Surface-printable RFID-transponders

• US 6,206,292 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SIHL GmbH
• Inventors: Robertz, Bernd, Liebler, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/488,488
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/488
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/027 the material being suitable for use as a textile, e.g. woven-based RFID-like labels designed for attachment to laundry items markings attached to laundry items in general D06F93/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker

Abstract

RFID transponders having a polymer film as the support for at least one antenna and having a circuit chip electrically connected thereto, possessing on one surface of the polymer film a printable/writable layer comprising particulate pigment and film forming binder and on the opposite surface of the polymer film an adhesive layer covered with a cover layer. The directly printable RFID transponders are useful as labels, especially pressure-sensitive adhesive labels or tags for labelling goods for transportation, containers or textiles, or else with indetachable cover as identification cards or access authorization cards.

Claims

1. An RFID transponder comprising:

(a) a polymer film having a first surface and a second surface which oppose each other and act as a substrate for receiving at least one antenna and a circuit chip electrically connected thereto such that said antenna and said circuit chip are attached to one of the surfaces of said polymer film;

(b) a printable layer disposed on the first surface of said polymer film wherein the printable layer has a particular pigment and a film forming binder disposed thereon to provide a printable surface;

(c) one side of an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of said polymer film; and

(d) a cover layer disposed on a second side of the adhesive layer opposite to the one side of the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of said polymer film.

2. The RFID transponder according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a self-sticking adhesive and the cover layer comprises a release paper wherein at least one side of the release paper contains a release agent which facilitates removal of the release paper from the self-sticking adhesive.

3. The RFID transponder according to claim 2, wherein the RFID transponder is selected from the group consisting of a self-adhesive label and a self-adhesive tag.

4. The RFID transponder according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of a holt-melt adhesive and a laminating adhesive and the cover layer is selected from the group consisting of a paper/board and a polymer film which are inseparable from said adhesive layer.

5. The RFID transponder according to claim 4, wherein the RFID transponder is selected from the group consisting of an identification card and an access authorization card.

6. The RFID transponder according to claim 2, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as a heat-sensitive recording layer which develops one or more visible colors on exposure to heat.

7. The RFID transponder according to claim 2, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as an ink-accepting layer in accordance with inkjet technology.

8. The RFID transponder according to claim 2, wherein the printable layer is configured such that material may be printed thereon by a means for printing wherein the means for printing is selected from the group consisting of transfer printing, laser printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing.

9. The RFID transponder according to claim 4, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as a heat-sensitive recording layer which develops one or more colors on exposure to heat.

10. The RPID transponder according to claim 4, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as an ink-accepting layer in accordance with inkjet technology.

11. The RFID transponder according to claim 4, wherein the printable layer is configured such that material may be printed thereon by a means for printing wherein the means for printing is selected from the group consisting of transfer printing, laser printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing.

12. The RFID transponder according to claim 1, wherein the polymer film is transparent and an opaque interlayer is sandwiched between the transparent polymer film and the printable layer.

13. A plurality of RFID transponders comprising:

(a) a continuous polymer film strip in a running direction having a first surface and a second surface which oppose each other and act as a substrate for receiving at least one antenna and a circuit chip electrically connected thereto such that said antenna and said circuit chip is attached to one of the surfaces of said polymer film strip;

(b) a printable layer disposed on the first surface of said polymer film strip wherein the printable layer has a particulate pigment and a film forming binder disposed thereon to provide a printable surface;

(c) one side of an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of said polymer film strip;

(d) a cover layer disposed on a second side of the adhesive layer opposite to the one side of the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of said polymer film strip; and

(e) wherein said RFID transponders are formed at a distance from one another in the running direction of said polymer film strip.

14. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 13, wherein at least one prepared parting line is formed between the RFID transponders transversely to the running direction of the polymer film strip to allow separation of the RFID transponders from said polymer film strip.

15. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 14, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a self-sticking adhesive and the cover layer comprises a release paper wherein at least one side of the release paper contains a release agent which facilitates removal of the release paper from the self-sticking adhesive.

16. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 15, wherein the RFID transponders are selected from the group consisting of a self-adhesive label and a tag.

17. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 14, wherein the adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of a holt-melt adhesive and a laminating adhesive and the cover layer is selected from the group consisting of a paper/board and a polymer film which are inseparable from said adhesive layer.

18. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 17, wherein the RFID transponders are selected from the group consisting of an identification card and an access authorization card.

19. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 15, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as a heat-sensitive recording layer which develops one or more visible colors on exposure to heat.

20. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 15, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as an ink-accepting layer in accordance with inkjet technology.

21. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 15, wherein the printable layer is configured such that material may be printed thereon by a means for printing wherein the means for printing is selected from the group consisting of transfer printing, laser printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing.

22. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 17, wherein the printable layer is configured as a heart-sensitive recording layer which develops one or more visible colors on exposure to heat.

23. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 17, wherein the printable layer is configured such that it acts as an ink-accepting layer in accordance with inkjet technology.

24. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 17, wherein the printable layer is configured such that material may be printed thereon by a means for printing wherein the means for printing is selected from the group consisting of transfer printing, laser printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing.

25. The plurality of RFID transponders according to claim 13, wherein the polymer film strip is transparent and an opaque interlayer is sandwiched between the transparent polymer film strip and the printable layer.