U.S. patent application number 10/161600 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-17 for information seal.
Invention is credited to Nagashima, Takeshi, Tanaka, Maki.
Application Number | 20020150739 10/161600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16595418 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020150739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagashima, Takeshi ; et
al. |
October 17, 2002 |
Information seal
Abstract
Information of a product for an information seal to be adhered
to is printed on an information side of the information seal. An
adhesive for adhering the information seal to the product is
applied to a pattern side of the information seal, and a conduction
pattern corresponding to a serial number is further formed on the
pattern side. The conduction pattern includes a required number of
terminals opposed to each other, and lines interconnecting those of
the opposed terminals required to indicate the serial number
indicated on the information side.
Inventors: |
Nagashima, Takeshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tanaka, Maki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO MORIN & OSHINSKY LLP
2101 L STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20037-1526
US
|
Family ID: |
16595418 |
Appl. No.: |
10/161600 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10161600 |
Jun 5, 2002 |
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09359380 |
Jul 23, 1999 |
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6436516 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
428/195.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/24851 20150115;
G06K 19/0776 20130101; Y10T 428/24802 20150115; G06K 19/067
20130101; Y10T 428/24868 20150115; Y10T 428/24917 20150115; G06K
19/077 20130101; Y10S 428/901 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/195 |
International
Class: |
B32B 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 1998 |
JP |
10-210804 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information seal comprising information recorded visibly on
one side of a sheet, and a conduction pattern formed on the other
side of the sheet, which corresponds to the information.
2. An information seal according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive
for adhering the information seal to a product is applied to the
other side of the sheet.
3. An information seal according to claim 2, wherein the conduction
pattern includes a plurality of sets of terminal patterns opposed
to each other, and a connection pattern interconnecting the
terminal patterns of a required one of the sets corresponding to
the information.
4. An information seal according to claim 2, wherein the conduction
pattern includes a plurality of sets of terminal patterns opposed
to each other, and a connection pattern interconnecting the
terminal patterns of a required one of the sets corresponding to
the information.
5. An information seal according to claim 1, wherein the
information is one of a serial number of the product for the
information seal to be adhered to, an ID number and an areal code,
or a combination of them.
6. An information seal according to claim 1, wherein visible
information is formed on said one side.
7. An information seal according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is
transparent; the visible information is formed on said the other
side of the sheet; and the information is visible through the sheet
from the side of said one side of the sheet.
8. An information seal according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is
transparent; the visible information is formed on said the other
side of the sheet; and the information is visible through the sheet
from the side of said one side of the sheet.
9. An information seal according to claim 3, wherein the sheet is
transparent; the visible information is formed on said the other
side of the sheet; and the information is visible through the sheet
from the side of said one side of the sheet.
10. An information seal according to claim 4, wherein the sheet is
transparent; the visible information is formed on said the other
side of the sheet; and the information is visible through the sheet
from the side of said one side of the sheet.
11. An information seal according to claim 1, wherein the visible
information is formed of a letter and/or a visible code.
12. A product for the information seal according to claim 1 to be
adhered to, the product comprising a plurality of terminals which
are formed on a region thereof for the information seal to be
adhered to, and which are to be electrically connected to the
information seal through the conduction pattern.
13. A product according to claim 12, comprising a window which is
formed in a casing thereof and through which the visible
information of the information seal is to be confirmed from the
outside.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an information seal for
clearly indicating various information of products, such as serial
numbers, ID numbers, area codes, etc., more specifically
information seal from which the various information can be read on
the side of products with the information seal adhered to.
[0002] Generally seals with serial numbers, etc. printed on are
adhered to parts, e.g., the back sides of domestic electric
products, typically television sets, audio sets, etc., for possible
later product administration and guarantee, and maintenance.
However, the information of the seals is indicated to be read
visually by human eyes. The information can not be correctly read
or is unreadably due to smear states.
[0003] On the other hand, increased numbers of electronic
apparatuses, such as video game machines, personal computers, etc.
have information, such as serial numbers, ID numbers, etc.,
specifically assigned to the apparatuses electrically recorded in
the memories, such as EEP-ROM, etc., incorporated in the electronic
apparatuses.
[0004] However, it can not help saying that recording product
information in devices, such as memories, etc., thus built in the
electronic apparatuses take much labor and cost unsuitably for
inexpensive mass-production. If the product information is recorded
in such way, usually the information recorded in memories, such as
EEP-ROM, etc., can not be read without putting the electronic
apparatuses in operation. The information can not be read when the
electronic apparatuses themselves malfunction. Accordingly, in
malfunctions, etc., it will take time and labor to read the
information, and finding causes and countermeasures will be
delayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an
information seal from which permits information, such as serial
numbers, ID numbers, areal codes, etc., to be easily read both
electrically and visually.
[0006] The above-described object is achieved by an information
seal comprising information recorded visibly on one side of a
sheet, and a conduction pattern formed on the other side of the
sheet, which corresponds to the information.
