EP2651653B1 - Photo book and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a photo book and a method for its production.

Such a photo book is from the DE 10 2009 049 593 known.

This photo book includes a cover in which an electronic memory element and a connecting element connected thereto are integrated. The connection element terminates at an edge of the cover and can be connected to external connection means for reading data into the memory element and reading out data from the memory element.

The photo book thus has a significantly extended functionality over conventional photo books, as this not only contains printed information, but also offers a way of electronically storing data. The stored information is preferably associated with the printed information. In particular, the stored data are photographs and / or image sequences, that is to say film sequences which are thematically associated with the printed information.

In this photo book, a central archiving of electronic data is thus possible in addition to the pictorial representations on the pages of the photo book, which can be flexibly changed at any time by reading or deleting data in the memory element of the data. Furthermore, the data can also be read out for use at any time.

The DE 20 2009 017 420 U1 relates to a book according to the preamble of claim 1 with an electronic connection element, which is integrated in its cover. The electronic Connection element is designed as an adapter, on which a plug as a further electronic connection element can be placed, wherein the plug has a plug profile, by means of which the plug on the adapter in a desired position is mechanically fixable. In an electronic connection element at least one magnet is provided which is in contact with at least one metallic element when the plug is in its desired position on the adapter.

In the WO 2007/085661 A1 is a book described, which has a USB port. In this case, the USB port with other components of a data processing device, such as a memory and a board, built into the back of the book.

The invention has the object of further improving the functionality of a photo book of the type mentioned above.

To solve this problem, the features of the independent claims are provided. Advantageous embodiments of the invention and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The photobook according to the invention with a cover comprises an electronic memory element and a connecting element connected thereto. The cover has body elements surrounded by a flexible shell, wherein a body element has an opening opening at one of its edges. The electronic storage element and the connecting element form a structural unit, wherein the structural unit is mounted in a form-fitting manner in the opening, and wherein the structural unit is inserted in the opening in such a way that the connecting element opens out at the edge of the cover.

• Einbringen einer Baueinheit umfassend das elektronische Speicherelement und das Anschlusselement in einen Durchbruch eines Körperelements, welcher an einem der Ränder des Körperelements ausmündet, wobei die Baueinheit formschlüssig im Durchbruch gelagert ist, und wobei das Anschlusselement am Rand des Körperelements frei liegt.
• Verbinden und Einfassen der Körperelemente mit der flexiblen Hülle derart, dass eine Ausmündung für das Anschlusselement vorhanden ist.

The method according to the invention for producing a photo book comprises a cover, in which an electronic memory element and a connection element connected thereto are integrated, and which has a flexible Cover and comprises several body elements, characterized by the following process steps:

• Introducing a structural unit comprising the electronic memory element and the connecting element in an opening of a body member which opens at one of the edges of the body member, wherein the structural unit is mounted in the form-fitting breakthrough, and wherein the connecting element is exposed at the edge of the body member.
• Connecting and bordering the body elements with the flexible sheath such that an opening for the connection element is present.

An essential advantage of the invention is the design of the electronic memory element and the connection element as a structural unit. The electronic storage element and the connecting element thus form a component which can be inserted in one operation in the opening of the body member and fixed there.

The integration of these electronic components in the cover can therefore be done quickly and with little design effort.

The advantage here is in particular that the entire thickness of the body member can be utilized for receiving the unit by the formation of the receptacle for the assembly as a breakthrough in the body member of the cover, that is, the height of the component may correspond to the thickness of the body member, so that Even units with relatively large heights can be integrated in the cover without these unwanted beads form in the cover.

Another advantage is the geometry and arrangement of the breakthrough at the edge of the body member. With the integration of the unit in the breakthrough this is already aligned so that the connection element is accessible in its desired position on the edge of the body member and thus at the edge of the cover and thus can be connected to external connection means without further adjustments.

Another advantage is that with the integration of the unit in the breakthrough, this unit is fixed to the body member, so that then these elements form a stable unit. Thus, no further layers, such as the body member made of stable, rigid materials that are applied to the top and bottom of the body member so as to hold the assembly in the breakthrough of the body member. Rather, already used in the breakthrough unit with the surrounding body elements forms a stable unit.

The contour of the aperture in the body member is adapted to the outer contour of the assembly, so that the assembly rests positively after insertion into the opening at its edges and is already relatively firmly connected to the body member.

Particularly advantageously, the hold of the structural unit on the body element is further increased by the fact that the structural unit can be introduced into the aperture and is preferably fixed to the aperture-limiting edges of the body element by adhesive.

Thus, the assembly is firmly connected to the body member when inserted into the aperture through the adhesives.

The body element, which preferably has a flexural rigidity and preferably consists of cardboard, cardboard or plastic, thus forms a dimensionally stable unit with the structural unit.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the body element is a plastic injection molded part, which is produced in a casting mold, wherein the structural unit forms an insert part in the casting mold, which is encapsulated with plastic in the production of the body element.

This embodiment is characterized by a particularly efficient manufacturing process. In an injection molding process not only the body element is produced, but at the same time the structural unit integrated in the opening, which is obtained in the present case by molding the unit with plastic. It is particularly advantageous that with this encapsulation of the plastic part forming the body member with the unit a firm connection is obtained, so that no further fixing means for fixing the unit on the body member must be provided more.

Particularly advantageous, the assembly comprises a circuit board on which a memory chip forming the electronic memory element is arranged, and to which the connection element is contacted, wherein in particular a potting compound is applied to the board.

The board forms a carrier for both the electronic memory element in the form of the memory chip and for the connecting element, whereby the Unit is given a high intrinsic stability. This inherent stability is further increased by the application of potting compound, which also protects the electronic components of the assembly against mechanical damage. In addition, an adaptation of the geometry of the assembly is achieved by applying the potting compound to the body member by the layer thickness of the potting compound is selected so that the height of the assembly with the thickness of the body element matches.

With the connection element according to a first embodiment of the invention, a contact-connected connection to external connection means can be achieved.

For this purpose, the connection element is a plug, in particular a mini-USB plug or a magnetically adhesive plug.

Alternatively, the connection element is a wireless communication module.

This communication module is particularly advantageously a WLAN or Bluetooth module.

The integration of the assembly with the electronic storage element and the connection element in the photo book is such that the manufacturing process for creating the photo book is not significantly increased in scope.

The integration of the unit in the body element takes place in only one operation. All further manufacturing steps for creating the photo book remain unaffected despite the additionally provided unit.

Once the assembly is integrated into the body member, the cover of the photo book is made by placing the body members on the flexible cover in their desired positions and optionally with adhesives be fixed. Then, the flexible sheath, which is generally made of an easily bendable material such as paper, a plastic sheet or the like, is folded around the edges of the body members and fixed to the insides of the body members.

Particularly advantageously, a recess bounded by a reinforcing layer is provided in the flexible sleeve, which forms an outlet for the connecting element.

The attachment of the reinforcing layer can be easily and efficiently integrated into the production process of the photobook. At the beginning of the manufacturing process, the body elements rest on the shallow, spread-out casing and are fixed to it by gluing or the like. Before the cover is formed by folding and underlaying the shell, the recess is incorporated as a hole in the shell at the designated position provided for this purpose, this recess forms the outlet for the connection element with finished cover. On the recess limiting edge of the shell, the reinforcing layer is then applied. In the simplest case, the reinforcing layer is applied only to the outside of the shell. To ensure even greater strength and resistance of the muzzle-limiting edge of the sheath, a reinforcing layer can be applied to both the outside and the inside of the sheath.

As a result of the reinforcing layer provided on the cover according to the invention, it is reinforced and stabilized so that the cover is not worn or damaged during mechanical contacting. Thus, even in the event that a frequent contacting of the connection element, impaired the cover avoided.

The reinforcing layer is generally made of tear-resistant material, in particular of plastic. Particularly advantageous is the reinforcing layer as Adhesive film designed so that it can be easily and quickly attached to the cover.

