Radio frequency identification tag apparatus and related method

• US 6,265,977 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eberhardt, Noel H., Vega, Victor Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/638,414
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/572.8, 29/250.1, 295/921, 296/01, 29D/IG.1, 29/58, 257/679, 257/688, 257/678, 257/787, 342/44, 342/51, 342/42, 343/872, 343/873, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07788 the antenna being of the capacitive type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 29/001 Method or apparatus involving adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A radio frequency identification device (100, 200, 300, 350, 400, 500, 700) includes a substrate member (110) having a first surface (109) and a second surface (111). Disposed on the first surface of the substrate member are a first antenna element (112) and a second antenna element (114). The first and second antenna elements are electrically isolated from each other and are coupled to two separate pads on an integrated circuit (116, 116′). The integrated circuit includes a power circuit (814) that produces a supply voltage for electronics on the integrated circuit in response to voltages coupled over the air to the pads on the integrated circuit via the first and second antenna element. Adhesive (118) is applied on the first surface of the substrate, the first and second antenna elements and the integrated circuit for securing the tag to a person or thing.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a first antenna element disposed on the first surface of the substrate;

a second antenna element disposed on the first surface of the substrate and electrically isolated from the first antenna element;

a circuit that is electrically connected with the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and

an adhesive on at least a portion of one of the first antenna element, second antenna element, circuit and first surface of the substrate,

wherein the circuit includes a power circuit that produces a supply voltage from voltage differences between the first and second antenna elements, and

wherein the circuit is coupled to the first and second antenna elements by an interposer comprising;

an interposer substrate;

a first connecting pad disposed on the interposer substrate;

a second connecting pad disposed on the interposer substrate and electrically isolated from the first connecting pad; and

wherein the circuit is coupled to the first and second connecting pads and the first and second connecting pads are coupled to the first and second antenna elements, respectively.

2. The RFID device of claim 6 wherein the substrate is selected from a group consisting of:

paper, acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polypropylene with calcium carbonate, plastic, polymer, styrene, and a non conductive material.

3. The RFID device of claim 6 wherein the circuit further comprises:

a memory comprising stored digital information; and

a modulator powered by the power circuit and arranged for generating a signal that is modulated based on the stored digital information.

4. The RFID device of claim 3 further comprising a third antenna element coupled to the modulator.

5. The RFID device of claim 3 wherein the circuit further comprises:

a write decoder for decoding a modulated write signal into a decoded write command; and

a controller for writing the memory in response to the decoded write command.

6. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the circuit is secured directly to the first antenna element and the second antenna element by an adhesive.

7. The RFID device of claim 6 wherein the adhesive is an anisotropic conductive adhesive.

8. The RFID device of claim 6 wherein the adhesive is an isotropic conductive adhesive and the isotropic conductive adhesive used to couple the circuit to the first antenna element is isolated from the isotropic conductive adhesive used to couple the circuit to the second antenna element.

9. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the circuit is attached to the first antenna element and the second antenna element by a conductive transfer adhesive tape.

10. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the first surface of the substrate has indicia formed thereon.

11. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the second surface of the substrate has indicia formed thereon.

12. The RFID device of claim 11 wherein the indicia is formed by a technique selected from a group consisting of:

printing, direct thermal imagining, flexographing printing, dye-sublimation printing, offset printing, hot stamping, screen printing, transfer printing, web printing, thermal transfer imaging, xerographic printing, and lithographic printing.

13. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is formed from one of the following:

a roll of substrate material, a fan-folded arrangement of substrate material, and a sheet of substrate material.

14. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna elements comprise at least one of the following:

conductive ink, silver ink, carbon ink, graphite, metalized polyester, conductive polymers, conductive metal material, and aluminum.

15. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna elements are disposed on the substrate by a technique selected from a group consisting of:

printing, and lamination.

16. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna elements form a pattern selected from a group consisting of:

a bow tie shaped pattern, a checkerboard shaped pattern, a symmetrical shaped pattern, a non-symmetrical shaped pattern, and an unequal shaped pattern.

17. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein the interposer substrate comprises a release liner attached to the interposer substrate by an adhesive.