[0007] Operators can visually confirm the information by means of
the visible information clearly indicated on one side of the
information seal, and the information can be electrically read by
the conduction pattern formed on the other side of the information
seal.
[0008] In the above-described information seal it is possible that
an adhesive for adhering the information seal to a product is
applied to the other side of the sheet. The information seal can be
easily adhered to a product.
[0009] In the above-described information seal it is possible that
the conduction pattern includes a plurality of sets of terminal
patterns opposed to each other, and a connection pattern
interconnecting the terminal patterns of a required one of the sets
corresponding to the information. Depending on which of a plurality
of sets of opposed terminal patterns are interconnected with each
other, various product information can be indicated.
[0010] In the above-described information seal it is preferable
that the information is one of a serial number of the product for
the information seal to be adhered to, an ID number and an areal
code, or a combination of them.
[0011] In the above-described information seal it is possible that
visible information is formed on said one side.
[0012] In the above-described information seal it is possible that
the sheet is transparent; the visible information is formed on said
the other side of the sheet; and the information is visible through
the sheet from the side of said one side of the sheet. The
information can be visually recognized through the transparent
sheet on the side of one side of the sheet.
[0013] In the above-described information sheet it is possible that
the visible information is formed of a letter and/or a visible
code. The information can be read by reading devices.
[0014] As described above, according to the present invention,
visible information is clearly indicated on one side of the
information seal, and a conduction pattern which is electrically
readable is provided on the other side of the information seal,
whereby the visible information can be visually read, and the
information can be electrically read by the conduction pattern.
Accordingly, the information seal is very useful in electrically
processing product information by computers. The conduction pattern
of the information seal can be mass-produced, and the information
seal with the conduction pattern can be easily adhered to by simple
operations, whereby labor and costs can be drastically reduced in
comparison with cases where memories, such as the conventional
EEP-ROM, etc. are used. Furthermore, when the information seal is
damaged by a cause, or information recorded on the information seal
must be changed due to a reason, the information seal is simply
replaced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is appearance views of the information seal according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view diagrammatically showing a personal
computer as one example of objects for the information seal
according to the embodiment of the present invention to be adhered
to.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a broken perspective view of a ROM cartridge of
game software as another example of objects for the information
seal according to the embodiment of the present invention to be
adhered to.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of contact patterns
provided on an object for the information seal according to the
embodiment of the present invention to be adhered to.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an perspective appearance view of the information
seal according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is sectional views of the information seal according
to further another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The information seal according to one embodiment of the
present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG.
1 is views showing an information seal according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 1A shows an information side of the information
seal. FIG. 1B shows the pattern side of the information seal.
[0022] The information seal 1 is formed of, e.g., polyethylene
sheet. On the information side 1a shown in FIG. 1A, information of
a product for the information seal to be adhered to, e.g., a serial
number 2, is printed. On the pattern side shown in FIG. 1B, an
adhesive 3 for adhering the information seal 1 to the product is
applied to. A conduction pattern 4 corresponding to the serial
number 2 is formed further on the pattern side 1b. The conduction
pattern 4 is formed by, as exemplified in the drawing, a required
number of terminal patterns 5 opposed to each other, and connection
patterns 6 for interconnecting those of the opposed terminal
patterns 5, which are required to display the serial number 2
indicated on the information side 1a.
[0023] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a personal computer as one
example of objects to which the information seal 1 according to the
present embodiment is to be adhered to.
[0024] An expansion board 7 adds new functions to the personal
computer 8 or reinforces functions already guilt int he personal
computer 8. The expansion board 7 is connected t the personal
computer 8 to thereby expand the functions of the personal computer
8. Only parts of the expansion board 7 which are relevant to the
present embodiment are shown, but circuits and devices of the
expansion board 7 are omitted.
[0025] The expansion board 7 has a region A for the information
seal 1 to be adhered to allocated on a circuit substrate 9.
Contacts 10 corresponding to the respective terminal patterns 5 on
the pattern side 1b of the information seal 1 are provided in the
region A. The contacts 10 are electrically connected to a control
IC 12 through wiring patterns 11 provided on the circuit substrate
9. The control IC is arranged so as to be electrically connected to
a circuit (not shown) of the personal computer 8 when the expansion
board 7 is connected to the personal computer 8.
[0026] The information seal 1 is mechanically or manually adhered
to the region A when the expansion board A is fabricated or
shipped, whereby firstly the information, such as a serial number
or others, is recognizable visually from the outside, and secondly
the required opposed contacts 10 on the circuit substrate 9 are
electrically connected through the associated connection patterns
6. Accordingly, the region A of the expansion board 7 is visually
watched to recognize the information, such as a serial number or
others while the expansion board 7 is connected to the personal
computer 8, whereby the information, such as a serial number or
others, presented by the conduction pattern 4 on the pattern side
1b can be read int eh personal computer 8 through the control IC
12.
[0027] In the present embodiment, the information is read through
the control IC 12 mounted on the circuit substrate 9 of the
expansion board 7, but the information on the pattern side 1b may
be read by the circuit of the personal computer 8.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a ROM cartridge for game software as another
example of objects for the information seal 1 according to the
present embodiment to be adhered to.
