SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION CIRCUITRY INTO FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS

• US 20120067961A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mauricia, Juan Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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: H01L 23/4985 Flexible insulating substrates H01L23/49572 and H01L23/49855 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49855 for flat-cards, e.g. credit cards cards per se G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09754 Connector integrally incorporated in the PCB or in housing mounted connecter H05K2201/10189
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating RFID circuitry into flexible circuits are provided. An RFID integrated circuit can be embedded within a dielectric layer of a flexible circuit or between a dielectric layer and a conductive layer of the flexible circuit. Additionally or alternatively, an RFID antenna may be integrated into a conductive layer of the flexible circuit. Alternatively, both the integrated circuit and antenna of RFID circuitry may be provided off of the flexible circuit but an RFID connector coupling the integrated circuit and antenna may be integrated into the flexible circuit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a flexible circuit; and

radio-frequency identification (“

RFID”

) circuitry comprising;

an integrated circuit;

an antenna; and

a connector that couples the integrated circuit to the antenna, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit, the antenna, and the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit; and

the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an insulation via extending through the flexible circuit, wherein the integrated circuit is positioned between the insulation via and a side of the flexible circuit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the integrated circuit is one of;

positioned within a pocket in the first dielectric layer; and

positioned between the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the flexible circuit further comprises a second conductive layer positioned along a second surface of the first dielectric layer that is opposite the first surface of the first dielectric layer; and

at least a portion of the second conductive layer does not extend to a position adjacent the integrated circuit.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is integrated into the first conductive layer.

8. The system of claim 13, wherein the antenna is not integrated into the flexible circuit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an insulation via extending through the flexible circuit, wherein the antenna is positioned between the insulation via and a side of the flexible circuit.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the antenna is integrated into the first conductive layer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the flexible circuit further comprises a second conductive layer positioned along a second surface of the first dielectric layer that is opposite the first surface of the first dielectric layer; and

at least a portion of the second conductive layer does not extend to a position adjacent the antenna.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the integrated circuit is one of:

positioned within a pocket in the first dielectric layer; and

positioned between the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the integrated circuit is not integrated into the flexible circuit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the first portion of the connector is at least one of;

positioned within the first dielectric layer;

positioned within the first conductive layer; and

positioned between the first dielectric layer and the first conductive layer.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit and the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit and the antenna is not integrated into the flexible circuit.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electronic component; and

a second electronic component coupled to the first electronic component via the flexible circuit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is not integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is provided on the first electronic component;

the antenna is not integrated into the flexible circuit; and

the antenna is provided on the second electronic component.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the antenna is not integrated into the flexible circuit; and

the antenna is provided on the second electronic component.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein:

at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is not integrated into the flexible circuit; and

the integrated circuit is provided on the first electronic component.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the first electronic component comprises a circuit board.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the second electronic component comprises a transducer.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising a single electronic device, wherein the single electronic device comprises:

the flexible circuit;

the RFID circuitry;

the first electronic component; and

the second electronic component.

26. A method of forming a flexible circuit, the method comprising:

positioning a first conductive layer along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

integrating at least a first portion of radio-frequency identification (“

RFID”

) circuitry into at least one of the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first portion of the RFID circuitry is an integrated circuit.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the integrating comprises positioning the integrated circuit between the first conductive layer and the first surface of the first dielectric layer.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the integrating comprises:

forming a pocket into the first dielectric layer; and

positioning at least a portion of the integrated circuit within the pocket.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first portion of the RFID circuitry is an antenna.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the integrating comprises forming at least a portion of the antenna into the first conductive layer.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the integrating comprises stamping at least a portion of the antenna into the first conductive layer.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the integrating comprises at least one of etching, mask imprinting, and photolithographying at least a portion of the antenna into the first conductive layer.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the integrating comprises integrating all of the RFID circuitry into the at least one of the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

coupling a first portion of the first conductive layer to a first electronic component; and

coupling a second portion of the first conductive layer to a second electronic component.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first portion of the RFID circuitry is an integrated circuit;

the second electronic component comprises an antenna of the RFID circuitry; and

the first conductive layer electrically couples the integrated circuit to the antenna.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first portion of the RFID circuitry is an antenna;

the first electronic component comprises an integrated circuit of the RFID circuitry; and

the first conductive layer electrically couples the antenna to the integrated circuit.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first portion of the RFID circuitry is a connector;

the first electronic component comprises an integrated circuit of the RFID circuitry;

the second electronic component comprises an antenna of the RFID circuitry; and

the connector electrically couples the integrated circuit to the antenna.

39. An electronic device comprising:

a first electronic component;

a second electronic component;

a flexible circuit coupling the first electronic component to the second electronic component; and

radio-frequency identification (“

RFID”

) circuitry, wherein at least a first portion of the RFID circuitry is integrated into the flexible circuit.

40. A flex cable comprising:

a dielectric layer;

a top conductive layer affixed to the top of the dielectric layer;

a bottom copper layer affixed to the bottom of the dielectric layer; and

radio-frequency identification (“

RFID”

) circuitry embedded within at least one of the layers and operative to radiate an RFID signal out of a side of the flex cable extending between the top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer.