Flexible Wireless IC Device for Curved Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

RFID tags attached to curved surfaces, such as gas cylinders, face stress concentration issues between dielectric members and loop antennas, leading to potential detachment, distortion, and reduced communication reliability due to their rigidity.

Innovation Solution

A wireless IC device with a flexible metal radiator and a dielectric body featuring concave portions for increased flexibility, allowing it to conform to curved surfaces without stress concentration, thereby maintaining communication reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid dielectric member is used in the RFID tag, then the structural strength is improved, but stress concentration occurs when attached to curved surfaces causing detachment or cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by introducing a flexible support substrate that can bend and conform to curved surfaces without breaking. The substrate includes a flexible back sheet and a flexible front sheet that together provide the necessary flexibility to attach the RFID tag to curved surfaces like gas cylinders, preventing stress concentration and detachment while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining the rigid dielectric member with flexible support substrates and adhesive layers. This composite structure integrates the strength of rigid materials with the flexibility of soft materials, allowing the RFID tag to maintain its structural strength while adapting to curved surfaces and preventing cracking or detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the dielectric member is made flexible to conform to curved surfaces, then adaptability is improved, but stress concentration may still occur between components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to curved surfacesVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible support substrate acts as a compliant intermediary that distributes mechanical stress across the entire attachment area. When the RFID tag is bent to conform to a curved surface, the flexible substrate allows all components (dielectric member, loop antenna, adhesive layers) to bend uniformly without creating stress concentration points, thereby maintaining both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by using compliant adhesive layers and flexible substrates that anticipate and absorb mechanical stresses before they can cause damage. These cushioning elements are built into the structure in advance, allowing the RFID tag to withstand bending and curvature without causing detachment or cracking of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If a loop antenna is attached to a curved surface using only material flexibility, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the loop antenna may detach or become distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible support substrate serves as a pre-formed flexible shell that simplifies the attachment process. The substrate is designed to be bent and conform to curved surfaces during manufacturing, and the loop antenna is attached to this flexible substrate rather than directly to rigid components. This approach maintains ease of manufacture while preventing detachment and distortion through the substrate's flexibility and stress-distributing properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials to create a multi-layer structure that combines flexible substrates, adhesive layers, and the loop antenna. This composite construction allows the antenna to be easily attached to the flexible substrate during manufacturing, while the combined structure provides the mechanical strength and flexibility needed to prevent detachment and distortion when attached to curved surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 flexible design prevents radiator detachment and communication characteristic changes when attached to curved surfaces, enhancing communication reliability and increasing communication distance by utilizing the metal body as a radiating element.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of concave portions are provided on at least one of the surfaces of the dielectric body to provide flexibility for the dielectric body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility through concave portions:

Implementation Method 2

By attaching the wireless IC device to the metal body, the metal body functions as a radiating element and a communication distance is increased

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Data Source

PatentUS8905316B2Wireless IC device

Publication Date: 2014.12.09 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A wireless IC device includes a dielectric body, a metal pattern that is provided on a surface of the dielectric body and that defines a radiator, and a wireless IC element coupled to feeding portions of the metal pattern. A plurality of slits are provided on at least one surface of the dielectric body so as to provide flexibility for the dielectric body.