Transponder label and method for manufacturing a transponder label

Abstract

A transponder label has a dielectric spacer body with a first side and a second side and a transponder inlay with a chip and an antenna, wherein the transponder inlay is applied to the spacer body such that a first part of the antenna is arranged on the first side of the spacer body and a second part of the antenna is arranged on the second side of the spacer body. The transponder label further includes a sensor unit electrically coupled to the chip of the transponder inlay and configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter.

Claims

1. A transponder label (1) comprising: a dielectric spacer body (20) having a first side (21) and a second side (22), a transponder inlay (10) having a chip (12) and an antenna (11), the transponder inlay (10) being applied to the spacer body (20) such that a first part (13) of the antenna (11) is arranged on the first side (21) of the spacer body (20) and a second part (14) of the antenna (11) is arranged on the second side (22) of the spacer body (20), and a sensor unit (30) electrically coupled to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10) and configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter, wherein two electrically conductor tracks (31) spaced apart from one another form the sensor unit (30).

2. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a flexible film substrate having a first side on which the transponder inlay (10), the spacer body (20) and the sensor unit (30) are arranged.

3. The transponder label (1) according to claim 2, comprising: an adhesive layer disposed on a first side of the flexible film substrate.

4. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (11) and/or the sensor unit (30) is formed by printing or etching or punching.

5. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, comprising: electrically conductive conductor tracks (31) that couple the sensor unit (30) to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10), wherein a respective conductor track (31) has one or more predetermined geometric structural changes.

6. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one conductor track (31) comprises a plurality of conductive track sections having a respective longitudinal extension direction, wherein adjacent conductive track sections enclose a predetermined angle with respect to an orientation of their respective longitudinal extension direction relative to each other and form a zigzag-shaped conductor track (31).

7. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a paper element or nonwoven element disposed on a conductor track (31) and having a predetermined absorbency.

8. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a temperature, a pressure, a wetness, a humidity and/or a moisture.

9. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a presence or an amount of a substance or a chemical.

10. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a light intensity and/or an electrical quantity.

11. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a fill level of a container.

12. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spacer body (20) is formed as a foam element.

13. The transponder label (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a foil element covering at least a partial area of the transponder inlay (10).

14. A method of manufacturing a transponder label (1), comprising: providing a dielectric spacer body (20) having a first side (21) and a second side (22), providing a transponder inlay (10) having a chip (12) and an antenna (11), providing a sensor unit (30) configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter, wherein two electrically conductor tracks (31) spaced apart from one another form the sensor unit (30), applying the transponder inlay (10) to the spacer body (20) so that a first part of the antenna (11) is arranged on the first side (21) of the spacer body (20), folding the transponder inlay (10) around the spacer body (20) so that a second part of the antenna (11) is located on the second side (22) of the spacer body (20), and electrically coupling the sensor unit (30) to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10), wherein providing and applying components for forming the transponder label (1) comprises printing or etching or punching the antenna (11), electrically conductor tracks (31) and/or the sensor unit (30), and wherein printing or etching or punching the sensor unit (30) comprises forming the sensor unit (30) in the form of two spaced apart electrically conductor tracks (31).

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising: providing a flexible film substrate having a first side and a second side; and applying the transponder inlay (10), the spacer body (20), and the sensor unit (30) to the first side of the flexible film substrate.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising: applying an adhesive to the first and/or the second side of the flexible film substrate.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising: applying an adhesive to the first and/or second side (21, 22) of the spacer body (20).

Description

(1) In the following, embodiments of the described transponder label are explained with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a transponder label,

(3) FIGS. 2-4 an embodiment of a transponder label,

(4) FIG. 5 a flow chart for a method for manufacturing a transponder label.

(5) Elements of the same design and function are marked with the same reference signs across the figures. For the sake of clarity, not all the elements shown in all the figures are identified by the corresponding reference signs, possibly.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a transponder label 1 with a transponder inlay 10 and a sensor unit 30, which is electrically coupled to the transponder inlay 10. The transponder inlay 10 has a chip 12 and an antenna 11 that form an RFID radio device. The RFID radio device is electrically connected to the sensor part or the sensor unit 30, for example, by means of a connection part in the form of lead wires.

(7) The transponder label 1 further comprises a dielectric spacer body in an embodiment of a foam member 20 having a top side 21 and a bottom side 22. The transponder inlay 10 is disposed on the foam element 20 such that a first part 13 of the antenna 11 is disposed on the top side 21 of the foam element 20, and a second part 14 of the antenna 11 is disposed on the bottom surface 22 of the foam element 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

(8) The top side 21 of the foam element 20 may also be referred to as the first side and the bottom side 22 may also be referred to as the second side of the foam element 20. Accordingly, the top side and bottom side of further elements may be referred to as the first and second sides. In this context, terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper side” and “bottom side” may refer to a stacking direction of existing layers of the transponder label 1 or to an arrangement of the transponder label 1 on a ground. A respective bottom side of an element then faces the ground, and a top side of the element then faces away from the ground.

