Product and electronic tag assembly
First Claim
1. A host article and electronic tag assembly, of the tag type having an electronic device storing article-specific data and an antenna coupled to the electronic device for transmitting stored data to a remote reader device, the assembly comprising:
- an article portion composed at least partially of a material composition including rubber;
the electronic device and antenna attaching to the article portion and having external contact means, the antenna being flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material, the flexible conductive material at least partially including conductive rubber;
wherein the antenna comprises flexible antenna arms secured to the article portion whereby the antenna arms are surrounded at least partially by a rubber composed article portion extending to an adjacent ambient air mass;
wherein the ambient air mass resides within a cavity in the article;
wherein the pressure of the air mass within the cavity compresses the article portion material by a compressive force, whereby the compressive force within the article portion is directed against the antenna arms; and
wherein a change in the magnitude of compressive force against the antenna arms changes electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms and the change of electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms results in a detectable variation in the strength of a signal transmitted from the tag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A host article and electronic tag assembly includes an article portion of rubber-based material composition. The electronic device and antenna attach to or are embedded within the article portion. The antenna is constructed to be flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material such as conductive rubber. The flexible antenna conductive material is selected to provide material composition properties substantially equivalent to the rubber-based article portion, whereby rendering the antenna mechanically compatible for incorporation into the article portion. A change in compression within the rubber-based article portion changes compression forces exerted from the article portion on the antenna arms which, in turn, results in a detectable change in signal strength from the tag. The antenna may further be configured and positioned within the article portion to change transmission characteristics responsive to a change of air pressure in an ambient adjacent air mass within the article, and thereby function as an air pressure sensor.
12 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A host article and electronic tag assembly, of the tag type having an electronic device storing article-specific data and an antenna coupled to the electronic device for transmitting stored data to a remote reader device, the assembly comprising:
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an article portion composed at least partially of a material composition including rubber; the electronic device and antenna attaching to the article portion and having external contact means, the antenna being flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material, the flexible conductive material at least partially including conductive rubber; wherein the antenna comprises flexible antenna arms secured to the article portion whereby the antenna arms are surrounded at least partially by a rubber composed article portion extending to an adjacent ambient air mass; wherein the ambient air mass resides within a cavity in the article; wherein the pressure of the air mass within the cavity compresses the article portion material by a compressive force, whereby the compressive force within the article portion is directed against the antenna arms; and wherein a change in the magnitude of compressive force against the antenna arms changes electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms and the change of electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms results in a detectable variation in the strength of a signal transmitted from the tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A host article and electronic tag assembly, of the tag type having an electronic device storing article-specific data and an antenna coupled to the electronic device for transmitting stored data to a remote reader device, the assembly comprising:
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an article portion composed at least partially of a material composition including rubber; the electronic device and antenna attaching to the article portion and having external contact means, the antenna being flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material, the flexible conductive material at least partially including conductive rubber; wherein the flexible antenna conductive material having material composition properties substantially equivalent to the article portion, whereby rendering the antenna mechanically compatible for incorporation into the article portion; wherein the flexible antenna comprises first and second antenna arms encasing and in electrically contacting engagement with respective interconnection edge contacts spaced along respective outward sides of the electronic device and the interconnection edge contacts extend from the electronic device in a substantially planar configuration encased within an inward end of a respective antenna arm; wherein the antenna arms are secured to the article portion whereby the antenna arms are surrounded at least partially by a rubber composed article portion extending to an adjacent ambient air mass residing within a cavity in the article; wherein the pressure of the air mass within the cavity compresses the article portion material by a compressive force, whereby the compressive force within the article portion is directed against the antenna arms; wherein a change in the magnitude of compressive force against the antenna arms changes electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms and the change of electrical impedance characteristics of the antenna arms results in a detectable variation in the strength of a signal transmitted from the tag. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification