WO2011042198A1 - Identification set and method for identifying an identification label - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification set comprising at least one identification label (1) having at least two contact points (10a to 10n) for electrically contacting and at least one predetermined electrical connection (11a to 11d) between the contact points (10a to 10n); at least one measurement device for determining an electrical parameter, such as an electrical current and/or an electrical voltage and/or an electrical resistance and/or an electrical conductivity between the contact points (10a to 10n) of the identification label (1); and at least one evaluation device for comparing the measurement values of the measurement device with stored information about the electrical connections (11a to 12d) for identifying the identification label (1).

Description

 Identification set and method for identifying an identification tag

description

The invention relates to an identification set, an identification label, a method for identifying an identification label and a use of a

 PCB.

Identification labels are used, for example, to identify a product, for example a department store, or as security labels. In this regard, in the art, for example, optical identification devices such as bar codes or bar codes are known. In connection with the so-called "one-way pledge" color codes are also known.

Alternatively, magnetic strips, holograms, fluorescent pigments or RFID chips are used (Radio Frequency Identification Chips). In this context, the readout of the optical identification devices in particular is perceived as costly, which causes considerable costs. The RFID technology also causes relatively high costs, so that they can be used for mass applications only limited.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a way of identifying an identification label, wherein the identification compared to the prior art should be relatively inexpensive and feasible connected at low cost.

This object is achieved by an identification set according to claim 1, a method for identifying an identification tag according to claim 9 and a use of a printed circuit board according to claim 12 and an identification tag according to claim 15.

According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by an identification set comprising at least one identification label with at least two contact points for electrical contacting and with a predetermined electrical connection between the contact points _. , at least one measuring device for the determination of a

CONFIRMATION COPY electrical parameter, for example an electrical current and / or a voltage and / or a resistance and / or a conductivity between the contact points of the identification label and at least one evaluation device for comparing the measured values of the measuring device with stored information about the electrical connections for identification of the identification label. In this case, the identification label as well as the measuring device and evaluation device, in particular a unit comprising the measuring device and the evaluation device, are each claimed independently. It is advantageous if identification label or measuring device or evaluation device are used individually in the subsequent method or the use described below. The information about the electrical connections, in particular via a conductivity pattern, can be provided by a memory device which is preferably part of the identification set, in particular of the evaluation device. Alternatively, the information may also be stored externally and provided, for example, via a network, such as the Internet.

A core idea of the following invention is also that the identification of an identification label and thus an associated carrier of the label by a corresponding measurement of electrical connections can be realized. Compared to the aforementioned method, both the corresponding identification labels are simple in manufacture and the measurement of the electrical parameters. The evaluation is relatively easy.

Preferably, a second identification tag is provided with at least two contact points and a predetermined electrical connection between the

Contact points, wherein the electrical connections of the first and second identification labels differ from each other in a predetermined manner. The "electrical connection" of the second identification label can also differ from the electrical connection of the first identification label in that the conductive connection is interrupted in the second identification label between the contact points For example, at least two, four, six, eight, twenty, one hundred or at least two hundred or one thousand contact points and / or at least two, four, six, eight, fifty, one hundred or five hundred electrical connections are realized. and Evaluation are identified an extremely high number of different identification labels.

In a preferred embodiment, the contact points of the first and second identification labels are arranged substantially identically. This facilitates a reliable measurement of the electrical parameter.

Preferably, at least one predetermined electrical connection is provided exclusively on the first / second identification label. Such a connection could then, for example, the measuring and evaluation device assign the particular digital value 1, whereas the corresponding electrical

 Connection on the other identification label is assigned the value 0. Thus, digitization is made possible and overall the measurement and evaluation process is facilitated.

In a specific embodiment, the electrical connections differ with respect to their geometry, in particular length and / or thickness. As a result, a variation of the electrical parameters, in particular of the electrical resistance and / or the conductivity is possible in a simple manner. A measurement and evaluation can also be carried out analogously. However, also with regard to this embodiment, a digital evaluation is preferred; For example, the exceeding of a predetermined resistance and / or a predetermined conductivity can be assigned a value of 1, whereas a non-exceeding or staying below the value 0 is assigned.

Preferably, the measuring device is designed such that a two-point and / or four-point resistance measurement is feasible. This is a particularly simple way of measuring / evaluating the identification label.

Preferably, the electrical connections are at least partially made of polymer and / or at least one identification label is at least partially formed as a polymer printed circuit board. Polymer printed circuit boards are particularly easy to manufacture and can be produced with the method described in DE 101 40 666 A1, which is hereby incorporated by explicit reference to DE 101 40 666 A1 into the present description, even with very high resolution of the respective electrical connection become. Preferably, the polymer is coated with metal. For example, the Applicant has developed methods that make it possible to produce very high-resolution metal structures. In particular, the metal can be applied to the polymer by electroplating. As a result, extremely small identification tags can be produced with high variability.

