FI123127B - The subscription arrangement - Google Patents

Description

Marking arrangements

The invention relates to electrically conductive markings on a substrate. In particular, the invention relates to electromagnetically identifiable markings and memory products bearing such markings. The memory product may be, for example, a cardboard product package or a blank thereof. In addition, the invention relates to new methods for producing and detecting such markings and to a new reader.

The electrically conductive markings can be used to store information in product packages 10 in the same way as barcodes. However, they can be made optically invisible and harder to counterfeit, making them more suitable for barcodes, for example in the manufacture of genuine products and for storing information irrelevant to the consumer. However, they can also be used, like barcodes, to store product information.

One capacitably recognizable label is known, for example, from WO 2005/122068. Therein, rectangular conductive regions of different widths are sequentially mapped onto a substrate to store information in the substrate. The marking is read by a dual electrode reader by moving the substrate and the electrodes relative to one another and interpreting the electrical response received through the electrodes. By far the much larger amount of information 20 is so far disclosed in secret FI application 20050392. Such labels may be formed, for example, by a conductive polymer. US 6202929 discloses a barcode type label formed by conductive ink.

In order to read capacitive markings, the product package comprising the mark and the reading electrodes must be very precisely positioned relative to one another during the reading event. The packaging ιό is very different in shape and size and the markings can be located in many different places on the packaging. Such a marking electrode system has many spatial (geo-x metric and motion) degrees of freedom that need to be mechanically limited by reading

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allow. Thus, reliably hand-reading the label reliably is not practicable

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co 30 possible. This results in products of different shapes and sizes requiring different readers with guide rails. The guide rails position the product relative to the reading electrodes 0X1 such that the marking can be read, for example, by dissolving the package along the rails in a particular direction.

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To date, no electromagnetically readable label that is easy to read on any size package is known.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above problem and to provide a new type of marking which is easy to read with a single reading device regardless of its size.

A further object is to provide a new method for producing and reading such an indication and a new type of reader.

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It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for reading a label on a product package that is suitable for use with a product reader of any size product package.

The invention is based on the idea that the shape of the product serving as the substrate for the label is used to limit the number of critical degrees of freedom in reading the label. In particular, the invention utilizes corners in packages, for example, as a platform for capacitively readable labels to harmonize a reading event.

The product of the invention comprises an electromagnetically recognizable pattern and at least two facets defining an angle having a vertex, the pattern being positioned with respect to at least one of said facets with respect to the vertex of the angle such that the geometry of the angle is operably utilized The shape and the geometry of the angle form together

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o 25 new types of markings which accomplish the objects of the invention.

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In a method of labeling a product according to the invention, the product comprises co x at least two facets which are or may be combined to form

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Q_ approaches the angle, applying an electrically conductive pattern to at least one of said facets such that

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30 that the pattern, together with the geometrical properties of the angle, forms a notation which

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o the number of spatial degrees of freedom affecting the reading event is limited by the geometry of the angle 00 and the positioning of the pattern.

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In the method of the invention for reading an inscription, a product such as the one described above is placed in a reading device such that the angle of the product is introduced into a reading area of the reading device comprising means for immobilizing the angle in all three main dimensions. The reading area is provided with means for electromagnetically identifying the conductive pattern.

More specifically, the product of the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The blank according to the invention, in turn, is characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 14.

The device for reading the marking according to the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 17.

The method for recognizing an entry according to the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 18.

The method of labeling the product according to the invention is again characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 21.

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The electrically conductive pattern involved in forming the notation refers to the configuration (configuration) of one or two-dimensional locally bounded electrically and non-conductive regions at each Tahko. The properties of such an arrangement essential to the present invention can be detected by electrical, preferably capacitive

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o by means of the detection means at a distance from the pattern with such accuracy that the information stored therein can be derived from the signal obtained through the means of observation or from a plurality of available cp o signals. Such properties are mainly its shape (mutual arrangement of conductive and co x non-conductive regions) and / or conductivity of the conductive regions.

