Method for forming an antenna and a radio frequency transponder

• US 6,662,430 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Saraf, Ravi, Rubino, Judy, Brady, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI V
• Application Number:
  US09/883,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 296/00, 298/40, 298/46, 298/47, 228/180.22, 228/180.21, 428/901, 343/700.R, 343/718
• US Class Current: 29/600
• 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: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/364 using a particular conducting material, e.g. superconductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49144 by metal fusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

A method is disclosed for forming an antenna and a radio frequency transponder. The method comprises the steps of (1) forming a paste comprising metal powder, polymeric material, and solvent; and (2) screening the paste through a screen onto a substrate. Additional steps couple electrical components to the paste and dry the paste.

Claims

1. A method for forming an antenna and connecting the antenna with electrical circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a paste comprising metal powder, thermoplastic material, and solvent;

screening the paste through a screen onto a substrate, the step of screening forming at least the antenna and forming electrically conducting material;

while the paste is wet, contacting electrical contacts of electrical circuitry to the electrically conducting material formed from the paste; and

drying the paste.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of drying the paste comprises the step of driving off the solvent.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of drying the paste comprises the step of curing the thermoplastic material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of drying the paste comprises the steps of:

driving off the solvent; and

curing the thermoplastic material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a paste comprising metal powder, thermoplastic material, and solvent comprises the step of forming a paste comprising metal powder, thermoplastic material, and solvent such that the metal powder occupies at least 30 percent by volume of the metal powder and thermoplastic material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the dried paste has a resistivity having a predetermined value low enough that radio frequency signals activate the electrical circuitry.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal powder comprises one or more of silver, copper, copper coated with silver, or copper coated with gold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the electrical circuitry form a radio frequency transponder.