RF and/or RF identification tag/device having an integrated interposer, and methods for making and using the same

• US 8,884,765 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ensurge Micropower ASA
• Original Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
• Inventors: MacKenzie, J. Devin, Pavate, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOX, BRANDON C
• Application Number:
  US13/428,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 257/679, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.5, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07752 using an interposer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/43 Electric condenser making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/435 Solid dielectric type

Abstract

A MOS RF surveillance and/or identification tag, and methods for its manufacture and use. The tag includes an interposer, an antenna/inductor, and integrated circuitry on the interposer. The integrated circuitry has a lowest layer in physical contact with the interposer. The method of manufacture includes forming a lowest layer of integrated circuitry on an interposer, forming successive layers of the integrated circuitry on the lowest layer of integrated circuitry, and attaching an electrically conductive functional layer to the interposer. Alternatively, an electrically conductive structure may be formed from a functional layer attached to the interposer. The method of use includes causing/inducing a current in the present tag sufficient for it to generate, reflect or modulate a detectable electromagnetic signal, detecting the signal, and optionally, processing information conveyed by the detectable electromagnetic signal.

Claims

1. A surveillance and/or identification device or tag, comprising:

a) an antenna and/or inductor;

b) a planar interposer;

c) a first capacitor plate on or from said planar interposer, electrically coupled or connected to said antenna or inductor at a first location;

d) an inorganic dielectric layer on said first capacitor plate, the inorganic dielectric layer having a predetermined breakdown voltage; and

e) a second capacitor plate on said inorganic dielectric layer, electrically coupled or connected to said antenna or inductor at a second location,

wherein the antenna and/or inductor and the first and second capacitor plates form a resonant circuit that, when the device or tag is in a detection zone comprising an oscillating electromagnetic field, generates, radiates, reflects, or modulates a detectable electromagnetic signal, or causes a disturbance in the oscillating electromagnetic field, and

the device or tag is deactivated when a deactivating electromagnetic field induces a voltage differential across the inorganic dielectric layer greater than the breakdown voltage.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first capacitor plate is on said planar interposer, and said planar interposer comprises a polyimide, a glass/polymer laminate, or a high temperature polymer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said planar interposer comprises a metal sheet or foil.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first capacitor plate comprises an electrically conductive material.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said conductive material comprises aluminum, titanium, copper, silver, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, gold, palladium, platinum, zinc, iron, or an alloy thereof.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said conductive material comprises a conductive inorganic compound film.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer comprises silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, zirconium oxide, a polysiloxane, or a fluorinated derivative thereof.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer comprises an oxide and/or nitride of a Group IVA element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer consists essentially of silicon dioxide.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said second capacitor plate is capacitively coupled to said first capacitor plate.

11. A method of reading a surveillance and/or an identification device, comprising:

a) causing or inducing a current in the device of claim 1 sufficient for the device to radiate, reflect or modulate the detectable electromagnetic signal or cause the disturbance in the oscillating electromagnetic field, and the device or tag is deactivated when the deactivating electromagnetic field induces the voltage differential across the inorganic dielectric layer greater than the breakdown voltage; and

b) detecting said detectable electromagnetic signal or said disturbance in the oscillating electromagnetic field.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined breakdown voltage is from about 10 to 20 V.

13. A method of making a surveillance and/or identification device or tag, comprising:

a) forming an antenna and/or inductor;

b) forming a first capacitor plate on or from a planar interposer;

c) forming an inorganic dielectric layer on said first capacitor plate, the inorganic dielectric layer having a predetermined breakdown voltage;

d) forming a second capacitor plate on said inorganic dielectric layer; and

e) attaching said antenna and/or inductor to said first capacitor plate at a first location and to said second capacitor plate at a second location,

such that when the device or tag is in a detection zone comprising an oscillating electromagnetic field, a current or voltage is induced in the device or tag sufficient for the device or tag to generate, radiate, reflect, or modulate a detectable electromagnetic signal, or cause a disturbance in the oscillating electromagnetic field, and

when a deactivating electromagnetic field induces a voltage differential across the inorganic dielectric layer greater than the breakdown voltage, the device or tag is deactivated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first capacitor plate is formed on said planar interposer, and said planar interposer comprises a polyimide, a glass/polymer laminate, or a high temperature polymer.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said planar interposer comprises a metal sheet or foil.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said antenna and/or inductor comprises etching a metal foil.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming an interconnect between said antenna and/or inductor and said second capacitor plate.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said inorganic dielectric layer comprises blanket depositing a dielectric precursor on said first capacitor plate.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said inorganic dielectric layer comprises printing a dielectric precursor on said first capacitor plate.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer comprises silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, zirconium oxide, a polysiloxane, or a fluorinated derivative thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer comprises an oxide and/or nitride of a Group IVA element.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said inorganic dielectric layer consists essentially of silicon dioxide.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said second capacitor plate comprises printing a precursor of said second capacitor plate on said inorganic dielectric layer.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein forming said second capacitor plate comprises depositing a precursor of said second capacitor plate on said inorganic dielectric layer.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined breakdown voltage is from about 10 to 20 V.