Combined electromagnetic and optical communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system comprising:
- an electromagnetic communication device; and
an optical communication device including at least a machine symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic communication device and at least a portion of the optical communication device are formed from the same material.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system is provided that includes both an electromagnetic (“EM”) communication device and an optical communication device including at least a machine readable symbol where at least a portion of the EM communication device and at least a portion of the machine readable symbol are formed from the same material. This material may be, for example, a conductable ink or a conductable foil. If desired, the EM communication device may include an antenna where at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the machine readable symbol.
86 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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an electromagnetic communication device; and
an optical communication device including at least a machine symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic communication device and at least a portion of the optical communication device are formed from the same material. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device; and
an optical communication device including at least a bar code symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material. - View Dependent Claims (4, 10, 11, 12)
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5. The communication system of clam 3, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol includes a conductable ink.
- 6. The communication system of clam 3, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol includes a conductable foil.
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8. The communication system of clam 3, wherein the optical communication device includes one or more alphanumeric symbols.
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9. The communication system of clam 3, wherein the optical communication device includes one or more logos.
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13. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device;
an optical communication device encoding information and including at least a bar code symbol; and
a protective covering over both the radio frequency communication device and the optical communication device;
wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material, and wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device; and
an optical communication device including at least a bar code symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material, and wherein the radio frequency communication device and the optical communication device are mounted on a package designed to be opened such that when the package is opened as designed, the radio frequency communication device is damaged so that it no longer communicates. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A communication system comprising:
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an electromagnetic communication device including at least an antenna; and
an optical communication device including at least one machine readable symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the machine readable symbol are formed from the same material, and wherein at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the machine readable symbol. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device including at least an antenna; and
an optical communication device including at least a bar code symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material, and wherein at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (20, 28, 29, 30)
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21. The communication system of clam 19, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol includes a conductable ink.
- 22. The communication system of clam 19, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol includes a conductable foil.
- 24. The communication system of clam 19, wherein the optical communication device includes one or more alphanumeric symbols.
- 26. The communication system of clam 19, wherein the optical communication device includes one or more logos.
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31. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device;
an optical communication device encoding information and including at least a bar code symbol; and
a protective covering over both the radio frequency communication device and the optical communication device;
wherein at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material, wherein at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar code symbol, and wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device; and
an optical communication device including at least a bar code symbol;
wherein at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material, wherein at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar code symbol, and wherein the radio frequency communication device and the optical communication device are mounted on a package designed to be opened such that when the package is opened as designed, the radio frequency communication device is damaged so that it no longer communicates. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for providing a communications system including a radio frequency communications device and an optical communications device, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes a communications controller, a memory, and an antenna, and wherein the optical communications device includes at least a bar code symbol, the method comprising:
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providing the communications controller and the memory on a substrate; and
providing the antenna and the optical communications device on the substrate using the same material for at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for providing a communications system including a radio frequency communications device and an optical communications device, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes a communications controller, a memory, and an antenna, and wherein the optical communications device includes at least a bar code symbol, the method comprising:
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providing the communications controller and the memory on a substrate; and
providing the antenna and the optical communications device on the substrate using the same material for at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol so that at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification