RFID tags and tubular containers

Abstract

To improve the sensitivity of an RFID tag attached to the bottom of a tubular container to improve the reading accuracy of identification information.SOLUTION: An RFID tag attached to the bottom of a tubular container includes: an IC chip; a loop antenna connected to the IC chip; and a tag body including the IC chip and the loop antenna and attached to the bottom. The tag body includes a peripheral part opened in the attachment direction of the RFID tag to the bottom and forming a storage part capable of storing at least a part of the bottom, and the loop antenna is provided along the peripheral part so as to form a loop around the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an RFID tag and a tubular container. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, a method has been used to identify tubular containers such as blood collection tubes and Spitz tubes or their contents by attaching an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, which stores identification information in the memory of an IC chip, to the tubular container and reading the identification information via wireless communication.

[0003] Patent document 1 proposes attaching an RFID tag to the cap or bottom of a tubular container, since if the RFID tag covers the side of the tubular container, it may cause problems when checking or handling the contents. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-199353 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When attaching an RFID tag to the bottom of a tubular container, the RFID tag is attached to a substantially flat part of the bottom (or the center of the bottom if the container has a round bottom).

[0006] However, in this case, the size of the RFID tag is limited and the antenna that constitutes the RFID tag is also small, which may reduce the sensitivity of the RFID tag and decrease the accuracy of reading the identification information.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of these technical challenges, and aims to improve the sensitivity of RFID tags and the accuracy of reading identification information while enabling RFID tags to be attached to the bottom of tubular containers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an RFID tag that can be attached to the bottom of a tubular container, the RFID tag comprising: an IC chip; a loop antenna connected to the IC chip; and a tag body that is attached to the bottom and that includes the IC chip and the loop antenna. The tag body has a peripheral edge that opens in the direction in which the RFID tag is attached to the bottom and forms a storage space that can store at least a portion of the bottom. The loop antenna is provided along the peripheral edge to form a loop centered on the storage space. The peripheral edge is inclined so that the inner diameter of the housing portion increases as it approaches the opening of the housing portion. An RFID tag is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the above aspect, the loop diameter and number of turns of the loop antenna can be secured even in the limited space of the bottom of the tubular container, thereby improving the sensitivity of the RFID tag and improving the accuracy of reading the identification information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention and a tubular container (blood collection tube) to which the RFID tag is attached. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an IC chip with an antenna in an RFID tag. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an RFID tag attached to the bottom of a tubular container. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of connecting the loop antenna and the IC chip. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another method of connecting the loop antenna and the IC chip. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the manufacturing process of an RFID tag. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an RFID tag when the tubular container is a Spitz tube. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an RFID tag attached to the bottom of a spitz tube. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the manufacturing process of an RFID tag for a spitz tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] 1 shows an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a tubular container 2 to which the tag is attached. In this example, the tubular container 2 is a blood collection tube, but the tubular container 2 is not limited to a blood collection tube, as will be described later.

[0013] The tubular container 2 has a cylindrical portion 22 and a bottom portion 21 that is connected to the lower side of the cylindrical portion 22 and closes the lower side of the tubular container 2. In this example, the bottom portion 21 has a convex shape with the center bulging downward, and has side walls 21s whose inner and outer diameters decrease with increasing distance from the cylindrical portion 22.

[0014] The RFID tag 1 is an electromagnetic induction type wireless tag that uses the HF band (13.56 MHz short wave band) which is less susceptible to moisture and is suitable for close-proximity communication.

[0015] After electron beam sterilization, the RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2 in the direction of the arrow in the figure with an adhesive applied to its inner surface, and is fixed to the bottom 21. The method of attaching the RFID tag 1 to the bottom 21 is not limited to this, and for example, welding or hot melt molding, in which a hot melt adhesive is injected between the RFID tag 1 and the bottom 21 to bond them together, may also be used. The electron beam sterilization may be performed after the RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom 21.

[0016] The RFID tag 1 is configured by enclosing an antenna-equipped IC chip 10, which is made up of a loop antenna 11 and an IC chip 12 shown in FIG. 2, in a tag body 30 made of resin.

