Combined electromagnetic and optical communication system
AssigneeInternational Barcode Corporation
InventorAllen Lubow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims32
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.
A communication system comprising:
- 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.
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:
- 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.
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:
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.