Resonator use in the print field

• US 7,506,813 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quad Graphics, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Edward J., Geres, John C., Christofferson, David F., Graushar, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/316,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20060196936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 340/572.1, 340/5.6
• US Class Current: 235/451
• 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 first printed product having embedded therein a chipless passive first resonator;

energizing the first resonator with a contactless power source;

reading a first signal emitted from the energized first resonator;

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

associating the first unique identifier with remotely stored information relating to the first printed product;

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

energizing the second resonator with the contactless power source;

reading a second signal emitted from the second resonator;

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

associating the second unique identifier with remotely stored information relating to the second printed product;

using the first unique identifier to access the stored information related to the first printed product;

using the second unique identifier to access the stored information relating to the second printed product;

and forming an assembled product by assembling the first printed product with the second printed product in response to a determination made based on a pre-established relationship between on the stored information relating to the first printed product and the stored information relating to the second printed product.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising, after the act of determining, assembling the first printed product with the second printed product.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first printed product includes a signature.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second printed product includes one of a second signature, a label, a tag, a wrap, an envelope and packaging.

5. The method of claim 2 and further comprising, after the act of assembling:

energizing at least one of the first resonator and the second resonator;

reading a corresponding signal emitted from the at least one of the first resonator and the second resonator;

processing the corresponding signal to identify a corresponding unique identifier for a printed product embedded with the at least one of the first resonator and the second resonator;

accessing the information associated with the corresponding unique identifier; and

determining, based on the information, whether the first printed product is correctly assembled with the second printed product.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising, after the act of determining, based on the information, whether the first printed product is correctly assembled with the second printed product, disassembling the first printed product from the second printed product.

7. The method of claim 6 and further comprising, after the act of disassembling, assembling at least one of the first printed product and the second printed product with another printed product.

8. The method of claim 5 and further comprising, after the act of determining, based on the information, whether the first printed product is correctly assembled with the second printed product, correctly assembling the first printed product with the second printed product.