Article with retroreflective and radio frequency-responsive features

• US 20030111542A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• 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 6,758,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/128 transparent spheres being embedded in matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/0629 Holographic, diffractive or retroreflective recording

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a system that provides visual and electronic information in a readily identifiable combination tag where the radio frequency-responsive element is in close proximity to the retroreflective element. The combination tag includes a retroreflective article with an optical article and a reflective layer. The optical article has an optical surface and structured surface. For example the optical article can include as optical elements glass microspheres (optical beads) or cube corner reflectors. The reflective layer is deposited on at least a portion of the structured surface of the optical article. For example, the reflective layer can include a non-contiguous metal layer. The combination tag also includes 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 coupled to one of the optical surface or the rear surface of the optical article.

Claims

1. A combination tag, comprising:

a retroreflective article having an optical article and a reflective layer;

wherein the optical article includes an optical surface, an opposite rear surface, and a structured surface coextensive with one of the optical surface and the rear surface;

wherein the reflective layer is deposited on at least a portion of the structured surface of the optical article;

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; and

wherein the radio frequency-responsive element is coupled to one of the optical surface or rear surface of the retroreflective article.

2. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the reflective layer includes a non-contiguous metal layer.

3. The combination tag of claim 2 wherein the reflective layer is a metallized ink.

4. The combination tag of claim 3 wherein the reflective layer has a metal content of about 10% to 14% by volume.

5. The combination tag of claim 3 wherein the metal is silver.

6. The combination tag of claim 1 wherein the optical article includes glass microspheres embedded in a spacing resin, and wherein the optical surface and rear surface are formed from the spacing resin.

7. The combination tag of claim 6 wherein the reflective layer is deposited directly on at least portions of the spacing resin.

8. The combination tag of claim 1, and further comprising security indicia disposed on the optical article.

9. A combination tag, comprising:

a retroreflective article having an optical article and a reflective layer;

wherein the optical article includes optical elements comprising microspheres, the optical article having an optical surface and an opposite structured rear surface; and

wherein the reflective layer is a non contiguous metallized layer deposited on at least a portion of the structured rear surface of the optical article; and

a radio frequency-responsive element coupled to the rear surface of the article, the 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.