WO2000036572A1 - Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag - Google Patents

Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000036572A1
WO2000036572A1 PCT/US1999/022504 US9922504W WO0036572A1 WO 2000036572 A1 WO2000036572 A1 WO 2000036572A1 US 9922504 W US9922504 W US 9922504W WO 0036572 A1 WO0036572 A1 WO 0036572A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tag
magnetic material
antenna
linear magnetic
electrically conducting
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/022504
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael John Brady
Thomas Anthony Cofino
Dah-Weih Duan
Richard Joseph Gambino
Paul Andrew Moskowitz
Alejandro Gabriel Schrott
Robert Jacob Von Gutfeld
Original Assignee
Intermec Ip Corp.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intermec Ip Corp. filed Critical Intermec Ip Corp.
Priority to EP99951636A priority Critical patent/EP1119834A1/en
Priority to AU64037/99A priority patent/AU6403799A/en
Publication of WO2000036572A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000036572A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2408—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using ferromagnetic tags
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/04—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the shape
    • G06K19/041—Constructional details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
    • G06K19/07749—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2414—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags
    • G08B13/2417—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags having a radio frequency identification chip
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2434—Tag housing and attachment details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G08B13/244—Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2448—Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2224/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and methods related thereto as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2224/01—Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/42—Wire connectors; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/47—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process
    • H01L2224/48—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process of an individual wire connector
    • H01L2224/4805—Shape
    • H01L2224/4809—Loop shape
    • H01L2224/48091—Arched
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2224/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and methods related thereto as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2224/01—Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/42—Wire connectors; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/47—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process
    • H01L2224/48—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process of an individual wire connector
    • H01L2224/481—Disposition
    • H01L2224/48151—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive
    • H01L2224/48221—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked
    • H01L2224/48225—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
    • H01L2224/48227—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/01—Chemical elements
    • H01L2924/0102—Calcium [Ca]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/01—Chemical elements
    • H01L2924/01078—Platinum [Pt]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/01—Chemical elements
    • H01L2924/01079—Gold [Au]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/10—Details of semiconductor or other solid state devices to be connected
    • H01L2924/102—Material of the semiconductor or solid state bodies
    • H01L2924/1025—Semiconducting materials
    • H01L2924/10251—Elemental semiconductors, i.e. Group IV
    • H01L2924/10253—Silicon [Si]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/30—Technical effects
    • H01L2924/301—Electrical effects
    • H01L2924/3025—Electromagnetic shielding