[0017] The IC chip 12 includes a control circuit for wireless communication, a rewritable memory, etc. The memory stores identification information (control number, hospital name, patient name, blood collection date, etc.) related to the blood that is the content of the tubular container 2. The identification information stored in the memory can be read using a reader / writer (not shown). The reader / writer may be a stationary type that is placed under a holder that holds the tubular container 2, or a handheld type that is brought close to the tubular container 2 each time to read the identification information.

[0018] 2, the loop antenna 11 is in the form of a coil having multiple loops 11a to 11c, and is formed by winding a coated copper wire or aluminum wire. The number of loops is appropriately selected according to the sensitivity required for the RFID tag 1 (loop antenna 11) within the range that can be enclosed in the tag body 30.

[0019] The loop antenna 11 receives electromagnetic waves emitted from a reader / writer (not shown) to obtain power for operating the IC chip 12. The IC chip 12 then uses this power to read identification information from the memory and sends the read identification information to the reader / writer from the loop antenna 11. It is also possible to rewrite the identification information stored in the memory using the reader / writer.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the RFID tag 1 when the RFID tag 1 is fixed to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2. As shown in FIG.

[0021] The maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) is preferably equal to or smaller than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2. In this example, the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 is smaller than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2. This is because if the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 exceeds the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2, the RFID tag 1 may get caught when the tubular container 2 is set in a centrifuge or when the centrifuge is subsequently operated, which could interfere with the operation of the centrifuge or cause the RFID tag 1 to fall off.

[0022] On the other hand, since the sensitivity of the RFID tag 1 (loop antenna 11) is higher as the diameter of the loop antenna 11 is larger, the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) is selected to be as large as possible within the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2 so that the diameter of the loop antenna 11 can be as large as possible.

[0023] The tag body 30 has a shape that conforms to the bottom 21 and is composed of a circular central portion 30c and a peripheral portion 30p that extends outward from the central portion 30c and curves in the direction of attachment of the RFID tag 1. The peripheral portion 30p forms the storage section 4 that has approximately the same shape as the portion of the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2 to which the RFID tag 1 is attached.

[0024] The storage section 4 opens in the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1 to the bottom section 21 (upward in FIGS. 1 and 3), and stores most of the lower part of the bottom section 21. The storage section 4 may store the entire bottom section 21 or even a part of the cylindrical section 22. Because the peripheral edge section 30p is not perpendicular to the central section 30c but is inclined relative to the central section 30c, the inner diameter of the storage section 4 increases as it approaches the opening.

[0025] The material of the tag body 30 is appropriately selected from, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin, PP (polypropylene) resin, PE (polyethylene) resin, etc. If the material of the tag body 30 is the same as the material of the tubular container 2, separation at the time of disposal can be eliminated.

[0026] The loop antenna 11 has a wire extending in the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion 30p and is disposed along the inner surface of the peripheral portion 30p. Furthermore, the loop antenna 11 is disposed close to the free end 30e of the peripheral portion 30p (the end on the opening side of the housing portion 4). "Close to the free end 30e of the peripheral portion 30p" means that the loop antenna 11 is disposed at a position on the peripheral portion 30p closer to the free end 30e than to the central portion 30c.

[0027] As a result, the loop antenna 11 is provided on the peripheral edge portion 30p so as to form a loop centered on the accommodation portion 4 (centered on the center position of the bottom portion 21). In other words, the loop antenna 11 is provided on the peripheral edge portion 30p so that the loop surface faces the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1.

[0028] Furthermore, when the RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom 21, the loop antenna 11 is wound circumferentially around the side wall 21s of the bottom 21, the cylindrical portion 22, or both the cylindrical portion 22 and the side wall 21s. That is, the loop antenna 11 is disposed across the cylindrical portion 22, the side wall 21s, or both, with the loop surface facing the longitudinal direction of the tubular container 2.

[0029] Furthermore, the multiple loops 11a to 11c of the loop antenna 11 are arranged from the free end 30e side in order of diameter, starting from the loop 11a with the largest diameter. This increases the density of the magnetic field emitted from the loop antenna 11 below the RFID tag 1, thereby improving the reading accuracy when reading the identification information with a reader / writer from below the tubular container 2 to which the RFID tag 1 is attached.

