Screw-Mounted RFID Tag Structure for High-Temperature Metal Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
RFID tags attached to metal articles using adhesives are prone to detachment due to environmental factors such as temperature changes and gas emissions, making them unsuitable for high-temperature applications like medical instruments.
Innovation Solution
An RFID tag design featuring a first and second planar conductor with openings that accommodate a metal fastener, forming a current closed loop with an RFIC, capacitor, and inductor, which provides high environmental resistance and avoids gas emission by using a metal fastener for attachment instead of adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is used to attach RFID tag to metal article, then attachment is simple and low-cost, but reliability of attachment deteriorates in high-temperature environments due to outgas from adhesive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesive) with a mechanical fastening system (screw fastener through through-holes). This substitution eliminates the outgas problem inherent in adhesives under high-temperature conditions while maintaining secure attachment. The through-holes allow direct mechanical engagement between the RFID tag and the metal article, providing reliable attachment without chemical substances that decompose.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is used to attach RFID tag, then manufacturing process is simple, but harmful factors increase due to gas emission from adhesive in high-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the adhesive material from the attachment system, replacing it with a mechanical fastening method. By taking out the adhesive, the source of harmful outgas emissions is eliminated entirely. The through-holes provide a clean mechanical attachment path that does not involve any chemical substances that could decompose and emit harmful gases in high-temperature sterilization environments.
3Reliability
If metal fastener is used to attach RFID tag through openings, then environmental resistance improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The through-holes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical attachment points for the screw fastener, act as alignment features during assembly, and maintain the structural integrity of the RFID tag substrate. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving high environmental resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
An RFID tag is provided that includes a first planar conductor having a first opening, a second planar conductor partially or entirely facing the first planar conductor and having a second opening, an RFIC, a capacitor, and an inductor. The RFIC, the capacitor, and the inductor form a part of a current closed loop. Moreover, the first opening and the second opening have sizes that do not come into contact with a metal screw inserted into the first opening and the second opening. The first opening is located closer to a center than to an edge of the first planar conductor, and the second opening is located closer to a center than to an edge of the second planar conductor.