Transponder tag and manufacturing method for transponder tag

Abstract

A transponder tag (1) comprising: a dielectric spacer (20) having a first side (21) and a second side (22); and a transponder inlay (10) having a chip (12) and an antenna (11), wherein the transponder inlay (10) is applied to the spacer (20) such that a first portion (13) of the antenna (11) is disposed on the first side (21) of the spacer (20) and a second portion (14) of the antenna (11) is disposed on the second side (22) of the spacer (20). The transponder tag (1) further comprises a sensor unit (30) which is electrically coupled to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10) and configured to detect a measurement signal which represents physical and / or chemical environmental parameters.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a transponder tag and a method for manufacturing a transponder tag. In particular, the present invention relates to a transponder tag with a sensor device for use on a metal surface, and to a method for efficiently manufacturing such a transponder tag. Background Art

[0002] Tags can be used for authorization or proof of origin and can be used anywhere where the identification or verification of an item is required. Some tags have electronic devices, such as RFID transponders, which can, for example, enable the comfortable finding and detection of the tag and the information provided therewith. Thereby, in addition, logistics or warehouse management can be automated and computer-aided.

[0003] RFID elements or RFID transponders typically have: a chip on which electronic information can be stored; and an antenna via which the stored information can be wirelessly transmitted to a reading and writing device. Since electromagnetic waves are required for data exchange between the transponder and the reading device, the data exchange can be adversely affected by conductive devices. In particular, when the transponder has to be applied to a metal surface, the data exchange becomes more difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a transponder tag which can be produced at low cost on the one hand and which, in addition, has very good transmission and reception characteristics on metal articles and also provides extended functionality.

[0005] The object is achieved by a transponder tag and a method for manufacturing a transponder tag, respectively. Advantageous design options are given in the following description.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a transponder tag includes: a dielectric spacer having a first side and a second side; and a transponder inlay having a chip and an antenna, wherein the transponder inlay is applied to the spacer such that a first part of the antenna is disposed on the first side of the spacer and a second part of the antenna is disposed on the second side of the spacer. The transponder tag further includes a sensor unit which is electrically coupled to the chip of the transponder inlay and is configured to detect a measurement signal which represents a physical environmental parameter.

[0007] By means of the described transponder tag, reliable data exchange between the transponder and the reading device can be achieved even in the presence of a metal surface. In addition, the transponder tag with a sensor unit can detect and transmit information about one or more environmental parameters.

[0008] The transponder inlay implements an RFID transponder (RFID = Radio Frequency Identification), which includes a chip and an antenna. Such a transponder enables contactless data transmission and furthermore does not require a freely accessible visual contact, as is required, for example, when reading optical data codes. Due to the specific embodiment of the antenna of the transponder inlay, namely that the antenna is controllably folded around a spacer, the described configuration of the transponder tag on a metal substrate enables reliable and stable data transmission.

[0009] According to a preferred improvement, the transponder tag includes a flexible film substrate having a first side and a second side. On the first side, a transponder inlay, a spacer, and a sensor unit are provided.

[0010] The transponder tag may also include an adhesive layer, which is provided on the second side of the flexible film substrate. The adhesive layer is particularly used to simply and reliably fix the transponder tag to a substrate provided therefor. Due to the described configuration of the transponder tag, reliable and stable data exchange can be achieved even on a metal substrate.

[0011] The first side of the film substrate may also be referred to as the upper side, and the second side of the film substrate may also be referred to as the lower side. Correspondingly, the first side of the spacer may be referred to as the upper side and the second side of the spacer may be referred to as the lower side. Here, expressions such as "above", "below", "upper side", and "lower side" may relate to the stacking direction of the existing layers of the transponder tag or to the setting of the transponder tag on the substrate. The corresponding lower side of the component then faces the substrate and the upper side of the component then faces away from the substrate.

[0012] The transponder tag may also include another adhesive layer, which is provided on the first side of the flexible film substrate. The other adhesive layer is, for example, used to simply and reliably fix and position the transponder inlay, the spacer, and the sensor unit on the film substrate.

[0013] The spacer is preferably configured as a foam material element or a foam material web in order to fold the antenna around it. Providing the foam material, the gasket, and the sensor device to be coupled can be carried out quickly and at low cost from a roll, so that it is possible to effectively and inexpensively manufacture a plurality of transponder tags according to the invention. Thereby, the production cost can be significantly reduced compared to alternative products.

[0014] A strip-shaped conductive antenna is formed by folding the antenna around the foam material or the spacer. The size of the antenna is here related to the frequency used by the system. In particular, the antenna is a λ / 4 strip-shaped conductive antenna.

[0015] Preferably, the foam material element has a thickness of at most 1.5 mm. Thereby, very thin transponder tags can be manufactured which still have an excellent reading range on a conductive substrate.

[0016] The transponder tag connects an RFID transponder with a sensor device in a flat and flexible tag product. The RFID transponder forms a radio device that is also operable on metal, which has an antenna part or a transmitting and receiving unit, such that a reliable effective power is obtained even on a metal substrate. Here, the RFID transponder is preferably directly coupled to the sensor unit, which can implement the detection and transmission of measurement signals as a detection part, and the measurement signals include information about environmental parameters.

[0017] The sensor unit is not necessarily directly arranged on the antenna here, and can be connected to the antenna via leads, which are integrated in the transponder tag as conductive printed conductors. The distance between the sensor unit and the antenna of the transponder inlay or the chip is shape-dependent and can be, for example, up to 20 cm. However, longer sections are also fully conceivable depending on the application. In this way, the detection part or the sensor unit and the antenna part can be arranged according to the application proposed therefor, such that important sensor information is detected at the point to be detected and the RFID transponder is simultaneously positioned for the best possible reading range.

[0018] The antenna of the transponder inlay forms the transmitting and receiving unit of the transponder tag. The antenna is especially configured for use at or on a metal surface and has a radio-frequency active part and a ground part, for example in the form of a ground plane. The antenna is folded or turned over around a spacer and conductively connected to the chip of the RFID transponder.

[0019] In addition to the terminals for the antenna, the chip has further connection possibilities which enable the connection of the sensor unit. The chip can have an analog input which enables the detection of passive resistive - or capacitive sensor data. The chip can alternatively or additionally be configured for detecting the output voltage level of an active sensor element, or however can also communicate with other electronic components via a simple interface, such as an 2 I2C serial data bus.

[0020] According to another preferred refinement of the transponder tag, the antenna is formed by printing or etching or stamping. The sensor unit itself and any possible conductive printed conductors can also be formed by printing or etching or stamping.

[0021] According to a particularly preferred refinement of the transponder tag, two spaced-apart electrically conductive printed conductors form the sensor unit. The sensor unit can thus be composed of only two predefined structured printed conductors in a particularly simple design. For example, this form of representation enables a moisture sensor for a metal substrate. Here, the detection part or the sensor unit has only two spatially separated printed conductors, which are electrically short-circuited via the liquid to be detected. The resistance change resulting from water or liquid is recorded by the RFID chip of the transponder inlay and can be read via the air interface.

[0022] According to another preferred refinement, the transponder tag has an electrically conductive printed conductor that electrically couples the sensor unit to the antenna or the chip of the transponder inlay, wherein the respective printed conductor has one or more predefined geometric structure variations. Such structural variations are particularly suitable for suppressing interference effects, which can result from induced potential differences or currents at the sensitive input of the electronic device in the radio frequency range. For example, such interference regions occur when the RFID transponder is placed in the alternating field of a reading device for data transmission. The electromagnetic waves of the alternating field can be coupled into the respective printed conductor and form unwanted standing waves within the printed conductor, which have an interfering effect on signal transmission. With the predefined geometric structure variations, the formation of standing waves can be counteracted without additional components and low-interference signal transmission can be facilitated.

[0023] The geometric structure variations are, for example, irregularly arranged in the printed conductor in the form of changes in the printed conductor width and / or the printed conductor thickness, and these geometric structure variations cause impedance mutations at which the standing waves are partially reflected. The geometric structure variations each achieve a local change in the wave resistance of the printed conductor and prevent or make it more difficult to form standing waves and the associated interference input. Such geometrically modified printed conductors are particularly suitable for long connecting conductors between the antenna and the sensor unit. The respective printed conductor thickness of the printed conductor relates, for example, to the normal direction of the surface of the substrate layer on which the printed conductor is applied. The printed conductor width accordingly relates to the plane extending parallel to the surface of such a substrate layer.

[0024] In addition, the predefined geometric structure variations can also be formed by the distance from the ground plane. The transponder tag, for example, has an electrically conductive ground plane that is arranged spaced apart from the printed conductor on the surface of the substrate layer such that a distance is formed between the printed conductor and the ground plane along the surface. The geometric structure variations can be predefined by local variations in the distance between the printed conductor and the ground plane.

[0025] The preset geometric structure changes respectively implement a controlled introduction or formation of changes in the geometric expansion of the printed conductor and / or the substrate layer, on which one or more printed conductors are arranged. Preferably, a plurality of such geometric modification parts are provided, so as to effectively counteract the formation of unwanted electromagnetic standing waves within the printed conductor. Here, within the scope of the present invention, the knowledge is that, in particular, the targeted formation of changes in the printed conductor width has a beneficial effect on low-interference signal transmission.

[0026] The sensor unit of the transponder tag is, for example, set up to detect measurement signals representing temperature and / or pressure. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor unit can be set up to detect the level, moisture, humidity and / or air humidity of the container.

[0027] In addition, the transponder tag can be set up to enable the detection of sensor data via an active device. Such an active device can be equipped with its own current supply or obtain a current supply from the reading area via the antenna. A current supply can also be provided by means of the so-called energy harvesting current supply from the reading area. The sensor data transmission from the active device to the RFID radio device of the transponder tag can be carried out via a data bus, such as an I 2 C interface, and the transmission from the RFID radio device to the reading device is carried out via the air interface.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the transponder tag further includes a film element that covers at least one sub-region of the transponder inlay. In addition, the transponder tag can also have another film element that covers at least one sub-region of the first film element. Such a film element provides a good possibility for visually identifying the transponder tag and is also a protection against contamination and possible damage. The film element can in particular be labelable or printable.

[0029] The described transponder tag can be implemented in the embodiment of a flexible tag and is also suitable for applications on a metal substrate for reading electronic sensor data by means of an RFID transponder. The connection of the sensor device to the RFID transponder realized by the transponder tag enables an application area in which there are high requirements and complexities for data processing.

[0030] For the detection of sensor data that can be achieved by the transponder tag, it is not necessary to directly (plug) connect the sensor to the reading device. When the sensor is directly connected to the reading device, the relevant sensor data will be distorted. If, for example, the environment - or ambient conditions, such as the temperature, air humidity or air pressure in an enclosed volume, such as a packaging unit or a container, are of interest, then the volume must be opened to read the data. As a result, the external situation changes and the result will be distorted. With the described transponder tag, these data can be read from the outside without opening the volume.

[0031] Data transmission via an air interface with a relatively complex transmission format, such as in a Bluetooth or WiFi network, is also not required by using transponder tags. Compared to the construction of wiring of multiple individual components with electronic components, such as is constituted for example in the case of so-called hard tags, where the components are potted in a plastic matrix on a circuit board substrate, the transponder tag has a simple, flat and clear construction, which moreover offers multiple application possibilities due to its mechanical flexibility. Hard tags that enable data transmission via Bluetooth, WiFi or RFID are relatively cost-intensive in their manufacture and are thus only produced as mass products to a limited extent. The described transponder tag provides a low-cost alternative in this regard.

