Lexmark International, Inc.

Mark Stephen Underwood

Keith Bryan Hardin

Raymond Michael Marowski

Evan James Powers

Kevin Dean Schoedinger

David John Mickan

Douglas Anthony Able

John Thomas Fessler

Chris Anthony Burdette

Albert Tyler Barnett

David Herman Alverson

Terry Lee Wells

Adam Jude Ahne

Michael David Maul

Scott Richard Castle

Scott Stephen Williams

Danny Keith Chapman

Cuong Manh Hoang

Forrest Steely

Michael Todd Phillips

Marshall White

Joseph Kamal Yackzan

Donnie Eugene Proffitt

Matthew David Miles

David Ross Cutts

Benjamin Kyle Shepherd

Rick Kallop

Carl Nieland

Steven Eugene Ritter

Tim Rowland

Forrest Lane Steeley

Delbert Lester Eiiliott

Brian Michael Jacobs

A method for identifying and marking malfunctioning RFID tags on a RFID media sheet using an imaging device having a printer system and a RFID reader programmer. The method detects an unprogrammed RFID tag on the RFID media sheet, performs a write test on the detected RFID tag; determines whether the write test is successful; when the write test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints a bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag; when the write test has been successful, performs a read test on the detected RFID tag and determines whether the read test is successful, when the read test is unsuccessful, sends the RFID media sheet to the print engine and prints the bad tag identifier on one of the RFID media sheet and the detected RFID tag.

Method for identifying a malfunctioning RFID tag on a media sheet using an imaging device

An apparatus for shipping a device containing a circuit, including a bag sized for holding the device; and an antenna connected to the bag, the antenna having a first end for coupling to the circuit of the device when the device is in the bag so as to allow for radio frequency (RF) communication with the device while the device is in the bag. Separation of the device from the bag causes the antenna to be disconnected from the circuit of the device.

System and method for communicating with an unpowered device

A method of operating an imaging device having a failed or failing media-full sensor determines whether or not a controller can trust the output signal received from the media-full sensor. A reduced power or intensity level is used to test the media-full sensor and, in particular, the light source to counter the dimming of the light source that occurs due to aging and electrical noise in the system. When the output signal of a photoreceptor is at or below a threshold value, the photo-receptor is considered to have not detected the light beam from the light source and the light beam is deemed not to have been detected even though the photo-receptor may be providing a lower level output signal. Thus, an output signal of the photo-receptor is not trusted and an indication that a media storage area is not full is provided and an imaging operation is carried out.

Method for operating an imaging device with a failed media bin level sensor

Systems and methods for marking media are provided. The method may include preparing an image for printing on print media, the image including an indication of a first and a second event. The method may further include printing a first portion of the image on the print media, evaluating data and electing to print a second portion of the image wherein the second portion includes the indication of either of the first or second event.

System and method for marking print media

This disclosure relates to a system, apparatus and method for incorporating radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into a printing device that may provide an assortment of functional performance capabilities. This may include the ability to scan media information such as text and/or images along with RFID identifier information and process, copy and/or forward such text media and/or identifier information to a remote location.

Radio frequency identification printing device

The present disclosure relates to a method and/or apparatus for determining whether to select media for printing. This may be accomplished by identifying a media signature present in the media and identifying a data stream signature that may be printed on the media. A comparison may then be made as between the data stream signature and the media signature. Based upon the comparison media may then be selected for printing.

Source selection apparatus and method using media signatures

A device, method, system and article for controlling an image forming device including removable RFID functionality. A print job may be received and a determination may be made as to whether the print job includes RFID data. The RFID data may be sent to a removable RFID module when RFID data is included in the print job. Media may then be provided to a first paper path defined in the removable RFID module when RFID data is included in the print job and provided to a second paper path defined in the image forming device. An image may then be formed on the media.

