RFID tag for printed fabric label and method of making
View Patent ↗An RFID tag is disclosed that is formed as part of a printed fabric label (PFL). Generally, foil is adhered to a fabric material with a releasable adhesive, the foil is then cut, such as by a laser to define the antenna pattern and a removable portion. The removable portion is then manually stripped away, and a strap is then attached with adhesive to the antenna. A small square of hot melt over-laminate may be placed over the strap and bonded, and then a top layer of fabric is added and secured with an adhesive from a transfer tape.
1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag structure comprising:
a first material substrate with a top and a bottom face;
a conductive material adhered to the top face of the substrate, the conductive material is patterned to form an antenna and a removable portion, the conductive material is applied wholly within a perimeter of the first material substrate;
a RFID chip attached to the antenna;
a second material substrate that completely overlies the antenna and chip and is in substantial alignment with the first material substrate after removal of the removable portion; and
the second material is adhered with an adhesive provided by a transfer tape.
2. The RFID tag structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and second material substrate are fabric.
3. The RFID tag structure of claim 1 , wherein a strap is used to attach the chip to the antenna.
4. The RFID tag structure of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is an aluminum foil.
5. A RFID tag structure formed from a PFL material, comprising:
a fabric PFL layer;
a laser-cut foil layer secured to the fabric PFL layer via a releasable adhesive coated over a surface of the fabric PFL layer, the laser cut foil layer having an antenna pattern and a removable portion;
a strap applied over the foil layer in an area defining a gap and coupled to the foil layer via a conductive adhesive and the strap is coupled to the foil layer via an area of adhesive over the strap;
a top layer of material positioned over the strap; and
a second PFL layer positioned over the top layer of material and antenna, after removal of the removable portion to completely cover the laser cut foil layer.
6. The RFID tag structure of claim 3 , wherein the strap is coupled to the antenna material-via placing a small amount of hot melt adhesive over the strap to laminate the strap to the antenna.
7. The RFID tag structure of claim 3 , wherein the strap is coupled to the antenna without the hot melt over-laminate to create a half PFL.
8. A method of making a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag structure for a PFL label comprising the steps:
providing a first material each having a top face and a bottom face, a RFID chip, and a conductive sheet of material;
laminating the conductive sheet of material to the top face of the first sheet of material;
cutting the conductive sheet to form an antenna pattern and a removable portion;
stripping away the removable portion of the conductive sheet to define an antenna with at least one opening;
attaching a strap across the at least one opening;
curing the adhesive bonding the strap to the conductive foil and the conductive material to the top face of the first sheet of material;
applying an adhesive via a transfer tape over the top of the antenna;
bonding a second material to the first material using the transfer tape adhesive.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a second sheet of material having a top and bottom face.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second sheet of material has a top and a bottom face such that the bottom face of the second sheet of material is adhered over the top of the RFID tag structure.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a thin layer of Devcon adhesive is used to attached the strap.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cutting is done by a single width laser.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein stripping away is completed manually.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching a hot melt over-laminate over the strap after the strap is attached across the at least one opening.
15. An intermediate assembly for forming a printed fabric label with a RFID device, comprising,
a printed fabric label substrate having first and second sides;
a conductive foil applied to a substantial portion of the printed fabric label;
a releaseable adhesive applied between the conductive foil and the printed fabric label substrate; and
a pattern cut in the conductive foil by a single width cut to form an antenna pattern and a removable portion.