RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION FUNCTIONALITY COUPLED TO ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SIGNAGE

• US 20090321529A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Northey, Paul J., Banerjee, Swagata R., Sainati, Robert A., Phillips, Nancy H., Jesme, Ronald D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0675 the resonating marks being of the surface acoustic wave [SAW] kind SAW devices per se H03H9/64
• 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 19/07752 using an interposer
• 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: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24934 including paper layer

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to multiple embodiments of a signage having radio-frequency responsive features, methods of making and using the signage, and the performance characteristics of the signage. These embodiments include a cutout, aperture, or opening in an electrically conductive element into which or adjacent to which is placed an RFID tag or chip.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive, radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled signage article, comprising:

an electrically conductive element including a cutout; and

an RFID tag inset into the cutout;

wherein the electrically conductive element includes at least one of an electrically conductive substrate or an electrically conductive sheeting.

2. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive element is a conductive substrate positioned adjacent to optically active sheeting.

3. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive element is a non-conductive substrate positioned adjacent to conductive optically active sheeting.

4. The signage article of claim 1, further comprising a first plug inset into the cutout and located adjacent to the RFID tag.

5. The signage article of claim 4, wherein the first plug is positioned entirely within the cutout.

6. The signage article of claim 4, wherein the first plug is non-conductive.

7. The signage article of claim 4, further comprising a layer of tape attached to a major surface of the substrate such that the layer of tape holds the first plug and the RFID tag in the cutout.

8. The signage article of claim 4, further comprising a second plug inset into the cutout, wherein the RFID tag is positioned between the first plug and the second plug.

9. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is flush with a major surface of the substrate.

10. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is in direct contact with the substrate.

11. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag includes a rectilinear antenna.

12. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a surface acoustic wave (SAW) RFID tag.

13. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is removably attached to the substrate.

14. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag comprises an integrated circuit that stores information related to the signage article.

15. The signage article of claim 14, wherein the integrated circuit stores the inspection history of the signage article.

16. The signage article of claim 1, wherein the signage article comprises at least one of a traffic control material;

a vehicle marking;

a roadway marking;

a retroreflective garment;

an indoor/outdoor labeling product;

a frangible security sticker;

a product authentication material;

a store display package;

a document;

an inventory labeling and control product;

an identification tag;

an identification label;

an identification system;

a license plate;

or a road sign.

17. A method of forming an electrically conductive, RFID-enabled signage article, comprising:

selecting a location on an electrically conductive element;

forming a cutout in the electrically conductive element at the selected location; and

placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag into the cutout,

wherein the selecting a location on the electrically conductive element is based on a desired radiation pattern of the electrically conductive, RFID-enabled signage article that is formed when the RFID tag is placed into the cutout.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting a location on an electrically conductive element involves choosing the location based on a desired read angle of the RFID tag.

19. A method, comprising:

forming a cutout having a cutout size and a cutout shape in an electrically conductive element having an element size and an element shape; and

placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag into the cutout to form an electrically conductive, RFID-enabled signage article.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selection of the cutout size is based on a desired radiation pattern.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein selection of the element size is based on a desired radiation pattern.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein selection the element shape is based on a desired radiation pattern.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein selection of the cutout shape is based on a desired radiation pattern.