[0030] Although the loop antenna 11 is positioned close to the free end 30e here, the positioning of the loop antenna 11 is not limited to this. For example, if the number of turns of the loop antenna 11 is large or the width of the peripheral portion 30p is narrow, the loop antenna 11 may be positioned over the entire peripheral portion 30p. Furthermore, if the required sensitivity of the loop antenna 11 can be obtained even if the diameter of the loop antenna 11 is reduced by moving the loop antenna 11 away from the free end 30e, the loop antenna 11 may be positioned away from the free end 30e, at a midpoint between the free end 30e and the central portion 30c or closer to the central portion 30c.

[0031] The IC chip 12 is disposed in the central portion 30c. As described above, the loop antenna 11 is disposed on the free end 30e side of the peripheral portion 30p, and the peripheral portion 30p is inclined with respect to the central portion 30c. As a result, the loop antenna 11 and the IC chip 12 are disposed at a distance from each other in the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1.

[0032] In this embodiment, the IC chip 12 is disposed in the central portion 30c, but the position of the IC chip 12 is not limited thereto, and the IC chip 12 may be disposed together with the loop antenna 11 in the peripheral portion 30p.

[0033] Next, the manufacturing process of the RFID tag 1 will be described.

[0034] First, a method of connecting the loop antenna 11 and the IC chip 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] The IC chip 12 has two antenna connection pads 12c and 12d in addition to a GND pad 12a and an IO (input / output) pad 12b. The loop antenna 11 is connected to the IC chip 12 by connecting lead wires 13a and 13b extending from the loop ends to the antenna connection pads 12c and 12d. The lead wires 13a and 13b can be connected to the antenna connection pads 12c and 12d by, but not limited to, ACP (anisotropic conductive paste) connection or soldering.

[0036] 5, the loop antenna 11 and the IC chip 12 may be connected via an interface board 14. FIG. 5 is a view of the IC chip 12 as seen from the side.

[0037] Next, a method for forming the tag body 30 and encapsulating the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 in the tag body 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0038] First, the first part 31 that constitutes the lower side of the tag body 30 is formed (FIG. 6(a)). For example, if the tag body 30 is made of resin, the first part 31 can be formed by injection molding.

[0039] The first component 31 has a peripheral edge 31p that is inclined relative to a central portion 31c, similar to the tag body 30, and a recess 31d for arranging the IC chip 12 is formed in the central portion 31c.

[0040] Next, the IC chip 10 with antenna is placed on the first component 31 (FIG. 6(b)). The IC chip 12 is placed in the recess 31d, and the loop antenna 11 is held by a protrusion or groove (not shown), so that the IC chip 10 with antenna is temporarily attached to the first component 31. The reason for temporarily attaching the IC chip 10 with antenna to the first component 31 is to prevent the IC chip 10 with antenna from shifting position in the next process.

[0041] In this state, the second component 32 is formed on the first component 31 (FIG. 6(c)). For example, if the tag body 30 is made of resin, the first component 31 to which the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 has been temporarily attached can be set in a mold having a cavity of a shape corresponding to the tag body 30, and resin can be injected into the remaining space in the cavity to form the second component 32 on the first component 31.

[0042] This completes the manufacturing of the RFID tag 1, in which the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 is disposed and enclosed between the first component 31 and the second component 32. The RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2 via the second component 32.

[0043] Although the second component 32 is formed on the first component 31 by injection molding here, the second component 32 may be formed separately and then attached to the first component 31. In this case, the method of attaching the second component 32 to the first component 31 may be adhesion using an adhesive, or a fixing method in which a claw provided on one component engages with the other component.

[0044] 6(c) in which the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 is disposed between the first component 31 and the second component 32 is taken as the RFID tag 1, but the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 in the exposed state shown in FIG. 6(b) may also be taken as the RFID tag 1. In this case, the tag body 30 is made up of only the first component 31, and the tag in the state shown in FIG. 6(b) is attached directly to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2.

[0045] As a method of attachment, hot melt molding can be used, in which a hot melt adhesive is injected between the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2 and the RFID tag 1 to bond them together. This method makes it possible to simultaneously enclose the antenna-equipped IC chip 10 and fix the RFID tag 1 to the bottom 21.

[0046] Next, the main effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0047] The RFID tag 1 according to this embodiment is an RFID tag 1 that can be attached to the bottom 21 of a tubular container 2, and includes an IC chip 12, a loop antenna 11 connected to the IC chip 12, and a tag body 30 that is provided with the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 and can be attached to the bottom 21. The tag body 30 has a peripheral edge 30p that opens in the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1 to the bottom 21 and forms a storage section 4 that can store at least a portion of the bottom 21. The loop antenna 11 is provided along the peripheral edge 30p so as to form a loop with the storage section 4 at the center.

[0048] This configuration ensures the loop diameter and number of turns of the loop antenna 11 even in the limited space of the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2. This improves the sensitivity of the RFID tag 1 and improves the accuracy of reading the identification information stored in the memory of the IC chip 12.

[0049] Furthermore, by forming the tag body 30 in a shape that conforms to the bottom 21, it becomes possible to attach the RFID tag 1 to the bottom 21 without processing the tubular container 2 side.

[0050] Furthermore, by configuring the loop antenna 11 with multiple loops 11a to 11c, and by increasing the diameter of the loops closer to the free end 30e of the peripheral edge 30p, it is possible to increase the density of the magnetic field radiated from the loop antenna 11 below the RFID tag 1. This improves the reading accuracy when reading the identification information with a reader / writer from below the tubular container 2.

[0051] Furthermore, by arranging the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 at a distance from each other in the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1, the degree of freedom in the attachment position of the IC chip 12 is increased, and the loop antenna 11 can be arranged in a position (peripheral edge 30p, preferably near its free end 30e) where the loop diameter can be increased regardless of the attachment position of the IC chip 12.

[0052] In addition, the loop antenna 11 is positioned close to the free end 30e of the peripheral edge 30p, which maximizes the diameter of the loop antenna 11 and the number of turns, further improving the sensitivity of the RFID tag 1 and the accuracy of reading the identification information stored in the memory of the IC chip 12.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the peripheral portion 30p is inclined so that the inner diameter of the storage portion 4 increases as it approaches the opening of the storage portion 4, thereby increasing the diameter of the loop near the free end 30e of the peripheral portion 30p and realizing a configuration in which the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 are positioned at a distance from each other in the attachment direction of the RFID tag 1.

[0054] Furthermore, the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the tag body 30 is set to be equal to or less than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2. This prevents the RFID tag 1 from getting caught when the tubular container 2 with the RFID tag 1 attached is set in a centrifuge or when the centrifuge is subsequently operated, preventing the operation of the centrifuge from being affected or the RFID tag 1 from falling off.

[0055] Furthermore, the tag body 30 is composed of a first part 31 and a second part 32, the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 are disposed between the first part 31 and the second part 32, and the RFID tag 1 is attached to the bottom part 21 via the second part 32. Because the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 are disposed between the first part 31 and the second part 32, the IC chip 12 and the loop antenna 11 are protected and can be prevented from shifting position or falling off.

[0056] Alternatively, the RFID tag 1 may have the IC chip 12 and loop antenna 11 attached to the inner surface of the tag body 30, and may be attached directly to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2. This allows the IC chip 12 and loop antenna 11 to be enclosed and the RFID tag 1 to be fixed to the bottom 21 at the same time, thereby shortening the manufacturing process.

[0057] Furthermore, by attaching the RFID tag 1 to the tubular container 2, the loop antenna 11 is wound circumferentially around the cylindrical portion 22, the side wall 21s, or both the cylindrical portion 22 and the side wall 21s. With this configuration, the loop diameter and number of turns of the loop antenna 11 can be ensured even in the limited space of the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2, thereby improving the sensitivity of the RFID tag 1 and the accuracy of reading the identification information stored in the memory of the IC chip 12.

[0058] Furthermore, by arranging the loop antenna 11 and the IC chip 12 at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the tubular container, the degree of freedom in the mounting position of the IC chip 12 is increased, and the loop antenna 11 can be positioned in a position where the loop diameter can be increased (around the tubular portion 22, around a portion of the side wall 21s with a larger diameter, etc.) regardless of the mounting position of the IC chip 12.

[0059] Although the above embodiment describes the RFID tag 1 when the tubular container 2 is a blood collection tube, the RFID tag 1 is not limited to being attached to a blood collection tube. The RFID tag 1 can be attached to the bottom of various tubular containers, such as specimen tubes, test tubes, spit tubes, and pharmaceutical bottles.

