RF tag bracelet comprising stretchable loop antenna

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stretchable-RF tag bracelet comprising a loop antenna having stretchability and, more specifically, to a stretchable-RF tag bracelet formed in a bracelet shape by encasing a stretchable-loop antenna composed of a stretchable wire or the like capable of supporting wrist wearing and fully encircling a wrist, and an RF board in silicone or the like, or a stretchable-RF tag bracelet having enhanced durability and formed in a bracelet shape by encasing a frame-and-stretchable-loop antenna composed of a stretchable wire, a frame, or the like, capable of supporting wrist wearing and fully encircling a wrist, and an RF board in silicone or the like.

Description

RF tag bracelet including a flexible loop antenna

[0001] RF tag bracelet implementing RF tags (NFC tags, RFID tags, etc.) in the form of a bracelet

[0002] (RF Tag) An RF tag (Radio Frequency Tag) is a tag composed of an RF chip (NFC chip, RFID chip, etc.) and a loop antenna, and operates only when an induced current is generated. Since RF tags perform only very simple operations using induced current, their configuration is very simple, and because they do not require batteries, they can be used semi-permanently.

[0003] (Characteristics of RF Tags) RF tags are manufactured by compressing an RF chip and a loop antenna (spiral antenna) onto a thin substrate (paper, plastic, sticker, etc.), and are generally smaller and thinner than a credit card. Also, the center of the loop of the loop antenna can be manufactured as a hollow space.

[0004] RF tags can be manufactured in the form of bracelets, necklaces, etc.

[0005] (Material and Shape of Loop Antenna) The material of the loop antenna is a conductive metal (e.g., wire, enameled wire, copper foil pattern, etc.), and the loop shape can be implemented as a circle, square, or polygon, and can be wound multiple times in a spiral. Also, since the loop antenna is made of metal, it is fundamentally inflexible.

[0006] Currently, the loop antenna of RF tags applied to necklaces can wrap around the neck, but the loop antenna of RF tags applied to bracelets cannot completely wrap around the wrist.

[0007] The reason the loop antenna on the current bracelet does not completely wrap around the wrist is that it is difficult to wear the bracelet if the non-stretchable metal loop antenna were to wrap around the wrist.

[0008] (Communication Characteristics of a Loop Antenna) The communication distance of a loop antenna is proportional to the loop area; therefore, to increase the loop area, the wire is wound in a spiral multiple times.

[0009] (RF Tag Bracelet) An RF tag bracelet applies RF tags to a bracelet. Currently, there are no RF tag bracelets that completely wrap around the wrist using a loop antenna in the empty space at the center of the loop.

[0010] Currently, RF tag bracelets do not completely wrap around the wrist with the loop antenna because they secure the loop area by forming a spiral loop antenna on a part of the wide bracelet.

[0011] (Regarding Band-type RF Tag Bracelets) Individuals with poor self-care skills require a band-type bracelet that can be worn at all times—such as during bathing, sleeping, or other situations—to prevent loss or failure to wear it. Current band-type RF tag bracelets need to be narrowed to reduce discomfort and improve hygiene.

[0012] Narrow RF tag bracelets are highly preferred because they are comfortable to wear, hygienic, require minimal maintenance, and can be used as accessories.

[0013] (Current form of band-type RF tag bracelet) The current band-type RF tag bracelet has a loop antenna that has a width of about 12 mm, and the wire is wound spirally several times in a part of the bracelet to increase the loop area.

[0014] (Problems with current band-type RF tag bracelets) Current band-type RF tag bracelets are wide, causing discomfort and lowering preference and usage rates; they are also unhygienic and difficult to use as accessories.

[0015] We provide a narrow, stretchable RF tag bracelet designed to reduce discomfort, increase preference and usage rates, be hygienic, and be usable as an accessory.

[0016] The invention provides a flexible-loop antenna capable of forming a loop using an RF board or flexible wire, silicone capable of wrapping the RF board or flexible-loop antenna or forming an outer shape, or other devices; or a flexible-RF tag bracelet that supports wrist wearing of the bracelet using the elasticity of the flexible-loop antenna or can completely wrap around the wrist with the flexible-loop antenna.

