EP0988998A1 - System for making ornamental seal for small electronic device - Google Patents

System for making ornamental seal for small electronic device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0988998A1
EP0988998A1 EP99916043A EP99916043A EP0988998A1 EP 0988998 A1 EP0988998 A1 EP 0988998A1 EP 99916043 A EP99916043 A EP 99916043A EP 99916043 A EP99916043 A EP 99916043A EP 0988998 A1 EP0988998 A1 EP 0988998A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
image data
resolution
bit map
figurative
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99916043A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Kazuhiro Takada
Tsutomu Kosukegawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
World Creative Lab Co Ltd
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World Creative Lab Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP0988998A1 publication Critical patent/EP0988998A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44D—PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES
    • B44D5/00—Surface treatment to obtain special artistic surface effects or finishes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
    • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
    • B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
    • B26F1/3806—Cutting-out; Stamping-out wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/27—Means for performing other operations combined with cutting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/66—Applications of cutting devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
    • G09F3/0291—Labels or tickets undergoing a change under particular conditions, e.g. heat, radiation, passage of time
    • G09F3/0292—Labels or tickets undergoing a change under particular conditions, e.g. heat, radiation, passage of time tamper indicating labels

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for making varied ornamental seals for use to decorate the housings of portable information terminals such as portable telephones, PHSs, pocket bells, electronic pocketbooks or notebook-type personal computers, or to decorate the housings of small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses (viz., small-sized information devices) such as portable MD players.
  • portable information terminals such as portable telephones, PHSs, pocket bells, electronic pocketbooks or notebook-type personal computers
  • small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses viz., small-sized information devices
  • the housings (viz., casings) of small-sized electronic devices are each of a solid color without any figures so as to find public acceptance irrespective of age.
  • the small-sized electronic devices are now most spread among the younger generation.
  • PHS personal handy-phone system
  • Those PHSs in such a situation are often regarded as goods for amusement or pleasure, and the housings of PHS are wanted to have various ornamental designs to show users' personality.
  • housings for replacement with sophisticated configurations or various figures or patterns are sold and have a favorable reception.
  • Small-sized electronic information devices such as portable telephones, PHSs or PDAs (viz., personal digital assistants) are carried almost everyday by users.
  • PHSs or PDAs viz., personal digital assistants
  • Telephone seals having for instance a marking like the rain of wood as shown in Fig. 14 are sold for decoration of the marketed portable telephones, to meet such a demand. Those seals are stuck to the surfaces of housings of telephones to change appearance thereof in a simple manner.
  • Decorative patterns of such telephone seals can however not be infinite in sorts, though cheapness. Varieties of telephone housings are now on the market, so that no maker can provide all the ornamental seals matching the shape and size of the respective telephones. Therefore, users of portable telephones can neither necessarily select decorative patterns freely nor design them by themselves. There are many makers of portable telephones, and model change thereof has been and is made very frequently. Thus, several thousand types or almost ten thousand ones of ornamental seals will always have to be in hands for selling, in order to meet all the desired decorative patterns and all the types of telephones. Model changes made usually twice or so a year will necessitate further addition of those seals. This situation has been making it difficult to manufacture and sell such varied telephone seals in a business scale, and consequently ornamental seals have scarcely spread not only for portable telephones but also for other small-sized electronic apparatuses or machines.
  • An object of the present invention made in view of such a situation in the described field is therefore to provide a system for making ornamental seals such that any alteration in shape and/or size of the housings of portable telephones or the like small-sized electronic apparatuses can be caught up soon,
  • Any decorative figures can be chosen from a wide selection at the site of purchasing the seals, any optional figurative designs suiting or pleasing the purchasers' taste or fancy can be involved by the purchasers, and, not only version-ups of the housings' shape and size but also any change in or addition of ornamental designs can readily be followed up.
  • a system for making ornamental seals decorating small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses such as portable telephones, notebook-type personal computers, electronic pocketbooks or pocket bells is proposed herein, and that system consists of a sewer and clients.
  • the server will supply the clients, periodically or on demand therefrom, with "outline form data" representing the shape and size defining configuration of housings of the small-sized electronic information machines and/or with "figurative image data” representing ornamental patterns and decorative designs applicable thereto.
  • Each client receiving the outline form data and/or the figurative image data from the server will feed these data to a printer/cutter so as to make seal-sheets that are composed each of cut lines and ornamental figures. These cut lines will be produced by the printer/cutter from the outline form data for the small-sized electronic information machine desired, with those ornamental figures being produced from the figurative image data selected for the desired machine to be decorated.
  • the system provided herein for making ornamental seals decorating small-sized electronic information machines may typically be a system employable for mobile telephones each comprising dialing buttons, a liquid crystal display, a microphone and a loudspeaker.
  • the outline form data of the small-sized electronic information machines include each a data on the housing's contour, a data on arrangement and individual shapes of the dialing buttons, a data on location and shape of the display, a data on location and shape of the microphone, a data on location and shape of the loudspeaker, and a data on location and shape of regions where holes or apertures have to be formed corresponding to those which are formed in the housing.
  • a data storing medium provided herein for making ornamental seals that decorate housings of small-sized electronic machines does comprise a figurative image data file that stores series of data concerning ornamental patterns and decorative designs applicable to the housings, and also comprise an outline form data file that stores series of data concerning shape and size of the housings, wherein the data can be selected by users from the respective files at the users' will.
  • the data storing medium further comprises a program file that enables such an operation that the selected one of the outline form data as well as the selected one of the figurative image data will be output from the respective data files to a printer/cutter so as to make seal-sheets that are composed each of cut lines and ornamental figures.
  • cut lines will correspond to the shape and size of the desired small-sized electronic machine, with those ornamental figures corresponding to the figurative image desired to the machine.
  • All of the image data file, the outline form data file and the program file can be read by computers.
  • This data storing medium of the present invention may be renewed and periodically transmitted or otherwise distributed to registered customers such as seal selling shops or the like, so that the program file and the data files are installed in a computer owned by each customer so as to render up-to-date periodically the then existing programs and data.
  • An apparatus for making the ornamental seals for decorating the current types of small-sized electronic machines will be build up in this manner.
  • the data storing medium provided herein may typically be a data storing medium employable for mobile telephones involved as the small-sized electronic information machines and each comprising dialing buttons, a liquid crystal display, a microphone and a loudspeaker.
  • the outline form data of the small-sized electronic information machines include each a data on the housing's contour, a data on arrangement and individual shapes of the dialing buttons, a data on location and shape of the display, a data on location and shape of the microphone, a data on location and shape of the loudspeaker, and a data on location and shape of regions where holes or apertures have to be formed corresponding to those which are formed in the housing.
  • the present invention may be carried out to provide an apparatus for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines, the apparatus comprising a computer and a printer/cutter electrically connected thereto.
  • the computer has an auxiliary memory or storage, and the printer/cutter electrically connected to the computer may be a type of printing device capable of cutting printed sheets.
  • the printing device will receive figurative image data (hereinafter referred to simply as 'image data') from the computer so as to print figurative designs according to the image data on blank seal-sheets each with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive.
  • Outline form data (sometimes re-ferred to herein simply as 'form data') output from the computer will also be input to the printing device, so that cut lines according to the form data are carved in the printed seal-sheets.
  • the auxiliary storage installed in the computer will be loaded with a number of the image data representing the various figurative designs, a number of the form data representing the various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses comprise, and a program to be executed in and by the computer.
  • the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration.
  • Network transmission and/or the mailing of CD-ROMs or the like may be done to renew the out-of-date data in the auxiliary storage, so that purchasers of the blank seals can have same finished at any desired station where the described apparatuses are equipped.