[0060] 7 and 8 show the RFID tag 1 when the tubular container 2 is a Spitz tube. The bottom 21 of a Spitz tube is longer than that of a blood collection tube, and the tag body 30 of the RFID tag 1 is correspondingly longer. Since the basic configuration is the same as the RFID tag 1 for blood collection tubes shown in Figure 1 etc., the corresponding components in the figures are given the same reference numerals as when the tubular container 2 is a blood collection tube, and their explanation will be omitted.

[0061] Figure 9 shows the manufacturing process of the RFID tag 1 for a spitz tube. The manufacturing process is no different from the manufacturing process of the RFID tag 1 for a blood collection tube, and the steps in Figures 9(a) to 9(c) correspond to the steps in Figures 6(a) to 6(c), respectively.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the external shape of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) is roughly similar to the bottom 21 of the tubular container 2, but the external shape of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) is not limited to this, and other shapes may be used, such as making the bottom surface of the RFID tag 1 (bottom surface of the central portion 30c) flat or making the side surface of the RFID tag 1 (outer surface of the peripheral portion 30p) cylindrical.

[0063] Furthermore, the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) is preferably equal to or smaller than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2, but the maximum outer diameter Dmax may be larger than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2. For example, when the storage section 4 also stores a part of the cylindrical section 22, the maximum outer diameter Dmax of the RFID tag 1 (tag body 30) becomes larger than the outer diameter D of the tubular container 2.

[0064] Although the RFID tag 1 is a wireless tag that uses the HF band, the band of radio waves that can be used is not limited to this. The present invention can be used with any wireless tag that uses a band that can be received by a loop antenna.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1: RFID tag 2: Tubular containers (blood collection tubes, Spitz tubes, etc.) 4: Storage section 10: IC chip with antenna 11: Loop antenna 11a: Loop 11b: Loop 11c: Loop 12: IC chip 12a: GND pad 12b: Pad 12c: Antenna connection pad 12d: Antenna connection pad 13a: Lead wire 13b: Lead wire 14: Interface board 21: Bottom 21s: side wall 22: Cylindrical part 30: Tag body 30c: central part 30p: Periphery 31: First part 31c: central part 31d: depression 31p: Periphery 32: Second part 32e: Free end D:Outer diameter Dmax: Maximum outer diameter

Claims

1. An RFID tag attachable to the bottom of a tubular container, comprising: An IC chip, a loop antenna connected to the IC chip; a tag body provided with the IC chip and the loop antenna and attachable to the bottom; Equipped with the tag body has a peripheral edge portion that opens in a direction in which the RFID tag is attached to the bottom portion and forms a receiving portion that can receive at least a part of the bottom portion; the loop antenna is provided along the peripheral edge portion so as to form a loop centered on the housing portion, The peripheral edge is inclined so that the inner diameter of the storage portion increases as it approaches the opening of the storage portion. RFID tag.

2. 2. The RFID tag according to claim 1, The tag body is shaped to conform to the bottom. RFID tag.

3. 3. The RFID tag according to claim 1, the maximum outer diameter of the tag body is equal to or less than the outer diameter of the tubular container; RFID tag.

4. 4. The RFID tag according to claim 1, The loop antenna is disposed near the free end of the peripheral portion. RFID tag.

5. 5. The RFID tag according to claim 1, The loop antenna has a plurality of loops, the diameter of which increases as the loop approaches the free end of the peripheral portion. RFID tag.

6. 6. The RFID tag according to claim 1, the IC chip and the loop antenna are spaced apart from each other in the attachment direction of the RFID tag; RFID tag.

7. 7. The RFID tag according to claim 1, the tag body comprises a first part and a second part; the IC chip and the loop antenna are disposed between the first component and the second component, attachable to the bottom via the second part; RFID tag.

8. 7. The RFID tag according to claim 1, the IC chip and the loop antenna are attached to the inner surface of the tag body; The tag body is directly attachable to the bottom. RFID tag.

9. A tubular container having the RFID tag according to any one of claims 1 to 8 attached to the bottom thereof.

10. A tubular container, A cylindrical portion; a bottom portion having a sidewall connected to the cylindrical portion; and An RFID tag consisting of a loop antenna and an IC chip is provided on the bottom, The loop antenna is wound in a circumferential direction around the cylindrical portion, the side wall, or both the cylindrical portion and the side wall. tubular container.

11. 11. The tubular container according to claim 10, the loop antenna and the IC chip are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the tubular container. tubular container.

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