Patent · US Expired

Workpiece with a machine-readable data carrier

US7017800B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by

11References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Ulrich AG · US

Inventors

Christoph Ulrich · Kratzenburg, DE
Lukas Giovanettoni · Wil, CH

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 14, 2001
Grant date	Mar 28, 2006
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 23, 2022

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG06K1/05
WIPO fieldComputer technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to work pieces (2), such as surgical instruments provided with a machine-readable data carrier (1). Said data support contains a data section (3) with individual cavities (4) arranged therein, forming a two-dimensional matrix code (5). The cavities exhibit a particular advantage in that they are machine-cut, especially by means of boring. Damage causing structural alterations to the material occurring when a code is burnt in by means of laser radiation can be reduced in a reliable manner. The contrast effect of the cavities is sufficient and the data support is particularly resistant to mechanical influences.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.