  • Each finished seal may be such that it is cut to be of a contour in accordance with the shape and size of the portable telephone or the like small-sized electronic machine which the purchaser has, wherein portions in such a trimmed semi-finished seal are punched off corresponding to the locations of buttons, a liquid-crystal display and so on present in his or her electronic machine. Since the purchasers are allowed to select themselves the figurative designs to be formed on their finished seals, it is no longer necessary to previously prepare and always manage an extremely large number of finished seals. Thus, the described system will contribute to cost reduction in making the seal-sheets.
  • each image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data.
  • the number of dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data must be greater than the mathematical 'product' of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image.
  • the number of dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map data should be greater than the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution of each image.
  • the seals to be made may for instance be of a maximum horizontal width of 2 inches and a maximum vertical width 6 inches, with the image resolution being 400 dpi (viz., dots per inch).
  • the number of dots in each horizontal row may desirably be 800 or more, and that in each vertical row be 2400 or more.
  • the value of resolution used here may be that which has been written and stored in each image data.
  • An example of such a data format with the image resolution written therein is the so-called 'J-peg' format.
  • the computer employed herein may comprise such an input device that can set modifying factors of location of contour lines defining a desired figure when an output image is shown on a displaying faculty.
  • the selected form data will thus be modified using the factors in the input device and modified form data is output to the printing device.
  • This feature will protect important figure regions (e.g., those expressing characters' faces) from being deleted even if some areas in a ornamental seal were to be cut off and vacant corresponding to the buttons and/or liquid-crystal display.
  • the input device may make use of a keyboard, 'mouse' or the like usually connected to personal computers.
  • the application program installed in the computer mentioned above has to be composed to observe the key-operation on the keyboard or the mouse-operation by processes on the computer in order to set the desired modifying or adjusting factors for making each ornamental seal.
  • the apparatus for making the seals prefferably has a displaying faculty to show an output image composed of the selected figure and the contour lines corresponding to the selected configuration and superimposed thereon. This feature will make it possible to visually preview the output image before the printing device actually produces the seal.
  • the contour lines in the output image can be drawn based on the selected form data for the selected configurations. If high precision full-color prints are wanted, then the size of the image data will be too large (usually amounting to hundreds of kilobytes) to afford good responsiveness to the system. In detail, such large-sized image data read from the auxiliary memory or storage to give scaled-down images on the display will considerably impair responsiveness when selection of the decorative figures is done.
  • low-resolution image data giving the same decorative figure as represented by the large-sized image data may preferably be stored in the auxiliary memory so as to improve responsiveness at the selection step.
  • the preview display in this case, will give output images produced with such low-resolution data.
  • the bit map size of such a low-resolution image data may for example be 640 dots or less in horizontal rows and 480 dots or less in vertical rows, in order that the VGA standard as one of the most widely spread standards of picture frame can provide pictures apt for preview.
  • both the image data and the program routine for processing same are dispensed with.
  • the printer/cutter may be replaced with a cutting device devoid of the printing faculty.
  • the present invention may also be embodied as an apparatus for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines, the apparatus comprising a computer having an auxiliary memory or storage and a printing device electrically connected to the computer.
  • the printing device will receive a series of bit map data of a predetermined format so as to print figurative designs on blank seal-sheets each with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive.
  • Written in the auxiliary storage installed in the computer are: a number of image data representing the figurative designs, a number of form data corresponding to various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be executed in and by the computer. All of those data and the program are previously written in the auxiliary storage installed in the computer.
  • the program including the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration.
  • the program further includes the succeeding step of producing from the output images the bit map data adapted to the printing device, and the step of feeding the bit map data produced at the preceding step to the printing device.
  • Network transmission and/or the mailing of CD-ROMs or the like may be done to renew the out-of-date data in the auxiliary storage, so that purchasers of the blank seals can have same printed and semi-finished at any desired station or shop where the described apparatuses are equipped.
  • Each printed but semi-finished seal has a number of cut lines in accordance with the contour of front panel and the location of liquid -crystal,display and the buttons in portable telephone or the like small-sized electronic machine which the purchaser has. Portions surrounded with the cut lines in such a semi-finished seal will be severed off therefrom along said lines by the purchasers using the so-called cutter-knife or a pair of scissors. The seal thus finished will of course match the front face of the electronic machine. Since the purchasers are allowed to select themselves the figurative designs to be formed on their finished seals, it is no longer necessary to previously prepare and always manage an extremely large number of finished seals. Thus, the described system will contribute to cost reduction in making the seal-sheets. Also in this mode of the invention, the computer used for making the ornamental seals may preferably comprise a previewing display device or faculty.
  • auxiliary storage or memory devices Installation and renewal of various data in the auxiliary storage or memory devices may be done by directly transmitting thereto up-to-date data through a network for the computers owned by retailing shops (viz., users).
  • appropriate recording media may be mailed or otherwise delivered to the users.
  • the present invention can be embodied as a recording medium (i.e., data storing medium mentioned above) that stores therein a number of image data representing various figurative designs, a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be executed in and by computers.
  • the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration.
  • those image data and form data may be recorded as discrete files having respective names distinguishable from each other.
  • the users may be supplied with high resolution image data for the printing purpose and low resolution ones for the displaying purpose so that these data constitute as a whole the image data as discussed above.
  • the recording media in this case will have therein a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data also representing the same figurative designs, a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes, viz., configurations, of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be read by and executed in and by computers.
  • this program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the various configurations, and the step of producing output images that are based on the low-resolution image data corresponding to the selected figurative design and also based on the form data corresponding to the selected housing configuration.
  • the output images will thus be previewed on a display device connected to the computer.
  • the program further includes the succeeding step of outputting to a printing device connected to the computer the high-resolution image data corresponding to the selected figurative design, and the further step of outputting to the printing device the form data corresponding to the selected housing configuration.
  • those high-resolution image data and low-resolution image data as well as the form data may be recorded as discrete files having respective names distinguishable from each other.
  • Data base files for making mutual reference between the names of the high-resolution and low-resolution image data in the case of the same decorative figure being concerned may also preferably be recorded in the media.
  • a simpler program will suffice to make easy and rapid access using the data base file, and degree of freedom in naming the image data files will increase to render easier management of them.
  • any appropriate format may be adopted for the data base file, and for example, the name of each high-resolution image data and that of low-resolution corresponding thereto can be arranged fore and aft and punctuated with a comma (,), thus correlating the former with the latter.
  • the recording media in this case will contain at least a number of high-resolution image data file representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data file also representing the same figurative designs, a data base file for correlating the former with the latter, and a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise.
  • the present invention is also suited to form, as a network communication system, a system for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines.
  • the invention may also be embodied to provide a network system electrically linking a server having an auxiliary storage or memory to clients that are rendered capable of making bi-directional communication with the server.
  • the auxiliary storage contain, written therein, a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs as well as a number of form data representing the shapes and sizes, viz., configurations, of the housing of the small-sized electronic machines.
  • a process will be carried out to transmit the image data and the form data to the clients on one hand.
  • each client has a computer accompanied by a printing device that has a cutting or carving function.
  • the printing device will print on a raw seal-sheet a decorative figure represented by the image data in response to the image data which the client outputs from the computer.
  • the printing device will also carve cut lines in the printed seal-sheet in response to the form data which the client outputs from said computer.
  • a process is conducted to select any one from the decorative designs and select any one from the configurations, and to subsequently output to the printing device the relevant high-resolution image data corresponding to the selected design as well as the relevant form data corresponding to the selected configuration.
  • Each of the processes executed at the end of the server and/or the clients may be a single integral process, or alternatively consist of two or more 'sub-processes' allotted to respective works.
  • each high-resolution image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data.
  • the number of dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data must be greater than the mathematical 'product' of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image.
  • the number of dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map data should also be greater than the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution of each image. It is preferable for each client to have a displaying faculty to show an output image composed of the selected figure and the contour lines corresponding to the selected configuration and superimposed thereon.
