Application of electronic components in printed products

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating electronic components on conductor tracks as well as corresponding electronic components. With the invention, the electronic component can be applied with less precision on a printing material such as a substrate to be printed or a printed product. In a subsequent processing step, one or more printing units print conductor tracks. The conductor tracks are oriented through registration of the printing unit or the conveyor mechanism to the previously applied electronic component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative auxiliary carrier for a chip fixed on a material to be printed with components of an antenna of a RFID transponder printed or stamped over the contact areas of the auxiliary carrier according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an illustrative chip fixed on a material to be printed with components of an antenna of a RFID transponder printed or stamped over the contact areas of the chip according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an illustrative printing device according to the invention with roller feeding for adhering a chip or auxiliary carrier and chip to a roll web.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a printing device according to FIG. 3 in which longitudinal register adjustment can be achieved via an individual drive of the printing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of another alternative embodiment of a printing device according to FIG. 3 in which an additional roll web can be joined to the roll web with the attached chip.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of an illustrative sheet fed printing device for applying electronic components onto a sheet according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a sheet fed printing device according to FIG. 6 in which the conveyor mechanism is divided into two sections.

Claims

1. A method of applying electronic components and conductor tracks to a printing material using a device for feeding electronic components to the printing material, the method comprising the steps of: directly bonding an electronic component containing an electrical circuit or an auxiliary carrier with an electronic component on the printing material;determining with a sensor system the position of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier with the electronic component after application of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier with the electronic component on the printing material; andapplying a conductive structure comprising a conductive printing ink or a blocking foil using a printing or stamping system such that the conductive structure covers contacts of the electronic component or contacts of the auxiliary carrier to ensure complete electrical contact between the electronic component or auxiliary carrier with the electronic component and the conductive structure.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the printing or stamping system is dynamically adjustable and the conductive structure is printed or stamped at an exact angle and position relative to a previously applied electronic component or electronic component on an auxiliary carrier.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the conductive structure is arranged to provide an electrically conductive connection of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier with the electronic component to a conductor track.

4. An electronic element comprising: an electronic component or an auxiliary carrier with an electronic component arranged on a supporting substrate, the electronic component for the auxiliary carrier having contact areas; andconductive structures printed or stamped on the contact areas of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier.

5. The electronic element according to claim 4 wherein the contact areas of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier are arranged on a side of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier facing away from a print side of the supporting substrate.

6. The electronic element according to claim 5 wherein the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier is fixed on the substrate via a conductive bonding agent.

7. An apparatus for producing an electronic component comprising: a transport system for a printing material on which an electronic component or an auxiliary carrier with an electronic component is arranged; anda printing unit arranged in a transport path of the transport system for printing a pattern of one or more conductive layers in contact with the electronic component or auxiliary carrier with electronic component on the printing material.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing unit includes an adjusting mechanism for moving the conductive layer pattern in a highly dynamic manner relative to the material to be printed in terms of a longitudinal, side and diagonal register between successive printings of the pattern of conductive layers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing unit includes a mechanism for orienting the conductive layer pattern to match a previously applied electronic component or auxiliary carrier with electronic component.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing unit is arranged on a platform in a rotary printing system and the platform is movable relative to the printing material using a plurality of quick adjustment mechanisms.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the quick adjustment mechanisms comprise actuators.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the printing unit includes a plurality of cylinders each having an individual drive and the individual drives are configured to adjust a longitudinal register.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing unit is part of a rotary printing system and parts of the printing unit are adjustable relative to each other and movable using a plurality of quick adjustment mechanisms relative to the printing material.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the quick adjustment mechanisms comprise actuators.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the printing unit includes a plurality of cylinders each having an individual drive and the individual drives are configured to adjust a longitudinal register.

16. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing material comprises a printing web and further including a roller feeder for feeding the printing web to the printing unit and an adhesive dispenser for applying a bonding agent in an exact position on the printing web to secure an electronic components or an auxiliary carriers with electronic component in an exact position on the printing web.

17. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein one or more sensors are provided for detecting a position of the electronic component or the auxiliary carrier with electronic component arranged on the printing material and the adjustment mechanism is controllable based the position detected by the sensors.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the one more sensors comprise a camera system.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a dancer roller.

20. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including a further processing unit arranged in a downstream direction relative to a transport direction of the printing material from the printing unit.

21. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the printing material comprises a sheet.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the transport system is configured to transport a sheet.