RFID TAGS SUITABLE FOR AFFIXING TO RECTANGULAR CORNERS

• US 20080024309A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Branigan, James Peter, Balhoff, Kristen Monroe, Hunt, Christian Lee, Smith, Gregory Covert
• Application Number:
  US11/459,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024309A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• 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: 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 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

To make the antenna pattern of an RFID tag more nearly isotropic, the tag substrate is adapted to fit a corner of a rectangular structure. The substrate has tabs that may be folded, together with a remaining portion of the substrate so that the tag, may be installed on, for example, the corner of a box or crate. The antenna has at least two radiating elements. A first tab bears a portion of one radiating element, a second tab bears a portion of the other element, and a remaining portion of the substrate bears at least a portion of at least one of the radiating elements. When the tag is folded and affixed to a corner, parts of the antenna lie each of in the three mutually orthogonal planes that define the corner.

Claims

1. An RFID tag with a substrate adapted for affixing to a corner of a rectangular structure, said tag comprising:

an RFID transceiver operably connected to a single antenna comprising a first radiating element and a second radiating element;

wherein the substrate has a first tab and a second tab that may be folded, together with a remaining portion of the substrate, to fit a corner of a rectangular structure, the first tab bearing a portion of the first radiating element, the second tab bearing a portion of the second radiating element, and the remaining portion of the substrate bearing at least a portion of at least one of the radiating elements.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tabs result from at least one notch in the substrate.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tabs result from one notch in the substrate.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tabs result from two notches in the substrate.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tabs result from three notches in the substrate.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tabs result from at least on cut in the substrate.

7. An RFID tag with a substrate adapted for affixing to a corner of a rectangular structure, said tag comprising:

an RFID transceiver operably connected to a single antenna comprising a first dipole and a second dipole perpendicular to the first dipole;

wherein the substrate has a first tab and a second tab that may be folded, together with a remaining portion of the substrate, to fit a corner of a rectangular structure, the first tab bearing a portion of the first dipole, the second tab bearing a portion of the second dipole, and the remaining portion of the substrate bearing at least a portion of at least one of the dipoles.

8. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from at least one notch in the substrate.

9. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from one notch in the substrate.

10. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from two notches in the substrate.

11. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from three notches in the substrate.

12. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from at least on cut in the substrate.

13. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the tabs result from a cut that extends inward from an edge of the substrate toward the first dipole, paralleling the second dipole.