  • a number of low-resolution image data representing the same figurative designs may be written in the server's auxiliary memory so that the output images on the client's side will be produced using low-resolution image data.
  • a blanket of such numerous low-resolution image data may be transmitted to the clients, periodically or on demand from the clients.
  • low-resolution image data stored in a client's auxiliary memory may be utilized in showing the output image on the client's displaying faculty. This way of supplying the clients with the necessary data will minimize the quantity of data transmitted from the server to the clients selecting the decorative figures. Those data will thus be delivered to the clients timely and smoothly, protecting transmission lines from congestion.
  • the high-resolution image data will be transmitted to the clients that request same after having selected the decorative figure and the configuration.
  • the clients may have such an input device that location of contour lines defining a desired figure on the computer's display can be modified or adjusted by desired factors when an output image is shown on the display.
  • the selected form data will thus be changed using the factors in the input device, before said data is output to the printing device.
  • This feature will protect important figure regions (e.g., those expressing characters' faces) from being deleted even ifsome areas in a ornamental seal were to be cut off and vacant corresponding to the buttons and/or liquid-crystal display.
  • the input device may make use of any keyboard, 'mouse' or the like usually connected to personal computers.
  • the application program installed in the computer mentioned above has to be composed to observe the key-operation on the keyboard or the mouse-operation by setting the desired changing or adjusting factors for making each ornamental seal.
  • both the image data can be dispensed with together with the program routine for processing same.
  • the printing device connected to the client may be replaced with a cutting device devoid of the printing faculty.
  • the present invention provides a network server as a suitable file server connectable to the 'INTERNET' and adapted to transmit to clients data for making ornamental seals for small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses.
  • the network server that is provided herein and permits bi-directional communication between the server and clients connected to their printing devices for making ornamental seals, comprises:
  • any house-held personal computer as one of the clients may be connected to INTERNET so as to download any necessary data, which include a form data corresponding to the housing of a small-sized electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone owned by the purchaser of raw seal-sheets.
  • An image data representing the decorative figure selected by him or her will also be included in the downloaded data. His or her selection of the decorative figures will be done quickly with a good response, because he or she can download low-resolution image data of a reduced file size from the server for the purpose of previewing on a displaying device or screen the figure produced by said data.
  • the low-resolution image data distributed by the server of this invention are mainly utilized as the data shown on the client's displaying faculty on selecting the figurative designs.
  • those display screens of the widely spread house-held personal computers are of a dimension of: 640 x 480 in the VGA standard, 800 x 600 in the SVGA standard or 1024 x 768 in the XGA standard (all denoted as 'dots in a horizontal row' multiplied by 'dots in a vertical row'). Therefore, the number of the dots in each horizontal row is preferably made 640 or less, with the number of the dots in each vertical row being made 480 or less, in order to render highly versatile the low-resolution image data providing preview images on the screens.
  • the purchasers After the purchasers have selected decorative designs, they will down-load high-resolution image data corresponding thereto and producing output images from the server. Cut lines of a color such as black will then be superimposed on each output image, using a form data representing the configuration of the housing covering the purchaser's small-sized electronic apparatus. The output images thus finished will then be output to a color printer so as to print the seals with fine and brilliantly colored decoration with the cut lines. Thereafter, the purchasers will cut around portions of each ornamental seal and along the cut lines, using the cutter-knife or a pair of scissors, so that the thus trimmed seals are neatly stuck to the housings.
  • Information about sales, such as fees and any expenses charged on the purchasers, will be registered surely without failure by renewing within the server the fee-charging data every time when the high-resolution data are transmitted to the clients.
  • the up-to-date fee-charging data will be used to send debit notes to the seal purchasers, periodically (for instance monthly).
  • Fig. 1 shows the basic arrangement of exemplary devises of the network system (data transmitting system) of this invention in a terminal equipment on the side of a user (viz., client).
  • This user is connected to a network system that is provided herein for making ornamental seals to be attached to small-sized electronic information machines or apparatuses such as portable telephones.
