WO2009089580A1

WO2009089580A1 - Rfid device and method of manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009089580A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000035
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Norris
Original assignee: Drover's Ay-One Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-01-14
Filing date: 2009-01-14
Publication date: 2009-07-23

Abstract

A passive transponder inlay (6) of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device (1), including: an annular-shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring (10); and, an electronic circuit (11) attached thereto.

Description

RFID DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, and in particular, to a passive transponder inlay thereof. The present invention relates to both the device, per se, and also to a method of manufacturing same.

Description of the Prior Art

Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices are known to be used in animal ear tags to facilitate the easy identification and monitoring of livestock.

The ear tag itself typically has a male portion which is adapted to be inserted through an ear of an animal and to connect to a female portion provided on the opposite side of the ear, the female portion including the passive transponder.

The transponder typically includes a coupling element and a microchip. The transponder, generally being a passive transponder, is activated when in range of a reader. Power to activate the transponder is applied through the coupling unit, as is the timing pulse and data.

At present, transponders are typically either glass encapsulated, or, the inlay is wound onto a spool and then overmoulded. The inlay is typically placed in a multiple part assembly and then either bonded together or overmoulded. The prior art devices are therefore considerably complex to assemble, and furthermore, are often not robust enough for animal identification applications. As will be appreciated, when installing such a device on the ear of an animal, it must be able to resist falling apart, as the tags can become easily snagged on obstructions such as fences, trees, etc. It is also desirable that the ear tag is somewhat tamper proof to resist the tag being removed and reused for illicit retagging of animals.

Furthermore, as tags include delicate electronic circuitry, they must be durable, and must also be resistant to water and other fluids affecting the operation of the electronics. Summary of the Invention

The present invention therefore seeks to provide an RFID animal ear tag, and in particular, a passive transponder inlay therefor, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention also seeks to provide an RFID ear tag, and in particular a passive transponder inlay therefor, which has manufacturing advantages over the prior art.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a passive transponder inlay of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, including: an annular-shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring; and, an electronic circuit attached thereto.

Preferably, said wire is copper wire.

Also preferably, said wire is coated in a bonding agent.

Preferably, when said bonding agent is heated, said wires become bonded to form said solid ring.

Also preferably, said electronic circuit is in the form of a circuit board, which is attached to said aerial by adhesive.

Preferably, said circuit board included an integrated circuit (IC).

In one embodiment, preferably, said integrated circuit includes a full duplex (FDX) circuit.

In an alternative embodiment, preferably, said integrated circuit includes a half duplex (HDX) circuit.

Also preferably, said device is adapted for use in an RFID device of an animal ear tag. Preferably, said device is surrounded by an overmould formed of nylon or like hard plastics material.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a radio frequency identification (RFID) animal ear tag, having a male portion which is adapted to be inserted through an ear of an animal and connect to a female assembly portion, the assembly including: a passive transponder inlay, including an annular-shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring, and, an electronic circuit attached thereto, a base overmould, formed of nylon or like hard plastics material, substantially encasing said inlay, incorporating engagement means to engage said male portion; a hat, having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould, said hat being formed of nylon or like hard plastics material, and including an inner cavity which is adapted to receive a tip of said male portion; and, an overmould, formed of polyurethane or like material, which substantially surrounds said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat. Preferably, said wire is copper wire. Also preferably, said wire is coated in a bonding agent.

Preferably, when said bonding agent is heated, said wires become bonded to form a solid ring.

Preferably, said electronic circuit is in the form of a circuit board which is attached to said aerial by adhesive.

Also preferably, said circuit board includes an integrated circuit (IC). In a preferred form, said IC includes a full duplex (FDX) circuit. In an alternatively preferred form, said IC includes a half duplex (HDX) circuit.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a passive transponder inlay of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, including the steps of: winding a coil of wire on a mandrel; heating said coil to bond said wire into a solid ring; and, adhering an electronic circuit to said coil. Preferably, said wire is copper wire, coated with a bonding agent. Also preferably, the method further includes the steps of: encasing said inlay with a base overmould, formed of nylon or like hard plastics material. Also preferably, the method further includes the step of: fitting a hat, having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould, to said base overmould.

