Print medium having coded data and an orientation indicator

• US 20060250490A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert, Atkinson, David John
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/109
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras

Abstract

A print medium for use in a mobile device having a printer, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; first coded data in a first data format disposed in a first data region on the laminar substrate, the first coded data encoding first information; and at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.

Claims

1. A print medium for use in a mobile device having a printer, the print medium comprising:

a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces;

first coded data in a first data format disposed in a first data region on the laminar substrate, the first coded data encoding first information; and

at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.

2. A print medium according to claim 1, wherein the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.

3. A print medium according to claim 2, the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through a media feed path, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge.

4. A print medium according to claim 3, wherein one of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a first corner of the print medium on the first face.

5. A print medium according to claim 4, wherein another of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.

6. A print medium according to claim 4, wherein another of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a third corner of the print medium on the second face, the third corner being adjacent the second corner.

7. A print medium according to claim 6, wherein another of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a fourth corner of the print medium on the second face, the fourth corner being diagonally opposite the third corner.

8. A print medium according to claim 7, wherein another of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.

9. A print medium according to claim 4, further including a plurality of the orientation indicators, the position and number of the orientation indicators being positioned and configured such that, when the print medium is used in a suitably equipped mobile device, the device can determine the orientation of the card without having to read all of the orientation indicators.

10. A print medium according to claim 1, wherein the first coded data a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing.

11. A print medium according to claim 10, wherein the data track is printed with infrared ink.

12. A print medium according to claim 10, wherein the data track includes a clock track containing only a clock code from which a clock signal can be derived during printing onto the print medium.

13. A print medium according to claim 10, wherein the first information includes an embedded clock from which a clock signal can be derived during printing onto the print medium.

14. A print medium according to claim 1, further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information.

15. A print medium according to claim 1, wherein the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium.

16. A print medium according to claim 15, wherein the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.

17. A print medium according to claim 15, wherein the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.

18. A print medium according to claim 15, wherein the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.

19. A mobile device according to claim 1, further including pre-printed human-readable information printed on either or both of the first and second faces.

20. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first coded data is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.