  • a seal printer 1 as one of the devices comprises a color printer of the ink-jet type consolidated with a cutting machine.
  • a printer or 'printer/cutter'
  • the reference numeral 2 denotes a personal computer as the client in the network system.
  • the computer 2 will control the seal printer 1 and contact a server (detailed below) to receive therefrom, or deliver thereto, requisite data.
  • the client 2 will obtain the requisite data from a server that is located at a data-distributing center not shown.
  • the client 2 will also function to automatically transmit fee-charging data 4 according to the use of the data to this center.
  • the data distribution system in the present invention may rely on the network system, any simplified system, not relying on the network system, can be used for example by which recording media such as CD-ROMs are mailed periodically to some seal-selling stores (viz., users). In such simplified independent computer systems, the users will respectively catch up with version-ups.
  • Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an ornamental seal applicable to portable telephones.
  • the ornamental seal 5 has holes at areas corresponding to the liquid-crystal display and the dialing zone formed in each portable telephone.
  • a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer present in the seal will be useful when manually sticking it to the housing of said telephone.
  • the ornamental seal 5 may not only be attached to the front face but also to the rear face or a side of the housing, if so wanted.
  • Each seal is composed of an exfoliation backing 6,the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 7 and a sheet body 8 on which the decorative figures are to be printed. This fundamental structure is employed herein in common with the prior art 'telephone seals' exemplified in Fig. 14.
  • Fig. 4 shows examples of the ornamental main parts of the seals made by the seal printer 1, and removed from the exfoliation backings so as to be ready for attachment to the telephone housings.
  • Fig. 5 shows sloughs of the ornamental seals from which the main parts have been removed.
  • the seal printer is adapted to color-print any desired pattern of desired figures on an ordinary adhesive sheet 8'.
  • the cutting faculty incorporated in the printer is such that cut lines are carved simultaneously so that all the areas encircled with them may be taken off with fingers of the user, to reproduce the shape and size (viz., configuration) of telephone housing.
  • this type of printers is connected to a serial terminal of the computer so that in response to the image data output from the computer and input to the printer any desired figures are printed on a blank paper or the like sheet.
  • the image data input to the printer are generally given each in a bit map form representing the desired figure.
  • each figure will be expressed as a matrix of dots.
  • Each dot includes color-indicating codes or components, whereby brilliant color prints are produced.
  • a fluorescent or phosphorescent ink will give color prints conspicuous at night.
  • Fig. 6 gives some examples of the portable telephone to which the ornamental seals have been attached. As illustrated in Fig. 18, those ornamental seals may also stick to either side or both the sides of the telephone.
  • the figurative designs are color-printed.
  • Figs. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate examples of an electronic pocketbook, a pocket bell and a notebook-type personal computer, respectively.
  • Fig. 8 shows a system composition of the network system proposed herein in an embodiment.
  • the reference numeral 11 in Fig. 8 denotes a server, and other numeral 12 and 13 denote clients (viz., user terminals), with the further numeral 14 denoting a management center.
  • This center handles data contents to supply the server with basic data and fundamental information.
  • an image data file 16 and a form data file 17 are always managed respectively for the decorative figures and the configuration of objective electronic machines to be transmitted to the user terminals via the server 11.
  • the image data file 20 and the outline data file (viz., form data file) 21, which have been stored in hard disc memories in the server 11, will thus be renewed at regular periodical intervals or on demand from the clients.
  • renewal of data may be done through a certain network utilizing public telephone wires or private exclusive lines.
  • the certain network may for example be the network "INTERNET".
  • Further networks 30 and 31 connecting the server 11 to the user terminals 12 and 13 utilize the telephone lines, though private lines may be used if necessary.
  • Further users, not denoted with any reference numeral, who have not entered any network service will receive by mail computer-readable CD-ROMs. The data which are written in CD-ROMs will be used by them to renew contents of their computers.
  • Fig. 9 is an exemplary flow chart showing a process conducted between the server 11 and the user terminals 12,13 to renew the data.