(9) The sensor unit 30 is electrically coupled to the chip 12 and/or the antenna 11 of the transponder inlay 10 and is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical or chemical environmental parameter. For example, the sensor unit 30 is adapted to sense a temperature, a pressure, an elongation or bending, a wetness, a humidity or moisture, a presence or amount of a particular substance, a light intensity, an electrical quantity, and/or a fill level of a container.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a top view of components of the transponder label 1 without the foam element 20 that is still to be provided. The transponder label 1 realizes, for example, an RFID wetness sensor that can also function on metal, in which two electrically conductive tracks 31 that are spaced apart from one another form the sensor unit 30. The antenna portion 11 has a transmitting surface forming the first part 13 of the antenna 11, and a grounding surface forming the second part 14 of the antenna 11. The chip 12 is disposed on the first part 13 of the antenna 11 and is electrically coupled to the conductive tracks 31. The conductive tracks 31 are each formed as leads to the chip 12 with predetermined geometric structural changes. They each have an irregular zig-zag shape and help to reduce an influence due to unwanted high-frequency interference at the chip input. The conductive tracks 31 may also be formed in a modified manner with respect to their track width, and may have a plurality of geometric structural changes.

(11) For example, a respective track width of adjacent conductive track sections can vary. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, a conductive track thickness of the respective conductive track section may be formed irregularly in the conductive track 31 and establish impedance jumps. Such geometric structural changes realize a local change of a characteristic impedance of the conductive track 31, respectively, and prevent or impede the formation of standing waves and the associated interference inputs. Such geometrically modified conductor tracks 31 are particularly suitable for longer connecting lines between the antenna 11 and the sensor unit 30. The respective conductive track thickness of the conductive tracks 31 refers, for example, to a normal direction of a surface of a substrate layer to which the conductive tracks 31 are applied. Accordingly, the conductive track width refers to a plane parallel to the surface of such a substrate layer. Thus, the zigzag shape of the conductive tracks 31 is preferably formed of irregularly wide conductive track sections.

(12) The predetermined geometric structural modification realizes in each case a controlled introduced or formed modification of a geometric extension of the conductive track 31. Preferably, several such geometric modifications are provided so that a formation of undesired standing electromagnetic waves within the conductive track 31 is efficiently counteracted. In this regard, it is a finding within the scope of the present invention that, in particular, a variation of the width of the conductive track has a beneficial influence on a low-interference signal transfer at the sensitive input of the transponder inlay 10.

(13) Exposure to water or wetness of a liquid forms an electrical connection between the conductive tracks 31, thus short-circuiting them. The short circuit is detected by the RFID chip and can be provided as an information signal, so that when the RFID chip is read, it is indicated that wetness has been detected at the position of the transponder label 1. An absorbent porous material may also be disposed on or under the conductive tracks 31, which may increase a reliability of detection of small amounts of liquid. For example, a paper element or nonwoven fabric is disposed on or below the conductive tracks 31 which can absorb a droplet of liquid and distribute it evenly over the conductive tracks 31.

(14) FIG. 3 illustrates the transponder label 1 in a step of its manufacture, showing that in order to form the transponder label 1, the transmission area or the first part 13 of the antenna 11 is folded along a predetermined fold line between the first and second parts 13 and 14 around the spacer body or the foam element 20.

(15) FIG. 4 shows in a schematic view the completed transponder label 1 according to FIGS. 2 to 3. The foam element 20 made of an electrically insulating dielectric material is arranged in the center of the antenna 11 between the first and second parts 13 and 14. The foam element 20 typically has a material thickness of 2 mm or less. Preferably, the foam element 20 has a thickness of 1.5 mm or less, and particularly preferably a thickness of 1.2 mm or less, so that a particularly flat transponder label 1 can be realized which also has reliable and advantageous transmission and reception properties that enable stable data exchange even on metallic grounds.

(16) Around the foam element 20, i.e. on the upper side 21, the bottom side 22 and a side edge of the foam element 20, the transponder inlay 10 is attached. The transponder inlay 10 is thereby attached to the foam element 20 in such a way that the chip 12 is located on the upper side 21 of the foam element 20. In this context, the upper side 21 is understood to be the side of the foam element 20 that faces away from a metal surface when the complete transponder label 1 is applied to a metal surface. Accordingly, the side of the foam element 20 facing the metal surface when the transponder label 1 is applied is referred to as the bottom side 22.

(17) The first part 13 of the antenna 11 of the transponder inlay 10 is attached to the upper side 21 of the foam element 20. The first part 13 of the antenna 11 may be arranged on the upper side 21 of the foam element 20 by means of folding over around the foam element 20. Alternatively, the second part 14 of the antenna 11 may be wrapped around the foam element 20 so that it comes to rest on the bottom side 22 of the foam element 20.

