DE202011108076U1 - RFID tape and printing form for producing an RFID tape - Google Patents

Abstract

RFID tape with a carrier material (10) and at least two RFID tags (20) arranged on the carrier material (10), characterized in that an antenna (30) for communication with the at least two RFID tags (20) is provided, which is arranged on the carrier material (10).

Description

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an RFID tape according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a printing form according to claim 13 for printing a substrate with an electrically conductive material for producing an RFID tape.

Generic RFID tapes are for example off DE 20 2006 010 232 U1 . DE 20 2006 020 082 U1 and DE 10 2006 004 938 A1 known. Such an RFID tape has a carrier material and at least two RFID tags, which are arranged on the carrier material.

RFID tapes are used for a variety of applications. In particular, it can be indirectly checked with an antenna for communication with the RFID tags, whether an object is present, which obscured one of the RFID tags. For example, it can be determined by means of an RFID tape in a rack for receiving electrical and / or electronic devices, whether and where an electrical and / or electronic device is installed. The RFID tape is for this purpose mounted along a mounting rail for built-in devices of the rack. A built-in device or its cover then obscures one of the RFID tags. As a result, the communication between the hidden RFID tag and the antenna is affected and thus it can be concluded that there is a device. This impairment should be able to be reliably distinguished from a state without a built-in device in which the RFID tag is not obscured by an object. For this purpose, it is a fundamental task to mount the antenna at a defined distance from the RFID tags. Inaccurate positioning of the antenna can lead to false detection.

In particular, it is problematic to maintain the same distance between the antenna and each of the RFID tags.

In addition, in conventional RFID bands, the antenna must be adapted for communication with the RFID tags to the respective RFID band. In addition to adjusting the length of the antenna and the RFID band, the distance between the antenna and RFID tags must be adjusted. A subsequent reduction of an endless antenna is therefore usually required. In a generic printing form for printing a carrier material with an electrically conductive material for producing an RFID band, a plurality of RFID tag antenna stamping dies are provided for generating RFID tag antennas in series on the carrier material.

With known printing forms can be produced in a short time a large number of RFID tags.

As an object of the invention can be considered to provide an RFID tape, which simplifies the installation of the antenna for communication. In addition, a printing for producing such an RFID band to be provided.

This object is achieved by an RFID tape having the features of claim 1 and by a printing plate having the features of claim 13.

Advantageous variants of the RFID tape according to the invention and preferred embodiments of the printing form according to the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims and are also described in the following description, in particular in conjunction with the figures.

In the case of the RFID band of the abovementioned type, an antenna is provided according to the invention for communication with the at least two RFID tags, which antenna is arranged on the carrier material.

As an essential idea of the invention can be considered to provide the RFID tags and the antenna on one and the same carrier material. As a result, a relative position between the antenna and the RFID tags is already established with the production of the RFID tape. Elaborate work for retrofitting an antenna in an exact distance to an RFID band are therefore advantageously not necessary. In addition, a particularly secure attachment of the antenna on the carrier material and thus relative to the RFID tags can be achieved with the RFID tape according to the invention.

The communication between the antenna and the RFID tags may include reading out information stored in the respective RFID tag. Therefore, the antenna may also be referred to as a reader antenna of an RFID reader.

In addition, it can also be provided to transmit information to the RFID tags with the antenna, in particular in order to store the information in the RFID tags. For communication, that is both for the transmission and the reception of data, each RFID tag has a tag antenna. This can be an integral part of the RFID tag or placed next to the RFID tag and electrically connected to this. In addition, every RFID tag, which also as RFID transponder, a transceiver, that is an analog circuit for receiving and transmitting, as well as a digital circuit, in particular a microcontroller, and a non-volatile memory. The RFID tags are also powered by the antenna.

In a preferred variant of the RFID tape according to the invention, the at least two RFID tags are arranged in a row and the antenna is arranged parallel to the row of RFID tags. Preferably, the row of RFID tags runs in a straight line. In principle, however, the row of RFID tags can also run along a curved line. A parallel arrangement of the antenna to the row of RFID tags can also be understood to mean that the antenna winds around a line parallel to the row of RFID tags, for example in a zigzag or meander shape.