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an identification tag and more particularly to an identification tag having a large number of bits of information, where the identification tag has an electronic article surveillance function which is difficult to defeat.
  • Radio frequency identification transponders have been developed in the last years to take advantage of the fall in semiconductor logic and memory prices. Such tags are available having a single silicon chip attached to a wire or patch antenna. Such tags, however, may be shielded from the high frequency RF used to communicate with the tags. The anti-theft properties of RFID tags are suspect.
  • EAS tags are much less easily shielded from the low frequency magnetic detection fields. Such EAS tags as described below, however, have possibilities of storing only a few bits of information.
  • Barkhausen jump effect is characterized by a tendency for magnetization induced in a magnetic material to change in discrete steps as an external magnetic field is increased or decreased. (The material is said to be a non-linear magnetic material if the magnetisation of the material is not proportional to the external magnetic field.) A large temporal flux change, df./dt, occurs when such a step takes place, and a sizable voltage may be induced in a sensing or pickup coil.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,020 describes a thin-film magnetic tag having a magnetic thin film formed on a polymer substrate and a method for producing the same.
  • the thin film exhibits a large Barkhausen discontinuity without intentional application of external torsional or tensile stress on use.
  • a particular disclosed use is as a marker or tag for use in an article surveillance system wherein articles may be identified by interrogating the tagged article in a cyclic magnetic field of a predetermined frequency in a surveillance area and detecting a harmonic wave of the magnetic field generated by the tag in the surveillance area.
  • This conventional system is only a single bit element using a single Barkhausen layer with no ability to develop a code to distinguish items.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,192 describes another single bit tag which relies on the Barkhausen effect.
  • the tag of this invention is selected to include a first component comprised of a soft magnetic material which constitutes the bulk of the tag.
  • a second component comprised of a semi-hard or hard magnetic material is integral with the first component.
  • the tag is conditioned such that the second component has activating and deactivating states for placing the tag in active and deactivated states, respectively.
  • Such conditioning includes subjecting the composite tag to predetermined magnetic fields during thermal processing stages. By switching the second component between its activating and deactivating states the tag can be switched between its active and deactived states.
  • a reusable tag with desired step changes in flux which is capable of deactivation and reactivation is thereby realized.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,670 describes a one bit magnetic tag formed from a magnetic material having domains with a pinned wall configuration.
  • the resulting hysteresis characteristic for that material is such that upon subjecting the material to an applied alternating magnetic field, the magnetic flux of the material undergoes a regenerative step change in flux (Barkhausen jump) at a threshold value when the field increases to the threshold value from substantially zero and undergoes a gradual change in flux when the field decreases from the threshold value to substantially zero.
  • the tag may be deactivated by preventing the domain walls from returning to their pinned condition by, for example, application of a field of sufficiently high frequency and/or amplitude.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,966 describes the use of a plurality of magnetic elements in predetermined associations (e.g. with predetermined numbers of magnetic elements and with predetermined spacings between said elements), for identifying or locating preselected categories of articles.
  • predetermined associations e.g. with predetermined numbers of magnetic elements and with predetermined spacings between said elements
  • each particular association of magnetic elements gives rise to a magnetic signature whereby the article or category of article carrying each of the predetermined associations can be recognized and/or located.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,025 describes a marker for use in an electronic surveillance system.
  • the marker which can be in the form of a wire or strip of magnetic amorphous metal, is characterized by having retained stress and a magnetic hysteresis loop with a large Barkhausen discontinuity.
  • a regenerative reversal of the magnetic polarization of the marker occurs and results in the generation of a harmonically rich pulse that is readily detected and easily distinguished.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,419 describes a method for interrogating an identification tag comprised of a plurality of magnetic, thin wires or thin bands which have highly rectangular hysteresis curves and different coercive forces.
  • the wires or bands are preferably of amorphous material, but means for obtaining the highly rectangular hysteresis curves and different coercive forces are not taught; nor is the concept taught of using a time varying magnetic field superimposed on a ramp field for interrogation.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,201 describes an inexpensive multibit magnetic tag is described which uses an array of amorphous wires in conjunction with a magnetic bias field.
  • the tag is interrogated by the use of a ramped field or an ac field or a combination of the two.
