Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display card – Having sound-producing means
Reexamination Certificate
1996-06-10
2001-09-04
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display card
Having sound-producing means
C040S124191, C040S717000, C040S455000, C040S124060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282819
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to communicating cards which deliver a communication upon actuation and, more particularly, to improved construction and manufacturing techniques for economically producing such communicating cards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Communicating cards have become well known over the past several years in conjunction with advances made in microelectronics and integrated circuit designs. A communicating card delivers a communication in response to an actuation signal. Talking greeting or trading cards are the most common embodiment of communicating cards, delivering audible communications, although cards which deliver other communications, including visual, tactile or wireless (e.g., RF) communications, are within the scope of the teachings of the present invention. Combinations of communication types, such as audible and visual, are also within the scope of the teachings of the present invention. A communicating card is typically small and thin, such as the size of trading cards, business cards, and the like, but may also be of other sizes and shapes.
The deficiencies with current communicating cards are exemplified by the designs of and manufacturing methods used for currently available talking greeting or trading cards. With current cards, it is known to assemble the portion carrying the electronics, record the message and adhere the preprinted card covering onto the frame carrying the electronics. Such prior art designs and manufacturing methods require that essentially all manufacturing/assembling steps be taken sequentially, without the capability of taking some steps in parallel to reduce the total time.
These designs and associated manufacturing methods limit the ability to maintain a flexible supply of inventory which can be easily adapted to demand for particular types of cards, particular graphical/written indicia on the card and particular prerecorded or preprogrammed communication. For example, once a card covering is adhered to the electronics portion, the communication cannot be easily changed. Neither can the covering, which has been preprinted, be changed. If, after completion of the card, it becomes desirable to change the communication or the covering, it cannot be easily done, if at all. This creates an inflexible inventory situation in which the communication and covering are susceptible to being outdated or unneeded. The alternative, using such prior art designs and manufacturing methods, is to complete the cards as needed, in a just-in-time manner. In instances where the demand for the cards is cyclical or seasonal in nature, such an alternative may not be timely enough to meet the needs.
These designs and manufacturing methods are also not well suited for high volume, mass production of communication cards. If high speed equipment is used, there is the potential for damage to the electronics during adherence of the cover to the electronics portion. Additionally, if, as is not unusual, the component which actuates the delivery of the communication includes a push button which extends from the surface of the card, there can be problems with registration between the opening in the card cover and the push button in high speed manufacturing. The solution to these problems has typically been to rely on hand work rather than high speed equipment, sacrificing efficiency, volume and economy to fit the available designs and manufacturing methods. In addition to the volume constraints presented by current designs and manufacturing methods, small volumes of cards are prohibitively expensive.
When the communication being delivered is an audible signal, typical prior art communicating cards do not deliver adequate sound volume and quality. These prior art designs lack sufficient acoustical coupling between the speaker and the outside of the card. Although the outer surface of such cards can be adapted for better sound transmissivity, such adaptations can add cost to the card and require registration between the outer surface and the speaker.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a design and manufacturing method with which communicating cards can be economically mass produced without posing risk of damage to the electronic components while providing flexibility in maintaining inventory stock. There is a need which allows the economic manufacture of cards with a variety of communications and coverings in large volumes as well as small volumes. There is a need for design and manufacturing methods which utilizes a high number of common elements/manufacturing steps which are independent of the communication or covering, thereby allowing most of the communication card to be constructed, yet leaving for last the steps which are unique to a particular communication and covering. There is a need for a design which provides better sound transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to obviate the above-described problems in shortcomings of the prior art heretofore available.
It is another object of the present invention to provide improved techniques for the manufacture of communicating cards.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a design and manufacturing methods which are applicable to a wide variety of communicating cards.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a design and manufacturing methods which allow communication cards to be easily and economically mass produced.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a communicating card which is very thin.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a design and manufacturing methods which allow communication cards to be manufactured as independent elements which can be manufactured in parallel, each other, prior to final assembly.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a communication card which can be easily used or configured for a wide variety of applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication card, which, when configured to deliver an audible communication, has improved volume and quality.
Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, there is provided a communicating card which includes an electronic module with electronic circuitry, a communication interface coupled to the electronic circuitry and configured to deliver a communication through the communication interface in response to actuation and a housing having an internal cavity which is configured to receive the electronic module. The internal cavity includes an external opening through which the electronic module may be inserted into the internal cavity.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the communication interface is a piezoelectric speaker.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the speaker includes a foam support.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the electronic module includes a first layer and a second layer disposed adjacent each other, with the first layer carrying electronic components, and the second layer including a plurality of openings into which the electronic components extend.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the electronic circuitry includes a programmable memory configured to be programmed with a communication for delivery through the communication interface.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the electronic module is withdrawable from the internal cavity a sufficient dis
Gu Jing Lu
Hewitt James M
Hopen Daniel
Melius Terry Lee
Peninsula Law Group
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