Surveillance Devices with Multiple Capacitors
First Claim
1. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:
- a) an electrically conducting strap on a substrate;
b) a lower capacitor electrode on or over the substrate, electrically connected to the strap;
c) a first dielectric film on the substrate and on or over a portion of the strap, the first dielectric film exposing a portion of the strap and having an opening over a portion of the lower capacitor electrode;
d) a capacitor dielectric film on the lower capacitor electrode in the opening, the capacitor dielectric film having a significantly smaller thickness than the first dielectric film;
e) an upper capacitor electrode on the first dielectric film and the capacitor dielectric film, the upper capacitor electrode capacitively coupled to the lower capacitor electrode; and
f) an antenna and/or inductor electrically connected to the upper capacitor electrode and the strap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to surveillance and/or identification devices having capacitors connected in parallel or in series, and methods of making and using such devices. Devices with capacitors connected in parallel, where one capacitor is fabricated with a relatively thick capacitor dielectric and another is fabricated with a relatively thin capacitor dielectric achieve both a high-precision capacitance and a low breakdown voltage for relatively easy surveillance tag deactivation. Devices with capacitors connected in series result in increased lateral dimensions of a small capacitor. This makes the capacitor easier to fabricate using techniques that may have relatively limited resolution capabilities.
47 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:
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a) an electrically conducting strap on a substrate; b) a lower capacitor electrode on or over the substrate, electrically connected to the strap; c) a first dielectric film on the substrate and on or over a portion of the strap, the first dielectric film exposing a portion of the strap and having an opening over a portion of the lower capacitor electrode; d) a capacitor dielectric film on the lower capacitor electrode in the opening, the capacitor dielectric film having a significantly smaller thickness than the first dielectric film; e) an upper capacitor electrode on the first dielectric film and the capacitor dielectric film, the upper capacitor electrode capacitively coupled to the lower capacitor electrode; and f) an antenna and/or inductor electrically connected to the upper capacitor electrode and the strap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 23)
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6. A method for making a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an electrically conducting strap and a lower capacitor electrode on or over a substrate; b) forming a first dielectric film on the substrate and on or over a portion of the strap, the first dielectric film exposing a portion of the strap and having an opening over a portion of the lower capacitor electrode; c) forming a capacitor dielectric film in the opening, the capacitor dielectric film having a significantly smaller thickness than the first dielectric film; d) forming an upper capacitor electrode on the first dielectric film and the capacitor dielectric film, such that the upper capacitor electrode is capacitively coupled to the lower capacitor electrode; and e) forming an antenna and/or inductor on, or attaching the antenna and/or inductor to, the upper capacitor electrode and the strap. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:
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a) an antenna and/or an inductor on a substrate; b) a lower capacitor electrode, on or over the substrate and in electrical contact with the antenna and/or inductor; c) a first dielectric film on or over the antenna and/or inductor and the lower capacitor electrode, the first dielectric film having a hole therein exposing a portion of the antenna and/or inductor and an opening therein over the lower capacitor electrode; d) a relatively thin capacitor dielectric film on the lower capacitor electrode, in the opening in the first dielectric film and having a thickness significantly less than that of the first dielectric film; e) an upper capacitor electrode, capacitively coupled to the lower capacitor electrode; and f) an electrically conducting strap configured to provide electrical communication between the upper capacitor electrode and the antenna and/or inductor. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for making a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an antenna and/or inductor on a substrate and a lower capacitor electrode in electrical communication with a first end of the antenna/inductor; b) forming a relatively thin capacitor dielectric film on at least a first part of the lower capacitor electrode; c) forming a relatively thick capacitor dielectric on or over a second part of the lower capacitor electrode, the second part of the lower capacitor electrode not overlapping with the first part thereof; d) forming an upper capacitor electrode on the thin and thick capacitor dielectric films, capacitively coupled to the lower capacitor electrode; and e) forming an electrically conducting strap configured to provide electrical communication between the upper capacitor electrode and a second end of the antenna/inductor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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24. A method for making a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming a first dielectric film on an electrically functional substrate; b) forming a plurality of capacitor electrodes on the first dielectric film, the capacitor electrodes being capacitively coupled to the substrate and physically isolated from each other; c) forming a second dielectric film on or over the capacitor electrodes, the second dielectric film having holes therein to facilitate electrical connection to the capacitor electrodes; and d) forming an inductor electrically connected to each of the capacitor electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:
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a) an electrically conductive substrate; b) a first dielectric film on the electrically conductive substrate; c) a plurality of capacitor electrodes on the first dielectric film, capacitively coupled to the substrate and physically isolated from each other; d) a second dielectric film on or over the capacitor electrodes, the second dielectric film having holes therein; and e) an inductor electrically connected to the plurality of capacitor electrodes through the holes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification