Article surveillance device and method for forming

• US 6,087,940 A
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National City Bank (PNC Financial Services Group)
• Original Assignee: NovaVision
• Inventors: Caperna, Albert J., Waterbury, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/330,808
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 340/825.34, 343/895, 156/52, 156/269, 29/846, 29/829, 428/457, 428/209, 427/96
• US Class Current: 340/572.5
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/041 Printed circuit coils apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits in general H05K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

A security tag and method for forming the tag in a substantially continuous in-line operation. The tag includes a substrate with first and second conductive elements separated by a dielectric layer and means establishing electrical contact between the first and second conductive elements. The means for establishing electrical contact includes utilizing an electrically conductive ink or providing an interruption in the dielectric layer. Under one embodiment a layer of foil having a series of interruptions is further provided.

Claims

1. A length of security tags formed in a substantially continuous, in-line operation comprising

(a) a web of substrate material;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart first conductive elements successively affixed to said substrate material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a first composite sheet or foil to said substrate;

(c) a layer of dielectric material affixed to said first conductive elements and said substrate; and

(d) a plurality of second conductive elements successively affixed to said dielectric material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a second composite sheet or foil to said dielectric material, a portion of said second conductive elements having a holographic image formed therein.

2. A length of security tags formed in a substantially continuous, in-line operation comprising

(a) a web of substrate material;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart first conductive elements successively affixed to said substrate material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a first composite sheet or foil to said substrate;

(c) a layer of dielectric material affixed to said first conductive elements and said substrate; and

(d) a plurality of second conductive elements successively affixed to said dielectric material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a second composite sheet or foil to said dielectric material, a portion of said second conductive element having formed therein a holographic image and one member selected from the group consisting of (i) a bar code, (ii) high density optical information and commands, (iii) high density digitized and optical commands, and (iv) complex script scannable by an optical scanner.

3. A length o f security tags formed in a substantially continuous, in-line operation comprising

(a) a web of substrate material;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart first conductive elements successively affixed to said substrate material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a first composite sheet or foil to said substrate;

(c) a layer of dielectric material affixed to said first conductive elements and said substrate;

(d) a plurality of second conductive elements successively affixed to said dielectric material by successively transferring a discrete portion of a metal layer of a second composite sheet or foil to said dielectric material; and

(e) a third composite sheet or foil affixed to said second conductive elements, said third composite sheet or film having a metal layer with a plurality of interruptions, at least some portion of which overlie said second conductive elements.

4. A length of security tags according to claim 3 wherein said third composite sheet has a hologram formed therein.

5. A security tag comprising

(a) a composite sheet or foil having a layer of metal, said layer of metal having a series of interruptions, said interruptions having a size and spacing permitting electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough;

(b) a dielectric layer affixed to said composite sheet or foil;

(c) a first conductive element including a capacitor plate positioned between said composite sheet or foil and said dielectric layer, those portions of said composite sheet or foil and said dielectric layer overlying said first conductive element being in interfacial contact therewith and other portions of said composite sheet or foil being in interfacial contact with said dielectric layer, said first conductive element including a pad;

(d) a second conductive element engaged to the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said first conductive element, said second conductive element including a capacitor plate, a coil and a pad; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element and said second conductive element.

6. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said layer of metal has a hologram thereon.

7. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein one of said first conductive element capacitor plate and said second conductive element capacitor plate has a hologram thereon.

8. A security tag according to claim 5 wherein said security tag is one of a length of security tags formed in a substantially continuous, in-line operation wherein each said first conductive element is applied to a substrate forming part of a continuous web by transferring, under pressure, a discrete portion of a metal layer from a length of first composite sheet or film and each said second conductive element is applied to said dielectric layer by transferring, under pressure, a discrete portion of a metal layer from a length of a second composite sheet or film.

9. A security tag according to claim 8, wherein the untransferred portion of said first composite sheet or film is removed from said substrate prior to the transfer of said second conductive element to said dielectric layer.

10. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has a holographic image embossed therein.

11. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has (i) a holographic image embossed therein and (ii) a European article numbering or universal product bar code embossed therein.

12. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has (i) a holographic image embossed therein and (ii) a holographic two-dimensional bar code embossed therein.

13. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has (i) a holographic image embossed therein and (ii) a plurality of high density optical information and commands embossed therein.

14. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has (i) a holographic image embossed therein and (ii) a hologram containing high density digitized and optical commands embossed therein.

15. A security tag according to claim 5, wherein said capacitor plate has (i) a holographic image embossed therein and (ii) a hologram containing complex script scannable by an optical scanner.

16. A security tag comprising

(a) a composite sheet having a layer of metal with a hologram embossed thereon, said layer of metal having a series of interruptions, said interruptions having a size and spacing permitting electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency range to pass therethrough;

(b) a dielectric layer affixed to said composite sheet;

(c) a first conductive element including a capacitor plate positioned between said composite sheet and said dielectric layer, those portions of said composite sheet and said dielectric layer overlying said first conductive element being in interfacial contact therewith and other portions of said composite sheet being in interfacial contact with said dielectric layer, said first conductive element including a pad; and

(d) a second conductive element engaged to the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said first conductive element, said second conductive element including a capacitor plate, a coil and a pad, said pad extending outwardly beyond said dielectric layer and being engaged to said first conductive element.

17. An article comprising

(a) a substrate:

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred to said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad characterized in that one of said capacitors has a holographic image stamped thereon.

18. An article according to claim 17, wherein said one capacitor has a European article numbering or universal product bar code formed thereon.

19. An article comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred of said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto;

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad; and

(f) a hologram embossable composite sheet having a layer of metal with interruptions, said composite sheet engaged to said second conductive element and having a hologram formed thereon.

20. An article comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred to said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad characterized in that one of said capacitors has (i) a holographic image stamped thereon and (ii) a holographic two-dimensional bar code stamped thereon.

21. An article comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred to said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad characterized in that one of said capacitors has (i) a holographic image stamped thereon and (ii) a plurality of high density optical information and commands formed thereon.

22. An article comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred to said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad characterized in that one of said capacitors has (i) a holographic image stamped thereon and (ii) a hologram containing high density digitized and optical commands formed thereon.

23. An article comprising

(a) a substrate;

(b) a first conductive element transferred to said substrate from a first film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said first conductive element including a capacitor, a coil and a pad;

(c) a layer of dielectric film engaged to said substrate and said first conductive element;

(d) a second conductive element transferred to said dielectric film, said second film selected from the group consisting of a hologram embossable composite sheet, a hot stamping foil, a cold stamping foil and a high conductivity stamping foil, said second conductive element having a capacitor and a pad joined thereto; and

(e) means establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad characterized in that one of said capacitors has (i) a holographic image stamped thereon and (ii) a hologram containing complex script scannable by an optical scanner stamped thereon.

24. A method for forming a security tag comprising the steps of

(a) feeding a substrate web substantially continuously along a path;

(b) placing a first composite sheet or foil having a layer of metal in interfacial relationship with said substrate;

(c) transferring discrete portions of said first composite sheet or foil metal layer to said substrate to form a first conductive element having a pad, a capacitor plate and a coil between said pad and said capacitor plate;

(d) removing the portions of said first composite sheet or foil other than said discrete portions from said substrate;

(e) affixing a layer of dielectric material to said substrate and said discrete portions;

(f) placing a second composite sheet or oil having a layer of metal in interfacial relationship with said layer of dielectric material;

(g) transferring selected portions of said second composite sheet or foil metal layer to said dielectric layer to form a second conductive element having a pad, a capacitor plate and a conductive element therebetween;

(h) removing the portions of said second composite sheet or foil other than said selected portions from said dielectric layer; and

(i) establishing electrical contact between said first conductive element pad and said second conductive element pad.

25. A method for forming a security tag according to claim 24, wherein the step of establishing electrical contact comprises applying an electrically conductive ink or coating to extend from said first conductive element pad to said second conductive element pad.

26. A method for forming a security tag according to claim 24, wherein said layer of dielectric material is shaped to overlie all of said first conductive element except said pad and said first conductive element pad is in direct contact with said second conductive element pad.

27. A method for forming a security tag according to claim 24, further including the step of forming a holographic image or diffraction grating image on said second conductive element capacitor plate.

28. A method for forming a security tag according to claim 24, further including the step of forming in said second conductive element capacitor plate an indicia selected from the group consisting of (1) two-dimensional bar code, (2) high density optical information, (3) high density digitized commands, and (4) complex script scannable by optical scanner.

29. A method for forming a security tag according to claim 24, further including the step of forming in said second conductive element capacitor plate, a holographic or diffraction grating image and an indicia selected from the group consisting of (1) two-dimensional bar code, (2) high density optical information, (3) high density digitized commands, and (4) complex script scannable by optical scanner.