Also preferably, the method further includes the step of: surrounding said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat with an overmould formed of polyurethane or like material. In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RPID) device, including the steps of: forming an inlay by winding a coil of wire on a mandrel, heating said coil to bond said wire into a solid ring, and, adhering an electronic circuit to said coil; encasing said inlay with a base overmould formed of nylon or like hard plastics material; fitting a hat to said base overmould, said hat having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould; and, surrounding said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat with an overmould formed of polyurethane or like material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of preferred but non-limiting embodiments thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates an RFID ear tag assembly in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 details the components of the female part of the RFID ear tag assembly including a flap;

Fig. 3 details the inlay portion of the assembly of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 details the aerial and attached electronic circuit of the inlay of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates the base overmould portion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 illustrates a tamper evident hat of the assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 illustrates a non-tamper evident hat of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 illustrates the RFID overmould portion of the assembly of Fig. 2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As shown in Fig. 1, the radio frequency identification (RFID) device, generally designated by the numeral 1 is in the form of an ear tag. It has a male portion shown by reference numeral 2 which is adapted to be inserted through an ear of an animal and then connected to a female assembly portion, shown by reference numeral 3.

The male portion 2 includes a button 4 and a tip 5. The tip 5 is attached to the button 4 when the ear tag is to be installed on an animal using an applicator as is generally already known to persons in the art.

The female assembly portion 3 includes an inlay 6, a base overmould portion 7, a hat 8 and an RFID overmould 9.

The inlay 6, as detailed in Figs. 3 and 4 includes an annular shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring and shown by reference numeral 10, and an electronic circuit 11 attached thereto. The coil ring 10 is preferably formed of copper wire or wire having similar characteristics thereto, so as to act as an aerial. The wire is preferably pre-coated with a bonding agent such that when heated, the wires bond to form the solid ring construction 10, as shown in Fig. 4. The inlay 6 is preferably formed by firstly winding a coil of wire on a mandrel, heating the coil to bond the wire into a solid ring 10, and then adhering an electronic circuit 11 to the coil 10.

This differs from prior art inlay aerials which are typically wound onto a spool and then pvermoulded or placed in a multiple part assembly.

Once the solid ring 10 is formed, the electronic circuit 11, which may include an integrated circuit and which may typically alternatively be a full duplex (FDX) including FDXA and FDXB, or, a half duplex (HDX) circuit, is adhered to the solid ring 10. It will be appreciated that the physical size of the different circuits 11 may result in differing dimensions of the inlay 6. This solid ring form of construction has advantages in such applications over the prior art spools, in that they are much more sturdy and less prone to breakage. Fig. 5 illustrates the base overmould 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 5 showing various representations of the base overmould, and various sectional views thereof. The base overmould 7 is formed preferably of nylon or like hard plastics material having similar characteristics to nylon, such that it substantially encases the inlay 6. This assists in providing further rigidity to the inlay to minimise the likelihood of the inlay being damaged which would otherwise affect the operation of the electronics of the RFID device. The base overmould further includes engagement means 15, shown in the drawings as having four protrusions, which are adapted to engage the male portion 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 detail various representations of the hat 8 of Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 6 showing a tamper evident hat device, whilst Fig. 7 showing a non-tamper evident hat device. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that in some applications it is useful to have a tamper evident hat to determine the illegitimate reuse of tags on different animals, etc. The hat 8 includes a rim 12 which is shaped to fit in an indent 13 formed in the base overmould 7, and an inner cavity 13 which is adapted to receive the tip 5 of the male portion 2. The hat 8 is also preferably formed of nylon or like hard plastics material. Fig. 8 illustrates the overmould 9 which substantially surrounds the base overmould 7 and at least the rim 12 of the hat 8. The overmould 9 is preferably formed of polyurethane or like material and may include a flap 14 upon which indicia may be optionally printed. The device may be formed with or without the flap 14 depending upon whether visible indicia is required to be provided in addition to the RFID device. It will therefore be appreciated that in the manufacture of the device 1 in accordance with the present invention, the inlay 6 is separately manufactured by winding the coil of wire on a mandrel, heating the coil to bond the wire into a solid ring 10 and adhering the electronic circuit 11 to the coil 10, as hereinbefore described. The inlay is thereafter encased with the base overmould 7 formed of nylon or hard plastics material, the hat 8 is then fitted to the base overmould 7, preferably the hat 8 having a rim 12 which cooperates with an indent 13 formed in the base overmould 7, and thereafter, the overmould, which is preferably formed of polyurethane or like material, is surrounded about the base overmould 7 and at least the rim 12 of the hat 8. The manufacturing process may be fully or partly automated using robotics or like technology.

