CAPACITIVE INFORMATION CARRIER PATTERN INTEGRATED INTO PRINT PRODUCT ARTWORK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a planar, capacitive information carrier comprising a graphic artwork and electrically conductive areas forming a code layout wherein the graphic artwork and code layout coincide. The coincidence of the graphic artwork and code layout makes it difficult for a user of the information carrier to differentiate between the aesthetic and functional parts of the information carrier. The information carrier may also comprise inactive electrically conductive elements for further distracting the attention of said user from the functional code layout. In another aspect, the invention relates to information carrier and a method for reading out an information carrier.

Claims

1. A method for manufacture of a planar, capacitive information carrier (1) with a front side (10) and a back side (11) and a graphic artwork (7) on the front side (10) and/or back side (11) of the information carrier (1) comprising electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) on either the front side (10) or back side (11) which are connected to each other, comprising the following steps: a) providing an electrically non-conductive substrate (2), b) application of the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) on the front side (10) or the back side (11) of the information carrier (1) whereby a carrier is created, c) application of the graphic artwork (7) onto the carrier according to step b), wherein the graphic artwork (7) is formed by at least one at least partially applied color layer and/or at least partially applied varnish layer, wherein the graphic artwork (7) coincides with the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps a) design of a graphic artwork (7) for the front side (10) and/or the back side (11) of the information carrier (1), b) design of a code layout (12) for the front side (10) or the back side (11) of the information carrier (1) comprising electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5), p1 c) adaption of the graphic artwork (7) to the code layout (12) comprising the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein electrically conductive inactive elements (6) are applied on the information carrier (1) and configured to coincide with the graphic artwork (7).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) comprise sub-areas, forming at least a first (3), second (4) and third (5) section wherein the sub-areas of the third section (5) connect the sub-areas of the first sub-areas (3) and the second sub-area (4) galvanically and/or electrically to each other.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first section (3) and the third section (5) of the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) consist of at least one sub-area each, wherein said sub-areas are spatially separated from each other.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the first section (3) are shaped like squares, rectangles, triangles, regular and irregular n-edges, circles, stars, elliptical areas, clouds, rings and/or flowers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the first section (3) have one axe of symmetry.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the first section (3) have two axes of symmetry.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the first section (3) have an area of 10 to 115 mm.sup.2, preferably 25 to 80 mm.sup.2 and most preferably between 50 to 65 mm.sup.2.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the first section (3) have a diameter of 4 to 12 mm, preferably 6 to 10 mm and most preferably 8 to 9 mm in case of essentially circular sub-areas.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent sub-areas of the first section (3) is more than 4 mm, preferably more than 6 mm and most preferably more than 8 mm.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-area of the second section (4) has an area of more than 20 mm.sup.2, preferably more than 100 mm.sup.2 and most preferably more than 300 mm.sup.2.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-areas of the third section (5) have a width of smaller than 2 mm, preferably smaller than 1 mm and most preferably smaller than 0.75 mm.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) and/or the electrically conductive inactive elements (6) are applied on a non-conductive substrate (2) by a foil transfer method, preferably a hot stamping method or a thermal transfer on top of digitally printed elements and most preferably with a cold foil transfer method.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) and/or the electrically conductive inactive elements (6) are applied on a non-conductive substrate (2) by electrically conductive ink.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) have a sheet resistance of smaller than 1.000 Ohm/sq., preferably smaller than 500 Ohm/sq., most preferably smaller than 100 Ohm/sq.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive inactive elements (6) have an area of smaller than 100 mm.sup.2, preferably smaller than 40 mm.sup.2 and most preferably smaller than 20 mm.sup.2.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the side of the information carrier (1), which is not printed with the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) and the electrically conductive inactive elements (6) is applied with an at least one, at least partially applied color layer (13) and/or at least partially applied varnish layer (12).

19. A method for reading out an information carrier (1) according to claim 1 by a touch screen (9), wherein the first section (3) generates a local change in capacitance on the touch screen (9) when the information carrier (1) and the touch screen (9) are brought in contact with each other.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the contact may be a static and/or a dynamic contact.

21. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0088] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will best be appreciated when considered in view of the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings:

[0089] FIG. 1 overview of the method for the manufacture of an information carrier

[0090] FIG. 2 back side of an information carrier comprising the electrically conductive areas: touch points, coupling area and conductive traces

[0091] FIG. 3 back side of an information carrier comprising inactive elements

[0092] FIG. 4 back side of an information carrier comprising both the electrically conductive areas and the electrically inactive elements

[0093] FIG. 5 information carrier comprising both the electrically conductive areas and the electrically inactive elements and a graphical artwork

[0094] FIG. 6 example for how to arrange an information carrier on a touch screen

[0095] FIG. 7 exemplary representation of code layout comprising touch points, coupling area and conductive traces

[0096] FIG. 1 shows an overview of the method for the manufacture of an information carrier (1). In a first step, a graphical artwork (7) is designed. This can be done for both sides (10, 11) of the information carrier (1) or the front side (10) or the back side (11) of the information carrier (1) only. The design of a graphical artwork (7) comprises the creation and the placement of images, selection of fonts, arrangements of various graphical elements.

[0097] In a second step, a code layout (12) is designed consisting of electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5). The electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) correspond to touch points (3), conductive traces (5) and a coupling area (4).

