Combined electromagnetic and optical communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system comprising:
- a radio frequency communication device;
an optical communication device 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;
wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering; and
wherein a portion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaque and a portion of the protective covering that covers the optical communication device is transparent.
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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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device; an optical communication device 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; wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein a portion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaque and a portion of the protective covering that covers the optical communication device is transparent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication system comprising:
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a radio frequency communication device including at least an antenna; an optical communication device including at least a bar code symbol; and a protective coating 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; wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein a portion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaque and a portion of the protective covering that covers the optical communication device is transparent. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. 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; 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; and providing a protective covering over both the radio frequency communications device and an optical communications device, wherein information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein a portion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaque and a portion of the protective covering that covers the optical communication device is transparent. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. 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; 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; and providing a protective covering over both the radio frequency communications device and an optical communications device, wherein information encoded by the optical communication device can be optically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein a portion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaque and a portion of the protective covering that covers the optical communication device is transparent. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification