Antenna coil and rfid-use tag using it, transponder-use antenna

• US 20050007296A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Inventors: Yahata, Seirou, Tsuchida, Takashi, Yonezawa, Tadashi, Endo, Takanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/895
• 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 19/07749 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 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• 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: 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 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas

Abstract

An antenna coil includes an air-core coil wound helically in a plane and a plate magnetic core member inserted in the air-core coil to be approximately parallel with a plane of the air-core coil. The magnetic core member is formed by a soft magnetic metal, an amorphous or ferrite, or a composite member of a powder, flake and plastic, or rubber. The magnetic core member is formed by performing an injection molding operation or a compressing molding operation of the composite member. Alternatively, the magnetic core member is a magnetic coating formed by applying and drying the composite member. A non-magnetic conductive plate that has a conductivity is layered on a surface of the air-core coil through which the magnetic core member is inserted. The conductive plate is made of a copper, a copper alloy, an aluminum or an aluminum alloy having 0.01 to 2 mm thickness. The antenna coil is operated by relatively high frequency while it is rigid relatively.

Claims

1. An antenna coil comprising:

an air-core coil formed by a coil member wound on a plane; and

a magnetic core member inserted in the air-core coil to be approximately parallel to the plane in the air-core coil,

wherein the magnetic core member is formed by a composite member of a soft magnetic metal member, a powder of an amorphous member or a powder of a ferrite member or a flake member and a plastic member or a rubber.

2. An antenna coil according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic core member is formed by:

ejecting the composite member;

or

compressing the composite member;

or

re-shaping a flat rolled composite member.

3. An antenna coil according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic core member is formed by a magnetic coating which is formed by drying the composite after applying the composite.

4. An antenna coil comprising:

an air-core coil formed by a coil member wound on a plane; and

a magnetic core member inserted in the air-core coil to be approximately parallel to the plane in the air-core coil,

wherein a non-magnetic conductive plate is layered on a surface of the air-core coil through which the magnetic core member is inserted.

5. An antenna coil according to claim 4 wherein the conductive plate is formed by a copper, a copper alloy, an aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

6. An antenna coil according to claim 5 wherein the conductive plate has 0.01 to 2 mm thickness.

7. An antenna coil comprising:

an insulating member which is formed by an electrically insulating film or an electrically insulating sheet;

a continuous conductive member including forwarding sections and returning sections formed alternatively so as to wind on a surface of the insulating member;

a first magnetic core member bonded on a back surface of the insulating member to cover the forwarding section from the back surface of the insulating member without overlapping the forwarding section.

8. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein:

a second magnetic core member covers the forwarding section not to overlap the returning section on the surface of the insulating member such that an end section of the second magnetic core member is bonded to overlap an end section of the first neighboring magnetic member; and

the second magnetic core member introduces a magnetic flux which passes through the first magnetic core member onto a surface of the insulating member on the forwarding section.

9. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein:

a plurality of conductive lines are disposed to wind on a surface of the insulating member in a predetermined interval along with each other in the continuous conductive member; and

an end section of the conductive line is connected to a starting end section of the neighboring conductive line.

10. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein the continuous conductive member is formed on a surface of the insulating member by:

etching a conductive film which is bonded on an entire surface of the insulating member in a predetermined pattern;

or

performing a screen printing operation or a vapor deposition operation of the conductive member on a surface of the insulating member in a predetermined pattern.

11. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein either one or both of the first magnetic core member or the magnetic core member is formed by a soft magnetic metal member, a powder or a flake which is formed by an amorphous member or a ferrite member, a plastic composite member, a plate or a film which is formed by a soft magnetic metal member, an amorphous film or its layered member, or a ferrite member.

12. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein either one or both of the first magnetic core member and the magnetic core member is formed by a magnetic coating which is formed by applying an ink or an applying member which include a magnetic powder onto the insulating member and drying the ink or the applying member.

13. An antenna coil according to claim 7 wherein a conductive member made of a sheet member or a plate member is bonded onto a back surface of the insulating member to cover the first magnetic core member.

35. An antenna coil according to claim 8 wherein:

a plurality of conductive lines are disposed to wind on a surface of the insulating member in a predetermined interval along with each other in the continuous conductive member; and

an end section of the conductive line is connected to a starting end section of the neighboring conductive line.

14. A tag antenna coil comprising:

a coil main body which is formed by a conductive coil member wound in a plane; and

a magnetic core member made of a sheet member or a plate member bonded on a surface of the coil main body such that an end of the magnetic core member is disposed in a central section which is surrounded by the coil main body and another end of the magnetic core member is disposed at an outside of the coil main body to cross a part of the coil main body.

15. A tag antenna coil according to claim 14 wherein the coil main body is formed by punching a conductive plate or a conductive film.

16. A tag antenna coil according to claim 14 wherein the coil main body is formed by:

etching a conductive film which is bonded on an entire main surface of an electrically insulating film or a sheet in a predetermined pattern;

or

performing a screen printing operation or a vapor deposition operation of the conductive member on an entire main surface of the electrically insulating film or the sheet in a predetermined pattern.

17. A tag antenna coil according to claim 14 wherein the magnetic core member is a magnetic coating which is formed by applying a soft magnetic metal member, a powder or a flake which is formed by an amorphous member or a ferrite member, a plastic composite member, a plate or a film which is formed by a soft magnetic metal member, an amorphous film or its layered member, or a ferrite member, or an ink or an applying member which include a magnetic powder onto an electrically insulating film or a sheet and drying the ink or the applying member.

18. A tag antenna coil according to claim 16 wherein the magnetic core member is a magnetic coating which is formed by applying an ink or an applying member which include a magnetic powder onto another main surface of the electrically insulating film or a sheet and drying the ink or the applying member.

19. A tag antenna coil according to claim 14 wherein a conductive member made of a sheet member or a plate member is bonded onto a surface of the coil main body to cover the magnetic core member.

20. An RFID tag comprising:

an antenna coil attached to an article according to claim 14;

and

an IC chip connected to the antenna coil electrically such that a specific information for each article is stored in the IC chip, wherein the antenna coil is attached to the article such that the magnetic core member is disposed between the article and the coil main body.

21. A transponder antenna which is connected to an IC chip or a condenser electrically to be attached to an article comprising:

a conductive plate member having a back surface attached to the article;

a coil main body wound helically on a surface of the conductive member via an insulating member and fixed thereon such that a turning number and a coil diameter are adjusted to realize a predetermined characteristic value under a wound condition.

22. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein an electric resistance for a portion of the conductive member having 1 cm width and 1 cm length is 5 Ω

or lower.

23. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein a conductive member is a conductive member which is formed by connecting both ends of a sheet, a plate, a film or a coil member.

24. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein:

the insulating member is a non-conductive sheet, plate, or film;

the conductive member is a conductive coating which is formed by applying a conductive ink onto a back surface of the insulating member and drying the conductive ink; and

the coil main body is wound around a surface of the insulating member to be fixed therearound.

25. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein:

the conductive member is formed by layering a conductive plating layer or vapor deposition layer on a back surface of the non-conductive sheet, plate, or a film; and

the coil main body is wound around a surface of the sheet, a plate, or a film so as to be fixed therearound.

26. A transponder antenna according to claim 24 wherein an interval between the conductive member and the coil main body is 0.01 to 5 mm.

27. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein a hole is formed on a section which is surrounded by the coil main body of the conductive plate member.

28. A transponder antenna according to claim 21 wherein a soft magnetic member is disposed between the conductive plate member and the coil main body.

30. A transponder antenna according to claim 28 wherein a product of a transmission rate of the soft magnetic member and a thickness represented in a unit such as mm indicates 0.5 or larger.

31. A transponder antenna according to claim 28 wherein the soft magnetic member is formed by any one of members of an amorphous alloy, a Permalloy, a magnetic steel, a silicon steel, a sendust alloy, a quench solidified member for Fe—

Al alloy or a soft magnetic ferrite, a casted member, a rolled strip member, a forged member, or a sintered member.

32. A transponder antenna according to claim 28 wherein the soft magnetic member is a coating of a powder of a soft magnetic metal member or a soft magnetic ferrite, or composite member of a flake, a plastic member, or a rubber, or a applying member of a powder of a soft magnetic metal member or a powder of a soft magnetic ferrite, or a flake.

33. A transponder antenna according to claim 28 wherein the soft magnetic member is a sheet which is formed by bonding a plurality of flakes which are made of a soft magnetic metal member or a soft magnetic ferrite onto a surface of a plastic base sheet such that the flakes contact closely each other.

34. A transponder antenna according to claim 28 wherein the soft magnetic member is a sheet which is formed by:

bonding a plurality of flakes which are made of a soft magnetic metal member or a soft magnetic ferrite onto a surface of a plastic base sheet such that the flakes contact closely each other;

covering the flakes by a plastic cover sheet; and

attaching the base sheet and the cover sheet.

29. A transponder antenna attached to an article connected to an IC chip or a condenser electrically comprising:

a soft magnetic member formed in a sheet manner having a back surface attached on the article; and

a coil main body wound helically on a surface of the soft magnetic member to be fixed thereon such that a turning number and a coil diameter are adjusted to realize a predetermined characteristic value under a wound condition.