Zih Corporation

3com Corporation

Illinois Institute of Technology

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Martin A Schwan

Karl Torchalski

Daniel F Donato

Anthony R Brown

Philip R Troyk

Gerald E Loeb

Boris Y Tsirline

William Shuff

John M Sullivan

Tom Zwier

Dwight D Dipert

Carolyn M Ricci

Chandrakant K Shah

William J Heetderks

Salvador Aguinaga

Robert McLeod

A printer/encoder system is provided for mounting to a mobile unit, such as a forklift-type vehicle. The printer/encoder system is adapted for printing and encoding one or more media units that may be stored in a media supply assembly of the printer/encoder system. The printer/encoder system may be mounted to the mobile unit using a mobile unit mounting assembly having a shock resistance system for protecting at least portions of the printer/encoder system from mechanical shocks or vibrations that are commonly associated with mobile unit movement. The printer/encoder system may include an encoder assembly structured to encode a transponder, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, on a media unit. The printer/encoder system may include an encoder assembly having a modular design.

Printer encoder adapted for positioning aboard a mobile unit

Media cartridge

A printer controller system for controlling printing on media (e.g., a strip of labels) supporting a series of RFID transponders and for communicating detection of void RFID transponders to downstream devices. The printer controller system includes a void detection system for detecting void RFID transponders, a printing system for controlling printing to the media and a void communication system for communicating detection of the void RFID transponder to downstream devices. This allows the downstream device, such as a label peeler, to anticipate the void RFID transponder and deal with it accordingly. The printer controller may include a media advancement system that is configured to continue advancing the media and RFID transponders past the print head even when the RFID transponder is detected and avoid slowing the printing process. The printer controller system may be configured to submit void indicia to a print head and recommunicate a formatted image when a RFID transponder has been voided.

Printer and system for detecting void RFID transponders supported in a printing media and communicating the same

A backplane has a plurality of interface slots that each couple to a number of buses. Depending upon the embodiment, these buses include a power distribution bus, a digital ground bus, an earth ground bus, a system timing bus, a time division multiplexed bus, a system control bus, a hardware resource bus, a media data bus, and one or more network distribution buses. Various modules can be interfaced with the backplane and function independently and/or dependently upon one another, including shelf controllers, switches, and application boards. In one embodiment, the backplane can include two backplanes, wherein the second backplane further provides connections between such modules and one or more external connectors.

Backplane apparatus and board for use therewith

A method and apparatus of powering components on a network by using a load-share technique and by using over-voltage and current-limiting circuitry. The power subsystem for a component in a network is designed in a load-share manner whereby the power subsystem will supply power to the network bus and to the component load. Under normal operation of the power subsystem, the load will be powered directly from the power subsystem. In the event of a failure, the load will immediately pull power from the bus and thereby maintain network operation. The power subsystem and the power supply are protected from disruptions due to voltage or current surges. Further, the power subsystem is in compliance with the IEEE 1394 specifications in terms of recommended current levels and galvanic isolation of the power sources.

Power subsystem for a communication network containing a power bus

A method for on-off modulation of a transmitter coil current of a high-Q resonant circuit transmitter comprising the steps of sensing a zero-crossing of the transmitter coil current and substantially instantaneously interrupting the transmitter coil current, and a high-Q resonant circuit transmitter for carrying out said method.

Suspended carrier modulation of high-Q transmitters

A self-regulating Class E/resonant power converter includes a power switching device which is gated on at each transition between negative and positive half cycles of the load current by drive signals generated by a drive circuit, the rate at which the drive signals are generated being controlled by a zero crossing detector which monitors the load current and adjusts the frequency of the drive signals in correspondence with changes in the time between successive negative-to-positive zero crossings of the load current such that the power switching device continues to be switched on at substantially zero voltge, zero slope conditions to maintain the power converter operating at the optimal Class E frequency.

Self-regulating class E resonant power converter maintaining operation

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Martin A Schwan