Electronic label

• US 7,012,530 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nagravision SA (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Nagra ID SA (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Droz, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T.
• Application Number:
  US10/240,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/572.8, 235/375, 235/380, 235/449, 235/492, 73/240.6, 73/300.4, 324/633
• US Class Current: 340/572.6
• 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 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object

Abstract

One characteristic of electronic labels is that they can be read and written on without electrical contact through the communication coil (1). The reading heading is then positioned at some distance and communicates with the label through electromagnetic waves. When these labels are placed on metallic objects, reading becomes difficult even impossible because of the dispersion of the waves in the object. To overcome this drawback, the invention proposes the adding of an electromagnetic conductive element (3, 3′) to the coil (1) in order to insulate it (1) and enhance the reception quality.

Claims

1. An electronic label comprising at least one electronic element component and an antenna in the form of a generally flat coil assembled on a generally planar substrate, the label arranged to be read by a reader which transmits an electromagnetic field towards at least one face of the label, wherein

the label includes at least one magneto reflective element constituted by an electro-magnetic conductive sheet independent of the electronic component and the coil, said sheet, placed under the coil on a side opposite of a transmitting face of the reader, reflects the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader preventing dispersion of said field in the support whereon the label is applied.

2. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the magneto reflective sheet covers all or part of the surface of the coil.

3. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the magneto reflective sheet is slightly larger than the surface of the coil.

4. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the magneto reflective sheet includes three-dimensional shapes.

5. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the magneto reflective sheet comprises one or several openings on its surface.

6. An electronic label comprising at least one electronic component and an antenna in the form of a generally flat coil assembled on a generally planar substrate, the electronic label arranged to be read by a reader which transmits an electromagnetic field towards at least one face of the electronic label, wherein

the label includes a magneto reflective element constituted by an electro-magnetic conductive element independent of the electronic component and the coil, said electro-magnetic conductive element, placed on all or a portion of a periphery of the coil, reflects the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader preventing dispersion of said field in the support whereon the label is applied.

7. The electronic label according to claim 6, wherein said electro-magnetic conductive element forms a ring in ferrite material surrounding the coil.

8. The electronic label according to claim 6, wherein said electro-magnetic conductive element is stamped out from an electro-magnetic conductive sheet, the coil being placed in a central area of said electro-magnetic conductive element.

9. The electronic label according to claim 6, wherein the magneto reflective element comprises an additional part constituting a sheet covering all or part of the surface of the coil, said sheet being placed under the coil on a side opposite of a transmitting face of the reader.

10. The electronic label according to claim 9, wherein said sheet is larger than the surface of the coil.

11. The electronic label according to claim 9, wherein said sheet includes three-dimensional shapes.

12. The electronic label according to claim 9, wherein said sheet comprises one or several openings on its surface.

13. The electronic label according to claim 9, wherein the electro-magnetic conductive element, placed on all or a portion of the periphery of the coil and the sheet being placed under the coil on a side opposite of a transmitting face of the reader, constitute together a single piece.

14. An electronic label comprising at least one electronic component and an antenna in the form of a generally planar coil assembled on a generally planar substrate, the electronic label arranged to be read by a reader which transmits an electromagnetic field towards at least one face of the electronic label, wherein

the label includes a magneto reflective element constituted by an electro-magnetic conductive element independent of the electronic component and the coil, said electro-magnetic conductive element, placed on all or a portion of a periphery of the coil, reflects the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader preventing dispersion of said field in the support whereon the label is applied.