Method and system for forming electrically conductive pathways
First Claim
1. A method of forming electrically conductive pathways, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate coated with reactive material;
moving the substrate past a heat source;
selectively heating portions of the substrate with the heat source; and
developing the reactive material on the substrate during exposure to heat from the heat source to develop a desired pattern on the substrate, the reactive material forming an electrically conductive material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and two methods for forming electrically conductive pathways. These pathways can be connected with a microchip in order to form a radio frequency identification tag. A first method uses a thermal transfer ribbon, coated with a conductive material that is engaged with a receiver substrate. A thermal print head will heat a composition on the thermal transfer ribbon in order to transfer it to the receiver substrate. This transfer composition forms the electrically conductive pathway or antenna. In an alternative method, a receiver substrate is heated in order to react conductive material thereon. This receiver substrate is also heated by a thermal print head to form an electrically conductive pathway.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of forming electrically conductive pathways, comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate coated with reactive material;
moving the substrate past a heat source;
selectively heating portions of the substrate with the heat source; and
developing the reactive material on the substrate during exposure to heat from the heat source to develop a desired pattern on the substrate, the reactive material forming an electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for producing radio frequency tags comprising:
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a conveyor for moving a substrate;
a thermal print head, the conveyor moving the substrate past the thermal print head, the thermal print head being selectively actuatable to heat a desired pattern on the substrate;
means on the substrate for reacting with the heat source to form electrically conductive pathways, the means including a heat sensitive composition on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radio frequency tag produced by the steps of:
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providing a thermal transfer ribbon;
moving the thermal transfer ribbon past a heat source;
engaging the thermal transfer ribbon with a receiver substrate as the thermal transfer ribbon moves past the heat source;
selectively heating portions of the thermal transfer ribbon with the heat source; and
transferring a composition from the thermal transfer ribbon to the receiver substrate, the selective heating enabling a desired pattern of the composition to be transferred to the receiver substrate, the composition including an electrically conductive material.
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16. A method of forming electrically conductive pathways for radio frequency tags, comprising the steps of:
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providing a thermal transfer ribbon including a precursor which is nonconductive;
moving the thermal transfer ribbon past a heat source;
engaging the thermal transfer ribbon with a flexible receiver substrate as the thermal transfer ribbon moves past the heat source;
using paper or pliable film as the receiver substrate;
selectively heating portions of the thermal transfer ribbon with the heat source to activate said nonconductive precursor to form an electrically conductive material; and
transferring a composition from the thermal transfer ribbon to the receiver substrate, the selective heating enabling a desired pattern of the composition to be transferred to the paper or film receiver substrate, the composition transferred from the thermal transfer ribbon being an electrically conductive material.
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Specification