Remote control including an integrated circuit die supported by a printed publication and method for forming the remote control

摘要

A remote control (also called "printed publication remote control") for controlling a host device (such as a television or a personal computer) includes: (1) a substrate having a circuit formed of conductive ink (such as carbon based ink) and printed content located adjacent to the conductive ink circuit; (2) an integrated (IC) circuit die supported by (e.g. embedded in) the substrate and connected to the conductive ink circuit; (3) a signal transmitter such as an infrared light emitting diode (LED) connected to the IC die; and (4) a battery connected to the IC die and to the transmitter. The substrate and the printed content together form a printed publication in the form of, for example, a book, a magazine or a catalog. The conductive ink circuit can include a criss-cross grid of conductive lines, with a number of switches being formed at intersections of the grid such that a switch closes when printed content adjacent to the switch is touched. The printed publication remote control allows a user to "touch" printed content and "view" information on the host device in a simple intuitive manner called "touch and view".