  • the image file 20 in the memory of the server 11 will be compared with those 22,25 in the memories of user terminals 12,13.
  • the outline data file 21 in the former memory is also compared with those 23,26 in the latter memories. If, as a result of comparison, any newly registered data in the server 11 is not found in the user terminals 12,13 or any data of the newest data is not found there, then those data will be downloaded to the terminals from the server. Every time when the user terminals 12,13 use this system, fees will be charged on them corresponding to quantity or the like of the output information 24,27.
  • Fig. 10 shows an overall composition of the system for outputting the various data at and from the one client (viz., user terminal).
  • a client program (viz., an integrated software) will be executed at the client to control all the processes done there.
  • An image file 42 and an outline data file (viz., form data file) 43 correspond respectively to the files 22 and 23 included in Fig. 8.
  • Those files 42 and 43 are automatically renewed by the server at regular periods (for instance, daily).
  • the client may ask the server for download of up-to-date data to renew the client's files, when necessary.
  • periodical renewal of the image file 42 and the outline data file 43 is carried out through the network. If any network service is not utilized, then CD-ROMs for renewal of the clients' files may be mailed or otherwise delivered to them.
  • any original designs made by seal purchasers viz., end users
  • scanners, CCD cameras or any other image inputting devices may be connected to the client computers (viz., user terminals).
  • Each image file 42 stores therein a number of high-resolution image data that are produced by data contents producers to represent various decorative figures. Those many image data are preferably contained in respective image files for an easier search by means of their names, though a single image file holding therein such numerous image data can be employed herein.
  • the image data are of a bit map format, not excluding usage of a condensed alternative thereof. Examples of such condensed image formats known in the art are named: 'J peg' format, GIF format, PCX format, TIFF format and 'Targa' format. In usual, these condensed data file will be exploded each into a normal bit map format when read into a main memory of a computer, according to a process operating therein.
  • every desired figure can be printed by outputting the relevant exploded bit map image data from the main memory to a printer at the client.
  • those high-resolution image data for the printing purpose are of a so large size that responsiveness will be lowered when they are used to preview the figures on a display. Therefore, low-resolution image data are preferably prepared to represent the same figures as those which those high-resolution ones do.
  • the outline data file 43 also supplied from the data contents maker do each contain a number of configuration data representing in shape and size the housings of various types of portable telephones and PHSs.
  • Those many form data are preferably contained in respective outline data files for an easier search by means of their names, though a single file holding all such numerous form data can be employed herein.
  • those form data are vector data such that contours of the entire housing, the respective buttons and liquid-crystal display are expressed each with vectors.
  • Such vector data widely used in plotters or the like are advantageous in that even a small amount of data can represent well any highly sophisticated configuration. With such vector data being input to the printer 1, it will carve cut lines in each seal-sheet to realize a configuration defined with those vector data.
  • a hard disc device (viz., auxiliary memory) disposed at each client will store, in addition to the data described above, a program by which communication between the client and the server as well as control of the printer are carried out. The further steps of indicating the type of portable telephone and selecting any desired figure to make ornamental seals are also conducted under control by the program.
  • the program is usually stored in the form of an executive file or executive control program so that if the client computer does it, then processes for conducting desired works are generated.
  • Such a program will contain, for example, the step of voluntarily and freely choosing one figure and one configuration from respective 'wide selection', as well as the step of outputting to the printer the image data and form data respectively corresponding to the selected pictorial design and the selected housing configuration.
  • a seal printer 47 will print a raw seal-sheet with the selected picture or pictures and sever from a large raw sheet each finished seal matching the housing of the designated type of small-sized electronic apparatus.
  • Figs. 11 and 12 show exemplary flow charts that are designed to conduct the processing described above.
  • selection of the image files is done at first before designation of the apparatus's outline.
  • designation of the outline precedes the selection of image files in Fig. 12.
  • Either option may be adopted of the user's own choice.
