Method of making electrical connections between opposing metal foils having a flexible, insulating layer sandwiched therebetween

• US 4,541,559 A
• Filed: 11/16/1983
• Issued: 09/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Philip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schofer, Joseph L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teskin, Fred M.
• Application Number:
  US06/552,306
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 29/570, 29/25.42, 29/581, 29/825, 29/849, 29/868, 29/738, 29/761, 156/250, 156/261, 156/324, 156/313, 156/309.9, 428/139, 427/81, 427/357, 228/115, 228/117, 228/179, 228/3.1, 228/44.1 R, 228/44.1 A, 228/903, 264/163, 264/282, 264/299
• US Class Current: 228/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/107 Punching and bonding pressure application by punch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4916 Simultaneous circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24339 Keyed

Abstract

A method of making electrical connections between metal foils laminated to opposing surfaces of a flexible insulating layer, such as may be configured with spiral patterns in the respective metal foils to form inductive-capacitive circuits useful as detectable markers in RF antipilferage systems, and wherein an electrical connection is provided between the opposing foils by first extruding the laminate to shear the insulating layer and to contact the opposing metal foils in the vicinity of the sheared insulator layer and by subsequently forcing the extrusion back into a substantially planar relationship relative to the remainder of the laminate.

Claims

1. A method of forming a marker for use in an electronic article surveillance system, wherein said marker comprises a circuit resonant at at least one radio frequency, wherein said method includes the steps of

(a) providing a flexible insulating sheet,

(b) forming a laminate by affixing to opposing surfaces of said sheet first and second metal foils configured as predetermined patterns, said opposing patterns and the insulating sheet sandwiched therebetween forming at least one capacitive element, and at least one of said first and second patterns forming at least one multi-turn inductive element which in combination with said capacitive element results in an inductive-capactive circuit resonant at at least one radio frequency, and

(c) forming an electrical contact between at least one selected point on the opposing patterns, wherein said forming step comprises

extruding a localized area of said laminate into a die cavity and in so doing, shearing the insulative sheet at the periphery of the die cavity to cause metal to metal contact between the opposing metal foils at said periphery, and

forcing the extruded area back into a substantially planar relationship with the remainder of the laminate to cause the extruded area to form a plug therein and a permanent electrical contact between the opposing foils at the periphery.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising applying a conically forced punch to one foil and a circular-shaped die to the opposing foil, thus forcing a conically shaped extrusion of said laminate in the circular die cavity and forming electrical contact between said foils around substantially the entire periphery of the extruded area, and applying opposing flat faced punches to said extrusion to compress the extrusion back into said substantially planar relationship.

3. A method of forming a marker for use in an electronic article surveillance system, wherein said marker comprises a circuit resonant at at least one radio frequency, wherein said method includes the steps of

(a) providing a flexible insulating sheet,

(b) forming a laminate by affixing to opposing surfaces of said sheet first and second metal foils configured as predetermined patterns, said opposing patterns and the insulating sheet sandwiched therebetween forming at least one capacitive element, and at least one of said first and second patterns forming at least one multi-turn inductive element which in combination with said capacitive element results in an inductive-capactive circuit resonant at at least one radio frequency, and

(c) forming an electrical contact between at least one selected point on the opposing patterns, wherein said forming step comprises

applying a conically shaped punch to one surface of a said foil and an opposing die to an opposing surface of the foil on the opposite side of the dielectric sheet thereby extruding the laminate into the die cavity and shearing of the dielectric sheet at the periphery of the die, such that metal-to-metal contact results between the opposing foils, and

applying opposing flat faced punches to the opposing foil surfaces extending over the extrusion to force the extrusion back into a substantially planar configuration with the remainder of the laminate forming a plug therein and a permanent electrical contact between the respective foils at the periphery of the original extrusion.