FLEXIBLE RFID TAG FOR MOUNTING ON METAL SURFACE

• US 20150324681A1
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TEGO LLC
• Original Assignee: TEGO LLC
• Inventors: Mats, Leonid, Russo, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 9,430,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07754 the connection being galvanic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07766 comprising at least a second communication arrangement in addition to a first non-contact communication arrangement
• 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 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a three-dimensional Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag structure that provides improved performance when mounted on a conducting surface, the three-dimensional RFID tag structure comprising a first substrate with an RFID integrated circuit and antenna, the antenna comprising a first antenna portion and second antenna portion, wherein the first and second antenna portions are wrapped around and connected to each other such that a continuous conductive path is made from the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, to the first antenna portion, to the second antenna portion, and to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an RFID integrated circuit having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal;

a first substrate having a first and second side;

an antenna formed on the first side of the first substrate, the antenna comprising a first antenna portion and second antenna portion, the first antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, the second antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit; and

a second substrate having a first side and a second side;

a conductive material mounted to the second side of the second substrate,

wherein the first side of the second substrate is mounted to the first side of the first substrate, covers the RFID integrated circuit and partially covers the ends of lengths of both the first and second antenna portions,

wherein the remaining portions are wrapped around the second substrate and connected to the conductive material on the second side of the second substrate such that a continuous conductive path is made around the second substrate from the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, to the first antenna portion, to the conductive material, to the second antenna portion, and to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag that has improved read performance over planar RFID tag configurations when mounted on a metal surface.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second substrate has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the first substrate.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first antenna portion and second antenna portion are formed from a single conductive material mounted on the first side of the first substrate and made to be separate antenna portions by an etching in the single conductive material that electrically isolates the first antenna portion from the second antenna portion.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna portions are connected to the conductive material by an adhesive.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag has a hole through the combined first substrate and second substrate structure for mounting the RFID tag over a protrusion.

7. The RFID tag of claim 6, wherein the protrusion is the valve of a pressurized gas cylinder.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second substrate is an insulating material.

9. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an RFID integrated circuit having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal;

a substrate having a first and second side;

an antenna formed on the first side of the substrate, the antenna comprising a first antenna portion and second antenna portion, the first antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, the second antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit,

wherein the remaining portions are wrapped around and connected to each other such that a continuous conductive path is made from the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, to the first antenna portion, to the second antenna portion, and to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit.

10. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein a second substrate is mounted inside the loop formed by the interconnected first and second antenna portions.

11. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the second substrate is an insulating material.

12. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag that has improved read performance over planar RFID tag configurations when mounted on a metal surface.

13. A method for improving the RFID read performance of an RFID tag mounted on a conductive surface, comprising:

providing an RFID integrated circuit having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, a first substrate having a first and second side, an antenna formed on the first side of the first substrate, the antenna comprising a first antenna portion and second antenna portion, the first antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, the second antenna portion having a length, the length having an end and a remaining portion connected to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit;

providing a second substrate having a first side and a second side, a conductive material mounted to the second side of the second substrate;

mounting the first side of the second substrate to the first side of the first substrate such as to cover the RFID integrated circuit and partially cover the ends of lengths of both the first and second antenna portions;

wrapping the remaining portions around the second substrate;

connecting the remaining portions to the conductive material on the second side of the second substrate such that a continuous conductive path is made around the second substrate from the first electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit, to the first antenna portion, to the conductive material, to the second antenna portion, and to the second electrical terminal of the RFID integrated circuit,

wherein the RFID integrated circuit connected to the antenna wrapped around the second substrate forms a three dimensional (3D) on-metal RFID tag; and

mounting the 3D on-metal RFID tag onto a metal surface, wherein the 3D on-metal RFID tag has improved read performance over a planar RFID tag with the same mounting surface when mounted on the metal surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second substrate has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the first substrate.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first antenna portion and second antenna portion are formed from a single conductive material mounted on the first side of the substrate and made to be separate antenna portions by an etching in the single conductive material that electrically isolates the first antenna portion from the second antenna portion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second antenna portions are connected to the conductive material by an adhesive.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the 3D on-metal RFID tag has a hole through the combined first substrate and second substrate structure for mounting the 3D on-metal RFID tag over a protrusion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the protrusion is the valve of a pressurized gas cylinder.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the second substrate is an insulating material.