According to an independent aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a

 Method solved for identification of an identification label, wherein in particular the described identification label can be used, the method comprising the steps:

 - Providing at least one identification label with at least two

 Contact points for electrical contacting and with a predetermined electrical connection between the contact points;

 - Measuring an electrical parameter, such as electrical current

 and / or voltage and / or resistances and / or conductivity, between the contact points;

 Comparison of the measured values with stored information about the

 Identification label relating to the formation of the electrical connections.

With regard to the advantages, reference is made to the description of the identification set.

Preferably, a two-point and / or four-point resistance measurement for determining the electrical resistance of the at least one electrical

Connection performed.

In a preferred embodiment, the identification label is produced as follows:

 - Providing an electrode, the areas of a given structure with

 opposite the other areas of increased conductivity;

 - Contact the electrode at least partially with an electrolyte

 containing at least one low molecular weight compound, preferably

 at least one monomer and / or dimer and generating a current flow across the electrode through the electrolyte such that above the conductive regions, a conductive polymer layer is formed with the predetermined structure.

With such a method, a polymer layer with extremely fine

Polymer structures are produced. It is particularly advantageous if on the conductive polymer layer is still, in particular by means of electroplating, a metal layer is applied, which then also has comparatively fine structures.

According to an independent aspect, the object is achieved by the use of a printed circuit board having at least two contact points for electrical contact and a predetermined electrical connection between the contact points as

 Identification tag. Preferably, the printed circuit board is a polymer printed circuit board.

 In particular, the polymer circuit board may be made as follows:

 - Providing an electrode, the areas of a given structure with

 opposite the other areas of increased conductivity;

 - Contact the electrode at least partially with an electrolyte

 containing at least one low molecular weight compound, preferably

 at least one monomer and / or dimer and generating a current flow across the electrode through the electrolyte such that above the conductive regions, a conductive polymer layer is formed with the predetermined structure.

According to an independent aspect, the object is achieved by an identification label, preferably as part of the above-described identification set or the method, for use as an identification label. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board may include a holding means for fixing to an object to be identified or fixed to the object to be identified, in particular comprise an adhesive for sticking to the object to be identified or be glued on the object to be identified.

Further embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

The invention will also be described in terms of further features and advantages based on embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Hereby show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an identification label;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the

Identification tag; 3 shows a measuring arrangement for two-point resistance measurement; and

4 shows a measuring arrangement for four-point resistance measurement.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical and equivalent parts.

1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of an identification label 1 with 14 contact points 10a to 10η. The contact points 10a and 10d are connected via an electrical connection IIa. The contact points 10c and 10b are connected via an electrical connection IIb. (Not shown) may be realized between the contact points Loe ^η to 10 random compounds. In this case, a single contact point with two or more contact points can be electrically connected. The respective electrical connections may be the same or different as the electrical connections IIa and IIb. The compounds IIa and IIb differ with regard to their geometry, in particular their arrangement and connecting line length. The electrical connections can also differ in terms of their thickness. Also, the electrical connections may be flat and several, for example, four compounds 10a to 10η electrically conductively connect.

2, an alternative embodiment of the identification label 1 is shown. Here, the contact points 10a and 10b are connected via an electrical connection 11c. The electrical contact points 10g and 10h are connected via an electrical connection lld. The contact points 10c and 10d are not electrically connected, as are the contact points 10e and 10f. In this embodiment, a digitized measurement is particularly preferable. For example, the measurement of an electrical parameter between the contact points 10a and 10b or 10g and 10h can each be assigned the value 1, whereas a measurement between the contact points 10c and 10d as well as 10e and 10f can each be assigned the value 0. In an embodiment according to FIG. 2, for example, 128 different identification tags can be produced whose diversity is made possible by measuring an electrical parameter between each two contact points (for example the contact points 10a and 10b).

Preferably, the formation of the electrical connections between the contact points according to FIG. 2 can be combined with the embodiment according to FIG. In one embodiment of the variable geometry of the electrical connections and in particular an analog measurement, can provide ^¬ and electrical connections are pre-defined and measured or detected an extremely high number of identification labels ^¬ with relatively few contact.

According to FIG. 3, it is preferably provided that a resistance between the contact points (in FIG. 3 the contact points 10a and 10b) is measured by means of a two-point measurement. Alternatively, analogous to FIG. 4, it is possible to measure the resistance in a four-point arrangement, wherein, in particular, the specific resistance of the area between a plurality of contact points-in FIG. 4 concretely the contact points 10a to 10d-via a voltage measurement between the contact points 10c and 10d, a Voltage measurement between the contact points 10d and 10a and a current measurement between the contact points 10a and 10b and a current measurement between the contact points 10b and 10c can be determined.

If four contact points are provided on the surface, the resistivity can be determined either by the simple four-point measurement using the equations π-U

and ^P a in 2 · / where P = d - p _r □

or according to the van der-Pauw measuring method according to the equations exp (R ^ coHexpO

P ^' P where

R CD

AB, CD -

I AB and where Determine,

where U _{CD is} the voltage between the pads 10c and 10d; U _DA the

Voltage between the contact points 10d and 10a; I _A B is the current between the pads 10a and 10b; I _B c is the current between the pads 10b and 10c; p is the resistivity of the area bounded by the pads 10a to 10d; d is the layer thickness of the surface.

