Laser imageable RFID label/tag

• US 20030197064A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Saint, Andre M., Attia, Omar S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker

Abstract

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and labels are produced having customized variable imprinting. Sheets of paper are used to form a simple and inexpensive structure for supporting and protecting RFID transponders. The paper structure also serves as a surface for customized variable imprinting using laser printers. The structure includes a base sheet, a cover sheet upon which a laser printer applied image is formed by passing the sheet assembly through a print path of a laser printer, and a mask sheet having at least one window. The sheets form a protective pocket within the window for protecting an electronic circuit from the heat and pressure applied by the laser printer when printing an image on the cover sheet. After printing, the structure can be separated into multiple RFID tags or labels. Identification information is transmitted from the electronic circuits inside the protective pockets to an external receiver.

Claims

1. A method of forming a printable electronic sheet assembly, comprising the steps of:

forming a sheet assembly having an upper layer, a lower layer, and an intermediate layer with at least one opening in the intermediate layer to receive an electronic circuit having a height approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said middle layer;

bonding said three layers together to form a flexible sheet less than 15 thousandths of an inch thick;

said sheet being approximately 8½

×

11 inches or A-4 paper sheet size;

printing on said sheet using a laser printer which subjects said sheet assembly to heat and pressure;

cutting said sheet into reduced size multi-layer assemblies each including at least one of said electronic circuits; and

subsequently applying high frequency R.F. signals to said reduced size assemblies.

2. An imageable electronic-identification sheet assembly comprising:

a base sheet;

a cover sheet upon which a laser printer applied image is formed by passing the sheet assembly through a print path of a laser printer;

a mask sheet having a window formed therein, the mask sheet bonded between the base and cover sheets to form a protective pocket within the window for protecting an electronic circuit bonded entirely within the protective pocket from the heat and pressure applied by the laser printer when printing an image on the cover sheet; and

a transmission device within the protective pocket for communicating identification information from the electronic circuit to an external receiver outside the protective pocket.

3. The sheet assembly of claim 2, further comprising additional windows in the mask sheet forming protective pockets for protecting additional electronic circuits bonded entirely within the protective pockets.

4. The sheet assembly of claim 3, further comprising separation lines formed in the sheet assembly for separating the sheet assembly into multiple subassemblies each including a protective-pocket enclosed electronic circuit.

5. The sheet assembly of claim 4, wherein the separation lines are die cut.

6. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the transmission device is an antenna forming a part of the electronic circuit.

7. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the cross-sectional footprint of the electronic circuit fits within the windows in the mask sheet.

8. The sheet assembly of claim 2, further comprising permanent adhesive on the base sheet bonded to the mask sheet and the electronic circuit.

9. The sheet assembly of claim 2, further comprising permanent adhesive on the cover sheet bonded to the mask sheet.

10. The sheet assembly of claim 8, further comprising adhesive on an outside surface of the sheet assembly for adhering the sheet assembly to an object as a label.

11. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein the sheet assembly is less than 15 thousandths of an inch thick and is of approximately 8½

×

11 inches or A-4 paper sheet size for feeding through a laser printer.

12. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein the base and cover sheets are 20 pound bond paper.

13. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein the mask sheet is formed from paper in the range from approximately 60 pound to approximately 80 pound bond paper.

14. The sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit is an radio frequency identification transponder.

15. The sheet assembly of claim 14, wherein the radio frequency identification transponder is a passive device.

16. A payment system comprising:

the imageable electronic-identification sheet assembly of claim 2;

and

a database of the identification information and corresponding customer information for receiving information from the external receiver so that payments can be arranged between customers and the payment system.

17. A security system comprising an indicator for notifying security personnel when the external receiver receives identification information from the electronic-identification sheet assembly of claim 2.

18. A system for one of the set of applications consisting of:

product authentication, ticketing, library management and supply chain management applications, wherein the electronic-identification sheet assembly of claim 2 transmits identification information to the system.

19. The sheet assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the sub-assemblies is a shipping label and both the laser printer applied image and the identification information correspond to goods.

20. The sheet assembly of claim 2 wherein the electromagnetic radiation is radio-frequency waves.

21. A method for forming an imageable electronic-identification sheet assembly, comprising the steps of:

bonding at least one electronic circuit into a protective pocket in the sheet assembly formed by bonding together a base sheet, a cover sheet, and a mask sheet with at least one window in the mask sheet for framing the electronic circuit, the sheet assembly having a thickness thin enough for passing through a print path of a standard laser printer;

printing on said sheet assembly using the laser printer which subjects said sheet assembly to heat and pressure; and

subsequently communicating with the electronic circuit within the protective pocket using electromagnetic radiation to obtain identification information.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of bonding additional electronic circuits into additional protective pockets formed from additional windows in the mask sheet.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of passing the sheet assembly through the print path of a laser printer and printing a laser printer applied image on the cover sheet.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of communicating with a receiver external to the protective-pocket using electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a transmission portion of the electronic circuit within the protective-pocket.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming separation lines in the sheet assembly for separating the sheet assembly into multiple subassemblies each including a protective-pocket enclosed electronic circuit.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of die-cutting the separation lines.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of separating the sheet assembly along the separation lines into multiple sub-assemblies each including a protective-pocket enclosed electronic circuit.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of separating the sheet assembly having the laser printer applied image into multiple subassemblies by separating the sheet assembly along the separation lines.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein each of the sub-assemblies has a laser printer applied image applied during the step of passing the sheet assembly through the print path of a laser printer and printing a laser printer applied image on the cover sheet.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of bonding the at least one electronic circuit into the protective pocket further comprises the step of placing permanent adhesive on the base sheet, cover sheet, mask sheet and at least one electronic circuit.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of bonding the electronic circuit into the protective pocket further comprises the step of bonding the electronic circuit to the base sheet using permanent adhesive.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of placing adhesive on an outside surface of the sheet assembly for adhering the sheet assembly to an object as a label.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of communicating with a receiver external to the protective-pocket using electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a transmission portion of the electronic circuit within the protective-pocket.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of receiving the identification information at an external receiver outside the protective pocket.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the communicating step is achieved by transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a transmission devise external to the protective pocket to the electronic circuit, powering the electronic circuit using the electromagnetic radiation, and transmitting the identification information from a transmission portion of the electronic circuit to a receiver outside the protective pocket.

36. The method of claim 21, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is radio-frequency waves.