JP2001510914A - Transponder device and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) SUMMARY The present invention relates to a transponder device having a support module and a transponder module in a cast body. The device can be manufactured very easily and is durable in handling. The preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for transponder devices provided on an object having a metal surface. Further, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the transponder device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transponder device and a method for manufacturing the same.

Transponder devices are important, for example, for identifying objects by contactless signal exchange via electric and / or preferably magnetic fields.

[0003] For example, as a structural form, the transponder device advantageously uses a check card format (GB 2 133 950 A) or a vertically long glass body.

[0004] According to WO 97/10520, a coil assembly wound on a flat coil bobbin is known, which is particularly suitable for mounting objects on metal surfaces.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transponder device which is easily manufacturable and handleable and which can also be mounted, for example, on a metal surface, and a method for producing such a transponder device.

[0006] Claim 1 describes a transponder device according to the present invention, and claim 31 describes a manufacturing method thereof. The dependent claims show advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the present invention, a transponder device that is highly reliable and extremely stable in use is realized by simple and inexpensive manufacturing. For example, if the transponder device is subjected to an aggressive action, for example if it undergoes a cleaning process, it can be very well passivated and completely inactivated, so that it remains at the target.

[0008] Advantageously, the transponder module and the carrier module can be manufactured separately, ie in a preceding manufacturing section which can be optimized by itself. In particular, the electrical contact connection is no longer required during assembly, so that the transponder module can be finally tested beforehand for its normal functioning. According to one advantageous embodiment, the carrier module can be produced as a shaped metal plate at very favorable cost, so that several advantageous individual components of the device can be integrated.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a prototype of a carrier module in a preferred embodiment, which is constructed as a shaped metal plate. This support module is substantially integrally formed of the respective members of the substrate G, the side plate L, and the holding member H,
At this stage, it is formed substantially flat. The substrate G has a spacer member S in the form of a curved protruding thin plate member protruding toward the transponder side.

The side plate is laterally away from the substrate and later bent substantially perpendicular to the substrate plane. The holding member H may be located in the plane of the substrate G, or may be slightly shifted with respect to that plane. Further, a hole B can be additionally provided in the holding member for the purpose of mounting by a screw or a bolt.
Such holes are not necessary if they are attached by soldering or welding, for example spot welding. In the embodiment shown, the side plates extend only at two opposing sides, referred to as the longitudinal edges of the substrate for the description of the device. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, no side plate is provided on the other two sides of the substrate, which are referred to as edge portions for discrimination,
However, basically, this does not exclude a modified embodiment in which a side plate is also provided on this side.

In some cases, a fixing member F is provided at the edge of the substrate to counteract the tendency of the installed transponder module to slip parallel to the longitudinal edge in the support module. be able to. This is configured, for example, as a curved or raised shape, on which the transponder module can rest.

The holding member H satisfies two functions, according to which the holding member H is used as a member for fixing the position of the substrate in the casting mold at the time of pouring and attaching the completed transponder device to the object. Used. The substrate G has an area approximately equal to that of the transponder module provided to be mounted thereon. The dashed line surrounding the substrate represents the contour of the cast body V of the transponder device, which is ultimately subsequently poured, with the casting material surrounding the entire transponder module and the substrate side of the support module, while The member H indicates that it protrudes from the cast molding.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the transponder device parallel to the longitudinal edge of the substrate, along with spacer members and openings. In the substrate G, the spacer member S is shown as a curved raised portion of the substrate, which ensures that the central region of the transponder module maintains a small distance from the substrate. As a result, damage to the coil winding around the coil bobbin existing in the region is avoided. Further, the transponder module is protected from being displaced in the direction by a fixing member F provided at the edge of the substrate G.

The pouring element completely surrounds the transponder module in all directions. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the substrate G forms one of the faces of the rectangular cast body and thus ends towards one face. Through the spacer member, the area between the transponder module and the substrate is also filled with the casting material.

Via the opening D, the carrier module, in particular its substrate, and the casting material are further fixed. Such a fixation can be further improved if the perimeter of the opening is raised slightly, for example as shown by the RD in FIG. 2, so that the casting material enters the perimeter of the opening.

The coil bobbin ST of the transponder module has a coil-free end region W, in which the coil bobbin rests on a spacer member. This avoids coil damage with high reliability. In the case of the diagram according to FIG. 2, the side plates are not shown together for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the transponder device parallel to the substrate edge. This figure clearly shows the side plate L bent to the transponder side substantially perpendicular to the substrate and its function of engaging the transponder module TM in the support module. Advantageously for this purpose, the side plate can be provided with an inclined overhanging surface P at approximately the height of the upper side of the transponder module, so that the transponder module can be easily integrated into the support module by the spreading action of the side plate. Is held by the elastically provided side plate and pressed lightly toward the substrate. This makes it simple and reliable,
The transponder module can be locked in place for the pouring process.

In one embodiment, as in the illustrated example, each end of the side plate abuts the opposing walls of the pouring mold during entry into the pouring mold, and is lightly directed during the pouring process, and possibly toward the substrate. The side plate can be extended in a direction away from the substrate to the extent that it is pressed and deformed. However, in this case, each end of the side plate only appears as a barely visible point on the surface of the poured material. Here too, the dashed line indicates the boundary of the cast body of the transponder device that has been poured, and indicates that the transponder module is completely encapsulated and that the holding member H projects above the cast body.

The device configuration of the type depicted in FIG. 4 differs from the device configuration shown in FIG. 3 in that the cast body completely surrounds the substrate and also below the substrate, ie on the side opposite the transponder module. A layer of casting material is provided. In such an arrangement, the opening of the substrate advantageously serves as a material bridge, which ensures a secure connection of the casting material present on both sides of the substrate. In this embodiment, the holding element H is preferably bent downwardly with respect to the plane of the substrate and is at least approximately at the interface level of the casting. In the case of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the side plate is not guided to the upper surface of the casting, so that the substrate is not pressed down in the casting mold.

FIG. 5 shows the basic configuration of a known advantageous transponder module, on which a coil assembly SP is wound on a coil bobbin ST by a number of windings. In addition, an electronic transponder circuit E is arranged on the plane of the coil bobbin T, and is electrically connected to the coil. This transponder module is not connected to the outside and forms a passive transponder supplied with an electromagnetic field. The coil bobbin ST is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped having a height m, a width n and a length o, where m is advantageously significantly smaller than n and o, for example m <5 mm. Furthermore, this transponder module has a coilless region W at the longitudinal end on the coil bobbin ST. The spacer element E and the side plate L of the carrier module are preferably arranged in this coil-free area. The direction of the main electromagnetic field of the coil assembly extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the coil bobbin. The coil bobbin is advantageously made of a ferrite material. Transponder modules of this kind are, as is known, particularly advantageous for placement on objects having metal surfaces. Because the transponder module depicted in FIG. 5 is particularly suitable for placement on a metal surface, it is also very suitable to connect the metal assembly module with the magnetic field direction of the coil assembly oriented parallel to the substrate. is there.

FIG. 6 shows an advantageous embodiment of a cost-effective production of a transponder device according to the invention. In this case, it is assumed that the original members of the support module shown in FIG. 1 are provided, and such original members are drawn as a continuous, previously stamped strip. The strip is fed continuously or almost continuously, so that it is bent in the first step away from the substrate plane, and the transponder module is mounted on the support module in the next step. For further processing, the cast assembly may maintain the bond in the strip state and the cast assembly may be separated thereafter, or may be separated prior to the cast.

It should be noted that the term pouring encompasses all forms of treatment, whereby the support module and the transponder module are surrounded by a material which can be cured and injected or sprayed on later, such as so-called moldings. It is.

Another production method which is cost-effective is, for example, efficient production, whereby, for example, a large number of support modules and transponder modules connected in a plane are simultaneously poured in a large number of casting molds. And then separated. It is also common practice to prepare a number of prototypes as flat or, preferably, strip-like assemblies for continuous processing in cassettes of automatic processing equipment. .

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be modified in various ways using means known to those skilled in the art within the framework of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a support module.

FIG. 2 is a first side view of a support module incorporating a transponder module.

FIG. 3 is another side view of FIG. 2 turned 90 °.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a transponder module.

FIG. 6 illustrates an advantageous manufacturing method.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] January 14, 2000 (2000.1.14)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention relates to a transponder device and a method for manufacturing the same.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Transponder devices are important, for example, for identifying objects by contactless signal exchange via electric and / or preferably magnetic fields.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to US Pat. No. 5,025,550, for example, it is known to mount an electronic circuit for a transponder on a contact tag of a lead frame and to electrically and mechanically connect to the contact tag by bonding. The electronic circuit connected to the contact tag is surrounded by the casting material, thereby being passivated and mechanically stabilized. The externally extending contact tag is used to bond the wire end of the transponder wire coil wound on the coil bobbin. The electronic circuit and the transponder module with the transponder coil manufactured in this way are assembled into a glass ampule and then melted. A similar arrangement is shown in US Pat. No. 5,211,129. According to DE 195 36 464 A1, a lead frame is also used as an electrical and mechanical support in the manufacture of the transponder, on which the transponder module is mounted in addition to the electronics, and the lead frame and It is electrically connected to an electronic circuit via a bonding wire. After being cast by the casting material, the individual transponder modules are separated from the leadframe assembly by separating the bonding web. As a further construction, transponder devices, for example in the form of check cards, are also advantageously used (GB 2 133 950 A).