The antenna may have the same length as the RFID tape or as the series of RFID tags. It is thus advantageously not necessary to subsequently cut off too long an antenna to the dimensions of a shorter row of RFID tags.

In a preferred embodiment of an RFID tape according to the invention, each of the RFID tags has the same distance from the antenna. This makes it particularly easy to distinguish whether a communication between the antenna and the RFID tags is undisturbed or is disturbed by an object that covers at least one of the RFID tags.

In a preferred embodiment of the RFID tape according to the invention, the distance between two adjacent RFID tags is in each case 1 U. In this case, in particular the distance between the center points of two RFID tags can be understood at a distance. Herein HE (height unit) refers to a standardized distance between two receiving positions of a rack, for example a 19 "rack, for receiving electrical and / or electronic devices. This distance is usually 1.75 inches, so about 4.4 cm. The distance between two RFID tags is thus adapted to the size of those objects which occur in the field of application of the RFID tape.

It is preferred that the carrier material is flexible. For this purpose, this may for example consist of or comprise paper or PET. This facilitates both the production of the RFID tape and the attachment of the RFID tape at a place of use.

The carrier material preferably has a fold or a groove between the RFID tags and the antenna for easier bending of the carrier material. Advantageously, this allows the RFID tape to be attached to differently shaped types of use. In principle, only one marking line between the RFID tags and the antenna can be provided, which indicates at which point the carrier material is to be bent.

The invention further relates to an RFID arrangement which has a first and at least one second RFID tape according to the invention and wherein the carrier materials of the first and of the at least second RFID tape are formed by a common, one-piece carrier material. The at least two RFID bands thus share a carrier material. Advantageously, this can significantly increase the number of RFID tapes that are produced in one process.

For a simple manufacturing process, the rows of RFID tags are preferably aligned parallel to one another. The RFID bands of an RFID arrangement can be arranged next to one another, wherein the RFID tags of different RFID bands are offset from each other in a direction transverse to the rows of RFID tags.

In a preferred variant of the RFID arrangement according to the invention, in each case one row of the RFID tags and one antenna running parallel to the row are arranged alternately, in particular alternately, on the common carrier material.

The common carrier material preferably has a marking or perforation line between the first and the at least second RFID strips for separating the common carrier material. That is, between each two adjacent RFID bands of the RFID arrangement may be provided a marking or perforation line. By separating the common carrier material, a plurality of RFID bands are produced from the RFID arrangement. This advantageously facilitates the production of a large number of RFID tapes. Only eleven single substrates need to be manufactured and machined to produce multiple RFID ribbons. Furthermore, the multiple RFID ribbons may be produced simultaneously by processing the common carrier material in a single manufacturing step.

The invention also relates to a rack for receiving electrical and / or electronic devices, wherein the rack has a plurality of receiving positions, in each of which an electrical and / or electronic device is receivable. The rack is inventively characterized in that for checking whether electrical and / or electronic in the receiving positions Devices are used, an inventive RFID tape is provided. This is arranged along the plurality of receiving positions, wherein an electrical and / or electronic device or its aperture covers at least one of the RFID tags when it is received in one of the receiving positions. A covered RFID tag can not be read by the antenna, or only with weaker signal strength.

A recorded electrical and / or electronic device or its diaphragm thus at least partially blocks a communication path between the antenna and the RFID tag attached to the corresponding receiving position.

The mounting positions of the rack are at a distance of one height unit each (HE). Preferably, the distance between the pickup positions is equal to the distance or a multiple of the distance between the RFID tags arranged in the row. Particularly preferably, exactly one RFID tag is provided per receiving position. There is a single antenna for the entire range of RFID tags.

The rack may be equipped with a single RFID tape according to the invention or also with two RFID tapes which may be mounted on opposite sides of the receiving positions.

