Printed antennas, methods of printing an antenna, and devices including the printed antenna

• US 9,016,585 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ensurge Micropower ASA
• Original Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
• Inventors: Pavate, Vikram, Choi, Criswell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEDEKEL, TABITHA F
• Application Number:
  US12/625,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 438/106
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 19/07783 the coil being planar
• 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 1/2225 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 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 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

Wireless devices such as sensors, interactive displays and electronic article surveillance (EAS) and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags including integrated circuitry and an antenna and/or inductor printed thereon, and methods for making and using the same, are disclosed. The device generally includes an integrated circuit on a substrate and an antenna, directly on the substrate and/or the integrated circuit, in electrical communication with the integrated circuit. The method of making a wireless device generally includes forming an integrated circuit on the substrate and printing at least part of an antenna or antenna precursor layer on the integrated circuit and/or substrate. The present invention advantageously provides a low cost wireless device capable of operating at MHz frequencies that can be manufactured in a shorter time period than conventional devices.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a device, comprising:

a) forming an integrated circuit comprising at least one patterned conductor thin film, at least one patterned semiconductor thin film and at least one patterned insulating thin film on a first substrate; and

b) printing an antenna or antenna precursor layer from a liquid-phase ink on the integrated circuit or on both the first substrate and the integrated circuit, at least part of the antenna being printed on the integrated circuit, and the antenna being in electrical communication with the integrated circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a printed integrated circuit (PIC).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the PIC on the first substrate comprises printing at least one first layer of a first conductor precursor material or a first semiconductor precursor material in a first pattern on the first substrate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein forming the PIC on the substrate further comprises printing a second layer of a second material in a second pattern on or above the first pattern.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second material comprises a dielectric precursor, the first conductor precursor material comprises a first metal precursor, and the first semiconductor precursor material comprises a first silicon precursor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the PIC on the substrate further comprises printing a second layer of a second conductor precursor material or a second semiconductor precursor material in a third pattern on or above the first and/or second pattern(s).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second conductor precursor material comprises a second metal precursor, and the second semiconductor precursor material comprises a second silicon precursor.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after forming the PIC on the first substrate, attaching the first substrate to a second substrate, the second substrate having a greater area than the first substrate.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein printing the antenna or antenna precursor layer on the integrated circuit comprises printing a first portion of the antenna on the PIC and a second portion of the antenna on the first substrate.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein printing the antenna or antenna precursor layer comprises:

a) printing an antenna precursor layer on the NC and the first substrate; and

b) plating a metal conductor on the antenna precursor layer to form the antenna.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein printing the antenna or antenna precursor layer comprises printing the antenna or the antenna precursor layer on the PIC.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the PIC comprises an uppermost passivation layer having first and second openings therein, exposing first and second conductive surfaces configured to enable electrical communication with the PIC, and first and second ends of the antenna or the antenna precursor layer are printed onto the first and second conductive surfaces.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein printing the at least one first layer comprises screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing or inkjet printing.

14. A device, comprising:

a) an integrated circuit on a first substrate, the integrated circuit comprising at least one patterned conductor thin film, at least one patterned semiconductor thin film and at least one patterned insulating thin film; and

b) an antenna printed from a liquid-phase ink, at least part of which is directly on the integrated circuit, in electrical communication with the integrated circuit.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a printed integrated circuit (PIC).

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of pads on the PIC, in electrical communication with the PIC, each pad also being in electrical communication with an end of the antenna.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one semiconductor thin film comprises a silicon layer in a first pattern on the first substrate, features in the silicon layer having a dome-shaped cross-sectional profile.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one insulating thin film comprises a dielectric layer in a second pattern on or above the silicon layer.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one conductor thin film comprises a metal in a third pattern on or above the first substrate, the first pattern and/or the second pattern.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising a second substrate supporting the integrated circuit and having a smaller area than the first substrate, the second substrate being attached to the first substrate.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the antenna comprises:

a) a seed layer in an antenna pattern on the integrated circuit and the first substrate; and

b) a metal conductor on the seed layer.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one insulating thin film comprises an uppermost passivation layer having first and second openings therein, exposing first and second conductive surfaces in electrical communication with the PIC, and first and second ends of the antenna or the antenna precursor layer are in contact the first and second conductive surfaces.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the PIC has an area similar to or larger than the antenna.