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0004] According to WO 97/10520, a coil assembly wound on a flat coil bobbin is known, which is particularly suitable for mounting objects on metal surfaces.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transponder device which is easily manufacturable and handleable and which can also be mounted, for example, on a metal surface, and a method for producing such a transponder device.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006] Claim 1 describes a transponder device according to the present invention, and claim 31 describes a manufacturing method thereof. The dependent claims show advantageous embodiments of the invention.

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Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A transponder module (TM) and a support module (C)
), Which are fixedly connected to one another by a casting material in a compact casting. 2. The transponder module (TM) includes a coil bobbin (TM).
Transponder device according to claim 1, comprising a coil assembly wound on ST) and an electronic transponder circuit (E). 3. The transponder device according to claim 2, wherein said coil bobbin is made of a ferrite material. 4. The coil bobbin is formed in a cylindrical shape.
The transponder device as described. 5. The transponder device according to claim 4, wherein said coil bobbin is a rectangular parallelepiped. 6. The transponder device according to claim 2, wherein an area V without a coil is provided on a plane of a coil bobbin that carries the coil assembly. 7. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the transponder module is configured as a transponder to which an electromagnetic field is supplied. 8. The transponder module (C) comprising: a support module (C);
TM) having a substrate (G) as a support plate for TM).
The transponder device according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. The transponder device according to claim 8, wherein said substrate is substantially flat. 10. The transponder device according to claim 8, wherein the substrate has a spacer member toward a side surface of the transponder module, and the transponder module is in contact with the spacer member. 11. The transponder device according to claim 8, wherein the spacer member is configured as a curved raised portion of the substrate. 12. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the support module has a side plate (L) for a transponder module. 13. The side plate according to claim 1, wherein the side plate is bent substantially perpendicularly from the substrate.
3. The transponder device according to 2. 14. The transponder device according to claim 12, wherein the side plate surrounds the transponder module with at least two opposing side surfaces. 15. The transponder device according to claim 14, wherein the side plate is elastically expandable. 16. The transponder device according to claim 14, wherein the side plate is in contact with the transponder module under the action of spring tension. 17. The transponder device according to claim 16, wherein the side plate presses the transponder module in the direction of the substrate via an obliquely extending contact surface. 18. The transponder device according to claim 10, wherein said side plate and / or spacer member is located in a coil-free area of a coil bobbin of the transponder module. 19. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate of the support module has one or more openings. 20. The transponder device according to claim 8, wherein the substrate forms a part of an outer surface of the transponder device. 21. The transponder device according to claim 19, wherein the pouring material cuts into the opening at a peripheral portion thereof. 22. The substrate is surrounded on both sides by a casting material.
The transponder device according to any one of claims 8 to 21. 23. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding member extends from the plane of the compact cast body. 24. The transponder device according to claim 23, wherein at least two holding members (H) are provided, the holding members being remote from the cast body on opposite sides. 25. The transponder device according to claim 23, wherein the holding member is a part of a support module. 26. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the support module is made of metal. 27. The transponder device according to claim 26, wherein the support material is configured as a deformed metal plate. 28. The support material according to claim 26, wherein the support material is non-magnetizable.
8. The transponder device according to 7. 29. The transponder device according to claim 8, wherein a main magnetic field direction of said coil assembly extends parallel to a substrate plane. 30. An epoxy resin is used as the pouring material.
30. The transponder device according to any one of -29. 31. A method of manufacturing a transponder device comprising a transponder module and a support module according to claim 1, wherein the transponder module is brought into contact with the support module under the action of a spring tension. Holding the support module in the support module by a side plate, placing the support module together with the transponder module in a casting mold, and curing the casting material surrounding the module in the mold to form the transponder device as a compact casting. A method for manufacturing a transponder device. 32. The transponder module is mounted by continuously or substantially continuously transporting a web of bonded support modules and separating the individual members of the web before or after pouring. 31. The production method according to 31. 33. The method according to claim 31, wherein a plurality of support modules coupled to one another and fitted with the transponder module are poured simultaneously and then separated.