Stretchable multi-layer wearable tag capable of wireless communications

• US 9,275,322 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivalnk Inc.
• Original Assignee: VivaLnk Limited (Cayman Islands)
• Inventors: Mei, Junfeng, Li, Jie
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, GRAHAM P
• Application Number:
  US14/454,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/309
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

A wearable tag capable of wireless communications includes a first elastic layer, a second elastic layer over the first elastic layer, wherein the second elastic layer is embedded with a first conductive circuit. The wearable tag includes a dielectric layer on the second elastic layer, a third elastic layer on the dielectric layer, wherein the third elastic layer is embedded with a second conductive circuit, wherein the dielectric layer comprises via holes that contain electric connections between the semiconductor chip and the first conductive circuit. A semiconductor chip is in connection with the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip, the first conductive circuit, and the second conductive circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices. The wearable tag also includes a fourth elastic layer on the semiconductor chip.

Claims

1. A wearable tag capable of wireless communications, comprising:

a first elastic layer;

a first antenna circuit over the first elastic layer;

a dielectric layer on the first antenna circuit, wherein the dielectric layer comprises via holes that contain electric connections between the semiconductor chip and the first antenna circuit;

a semiconductor chip in connection with first antenna circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip and the first antenna circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices; and

a second elastic layer on the semiconductor chip.

2. The wearable tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a third elastic layer between the first elastic layer and the dielectric layer, wherein the first antenna circuit is embedded in the third elastic layer.

3. The wearable tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a second antenna circuit on the dielectric layer, wherein the semiconductor chip is in connection with first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip, the first antenna circuit, and the second antenna circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices.

4. The wearable tag of claim 3, wherein the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit are configured to transmit wireless signals at substantially a same frequency range.

5. The wearable tag of claim 4, wherein ends of the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit are respectively electrically connected through the via holes in the dielectric layer.

6. The wearable tag of claim 3, wherein the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit are configured to transmit wireless signals in different frequency channels, wherein the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit each is separately connected to the semiconductor chip.

7. The wearable tag of claim 3, further comprising:

a fourth elastic layer on the dielectric layer, wherein the second antenna circuit is embedded in the fourth elastic layer.

8. The wearable tag of claim 3, further comprising:

a strap layer made of an electrically insulating material and formed on at least a portion of the second antenna circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip is positioned over the strap layer, wherein the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to two ends of the second antenna circuit through holes in the strap layer.

9. The wearable tag of claim 8, wherein the second antenna circuit is laid out in a coil shape, wherein the strap layer is positioned to bridge over the second antenna circuit to allow the semiconductor chip to be electrically connected to the two ends of the second antenna circuit without shorting the second antenna circuit.

10. The wearable tag of claim 8, further comprising:

metal pads formed on the strap layer, wherein the semiconductor chip is mounted on the metal pads, wherein the metal pads are respectively electrically connected to the two ends of the second antenna circuit.

11. The wearable tag of claim 10, further comprising:

end pads under the strap layer and respectively electrically connected to the two ends of the second antenna circuit, wherein the end pads are electrically connected to the metal pads on the strap layer.

12. The wearable tag of claim 10, further comprising:

a logic circuit formed on or in the strap layer, wherein the logic circuit comprises one or more semiconductor chips and/or electronic components comprising at least one of a capacitor, a resistor, a diode, or an inductor, wherein the one or more semiconductor chips and the electronic components are connected by conductive lines with the metal pads.

13. The wearable tag of claim 8, wherein the strap layer comprises:

one or more holes; and

a non-conductive material positioned in the one or more holes and fixed to the strap layer, wherein the non-conductive material is configured to anchor the strap layer to a fourth elastic layer in which the second antenna circuit is embedded.

14. The wearable tag of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first elastic layer or the second elastic layer has a Young'"'"'s Modulus lower than 0.3 Gpa.

15. The wearable tag of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first elastic layer or the second elastic layer comprises an elastomer material.

16. The wearable tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a graphic layer formed on the first elastic layer and below the first antenna circuit, wherein the graphic layer includes a graphic pattern.

17. The wearable tag of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor chip and the first antenna circuit are configured to communicate with external devices based on near field communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or RFID wireless communication standard.

18. The wearable tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a first line layer; and

a release layer formed on the first liner layer, wherein the first elastic layer is formed on the release layer.

19. The wearable tag of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive layer formed on the second elastic layer; and

a second line layer formed on the adhesive layer.

20. A wearable tag capable of wireless communications, comprising:

a first elastic layer;

a second elastic layer over the first elastic layer, wherein the second elastic layer is embedded with a first conductive circuit;

a dielectric layer on the second elastic layer;

a third elastic layer on the dielectric layer, wherein the third elastic layer is embedded with a second conductive circuit, wherein the dielectric layer comprises via holes that contain electric connections between the semiconductor chip and the first conductive circuit;

a semiconductor chip in connection with the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit, wherein the semiconductor chip, the first conductive circuit, and the second conductive circuit are configured to wirelessly communicate with external devices; and

a fourth elastic layer on the semiconductor chip.