  • the magnetic bias is supplied either by coating each wire with a hard magnetic material which is magnetized or by using magnetized hard magnetic wires or foil strips in proximity to the amorphous wires.
  • Each wire switches at a different value of the external interrogation field due to the differences in the magnetic bias field acting on each wire.
  • U.S. Patents and the following related U.S. Patents assigned to the assignee of the present invention are hereby incorporated by reference: 5,528,222; 5,550.547; 5,552,778; 5,554,974; 5,538,803; 5,563,583; 5,565,847; 5,606,323; 5,521,601; 5,635,693; 5,673,037; 5,682,143; 5,680,106; 5,729,201; and 5,729,607.
  • U.S. Patent applications assigned to the assignee of the present invention include: serial No. 08/303,965 filed Sept. 9, 1994 entitled RF Group Select Protocol, by Cesar et al.; serial No.
  • An RFID tag is combined with a magnetic EAS tag.
  • the conducting elements of the RFID tag such as the antenna or the parasitic elements used to tune the antenna characteristics may be wholly or partially made from a non-linear magnetic material which produces a large signal in a magnetic EAS detection field.
  • the non-linear magnetic material may be coated or electroplated or electrolessly plated with a good electrical conductor to enhance the antenna characteristics of the RFID tag.
  • the non-linear magnetic material may be advantageously connected to dielectric material used to support and/or encapsulate the antenna and electronic components of the RFID tag.
  • FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an RF tag of the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an RFID tag
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevation sketch of a physical layout for the sketch of FIG. 2
  • FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 shows perspective sketch of a preferred alternative antenna arrangement for an RFID tag
  • FIG. 6 shows a perspective sketch of a patch antenna mounted coplanar with a non-linear magnetic material
  • FIG. 7 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 5; and FIG. 8 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the supporting dielectric material.
  • FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an RF tag 10 having tag electronics 12, a tag memory 14, and a tag power supply 16 connected to a tag antenna 18.
  • the tag antenna 18 is shown in this embodiment made from a non-linear magnetic material 17.
  • Such non- linear magnetic materials may have electrical conductivity insufficient for high quality antennas, and an alternative most preferred embodiment is to coat the non-linear magnetic material with a good electrical conducting material 19 such as copper, gold, or a conducting polymer.
  • the conducting material 19 need only be as thick as the skin depth of the high frequency RF signals sent to the RFID tag 10.
  • Such conducting material 19 may be coated on the non-linear magnetic material 17 by coating processes well known in the art such as evaporation, electroplating, or electroless plating.
  • FIG. 2 shows a sketch of an RFID tag 10 having a tag antenna 18 electrically and spatially separated from a non- linear magnetic material 17.
  • the non-linear material is shown as a wire placed as a parasitic element to a dipole antenna 18 of the RFID tag 10.
  • a preferred embodiment in this case also is to have the non-linear material 17 coated with an electrically conducting material if the electrical resistivity of the non-linear material 17 is too high.
  • FIG. 3 shows an elevation sketch of a physical layout for the sketch of FIG. 2.
  • the dipole antenna 18 is connected to a silicon chip 34 containing the tag memory, tag electronics, and tag power supply by wires 36 and 38.
  • the antenna 18 and the chip 34 are mounted on a dielectric material 32.
  • the non-linear material 17 is mounted on the opposite side of the dielectric material 32 to the antenna 18 and chip 34.
  • the non- linear material 17 may once again be coated with a good electrical conductor.
  • FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of FIG. 2.
  • the silicon chip 34, the antenna 18, and the non- linear material 17 are all mounted on the same side of a supporting structure made of dielectric 32.
  • the non-linear material 17 may once again preferrably be coated with a good electrical conductor.
  • FIG. 5 shows perspective sketch of a preferred alternative antenna arrangement for an RFID tag.
  • a silicon chip 34 is electrically attached to an electrially conducting patch antenna 50.
  • the silicon chip is also electrically attached to an electrically conducting ground plane 52, which is spatially separated from the patch antenna 50 by a dielectric material (not shown).
  • the electrically conducting ground plane 52 is made from non-linear magnetic material 17.
  • the non-linear material 17 may once again preferrably be coated with a good electrical conductor.
  • FIG. 6 shows a perspective sketch of a patch antenna mounted coplanar with a non- linear magnetic material 17.
  • the magnetic material may be in the form of a wire or in the form of a sheet as shown in the diagram.
  • FIG. 7 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 5.
  • the dielectric material 32 supporting the patch antenna, the chip 34, and the ground plane 52 is explicitly shown.
  • the alternative embodiment having a conducting material 19 coating the non-linear material is also shown.
  • the material of the patch antenna 50 is alternatively made of a non-linear magnetic material instead of the ground plane 52.
  • the non-linear material 17 may once again preferably be coated with a good electrical conductor.
  • FIG. 8 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the supporting dielectric material 32.