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The information contained in the pattern may be independently interpreted, but the interpretation may also require the identification and interpretation of a pattern on the adjacent faces or adjacent faces, m o The area of the pattern refers to the area defined by 0X1 maximum dimensions along the principal axes of the pattern.

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The invention provides considerable advantages. In prior art solutions, the amount of geometric degrees of freedom of a tag reading transaction is mainly limited by the features of the reader, whereas in the solution of the invention, the number of degrees of freedom is limited by product features. Certain angles having 5 angles between the faces always look the same, regardless of the surface area or shape of the faces that form it. Thus, the effect of the geometry between the package and the reader is minimized in the reading event. Indeed, for reading the inscription at an angle, a reading device capable of reliably and quickly identifying labels of any size and variety of packaging can be provided. The reading device, comprising means for adjusting the angle 10 within the reading area of the device, can read as well the marking of the corner of a small box or grocery package as it does of a household appliance. Fixed devices of this type can avoid the use of multiple devices or mechanically adjustable guides, which would be necessary if the markings were to be located at indefinite locations in the middle of the pack, such as barcodes today. Of course, the warps and directions of the markings even in the middle regions of the facets can be strictly standardized with respect to the shapes and dimensions of the packages, but this is also avoided by the angle marking. In other words, the invention allows the number of possible read positions between the product and the reading device to be limited to a finite and small number. You see the space geometry of the product, mainly the geometry of at least one corner, is 20 parts of the mark. Hence, the designation will be referred to as the corner designation.

Labeling is well suited for example to three-dimensional authentication products (security products) such as packaging. Thus, the origin of the package and the contents of the package can be ascertained by identifying the corner marking according to the invention.

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LO In particular, the invention is suitable for use in paper or board based packaging, including cardboard packaging. Due to the folding nature of paper and board, they are made from them

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x packs almost always contain Kuhn.

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In particular, the invention is applicable to products having three angular facets

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arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in the vicinity of the vertex of the angle.

^ Such products include at least all rectangular packaging, which clearly constitutes the majority of all carton packaging. They have eight corners.

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Marking patterns, geometries and readers suitable for use in the invention will be described by way of example later.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be examined in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1-3 are perspective views of three products having different marking patterns, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a product having two marking faces, and , placed at 10 corners forming two Tahkas.

Figures 1-5 illustrate embodiments in which at least two planar facets are joined to form an angle having a vertex. At least one of said facets is followed by a capacitably readable pattern located in its entirety adjacent to said vertex. As can be seen in Fig. 5, two facets already set at an angle deviating from their planes at right angles are sufficient to uniquely determine a three-dimensional angle having a unique vertex, but the invention is also applicable to angles formed by several Tahkas, especially three Tahkas.

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In addition to capacitably recognizable labels, inductively and galvanically recognizable labels are also possible.

Especially the corner marking is suitable for packaging cartons. These are typically multilayer

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o 25 cartons (so-called folding cartons) that are sufficiently rigid and durable for packaging.

ιό Their stiffness is also sufficient to provide a geometrically stable substrate for the marking, or rp, so that the cp o reading event can be reproduced. The bending properties of the packaging boards are also good co x, making them particularly sharp and mechanically durable at their corners. The cardboard CL 2 wound substrate preferably has a basis weight of from 120 to 560 g / m. Packaging cardboard fiber layer

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The co 30 is typically comprised of 3-5 discrete fiber layers. For example, the fibrous layer of triple layer board LT) CO 2 · o may consist of a surface layer having a basis weight of 20 to 80 g / m 2, an inner layer of 80 to 400 g / m 2 and a backing layer of 20 to 80 g / m 2. or both sides coated with either one or more layers. The coating has a typical basis weight of 4 to 20 g / m 2.

In addition to packaging boards, other substrate materials of electrical conductivity and in particular made of planar material, in particular fiber and plastic-based products, may be used as labeling substrates. By fiber-based products we mean, in particular, paper, cardboard or similar cellulosic material produced from lignocellulosic raw materials, particularly wood or annual or perennial plants.

