Metallic Cover IC Tag Antenna Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IC tags attached to metallic containers like aluminum and steel cans experience communication failures due to the conductivity of the metal, leading to inaccurate wireless communication and potential breakage during handling.
Innovation Solution
A metallic cover with an integrated IC chip and matching circuit, where the pull-tab functions as an antenna, ensuring impedance matching and reducing the tag's size while maintaining effective communication distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an IC tag is attached to a metallic container, then wireless communication can be conducted without contact, but communication accuracy deteriorates due to the conductivity of the metallic container
Solution Approach 1:
A resin layer is introduced as an intermediary between the IC tag and the metallic container. This resin layer has electrical insulation properties that prevent the metallic container from interfering with the IC tag's electromagnetic waves, thereby enabling accurate wireless communication while maintaining the non-contact operation benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin resin film to cover the IC tag. This thin film provides sufficient electrical insulation to block the conductive interference from the metallic container while being thin enough not to significantly increase the overall size of the tag assembly
2Quantity of substance
If a conventional IC tag is attached to a metallic container, then merchandise information can be recorded, but the tag may break during handling and shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The IC tag is merged with the metallic container by attaching it to the pull-tab structure. This integration ensures that the tag moves with the container during handling and shipping, eliminating the risk of breakage from relative movement while maintaining the ability to store merchandise information
Solution Approach 2:
The resin layer acts as a protective shell that cushions and protects the IC tag from mechanical damage during handling and shipping, while still allowing the tag to be securely attached to the container
3Shape
If the IC tag size is reduced for better appearance, then the container design is improved, but communication distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna function is extracted from the traditional IC tag structure and transferred to the metallic container itself. The metallic container serves as the antenna, allowing the IC tag to be made very small for better appearance while maintaining long communication distance through the container's metallic structure
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 solution enables reliable and long-range wireless communication between the IC tag and a reader/writer without deteriorating the container's appearance, while reducing the risk of breakage and cost by using the metallic cover as an antenna.
Implementation Method 1
a metallic cover to be provided in a metallic container such as an aluminum can and a steel can... an antenna for the IC tag... said tab functions as an antenna
Implementation Method 2
a matching circuit for matching impedances between the antenna and the IC chip
Implementation Method 3
metallic container such as an aluminum can and a steel can... the conductivity of the metallic container
Data Source
AI summary
An IC tag can be mounted without deteriorating appearance of a container, breakage or the like of the IC tag can be prevented and excellent wireless communication between a reader/writer becomes possible by eliminating influence of the metal container by ensuring a long communication distance to the reader/writer by allowing excellent communication properties to be exhibited even when an existing IC chip is used and mounting an insulated and sealed IC tag on a metallic cover having a low possibility of being brought into contact with other goods and equipment and being hidden by the adjacent metallic containers. The metallic cover is provided with an IC chip (41), which has a pull-tab (33), and an IC tag (40) for the IC chip (41) mounted on the tab (33), an antenna for the IC tab (40) and a matching circuit (50) for matching impedances between the antenna and the IC chip.