Karl H Torchalski

6832726, Dec 21, 2004

Dec 12, 2001

10/015876

Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G06K 710

23546225, 235378, 235381, 235383, 235385

Computer software which is configured to create a printer label format based on a printed label that has been scanned. The software provides that an existing label is scanned, and then the software converts the scan into a label format through optical character recognition (OCR). The software is configured such that text on the label is recognized as text, graphics are recognized as graphics, etc. and anything on the label which is not specifically recognized by the software is characterized as being a graphic. Preferably, barcodes are recognized as barcodes, and not just as graphics. Subsequently, a user is prompted, via a visual display, to confirm that the scanned objects have been correctly characterized and the user can change any of the characterizations made by the software. The user can link any object to a variable field, and can add embedded printer-specific non-printing control codes to the label format.

7190270, Mar 13, 2007

Nov 5, 2004

10/981967

Anthony R. Brown - Grayslake IL, US
Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US
William Shuff - Glenview IL, US
Matt Ream - Naperville IL, US
Eugene Borisov - Buffalo Grove IL, US

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G08B 13/14

3405721, 3405724, 3405728, 235432

A calibration apparatus for determining a location of a transponder supported by a printer media. The calibration apparatus uses a transceiver to attempt to read, write or otherwise communicate with the transponder. Controller logic of the calibration apparatus uses successful and unsuccessful attempts to communicate to determine the location of the transponder. For example, the controller may be configured to move the media in increments, each of the increments associated with a successful or unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the transponder. The successful attempts, and their relative media positions, are correlated with the position of the transponder. Also, the controller may be configured to use different power levels for the transceiver and its one or more couplers to determine which power levels are required to successfully communicate with the transponder. These power levels are correlated with characteristics of the performance of the transponder to determine its distance from the antenna/coupler.

7311256, Dec 25, 2007

Nov 30, 2004

10/999266

Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G06K 7/14

235454, 23546213

Computer software which includes code configured to create a printer label format based on a printed label that has been scanned. The code is configured to scan a label by either using a plurality of different types of scanners, or by using a single piece of hardware which can perform a plurality of different types of scans. Then, the scanned label is used to generate a label format. The label format created from the scanned label is thereafter useable to print labels similar in format to the label which was scanned. Preferably, barcodes are recognized as barcodes, and not just as graphics. Preferably, a user is prompted, via a visual display, to confirm that the scanned objects have been correctly characterized and the user can change any of the characterizations made by the software. The user can link any object to a variable field, and can add embedded printer-specific non-printing control codes to the label format.

7425887, Sep 16, 2008

Sep 21, 2005

11/231391

Boris Y. Tsirline - Libertyville IL, US
Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US
Robert Gawelczyk - Chicago IL, US

ZIH Corporation - Hamilton

H04Q 5/22

340 101, 3405721, 340 105, 3405724

A RFID coupler capable of selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler includes a grounded terminal load, a coupling element, a connecting element, an impedance matching element, and an input terminal. The coupling element is connected with the grounded terminal load and is configured to couple with the transponder by emanating an electromagnetic field. The input terminal is connected to a transceiver for receiving communication signals. The impedance matching element is connected to the input terminal and is configured to substantially match an input impedance of the coupler to a source impedance of the transceiver. The connecting element connects the impedance matching element to the coupling element. The coupling element and the impedance matching element are substantially parallel and separated by at least one dielectric layer and at least one ground plane.

7489243, Feb 10, 2009

Jul 31, 2006

11/461122

Anthony R. Brown - Grayslake IL, US
Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US
William Shuff - Glenview IL, US
Matt Ream - Naperville IL, US
Eugene Borisov - Buffalo Grove IL, US

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G08B 13/14

3405721, 3405724, 3405728, 235432

A calibration apparatus for determining a location of a transponder supported by a printer media. The calibration apparatus uses a transceiver to attempt to read, write or otherwise communicate with the transponder. Controller logic of the calibration apparatus uses successful and unsuccessful attempts to communicate to determine the location of the transponder. For example, the controller may be configured to move the media in increments, each of the increments associated with a successful or unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the transponder. The successful attempts, and their relative media positions, are correlated with the position of the transponder. Also, the controller may be configured to use different power levels for the transceiver and its one or more couplers to determine which power levels are required to successfully communicate with the transponder. These power levels are correlated with characteristics of the performance of the transponder to determine its distance from the antenna/coupler.

7498942, Mar 3, 2009

Apr 18, 2006

11/379175

Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US
William Shuff - Glenview IL, US
Anthony Brown - Grayslake IL, US
Daniel F. Donato - Johnsburg IL, US
Martin Schwan - Chicago IL, US

ZIH Corporation - Hamilton

G08B 13/14

3405721

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.

7504950, Mar 17, 2009

Nov 30, 2005

11/290983

Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G08B 13/14

3405724, 3405727

An encoder device for encoding a series of radio frequency identification tags supported by media includes a media path, at least two antennae, at least one transceiver, and a controller. Media and radio frequency identification tags are advanced along the media path. The at least two antennae are spaced from each other and each of the antennae are positioned along the media path adjacent to at least one of the radio frequency identification tags. The at least one transceiver is configured to communicate with the antennae. The controller is configured to communicate individually with each of the respective radio frequency identification tags positioned adjacent the antennae using the transceiver and the antennae.

7586410, Sep 8, 2009

Mar 9, 2006

11/371785

Boris Y. Tsirline - Libertyville IL, US
Karl Torchalski - Arlington Heights IL, US
Martin Andreas Karl Schwan - Chicago IL, US

ZIH Corp. - Hamilton

G08B 13/14

3405721, 3405724, 3405727, 3405728, 3405391, 34082569, 34082572, 235375, 235432

A stripline coupler for a RFID system is provided. The coupler is configured to communicate with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler may include a conductive strip, a terminating load, a dielectric material, a first ground plane, and a second ground plane. The conductive strip extends between the first and second ground planes and the dielectric material from an input end connected to a transceiver to a loaded end connected to the terminating load. The conductive strip may be configured to propagate electromagnetic fields concentrated in a near field region of the conductive strip in a direction generally perpendicular to the conductive strip to couple with a targeted transponder. The coupler may include an enclosure for directing the electromagnetic fields. The conductive strip may have a tapered or non-linear profile such as a modified bow-tie profile, an exponential profile, or a Klopfenstein profile.