[0032] Furthermore, the described transponder tag, based on an RFID transponder, enables reliable and stable data detection and data transmission of sensor data without the need for a relatively thick spacer from a metal substrate. Compared to sensors that require a direct electrical connection for data reading, the described transponder tag also enables time-saving and low-cost reading of multiple sensor data.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a transponder tag includes: providing a dielectric spacer having a first side and a second side; and providing a transponder inlay having a chip and an antenna and providing a sensor unit configured to detect a measurement signal that represents a physical environmental parameter. The method further includes: applying the transponder inlay on the spacer such that a first portion of the antenna is disposed on the first side of the spacer. The method further includes: flipping the transponder inlay around the spacer such that a second portion of the antenna lies flat on the second side of the spacer; and coupling the sensor unit to the chip of the transponder inlay by means of a conductive printed wire.

[0034] By means of the described manufacturing method, a transponder tag can be realized in a simple and low-cost manner, which has favorable transmission and reception characteristics and also enables detection and transmission of sensor data. The method can in particular be used for manufacturing the previously described design of the transponder tag, such that, where applicable, the described features and characteristics of the transponder tag are also disclosed for the method and vice versa.

[0035] According to a preferred refinement, the method further includes: providing a flexible film substrate having a first side and a second side; and applying the transponder inlay, the spacer and the sensor unit on the first side of the flexible film substrate. Additionally, the method can include: applying or providing an adhesive on the first side and / or the second side of the flexible film substrate.

[0036] Furthermore, the method can be improved as follows, namely by applying the adhesive to the lower side or second side of the spacer and to the second part of the antenna.

[0037] In a specific embodiment, the transponder tag includes an adhesive coating that covers at least one sub-region of the lower side or second side of the foam material element and at least one sub-region of the second part of the antenna. Thereby, the tag can be simply pasted onto the product to be identified. Preferably, the transponder tag further includes an adhesive cover that covers the adhesive coating on the second side of the foam material element and the second part of the antenna. Particularly advantageously, the adhesive cover is formed by a film web here. The film web can also extend on the lower side and / or upper side of the transponder tag and contributes to the beneficial operation and better protection of the components.

[0038] The application or formation of the components for forming the transponder tag can preferably be carried out by means of embossing or etching or stamping. For example, the antenna, printed conductors and / or sensor unit are embossed onto a substrate layer or formed by means of etching or punched out from a preset material. In this way, for example, the sensor unit can be formed in the form of two electrically conductive printed conductors spaced apart from each other.

[0039] In particular, components that are functionally important for the transponder tag can be manufactured or applied on a flexible film substrate. Thereby, an RFID sensor product can be realized, which can be applied as a tag or is also (partially) suitable for three-dimensional shaping.

[0040] The antenna part that can be configured as a connecting wire between the antenna and the sensor unit and the printed conductors can be manufactured by means of conventional etching methods or by means of printing functional conductive pigments or other structuring methods, such as stamping.

[0041] The sensor unit can be applied to the substrate as an additional device or can also be directly formed by means of printing. For example, simple temperature, pressure or stress sensors can be directly formed and connected as components of a printed electronic device by means of manufacturing the antenna structure.

[0042] The described transponder tag enables wireless coupling to a reading device. The data to be detected can be detected at a sufficient distance via the air interface. In addition, the so-called batch acquisition of a large amount of sensor data of different sensors is also possible. In addition, an external connection of the sensor element is also possible. Depending on the application, the sensor element or sensor unit can be directly associated with the manufacture of the antenna.

[0043] Depending on the application, different forms of representation can be realized. The selection of the RFID chip is furthermore related to the desired type of detection. The sensor unit can in particular be capable of detecting one or more subsequent physical and / or chemical variables: temperature; pressure, such as air pressure or mechanical pressure on a touch element; strain or bending; moisture; humidity or air humidity; the presence of a specific material or the amount of a specific material or chemical agent; light intensity; electrical variables such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance; the level of a container.