(18) In an applied state, the two parts 13 and 14 of the antenna 11 on the upper side 21 and the bottom side 22 of the foam element 20 preferably extend parallel to each other, thus forming a stripline antenna 11. The extension of the antenna surface in one direction is thereby about a quarter of the wavelength of the operating frequency. This type of antenna is therefore also referred to as a lambda/4-antenna.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a flow chart for a method of producing the transponder label 1, which represents an exemplary production process. First, a suitable foam web is provided, which provides the subsequent spacer body in the form of a foam element 20. Preferably, in a step S1, the foam web is provided as a roll material and, for the production of individual foam elements 20, the foam web is unrolled from the roll.

(20) In addition, the transponder inlay 10 with the chip 12 and the antenna 11 is provided, and the sensor unit 30 is provided. These components can also be provided in the form of a material web. The transponder inlay 10 may have been previously provided with an adhesive. If, on the other hand, the transponder inlay 10 is not adhesive, a suitable adhesive will be applied beforehand to the transponder inlay 10 and/or to parts of the foam web.

(21) Subsequently, in a step S2, the transponder inlay 10 is applied to the foam web in such a way that a part of the antenna 11 and the chip 12 of the transponder inlay 10 come to rest on a first side of the foam web, which can also be referred to as the top side.

(22) If the transponder label 1 is to have an optical marking, a suitable marking element can be laminated onto a partial area of the transponder inlay 10. This can be, for example, a printed foil element, or also a foil element that can be inscribed by means of a laser or TTR. Alternative marking elements can be applied in the same way.

(23) To protect the transponder label 1, in a further step a preferably transparent protective laminate can be applied to the transponder inlay 10 and, if appropriate, also to the marking element described above. Preferably, this is a transparent fabric film bonded to the transponder label 1 by means of adhesive.

(24) In a further step S3, the remaining part of the antenna 11 which projects beyond the foam web is folded over around the foam web so that this remaining part of the antenna 11 comes to lie on a second side of the foam web, which can also be referred to as the bottom side, and a stripline antenna is thus formed. The folding of the transponder inlay 10 around the foam web or around a foam element 20 of the foam web is indicated in FIG. 3.

(25) Subsequently, in a further step, an adhesive, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive, can be applied to the second side of the foam web with part of the antenna 11 and possibly also with part of the protective laminate. This application may be either over the entire surface, or the adhesive may be applied only in predefined areas of the second side. For example, the adhesive application can also be applied by a printing process. To protect such an adhesive 140, it can be covered with a liner in a further step after application. For this purpose, the liner may be provided as a film web, preferably wound on a roll. This liner is brought together with the second side of the foam web provided with adhesive. Adhesive application and liner application can also be carried out in a single common operation.

(26) In a further step S4, electrical coupling of the sensor unit 30 to the chip 12 and/or the antenna 11 of the transponder inlay 10 is carried out. This can be implemented, for example, by means of electrically conductive tracks 31, which are formed as connecting lines between the transponder inlay 10 and the sensor unit 30. The application of conductive tracks 31 can be carried out in particular by means of imprinting a paste containing silver or copper. Alternatively, conductive tracks 31 can also be formed in a predetermined manner by means of etching. Furthermore, coupling the sensor unit 30 may also include forming the sensor unit 30 itself. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, this is printed onto a foil substrate in the form of two spaced-apart zigzag-shaped conductive tracks 31 connected to the transponder inlay 10.

(27) The steps described need not necessarily be carried out in the sequence indicated. It is also possible, for example, that the transponder inlay 10 is already provided with the antenna 11, the chip 12 and the coupled sensor unit 30, so that coupling of the sensor unit 30 has already taken place before the antenna 11 is folded around the foam element 20 or the foam sheet.

(28) In a further step S5, the foam web with the transponder inlay 10 is cut through in a predetermined manner to form a single transponder label 1. In this process, the foam web can be punched so that by means of a punch which punches out individual transponder labels 1, the foam web and the liner are completely punched through and a single transponder label 1 is formed.

(29) Alternatively, the punch can only penetrate through the foam web, leaving the liner undamaged. Thus, a continuous film web of the liner is obtained, on which the punched-out transponder label 1 is located. The unneeded part of the foam web can then be removed, which is called weeding.

(30) By successively producing several such transponder labels 1, one thus obtains a foil web of the liner on which a plurality of transponder labels 1 are located in succession. In a further step, this film web with the transponder labels 1 can be rolled up and thus conveniently provided as roll material for further processing.

(31) In summary, the present invention relates to a transponder label 1 for a metallic ground, which enables convenient and reliable detection and transmission of environmental parameters. The transponder label 1 is nevertheless relatively thin and also flexible. The invention further relates to a cost-effective roll-to-roll manufacturing process for such transponder labels 1.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(32) 1 electronic transponder label 10 transponder inlay 11 antenna of the transponder inlay 12 chip of the transponder inlay 13 active antenna section/transmitting surface of the antenna 14 passive antenna section/grounding surface of the antenna 20 spacer body/foam element 21 top side of the spacer body/foam element 22 bottom side of spacer body/foam element 30 sensor unit 31 conductive track S(i) steps of a method for manufacturing a transponder label