Near-field UHF identification system and a method for identifying an object or the kind of an object that is or contains electrically conductive material using near-field identification

• US 20150341088A1
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
• Original Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
• Inventors: Jaakkola, Kaarle, Nummila, Kaj, Koivu, Petteri
• Granted Patent: US 9,900,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A near-field identification system comprises:

• • i) an object that is or contains electrically conductive material; and
  • ii) an ultra-high radio-frequency microstrip transponder comprising a microstrip line and an identification microchip connected to the microstrip line;
  • and wherein:
  • the microstrip transponder being on the object at a location where the object has an electrically conductive region, the line following at least one edge of the object.

The system is configured, when identification system is being interrogated by an interrogator from below of the system, in such a manner that an identification signal from the identification microchip is transmittable from the microstrip line via magnetic near field induced by electric current on the edge of the object to below the object in such a manner that the identification microchip is identifiable.

The patent application contains also an independent claim for a method for identifying an object or the kind of an object that is or contains electrically conductive material using near-field identification

Claims

1. A near-field UHF identification system comprising:

an object that is or contains electrically conductive material; and

an ultra-high radio-frequency microstrip transponder comprising a microstrip line and an identification microchip connected to the microstrip line;

wherein;

the microstrip transponder being on the object at a location where the object has an electrically conductive region, the line following at least one edge of the object; and

the system being configured, when the identification system is being interrogated by an interrogator from below the system, in such a manner that an identification signal from the identification microchip is transmittable from the microstrip line via magnetic near field induced by electric current on the edge of the object to below the object in such a manner that the identification microchip is identifiable.

2. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein the object is a rechargeable battery for an electronic device.

3. the near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein the microstrip line consists of aluminum, copper or silver.

4. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein the microstrip transponder comprises a foil to which the microstrip line has been attached and which has been attached onto the object or onto a foil, paper or wrapping or cover around the object.

5. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 4, wherein:

the foil has a thickness between 40-60 μ

m and the microstrip line has a thickness between 16 to 20 μ

m.

6. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein:

the microstrip line has as its dimensions (a×

b) approximately 10-14 mm×

13-17 mm.

7. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein:

the microstrip line is located at a distance (c, d) following at least two neighbouring edges, the distance (c, d) being 0,8-1,2 mm.

8. The near-field UHF identification system according to claim 1, wherein:

the microstrip transponder further comprises an integrated ground plane that is co-planar with the microstrip line and separated from the microstrip line by a distance; and

/or

the microstrip transponder further comprises an integrated ground plane that is co-planar with the microstrip line and has a strip-like shape following the shape of the microstrip line; and

/or

the microstrip transponder further comprises an integrated ground plane in a secondary layer, the integrated ground plane advantageously having a strip-like shape following the shape of the microstrip line; and

/or

wherein the microstrip transponder further comprises an integrated ground plane that is asymmetrically placed in relation to the microstrip line.

9. A method for identifying an object or the kind of an object that is or contains electrically conductive material using near-field identification, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a microstrip transponder to the object to create a system comprising;

an object that is or contains electrically conductive material; and

an ultra-high radio-frequency microstrip transponder comprising a microstrip line and an identification microchip connected to the microstrip line;

wherein;

the microstrip transponder being on the object at a location where the object has an electrically conductive region, the line following at least one edge of the object; and

the system being configured, when identification system is being interrogated by an interrogator from below of the system, in such a manner that an identification signal from the identification microchip is transmittable from the microstrip line via magnetic near field induced by electric current on the edge of the object to below the object in such a manner that the identification microchip is identifiable;

interrogating the system by an interrogator;

receiving an identification signal of the identification microchip as magnetic near field coupling from the object at a side of the object; and

using the identification signal to identify the object or the kind of the object.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interrogating and identification are performed according to technical UHF RFID standard and/or EPC gen 2 standard (ISO 18 000-6).