An encoding corresponds to a function of the resistors when measuring several resistors between the respective contact points:

Coding = function of (R _lr R ₂ , R ₃ , ... R ,, ... R _n ).

The resistors R ₍ measured in accordance with Fig. 3, Fig. 4 or by means of a further measuring arrangement are compared with stored data records in an evaluation unit in order thus to determine the identification of the identification label, for which the evaluation unit can be an electronic storage means, for example a magnetic memory or a chip There may be a warning device in the event that the evaluation device can not determine the identification, for example a warning light or an acoustic warning signal.

The identification label 1 is preferably designed as a polymer printed circuit board.

For example, the polymer printed circuit board can be produced as described in DE 101 40 666 A1.

The identification set or identification label is in particular for

Product labels, banknotes, identity cards, tickets, vouchers, certificates and certificates. It should be noted at this point that all parts described above, taken alone and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention. Variations thereof are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCES:

1 identification label

 10a to 10η contact points

I Ia to I ld Electrical connections

Claims

claims 1. Identification set comprising:  - At least one identification label (1) with at least two contact points (10a to 10η) for electrical contacting and at least one predetermined electrical connection (IIa to lld) between the  Contact points (10a to 10n);  - At least one measuring device for determining an electrical  Parameters, for example, an electrical current and / or an electrical voltage and / or an electrical resistance and / or an electrical conductivity between the contact points (10a to lon) of the identification label (1); and  at least one evaluation device for comparing the measured values of  Measuring device with stored information about the electrical connections (IIa to lld) for identification of the identification label (1). 2. Identification set according to claim 1,  marked by  a second identification label (1) having at least two contact points (10a to 10η) and at least one predetermined electrical connection (IIa to lld) between the contact points, wherein preferably the electrical connections (IIa to lld) of the first and second identification label (1) from each other differ in a predetermined manner. 3. Identification feature according to claim 1 or 2,  characterized in that  the contact points (10a to 10η) of the first and second identification labels (1) are substantially identically arranged and / or configured. 4. Identification set according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one predetermined electrical connection (IIa to lld) is provided exclusively on the first or second identification label. 5. Identification set according to one of claims 2 to 4,  By this means that  the electrical connections (IIa to lld) with respect to their geometry, in particular length and / or thickness differ. 6. Identification set according to one of claims 2 to 5,  Thereby, there is no such thing  the measuring device is designed such that a two-point and / or four-point resistance measurement can be carried out. 7. Identification set according to one of claims 2 to 6,  Thereby, there is no such thing  the electrical connections (IIa to lld) consist at least partially of polymer and / or at least one identification label (1) is formed at least partially as a polymer circuit board. 8. Identification set according to claim 7,  characterized in that  the polymer is coated with metal. 9. A method for identifying an identification tag (1), in particular using the identification set according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps:  - Providing at least one identification label (1) with at least two contact points (10a to 10η) for electrical contacting and at least one predetermined electrical connection (IIa to lld) between the contact points; Measuring an electrical parameter, for example an electrical current and / or an electrical voltage and / or an electrical resistance and / or an electrical conductivity, between the contact points (10a to 10n); and Comparison of the measured values with stored information about the  Identification label concerning the education of the electric  Compounds (IIa to lld). 10. The method according to claim 9,  d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that  a two-point and / or four-point resistance measurement is performed to determine the electrical resistance of the at least one connection (IIa to lld). 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,  d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that  the identification label is produced as follows:  - Providing an electrode having areas of a given structure with respect to the other areas of increased conductivity; and  - Contact the electrode at least partially with a  Electrolytes comprising at least one low molecular weight compound, preferably at least one monomer and / or dimer, and generating a current flow across the electrode through the electrolyte such that a conductive polymer layer having the predetermined structure is formed above the conductive regions. 12. Use, in particular using an identification set (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or the method according to one of claims 9 to 11, a printed circuit board having at least two contact points (10a to 10η) for electrical contact and at least one predetermined electrical connection (IIa to lld) between the contact points (10a to 10η) as an identification label. 13. Use according to claim 12,  d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that  the circuit board is a polymer circuit board. 14. Use according to claim 12 or 13,  d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that  the polymer circuit board is made as follows:  - Providing an electrode having areas of a given structure with respect to the other areas of increased conductivity; and  - Contact the electrode at least partially with a  Electrolytes comprising at least one low molecular weight compound, preferably at least one monomer and / or dimer, and generating a current flow across the electrode through the electrolyte such that a conductive polymer layer having the predetermined structure is formed above the conductive regions. 15. Printed circuit board, in particular polymer printed circuit board, preferably as part of the identification set according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or the method according to one of claims 9 to 11 and / or the use according to claim 12 or 13, for use as an identification label. 16. Printed circuit board according to claim 15,  d a d u r c h e c e n c i n e s that  the circuit board comprises a holding means for fixing to an object to be identified or is fixed to the object to be identified,  In particular, an adhesive for adhering to the object to be identified comprises or is glued on the object to be identified.