist of a pair of scissors, which are shown only symbolically. The movement of the upper cutting edge is visualized by means of arrows. Figure 5 finally shows an embodiment of the invention where the substrate 6 is pulled out of the device 1 in the vertical direction. The device 1 again comprises a body consisting of a base body 2a and a cap 2b, a write module 4, separating means 5a, and a computer interface 9, wherein the base body 2a again comprises a base 3a which is provided for placing the device 1 on a surface. Base body 2a has simply the form of a rectangular container, whereas the write module 4 and the computer interface 9 as well as the separating means 5a are built into the cap 2b. Adjacent to the separating means 5a there is a slot which is provided to feed the substrate 6 out of the device 1. It is assumed to be zigzag folded again. In the shown example, the base body 2a is provided to house the substrate 6, but also the cap 2b could be provided. For choosing the weight of device 1, operational forces in the vertical upper direction have to be taken into account since the device 1 should not be lifted when it is in operation. So the gravitational force of device 1 should be higher than said upper vertical component of the operational forces. On the other hand, the weight should be only so high that it is readily possible to carry the device 1 by hand to enable semi-stationary operation.

At this point it should be mentioned that the inventive features disclosed in this document can be applied individually as well as in combination.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Device (1) for writing user data to a transponder (7a) comprising a body (2) for housing a substrate (6) with a multitude of transponders (7a..7c), which body (2) has a base (3 a, 3b) for placing the device (1) on a surface, and a write module (4) for writing the user data to a transponder (7a), wherein the device (1) is designed for pulling the substrate (6) out of the device (1) by hand.

2. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is designed such that the device (1), situated on a desktop, does not slip away and does not tilt when it is in operation.

3. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that its weight is chosen to be such that device (1) can be carried by hand and that device (1) is prevented from lifting when it is in operation.

4. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a bearing (8a..8d) for pivotably mounting a reel of the substrate (6) with transponders (7a..7c).

5. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is designed to house a zigzag folded substrate (6) with transponders (7a..7c).

6. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises separating means (5a..5c) for separating transponders (7a..7c) by hand.

7. Device (1) as claimed in one of the claims 1-6, characterized in that it additionally comprises a read module or that the write module (4) additionally has reading capability.

8. Device (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the read module or the combined read/write module (4) is designed for a communication with a computer.

9. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the write module (4) is designed for rewriting all transponders (7a..7c) within the device (1) at the same time.

10. Substrate (6) with a multitude of transponders (7a..7c) for use in a device (1) as claimed in claim 1-9, comprising visible marks (1 Ia..1 Ic) between the transponders (7a..7c).