Contactless electronic tag for three-dimensional object

• US 20030112143A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WISeKey Semiconductors
• Original Assignee: Inside Technologies (Verimatrix SA)
• Inventors: Serra, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 6,809,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07784 the inductive antenna consisting of a plurality of coils stacked on top of one another

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic tag (30, 40) comprising a contactless integrated circuit (10) and a main coil antenna (Ls) comprising at least two distinct non-coplanar and/or non-coaxial windings (Ls1-Ls4) arranged in series. Applications to the reading of a tag from any face of a three-dimensional object.

Claims

1. Electronic tag (30, 40) comprising at least one contactless integrated circuit (10) and at least one main coil antenna (Ls), characterised in that the main coil antenna (Ls) comprises at least two non-coplanar and/or non-coaxial windings (Ls1-Ls4) arranged in series, the two windings, if they are coaxial, being a distance apart from each other which is at least equal to the diameter of one of the windings.

2. Electronic tag according to claim 1, in which the integrated circuit (10) is connected to the two terminals of the main coil antenna (Ls).

3. Electronic tag according to claim 1, in which the main coil antenna (Ls) is in closed loop and the integrated circuit (10) is connected to an auxiliary coil (Lx) which is inductively coupled to one of the windings (Ls1) of the main coil antenna in closed loop.

4. Electronic tag according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which each of the windings (Ls1-Ls4) of the main coil antenna is arranged on one face of a three-dimensional object (40).

5. Three-dimensional object (40), characterized in that it comprises two non-coplanar and/or non-coaxial windings (Ls1-Ls4) arranged in series at least on two of its faces or in the vicinity of two of its faces, forming together a coil antenna (Ls) for electronic tag, the two windings, if they are coaxial, being a distance apart from each other which is at least equal to the diameter of one of the windings.

7. Object according to one of claims 5 and 6, comprising an integrated circuit (10) on one of its faces, or in the vicinity of one of its faces, said integrated circuit being connected to the two terminals of the coil antenna (Ls).

8. Object according to one of claims 5 and 6, comprising an integrated circuit (10) on one of its faces, or in the vicinity of one of its faces, said integrated circuit being connected to a first auxiliary coil (Lx) which is inductively coupled to one of the windings (Ls1) of the coil antenna (Ls).

9. Object according to claim 8, comprising at least a second integrated circuit (10′

) connected to a second auxiliary coil (Lx) which is inductively coupled to one of the windings (Ls3) of the coil antenna (Ls).

10. Object according to one of claims 5 to 9, in which the coil antenna (Ls) is incorporated into the body of the object.

11. Object according to one of claims 5 to 10, forming a pallet (40) for the transportation of goods.

12. Object according to one of claims 5 to 10, forming a cardboard box for the transportation of goods.

6. Three-dimensional object, characterized in that it comprises two non-coaxial windings (Ls1-Ls4) arranged in series at least on one of its faces, forming together a coil antenna (Ls) for electronic tag.