[0017] One end of a flexible wire constituting a flexible loop antenna is connected to a connection terminal of an RF board so that a loop is formed one or more times, and the other end of the flexible wire is connected to another connection terminal of the RF board, or the RF board or the flexible loop antenna is wrapped with silicone or the like, or an outer shape is formed, or other operations are included; or the elasticity of the flexible loop antenna is utilized to support wearing the bracelet on the wrist, or a flexible RF tag bracelet is provided that can completely wrap around the wrist with the flexible loop antenna.

[0018] It may include an RF board, a frame & stretchable-loop antenna capable of forming a loop with a stretchable wire or frame, silicone capable of wrapping the RF board or the frame & stretchable-loop antenna or forming an outer shape, or other devices; or it may support wrist wearing of the bracelet by utilizing the elasticity of the frame & stretchable-loop antenna, or provide a stretchable-RF tag bracelet that can completely wrap around the wrist with the frame & stretchable-loop antenna.

[0019] A frame, etc. is combined with an RF board, or one end of a flexible wire is connected to a connection terminal of an RF board so that a loop is formed one or more times and the other end of the flexible wire is connected to another connection terminal of an RF board, or the RF board or the frame & flexible-loop antenna, etc. are wrapped with silicone, etc., or an outer shape is formed, or other elements are included; or the elasticity of the frame & flexible-loop antenna is utilized to support wearing the bracelet on the wrist, or a flexible-RF tag bracelet is provided that can completely wrap around the wrist with the frame & flexible-loop antenna.

[0020] 1. The loop antenna completely wraps around the wrist, increasing the loop area and extending the communication range, and the width of the RF tag bracelet can be narrowed.

[0021] 2. By using narrow RF tag bracelets, you can reduce resistance to wearing, increase the wearing rate and preference, and expand the market and increase sales by using them as accessories.

[0022] Drawing 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible RF tag bracelet including a flexible loop antenna, etc. 100 is a main body composed of silicone, a pleated cover, a coating, anodizing, etc., 100-1 is the inner side of the bracelet, and 100-2 is the outer side of the bracelet.

[0023] Drawing 2 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible RF tag bracelet including a flexible loop antenna, etc. 200 is a main body including an RF board or a flexible loop antenna, etc., composed of silicone or coating, etc. 210 is an RF board, and 220 is a flexible loop antenna composed of a flexible wire, etc. The flexible wire may include a flexible structure such as a cylindrical, zigzag, or extension wire.

[0024] Drawing 3 is a cross-sectional view of a retractable RF tag bracelet including a frame and a retractable loop antenna. 300 is a main body including an RF board or a frame and a retractable loop antenna, composed of silicone or a coating, 310 is an RF board, 320 is a retractable wire, and 330 is a frame. Frame 330 serves as an axis for the retractable wire 320, penetrating the center of the retractable wire to form a loop or increase the durability of the bracelet.

[0025] Figure 4 is a connection diagram showing how to form a single loop by connecting an RF chip, copper foil, a connection terminal, and a flexible wire on an RF board.

[0026] Figure 5 is a connection diagram that can form a loop antenna in which two loops are connected in a row to connect an RF chip, copper foil, a connection terminal, and a flexible wire, etc., on an RF board.

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The terms used in this specification and claims are not to be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical details of the present invention.

[0028] The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all technical aspects of the present invention; therefore, various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0029] The expression of 'includes' in the term is not limited to only the listed objects of inclusion, but may include additional items that conform to the meaning and concept of the term.

[0030] <Definition and Explanation of Terms>

[0031] (RF Board) An RF (Radio Frequency) board is a board in which components are assembled on a substrate (PCB = Printed Circuit Board, Substrate, etc.). An RF board may include RF chips, auxiliary components (resistors, capacitors, etc.), additional components (LEDs, decorative accessories, etc.), and connection terminals (T41, T42 in Drawing 4, T51, T52, T53, T54 in Drawing 5).