10 In the case of packages, the electromagnetically recognizable pattern may be applied to the pre-package or to the pre-folded package. The pattern may be located on the inner or outer surface of the fiber layer of paper or cardboard, or even in the case of multilayer products, even between the fiber layers. On the inner surface or inner layer, it is better protected from mechanical stress on the packaging, but on the other hand the reading distance increases with the thickness of the packaging material. The pattern can be applied directly to the fiber layer or onto a surface adhesive, a pigment or polymer coating, or even an ink or varnish layer. The pattern can also be left on the inner layer of the product by arranging on one or more of these layers. In a typical solution, the pattern is applied, for example, by printing, for example, with a conductive polymer on the packaging blank before or after printing the packaging. Usually, the surface of the product 20 is protected by a layer of varnish, whereby the pattern is also under protection against wear.

The conductivity of the layers in the vicinity of the pattern is preferably very low with respect to the conductivity of the tracer, typically less than 1% of this.

According to one embodiment, the pattern is positioned within the corner region of the package

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o 25 bonded joints. Hereby, the pattern can be formed in the uS space reserved for gluing the blank while the package is still unfolded or partially folded. The pattern can then remain under the adhesive between the cardboard layers. The advantage of this embodiment is that the co x seam sites are durable, whereby the pattern is well protected from bumps and wear. The Q_ points are also more rigid than other material, which improves the readability of the code.

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According to one embodiment, the marking pattern covers up to 25% of the surface area of the 2 ^ Tahko at each Tahko. For example, the pattern may be limited in the direction of the main axes to less than half the corresponding length of the Tahko in that direction. Thus, the whole pattern is located in one quarter of Tahko. In the case of such small packages, there is no 7 risk that the pattern will be incorrectly detected by reading a non-marked corner of the product.

Of course, especially in the case of large packages, the label may be considerably smaller than the one mentioned above and correspondingly in the case of small packages.

Also substantially all of the Tahko area can be used to form a marking pattern. In typical applications, the maximum dimension parallel to the plane of the marking pattern may be, for example, 1 to 200 mm, typically 10 to 200 mm.

Each Tahko preferably has at least two, generally 3-20 electrically separable guide regions in the pattern.

The marking pattern itself can be made visible or invisible. A typical solution is one in which the pattern is invisible, but the angle to which the marking is operatively linked is indicated visually. This way, the reader of the reading event knows which corner of the package should target the reader. In the case of authenticity products in particular, the angle on the label may be omitted from the visual indication.

The marking pattern may be wholly on one Tahko, or it may be divided or duplicated on a plurality, usually two or three Tahkas. Similarly, the reading device may include means for identifying the pattern on one or more pages of the reading area. If the marking is duplicated on all angles, or if the reader has means for recognizing the pattern on all sides, it is possible to provide a rigid system in which the marking can be read regardless of the position of the marker in the reader.

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o 25 Sharing an annotation pattern with several Tahkoes adds more information capacity to the cv to annotation, o i o

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a. In Figure 1, one possible marking pattern 19 is shown by a dashed line at one corner 11a of the pack 11. The other facets forming the angle 18 are designated S3 30 by reference numerals 1 Ib and Ile. The pattern comprises a conductive material 12 formed of < o &gt; identification regions 13 and connecting regions 14 connecting them. The identification regions 13 are generally rectangular or circular while the connecting regions 14 are linear.

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Figure 2 shows another possible marking pattern 29 having guide regions 22. The figure comprises concentric (centered on the corner tip 28) consecutive conductive non-conducting arcs on one face 21a of the package 21.

Figure 3, in turn, shows a marking pattern 39 comprising conductive rectangles 32 separated by non-conductive areas in the vicinity of an angle 38 on two adjacent faces.

Fig. 4 shows an inscription in which an inscription pattern 49 is applied to two portions of the package 41. The faceted conductor patterns 42 in this example are connected in the connecting region 44, but this is not necessary.