Abstract

A combination of a radio frequency identification transponder (RFID Tag) and to a magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) device is disclosed. The present invention relates generally to a radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and more specifically to RFID transponders for use in RFID systems and the method for their assembly.

Description

COMBINATION RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TRANSPONDER (RFID TAG) AND MAGNETIC ELECTRONIC ARTICLE
SURVEILLANCE (EAS) TAG
Cross-Reference to Related Applications The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. Application N2. 09/071,413, filed May 1, 1998. The present application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application N2 60/102,476, filed on September 30, 1998. The present application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Application N° 60/093,088 filed on July 16, 1998. Said applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Incorporation by Reference The following US Patents and Patent Applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
U.S. Patents
Patent No. Issue Date Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
5,521,601 05/28/96 04/21/95 YO995-0088
5,528,222 06/18/96 09/09/94 YO994-180
5,538,803 07/23/96 11/23/94 YO994-0073
5,550,547 08/27/96 09/12/94 YO994-185
5,552,778 09/03/96 11/23/94 YO994-0232
5,554,974 09/10/96 11/23/94 YO994-0071
5,563,583 10/08/96 11/23/94 YO994-070
5,565,847 10/15/96 11/23/94 YO994-0072
5,606,323 02/25/97 08/31/95 YO995-157
5,635,693 06/03/97 02/02/95 YO994-0215
5,673,037 09/30/97 09/09/94 YO994-184
5,680,106 10/21/97 10/27/95 YO995-0219
5,682,143 10/28/97 09/09/94 YO994-170
5,729,201 03/17/98 06/29/95 YO995-109
5,729,697 03/17/98 04/24/95 YO995-076 Patent No. Issue Date Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
5,736,929 04/07/98 06/07/96 YO996-085
5,739,754 04/14/98 07/29/96 YO996-115
5,767,789 06/16/98 08/31/95 YO994-213
5,682,143 10/28/97 09/09/94 YO994-170
5,729,201 03/17/98 06/29/95 YO995-109
5,729,697 03/17/98 04/24/95 YO995-076
5,736,929 04/07/98 06/07/96 YO996-085
5,739,754 04/14/98 07/29/96 YO996-115
5,767,789 06/16/98 08/31/95 YO994-213
5,777,561 07/07/98 09/30/96 YO996-178
5,786,626 07/28/98 03/25/96 YO996-031
5,812,065 09/22/98 12/08/95 YO995-124X
5,821,859 10/13/98
U.S. Nonprovisional Patent A plications
5,729,697 03/17/98 04/24/95 YO995-076
5,736,929 04/07/98 06/07/96 YO996-085
5,777,561 07/07/98 09/30/96 YO996-178
U. S. Nonprovisional Patent Applications
Application No. Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
08/681,741 07/29/96 YO996-037
08/660,249 06/07/96 YO996-084
(allowed 4-28-98)
08/621,784 03/25/96 YO996-031 08/626,820 04/03/96 YO995-158 08/646,539 05/08/96 YO996-068 08/681,741 07/29/96 YO996-037 08/694,606 08/09/996 YO995-218 08/790,639 01/29/97 YO997-024
08/790,640 01/29/97 YO997-023
08/733,684 10/17/96 YO996-195
08/862,149 05/23/97 YO997-116
08/862,912 05/23/97 YO997-115
08/862,913 05/23/97 YO997-114
08/909,719 08/12/97 YO995-109B
(allowed)
08/935,989 10/23/97 YO997-310
US. Provisional Patent Applications
Application No. Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
60/073,102 01/30/98 YO897-0028P1
60/074,605 02/13/98 YO897-0259P1
60/077,879 03/13/98 YO997-0038P1
60/078,287 03/17/98 YO897-0661P1
60/091,350 07/01/98 YO897-0259P2
60/078,304 03/17/98 YO897-0662P1
Application No. Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
60/093,088 07/16/98 38384P1
The following further documents are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin: Vol. 38 No. 08, August 1995, page 17, "Multifunction Credit Card Package," by Brady, Moskowitz, and Murphy.
Literature Reference
D. Friedman, H. Heinrich, D. Duan, "A low-power CMOS integrated circuit for field-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) tags," 1997 Digest of Technical Papers of the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), San Francisco, CA, February 1997. PCT Published International Applications
Application No. Filing Date Attorney Docket No.
PCT/GB96/00061 01/15/96 UK 9-94-066 PCT
PCT/EP95/03703 10/20/95 YO994-242 PCT UK Published Application
Application No. Filing Date Attorney Docket No. 9710025.9 05/19/97 YO9-96-084
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an identification tag and more particularly to an identification tag having a large number of bits of information, where the identification tag has an electronic article surveillance function which is difficult to defeat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Radio frequency identification transponders (RFID Tags) have been developed in the last years to take advantage of the fall in semiconductor logic and memory prices. Such tags are available having a single silicon chip attached to a wire or patch antenna. Such tags, however, may be shielded from the high frequency RF used to communicate with the tags. The anti-theft properties of RFID tags are suspect.
Magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags are much less easily shielded from the low frequency magnetic detection fields. Such EAS tags as described below, however, have possibilities of storing only a few bits of information.
Some conventional magnetic EAS tags have employed the
Barkhausen jump effect. Generally, the Barkhausen effect is characterized by a tendency for magnetization induced in a magnetic material to change in discrete steps as an external magnetic field is increased or decreased. (The material is said to be a non-linear magnetic material if the magnetisation of the material is not proportional to the external magnetic field.) A large temporal flux change, df./dt, occurs when such a step takes place, and a sizable voltage may be induced in a sensing or pickup coil. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,020 describes a thin-film magnetic tag having a magnetic thin film formed on a polymer substrate and a method for producing the same. The thin film exhibits a large Barkhausen discontinuity without intentional application of external torsional or tensile stress on use. A particular disclosed use is as a marker or tag for use in an article surveillance system wherein articles may be identified by interrogating the tagged article in a cyclic magnetic field of a predetermined frequency in a surveillance area and detecting a harmonic wave of the magnetic field generated by the tag in the surveillance area. This conventional system is only a single bit element using a single Barkhausen layer with no ability to develop a code to distinguish items.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,192 describes another single bit tag which relies on the Barkhausen effect. The tag of this invention is selected to include a first component comprised of a soft magnetic material which constitutes the bulk of the tag. A second component comprised of a semi-hard or hard magnetic material is integral with the first component. The tag is conditioned such that the second component has activating and deactivating states for placing the tag in active and deactivated states, respectively. Such conditioning includes subjecting the composite tag to predetermined magnetic fields during thermal processing stages. By switching the second component between its activating and deactivating states the tag can be switched between its active and deactived states. A reusable tag with desired step changes in flux which is capable of deactivation and reactivation is thereby realized.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,670 describes a one bit magnetic tag formed from a magnetic material having domains with a pinned wall configuration. The resulting hysteresis characteristic for that material is such that upon subjecting the material to an applied alternating magnetic field, the magnetic flux of the material undergoes a regenerative step change in flux (Barkhausen jump) at a threshold value when the field increases to the threshold value from substantially zero and undergoes a gradual change in flux when the field decreases from the threshold value to substantially zero. For increasing values of applied field below the threshold, there is substantially no change in the magnetic flux of the material. The tag may be deactivated by preventing the domain walls from returning to their pinned condition by, for example, application of a field of sufficiently high frequency and/or amplitude.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,966 describes the use of a plurality of magnetic elements in predetermined associations (e.g. with predetermined numbers of magnetic elements and with predetermined spacings between said elements), for identifying or locating preselected categories of articles. When the articles are caused to move relative to a predetermined interrogating magnetic field, each particular association of magnetic elements gives rise to a magnetic signature whereby the article or category of article carrying each of the predetermined associations can be recognized and/or located. U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,025 describes a marker for use in an electronic surveillance system. The marker, which can be in the form of a wire or strip of magnetic amorphous metal, is characterized by having retained stress and a magnetic hysteresis loop with a large Barkhausen discontinuity. When the marker is exposed to an external magnetic field whose field strength, in the direction opposing the instantaneous magnetic polarization of the marker, exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a regenerative reversal of the magnetic polarization of the marker occurs and results in the generation of a harmonically rich pulse that is readily detected and easily distinguished.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,419 describes a method for interrogating an identification tag comprised of a plurality of magnetic, thin wires or thin bands which have highly rectangular hysteresis curves and different coercive forces. The wires or bands are preferably of amorphous material, but means for obtaining the highly rectangular hysteresis curves and different coercive forces are not taught; nor is the concept taught of using a time varying magnetic field superimposed on a ramp field for interrogation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,201 describes an inexpensive multibit magnetic tag is described which uses an array of amorphous wires in conjunction with a magnetic bias field. The tag is interrogated by the use of a ramped field or an ac field or a combination of the two. The magnetic bias is supplied either by coating each wire with a hard magnetic material which is magnetized or by using magnetized hard magnetic wires or foil strips in proximity to the amorphous wires. Each wire switches at a different value of the external interrogation field due to the differences in the magnetic bias field acting on each wire.
The above identified U.S. Patents and the following related U.S. Patents assigned to the assignee of the present invention are hereby incorporated by reference: 5,528,222; 5,550.547; 5,552,778; 5,554,974; 5,538,803; 5,563,583; 5,565,847; 5,606,323; 5,521,601; 5,635,693; 5,673,037; 5,682,143; 5,680,106; 5,729,201; and 5,729,607. U.S. Patent applications assigned to the assignee of the present invention include: serial No. 08/303,965 filed Sept. 9, 1994 entitled RF Group Select Protocol, by Cesar et al.; serial No. 08/621,784, filed on March 25, 1996 entitled "Thin Radio Frequency Transponder with Lead Frame" by Brady et al. (pending); serial No. 08/626,820, Filed: 4/3/96, entitled "Method of Transporting RF Power to Energize Radio Frequency Transponders", by Heinrich et al.; application submitted 8/9/96 entitled RFID System with Broadcast Capability by Cesar et al; application submitted 07/29/96 entitled RFID transponder with Electronic Circuitry Enabling and Disabling Capability, by Heinrich et al.; serial No. 08/592,250; serial No. 08/496,838; serial No. 08/496,838; serial No. 08/909,719 ; serial No. 08/621,784,660,249; serial No. 08/660,261; serial No. 08/790,640; serial No. 08/790,639; and serial No. 08/ 681,742. The above identified U.S. Patents and U.S. Patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An RFID tag is combined with a magnetic EAS tag. The conducting elements of the RFID tag such as the antenna or the parasitic elements used to tune the antenna characteristics may be wholly or partially made from a non-linear magnetic material which produces a large signal in a magnetic EAS detection field. The non-linear magnetic material may be coated or electroplated or electrolessly plated with a good electrical conductor to enhance the antenna characteristics of the RFID tag. The non-linear magnetic material may be advantageously connected to dielectric material used to support and/or encapsulate the antenna and electronic components of the RFID tag. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an RF tag of the invention; FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an RFID tag; FIG. 3 shows an elevation sketch of a physical layout for the sketch of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 shows perspective sketch of a preferred alternative antenna arrangement for an RFID tag;
FIG. 6 shows a perspective sketch of a patch antenna mounted coplanar with a non-linear magnetic material;
