Article with retroreflective and radio frequency-responsive features

• US 20030067389A1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Look, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,894,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a system that provides visual and electronic information in a readily identifiable system. For example, the present disclosure is directed to a combination tag, suitable for use as a vehicle identification window sticker. The combination tag includes a retroreflective article having an optical surface and a radio frequency responsive element. The radio frequency-responsive element includes an antenna and an integrated circuit. The radio frequency-responsive element has information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element. The radio frequency-responsive element is operably coupled to the retroreflective article.

Claims

1. A combination tag comprising:

a retroreflective article having an optical surface; and

a radio frequency-responsive element including an antenna and an integrated circuit, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element;

wherein the radio frequency-responsive element is operably coupled to the retroreflective article.

2. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency-responsive element includes an exposed surface facing in the same direction as the optical surface and an adhesive disposed on the optical surface and exposed surface.

3. The combination tag of claim 2 wherein the exposed surface has disposed thereon a first pressure sensitive adhesive having a first adhesion value and a second pressure sensitive adhesive having a second adhesion value greater than the first adhesion value.

4. The combination tag of claim 3 wherein the first and second pressure sensitive adhesives are disposed directly on the antenna.

5. The combination tag of claim 2 having a release agent selectively disposed on at least one of the adhesive and the antenna.

6. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the retroreflective article is a non-metallized cube corner article and the radio frequency-responsive element is disposed on the optical surface.

7. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the retroreflective article includes a metallized portion and wherein the radio frequency-responsive element is disposed beside the metallized portion.

8. The combination tag of claim 7 wherein the retroreflective article further includes a substrate wherein the retroreflective article and the radio frequency-responsive element are coupled to the substrate such that the retroreflective article is spaced apart from the radio frequency-responsive element.

9. The combination tag of claim 7 wherein the retroreflective article includes one of a metallized cube corner article or a microsphere type article.

10. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the retroreflective article includes printed indicia on the top surface.

11. The combination tag of claim 10 wherein the printed indicia includes a non-metallized ink.

12. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency-responsive element includes printed indicia thereon.