# US 2018/0024672 A1 · Self-grounding capacitive information carrier and its use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024672 A1 - Document ID: US20180024672A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/551,487 - Filed: 2016-02-19 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-19 - Assignees: T-Ink, Inc. - Applicants: T+ink GmbH - Inventors: Jan Thiele; Sascha Voigt; Karin Weigelt; Matthias Foerster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024672A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 3/002: {Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 (other optical apparatus G02B27/00)} - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/04162: {for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware} - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06K 7/081: {electrostatic, e.g. by detecting the charge of capacitance between electrodes} - G06K 7/089: {hand-held scanners} - G06K 19/067: Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards {also with resonating or responding marks without active components} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 2203/04809: Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract The invention relates to a capacitive information carrier in which information is encoded by an information pattern comprising a first and a second electrically conductive area on an electrically non-conductive substrate, wherein each conductive area comprises one or more sub-sections, wherein said information is detectable by a capacitive touch screen comprising intersection points formed from driving electrodes and sensing electrodes. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising a touch screen which comprises intersection points formed from driving electrodes and sensing electrodes and a capacitive information carrier. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of the capacitive information carrier and the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitive information carrier in which information is encoded by an information pattern comprising a first and a second electrically conductive area on an electrically non-conductive substrate (1), wherein each conductive area comprises one or more sub-sections (2, 3), wherein said information is detectable by a capacitive touch screen comprising intersection points formed from driving electrodes (5) and sensing electrodes (4), wherein at least one sub-section (3) of the second electrically conductive area connects at least two sub-sections (2) of the first electrically conductive area and the at least two sub-sections (2) of the first electrically conductive area cover at least two different intersection points of the touch screen when brought into contact with said touch screen, wherein the capacitive information carrier is a self-grounding carrier due to the arrangement of the electrically conductive areas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least two sub-sections of the first electrically conductive area (2) are located on top of intersection points formed from at least two different driving electrodes (5) and at least two different sensing electrodes (4). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive information carrier is grounded by bringing the information carrier into contact with the touch screen, wherein the grounding is substantially effected by the capacitive interaction between the electrically conductive areas of the information carrier and the electrodes (4, 5) of the touch screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional electrically conductive element is arranged on the touch screen and wherein said additional electrically conductive element covers at least a further intersection point that is not covered by the first (2) or second (3) electrically conductive area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein information is encoded by the shape, geometry and/or size of the information pattern and/or by the arrangement, distances, numbers and/or relative positions of the sub-sections of the first electrically conductive area (2) on the electrically non-conductive substrate (1). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the sub-sections of the first electrically conductive area (2) have dimensions in a preferred range of 1 to 20 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the sub-sections of the first electrically conductive area (2) have at least one symmetry axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-section of the second electrically conductive area (3) has a width in a preferred range of 0.1-4.0 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-section of the second electrically conductive area (3) is straight and/or curved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive information carrier is a flat or a spatial object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first (2) and second (3) electrically conductive area are applied on an electrically non-conductive substrate (1) by printing processes and/or foil transfer methods. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The capacitive information carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas are at least partially covered by at least one non-conductive cover layer selected from a group comprising a paper layer, a foil layer, a lacquer layer, an ink layer, a coating layer and/or any combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 A system comprising a touch screen comprising intersection points formed from driving electrodes (5) and sensing electrodes (4) and a capacitive information carrier in which information is encoded by an information pattern comprising a first and a second electrically conductive area on an electrically non-conductive substrate (1), wherein each conductive area comprises one or more sub-sections (2, 3), wherein said information is detectable by a capacitive touch screen comprising intersection points formed from driving electrodes (5) and sensing electrodes (4), wherein at least one sub-section (3) of the second electrically conductive area connects at least two sub-sections (2) of the first electrically conductive area and the at least two sub-sections (2) of the first electrically conductive area cover at least two different intersection points of the touch screen when brought into contact with said touch screen, wherein the capacitive information carrier is a self-grounding carrier due to the arrangement of the electrically conductive areas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method for use of the system according to claim 13, wherein the capacitive information carrier is grounded by bringing the capacitive information carrier into contact with the touch screen, wherein the grounding is substantially effected by the capacitive interaction between the electrically conductive areas of the information carrier and the electrodes (4, 5) of the touch screen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method for use of the system according to claim 14, wherein the information carrier is placed entirely on the touch screen device.