Decoupled RFID Tag Segmentation for Printable Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decoupled RFID tags are difficult to print on-site due to their thickness, requiring separate steps and equipment for placement and encoding, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A two-part system comprising a surface-independent EM tag and a decoupler that can be assembled on-site, allowing for on-demand printing and encoding using standard RFID printers, with the EM tag including a programmable device and antenna, and the decoupler designed to isolate the tag from performance-degrading surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decoupled RFID tags are used to isolate the tag from surfaces that degrade performance, then tag performance reliability is improved, but the tag thickness increases making it impossible to feed through standard printers
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupled RFID tag is divided into two separate parts: a thin printable EM tag component that can be fed through standard printers, and a separate decoupler component that provides the performance-isolating function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the EM tag for printability and the decoupler for performance protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single thick three-dimensional tag structure to a two-part system where the functional decoupling is achieved through a separate planar decoupler component rather than increasing the thickness of the printable tag itself.
2Device complexity
If decoupled RFID tags cannot be printed on-site, then printing equipment complexity is reduced, but the commissioning process requires separate placement and encoding steps increasing time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The EM tag component is designed to integrate multiple functions into a single printable unit: the RFID antenna, chip mounting structure, and printable label surface are combined in one thin component that can be processed by standard RFID printers in a single operation, eliminating the need for separate placement and encoding steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The EM tag is pre-configured with all necessary RFID components and mounting structures during manufacturing, so that when it is printed and applied to the decoupler, it is already ready for immediate encoding and deployment without requiring additional preparation steps.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate placement and encoding steps are used for decoupled RFID tags, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but productivity decreases due to additional steps and equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The thin EM tag component is designed as a universal substrate that can be printed, encoded, and applied in a single continuous process using standard RFID printer equipment. The integrated design allows the same equipment to handle both the printable label and the RFID encoding functions without requiring separate specialized devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient on-site assembly and labeling of decoupled RFID tags, reducing time and equipment requirements, and allowing for integration with standard printing and encoding technologies.
Implementation Method 1
either a near field or far field antenna suitable for receiving encoding information from a transponder or write enabled reader
Implementation Method 2
a physical decoupler (Piece 2) that is used to isolate the tag from surfaces that degrade tag performance
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of assembly, labeling and programming decoupled EM tags used in the tagging and tracking of items wherein the tags including a printable label portion and a decoupler portion which are combined after printing on the surface of and programming a programmable device associated with the label portion.