According to the invention, the printing form of the abovementioned type has at least one antenna stamp shape in order to produce an antenna on the carrier material next to the row of RFID tag antennas. Advantageously, therefore, the antennas and the RFID tag antennas can be generated with one and the same printing forme in one printing operation. The position of the antenna relative to the RFID tag antennas is thus determined by the arrangement of the stamp shapes on or on the printing plate. This leads to high accuracy and reduces the number of manufacturing steps. The printing form can therefore be used to produce an RFID tape according to the invention or else an RFID arrangement according to the invention.

As a particular advantage of the printing form according to the invention can be considered that RFID tapes can be generated, which have a standardized distance between the RFID tags and the associated antenna, so the reader antenna. Embodiments of printing forms according to the invention with RFID tag antenna stamp forms are described below. However, in each embodiment, RFID tag punch shapes may be provided instead. With these entire RFID tags can be generated. Such an RFID tag then also includes the RFID tag antenna, via which the antenna reads or transmits data from the RFID tag.

The printing forms can each be adapted to different printing methods for the production of printed electronics or printed circuits. Here, the printing plates for screen printing and / or for mass printing processes, such as gravure, offset and / or flexographic printing, can be designed. Depending on the printing method used, a plurality of printing plates to be used in succession may also be used to produce the printed electronics or circuits.

It is preferred that the printing form has a cylindrical shape and the RFID tag antenna stamping dies arranged in series and the at least one antenna stamping die extend in the peripheral direction on the lateral surface of the cylindrical printing form. If the cylindrical printing form is rotated relative to the carrier material, a carrier material can be printed continuously. It can therefore be printed on any length carrier material. Thus, an endless RFID tape or an endless RFID arrangement can be produced. This can be cut to length according to a given application, that is, the RFID arrangement or the RFID tape is separated after a certain number of RFID tags. As a result, the unusable excess of RFID tape is kept low. This type of printing can also be called flexo-print.

In the case of the electrically conductive material which is applied to the carrier material via the stamp shapes, it may be, for example, a silver alloy.

In a preferred embodiment of the printing form according to the invention, the RFID tag antenna stamp dies are arranged in several rows. In addition, several antenna punch shapes are provided. Of these, one is alternately arranged, for example alternately, with one of the rows of RFID tag antenna stamp dies, in particular alternately in the axial direction of the cylindrical form. The multi-row RFID tag antenna stamp shapes can create multiple rows of RFID tag antennas on the substrate.

Preferably, all RFID tag antenna stamp shapes have the same distance to the respectively adjacent antenna stamp form. Advantageously, an RFID arrangement as described above can hereby be produced.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Herein show:

1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an RFID band;

2 a schematic side view of an embodiment of an RFID tape according to the invention;

3 a schematic view of an embodiment of an RFID device according to the invention and

4 a schematic view of an embodiment of a printing form according to the invention.

Equivalent components are identified by the same reference numerals in all figures.

1 schematically shows an embodiment of an RFID tape according to the invention 50 , This has a carrier material 10 on which several RFID tags 20 and an antenna 30 are attached.

The antenna 30 is used for communication with the RFID tags 20 , so in particular the reading of in the RFID tags 20 stored information. For example, this information may be an identifier (ID) associated with each of the RFID tags 20 is different.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the RFID tape 50 a single antenna 30 have, which with all RFID tags 20 of the RFID band 50 communicated.

With the antenna 30 can be determined with which of the RFID tags 20 a communication is possible. About the ID of the RFID tags 20 can the different RFID tags 20 with simultaneous reading through the antenna 30 be differentiated. Will be an RFID tag 20 covered, for example, when an object between the RFID tag 20 and the antenna 30 is arranged, this affects the communication between the antenna 30 and the RFID tag 20 and the ID of the RFID tag 20 can no longer from the antenna 30 be received or read. Thus, it can be determined if an item is the RFID tag 20 covering.