  • the flow chart of Fig. 11 includes the step of preferring the ready-made pictures or original ones, while that shown in Fig. 12 including the step of adding the original pictures to the ready-made ones.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates an apparatus provided in a further embodiment to make ornamental seals.
  • raw seals are already printed with decorative figures or the like so that only the cut lines as discussed above need be carved in accordance with the outline data.
  • this system is simpler in structure, less expensive and nevertheless adapted to mass production of ornamental seals that have been printed with popular figures and have cut lines carved to match any desired types of the electronic machines or apparatuses.
  • the system provided in the embodiments for making ornamental seals is advantageous: in that any alteration in shape and/or size of the housings of portable telephones or the like small-sized electronic apparatuses can be caught up soon, in that any decorative figures can be chosen from a wide selection at site of purchasing the seals, in that any optional figurative designs suiting or pleasing the purchasers' taste or fancy can be involved by the purchasers, and in that not only version-ups of the housings' shape and size but also any change in or addition of ornamental designs can readily be followed up.
  • the present invention that was made to decorate the housings of. portable telephones, PHSs or the like portable electronic tools, machines or the like may be embodied: as an equipment for making ornamental seals for use with small-sized electronic apparatuses, as a recording medium for feeding data to the equipment, as a network system for making the ornamental seals, as a network server for transmitting data used to make the ornamental seals, or as a system for making ornamental seals for use with small-sized electronic information devices.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Processing Or Creating Images (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
EP99916043A 1998-04-10 1999-04-08 System for making ornamental seal for small electronic device Withdrawn EP0988998A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP11441098 1998-04-10
JP11441098 1998-04-10
PCT/JP1999/001888 WO1999052719A1 (fr) 1998-04-10 1999-04-08 Systeme de fabrication de fourreaux ornementaux pour petits appareils electroniques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0988998A1 true EP0988998A1 (en) 2000-03-29

Family

ID=14637000

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EP99916043A Withdrawn EP0988998A1 (en) 1998-04-10 1999-04-08 System for making ornamental seal for small electronic device

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EP (1) EP0988998A1 (zh)
KR (1) KR20010013558A (zh)
CN (1) CN1263502A (zh)
TW (1) TW479451B (zh)
WO (1) WO1999052719A1 (zh)

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US7914869B2 (en) 2005-04-18 2011-03-29 Avery Dennison Corporation Mobile device label with negative image feature
US20160358323A1 (en) * 2015-06-03 2016-12-08 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. Anisotropic Conductive Film Cutting Calibration System and Method

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JP2003271323A (ja) * 2002-03-14 2003-09-26 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置、印刷装置のメニュー追加方法、印刷システム並びに記憶媒体
US7966088B2 (en) * 2008-07-25 2011-06-21 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab System and method for manufacturing uniquely decorated components
CN105196345A (zh) * 2014-06-26 2015-12-30 德阳市利通印刷机械有限公司 一种松纸边机
CN107053331B (zh) * 2017-03-20 2019-03-15 纪章生 一体式冲床
CN107283521B (zh) * 2017-06-24 2018-11-20 深圳市金世冠不干胶制品有限公司 一种不干胶贴牌产品的生产系统及其排废方法

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JPH02196278A (ja) * 1989-01-26 1990-08-02 Shigeaki Sugiyama ステッカー、シールの製造方法及び製造装置
JP3034512U (ja) * 1996-08-08 1997-02-25 武司 中筋 装飾付き携帯用通信端末

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7914869B2 (en) 2005-04-18 2011-03-29 Avery Dennison Corporation Mobile device label with negative image feature
US20160358323A1 (en) * 2015-06-03 2016-12-08 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. Anisotropic Conductive Film Cutting Calibration System and Method
US10163032B2 (en) * 2015-06-03 2018-12-25 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. Anisotropic conductive film cutting calibration system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1263502A (zh) 2000-08-16
TW479451B (en) 2002-03-11
KR20010013558A (ko) 2001-02-26
WO1999052719A1 (fr) 1999-10-21

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