Methods for manufacturing a radio frequency identification tag without aligning the chip and antenna

• US 8,635,762 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelkar, Nikhil V., Patil, Sadanand R., Han, Cheol Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US11/533,741
• Time in Patent Office: 2,687 Days
• Field of Search: 295/921, 296/00, 297/29, 297/39, 29832-834, 298/55, 343/870, 343/895, 343/720, 3405721-5725
• US Class Current: 29/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07754 the connection being galvanic
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing waveguides or resonators, lines, or other devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• 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: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A method for attaching antennae to RFID tags is disclosed. Included is the use of RFID tags having asymmetrical interconnect system for one or more antennae, such that virtually any rotational orientation of the RFID tag will result in a successful antennae attachment. Two oversized and “L” shaped gold-bumped holes can be arranged on the same side of the ship in an opposing action, such that at least one axis of symmetry is formed. Accordingly, virtually all rotational orientations of the chip are then acceptable when attaching a pair of opposing pole antenna leads. Alternatively, a pair of poles can be located on opposing chips surfaces, such that antenna substrates can be attached to both the top and bottom of the chip to form a product “sandwich”, whereby the rotational orientation of the chip is irrelevant at an antenna attachment step.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification tag, comprising:

providing a first radio frequency identification integrated circuit having an interconnect system formed on said radio frequency identification integrated circuit; and

utilizing a parts handling system to attach an antenna to the interconnect system of said first radio frequency identification integrated circuit, wherein said interconnect system is arranged such that said at least one antenna can be coupled to said interconnect system whenever the rotational orientation of said radio frequency identification integrated circuit is at any of a plurality of distinct positions with respect to said at least one antenna and wherein said parts handling system attaches said antenna to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit without controlling for the rotational orientation of said radio frequency identification integrated circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilizing step comprises utilizing a mass parts handling system having a rotary feeder drive.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein utilizing step further comprises utilizing an outside track bowl.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said interconnect system is arranged such that said at least one antenna can be coupled to said interconnect system regardless of whether said radio frequency identification integrated circuit is either face-up or face-down.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said interconnect system comprises two poles, wherein said the arrangement of said poles is substantially symmetrical about at least one axis along said radio frequency identification integrated circuit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling at least one ground lead to said interconnect system.