RFID TAG AND METHOD FOR READING THE SAME

• US 20080036608A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sakama, Isao
• Application Number:
  US11/740,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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

Abstract

A RFID tag for accommodation in a narrow clearance in an electronic device and providing a predetermined communication distance even if a displacement occurs between first and second antennas. First antenna is mounted through first spacer to metal case surface and second antenna mounted to resin container surface facing the first antenna. The dielectric resin container functions as a second spacer. Only the first spacer and first antenna are accommodated in the narrow clearance between metal case and resin container, the tag can be mounted even in an electronic device with a small redundant space and small size. First antenna is shorter than second antenna so that a required communication distance may be obtained even if their relative position is changed.

Claims

1. An RFID tag usable by being mounted on a conductor, comprising:

a first antenna disposed on said conductor, said first antenna having an IC chip mounted thereon;

a second antenna disposed so as to be electromagnetically coupled to said first antenna and resonate at a predetermined communication frequency;

a first spacer holding said first antenna away from said conductor; and

a second spacer holding said second antenna away from said first antenna,

wherein the length of said first antenna is shorter than the length of said second antenna.

2. The RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are parallel in the longitudinal direction.

3. The RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the length of said first antenna is not less than 0.2 and not more than 0.4 of a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave at said communication frequency.

4. The RFID tag according to claim 3, wherein the length of said first antenna is not less than 0.2 and not more than 0.3 of a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave at said communication frequency.

5. An RFID tag usable by being mounted on an electronic device having a conductor-made case and a non-conductor-made container for packaging said case, comprising:

a first antenna disposed on said case, said first antenna having an IC chip mounted thereon;

a second antenna disposed so as to be electromagnetically coupled to said first antenna and resonate at a predetermined communication frequency;

a first spacer holding said first antenna while separating said first antenna from said conductor; and

a second spacer holding said second antenna while separating said second spacer from said first antenna,

wherein said container is used as said second spacer, and wherein the length of said first antenna is shorter than the length of said second antenna.

6. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are parallel in the longitudinal direction.

7. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein the length of said first antenna is not less than 0.2 and not more than 0.4 of a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave of said communication frequency.

8. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein said second antenna is mounted to an inner surface of said container.

9. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein said second antenna is mounted to an outer surface of said container.

10. The RFID tag according to claim 8, wherein an adhesive is applied to one surface of said second antenna.

11. The RFID tag according to claim 9, wherein said second antenna is mounted in an attachable and detachable manner.

12. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein a character or a symbol is printed on a surface of said second antenna to show correspondence with said electronic device.

13. The RFID tag according to claim 12, wherein said character or symbol includes one of a mark, a serial number, a type or a bar code showing correspondence with said electronic device.

14. The RFID tag according to claim 5, further comprising a protective film formed on the surface of said second antenna.

15. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein a protective film is formed on the surface of said second antenna and at least one of a mark, a serial number, a type and a bar code showing correspondence with said electronic device is printed on the surface of said protective film.

16. The RFID tag according to claim 15, wherein said container has written on a surface thereof a position where said second antenna is mounted.

17. A method for reading an RFID tag usable by being mounted on an electronic device having a conductor-made case and a dielectric-made container for packaging said case, said RFID tag comprising a first antenna disposed on said case, said first antenna having an IC chip mounted thereon;

a second antenna disposed so as to be electromagnetically coupled to said first antenna and resonate at a predetermined communication frequency;

a first spacer holding said fist antenna away from said conductor; and

a second spacer holding said second antenna away from said first antenna,

wherein said container is used as said second spacer;

wherein the length of said first antenna is shorter than the length of said second antenna; and

wherein when said RFID tag is to be read, said second antenna is mounted and for other than when said RFID tag is to be read, said second antenna is removed.

18. The method for reading the RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein said second antenna is mounted on the inner surface of said container.

19. The method for reading the RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein said second antenna is mounted on the outer surface of said container.

20. The method for reading the RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein a protective film is formed on the surface of said second antenna, and at least one of a mark, a serial number, type, and bar code to show correspondence with the electronic device is printed on the surface of said protective film.