FIG. 7 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 5; and FIG. 8 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the supporting dielectric material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an RF tag 10 having tag electronics 12, a tag memory 14, and a tag power supply 16 connected to a tag antenna 18. The tag antenna 18 is shown in this embodiment made from a non-linear magnetic material 17. Such non- linear magnetic materials may have electrical conductivity insufficient for high quality antennas, and an alternative most preferred embodiment is to coat the non-linear magnetic material with a good electrical conducting material 19 such as copper, gold, or a conducting polymer. The conducting material 19 need only be as thick as the skin depth of the high frequency RF signals sent to the RFID tag 10. Such conducting material 19 may be coated on the non-linear magnetic material 17 by coating processes well known in the art such as evaporation, electroplating, or electroless plating.
FIG. 2 shows a sketch of an RFID tag 10 having a tag antenna 18 electrically and spatially separated from a non- linear magnetic material 17. In the embodiment shown, the non-linear material is shown as a wire placed as a parasitic element to a dipole antenna 18 of the RFID tag 10. A preferred embodiment in this case also is to have the non-linear material 17 coated with an electrically conducting material if the electrical resistivity of the non-linear material 17 is too high. FIG. 3 shows an elevation sketch of a physical layout for the sketch of FIG. 2. The dipole antenna 18 is connected to a silicon chip 34 containing the tag memory, tag electronics, and tag power supply by wires 36 and 38. The antenna 18 and the chip 34 are mounted on a dielectric material 32. The non-linear material 17 is mounted on the opposite side of the dielectric material 32 to the antenna 18 and chip 34. In this embodiment, the non- linear material 17 may once again be coated with a good electrical conductor. FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement of FIG. 2. The silicon chip 34, the antenna 18, and the non- linear material 17 are all mounted on the same side of a supporting structure made of dielectric 32. In this embodiment, the non-linear material 17 may once again preferrably be coated with a good electrical conductor. FIG. 5 shows perspective sketch of a preferred alternative antenna arrangement for an RFID tag. A silicon chip 34 is electrically attached to an electrially conducting patch antenna 50. The silicon chip is also electrically attached to an electrically conducting ground plane 52, which is spatially separated from the patch antenna 50 by a dielectric material (not shown). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the electrically conducting ground plane 52 is made from non-linear magnetic material 17. In this embodiment, the non-linear material 17 may once again preferrably be coated with a good electrical conductor.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective sketch of a patch antenna mounted coplanar with a non- linear magnetic material 17. The magnetic material may be in the form of a wire or in the form of a sheet as shown in the diagram.
FIG. 7 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 5. In this case the dielectric material 32 supporting the patch antenna, the chip 34, and the ground plane 52 is explicitly shown. The alternative embodiment having a conducting material 19 coating the non-linear material is also shown. In this case, the material of the patch antenna 50 is alternatively made of a non-linear magnetic material instead of the ground plane 52. Once again, the non-linear material 17 may once again preferably be coated with a good electrical conductor.
FIG. 8 shows an elevation sketch of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the supporting dielectric material 32.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transponder (tag), the RF tag comprising a tag antenna, tag electronics for storing information in a codable and recodable memory and for communicating information to a base station by modulating reflectance characteristics of the tag antenna, and a tag power supply; and a non-linear magnetic material operably associated with said RF tag, the non-linear magnetic material generating a varying electronic article surveillance magnetic field when the non-linear magnetic material is in a magnetic field.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is sinusoidally varying with a frequency fo, the electronic article surveillance magnetic field varying with a frequency having higher harmonics of fo.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises the non-linear magnetic material.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tag antenna comprises a first wire electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first wire comprises non-linear magnetic material.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non- linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a second wire cooperates with the first wire to form the tag antenna, the second wire comprising non-linear magnetic material.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non-linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.
9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tag antenna comprises a patch antenna electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics, the patch antenna having a ground plane.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the non-linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tag antenna comprises a patch antenna formed by a dielectric sheet having a first side and a second side, a first electrically conducting material attached to the first side, and a second electrically conducting material attached to the second side, wherein a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics is electrically connected to the first electrically conducting material and the second electrically conducting material, and wherein the non-linear magnetic material is attached to the dielectric sheet.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises an electrically conducting wire antenna electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics, wherein the tag antenna and the semiconductor device are attached to a dielectric material and wherein the nonlinear magnetic material is attached to the dielectric material.
PCT/US1999/022504 1998-09-30 1999-09-29 Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag WO2000036572A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99951636A EP1119834A1 (en) 1998-09-30 1999-09-29 Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag
AU64037/99A AU6403799A (en) 1998-09-30 1999-09-29 Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10247698P 1998-09-30 1998-09-30
US60/102,476 1998-09-30
US18150598A 1998-10-28 1998-10-28
US09/181,505 1998-10-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000036572A1 true WO2000036572A1 (en) 2000-06-22

Family

ID=26799408

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/022504 WO2000036572A1 (en) 1998-09-30 1999-09-29 Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1119834A1 (en)
AU (1) AU6403799A (en)
WO (1) WO2000036572A1 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006050412A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-11 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Rfid near field microstrip antenna
WO2006050408A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-11 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Rfid near field linear microstrip antenna
WO2006055653A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-26 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Combination eas and rfid label or tag
WO2006086601A2 (en) * 2005-02-10 2006-08-17 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Alarm investigation using rfid
EP1724714A2 (en) * 2005-05-13 2006-11-22 NRC International Inc. Patch antenna for RFID tag
US7804411B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-09-28 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag using a hybrid RFID antenna
US7812729B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-10-12 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag with controllable read range using a hybrid RFID antenna
EP3128492A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2017-02-08 Avery Dennison Corporation Rfid tags with eas deactivation ability

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2701146A1 (en) * 1993-02-03 1994-08-05 Boutonner Tranier Jean Marc Radiomagnetic detection label
WO1998013804A1 (en) * 1996-09-26 1998-04-02 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation A data communication and electronic article surveillance tag
US5939984A (en) * 1997-12-31 1999-08-17 Intermec Ip Corp. Combination radio frequency transponder (RF Tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) material
WO1999065006A1 (en) * 1998-06-08 1999-12-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Identification tag with enhanced security

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2701146A1 (en) * 1993-02-03 1994-08-05 Boutonner Tranier Jean Marc Radiomagnetic detection label
WO1998013804A1 (en) * 1996-09-26 1998-04-02 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation A data communication and electronic article surveillance tag
US5939984A (en) * 1997-12-31 1999-08-17 Intermec Ip Corp. Combination radio frequency transponder (RF Tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) material
WO1999065006A1 (en) * 1998-06-08 1999-12-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Identification tag with enhanced security

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3128492A1 (en) * 2004-09-09 2017-02-08 Avery Dennison Corporation Rfid tags with eas deactivation ability
US7791540B2 (en) 2004-11-02 2010-09-07 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC RFID near field microstrip antenna
WO2006050408A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-11 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Rfid near field linear microstrip antenna
WO2006050412A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-11 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Rfid near field microstrip antenna
AU2005302153B2 (en) * 2004-11-02 2010-09-23 Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh RFID near field microstrip antenna
US7804410B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-09-28 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag
AU2005307753B2 (en) * 2004-11-15 2010-07-22 Sensormatic Electronics Llc Combination EAS and RFID label or tag
WO2006055653A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-26 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Combination eas and rfid label or tag
JP2008521098A (en) * 2004-11-15 2008-06-19 センサーマティック・エレクトロニクス・コーポレーション Combination EAS, RFID label or tag with controllable readout range
JP2008521099A (en) * 2004-11-15 2008-06-19 センサーマティック・エレクトロニクス・コーポレーション Combination EAS, RFID label or tag with controllable readout range
AU2005307755B2 (en) * 2004-11-15 2009-10-01 Sensormatic Electronics Llc Combination EAS and RFID label or tag with controllable read range
KR101166598B1 (en) 2004-11-15 2012-07-18 센소매틱 일렉트로닉스, 엘엘씨 Combination eas and rfid label or tag
US7812729B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-10-12 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag with controllable read range using a hybrid RFID antenna
US7804407B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-09-28 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag with controllable read range
US7804411B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2010-09-28 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC Combination EAS and RFID label or tag using a hybrid RFID antenna
WO2006055655A1 (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-26 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Combination eas and rfid label or tag with controllable read range
WO2006086601A2 (en) * 2005-02-10 2006-08-17 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Alarm investigation using rfid
WO2006086601A3 (en) * 2005-02-10 2007-03-29 Sensormatic Electronics Corp Alarm investigation using rfid
EP1724714A2 (en) * 2005-05-13 2006-11-22 NRC International Inc. Patch antenna for RFID tag
EP1724714A3 (en) * 2005-05-13 2006-12-13 NRC International Inc. Patch antenna for RFID tag
US7605706B2 (en) 2005-05-13 2009-10-20 The Kennedy Group, Inc. Patch antenna for RFID tag

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6403799A (en) 2000-07-03
EP1119834A1 (en) 2001-08-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7002475B2 (en) Combination radio frequency identification transponder (RFID tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag
US5939984A (en) Combination radio frequency transponder (RF Tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) material
US6121878A (en) System for controlling assets
JP4261065B2 (en) RFID tag with parallel resonant circuit to magnetically isolate the tag from the environment
US5812065A (en) Modulation of the resonant frequency of a circuit using an energy field
US8159351B2 (en) Dual use RFID/EAS device
US9342775B2 (en) Dual mode chip having radio frequency identification and electronic article surveillance capability
KR100333462B1 (en) Radio frequency identification tag system using tags arranged for coupling to ground
EP1776678B1 (en) Frequency divider with variable capacitance
US20010040507A1 (en) Radio frequency detection and identification system
US7123129B1 (en) Modulation of the resonant frequency of a circuit using an energy field
AU6703698A (en) Apparatus for magnetically decoupling an rfid tag
US7053854B2 (en) Device for shielding a transponder, method for producing a corresponding shielding and transponder provided with said shielding
US11526719B2 (en) RFID tag having an integrated antenna coupled to test pads
EP1119834A1 (en) Combination radio frequency identification transponder (rfid tag) and magnetic electronic article suveillance (eas) tag
US7469126B2 (en) Usage modification of RFID transponder
US8514083B2 (en) Antenna for an electronic tag
JPH1185940A (en) Radio communication terminal and security method for the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: AU

Ref document number: 1999 64037

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1999951636

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1999951636

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1999951636

Country of ref document: EP