Flexible Reinforced IC Tag Structure for Bending Stress Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reinforcing member of existing IC tags made of hard materials is prone to breakage when the tag is bent, posing a risk to the IC chip.

Innovation Solution

The IC tag design features a reinforcing member with a lengthwise direction shorter than the widthwise direction, made of elastomer material, and includes slits to distribute bending stress, thereby protecting the IC chip and preventing reinforcing member damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a hard material reinforcing member is used to protect the IC chip, then the protection capability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to breakage risk when bent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidbreakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing member is constructed from multiple flexible sheets (first sheet, second sheet, third sheet) instead of a single hard material structure. These sheets work together to provide reinforcement while maintaining flexibility, allowing the IC tag to bend without breaking the reinforcing member, thus resolving the contradiction between protection capability and breakage risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing member uses a composite structure combining multiple sheet materials with different properties. The first sheet, second sheet, and third sheet are layered to create a composite material system that provides both strength for protection and flexibility to prevent breakage during bending operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Area of stationary object

If the reinforcing member is made longer in the lengthwise direction to increase coverage, then the protection area is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased breakage susceptibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidbending flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing member employs flexible sheets that can be configured in a layered structure, allowing the coverage area to be extended while maintaining bending flexibility. The thin film nature of the sheets enables them to conform to bent shapes without breaking, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and bending flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The design effectively prevents damage to the IC chip and reinforcing member by distributing stress through the elastomer's flexibility and slit configuration, enhancing durability and protection against bending.

Implementation Method 1

the reinforcing member having flexibility and elasticity and configured to cover the IC chip and a connecting portion of the IC chip and the antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the elastomer can contain glass fibers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3836026B1IC tag
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 NITTA CORP
  • EP3836026B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3836026B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3836026B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An IC tag according to the present invention includes: a sheet-shaped tag main body having an outer shape that extends in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction; and a reinforcing member that is arranged along the widthwise direction so as to cover a surrounding area of the tag main body. The tag main body includes: an IC chip; an antenna configured to electrically transmit and receive information stored in the IC chip; and a sheet-shaped substrate that supports the IC chip and the antenna. The reinforcing member is made of a material having a Shore D hardness that is less than or equal to a Shore D hardness of the substrate, and is arranged so as to cover at least the IC chip.