US5528154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Page identification with conductive traces
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1994-10-31
•
Granted: 1996-06-18
•
Expires: 2014-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus to electronically identify a page. Each page has a surface conductive trace that is coupled to an electronic circuit to measure the conductivity of the trace. The primary purpose of the conductive trace is to provide an identification for the page.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Leichner
- 👤 An-Chung R. Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:20
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J11/00; B41J11/009; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A notepad that electronically detects sheets of paper attached to a base, the notepad comprising: a base; a pair of electrical contacts carried by the base; a plurality of sheets of paper, each sheet carrying an electrically conductive trace having a finite positive value of conductivity; means for securing the sheets of paper to the base with the electrically conductive traces in alignment such that the electrically conductive traces on the different sheets of paper are electrically connected in parallel across the electrical contacts; and an electrical conductivity measurement apparatus in electrical communication with the contacts, operative to measure the conductivity across the contacts and provide a signal indicative of how many sheets of paper are secured to the base according to the measured conductivity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A notepad that electronically detects sheets of paper attached to a base, the notepad comprising: a base; a pair of electrical contacts carried by the base; a plurality of sheets of paper, each sheet carrying an electrically conductive trace having a finite positive value of conductivity; means for securing the sheets of paper to the base with the electrically conductive traces in alignment such that the electrically conductive traces on the different sheets of paper are electrically connected in parallel across the electrical contacts; and an electrical conductivity measurement apparatus in electrical communication with the contacts, operative to measure the conductivity across the contacts and provide a signal indicative of how many sheets of paper are secured to the base according to the measured conductivity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A notepad as in claim 1 and further comprising adhesive material that causes the sheets of paper to adhere to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A notepad as in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise conductive adhesive material that causes the sheets of paper to adhere to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A notepad as in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise conductive ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A notepad as in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a clamp carried by the base for clamping the sheets of paper to the base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A notepad that electronically detects sheets of paper attached to a base, the notepad comprising: a base; a pair of electrical contacts carried by the base; a plurality of sheets of paper, each sheet carrying an electrically conductive trace having a finite positive value of conductivity, the trace carried by one of the sheets of paper having a different value of conductivity than that of the trace carried by another of the sheets of paper; means for securing the plurality of sheets of paper to the base with the electrically conductive traces in alignment such that the traces on the sheets of paper are electrically connected in parallel across the electrical contacts; and an electrical conductivity measurement apparatus in electrical communication with the contacts, operative to measure the conductivity across the contacts and provide a signal indicative of which sheets of paper are secured to the base according to the measured conductivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A notepad that electronically detects sheets of paper attached to a base, the notepad comprising: a base; a pair of electrical contacts carried by the base; a plurality of sheets of paper, each sheet carrying an electrically conductive trace having a finite positive value of conductivity, the trace carried by one of the sheets of paper having a different value of conductivity than that of the trace carried by another of the sheets of paper; means for securing the plurality of sheets of paper to the base with the electrically conductive traces in alignment such that the traces on the sheets of paper are electrically connected in parallel across the electrical contacts; and an electrical conductivity measurement apparatus in electrical communication with the contacts, operative to measure the conductivity across the contacts and provide a signal indicative of which sheets of paper are secured to the base according to the measured conductivity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A notepad as in claim 6 and further comprising adhesive material that causes the sheets of paper to adhere to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A notepad as in claim 6 wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise conductive adhesive material that causes the sheets of paper to adhere to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A notepad as in claim 6 wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise conductive ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A notepad as in claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises a clamp carried by the base for clamping the sheets of paper to the base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3757305A
Cited
US3699311A
Cited
US3928750A
Cited
US3934120A
Cited
US4044229A
Cited
US3906201A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-12-18 | 2000-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-18 | 2003-12-18 | 2004-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-18 | 2007-12-18 | 2008-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |