METHOD FOR CREATING A COIL TYPE ANTENNA FOR A RFID TAG

BACKGROUND

Generally stated, radio-frequency identification is the use of electromagnetic energy to stimulate a responsive device (known as an RFID “tag” or transponder) to identify itself and, in some cases, provide additional information and/or data stored in the tag. RFID tags typically comprise a semiconductor device commonly referred to as the “chip”, upon which are formed a memory and an operating circuitry, which is connected to an antenna. Typically, RFID tags act as transponders, providing information stored in the chip memory in response to a radio frequency interrogation signal received from a reader, also referred to as an interrogator. In the case of passive RFID devices, the energy of the interrogation signal also provides the necessary energy to operate the RFID tag device.

RFID tags may be incorporated into or attached to articles that a user wishes to later identify and/or track. In some cases, the RFID tag may be attached to the outside of the article with a clip, adhesive, tape, or other means and, in other cases, the RFID tag may be inserted within the article, such as being included in the packaging, located within the container of the article or plurality of articles, or sewn into a garment. Further, RFID tags are manufactured with a unique identification number which is a simple serial number of a few bytes with a check digit attached. This identification number is incorporated into the RFID tag during its manufacture. The user cannot alter this serial/identification number, and manufacturers guarantee that each RFID tag serial number is used only once and is, therefore, unique. Such read-only RFID tags typically are permanently attached to an article to be identified and/or tracked and, once attached, the serial number of the tag is associated with its host article in a computer database.

Typically, an item can be affixed with a specific RFID tag unique to the item. The RFID reader can then be employed to read the RFID tag to determine if a particular item is amongst a larger group of items. For example, in a product tracking scenario, unique RFID tags may be affixed to a number of products. A user looking for a particular product may use an RFID reader to communicate with that product's unique RFID tag. More specifically, the RFID reader is capable of determining whether the sought after product is present in a particular area, such as within a carton or other container.

The increased demand for RFID tags has created a need for a manufacturing method that can quickly, efficiently, and economically produce RFID antennas. A conventional method of creating a coil type conductor with a gap between the turns of the coil is achieved with a blade, such as a knife or rotary or flat plate die cutting tool. For example, a rotary cutting tool may be pushed into a foil and/or laminate material to cut the material to a specific depth, creating a gap between the turns of the coil. Once the cutting tool is removed from the material, however, the gap between the coil turns may begin to close. As the various gaps close, the foil edges may come into contact with each other, thereby shorting out the coil and rendering the RFID tag unusable.

Consequently, there is a long felt need in the art for a method of manufacturing RFID tag coil type antennas that improves quality and usability.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In some embodiments, a method of constructing a coil antenna structure may include forming a coiled antenna by cutting a spiraling gap into a conductive layer, applying a force to at least a part of the conductive layer to expand the gap between coils of the conductive layer to a distance great enough to prevent conductive sections of the coils from touching each other.

In some embodiments, applying the force may include applying a linear force to an outer end of the coiled antenna. Applying the force may include applying a torque applied to one or more parts of the coiled antenna. Applying the force may include applying a bending moment applied to one or more parts of the coiled antenna. Applying the force may include applying at least one of heating and cooling one or more parts of the coiled antenna. The method may include bonding the conductive layer to a substrate layer. The method may include bonding the conductive layer to a flexible material, and bonding the flexible material to a substrate layer.

In some embodiments, the flexible material may be cured after the coil may be unwound to preserve the gap. The flexible material may include an adhesive. The method may include cutting an edge of the coiled antenna at a plurality of locations. The edge may be cut at a plurality of locations to form notches. The method may include creating stress relief distortions by distressing the coiled antenna. Distressing the coiled antenna may include at least one of embossing and folding at least a portion of the coiled antenna. Distressing the coiled antenna includes embossing the coiled antenna with a tessellating pattern.

In some embodiments, the conductive layer may include a metal foil. The substrate layer may be manufactured from a paper or a thermoplastic polymer resin. The method may include bonding the substrate layer to a liner such that the substrate layer may be disposed between the liner and the coiled antenna. The liner may be a film base. The force may be applied to the conductive layer by applying a distortion to the liner. The unwound coil may include a trace. A liquid flexible material may be directed into the gap after the coil may be unwound to preserve the gap. The method may include fixing the gap in place. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an overhead view of a coil antenna structure for an RFID device with a gap between turns of the coil in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead view of an antenna structure for an RFID device without gaps in the coil and in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a laminate of the coil antenna structure for the RFID device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the laminate of the antenna structure for the RFID device of FIG. 2A with a gap therein and in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the laminate of the antenna structure for the RFID device of FIG. 2A without the gap in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate an overhead view of a coil antenna structure in a wound and unwound position in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart for constructing a coil antenna structure for an RFID device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a cross-sectional view of a cutting process for constructing a coil antenna structure in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6A-6F illustrate perspective and side views of a coil antenna structure in various positions in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate various partial top views of a conductive layer of a coil antenna structure in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate side and top views of a coil antenna structure in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a conductive layer having distortions in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a conductive layer in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof.

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna configured in a coil arrangement. Some methods include one or both of various cutting and deforming processes that may generate a coil type antenna that has improved resistance to shorting out during use. For example, some methods are discussed that may help keep the edges of various coil type antennas separated to prevent contact. While several specific aspects are discussed, variations of the disclosed features, operations, and devices may be combined in various ways to achieve improvements over conventional systems within the scope of the inventive systems.

The length of traditional antennas for use with RFID devices may be limited by the relatively small or finite amount of space available on most RFID tag devices. While coil type RFID antennas can increase the amount of inductance of the antenna in a limited amount of space, coil type antennas sometimes relatively difficult and expensive to manufacture. More specifically, a significant problem associated coil type antennas are that the foil edges of the antenna structure can easily come into contact with each other, shorting out the coil and rendering the RFID tag unusable. Another significant potential problem is that when using a cutting process to create the spiral or coil shape, the metal foil material may separate from the substrate and break, thereby rendering the coil antenna unusable.

Furthermore, while blade cutting techniques for creating coil type antennas are useful, once the cutting blade is removed from the material, the gap cut between the turns of the spiral coil may begin to close up for some conventional systems. As the gaps close, the foil edges may come into contact with each other, thereby shorting out the coil and rendering the RFID tag useless. Consequently, there is a long felt need in the art for improved methods of manufacturing RFID tag antennas and creating improved devices. For some embodiments, various disclosed methods may allow for the manufacture of coil type antennas for RFID devices with improvements to one or more of gap integrity, resistance to breaking or shorting out, speed and cost of manufacturing, and reliability.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 1A and 18 illustrate an antenna structure 100 configured in a coil or spiral shape that may be used as part of an RFID device. In some embodiments, a spiraling gap 108 is created when a blade or other device is used to create cut line 106, as shown in FIG. 18. A portion of a conductive material 102 may be removed from the antenna structure of FIG. 18 to widen the gap 108 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1A) as cut line 106 is opened up. More specifically, some of the material between turns of the antenna structure 100 may be removed by a removal process, such as laser ablation, wherein a defined width of metal, for example approximately 100 μm, is vaporized to widen the gap 108 between the coil turns. The gap 108 may initially be created or widened by methods such as blade cutting or other physical cutting techniques and pulling out the conductive material 102 and/or etching, milling, or other suitable removal methods. Once cut or otherwise formed, the antenna structure 100 comprises a conductive trace 110, or coil type conductor, with an inductance between an outer termination 112 and an inner termination 114.

In some embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the antenna structure 100 includes a substrate 104 in direct contact with the conductive material 102. FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a gap 108 (e.g., a spiraling gap) between the turns of the coil, which may be created by a cutting blade such as a knife or rotary or a flat plate die cutting tool. The conductive material 102 may include a metal foil or similar conductive material suitable for use as an RFID antenna. The substrate 104 may include one or more of a paper, a thermoplastic polymer resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a similar suitable base material. As the cutting blade is pushed downward, the conductive material 102 and the substrate 104 may be cut to a selected depth to create a gap that separates and is defined by turns of the coil 100. However, FIG. 2C illustrates a problem commonly associated with this approach. In some embodiments, once the cutting tool has been removed, the gap 108 may tend to close up back into the cut line 106. As the gap 108 closes, the edges of the conductive material 102 may come into contact with one another, thereby shorting out the coil antenna 100 so that it can no longer function as part of an RFID tag.

In some embodiments, a manufacturing process is provided for improved creation of coil antennas. For example, an exemplary method involves cutting into a laminate that includes a foil and a base, such as paper or PET, to create a coil antenna for use as an RFID tag, such as an HF RFID tag. In some embodiments, deformation of the cut material prevents the edges of the coil from coming into contact with one another and shorting out the RFID antenna. The cutting process may be accomplished with a rotary die cutter, a cold foil cutter, or any similar cutting apparatus for use in cutting out RFID antennas.

Various embodiments, such as in FIGS. 3A-5C, include an antenna structure 200 and a method of constructing the antenna structure. In some embodiments, the antenna structure 200 includes a coil antenna structure with a spiral or coil like shape for use with an RFID device such as an HF RFID tag. The coil antenna structure 200 may include a laminate 202 and a flexible material 212. The laminate 202 further may include a conductive layer 204 and a substrate layer 210. The conductive layer 204 may include a metal foil or similar conductive material suitable for use as an RFID antenna. The substrate layer 210 may include a paper, a thermoplastic polymer resin (such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), or a similar suitable base material. The flexible material 212 may be sandwiched between the conductive layer 204 and the substrate layer 210. Additionally, the laminate 202 may be fixed to a liner as described infra.

A method of constructing a coil RFID antenna structure 500 in accordance with some embodiments is described in FIG. 4, and variations of the method may include one or more of the operations. For some embodiments, the method 500 begins by providing the laminate 202 comprising the conductive layer 204 and the substrate layer 210. In some embodiments, the conductive layer 204 may be fixed to the substrate layer 210 with the flexible material 212. At step 502, the laminate 202 is cut through the conductive material into a coil like pattern demarked by a cut line 218 in the material, as best shown in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3A, the antenna structure 200 exists in a wound, or unopened, position 238. At step 504, the coil may be moved to an unwound position 240 as it is distorted by applying one or more forces, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

In the unwound position 240, the conductive layer 204 may be opened into a conductive trace 222 comprising a plurality of turns separated by a gap 220 created as the cut line 218 is separated apart. The plurality of turns may include an outer turn 226, at least one inner turn 228, an outer edge 230, and an inner edge 232. The conductive trace 222 further may include an outer termination 234 and an inner termination 236.

The width of the conductive trace 222 may be between 0-5, 5-10, 8-12, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-120, 120-140, 140-160, 160-200, 200-400, 400-600, or 600-1000 microns or between 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-10, 10-20 mm, or larger. An acceptable threshold for a width of a gap 108 can reduce the occurrence of contact between turns of the antenna structure 200 to achieve commercially acceptable production results. The acceptable threshold may be between 0-5, 5-10, 8-12, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100, 100-120, 120-140, 140-160, 160-200, 200-400, 400-600, or 600-1000 microns or between 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-10, 10-20 mm, or larger.

In various embodiments, one or more forces may be applied to the cut laminate 202 to create the gap 220 between the plurality of turns of the coil. For example, an angular push at angle Θ may be made at an outer termination 234 of the cut material to unwind the antenna structure 200, thereby repositioning the outer termination 234 at an angle Θ with respect to its original wound position 238.

In some embodiments, the force may be applied by applying one or more of a linear force, a torque, a bending moment, heating, or cooling to one or more parts of the coil, flexible material 212, and/or the substrate or liner. By pushing or moving one or more parts of the coil, flexible material 212, and/or the substrate or liner, the other remaining attached parts of the coil, flexible material 212, and/or the substrate or liner may also be caused to be pushed or moved through friction and/or through other mechanical coupling with the object or part being moved.

