Battery-assisted backscatter RFID transponder

1. A method for using a radio frequency (RF) transponder comprising a flexible substrate supporting a battery for operating the transponder and an antenna adapted to backscatter RF interrogation radiation that is transmitted from an interrogation device; the method comprising:

bending the substrate so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane; and

attaching the substrate to adjacent surfaces of an object so as to wrap the transponder around a corner of the object.

2. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

providing a substrate;

applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation;

applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and

coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and

printing a battery on the surface of the substrate by printing one or more battery layers in at least one of a co-facial configuration and a co-planar configuration using respective inks comprising battery layer materials, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the layer material comprises at least one of zinc, manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) and zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ).

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein printing the battery comprises:

forming a first battery assembly comprising:

printing a first electrode layer on the surface of the substrate;

applying an electrolyte on the first electrode layer; and

applying a separator layer on the electrolyte of the first electrode layer;

forming a second battery assembly comprising:

printing a second electrode layer of opposite polarity to the first electrode layer on a second substrate; and

applying the electrolyte on the second electrode layer; and

joining together the first battery assembly and second battery assembly so that the layers are stacked and the electrolyte of the second electrode layer is in co-facial contact with the separator layer.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein applying the antenna comprises printing the antenna on the substrate.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the IC comprises an organic polymer IC and wherein applying the IC comprises using a printing technique to apply the IC.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein applying the antenna and the IC and printing the battery comprise printing a fully printable transponder.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate is flexible.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the transponder has a thickness no greater than 1 mm and a bending radius no greater than 25 mm.

10. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the transponder is suitable for attaching around a corner of an object so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane.

11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the antenna is operative in one of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) range and a microwave frequency range.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises a substrate of a tracked object or packaging of the tracked object, facilitating an integrated transponder wherein the transponder substrate is integral with the tracked object or packaging.

13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises an attachment means.

14. The method according to claim 2 wherein the IC is applied onto the substrate close to a feed point of the antenna.

15. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the battery is disposed on the substrate at a location to minimize interference with a radiation pattern of the antenna.

16. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the antenna is at least partially constituted by the battery.

17. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising applying to the transponder at least one in the group of: top liners, bottom liners, an additional layer under substrate, external lamination, a bar code and a graphical label.

18. The method according to claim 2 , using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process.

19. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising: providing a substrate; applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation; applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and printing a battery on the surface of the substrate, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder, wherein printing the battery comprises printing one or more battery layers in at least one of a co-facial configuration and a co-planar configuration using respective inks comprising battery layer materials and wherein printing the battery comprises: forming a first battery assembly comprising: printing a first electrode layer on the surface of the substrate; applying an electrolyte on the first electrode layer; and applying a separator layer on the electrolyte of the first electrode layer; forming a second battery assembly comprising: printing a second electrode layer of opposite polarity to the first electrode layer on a second substrate; and applying the electrolyte on the second electrode layer; and joining together the first battery assembly and second battery assembly so that the layers are stacked and the electrolyte of the second electrode layer is in co-facial contact with the separator layer.

20. A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising: providing a substrate; applying on the substrate an antenna suitable for backscattering radio-frequency (RF) radiation; applying an integrated circuit (IC) to the substrate, and coupling the IC to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna so as to modulate information onto the backscattered radiation; and printing a battery on the surface of the substrate, so as to provide electrical power for powering the transponder; wherein providing the substrate includes forming the substrate so as to be suitable for attaching around a corner of an object so that the battery is oriented in a first plane and the antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane.