Print medium having coded data and an orientation indicator

• US 7,735,993 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert, Atkinson, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGESSE, HENOK D
• Application Number:
  US11/124,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 347/5, 347/16, 347/101, 347104-107
• US Class Current: 347/107
• 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 linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing, the data track being disposed in a first data region on the laminar substrate, the first coded data encoding first information;

second coded data distributed as a two dimensional pattern across a print area of the print medium, the two dimensional pattern comprising pattern elements, each pattern element encoding the two dimensional position of that pattern element in the print area; and

at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the two dimensional pattern;

wherein,

the data track includes a clock track containing a clock code for providing a clock signal during printing onto the print medium, allowing registration between what is printed in the print area of the print medium and the second coded data.

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 1, wherein the data track is printed with infrared ink.

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. A print medium according to claim 5, wherein the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.

10. A print medium according to claim 5, wherein the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.

11. A print medium according to claim 5, wherein the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.

12. A print medium according to claim 8, wherein one of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a first corner of the print medium on the first face.

13. A print medium according to claim 12, 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.

14. A print medium according to claim 13, 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.

15. A print medium according to claim 14, 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.

16. A print medium according to claim 15, 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.