PRINTED LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE CIRCUIT FOR ITEM VALIDATION

• US 20140266749A1
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Toby D., Metzger, Joseph G., Roper, Steven D., Wallace, Becky B.
• Application Number:
  US14/010,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/641
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Ink-printed electric circuits including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for validation of items is disclosed. In one embodiment, the flexible circuit includes a pliant substrate, and an ink-printed electric circuit. The ink-printed electric circuit comprises at least one ink-printed LED printed on the pliant substrate. The ink-printed electric circuit is configured to couple to a power source, determine an open circuit condition, and cause the at least one LED to transition from a first state to a second state upon determining the open circuit condition.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit, comprising:

a pliant substrate; and

an ink-printed electric circuit comprising at least one ink-printed light-emitting diode (LED) printed on the pliant substrate, the ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a power source;

determine an open circuit condition; and

cause the at least one LED to transition from a first state to a second state upon determining the open circuit condition.

2. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the first state is an on state and the second state is an off state.

3. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the first state is an off state and the second state is an on state.

4. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the pliant substrate comprises one of a paper substrate and a mylar substrate.

5. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the pliant substrate further comprises an adhesive layer covering a first face of the pliant substrate.

6. The flexible circuit of claim 5, wherein the ink-printed electric circuit is printed on the first face of the pliant substrate.

7. The flexible circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

the power source; and

wherein the power source comprises a button cell.

8. The flexible circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

the power source; and

wherein the power source comprises an ink-printed battery.

9. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one ink-printed LED comprises a plurality of ink-printed LEDs.

10. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the pliant substrate is porous and absorbs at least a portion of the ink-printed electric circuit.

11. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the pliant substrate has a width and a height, the width being greater than the height, the pliant substrate comprising a weakened linear portion extending across the width, the weakened linear portion separating a first portion of the pliant substrate from a second portion of the pliant substrate, and the electric circuit comprising a main portion and an extension portion, the extension portion being located on the first portion of the pliant substrate and the extension portion extending from the main portion across the weakened linear portion into the second portion of the pliant substrate.

12. A labeling system, comprising:

a label comprising;

a pliant substrate; and

an ink-printed electric circuit comprising a plurality of ink-printed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) printed on the pliant substrate, the ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a power source; and

initiate a lighting sequence of the plurality of ink-printed LEDs in a predetermined pattern.

13. The labeling system of claim 12, further comprising:

a device comprising;

an optical sensor;

a processor coupled to the optical sensor and configured to;

sense a lighting sequence of the plurality of ink-printed LEDs;

determine that the lighting sequence of the plurality of ink-printed LEDs was in the predetermined pattern; and

indicate to a user that the lighting sequence of the plurality of ink-printed LEDs was in the predetermined pattern.

14. The labeling system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of ink-printed LEDs emits light in a visible spectrum.

15. The labeling system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of ink-printed LEDs emits light in an infrared spectrum.

16. The labeling system of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense light emitted in the infrared spectrum.

17. The labeling system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to iteratively on a continuous basis initiate the lighting sequence of the plurality of ink-printed LEDs in the predetermined pattern until the power source is drained.

18. A labeling system, comprising:

a pliant substrate; and

an ink-printed electric circuit printed on the pliant substrate, comprising;

an ink-printed memory;

at least one ink-printed light emitting diode (LED); and

an ink-printed radio-frequency identification (RFID) module configured to transmit and receive data;

the ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a power source; and

provide, via the RFID module, data to a validation device;

receive, via the RFID module, a validation indication; and

based on the validation indication, cause the at least one ink-printed LED to emit light.

19. The labeling system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of ink-printed LEDs, including the at least one ink-printed LED, and wherein the ink-printed electric circuit is configured to, based on the validation indication, cause the plurality of ink-printed LEDs to emit light in a predetermined pattern.

20. The labeling system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined pattern forms a word that indicates whether the validation indication indicates validation or improper validation.

21. The labeling system of claim 18, further comprising:

the validation device, wherein the validation device is configured to;

receive the data from the RFID module;

make a determination whether the data is valid; and

based on the determination, send the RFID module the validation indication.

22. An authentication system, comprising:

a first pliant substrate configured to be attached to a first item;

a first ink-printed electric circuit printed on the first pliant substrate, the first ink-printed electric circuit comprising a first conductive contact configured to couple to a second ink-printed electric circuit printed on a second pliant substrate, the first ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a first power source; and

communicate first authentication data to the second ink-printed electric circuit when coupled to the second ink-printed electric circuit via the first conductive contact;

the second pliant substrate, the second pliant substrate configured to be attached to a second item;

the second ink-printed electric circuit comprising;

a second conductive contact configured to couple to the first ink-printed electric circuit, and at least one ink-printed light-emitting diode (LED);

the second ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a second power source;

receive the first authentication data from the first ink-printed electric circuit when coupled to the first ink-printed electric circuit;

make an authentication determination based at least in part on the first authentication data; and

based on the authentication determination, cause the at least one ink-printed LED to emit light.

23. The authentication system of claim 22, wherein the at least one ink-printed LED comprises a first ink-printed LED that emits visible light in a first light band, and a second ink-printed LED that emits visible light in a second light band, wherein if the authentication determination indicates that the first item is authentic, the second ink-printed electric circuit is configured to cause the first ink-printed LED to emit the visible light in the first light band, and if the authentication determination indicates that the first item is non-authentic, the second ink-printed electric circuit is configured to cause the second ink-printed LED to emit the visible light in the second light band.

24. A flexible circuit, comprising:

a pliant substrate; and

an ink-printed electric circuit comprising at least one ink-printed light-emitting diode (LED) printed on the pliant substrate, the ink-printed electric circuit configured to;

couple to a power source;

maintain track of a predetermined duration of time; and

at the end of the predetermined duration of time, cause the at least one ink-printed LED to transition from a first state to a second state.

25. The flexible circuit of claim 24, wherein the first state is an on state and the second state is an off state.

26. The flexible circuit of claim 24, wherein the first state is an off state and the second state is an on state.

27. A method for producing a flexible circuit, comprising:

receiving printing data identifying an electric circuit comprising at least one ink-printed light-emitting diode (LED), the electric circuit configured to;

couple to a power source;

determine an open circuit condition;

cause the at least one LED to emit light upon determining the open circuit condition; and

printing the electric circuit using conductive ink on a pliant substrate.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the printing data identifies the power source, and further comprising printing the power source.