Resonator use in the print field

• US 20060196936A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Inventors: Geres, John C., Christofferson, David F., Graushar, William T., Anderson, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

A plurality of resonators are embedded in a base material for use in applications in the printing industry. The base material including the resonators can be used in printing press applications, finishing applications, packaging applications, distribution applications, and downstream applications. The base material can include paper, ink, coatings, polymers, composites, adhesives, metal, or a combination of any of these materials.

Claims

1. A method for processing a printed product comprising:

providing a printed product having embedded therein a chipless passive resonator;

energizing the resonator;

reading a signal emitted from the resonator;

processing the signal to generate a unique identifier for the printed product; and

associating the unique identifier with information relating to the printed product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed product is one of a signature, a label, a tag, a wrap, an envelope, a book, a magazine, a catalog and a direct mail piece.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the resonator is energized with an RF power source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the resonator is embedded in the paper of the printed product.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the resonator is embedded in the ink of the printed product.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed product is bound and wherein the resonator is embedded in the binding of the printed product.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the resonator is embedded in the packaging of the printed product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the packaging includes at least one of a wrap, a strap, a container, an end board and a pallet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the printed product is contained in a database.

10. A method for processing a printed product, said method comprising:

providing a printed product having associated therewith a passive microscopic resonator;

energizing the resonator;

reading a signal emitted from the resonator;

processing the signal to generate a unique identifier for the printed product; and

using the unique identifier to access information relating to the printed product.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the accessed information relating to the printed product is contained in a database.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the printed product includes at least one of a signature, a label, a tag, a wrap, an envelope, a book, a magazine, a catalog and a direct mail piece.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the resonator is embedded in at least one of paper, ink, coating, binding or packaging of the printed product.

14. A method of associating a printed product with a database of information relating to the printed product, said method comprising;

producing a printed product having embedded therein a passive chipless resonator;

creating a database of information relating to the printed product;

energizing the resonator;

sensing a signal emitted by the resonator;

processing the signal to generate a unique identifier for the printed product; and

correlating the unique identifier with information in the database relating to the printed product.

15. A printed product system comprising:

a printed product having embedded therein a chipless passive resonator energizable to emit a signal;

a unique identifier for the printed product derived from the emitted signal; and

a database of information relating to the printed product and accessible using the unique identifier.