In some embodiments, the angular push at angle Θ may be accomplished by using a physical object to contact an outer termination 234 of the trace 222. In some embodiments, one or more a counter forces may be applied to one or more additional sections of the trace 222.

With the conductive layer 204 fixed to the substrate layer 210 by the flexible material 212, the coil unwinds thereby creating the gap 220. For a given angle of movement Θ on the outside, the gap 220 created will be a function of the number of turns and angle, the size of the antenna structure 200, the final length of the conductive trace 222, among other factors. Alternative methods of creating the gap 220 may comprise distortion or stretching, as discussed infra.

The method 500 continues by fixing the unwound antenna structure 200 in place with the flexible material 212 as illustrated by the fixed position 242 of the antenna structure 200 depicted in FIG. 5C. The flexible material 212 may comprise a compliant material, such as an adhesive. Once the force or distortion has been applied at step 504 and the gap 220 is present, the flexible material 212 may be cured at step 506 to hold conductive trace 222 in its unwound state with the gap 220 in a fixed position 242. As such, the flexible material 212 may be cured after the conductive trace 222 is unwound to preserve the gap 220.

Alternatively, the method 500 may continue at step 508 by fixing the unwound antenna structure 200 in place, such as with a non-cure material such as a varnish or a curable material. The additional material 224 added may be flexible or non-flexible. Once the distortion has been applied and the gap 220 is created, the additional material 224 may be forced into the gap 220, thereby jamming or prompting it open, to hold the conductive traces 222 in its state with a gap 220 in the fixed position 242. As such, the additional material 224 is directed into the gap 220 after the conductive trace 222 is unwound to preserve the gap 220. Exemplary additional material 224 may include one or more of adhesive, paint, rubber, plastic, wood, glass, ceramic, paper, cardboard, or carbon fiber. In some embodiments, an additional layer of material may be added to the top of the conductive traces 222 to hold them in place. For example, a plastic, glass, or wood layer may be bonded to the conductive traces 222 to prevent them from shifting position and potentially contacting another conductive trace 222.

In some embodiments, such as in FIGS. 6A-6F, the laminate 202 may be fixed to a liner or base 214, such as a flat film, film base, or similar distortable material with the flexible material 212. After the laminate 202 is cut into the coil shape, the coil antenna structure 200 may be distorted to create the gap 220 between the plurality of turns of the conductive trace 220, as described in FIGS. 6C and 6D. The distortion may be generated by a force applied to the liner or base 216 that pushes the liner or base 216 in a generally convex direction, as shown in FIG. 6D. For example, a bending moment may be applied to the liner or base 216, such as around an axis that helps define a plane in which the liner or base 216 is disposed. By bending the liner or base 216, an upper surface on which the coil antenna structure 200 is disposed and/or connected to may be stretched and/or expanded. The opposite face of the base 216 may be compressed.

In some embodiments, the additional material 224 may be then cured and/or forced into the gap 220 so that the gap 220 remains open. For example, the additional material 224 may be a liquid or powder that is poured, injected, or otherwise allowed to flow into the gap. In some embodiments, a solid additional material 224 may be heated and allowed to melt at least in part such that it flows into the gap 220.

Once the distortion force is discontinued, the coil antenna structure 200 may naturally return to its flat state. However, given that the coil antenna structure 200 may be fixed, the gap 220 may remain unwound and set in the fixed position 242.

In some embodiments, one or more forces may be applied to the conductive layer 204 through distortion, such as through one or more of bending, twisting, stretching, torqueing, flexing, rolling, or other mechanisms for applying stress or changing the shape of the conductive layer. For example, FIG. 7A illustrates a section of the conductive layer 204 formed into a curve as may occur when forming coil antenna structure 200. As the conductive trace 222 is formed, the outer edge 230 may be stretched or elongated due to the tensile forces being applied thereto, and the inner edge 232 may be compressed which creates a shearing or ripping force on the conductive layer 204 that could lead to the possibility of tearing conductive trace 222 and rendering the coil antenna structure 200 unusable. To overcome these forces and reduce the risk of damage to coil antenna structure 200, the laminate 202 and/or the conductive layer 204 of the laminate 202 may further comprise a plurality of notches 206 cut therein approximately perpendicularly to the cut line 218, as best illustrated in FIG. 7B. As such, the foil or conductive material may then have a series of small cuts made along its outer and inner edges 230, 232. Therefore, when force may be applied and the coil antenna structure 200 may be bent, the notches 206 along the outer edge 230 will open up and distribute the stretch in the conductive layer 204, as illustrated in FIG. 7C. Further, the notches 206 along the inner edge 232 may overlap or slide over themselves, thereby allowing the inner edge 232 to compress without tearing and damaging antenna structure 200. In some embodiments, the inner edge 232 and/or the outer edge 230 may be formed with a series of curving indentations and/or protrusions, such as for a sine wave. The formation may occur when the conductive layer 204 is formed or modified such as through casting, molding, painting, electroplating, cutting, or other methods. The text missing or illegible when filed

In some embodiments, at least part of the conductive layer 204 may comprise an embossed portion 208, which may result in some of the structures illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C. The embossed portions 208 may include indentations, peaks, ridges, or protrusions formed in the foil, such as indentations formed in a tessellating pattern. The tessellating pattern may comprise hexagons, or any other geometric or non-geometric shapes that would be conducive to decreasing a stretching force to prevent tearing. FIG. 8B illustrates a top view of the embossed portion 208 indented into the conductive layer 204. As the conductive layer 204 may be stretched, pulled apart, or otherwise distorted to create or expand the gap 220, the embossed portion 208 indentations, folds, peaks, ridges, or other shapes may allow for bending, stretching, turning, or straightening an embossed portion 208 of the conductive layer 204. For example, some embossed portions 208 of the conductive layer 204 may be stretched by forces that tend to pull the embossed portion 208 towards being flat, which may occur along the outer edge 230 or in other areas. In some embodiments, one or more embossed portions 208 may experience compression by allowing pre-formed gaps to close, folds to increase in height, angles between folds to compress, sliding of some embossed portions 208 over a liner 210, and/or other changes. Compression may occur, for example, at an embossed portion 208 along the inner edge 232, which may push the embossed portion 208 upward to prevent tearing of the conductive layer, thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the coil antenna structure 200. In some embodiments, expansion, compression, turning, or straightening of the embossed portion 208 of the conductive layer 204 may be like the movement of an accordion as it is turned, expanded, or compressed.

In some embodiments, such as in FIG. 9, a series of radially extending ridges, valleys, and/or may be formed in an upper surface of the conductive layer 304. These distortions may make it easier to expand and separate the gaps between the coils, such as the coils for a conductive layer 304.

In some embodiments, FIG. 10 provides a partial cross-sectional view of a conductive layer 304 attached to a substrate layer 310 in accordance with some embodiments. In various embodiments, the conductive layer 304 may be distorted such as by embossing, folding, denting, scratching, twisting, wrinkling, pulling, pinching, or other methods. In various embodiments, one or more of these operations may act to move part or all of an outer surface and/or an inner surface of the conductive layer 304. The outer surface may be exposed to an outer environment, and the inner surface may be disposed in proximity to the substrate layer 310. In some embodiments, the distortion may lift parts of the conductive layer 304 away from the liner 310, such as in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the distortion may lift, fold, bend, or otherwise distort parts of the liner 310 along with the conductive layer 304. For example, embossing may use one or more protrusions that: 1) extend up through the liner 310 and into the conductive layer 304; and/or 2) extend down through the conductive layer 304 and into the liner 310 to create the wrinkles, folds, protrusions, or dents described herein.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It may be, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter may be intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

METHOD FOR CREATING A COIL TYPE ANTENNA FOR A RFID TAG

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