RFID Tag U-Shaped Groove Embedding for Thickness Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID electronic tags embedded in tires face issues with separation, damage, and increased thickness due to manual assembly processes, leading to potential bubbles during packaging and reduced robustness.

Innovation Solution

The RFID electronic tag design features U-shaped grooves on the substrate to clamp antennas, with widths greater than the antenna width and reduced pitch within the grooves, along with welding pads, to reduce overall thickness and enhance robustness, allowing for automated mass production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna is attached onto the surface of the substrate using solder paste, then the antenna can be securely connected, but the overall thickness of the electronic tag increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna connection reliabilityVSAvoidoverall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is embedded into a U-shaped groove formed in the substrate, nesting the antenna within the substrate structure rather than attaching it on the surface. This integration eliminates the need for additional solder paste thickness while maintaining secure electrical connection through conductive material filling the groove.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a surface-mounted (2D) antenna attachment to a recessed/embedded (3D) configuration within the substrate thickness. The U-shaped groove creates a three-dimensional integration that reduces the overall profile height while maintaining connection integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual operation is used for clamping antenna elements into printed circuit boards, then precise positioning can be achieved, but the production process becomes complicated and cannot be automatically produced in large quantities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna positioning precisionVSAvoidproduction process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The U-shaped grooves are pre-formed in the substrate during the substrate manufacturing process, before antenna installation. This preliminary structuring enables automated antenna embedding without requiring complex manual positioning or clamping operations, facilitating mass production while maintaining precision through consistent groove geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The U-shaped groove structure enables the antenna to be automatically positioned and secured through the embedding process itself. The groove geometry naturally guides and constrains the antenna during automated installation, eliminating the need for separate manual clamping or positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the width of the U-shaped groove is made slightly larger than the antenna width, then solder paste can flow to side walls for secure welding, but the groove width increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding reliabilityVSAvoidgroove width
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The U-shaped groove width is intentionally designed to be slightly larger than the antenna width, providing just enough excess space for solder paste to flow to the side walls during welding. This partial excessive dimension ensures reliable welding without requiring excessive groove width that would compromise the tight clearance needed for automated embedding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3822862B1RFID electronic tag and processing method
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 QINGDAO HIGHWAY IOT TECH CO LTD
  • EP3822862B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

Disclosed is an RFID electronic tag and a method for process the RFID electronic tag, the RFID electronic tag comprises a substrate, antennas and a RF module which are soldered on the substrate, wherein each end of the substrate is formed a U-shaped groove, welding pads where the antennas are soldered are respectively provided on the substrate adjacent to both sides of each U-shaped groove, the U-shaped grooves are used to clamp the antennas and the antennas are fixed on the substrate by welding. The beneficial effect of the invention is to reduce the overall thickness of the RFID electronic tag equivalent to the thickness of the diameter of the antenna and lower the risk of occurrence of bubble in package process.