Modular RFID imaging device option

The present disclosure relates to a printing system or method for evaluating the programming of an identifier, such as an RFID tag. The method may be implemented in a printing device which is capable of programming an identifier and reading data from the identifier and comparing such information to evaluate the programming operation.

Apparatus and method for evaluating RFID programming

Techniques that enable printing of multi-frequency RFID label schemes are provided. This may include a device for enabling printing of multi-frequency RFID label schemes, a method for printing multi-frequency RFID label schemes, as well as an article having one or more storage mediums having instructions that when executed by one or more processors result in a process for printing a multi-frequency RFID label scheme.

Multi-frequency RFID image forming techniques

A printing system () includes a printing subsystem () in the form of a printer assembly (). The printing subsystem () includes a printer housing () in which a print engine () resides and () for storing data indicating the expected orientation of labels on a sheet of RFID label media (). The contents of memory () can be obtained from an end user application () which may supply the position data to the printing subsystem () in a print data stream. Pre-programmed position data is read from a radio frequency memory storage device () on print media () having one or more devices () embedded thereon. The expected orientation data is compared to actual orientation data in order to determine if an image to be printed on a label () should be registered by rotation and/or flipping of the image and/or media.

System, method and apparatus for registration of printed image to media orientation

Print media () having a plurality of radio frequency data storage devices () passes through a print media pathway () of a printer assembly (). The devices () can be programmed using groups () of antennas which are arranged about the print media pathway () such the simultaneous programming of multiple devices () can be achieved. A data programming device () consisting of multiple reader/programmers () can be utilized in combination with one or more RF multiplexers () to reduce the time necessary to program the devices () separately.

Systems and apparatus for writing data to multiple RF tags contained on print media

A printing device () such as a laser printer includes a radio frequency controller () which permits the detection and redirection of media having one or more defective radio frequency device tags, such as an RFID tag, to a specific one of two or more output options (). The radio frequency controller () may include radio frequency control logic () that communicates with the base printer () and the output options () over a down port () and up port () to intercept commands from the printer () to the options () and to also respond to such commands. A defective tag can be detected by attempting to program a tag using an RF reader/programmer ().

Systems and methods for handling defective RFID media according to available printer output options

The presence of a radio frequency signature () on a cut sheet of print media () is detected by a radio frequency interrogating device () to determine it's relative left/right position on the print media (). Either the leading edge () or trailing edge () of the print media () is detected by one or more print media sensors (). A print controller () can note the time (t) when print media is detected and cause the radio frequency interrogating device () to detect the radio frequency signature () at a time (t) when the print media has reached a predetermined point along the print media pathway (). The position of the radio frequency signature () on the print media () can be calculated using the time differential (t-t) and the known angular displacement of the radio frequency interrogating device ().

Apparatus and methods of detecting relative position of RF signature on print media

A printing system () includes a printing subsystem () in the form of a printer assembly (). The printing subsystem () includes a printer housing () in which a print engine () resides and a memory () for storing data indicating the position of labels on media. The contents of memory () can be obtained from an end user application () which may supply the position data to the printing subsystem () in a print data stream. Pre-programmed position data is read from a tag () on print media () having multiple tags embedded thereon. The pre-programmed position data is compared to position data received in a print request data stream to determine the position of at least one tag on the print media.

Systems and methods for determining physical location of RFID tags on embedded print media

A radio frequency signature () on a cut sheet of print media () is detected by a radio frequency interrogating device () to determine whether the print media () is properly oriented. The leading edge () or trailing edge () of the print media () is detected by one or more print media sensors (). A print controller () can note the time (t) and cause the radio frequency interrogating device () to detect the radio frequency signature () at a time (t) when the print media has reached a predetermined point along the print media pathway (). The position of the radio frequency signature () on the print media () can be calculated using the time differential (t&#x2212;t), the velocity profile of the print media and the known separation between the print media () and the radio frequency signature (). By comparing the computer position with the expected position, the orientation of the print media () can be determined.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Mark Stephen Underwood