Design of a two interconnect IC chip for a radio frequency identification tag and method for manufacturing same

• US 7,230,580 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelkar, Nikhil V., Patil, Sadanand R., Han, Cheol Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,683
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 343/720, 343/895, 343/795, 343/870, 340/572.1, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 343/870
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07754 the connection being galvanic
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing waveguides or resonators, lines, or other devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• 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: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

An apparatus and method for attaching antennae to RFID tags is disclosed. Included is the use of RFID tags having a symmetrical interconnect system for attaching one or more antennae, such that virtually any rotational orientation of the RFID tag will result in a successful antennae attachment. Two oversized and “L” shaped gold-bumped poles can be arranged on the same side of a chip in an opposing fashion, such that at least one axis of symmetry is formed. Accordingly, virtually all rotational orientations of the chip are then acceptable when attaching a pair of opposing pole antenna leads. Alternatively, a pair of poles can be located on opposing chip surfaces, such that antenna substrates can attach to both the top and bottom of the chip to form a product “sandwich,” whereby the rotational orientation of the chip is irrelevant at an antenna attachment step.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification system, comprising:

an antenna arrangement having a plurality of traces adapted to be attached to a plurality of RFID poles; and

an RFID package including a radio frequency identification integrated circuit and a plurality of exposed poles arranged thereupon, wherein at least two of said plurality of traces on said antenna arrangement are directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles respectively, whereby said plurality of exposed poles are configured such that at least two of said plurality of antenna traces can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles when said RFID package is in any of at least three distinct rotational positions with respect to said antenna arrangement.

2. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged in a substantially symmetrical fashion about at least one axis along said RFID package.

3. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged such that at least two of said plurality of antenna traces can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles when said RFID package is at substantially any rotational position with respect to said antenna arrangement.

4. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged such that at least two of said plurality of antenna traces can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles regardless of whether said RFID package is either face-up or face-down with respect to said antenna arrangement.

5. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of exposed poles includes exactly eight poles arranged in a square formation having four corner pole positions and four side pole positions, with one of said eight poles at each said position.

6. The radio frequency identification system of claim 5, wherein each of said four corner poles is adapted to be connected to an antenna lead, and wherein each of said four side poles is adapted to be connected to a power or ground lead.

7. The radio frequency identification system of claim 6, further including:

a power source directly and operatively attached to one of said side poles, said power source adapted to provide power to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit via said one of said side poles.

8. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of exposed poles includes exactly two oversized L-shaped poles arranged in a square formation, and wherein each of said two L-shaped poles has a polarity that is different than the other.

9. An RFID package, comprising:

a radio frequency identification integrated circuit; and

a plurality of exposed poles arranged thereupon, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are configured such that at least two antenna traces from an associated antenna arrangement can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles when said RFID package is in any of at least three distinct rotational positions with respect to said antenna arrangement.

10. The RFID package of claim 9, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged in a substantially symmetrical fashion about at least one axis along said RFID package.

11. The RFID package of claim 9, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged such that said at least two antenna traces can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles when said RFID package is at substantially any rotational position with respect to said antenna arrangement.

12. The RFID package of claim 9, wherein said plurality of exposed poles are arranged such that said at least two antenna traces can be directly and operatively attached to at least two of said plurality of exposed poles regardless of whether said RFID package is either face-up or face-down with respect to said antenna arrangement.

13. The RFID package of claim 9, wherein said plurality of exposed poles includes exactly eight poles arranged in a square formation having four corner pole positions and four side pole positions, with one of said eight poles at each said position.

14. The RFID package of claim 13, wherein each of said four corner poles is adapted to be connected to an antenna lead, and wherein each of said four side poles is adapted to be connected to a power or ground lead.

15. The RFID package of claim 9, wherein said plurality of exposed poles includes exactly two oversized L-shaped poles arranged in a square formation, and wherein each of said two L-shaped poles has a polarity that is different than the other.