Figure 5 illustrates a product 51 in which a suitable angle 58 for positioning the marking pattern 59 is formed utilizing two faces 51a and 51b. The angled-15 side end faces of the faces 51a and 51b are open.

As the examples above show, the shape of the marking pattern can be very variable. The pattern can be designed with regard to reading reliability, marking information capacity, or both. Preferably, the electrically conductive regions are disposed symmetrically to each of the 20 vertices relative to the vertex and / or the bisector, as in the examples of Figures 1-5. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that in order to include variable information in a label, the shape of the pattern may vary from product to product. Thus, the shape of the pattern or the arrangement of regions refers to all such geometric combinations of conductive and non-conductive regions that can be correctly detected and interpreted by the i g 25 reader for that type of notation.

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The invention is particularly well suited for use with reading devices having g reading electrodes positioned in the reading area at fixed positions in the marking pattern always used.

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g by type and shape. This makes the reading event particularly fast. Of course, the scanning gauge design can also be used, whereby fewer electrodes are required, even only two, but the reading process may be slowed down.

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Applying the marking to the packaging product may be accomplished, for example, by: taking a packaging blank of known bending pattern; and - applying a marking pattern to the surface of the blank from the conductive material to the known position of the bending package.

Further, the method may comprise the step of bending the blank into packaging. Bending can also be done before applying the marking pattern.

The conductive material of the marking pattern may comprise, for example, conductive polymer, carbon black, metal particles, or electrically conductive carbon nanotubes. Of the conductive polymers, polyaniline, polythiophene, polyacetylene and polypyrrole and mixtures thereof are particularly mentioned. The conductivity of these can be controlled, for example, by modifying the composition of the polymer or chemically treating the polymer in solution form or only after application of the polymer. The conductor may be incorporated in a binder or even in ink or varnish.

Polymers are often also suitable for application in a fluid form substantially as such.

According to one preferred embodiment, the conductive material is applied by printing, for example using inkjet technology. The printing is suitable for marking even small batches of products 20 and the format and information content of the marking can be easily changed programmatically. Printing is suitable for marking on both packaging blanks and finished packaging.

Other suitable application methods for marking material are mentioned in particular

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o 25 printing methods known in the art. Printing and printing methods can also be used to apply ιό any doping or deduping agent. Reference is made to the secret PCT application x PCT / FI2006 / 000121 for the marking materials, conductivities and application methods, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

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The conductor polymer can be applied to the substrate surface in a non-conductive or weakly conductive manner

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in a conductive form, whereby it is converted to a more electrically conductive form at the points of the conductors by a suitable doping agent, such as an acid. Of the acids, organic sulfonic acids and inorganic mineral acids may be mentioned. Alternatively, the conductive polymer may be applied to the substrate in a conductive form and deduced with a deducting agent, typically a basic agent such as sodium hydroxide, to be less conductive at non-conductive regions of the marking pattern. Thus, a conductive polymer is a polymer that can be made conductive by means of a chemical. Thus, it need not necessarily be in a conductive form during the application step.

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In order to increase the information capacity, the marking pattern may also comprise conductive regions of substantially different electrical conductivity. Thus, it may comprise a plurality of first regions having a conductivity greater than a predetermined threshold value and including at least two regions having substantially different conductivities.

A typical marking reader device comprises means for immobilizing an angle, i.e., a generally "" angular "reading area of the marking pattern. This is the point at which the angle of the package can be immobilized relative to the device in all three dimensions by the force of one diagonal diagonal. Thus, it has guide members, which typically come into contact with the facets forming the corner of the product. The angle of the rectangular package can be placed in such a corner in exactly three different positions. For details of the operation of the reader device, reference is made by way of example to FI application 20050392 and WO 2005/122068, the relevant contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

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Claims (22)

A three-dimensional product comprising an electromagnetically readable figure and at least two sides defining an angle with a point, said figure comprising a group of conductive and non-conductive regions containing information, characterized in that the electromagnetically readable figure is arranged in relation to at least one of said sides in relation to the tip point in such a way that it forms, together with the geometric properties of the angle, a mark which can be read by utilizing the geometric properties of the angle to limit the degrees of freedom of movement at the reading. Product according to claim 1, characterized in that the figure is limited by said side in the vicinity of said point of point, while covering the surface of the side preferably at most 25%. Product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the number of pages determining vinkein is three. Product according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromagnetically readable figure comprises a flat material on the surface or electrically conductive areas made on a non-conductive substrate on an inner layer. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least C \ J q at two of said sides, the electromagnetically readable conductive figures are arranged. cp o CO Product according to claim 5, characterized in that the cc figures located at the different sides are in electrical communication with each other by means of at least one conductive connecting area arranged over a co-edge between the sides. co LO CO o cv Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each dimension of the figure in the direction of the page corresponds to a maximum of 50%, typically to a maximum of 25%, of the corresponding dimension of the corresponding page. Product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the figure comprises first areas, whose electrical conductivity is greater than a certain threshold value, and second regions between the first regions, whose electrical conductivity is less or equal to said threshold value. Product according to claim 8, characterized in that at least the first two areas differ substantially in their electrical conductivity from each other. Product according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat material is made of paper or cardboard, preferably multi-layer carton. Product according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromagnetically readable figure is formed by using conductive polymer, conductive ink, or adhesive containing black koi or metal particles applied to the surface of the planar material layer. Product according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromagnetically readable figure is substantially symmetrical in relation to the tip point or the proximity of the tip point. Product according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sides are joined at right angles. A blank for fabricating a three-dimensional product according to any one of claims 1 - 13 comprising an electromagnetically readable figure and at least two regions which can be bent relative to each other in such a way that they determine an angle with a tip. - CO point, characterized in that when the blank is bent, the electromagnetically readable figure is arranged in relation to the point of the angle in such a way that it forms, together with the geometry of the angle, a mark which can be read by utilizing the geometry of the angle to limit the the reading affecting the degrees of space freedom. o (M 25 A blank as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that it is made of cardboard, before wood, multilayer carton, and comprises break lines made in the carton, along which, when bending, the electromagnetically readable figure is arranged in the vicinity of the tip of the winkein. The blank according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the electromagnetically readable figure is limited by some of the said areas in the vicinity of the point of point, while preferably covering at most 25% of the area of said area. Apparatus for reading a marking comprising a product according to any one of claims 1-13, said device comprising a reading area which comprises means for capacitively observing a figure with conductive and non-conductive areas, characterized in that it further comprises control means arranged in such a way that an edge can be brought into contact with the control means in such a way that the edge of the edge is immobilized at the reading area in all three dimensions. A method for identifying a label of a product according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein said method comprises a three-dimensional product comprising an electromagnetically readable figure disposed at one of at least two sides which determines an angle with a tip point, a reading device is brought to a reading area with means for observing an electrically conductive figure, characterized in that the product is immobilized at the reading area of the reading device by utilizing the geometrical properties of the angle-reading and reading area, which can be read into the electromagnetic reading-sensing field, in a position of a position set of finite number of possible positions. δ (M to 19. A method according to claim 18, characterized in that the product and the reading and range are formed in such a way that said position set comprises at most three possible co x positions, a CL CD Method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that a reading meter § 25 device according to claim 17 is used. if A method of labeling products comprising at least two sides which are joined or may be joined to each other in such a way that they determine an angle with a tip point and to which method at least one of said sides is applied with the aid of of conductor material, the electromagnetically readable figure, which comprises a group of conductive and non-conductive regions containing information, characterized in that the figure is arranged on the relevant side in relation to the point of the angle in such a way that the figure forms together with the geometry of the angle, which can be read by utilizing the geometric properties of the angle to limit the degrees of space freedom affecting the reading. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the figure is arranged on a flat package blank, after which the package blank is folded into a package. CM δ CM uo o o co X X D. CD 00 CO LO CD O O CM