[0029] The ROM cartridge 13 is loaded into a game apparatus (not
shown). The body of the ROM cartridge 13 is in the form of a casing
formed by combining an upper shell 16 and a lower shell 17. A
window 18 is formed in the upper shell 17 to allow product
information (e.g., a serial number) of a ROM substrate 14 to be
visually recognized without disassembling the cartridge 13. A
region B for the information seal to be adhered to is defined on
the ROM substrate 14. A number of sets of seal contacts (not shown)
are provided on the ROM substrate 14 in the region B. The
information seal 1 is adhered to the respective seal contacts.
[0030] When the information seal 1 is adhered to, the seal contacts
are interconnected with each other by the connection patterns 6 of
the information seal 1. The seal contacts are electrically
connected to the control IC 19 through wiring pattern 11 on the ROM
substrate 14. The control IC 19 is electrically connected to a
circuit on a reading side through a terminal 20 when the cartridge
12 is loaded into the game apparatus not shown or a device
specialized in reading the serial number.
[0031] In the present embodiment, the information seal is
mechanically or manually adhered to the ROM substrate 14 in the
region B in the step of fabricating the ROM substrate 14 ro setting
the ROM substrate 14, whereby the information of the ROM substrate
can be visually recognized through the window, as required, can be
electrically read through the game apparatus or others.
[0032] In the present embodiment, the electrical information
reading is conducted through the control 19, but may be connected
directly to the terminal 20. In FIG. 3, the information of the ROM
substrate 14 is indicated by 4 sheets of seal, but a number of
adhered sheets of seal depends on information and is not limited to
4 sheets.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows another example of conduction patterns of the
information seal, and another example of contact patterns of the
side of the information seal t be adhered to.
[0034] The information seal 1 has band-shaped conduction patterns
21 printed on the pattern side 1b. On a substrate 22 for the
information seal 1 to be adhered to in a region C there are formed
a common band-shaped terminal 23, and a plurality of terminals 24
formed opposed to the band-shaped terminal 23. When the information
seal 1 is adhered to the region C, required contacts 24 on the
substrate 23 are electrically connected to the associated
band-shaped conductors 21 of the information seal 1, whereby
information of the substrate can be read in the same way as
described above.
[0035] The information seal 1 according to the present embodiment
indicates visible information on one side 1a and has electrically
readable conduction patterns formed on the other side 1b, whereby
the visible information can be visually read by the eyes, and the
information can be electriclaly by the conduction patterns.
[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment anc can cover other various modifications.
[0037] In the above-described embodiment the information seal
carries a serial number of the product, etc., but may be toher
information, such as ID number used in communications, etc., an
areal code defining a receiver of a product, a use of the product
or the like, or others, or a combination of such information. The
indication of the visible information is not limited to numbers and
may be forms, such as the bar code 25, exemplified in FIG. 5, which
are read by a specific reading device (bar code reader). A visible
code, such as Calra Code or others, other than the bar code 25 may
be used.
[0038] In the above-described embodiment visible information is
printed on the information side 1a of the information seal 1, but
as shown in FIG. 6A, the information seal 1 may be formed of a
transparent sheet 26, an opaque indication layer formed on the back
side 1b of the transparent sheet 26 and having visible information,
such as a serial number or others provided thereon, and conduction
patterns 4 provided on the indication layer 28. The visible
information, such as a serial number or others is clearly indicated
on the information side 1a through the transparent sheet 26. The
indication layer 28 with the visible information, such as a serial
number or others, provided on is sandwiched by the transparent
sheet 26 and an object for the information seat 1 to be adhered to,
whereby the effect of improved resistance for abrasion and
transient changes can be expected. The indication layer 28 may be
transparent.
[0039] It is also possible that as shown in FIG. 6B, a region for
the information seal 1 is divided, and conduction patterns 4 are
provided on the back side 1b in one of the divided regions, and in
the other one of the divided regions the indication layer 28
indication visible information is provided. The visible information
and also the conduction patterns 4 can be seen through the
transparent sheet 6 on the side of the information side 1a of the
information seal 1.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 6C, it is also possible that visible
information is formed of the indication layer 28 of the same
material as the conduction pattern 4. For example, the visible
information is printed with an ink with a conductive material, such
as graphite or others, so that the function of the conduction
patterns 4 and that of the indication layer 28 can be both
realized. Concurrently with the formation of the conduction
patterns 4 the indication layer 28 of the visible information can
be formed.
[0041] In the above-described embodiment an adhesive 3 which can
adhere the information seal to a product is applied to the pattern
side 1b of the information seal 1, but an adhesive may be applied
in advance to the region of a product for the information seal 1 to
be adhered to. It is also possible to adhere the information seal
with an adhesive, a double side tape or others may be separately
prepared to adhere the information seal to a product with it in a
step of fabricating the product or when the product is shipped.
* * * * *