[0044] The possible structural shapes of the transponder tag furthermore constitute in combination with the association with the RFID radio device: The transponder inlay can be coupled to one or more passive sensors. Alternatively or additionally, the transponder inlay is coupled to one or more active sensors, which provide an analog data signal for the RFID radio device, for example. Alternatively or additionally, active devices can be provided, which are connected to the sensors per se and provide corresponding digital signals for the RFID radio device via a corresponding communication interface. Description of the Drawings

[0045] Below, embodiments of the described transponder tag are illustrated based on schematic diagrams. The drawings show:

[0046] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the transponder tag;

[0047] Figures 2 to 4 An embodiment showing the transponder tag;

[0048] Figure 5 A flowchart showing a method for manufacturing the transponder tag. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0049] Elements of the same construction and function are provided with the same reference numerals across the drawings. For reasons of overview, not all of the elements shown may be labeled with their respective reference numerals in all of the drawings.

[0050] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a transponder tag 1 having a transponder inlay 10 and a sensor unit 30, the sensor unit being electrically coupled to the transponder inlay 10. The transponder inlay 10 has a chip 12 and an antenna part 11, which constitute an RFID radio device. The RFID radio device is electrically connected to the sensor part or the sensor unit 30, for example, by means of a connection in the form of leads.

[0051] The transponder tag 1 also has a dielectric spacer in the form of a foam material element 20, which has an upper side 21 and a lower side 22. The transponder inlay 10 is applied to the foam material element 20 such that a first part 13 of the antenna 11 is arranged on the upper side 21 of the foam material element 20 and a second part 14 of the antenna 11 is arranged on the lower side 22 of the foam material element 20 (see Figure 3 and 4 ).

[0052] The upper side 21 of the foam material element 20 can also be referred to as the first side of the foam material element 20, and the lower side 22 can also be referred to as the second side. Correspondingly, the upper and lower sides of other elements can be referred to as the first and second sides. Here, terms such as "above", "below", "upper side" and "lower side" can relate to the stacking direction of the existing layers of the transponder tag 1 or to the arrangement of the transponder tag 1 on a substrate. The respective lower side of the element then faces the substrate and the upper side of the element then faces away from the substrate.

[0053] The sensor unit 30 is electrically coupled to the chip 12 and / or the antenna 11 of the transponder inlay 10 and is configured to detect a measurement signal that represents a physical or chemical environmental parameter. For example, the sensor unit is configured to detect temperature, pressure, strain or bending, moisture, humidity and / or air humidity, the presence or amount of a specific material, light intensity, electrical variables and / or the level of a container.

[0054] Figure 2 A top view of the components of the transponder tag 1 is shown without the foam material element 20 to be additionally arranged. The transponder tag 1, for example, implements an RFID moisture sensor that can also operate on metal, wherein two electrically conductive printed conductors 31 spaced apart from each other form the sensor unit 30. The antenna part 11 has: a transmitting surface that forms the first part 13 of the antenna 11; and a ground plane that forms the second part 14 of the antenna 11. The chip 12 is arranged on the first part 13 of the antenna 11 and is electrically coupled to the printed conductors 31. The printed conductors 31 are each configured as leads to the chip 12 and have a preset geometric variation. The printed conductors each have an irregular sawtooth shape and help to reduce the influence caused by unwanted radio frequency interference input at the chip input. The printed conductors 31 can also be configured to vary with respect to their printed conductor width and have a plurality of geometric variations.

[0055] For example, the printed conductor widths of adjacent printed conductor segments vary from one another. Additionally, alternatively or additionally, the printed conductor thicknesses of the respective printed conductor segments are irregularly configured in the printed conductor and cause impedance mutations. Such geometric structure variations respectively effect local changes in the wave resistance of the printed conductor 31 and prevent or impede the formation of standing waves and the associated interference input. Such geometrically modified printed conductors 31 are particularly suitable for longer connecting conductors between the antenna 11 and the sensor unit 30. The respective printed conductor thicknesses of the printed conductor relate, for example, to the normal direction of the surface of the substrate layer on which the printed conductor 31 is applied. The printed conductor width accordingly relates to the plane that extends parallel to the surface of such a substrate layer. Thus, the sawtooth shape of the printed conductor 31 is preferably composed of printed conductor segments of irregular width.