[0032] The RF board operates via the induced current of the loop antenna and does not use a battery.

[0033] The copper foil of the RF board (CF41, CF42 in Figure 4, CF51, CF52, CF53 in Figure 5) can electrically connect the RF chip and the loop antenna, and the LED of the RF board can emit light when an induced current is generated.

[0034] RF boards and flexible-loop antennas can provide the foundation for manufacturing narrow RF tag bracelets.

[0035] (RF Tag Bracelet) An RF tag bracelet is a bracelet capable of using induced current, which may include an RF board, a loop antenna, or an accessory ornament. The stretchable loop antenna of the RF tag bracelet may support wearing the bracelet on the wrist. The RF tag bracelet may include a stretchable RF tag bracelet (such as a band-type RF tag bracelet or an extension-type RF tag bracelet) in which the loop antenna supports wearing the bracelet on the wrist or forms a loop that completely wraps around the wrist. An extension-type RF tag bracelet may support wearing the bracelet on the wrist or form a loop that completely wraps around the wrist, regardless of the state of the buckle or hook, with a loop antenna including an extension wire.

[0036] (Stretchable RF Tag Bracelet) 'Stretchable' refers to a design where the loop antenna is elastic to support wrist wearing. A Stretchable RF Tag Bracelet is an RF Tag Bracelet in which the loop antenna can either support wrist wearing or form a loop that completely wraps around the wrist. All RF Tag Bracelets in which the loop antenna supports wrist wearing or forms a loop that completely wraps around the wrist are included in the Stretchable RF Tag Bracelet category. An Open-Type RF Tag Bracelet is an RF Tag Bracelet in which the loop antenna cannot form a loop that completely wraps around the wrist.

[0037] The stretchable RF tag bracelet allows for a narrower width because the stretchable loop antenna forms a loop that completely wraps around the wrist, providing a sufficient loop surface area. A narrow stretchable RF tag bracelet reduces resistance, increases preference, boosts wearing rates, and can be used as an accessory.

[0038] (Adding Flexibility to the Loop Antenna) Methods for adding flexibility to the loop antenna include configuring the loop antenna using elastic wires, combining an elastic frame or elastic wires, configuring the loop antenna using extension wires (extension wires configured to extend the loop antenna can support wearing the RF tag bracelet on the wrist or form a loop that completely wraps around the wrist), or other configurations. 'Flexibility' can support wearing the bracelet on the wrist or forming a loop that completely wraps around the wrist.

[0039] (Stretchable-Loop Antenna) The stretchable-loop antenna is composed of stretchable wires, etc., and is a loop antenna capable of supporting wrist wearing as a bracelet or forming a loop that wraps around the wrist.

[0040] (Stretchable Wire) 'Stretchable wire' may include coiled wires, zigzag wires, extension wires, or other types of wires. A stretchable wire is a wire capable of providing flexibility to a loop antenna. The term 'stretchable' in stretchable wire means that the loop antenna possesses the flexibility to support wrist wearing as a bracelet or the formation of a loop that completely wraps around the wrist.

[0041] Figure 4 forms a loop by connecting one end of the RF chip 411 to the connection terminal T41 through the copper foil CF41, connecting T41 to one end of the flexible wire 421, connecting the other end of the flexible wire 421 to the connection terminal T42, and connecting T42 to the other end of the RF chip 411 through the copper foil CF42. In this way, a loop can be formed once.

[0042] Figure 5 shows that one side of the RF chip 511 is connected to the connection terminal T51 through copper foil CF51, T51 is connected to one side of the flexible wire 521, the other side of the flexible wire 521 is connected to the connection terminal T52, T52 is connected to the connection terminal T53 through copper foil CF52, T53 is connected to one side of the flexible wire 522, the other side of the flexible wire 522 is connected to the connection terminal T54, and T54 is connected to the other side of the RF chip 511 through copper foil CF53 to form a loop. In this way, two loops (521, 522) can be connected in a line to increase the communication distance. The number of loops can be increased using the same concept.

