WO2008135904A1

WO2008135904A1 - Rotatable device comprising a transponder

Info

Publication number: WO2008135904A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erich Pischler; Joachim Schober
Original assignee: Nxp B.V.
Priority date: 2007-05-04
Filing date: 2008-04-29
Publication date: 2008-11-13

Abstract

A rotatable device (100) is provided, which comprises a substrate (111), and a transponder (112) having an antenna structure (104), wherein the antenna structure (104) of the transponder (112) is arranged in a way at the substrate (111) that the rotatable device (100) has a balanced mass distribution. A rotatable device (100, 200, 300) is provided which comprises a substrate (111, 211, 311), and a transponder (112, 212, 312) having an antenna structure (104, 204, 304), wherein the antenna structure (104, 204, 304) of the transponder (112, 212, 312) is arranged in a way at the substrate (111, 211, 311) that the rotatable device (100, 200, 300) has a balanced mass distribution. A counterbalance (105/ 205, 305) is provided that is at least partially formed by parts of the antenna structure (104, 204, 304). The device (100, 200, 300) further comprises a driven device (107, 207, 307) adapted to be controlled and/or driven with an integrated circuit of the transponder (112, 212, 312). The driven device (107, 207, 307) is adapted to change state from an opaque state to a transparent state depending on a signal of the Integrated Circuit IiOS, 206,' 306).

Description

Rotatable device comprising a transponder

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a rotatable device, in particular to an electronic storage device, for example CD or DVD comprising a transponder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION From US 2002/097664 a recording disk is known having a recording medium and a memory assembly that is disposed in an annular or spiral form at a certain position on the disk. The memory assembly has a memory which stores information, a signal processor which writes or reads out information to/from the memory, a transmitter-receiver for transacting information with an exterior of the disk, a controller which controls the memory, signal processor and transmitter-receiver, a receiver which receives power in the form of a signal supplied from an exterior of the disk for the operation of the memory, signal processor, transmitter-receiver and controller, and a rectifier converts the signal received by the receiver into power. The memory, signal processor, controller, rectifier, and transmitter-receiver and/or receiver are at least partially formed of a semiconductor integrated circuit and at least portions of the memory, the signal processor and the controller are covered with light- blocking resin.

For balancing the additional weight of the memory attached to the disk, a counterweight is put on the disk at the symmetrical position against the position of memory with respect to the center of rotation. However, the positioning and attaching of this counterweight as well as the manufacturing of this counterweight may still raise some difficulties.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a rotatable device having a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the object defined above, a rotatable device according to the independent claim is provided.

According to an exemplary embodiment a rotatable device comprises a substrate and a transponder having an antenna structure, wherein the antenna structure of the transponder is arranged in a way at the substrate that the rotatable device has a balanced mass distribution.

That is, according to this exemplary embodiment a rotatable device may be provided having a transponder comprising an antenna structure which is adapted and/or arranged in such a way that some portions of the antenna structure represent or form at least part of a counterbalance or counterweight of other parts or portions of the rotatable devices, e.g. of a memory. Such an adaptation may in particular be effected by choosing the type of material of the antenna, e.g. the density of the material, the mass distribution, and the thickness and/or the geometrical arrangement of the antenna structure in such a way that the rotatable device is balanced overall. In particular, it may be possible to provide an antenna structure comprising various materials, i.e. is not formed by one single material but by two, three or more different materials.

The term "rotatable device" may particularly denote a rotationally symmetric device, e.g. a device having a symmetrical mass distribution with respect to a rotation center. Such rotationally symmetric devices may be disc like structures, e.g. may be a CD or DVD having a disc like substrate or carrier and an opening in the middle or center through which a rotationally axle or shaft can be inserted, which shaft forms the rotation center.

The term "transponder" may particularly denote an electronic device that is adapted to receive a primary signal and retransmit the same or the amplified primary signal or a processed signal based on the received primary signal. The transponder may be formed as a contactless transponder, i.e. a transponder which is not coupled by lines or the like to an external emitter and/or external receiver. Thus, a transponder may comprise an antenna or antenna structure and further electronic circuits like chips including a memory and may be attached to a rotatable device.

It may be seen as a gist of an exemplary embodiment that a rotatable device having a transponder arranged on or fixed onto. The transponder comprises an antenna structure having a mass distribution that is deliberately chosen to be asymmetric with respect to a rotation center so that this asymmetric distribution may at least partially compensate other asymmetric mass distributions caused by the transponder or other parts or elements of the rotatable device. Thus, the mechanical balance may be ensured which may lead to smooth operation of the rotatable device, e.g. a CD or DVD which, in turn, may ensure that a CD/DVD player is not damaged. Next, further exemplary embodiments of the rotatable device are described. According to another exemplary embodiment of the device the transponder is a contactless transponder. In particular, the transponder may further comprise an Integrated Circuit. More specifically, the contactless transponder may be an RFID tag which may be attached to or incorporated into the rotatable device for the purpose of identification, controlling or influencing the rotatable device by using radio waves. Chip-based RFID tags may in particular contain silicon chips and antennas. Passive RFID tags may not require internal power sources, whereas active tags may require a power source.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the device the rotating device is an electronic storage device. In particular, the storage device may be a CD and/or DVD. By providing a CD or DVD having a transponder fixed or attached thereon which is at least partially balanced due to an adapted transponder antenna structure it may be possible to ensure a smooth operation of a CD/DVD player while operating CDs/DVDs with an additional electronic unit inside, e.g. an RFID tag and/or an element driven by the RFID tag, since it may be possible to balance the rotatable device in a simple efficient way. That is, it may be possible to use some parts of the antenna of the transponder as balancing weight possibly saving extra or additional balancing weights.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the device the device further comprises a counterbalance, wherein the counterbalance is at least partially formed by parts of the antenna structure. For example, these parts may be arranged on the substrate in such a way that these parts act as a counterbalance for an Integrated Circuit. In particular, the antenna structure may comprise a spiral inductor having a bridging portion, and the counterbalance is at least partially formed by the bridging portion. The spiral inductor may also be called a coil. For example, this bridging portion may be arranged on the substrate in such a way that this bridging portion may act as a counterbalance for the Integrated Circuit.

Such an arrangement may be in particular suitable in case that the transponder is arranged on the rotatable device, e.g. a CD or DVD, comprising an HF antenna. Such an HF antenna is preferably designed in a way to comprise several windings. These windings may be bridged by a bridging portion to connect an Integrated Circuit (IC) or an IC structure. This bridging portion may be used as a counterbalance weight or at least as a part of a counterbalance structure in case the bridging portion is placed opposite to the IC or at an adequate location with adequate dimensions and weight, so that the unbalanced weight of the IC or electronic assembly unit, i.e. a unit comprising a transponder, a IC structure and a driven device, may be compensated by the weight of the bridging portion or bridge. Such a configuration may improve the mechanical balance of a CD/DVD including an electronic assembly unit.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the device the antenna structure comprises a UHF antenna. In particular, the UHF antenna may be formed by a dipole antenna like a dipole antenna having two parts which may be symmetrically arranged on the substrate, e.g. a CD or DVD. More specifically, the device may further comprise a counterbalance, wherein the counterbalance is at least partially formed by an end portion of the UHF antenna. For example, this end portion is arranged on the substrate in such a way that this end portion act as a counterbalance for the Integrated Circuit. In particular, each of two end portions of the UHF antenna may form at least a part of the counterbalance. Such an arrangement of the antenna structure as a dipole antenna having end portions adapted to balance the rotatable device may be in particular suitable for UHF antennas. In this case the provision of special formed or manufactured end portions which are formed or manufactured together, e.g. formed of the same material out of the same process step, or separate, e.g. same or other material with different process steps, with the antenna structure may be an efficient way to provide a well balanced rotatable device. These balancing end portions or weights may be placed opposite to an IC or at an adequate location with adequate dimension and weight, so that an unbalanced weight of an electronic assembly unit or IC may be compensated, thus possibly improving the mechanical balance of a CD/DVD including electronic components, e.g. ICs or RFID tags significantly.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the device the counterbalance comprises an additional weight. That is, beside parts of the antenna structure specific further weights may be implemented into the transponder and/or the antenna structure or even simply on the rotatable device in order to balance the whole rotatable device. Such further or additional weights may be a suitable provision to achieve a well balanced rotatable device, e.g. CD or DVD.