[0056] The preset geometric structure variations respectively effect a controlled introduction or formation of changes in the geometric expansion of the printed conductor 31. Preferably, a plurality of such geometric modifications are provided such that an effective resistance to the formation of undesired electromagnetic standing waves within the printed conductor 31 is achieved. Here, within the scope of the present invention, the knowledge is that, in particular, variations in the printed conductor width have a beneficial effect on less interfering signal transmission at the sensitive input of the transponder inlay 10.

[0057] Through the action of water or the moisture of a liquid, an electrical connection is formed between the printed conductors 31 such that these printed conductors are short-circuited. The short circuit is detected by the RFID chip and can be provided as an information signal such that, when reading the RFID chip, it is indicated that moisture is determined at the location of the transponder tag 1. A water-absorbing porous material can also be provided above or below the printed conductors 31, which can improve the reliability of detecting small amounts of liquid. For example, a paper element or a non-woven fabric is provided above or below the printed conductors 31, which can absorb liquid droplets and distribute them evenly onto the printed conductors 31.

[0058] Figure 3 Illustrated is the transponder tag 1 in the steps of manufacturing the transponder tag, wherein it is visible that, for the formation of the transponder tag 1, the first part 13 of the transmission area or the antenna 11 is folded around the spacer or the foam material element 20 along a preset folding line between the first and second parts 13 and 14.

[0059] Figure 4 Shown in accordance with Figures 2 to 3Schematic view of a manufactured transponder tag 1. A foam material element 20 made of an electrically insulating dielectric material is disposed between a first part and a second part 13 and 14 in the middle of the antenna 11. The foam material element 20 generally has a material thickness of 2 mm or less. Preferably, the foam material element 20 has a thickness of at most 1.5 mm, and particularly preferably at most 1.2 mm, such that a particularly flat transponder tag 1 can be achieved, which also has reliable and favorable transmission and reception characteristics and enables stable data exchange on a metallic substrate.

[0060] Around the foam material element 20, i.e., on the upper side 21, the lower side 22 and the side edges of the foam material element 20, a transponder insert 10 is disposed. The transponder insert 10 is disposed on the foam material element 20 such that the chip 12 is located on the upper side 21 of the foam material element 20. The upper side 21 is herein understood as the following side of the foam material element 20, which faces away from the metallic surface when the complete transponder tag 1 is applied to the metallic surface. Correspondingly, the side of the foam material element 20 that faces the metallic surface when the transponder tag 1 is applied is referred to as the lower side 22.

[0061] The first part 13 of the antenna 11 of the transponder insert 10 is disposed on the upper side 21 of the foam material element 20. The first part 13 of the antenna 11 can be disposed on the upper side 21 of the foam material element 20 by flipping around the foam material element 20. Alternatively, the second part 14 of the antenna 11 can be flipped around the foam material element 20 such that it lies flat on the lower side 22 of the foam material element 20.

[0062] In the applied state, the two parts 13 and 14 of the antenna 11 preferably extend parallel to each other on the upper side 21 and the lower side 22 of the foam material element 20, thereby forming a strip-shaped conductive antenna 11. The extension of the antenna plane in one direction is approximately one quarter of the wavelength of the operating frequency. Therefore, this type of antenna is also referred to as a λ / 4 antenna.

[0063] Figure 5 A flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a transponder tag 1, which represents an exemplary production process. First, a suitable foam material web is provided, and the foam material web provides subsequent spacers in the form of foam material elements 20. Preferably, in step S1, the foam material web is provided as a roll and the foam material web is unrolled from the roll for producing individual foam material elements 20.