[0098] The design of the code layout (12) can either be realized by creating a totally new code layout (12) or by adapting a known code layout (12). The code layout (12) should be selected or created in consideration of the graphical artwork (7) with which it coincide on the information carrier (1). It is preferred that the code layout (12) fits to the graphical artwork (7) and to the needs for capacitive detection of the electrically conductive elements by a touchscreen (9). This step represents the actual creation of the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5), which will be produced by an electrically conductive material on the non-conductive substrate.

[0099] After choosing or creating a code layout (12), both artworks, i. e. the graphical artwork (7) and the code layout (12), are adapted to each other. This means that the graphical artwork (7) is allocated to the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5). The aim of the adaption of both the graphical artwork (7) and the code layout (12) is a fine tuning to achieve that both the aesthetical (7) and the code layout (12) design perfectly fit to each other.

[0100] The next step of the manufacturing method includes the imposition of several blanks on one print sheet for printing multiple-ups. Sheet imposition is a standard prepress process in the print production workflow.

[0101] After the sheet imposition, the printing process starts. In a first printing step, the front side (10) of the information carrier (1) is printed for example with a four color print (CMYK). Also, a varnish can be printed on top of the color layer. After the front side (10) printing of the sheet, the conductive areas (3, 4, 5) are printed on the other side (11) of the non-conductive substrate (2). This can either be done by a cold foil printing process or by using conductive ink. The side of the information carrier where the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) are printed on is referred to the backside (11) of the information carrier (1).

[0102] As a further step of the manufacturing method, post press processes can be carried on the print sheet. The print sheets will be separated by cutting or die-cutting.

[0103] Possible subsequent processes regarding the information carrier are sorting, flow packing, packaging, and/or shipping.

[0104] FIG. 2 shows the backside (11) of an information carrier (1) which is manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an electrically non-conductive substrate (2) on which different electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) forming the code layout (12) are printed. The more or less circular elements (3) correspond to touch points. Detection of these touch points (3) by a touchscreen (9) is desired. It is their purpose to imitate the properties of fingertips. They are electrically or galvanically connected to each other by electrically conductive traces (5). The conductive traces (5) are narrow, line-like electrically conductive elements which connect the touch points (3) to each other or to a coupling area (4). It can be preferred that all touch points (3) are connected to each other, but it can also be preferred that they form chains so that not all touch points (3) are connected to each other. All touch points (3) are either directly or indirectly electrically connected to the coupling area (4). The purpose of the coupling area (4) is to be touched by a human user so that the coupling area (4) carries the same potential as the human user. By this, the touch screen (9) is enabled to detect the touch points (3), which imitate the properties of fingertips. The detection of the conductive traces (5) and coupling area (4) is not desired. As can be seen from FIG. 2, it is not necessary that the coupling area (4) forms a solid filled area, the coupling area (4) can also be realized by a grid pattern or can have non-conductive spots or parts. Such a non-conductive spot can be seen in the middle of the coupling area (4) in FIG. 2.

[0105] FIG. 3 also shows the back side (11) of an information carrier (1) which was manufactured according to the manufacturing method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the inactive elements (6). As can be seen from FIG. 3, these inactive elements (6) are not linked to each other. In particular, they are neither linked to the coupling area (4) nor to other conductive areas (3, 5). Therefore these inactive elements do not have the same potential as touch points (3) and cannot be detected by a touchscreen (9). The purpose of the inactive elements (6) is one the one side to make the whole information carrier (1) visually more attractive. On the other hand they are applied to hide the conductive areas additionally.

[0106] Integrated into the graphical artwork they serve as a further element to mislead the user from the function of the conductive areas (3, 4, 5). As long as these inactive elements (6) are small enough and not connected to the coupling area (4), they will not be detected by the touchscreen (9).

[0107] FIG. 4 shows the elements that have been shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is clearly visible that the inactive electrically conductive elements (6) are not connected to any of the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5), such as the touch points (3), the coupling area (4) or the conductive traces (5).

[0108] FIG. 5 shows an example of an information carrier (1) after the method of manufacture is completed. Again the backside (11) of the information carrier (1) is shown. FIG. 5 also shows the graphic artwork (7) and its components.

[0109] This graphic artwork (7) is printed on top of the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) and the inactive elements (6). It can be seen, that the graphical artwork (7), the electrically conductive areas (3, 4, 5) and the inactive elements (6) has been arranged in a manner to create a visible attractive product, which will help to make the code less eye-catching. As shown i.e. the touch points (3) have the same size, shape and layout as a part of the graphical artwork called “Logo”. This arrangement has been created during the adaption of the graphical artwork (7) and conductive areas (3, 4, 5) to hide the actual code layout (12) later.

[0110] FIG. 6 shows a touchscreen bearing device (8) with the touchscreen (9). On top of the touchscreen (9), an information carrier (1) according to present invention is placed. As can be seen from FIG. 6, it is not necessary to place the whole information carrier (1) on top of the touchscreen (9). In FIG. 6, the coupling area (4) is not placed on top of the touchscreen (9). The information carrier (1) can be read out both from the front side (10) of the information carrier (1) and from its back side (11).

[0111] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary view of an information carrier (1) according to the present invention comprising a code layout (12) consisting of touch points (3), a coupling area (4) and conductive traces (5).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0112] 1 Capacitive information carrier [0113] 2 Electrically non-conductive substrate [0114] 3 Electrically conductive area (touch points) [0115] 4 Electrically conductive area (coupling area) [0116] 5 Electrically conductive area (conductive traces) [0117] 6 Inactive electrically conductive elements [0118] 7 Graphic artwork [0119] 8 device with touch screen [0120] 9 touch screen [0121] 10 Front side [0122] 11 Back side [0123] 12 Code layout