[0043] Flexible wires can be applied across the entire loop, spaced out, or only to a single section.

[0044] The methods or concepts of Drawings 4 and 5 can also be applied to retractable-loop antennas or frame & retractable-loop antennas, etc.

[0045] (Frame & Stretchable Loop Antenna) The Frame & Stretchable Loop Antenna is a loop antenna that combines a stretchable wire or frame to support wrist wearing as a bracelet or the formation of a loop that completely wraps around the wrist.

[0046] Stretchable-loop antennas may collapse or lose resilience due to repeated stretching. Frame & Stretchable-loop antennas, which incorporate a flexible or durable frame in the center of the stretchable wire, can enhance flexibility and durability.

[0047] The frame can be combined with a retractable wire to increase the durability of the retractable-loop antenna.

[0048] (Advantages of Stretchable RF Tag Bracelets) Stretchable RF tag bracelets can be ① worn conveniently and used without the risk of loss, ② the communication distance can be increased by making the loop area larger, ③ the narrow width can reduce resistance to wearing, increase preference, and increase the wearing rate, ④ hygiene issues can be reduced, and ⑤ the narrow width can be used as an accessory.

[0049] (Frame) The frame incorporates flexibility and various characteristics and can be used as an axis. The frame maintains the shape of the flexible wire and can be extended together with the flexible wire. The frame comes in forms such as double-ended or loop shapes and can be combined with an RF board.

[0050] (Silicone, etc.) Silicone, corrugated covers, coatings, anodizing, etc., can form the exterior, including RF boards and loop antennas. Silicone, etc., can wrap RF boards and loop antennas or form the exterior. Since silicone, etc., possesses elasticity and shape-retaining properties, it can support stretchable loop antennas.

[0051] Translucent silicone can allow the light from the LED to shine outward. The components constituting the exterior of the stretchable RF tag bracelet can support the formation of a loop antenna. Silicone, elastically constructed metal or wood, elastic fabric, or elastic wire can form the exterior of the bracelet. The stretchable RF tag bracelet may include decorative ornaments for accessories.

[0052] (Explanation of symbols)

[0053] 100, 200, 300: Examples of the main body of a retractable RF tag bracelet

[0054] 100-1: Inner side of the stretchable RF tag bracelet

[0055] 100-2: Outer side of the stretchable RF tag bracelet

[0056] 210, 310, 410, 510: RF board

[0057] 220, 320, 421, 521, 522: Extendable-Loop Antenna

[0058] 330: Frame.

[0059] 411, 511: RF chip

[0060] CF41, CF42, CF51, CF52, CF53: Copper Foil

[0061] T41, T42, T51, T52, T53, T54: Connection terminals (=loop antenna connection terminals)

Claims

1. It may include an RF board including an RF (Radio Frequency) chip, a retractable-loop antenna including a retractable wire capable of supporting the loop antenna to completely wrap around the wrist, and silicone or a coating capable of forming the outer shape of the RF board or the retractable-loop antenna; and One end of the expandable wire of the expandable-loop antenna can be connected to a connection terminal of the RF board and the other end of the expandable wire can be connected to another connection terminal of the RF board so that a loop is formed one or more times; including A stretchable RF tag bracelet characterized by being able to support wrist wearing or the formation of a loop that wraps around the wrist by utilizing the elasticity of the above-mentioned stretchable-loop antenna.

2. May include an RF board including an RF (Radio Frequency) chip, a frame & stretchable-loop antenna including a stretchable wire and frame that supports the loop antenna to completely wrap around the wrist and can increase the durability of the loop antenna, and silicone or a coating that can form the outer shape of the RF board or the frame & stretchable-loop antenna; and One end of the extendable wire of the frame & extendable-loop antenna can be connected to a connection terminal of the RF board and the other end of the extendable wire can be connected to another connection terminal of the RF board so that a loop is formed one or more times; including A stretchable RF tag bracelet characterized by being able to support wrist wearing or the formation of a loop that wraps around the wrist by utilizing the durable elasticity of the above-mentioned frame and stretchable-loop antenna.

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