By positioning the recess relative to the position of the connection element is achieved that in subsequent folding of the flexible shell, the connection element is exposed in the recess and can be contacted with an external connection means.

To create the photo book, preferably a software is used by means of which a print template for the photo book to be printed is created. A customer who wants to create a photo book, provides the corresponding image data, which are integrated into the print template and provided with texts. In the Zurverfügungsstellung this image data defines the customer, which image data should appear in printed form in the photo book and which should be stored in the memory element. The operation of the software is then such that parallel to the creation of the artwork, the respectively provided data are read into the memory element. The writing of the data in the memory element is thus fully integrated into the working process for creating the print template of the photo book. The software can generally be part of a client-server architecture, in which an offline data input, for example via CD or DVD takes place. Alternatively, the data entry can be made online via a web service of the Internet.

The photobook according to the invention preferably has photographs printed on its sides. For the user of the photo book, however, there are typically more photographs than printed in the photo book or associated films. By the storage possibility of all this additional data in the photo book itself omitted otherwise necessary distributed storage media such as computer, DVD, CD, mobile phone or the like. The availability and retrievability of the data can thus be significantly increased.

Another variant of the photo book is to use the photo book itself as a pure index book for data stored in the memory element. In this case, the photo book contains as printed information only indexing, that is cataloging of data stored in the memory element, which are preferably formed by photographs or films.

External connection means can be connected to the connection element of the photobook, with which data can be read from the electronic memory element and transmitted wirelessly to a reproduction unit such as a PC, where the data can be directly visualized, that is to be displayed. With this connectivity, the functionality of the photo book is thus significantly expanded.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, an electronic side detection is provided, whereby selectively a subset of the data in the memory element is readable in dependence on the electronically detected currently open page.

This creates a particularly user-friendly access to specific subsets of the data stored in the memory element. This embodiment can be used particularly advantageously in conjunction with the communication module. Then, by simply opening a desired page of the deposited for this page content of the memory element can be read via the communication module and displayed directly on a playback unit.

Figur 1:

Schematische Darstellung eines Photobuchs.

Figur 2:

Perspektivische Darstellung eines Körperelements des Photobuchs mit einer zugeordneten Elektronik-Baueinheit.

Figur 3:

Schnittdarstellung der Elektronik-Baueinheit gemäß Figur 2.

Figur 4:

Draufsicht auf eine Hülle des Photobuchs mit darauf angeordneten Körperelementen und mit einer in die Hülle eingearbeiteten Aussparung.

Figuren 5a, 5b:

Darstellung von Fertigungsschritten zur Herstellung des Einbands des Photobuchs aus der Anordnung gemäß Figur 4.

Figur 6:

Draufsicht auf einen Rand des Einbands mit einem dort freiliegenden Anschlusselement.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

Schematic illustration of a photobook.

FIG. 2:

Perspective representation of a body element of the photo book with an associated electronic assembly.

FIG. 3:

Sectional view of the electronic assembly according to FIG. 2 ,

FIG. 4:

Top view of a shell of the photo book with body elements arranged thereon and with a recess incorporated in the shell.

FIGS. 5a, 5b:

Representation of manufacturing steps for producing the cover of the photo book from the arrangement according to FIG. 4 ,

FIG. 6:

Top view of an edge of the cover with a connection element exposed there.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a photo book 1. For the production of the photo book 1, a software is used, which may be part of a client-server computer system. Then, image data of photographs taken offline via data carriers such as CD or DVD are used to generate a print template for the photo book 1 with the software. Alternatively, the software can be part of a web service, so that the image data can be made available online. The photo book 1 thus created then contains pages provided with photographs. The photo book 1 also has a cover 2, in which the sides are fixed. In principle, the photo book 1 can also have the shape of a folder.

