Battery-assisted backscatter RFID transponder

• US 7,394,382 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PowerID Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Power ID
• Inventors: Nitzan, Zvi, Guri, Gaby, Lavee, Doron
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/169,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/825.32
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0705 the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: 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 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 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A radio frequency transponder includes at least one battery, which is coupled to provide electrical power for operating the transponder and at least one antenna, which is configured to receive and backscatter RF interrogation radiation from an interrogation device. An integrated circuit is arranged to store a code including information and, powered only with energy provided by the battery, to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna responsively to the code so as to modulate the information onto the backscattered radiation.

Claims

1. A method for using a radio frequency (RF) transponder comprising a flexible substrate supporting a battery for operating the transponder and an antenna adapted to backscatter RF interrogation radiation that is transmitted from an interrogation device;

the method comprising;

bending the substrate so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane; and

attaching the substrate to adjacent surfaces of an object so as to wrap the transponder around a corner of the object.

2. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

providing a substrate;

applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation;

applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and

coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and

printing a battery on the surface of the substrate by printing one or more battery layers in at least one of a co-facial configuration and a co-planar configuration using respective inks comprising battery layer materials, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the layer material comprises at least one of zinc, manganese dioxide (MnO₂) and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂).

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein printing the battery comprises:

forming a first battery assembly comprising;

printing a first electrode layer on the surface of the substrate;

applying an electrolyte on the first electrode layer; and

applying a separator layer on the electrolyte of the first electrode layer;

forming a second battery assembly comprising;

printing a second electrode layer of opposite polarity to the first electrode layer on a second substrate; and

applying the electrolyte on the second electrode layer; and

joining together the first battery assembly and second battery assembly so that the layers are stacked and the electrolyte of the second electrode layer is in co-facial contact with the separator layer.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein applying the antenna comprises printing the antenna on the substrate.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the IC comprises an organic polymer IC and wherein applying the IC comprises using a printing technique to apply the IC.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein applying the antenna and the IC and printing the battery comprise printing a fully printable transponder.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is flexible.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transponder has a thickness no greater than 1 mm and a bending radius no greater than 25 mm.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transponder is suitable for attaching around a corner of an object so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is operative in one of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) range and a microwave frequency range.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises a substrate of a tracked object or packaging of the tracked object, facilitating an integrated transponder wherein the transponder substrate is integral with the tracked object or packaging.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises an attachment means.

14. The method according to claim 2 wherein the IC is applied onto the substrate close to a feed point of the antenna.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein the battery is disposed on the substrate at a location to minimize interference with a radiation pattern of the antenna.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is at least partially constituted by the battery.

17. The method according to claim 2, further comprising applying to the transponder at least one in the group of:

top liners, bottom liners, an additional layer under substrate, external lamination, a bar code and a graphical label.

18. The method according to claim 2, using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process.

19. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

providing a substrate;

applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation;

applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and

printing a battery on the surface of the substrate, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder, wherein printing the battery comprises printing one or more battery layers in at least one of a co-facial configuration and a co-planar configuration using respective inks comprising battery layer materials and wherein printing the battery comprises;

forming a first battery assembly comprising;

printing a first electrode layer on the surface of the substrate;

applying an electrolyte on the first electrode layer; and

applying a separator layer on the electrolyte of the first electrode layer;

forming a second battery assembly comprising;

printing a second electrode layer of opposite polarity to the first electrode layer on a second substrate; and

applying the electrolyte on the second electrode layer; and

joining together the first battery assembly and second battery assembly so that the layers are stacked and the electrolyte of the second electrode layer is in co-facial contact with the separator layer.

20. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

providing a substrate;

applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation;

applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and

printing a battery on the surface of the substrate, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder;

wherein providing the substrate includes forming the substrate so as to be suitable for attaching around a corner of an object so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane.