AUTOMATED ANTENNA TRIM FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

• US 20070290861A1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Cathey, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,812,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• 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 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A radio frequency communication device and method are disclosed. Each antenna segment is associated with the antenna in either series or parallel relation through at least one of a fuse and an antifuse. In testing and tuning, a comparison is made to indicate whether the antenna is too short or too long. If the antenna is too short, an antenna segment may be attached to the antenna by initiating an antifuse. If the antenna is too long, an antenna segment may be detached from the antenna by blowing a fuse. If it is indeterminate whether the antenna is too short or too long, an antenna segment may be either attached or detached, the test repeated, and the results of the repeated test compared with the prior test to determine whether the correct action was taken.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

communications circuitry; and

an adjustable antenna coupled to the communications circuitry, the antenna having a main segment and one or more additional segments, the antenna being adjustable such that one or more of the one or more additional segments may be electrically isolated from the main segment.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the one or more additional segments are configured to be electrically isolated through the use of an electrical current.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the one or more additional segments are configured to be electrically isolated through the use of a fuse.

4. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a first section of an antenna;

an adjustable section of the antenna, the adjustable section of the antenna comprising one or more segments; and

an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the first section of the antenna.

5. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein one or more fuses are located between each of the one or more additional segments and the first section.

6. The RFID tag of claim 5, wherein one or more antifuses are located between each of the one or more additional segments and the first section.

7. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the one or more additional segments are connected in series.

8. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the one or more additional segments are connected in parallel.

9. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

an integrated circuit; and

an antenna electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the antenna having a main section electrically coupled to a first section and a second section, the first section being adjustable such that a first length of the first section may be decreased, the second section being adjustable such that a second length of the second section may be increased.

10. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the first section comprises one or more segments interconnected via one or more fuses.

11. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in parallel.

12. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in series.

13. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the second section comprises one or more segments interconnected via one or more antifuses.

14. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in parallel.

15. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in series.

16. A method of forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

providing a substrate; and

providing an antenna on the substrate, the antenna comprising one or more fuses.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in parallel via the one or more fuses.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in series via the one or more fuses.

19. A method of forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

providing a substrate; and

providing an antenna on the substrate, the antenna comprising one or more antifuses.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in parallel via the one or more antifuses.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in series via the one or more antifuses.