The provision of the polyurethane overmould 9 ensures that the device 1 is not subject to moisture penetration, and also enables the printing of indicia on the device which may be visibly read. This may be printed using laser printing or otherwise. As previously mentioned, a flap 14 may be additional provided in this polyurethane material if additional space for printing of indicia is desirable.

The present invention therefore provides a passive transponder inlay of an RFID device, an RFID device per se, and a method of manufacturing these components, which has advantages over the prior art in both manufacture, and thereafter, in use. The manufacture of the device is simplified resulting in a more structurally sound device, which is less prone to damage, physically and to the electronics thereof, in use.

It will be appreciated that a wide variety of alterations and modifications may be envisaged to the device of the present invention. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A passive transponder inlay of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, including: an annular-shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring; and, an electronic circuit attached thereto.

2. A passive transponder inlay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wire is copper wire.

3. A passive transponder as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said wire is coated in a bonding agent.

4. A passive transponder as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when said bonding agent is heated, said wires become bonded to form said solid ring.

5. A passive transponder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said electronic circuit is in the form of a circuit board, which is attached to said aerial by adhesive.

6. A passive transponder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said circuit board included an integrated circuit (IC).

7. A passive transponder as claimed in claim 6, wherein said integrated circuit includes a full duplex (FDX) circuit.

8. A passive transponder as claimed in claim 6, wherein said integrated circuit includes a half duplex (HDX) circuit.

9. A passive transponder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said device is adapted for use in an RP¹ID device of an animal ear tag.

10. A passive transponder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said device is surrounded by an overmould formed of nylon or like hard plastics material.

11. A radio frequency identification (RFID) animal ear tag, having a male portion which is adapted to be inserted through an ear of an animal and connect to a female assembly portion, the assembly including: a passive transponder inlay, including an annular-shaped aerial formed of a coil of wire bonded in the form of a solid ring, and, an electronic circuit attached thereto, a base overmould, formed of nylon or like hard plastics material, substantially encasing said inlay, incorporating engagement means to engage with said male portion; a hat, having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould, said hat being formed of nylon or like hard plastics material, and including an inner cavity which is adapted to receive a tip of said male portion; and, an overmould, formed of polyurethane or like material, which substantially surrounds said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat.

12. An RFID tag as claimed in claim 11, wherein said wire is copper wire.

13. An RFID tag as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein said wire is coated in a bonding agent.

14. An RFID tag as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, when said bonding agent is heated, said wires become bonded to form a solid ring.

15. An RFID tag as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein said electronic circuit is in the form of a circuit board which is attached to said aerial by adhesive.

16. An RFID tag as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said circuit board includes an integrated circuit (IC).

17. An RFID tag as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein said IC includes a full duplex (FDX) circuit.

18. An RFID tag as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein said IC includes a half duplex (HDX) circuit.

19. A method of manufacturing a passive transponder inlay of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, including the steps of: winding a coil of wire on a mandrel; heating said coil to bond said wire into a solid ring; and, adhering an electronic circuit to said coil.

20. A. method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in said winding step, said wire is copper wire, coated with a bonding agent.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or 20, further including the steps of: encasing said inlay with a base overmould, formed of nylon or like hard plastics material.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further including the step of: fitting a hat, having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould, to said base overmould.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, further including the step of: surrounding said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat with an overmould formed of polyurethane or like material.

24. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, including the steps of: forming an inlay by winding a coil of wire on a mandrel, heating said coil to bond said wire into a solid ring, and, adhering an electronic circuit to said coil; encasing said inlay with a base overmould formed of nylon or like hard plastics material; fitting a hat to said base overmould, said hat having a rim which is shaped to fit in an indent formed in said base overmould; and, surrounding said base overmould and at least said rim of said hat with an overmould formed of polyurethane or like material.