Metallic Luster Coating for RFID-Transparent Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing metal decorative products with metallic luster interfere with electromagnetic wave devices, such as RFID tags, due to reflective or attenuative properties, leading to manufacturing complexities and increased costs when trying to avoid continuous conductor surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A metal decorative product is developed with a metallic luster decoration coated packaging formed using ink mixed with metal powder, where the metal powder and connections are insulated and independent, allowing electromagnetic waves to pass through without affecting device performance, and can be manufactured at a lower cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If metal foil or metal evaporated film is used to form metallic luster decoration, then the metallic luster effect is achieved, but electromagnetic wave reflection and attenuation occur, affecting RFID tag performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic lusterVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave device performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous metal film is segmented into discrete metal powder particles dispersed in ink. This segmentation breaks the continuous conductive path that causes electromagnetic wave reflection, while still providing metallic luster through the distributed metal particles. The ink matrix acts as an insulator separating the metal particles electrically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of metal powder particles dispersed in an ink matrix. This composite provides both the aesthetic metallic luster (from metal particles) and electromagnetic wave transparency (from the insulating ink matrix), resolving the contradiction between appearance and functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If special evaporation technology or demetallizing process is used to avoid continuous conductor surface, then electromagnetic wave interference is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic wave device performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces complex mechanical manufacturing processes (evaporation technology, demetallizing processes, etching) with a simpler printing process. The metallic luster decoration is applied by printing ink mixed with metal powder, which is a conventional, low-cost printing technique rather than requiring specialized vacuum evaporation or chemical etching equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Illumination intensity

If metal foil or metal evaporated film is used for metallic luster, then high-class feel is achieved, but electromagnetic wave communication is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic lusterVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ink matrix serves as an intermediary substance between the substrate and the metal particles. It allows the metal particles to be distributed on the surface for aesthetic effect while simultaneously acting as an insulating layer that prevents direct electrical connection between metal particles, thereby reducing electromagnetic wave reflection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves metallic luster while enabling effective communication with electromagnetic wave devices, such as RFID tags, and reduces manufacturing costs by using a substrate like coated paper or resin film with short electrical lengths for metal powder connections.

Implementation Method 1

the metal powder and the metal powder connection formed by the metal powder are separately insulated and independent with each other by using the ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

Metal foil is massively formed on the surface of substrate 101 of a wine packaging (which is a metal decorative product 100) as a metallic luster decoration coated packaging 301

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3357686B1Metal decorative product
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3357686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3357686B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3357686B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A metal decorative product has a metallic luster decoration coated packaging (31) on at least one side of a substrate (11) and encloses a part (20,) disposed with electromagnetic wave device (21, 21'). The metallic luster decoration coated packaging (31) is formed by coating an ink (2) mixed with metal powder (1). In the metallic luster decoration coated packaging (31), the ink (2) is used to make the metal powder (1) and metal powder connection (3) formed by the metal powder insulated and independent from each other.