Radio IC tag, method for manufacturing radio IC tag, and apparatus for manufacturing radio IC tag

• US 20050138798A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sakama, Isao, Ashizawa, Minoru
• Application Number:
  US10/901,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/825
• 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 19/07771 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: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/34 Insulators containing liquid, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A radio IC tag includes a first antenna and a first spacer, and is arranged so as to generate an operating power by a radio wave received at the first antenna and having a predetermined frequency, operate an IC chip using the power, read out identification information stored in the IC chip, and transmits the identification information, further includes a second antenna having a predetermined length for resonating with the radio wave having the predetermined frequency, and a second spacer provided between the first antenna and the second antenna for holding a distance between the both antennas.

Claims

1. A radio IC tag comprising:

an IC chip for storing identification information therein;

a first antenna having a predetermined length and connected to said IC chip; and

a first spacer disposed between said first antenna and a member having said IC chip mounted thereon for holding a distance between said first antenna and said member,

wherein said IC chip transmits said identification information using an operating power of a radio wave having a predetermined frequency received via said first antenna,

said radio IC tag further comprising;

a second antenna having a predetermined length for resonating with said radio wave having the predetermined frequency; and

a second spacer disposed between said first antenna and said second antenna for holding a distance between said both antennas.

2. The radio IC tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second spacers are made of an insulating material and a thickness of said second spacer is larger than that of said first spacer.

3. The radio IC tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein connections between said first spacer and said first antenna connected to said IC chip, between said first antenna and said second spacer, and between said second spacer and said second antenna are made with an adhesive.

4. A method for manufacturing a radio IC tag including an IC chip, comprising the steps of:

mounting a first spacer on one surface of a first antenna for transmitting identification information stored in said IC chip;

mounting a second spacer on the other surface of said first antenna; and

mounting a second antenna on one surface of said second spacer opposite to the other surface thereof having said first antenna mounted thereon, said second antenna resonating with a radio wave having a predetermined frequency together with said first antenna.

5. A method for manufacturing a radio IC tag, comprising the steps of:

mounting a plate-shaped first spacer material on one surface of a first antenna material, said first antenna material including a predetermined number of first antennas each connected with an IC chip having identification information stored therein, said first antennas being arranged on a plate-shaped base material along a width direction of the first antennas in the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, and feeding out a 2-layer material thus combined;

mounting a plate-shaped second spacer material on the other surface of said fed-out first antenna material and feeding out a 3-layer material thus combined;

mounting a plate-shaped second antenna material on the other surface of said fed-out second spacer material opposite to one surface thereof provided with said first antenna material, and feeding out a 4-layer material thus combined; and

sequentially said fed-out radio IC tag material into radio IC tags.

6. A method for manufacturing a radio IC tag, comprising the steps of:

mounting a plate-shaped first spacer material on one surface of a first antenna material, said first antenna material including a predetermined number of first antennas each connected with an IC chip having identification information stored therein, said first antennas being arranged on a plate-shaped base material along a width direction of the first antennas in the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, and feeding out forward a 2-layer material thus combined;

mounting a plate-shaped second spacer material on the other surface of said fed-out first antenna material and feeding out forward a 3 -layer material thus combined;

mounting a plate-shaped second antenna material on the other surface of said fed-out second spacer material opposite to one surface thereof provided with said first antenna material, said second antenna material including a predetermined number of second antennas arranged along a width direction of the second antennas n the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, in such a manner that said first antennas oincide in width direction position with said second antennas, and feeding out forward a 4-layer material thus combined; and

sequentially said fed-out radio IC tag material into radio IC tags.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a step of performing position detection to make one of the antennas included in said first antenna material coincide with one of the antennas included in said second antenna material.

8. An apparatus for manufacturing a radio IC tag, comprising:

first feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped first spacer material on one surface of a first antenna material, said first antenna material including a predetermined number of first antennas each connected with an IC chip having identification information stored therein, said first antennas being arranged on a plate-shaped base material along a width direction of the first antennas in the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, and feeding out a 2-layer material thus combined;

second feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped second spacer material on the other surface of said first antenna material fed out by said first feeding means and feeding out a 3-layer material thus combined;

third feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped second antenna material on the other surface of said second spacer material fed out by said second feeding means opposed to one surface thereof provided with said first antenna material, and feeding out a 4-layer material thus combined; and

cutting means for sequentially cutting said radio IC tag material fed out by said second feeding means into radio IC tags.

9. An apparatus for manufacturing a radio IC tag, comprising:

first feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped first spacer material on one surface of a first antenna material, said first antenna material including a predetermined number of first antennas each connected with an IC chip having identification information stored therein, said first antennas being arranged on a plate-shaped base material along a width direction of the first antennas in the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, and feeding out a 2-layer material thus combined;

second feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped second spacer material on the other surface of said first antenna material fed out by said first feeding means, and feeding out a 3-layer material thus combined;

third feeding means for mounting a plate-shaped second antenna material on the other surface of said second spacer material fed out by said second feeding means opposed to one surface thereof provided with said first antenna material, said second antenna material including a predetermined number of second antennas arranged along a width direction of the second antennas in the form of mutually parallel and spaced strips, in such a manner that said first antennas coincide in width direction position with said second antennas, and feeding out a 4-layer material thus combined; and

cutting means for sequentially said radio IC tag material fed out by said second feeding means into radio IC tags.

10. The radio IC tag manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising means for performing position detection to controllably make one of the antennas included in said first antenna material coincide with one of the antennas included in said second antenna material.

11. A radio IC tag including an IC chip having identification information stored therein, comprising:

a first antenna connected to said IC chip for receiving a radio wave having a predetermined frequency;

a first spacer provided between an article to be identified by the identification information stored in said IC chip and said first antenna;

a second antenna for resonating with the radio wave having said predetermined frequency; and

a second spacer provided between said first antenna and said second antenna.

12. The radio IC tag as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second antenna has a length associated with a wavelength of said radio wave.

13. The radio IC tag as set forth in claim 11, wherein the length of said second antenna and the material of said second spacer have a correlative relation based on a communication distance between said radio IC tag and an external antenna for communication.

14. The radio IC tag as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first spacer is larger in thickness than said second spacer.