According to another exemplary embodiment the device further comprises a driven device, wherein the Integrated Circuit is adapted to control and/or drive the driven device. The driven device may also be called a "driven element" or electronic unit or electronic structure. In particular, the driven device may be adapted to change a state depending on a signal of the Integrated Circuit, e.g. the driven device may be adapted to change the state from an opaque state to a transparent state depending on the signal of the Integrated Circuit. An example for such an electronic structure or driven device used in connection with a CD or DVD may be a protection foil that may be used as a protection against theft. Such a protection foil may be formed by an opaque foil, which opaque foil can change its transparency behavior due to electric current. The opaque foil may be placed on the CD or DVD in such a way that it may cover readable tracks on the same from the manufacturing until sales of the CD/DVD. At the cash desk this electronic assembly structure or driven device may be controlled in such a way that its changes its opaque color to a transparent state, so that the information tracks on the CD/DVD may become readable. The driven device may therefore be supplied with a voltage that may come from an Integrated Circuit, i.e. a semiconductor device, which may feature a security protocol. An HF/UHF antenna may supply the semiconductor device, by superposition of an electromagnetic field from a reader device. When moving the CD/DVD through the reader, the field may induce a voltage in the antenna on the CD/DVD, supplying the IC and therefore the driven device. Due to electric current in the driven device it may change its color as mentioned above. By using a transponder having an antenna which is adapted to act at least partially as a counter weight, e.g. due to a specific arrangement or specific material of the antenna, an assembly process for mounting an HF/UHF antenna, Integrated Circuit and driven device may be simplified. The HF/UHF antenna, Integrated Circuit and driven device, which all together may be called an electronic assembly unit, may all be integrated in or on an RFID tag/label/inlay that may also form the transponder. Furthermore, the influence or impact of this electronic assembly unit on the mechanical balance of the CD/DVD, which rotates at a high speed, may be taken care of in an efficient manner by using an asymmetric mass distribution of at least parts of the antenna structure.

Summarizing, according to an exemplary aspect of the invention a disc shaped data storage device (like a CD/DVD) may be provided, which comprises an additional memory, e.g. a semiconductor chip, together with or as part of a transponder. The transponder may comprise an antenna structure, like a UHF dipole antenna or an HF coil antenna, depending on the type of chip used, i.e. whether an HF chip or a UHF chip is used. A coil antenna may require a bridge of some kind. Since the requirements like memory size for both types of chips are accomplishable by small chips, e.g. below 1 mm², it may be advantageous to use the chip itself as the bridge. In general it may be possible to arrange three to five coil tracks between the two terminals on the chip. In case of a coil an extra part may be necessary and preferably this extra part is arranged or placed opposite to the chip as a counterweight. For a UHF antenna, e.g. a dipole antenna, no bridge or bridging portion may be necessary. However, there is still the necessity of a balanced situation, e.g. a balanced mass situation. For achieving such a balanced mass situation portions of the antenna may still be used, e.g. end portions of the antenna may be adapted to provide an asymmetric mass distribution.

The aspects defined above and further aspects of the invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to these examples of embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodiment but to which the invention is not limited.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a rotatable device according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a rotatable device according to another exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a rotatable device according to yet another exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The illustration in the drawing is schematically. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs.

For the following illustration of the system and method it is referred to Fig. 1 to 3. Fig. Ia schematically shows a rotatable device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. According to this exemplary embodiment the rotatable device 100 is a CD or DVD comprising a substrate or carrier 111. The CD 100 comprises information tracks 101. Furthermore, a border of the information tracks 101 is schematically depicted as line 102 in Fig. 1. Furthermore a center hole 103 is shown in Fig. 1 and a rotation axis 109 (that extends perpendicular to the plane where the figure is drawn) is indicated. The exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 shows a CD having an additional electronic unit, which may form a transponder 112, attached thereto comprising an HF coil antenna 104 including a bridge portion 105 and an Integrated Circuit (IC) 106. Furthermore, a driven device 107 is arranged on the CD 100. The IC 106 is connected to the coil antenna 104 as well as to the driven device 107 via contact pads 108.