In the example shown, the RFID tags 20 in a straight line 21 arranged. This series 21 runs parallel to the antenna 30 , Every RFID tag has this 20 the same distance to the antenna 30 ,

For many job sites, it is desirable to use the RFID tape 50 in a bent or kinked condition. This is the carrier material 10 flexible. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, a fold 14 intended. This is a kinking of the carrier material 10 along the fold 14 facilitated. The fold runs here 14 between the series 21 the RFID tags 20 and the antenna 30 ,

In 2 is the RFID band 50 shown in a bent state. Here is the carrier material 10 along the fold 14 bent by about 90 °. In this curved shape, the RFID tape 50 For example, be attached to a rack for receiving electrical and / or electronic devices or its frame structure. In particular, this rack may be a 19-inch rack. If an electrical and / or electronic device is recorded, it or, for example, parts of its diaphragm occupy a subspace between one of the RFID tags 20 and the antenna 30 , This can provide information in the so obscured RFID tag 20 is stored, no longer with the antenna 30 be read out.

3 schematically shows an embodiment of an RFID arrangement according to the invention 100 , This consists of several RFID bands 50 In the example shown, four RFID bands 50 ,

The RFID arrangement 100 has exactly one carrier material 10 on, on which of each of the four RFID tapes 50 the RFID tags 20 and the antenna 30 are attached.

The RFID tags 20 the different RFID tapes 50 are each in a row 21 to 24 arranged. These rows 21 to 24 stand parallel to each other. Between two adjacent rows is one antenna each 30 appropriate.

In the illustrated example, each of the rows is 21 to 24 the different RFID tapes 50 by the same number of RFID tags 20 educated. It is also for all ranks 21 to 24 the distance between two within a row of adjacent RFID tags 20 the same. Alternatively, but also the distances between the RFID tags 20 at the different rows 21 to 24 be different.

It can be provided that in each case two adjacent RFID bands 50 the RFID arrangement 100 through a marker line 12 on the carrier material 10 are separated. Along the marking lines 12 can the carrier material 10 be separated.

As a result, each of the RFID bands 50 then on its own carrier material 10 and can be independent of the other RFID bands 50 be used.

An inventive embodiment of a printing for printing a substrate with an electrically conductive material for producing an RFID tape according to the invention is in 4 shown. This printing form 90 has a cylindrical shape. On the left side of 4 is a cross section of the printing plate 90 shown perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylinder shape. It can be seen that the cylindrical shape represents a circle in cross section.

On the right side of 4 is schematically a part of the lateral surface of the cylindrical printing plate 90 shown.

On the lateral surface are several RFID tag antenna stamping dies 20a present, with which electrically conductive material for generating RFID tag antennas can be applied to the substrate. Instead of the RFID tag antenna stamping dies 20a It is also possible to provide RFID tag stamp shapes in order to print entire RFID tags which, in addition to an RFID tag antenna, can also comprise, for example, electrical circuits.

In addition, on the lateral surface of the printing plate 90 Antenna stamp forms 30a attached, with which electrically conductive material for generating antennas can be applied to the substrate.

For printing the carrier material is the cylindrical printing form 90 rotated relative to the carrier material. As a result, with the carrier material an endless, that is any length, RFID band can be generated. The antenna stamp shapes 30a extend completely in the circumferential direction around the lateral surface of the printing plate 90 , In other words, each antenna forms a stamp 30a on the lateral surface of the printing plate 90 a closed ring.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that the antenna stamp shapes 30a form an open ring on the lateral surface. As a result, several RFID strips of limited length can be produced in succession on a single carrier material.

The RFID tag antenna stamps 20a are in rows 21a . 22a . 23a . 24a arranged and form on the lateral surface of the printing plate 90 also ring forms. Thus, a principle endless series of RFID tag antennas can be generated on the substrate.

To produce an RFID band according to the invention, in principle, an antenna stamp form is already sufficient 30a and an RFID tag antenna stamping dies 20a or a series of RFID tag antenna stamping dies 20a out.

In the illustrated example, however, four antenna punch shapes 30a and four rows of RFID tag antenna stamping dies 21a to 24a appropriate. With these, four RFID bands can be created side by side on a carrier material. In principle, the printing form according to the invention 90 any number of antenna punch shapes 30a and rows of RFID tag antenna stamping dies 21a to 24a exhibit.

