Antenna for identification tag and identification tag with antenna

• US 10,262,256 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datamars SA (Province of Québec)
• Original Assignee: Datamars SA (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Pochiraju, Tej, Eadie, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail, Allyson N
• Application Number:
  US15/538,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 235439, 235451, 235492, 343702, 343785, 34059311
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0726 the arrangement including a circuit for tuning the resonance frequency of an antenna on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0772 Physical layout of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07792 the antenna adapted for extending in three dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/405 Radome integrated radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/26 with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength resonant loop antennas H01Q7/00

Abstract

Disclosed is an ultra high frequency antenna device for use with an identification tag for attachment to an animal. The antenna device comprises: a meander line antenna; and a substrate. The antenna device is operable to use the body of the animal to which it is attached as part of the tuning circuit of said antenna device. Also disclosed is an ultra-high frequency identification tag comprising such an antenna device, and a method of manufacturing such an ultra-high frequency identification tag.

Claims

1. An ultra-high frequency identification tag for attachment to a livestock animal, said identification tag comprising:

a body;

an integrated circuit; and

an ultra-high frequency antenna device electrically connected to said integrated circuit, wherein the antenna device comprises;

a meander line antenna; and

a substrate;

said antenna device being operable to use a body of the animal to which it is attached as part of a tuning circuit of said antenna device such that said antenna device is operable to use the body of the animal as a ground plane; and

wherein said antenna device is purposely detuned such that it is only tuned to a desired frequency when the tag is attached to the animal.

2. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said meander line antenna is a three-dimensional meander line antenna comprising two layers.

3. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit is directly connected to the antenna via connector pads on a surface of said antenna.

4. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of:

the dimensions of the meander line antenna,

spacing between elements and layers of the meander line antenna,

the number of turns the meander line antenna; and

the substrate thickness,

may be tuned to impedance match the antenna device to the integrated circuit to which it is to be attached, and such that no further external impedance matching components are required.

5. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the antenna device comprises a thickness smaller than 3 mm.

6. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna device is no larger than 50 mm in any dimension.

7. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna device comprises all of the following dimensions:

a total meander length between 80 mm to 300 mm,

a substrate thickness between 1 mm to 3 mm,

a line width between 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm,

a loop length between 8 mm to 12 mm,

a substrate width between 4 mm to 10 mm and

a substrate length between 20 mm to 60 mm.

8. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substrate is comprised of a material having a dielectric constant Dk greater than 5.

9. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body of the identification tag comprises at least one recess for receiving said integrated circuit and antenna device.

10. The identification tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein said integrated circuit is located within said recess, and between said body of the identification tag and said antenna device, such that the integrated circuit and its connection to the antenna device are protected by the antenna device during an over-moulding process of said identification tag.

11. The identification tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein said recess comprises a first recess for receiving the antenna device, and within said first recess, a second recess for receiving said integrated circuit.

12. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body of the identification tag consists of a rigid material.

13. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 comprising no ground plane.

14. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 comprising no printed circuit board for mounting of said integrated circuit.

15. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1 comprising no external impedance matching components.

16. A method of manufacturing the ultra-high frequency identification tag as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising:

mounting the integrated circuit to connector pads on the surface of the antenna device;

introducing the antenna device into a recess within the body of the identification tag such that the integrated circuit is located within the recess between the body and the antenna device; and

overmoulding the body of the identification tag and the antenna device.

17. The identification tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of the identification tag comprises:

a first body portion having one of a locking aperture and a projection located at an end thereof,

a second body portion having the other of the locking aperture and the projection located at an end thereof,

wherein said first and second body portions being connected to allow relative movement such that the locking aperture and the projection can be brought and locked together for attaching the tag to the animal.

18. The identification tag as claimed in claim 17 wherein said antenna is mounted within the body of the identification tag, between the locking aperture and the projection.