According to this exemplary embodiment in particular the bridge portion 105 may be adapted or may be formed in such a way that it, at least partially, acts as a counter weight or balance weight for the asymmetric mass distribution caused by the driven device 107 and the IC 106. In particular, the bridge portion 105 is arranged substantially opposite to the IC 106 and the driven device 107 with respect to the center hole 103 of the CD 100. In this context the term asymmetric mass distribution in particular denotes the fact that the mass distribution is not rotational symmetric with respect to the rotation axle build by the center hole. Such an asymmetric mass distribution may be caused by a greater thickness or by using another material for the bridge portion 105.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a rotatable device 200 according to a second exemplary embodiment. According to this exemplary embodiment the rotatable device 200 is a CD or DVD comprising a substrate or carrier 211. The CD 200 comprises information tracks 201 on the outer portion of the CD 200. Furthermore, a border of the information tracks 201 is schematically depicted as line 202 in Fig. 2. In the center of the CD 200 a center hole 203 is shown in Fig. 2. The exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2 shows a CD having an additional electronic unit, which may form a transponder 212, attached thereto comprising a UHF dipole antenna 204, an Integrated Circuit (IC) 206. Furthermore, a driven device 207 is attached to the CD 200. The IC 206 is connected to the dipole antenna 204 as well as to the driven device 207 via contact pads 208. The UHF antenna 204 comprises end portions 205 which are arranged at the end of the dipoles.

According to this exemplary embodiment in particular the end portions 205 may be adapted or may be formed in such a way that they, at least partially, act as a counter weights or balance weights for the asymmetric mass distribution caused by the driven device 207 and the IC 206. In particular, the end portions 205 are arranged substantially opposite to the IC 206 and the driven device 207 with respect to the center hole 203 of the CD 200. In this context the term asymmetric mass distribution in particular denotes the fact that the mass distribution is not rotational symmetric with respect to the rotation axle formed by a shaft through the center hole.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a rotatable device 300 according to a third exemplary embodiment, which as the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, relates to a device using a UHF antenna. According to this exemplary embodiment the rotatable device 300 is a CD or DVD comprising a substrate or carrier 311. The CD 300 comprises information tracks 301 on the outer portion of the CD 300. Furthermore, a border of the information tracks 301 is schematically depicted as line 302 in Fig. 3. In the center of the CD 300 a center hole 303 is shown in Fig. 3. The exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3 shows a CD having an additional electronic unit, which may form a transponder 312, attached thereto comprising a UHF dipole antenna 304, an Integrated Circuit (IC) 306. Furthermore, a driven device 307 is attached to the CD 300. The IC 306 is connected to the dipole antenna 304 as well as to the driven device 307 via contact pads 308. The UHF antenna 304 comprises end portions 305 which are arranged at the end of the dipoles. Furthermore, an additional balance weight 310 is attached to the CD 300.

According to this exemplary embodiment the end portions 305 may be adapted or may be formed in such a way that they, at least partially, act as counter weights or balance weights for the asymmetric mass distribution caused by the driven device 307 and the IC 306. As an additional counter weight the additional balance weight 310 is arranged on the CD 300. In particular, the end portions 305 are arranged nearly opposite to the IC 306 and the driven device 307 with respect to the center hole 303 of the CD 300. Preferably, the additional balance weight 310 is arranged substantially opposite to the IC 306 and the driven device 307.

Finally, it should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of software or hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A rotatable device (100, 200, 300) comprising: a substrate (111, 211, 311), and a transponder (112, 212, 312) comprising an antenna structure (104, 204, 304), wherein said antenna structure (104, 204, 304) is arranged in a way at the substrate (111, 211, 311) that the rotatable device (100, 200, 300) has a balanced mass distribution.

2. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the transponder (112, 212, 312) is a contactless transponder.

3. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the transponder (112, 212, 312) further comprises an Integrated Circuit (106, 206, 306).

4. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the rotating device (100, 200, 300) is an electronic storage device.

5. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, further comprising: a counterbalance (105, 205, 305), wherein the counterbalance (105, 205, 305) is at least partially formed by parts of the antenna structure (104, 204, 304).

6. The device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the antenna structure (104) comprises a spiral inductor having a bridging portion (105), and wherein the counterbalance is at least partially formed by the bridging portion (105).

7. The device (200, 300) according to claim 5, wherein the antenna structure (204, 304) comprises a UHF antenna.

8. The device (200, 300) according to claim 7, further comprising: a counterbalance (205, 305), wherein the counterbalance (205, 305) is at least partially formed by an end portion of the UHF antenna.

9. The device (300) according to claim 8, wherein the counterbalance (305) comprises an additional weight (310).

10. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the claims 3 to 9, further comprising: a driven device (107, 207, 307), wherein the Integrated Circuit is adapted to control and/or drive the driven device.

11. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 10, wherein the driven device (107, 207, 307) is adapted to change a state depending on a signal of the Integrated Circuit (106, 206, 306).

12. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 11, wherein the driven device (107, 207, 307) is adapted to change the state from an opaque state to a transparent state depending on the signal of the Integrated Circuit (106, 206, 306).