Every row 21a to 24a to RFID tag antenna stamps 20a runs parallel to their respective antenna punch shape 30a , As a result, all printed RFID tag antennas of an RFID band have the same distance to a printed antenna of the same RFID band.

Advantageously, therefore, with the printing form according to the invention, an RFID tape according to the invention can be generated in a simple manner in which a predetermined, in particular uniform, distance between RFID tags and the antenna for communicating with the RFID tags is given. By producing the RFID tags and the antennas on the same carrier material, in particular in a single working step, the production outlay can advantageously be reduced. Compared to the case that an antenna is applied later, advantageously continue to handle fewer items.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202006010232 U1 [0003]
• DE 202006020082 U1 [0003]
• DE 102006004938 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

RFID tape with a carrier material ( 10 ) and at least two RFID tags ( 20 ) on the substrate ( 10 ) are arranged, characterized in that for communication with the at least two RFID tags ( 20 ) an antenna ( 30 ) is provided, which on the carrier material ( 10 ) is arranged. RFID tape according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two RFID tags ( 20 ) in a row ( 21 ) are arranged and that the antenna ( 30 ) parallel to the row ( 21 ) of the RFID tags ( 20 ) is arranged. RFID tape according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the RFID tags ( 20 ) the same distance to the antenna ( 30 ) having. RFID tape according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distance between two adjacent RFID tags ( 20 ) is 1 HE each. RFID tape according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the carrier material ( 10 ) is flexible. RFID tape according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier material ( 10 ) between the RFID tags ( 20 ) and the antenna ( 30 ) a fold ( 14 ) or a groove for easier bending of the carrier material ( 10 ) having. RFID arrangement, characterized in that a first RFID band ( 50 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and at least one second RFID band ( 50 ) are provided according to one of claims 1 to 6 and that the support materials ( 10 ) of the first and the at least second RFID bands ( 50 ) by a common, integral carrier material ( 10 ) are formed. RFID arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the rows ( 21 - 24 ) of the RFID tags ( 20 ) are aligned parallel to each other. RFID arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in each case one row ( 21 - 24 ) of the RFID tags ( 20 ) and one parallel to the row ( 21 - 24 ) extending antenna ( 30 ) alternately on the common carrier material ( 10 ) are arranged. RFID arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that between the first and the at least second RFID band ( 50 ) the common carrier material ( 10 ) a marking or perforation line ( 12 ) for separating the common carrier material ( 10 ) having. Rack for receiving electrical and / or electronic devices having a plurality of receiving positions, in each of which an electrical and / or electronic device can be received, characterized in that for checking whether electrical and / or electronic devices are used in the receiving positions, an RFID -Tape ( 50 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, and that the RFID tape ( 50 ) is arranged along the plurality of receiving positions, wherein an electrical and / or electronic device at least one of the RFID tags ( 20 ) when it is received in one of the pickup positions, with a covered RFID tag ( 20 ) not with the antenna ( 30 ) is readable. Rack according to claim 11, characterized in that the distance between the receiving positions equal to the distance or a multiple of the distance between the in the row ( 21 - 24 ) arranged RFID tags ( 20 ). Printing form for printing on a carrier material ( 10 ) with an electrically conductive material for producing an RFID tape, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 6, with a plurality of RFID tag antenna stamp dies ( 20a ) for generating RFID tag antennas in series on the substrate ( 10 ), characterized in that at least one antenna stamp ( 30a ) is provided to an antenna ( 30 ) on the carrier material ( 10 ) next to the row of RFID tag antennas. Printing form according to claim 13, characterized in that the printing form ( 90 ) is cylindrical and that the arranged in series RFID tag antenna stamps ( 20a ) and the at least one antenna stamp form ( 30a ) in the circumferential direction on the lateral surface of the cylindrical printing form ( 90 ). Printing form according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the RFID tag antenna stamps ( 20a ) in several rows ( 21a - 24a ) are arranged such that multiple antenna punch shapes ( 30a ) are provided and that, in particular in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, in each case alternately a row ( 21a - 24a ) to RFID tag antenna stamps ( 20a ) and an antenna stamp form ( 30a ) are arranged.

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