The FIGS. 2 to 6 show individual components of the photobook 1 according to FIG. 1 and also illustrate the manufacturing process for producing the photo book 1, in particular its cover 2.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a body member 3 for forming the back of the cover 2 of the photo book 1. The body member 3 consists of a dimensionally stable, rigid material such as cardboard, cardboard or Plastic. The body element 3 has a rectangular contour with a planar upper side 3a of a flat underside and peripherally encircling edges 3b. At an edge 3b of the body member 3 opens an opening 4, which has a substantially rectangular contour.

This breakthrough 4 serves as a receptacle for an electronic component 5, that is, a structural unit that contains electronic components that can be integrated into the photobook 1. In the present case, an electronic memory element and a connection element form a structural unit as a special design of the electronic component 5.

The electronic memory element is designed in the form of a memory chip 6. The connection element is designed in the form of a plug 7. In the memory element, data, in particular image data such as photographs or films, can be stored non-volatilely. Via the plug 7, which may be in the form of a mini-USB plug or a magnetically adhesive plug 7, 6 data can be read into or read out of the memory chip. The first data entry takes place in the manufacturing process using the software for producing the print template.

How out FIG. 3 can be seen, the plug 7 and the memory chip 6 are arranged on a circuit board 8. The circuit board 8 is coated on the upper side 3 a with a potting compound 9, which protects the memory chip 6 and the plug 7 against dirt and damage. The layer thickness of the potting compound 9 is also chosen so that the overall height of the electronic component 5 corresponds to the thickness of the body element 3. Furthermore, the outer contour of the electronic component 5 corresponds to the edge contour of the opening 4, so that after insertion of the electronic module 5 in the opening 4 this is positively in breakthrough 4. In order to fix the electronics assembly 5 permanently in the opening 4, an adhesive layer 10 consisting of an adhesive is applied to the edges of the electronic component 5 located in the aperture 4. The so-mounted electronic assembly 5 forms with the body member 3 a firmly connected, stable unit. The plug 7 has a contact surface 7a which is exposed at an edge 3b of the electronic component 5. After installation of the electronic assembly 5 in the opening 4, the contact surface 7a is exposed at one edge 3b of the body member 3.

In an alternative embodiment, the body element 3 may be designed as a plastic injection molded part. In this case, the electronic assembly 5 is inserted into an injection mold for producing the body member 3 as an insert. The body member 3 is then made by overmolding the insert. As a result, the plastic forming the body member 3 is molded directly onto the electronic component 5 and so firmly connected to this.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of the components for forming the cover second

In FIG. 4 a flat designed flexible sheath 11 is shown. The shell 11 is made of flexible material such as paper. The shell 11 can also be made of other materials such as plastic film, which generally have a relatively low tear strength. The shell 11 forms in completed photo book 1, the outer shell of the cover 2. The shell 11 has a rectangular shape.

On the upper inside of the shell 11, three body elements 3, 12, 13 are applied and fixed there by means of an adhesive or the like on the shell 11. The body member 3 with the integrated in its opening 4 electronic assembly 5 forms a body, which serves to form the back of the cover 2. Another body element 12 serves to form the front side of the cover 2. This body element 12 has an outer contour corresponding to the body element 3. The narrow third body element 13 serves to form the back of the cover 2. The body elements 3, 12, 13 are made of the same rigid, dimensionally stable material.

At a small distance from the contact surface 7a of the plug 7 at the edge 3b of the electronic component 5, a recess 14, that is to say a hole, is worked into the casing 11, as shown FIG. 4 is apparent. Position and size of the recess 14 are adapted to the position and width of the contact surface 7 a of the plug 7 in the electronic component 5.

To avoid damage to the recess 14 surrounding edge 3b of the shell 11, is on this edge 3b, as in FIG. 4 shown, a reinforcing layer 15 is applied. In principle, it is sufficient to attach a reinforcing layer 15 to the outside or inside of the shell 11. In the present case, a reinforcing layer 15 is attached to both the outside and the inside.

The reinforcing layer 15 is made of tear-resistant material, in particular of plastic. Particularly advantageously, the reinforcing layer 15 is formed in the form of an adhesive film which can be fixed on the recess 14 bounding edge 3b of the shell 11 simply by placing.

