Combined multi-frequency electromagnetic and optical communication system

• US 20060186204A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
• Inventors: Lubow, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,549,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/083 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0266 Marks, test patterns or identification means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09781 Dummy conductors, i.e. not used for normal transport of current; Dummy electrodes of components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09927 Machine readable code, e.g. bar code
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09936 Marks, inscriptions, etc. for information
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas

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.

Claims

1. An electromagnetically readable bar code, comprising:

a series of bars and spaces forming a bar code such that the bar code is optically readable by a bar code reader to determine information optically encoded by the bar code; and

a first resonant structure embedded within at least one bar of the bar code such that the first resonant structure resonates in response to a first frequency; and

a second resonant structure embedded within at least one bar of the bar code such that the second resonant structure resonates in response to a second frequency which is different than said first frequency.

2. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third resonant structure embedded within at least one bar of the bar code such that the third resonant structure resonates in response to a third frequency which is different than said first and second frequencies.

3. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure is embedded within at least two bars of the bar code which are electrically connected to each other.

4. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure is embedded within at least three bars of the bar code which are electrically connected to each other in a spiral.

5. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bars of the bar code is non-resonating.

6. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure is embedded within a subset of one bar of the bar code.

7. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bar code is split into at least first and second sections along a line of symmetry, and wherein the first resonant structure is embedded within at least one bar of the bar code in the first section and wherein the second resonant structure is embedded within at least one bar of the bar code in the second section.

8. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure comprises a resonating material included in an ink.

9. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure comprises a resonating material included in a toner.

10. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second resonant structures comprise metallic fibers.

11. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second resonant structures are included within the same bar.

12. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an antenna which is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second resonant structures.

13. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spiral starts at an exterior and ends in an interior of the spiral.

14. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spiral starts at an exterior and ends in the exterior of the spiral.

15. The electromagnetically readable bar code as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resonant structure is embedded within at least four bars of the bar code which are electrically connected to each other in a ring.

16. A method of forming a multi-frequency bar code, comprising:

printing a first resonant structure to;

be embedded within at least one bar of the bar code such that the first resonant structure resonates in response to a first frequency; and

printing a second resonant structure to be embedded within at least one bar of the bar code such that the second resonant structure resonates in response to a second frequency which is different than said first frequency.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the steps of printing comprise printing with toner.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the steps of printing comprise printing with ink.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second resonant structures are printed in different bars.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of printing the first resonant structure comprises printing two bars and a connector between the two bars such that the two bars and the connector resonate together.