Installation structure for RFID tag, method for installing RFID tag, and communication using such RFID tag

• US 6,897,827 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanex Co., Ltd. (Vertex Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hanex Co., Ltd. (Vertex Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Jun, Hyodo, Nakamaro, Senba, Fujio, Uchiyama, Tomoki, Kida, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/311,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20040052034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 343/741, 343/788, 343/866, 343/873, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 342/51
• US Class Current: 343/873
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07781 the coil being fabricated in a winding process
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• 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: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

An RFID tag installing structure for installing a microminiaturized RFID tag having a cylindrical antenna coil to a conductive member, an RFID installing method, and communication method are disclosed. An RFID tag (1) having a cylindrical antenna coil (2) and shaped into a rod is characterized in that the axial direction of the RFID tag (1) is parallel to the installation surface composed of the bottom surface (7a) of an installation groove (7) made in a conductive member (5) and is in contact with the installation surface.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting an RFID tag onto a conductive member, comprising:

an RFID tag, that includes a cylindrical antenna coil and a control section, that communicates using amplitude shift keying (ASK);

a container made of a non-conductive material that encloses the RFID tag, such that a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the container, and insulates the RFID tag from the conductive member;

a groove formed within a top surface of the conductive member, wherein interior dimensions of the groove substantially correspond to external dimensions of the container; and

a non-conductive protective member made with non-conductive material that covers the top surface of the container;

wherein the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil is aligned substantially parallel with the top surface of the conductive member.

2. The installation structure for an RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a surface of the groove in the conductive member and the RFID tag enclosed within the container is from about 10μ

m to about 5 mm.

3. The installation structure for an RFID tag according to claim 1, further comprising:

a conductive protective member that is a layer of conductive material positioned between the container and a surface of the groove.

4. The installation structure for an RFID tag according to claim 3, wherein the conductive protective member is an open housing of conductive material that receives the container and inserts within the groove.

5. The installation structure for an RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein a frequency used for ASK communication is from about 50 kHz to about 500 kHz.

6. A method for installing within a conductive member an RFID tag, that includes a cylindrical antenna coil and a control section, that is enclosed in a container made of a non-conductive material such that a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the container and such that the RFID tag is insulated from the conductive member;

forming a top-opened installation groove in a top surface of the conductive member;

installing the container in an open housing of a conductive protective member made of a conductive material;

disposing the conductive protective member in the top-opened installation groove formed in the top surface of the conductive member, an opening of the conductive protective member being accessible through the top surface of the conducting member,

whereby the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil enclosed within the non-conducting container is aligned substantially in parallel with the top surface of the conductive member.

7. A communication method using an RFID tag installed within a conductive member, wherein the RFID tag communicates with an amplitude shift keying (ASK) system via a cylindrical antenna coil that includes a control section, and wherein the RFID tag is enclosed within a container made of non-conducting material such that a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the container and the RFID is insulated from the conductive member, the method comprising:

forming a top-opened installation groove in a top surface of the conductive member;

installing the container within the installation groove, such that the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical antenna coil enclosed within the non-conducting container is substantially aligned in parallel with the top surface of the conductive member; and

communicating using RFID via magnetic flux mediated by the RFID above the top surface of the conductive member.