[0064] Furthermore, a transponder inlay 10 having a chip 12 and an antenna 11 is provided, and a sensor unit 30 is provided. These components can also be provided in the form of a material web. The transponder inlay 10 can be pre-provided with an adhesive. Conversely, if the transponder inlay 10 is not adhesive, then a suitable adhesive is first applied on the transponder inlay 10 and / or on a part of the foam material web.

[0065] Then, in step S2, the transponder inlay 10 is applied to the foam material web such that a part of the antenna 11 of the transponder inlay 10 and the chip lie flat on a first side of the foam material web, and the first side can also be referred to as the upper side.

[0066] If the transponder tag 1 is to receive an optical identification, then a suitable identification element can be laminated on a sub-region of the transponder inlay 10. This can be, for example, a printed film element, or it can also be a film element that can be marked by means of a laser or TTR. Alternative identification elements can be applied in the same way.

[0067] To protect the transponder tag 1, a preferably transparent protective laminate can be applied to the transponder inlay 10 in the next step and, if necessary, also to the above-mentioned identification element. Preferably, a transparent material film is used here, which is connected to the transponder tag 1 by means of an adhesive.

[0068] In another step S3, the remaining part of the antenna 11 protruding from the foam material web is flipped around the foam material web such that the remaining part of the antenna 11 lies flat on a second side of the foam material web, and the second side can also be referred to as the lower side, thereby forming a strip-shaped conductive antenna. The flipping of the transponder inlay 10 around the foam material web or around the foam material element 20 of the foam material web is shown in Figure 3 shown.

[0069] Then, in another step, an adhesive, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive, can be applied to the second side of the foam material web having a part of the antenna 11 and possibly also a part of the protective laminate. The application can be carried out over the entire surface, or the adhesive can be applied only in a pre-defined area of the second side. For example, the adhesive application can also be carried out in a printing process. To protect this adhesive 140, the adhesive can be covered with a liner in another step after the application. For this purpose, the liner can be provided as a film web, preferably in the form of being wound on a roll. The liner is brought together with the second side of the foam material web provided with the adhesive. The adhesive application and the application of the liner can also be carried out in a common working process.

[0070] In a further step S4, the sensor unit 30 is electrically coupled to the chip 12 and / or the antenna 11 of the transponder insert 10. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a conductive printed conductor 31 which is configured as a connecting conductor between the transponder insert 10 and the sensor unit 30. The application of the printed conductor 31 can in particular be carried out by stamping a silver- or copper-containing paste. Alternatively, the printed conductor can also be configured by etching in a predefined manner. In addition, the coupling of the sensor unit 30 can also include the configuration of the sensor unit 30 itself. The sensor unit is, for example, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 stamped onto the film substrate in the form of two spaced-apart serrated printed conductors 31 in connection with the transponder body 10.

[0071] The steps described do not have to be carried out in the given order compulsorily. For example, it is also possible that the transponder insert 10 is already provided in the form of having an antenna 11, a chip 12 and a coupled sensor unit 30, such that the coupling of the sensor unit 30 has already been carried out before the antenna 11 is flipped around the foam material element 20 or the foam material web.

[0072] In a further step S5, the foam material web together with the transponder insert 10 is separated in a predefined manner in order to form individual transponder tags 1. Here, the foam material web can be punched such that the punch for punching out the individual transponder tags 1 completely penetrates the foam material web and the gasket, and individual transponder tags 1 are produced.

[0073] Alternatively, the punch can also only penetrate the foam material web and leave the gasket intact without damage. A continuous film web of the gasket is thereby obtained, on which the punched-out transponder tags 1 are present. The unwanted parts of the foam material web can subsequently be removed, which is referred to as impurity (Entgittern).

[0074] By successive production of a plurality of such transponder tags 1, a film web of the gasket is thus obtained, on which a plurality of transponder tags 1 are present in succession. In a further step, the film web having the transponder tags 1 can be rolled up in order to be comfortably provided as a roll for further processing.

[0075] In summary, the invention relates to a transponder tag 1 for a metallic substrate which enables comfortable and reliable detection and transmission of environmental parameters. Here, the transponder tag 1 remains relatively thin and is also flexible. The invention also relates to a low-cost roll-to-roll manufacturing method for such a transponder tag 1.

[0076] List of reference signs

[0077] 1 Electronic transponder tag

[0078] 10 Transponder inlay

[0079] 11 Antenna of the transponder inlay

[0080] 12 Chip of the transponder inlay

[0081] 13 Active antenna section / transmitting surface of the antenna

[0082] 14 Passive antenna section / ground plane of the antenna

[0083] 20 Spacer / foam material element

[0084] 21 Upper side of the spacer / foam material element

[0085] 22 Lower side of the spacer / foam material element

[0086] 30 Sensor unit

[0087] 31 Printed conductor

[0088] S(i) Steps of the method for manufacturing a transponder label

Claims

1. A transponder tag (1), comprising: - a dielectric spacer (20) having a first side (21) and a second side (22), - a transponder inlay (10) having a chip (12) and an antenna (11), wherein the transponder inlay (10) is applied to the spacer (20) such that a first part (13) of the antenna (11) is disposed on the first side (21) of the spacer (20) and a second part (14) of the antenna (11) is disposed on the second side (22) of the spacer (20), - a sensor unit (30) that is electrically coupled to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10) and is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of physical and / or chemical environmental parameters, and - electrically conductive printed conductors (31) that electrically couple the sensor unit (30) to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10), wherein the respective printed conductors (31) have one or more predefined geometric variations, and wherein two electrically conductive printed conductors (31) spaced apart from each other form the sensor unit (30).

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

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

4. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna (11) and / or the sensor unit (30) are formed by printing or etching or stamping.

5. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one printed conductor (31) comprises a plurality of printed conductor segments having respective longitudinal extension directions, wherein adjacent printed conductor segments enclose a predefined angle with respect to their respective longitudinal extension directions relative to each other and form a serrated printed conductor (31).

6. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having: a paper element or a non-woven fabric element that is disposed on the printed conductor (31) and has a predefined water absorbency.

7. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of temperature, pressure, moisture, humidity, and / or air humidity.

8. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of the presence or amount of a material or a chemical agent.

9. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of light intensity and / or electrical variables.

10. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor unit (30) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of the level of a container.

11. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spacer (20) is formed as a foam material element.

12. The transponder tag (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a film element that covers at least one sub-region of the transponder inlay (10).

13. A method for manufacturing a transponder tag, comprising: - providing a dielectric spacer (20) having a first side (21) and a second side (22), - providing a transponder inlay (10) having a chip (12) and an antenna (11), - providing a sensor unit (30) configured to detect a measurement signal that is representative of physical and / or chemical environmental parameters, - applying the transponder inlay (10) onto the spacer (20) such that a first portion of the antenna (11) is disposed on the first side (21) of the spacer (20), - flipping the transponder inlay (10) around the spacer (20) such that a second portion of the antenna (11) lies flat on the second side (22) of the spacer (20), and - electrically coupling the sensor unit (30) to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10), - electrically coupling the sensor unit (30) to the chip (12) of the transponder inlay (10) by means of electrically conductive printed conductors (31), wherein the respective printed conductors (31) have one or more predefined geometric variations, and wherein the sensor unit (30) is formed in the form of two electrically conductive printed conductors (31) spaced apart from each other.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising: - providing a flexible film substrate having a first side and a second side, and - applying the transponder inlay (10), the spacer (20) and the sensor unit (30) onto the first side of the flexible film substrate.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising: applying an adhesive to the first side and / or the second side of the flexible film substrate.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, comprising: applying an adhesive to the first side (21) and / or the second side (22) of the spacer (20).

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein providing and applying the components for forming the transponder tag (1) comprises: embossing or etching or stamping the antenna (11), the electrically conductive printed conductors (31) and / or the sensor unit (30).

Images