The dimensions of the or each reinforcing layer 15 are formed so that they completely surround the recess 14.

The cover 2 is completed so that the free edges of the envelope 11 folded ( FIG. 5a ) and placed on the free tops 3a of the body elements 3, 12, 13 and fixed by gluing ( FIG. 5b ).

So that the contact surface 7a of the integrated in the cover 2 connector 7 can be contacted with external connection means, this is as in FIG. 6 shown, in the opening formed by the recess 14 free.

The contact surface 7a is completely surrounded by the reinforcing layer 15.

If the interface surface of an external connection means is placed on the contact surface 7a, the reinforcement layer 15 protects the shell 11 against direct contact with the connection means, that is, the shell 11 is protected by the reinforcement layer 15 against wear and mechanical damage.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(1)

Photo book

(2)

cover

(3)

body member

(3a)

top

(3b)

edge

(4)

breakthrough

(5)

Electronics assembly

(6)

memory chip

(7)

plug

(7a)

contact area

(8th)

circuit board

(9)

potting compound

(10)

adhesive layer

(11)

shell

(12)

body member

(13)

body member

(14)

recess

(15)

reinforcing layer

Claims (14)

1. Photo album (1) with a book cover (2), in which an electronic memory element and a connecting element connected therewith are integrated, wherein the book cover (2) comprises body elements (3, 12, 13) enclosed by a flexible sheathing (11), and wherein the electronic memory element and the connecting element form a constructional unit, characterised in that one body element (3) has a passage (4) which opens at one of its edges and that the constructional unit is mounted in the passage (4) with a positive fit, and wherein the constructional unit is so inserted into the passage (4) that the connecting element opens at the edge (3b) of the book cover (2).
2. Photo album according to claim 1, characterised in that a cut-out (14), which is bounded by a reinforcing layer (15) and which forms a mouth for the connecting element, is provided in the flexible sheathing (11).
3. Photo album according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the constructional unit is introducible into the passage (4) and is fixed at the edges, which bound the passage (4), of the body element (3) by adhesive.
4. Photo album according to claim 3, characterised in that the body elements (3) consist of cardboard, paper or plastics material.
5. Photo album according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the body element (3) is an injection-moulded plastics material part produced in a mould, wherein the constructional unit forms an insert part, which is injection-moulded around by plastics material during production of the body element (3), in the mould.
6. Photo album according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the constructional unit comprises a circuitboard (8), on which a memory chip (6) forming the electronic memory element is arranged and with which the connecting element makes contact.
7. Photo album according to claim 6, characterised in that a sealing material (9) is applied to the circuitboard (8).
8. Photo album according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the connecting element is a plug (7).
9. Photo album according to claim 8, characterised in that the plug (7) is a mini-USB plug or a magnetically adhering plug (7).
10. Photo album according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the connecting element is a wirelessly operating communications module.
11. Method of producing a photo album, comprising a book cover (2), in which an electronic memory element and a connecting element connected therewith are integrated, and which comprises a flexible sheathing (11) and a plurality of body elements (3, 12, 13), characterised by the following method steps:

    - introducing a constructional element comprising the electronic memory element and the connecting element into a passage (4) of a body element (3), which passage opens at one of the edges of the body element (3), wherein the constructional element is mounted in the passage (4) with positive fit, and wherein the connecting element is exposed at the edge (3b) of the body element (3);

    - connecting and binding the body elements (3, 12, 13) by the flexible sheathing (11) in such a way that a mouth for the connecting element is present.
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the constructional unit in the passage (4) is connected with the body element (3) by adhesive or by an injectionmoulding process for producing the body element (3).
13. Method according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterised in that a cut-out (14) is formed in the flexible sheathing (11), the cut-out being bounded by a reinforcing layer (15) and forming, after binding of the body elements (3, 12, 13) by the flexible sheathing (11) has been carried out, the mouth for the connecting element.
14. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that software is used for creating a master for the photo album, wherein data are read into the electronic memory element by this software by way of the connecting element in parallel with creating the master, wherein these data are stored in the electronic memory element.

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