Abstract:
The invention relates to a textile sheet material, especially a label, containing a chip that is connected to electrical conductors arranged on the sheet material. According to the invention, at least one wire stitch is used to improve the fixing of the chip to the sheet material.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of PCT application PCT/CH2006/000293 A1 having a priority date of Jul. 22, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a textile sheet material, especially a label, comprising a chip. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A textile sheet material of the type mentioned initially has been disclosed several times, for example in DE 10155935A. In the case of such textile sheet materials, the contact-connection of the chip to the conductor, on the one hand, and the fastening of the chip to the textile sheet material, on the other hand, give rise to problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the invention is to improve the fastening of the chip in the case of a textile sheet material of the type mentioned initially. 
         [0005]    The fact that the chip is connected to the sheet material using at least one staple results in a simple and permanent connection between the chip and the sheet material which can be carried out quickly. 
         [0006]    The chip can be directly placed on the sheet material. In this case, it is advantageous, for the chip to be at least partially arranged in an enclosure and for it to be preferably fastened in the latter in a watertight manner using glue. In this case, this enclosure may have laterally protruding shoulders which are used to support the chip on the sheet material. 
         [0007]    It is more advantageous if, the chip is arranged in an opening of the sheet material, with the result that it is integrated in the sheet material to a greater extent and protrudes to a lesser extent. For this purpose, it is advantageous if, the chip has laterally protruding flanges at least on mutually opposite sides, which flanges are used to support the chip on the opening edge of the sheet material. 
         [0008]    A particularly simple type of fastening, according to which the staple engages over the chip in the manner of a bracket and secures the chip on that side of the sheet material which faces away from the chip using holding feet which are angled with respect to the sheet material. In this case, the staple may already be permanently connected to the chip, if appropriate. According to another type of fastening, the chip has staples on at least two sides which face away from one another, said staples containing respective shanks that are permanently connected to the chip, continuing to run through the sheet material and having, on the other side of the sheet material, holding feet which are angled with respect to the latter. 
         [0009]    The chip may either have contacts which are directly connected to the electrical conductors. However, it may also be expedient for the chip to have contacts which are connected to the electrical conductors via staples. The electrical connecting points can be improved by arranging conductive glue at the electrical connecting points. This improves, on the one hand, the stability of the connecting points and, on the other hand, their electrical conductivity. 
         [0010]    It is particularly advantageous if the chip is embedded, with its connections to the conductors on the sheet material, in a casting compound. This improves the arrangement of the chip on the sheet material and protects it from external influences. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below using the drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a view from below of a first textile sheet material on which a chip has been placed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a vertical section through the textile sheet material of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a view from below of a second textile material in which a chip has been inserted; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a vertical section through the textile sheet material of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a textile sheet material  2  which is preferably a woven fabric on which or in which an electrical conductor  4 , which is used as an antenna for example, is arranged. The conductor  4  can be directly incorporated during manufacture of the textile sheet material  2  or can be subsequently applied to the textile sheet material  2 . A chip  6  has two contact points  8 ,  10  with which it rests on the conductors  4  of the textile sheet material  2 . A staple  12  engages around the chip  6  and pierces the textile sheet material  2 . On that side of the textile sheet material  2  which faces away from the chip  6 , the staple  12  has holding feet  14 ,  16  which are bent around with respect to the textile sheet material  2 . These holding feet press the textile sheet material  2  against the conductors  4  and prestress the latter with respect to the contact points  8 ,  10  of the chip. For the purpose of improvement, the contact regions of the contact points  8 ,  10  are embedded, with the conductors  4 , in a conductive glue  18 . 
         [0017]    The chip  6  is arranged in an enclosure  20  which has already been fitted before the chip is fitted to the textile sheet material. In this case, the chip may be arranged in the enclosure in a watertight manner using a glue. Laterally protruding shoulders  22 ,  24  are used to put the chip down on the sheet material  2 . However, it is also possible for the enclosure  20  to be subsequently applied to the chip, which is fastened to the textile sheet material, in the form of a casting compound. Such a casting compound  26  may also be arranged on that side of the sheet material  2  which faces away from the chip  6  in order to protect the arrangement of the holding feet  14 ,  16  on the textile sheet material  2 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a further exemplary embodiment of a textile sheet material  2  with conductors  4 , in which a punched-out opening  28 , into which the chip  6   a  is inserted, is arranged. The chip  6   a  has, on mutually opposite sides, laterally protruding flanges  30 ,  32  to which shanks  34 ,  36  of staples  12   a ,  12   b  are fastened, for example by means of welding or soldering. The staples  12   a ,  12   b  respectively engage through the textile sheet material and have, on the side facing away from the flanges  30 ,  32 , holding feet  38 ,  40  which are bent with respect to the textile sheet material  2   a . In this case, the holding feet  38 ,  40  respectively engage around a conductor  4  and thus establish a conductive connection between the conductor  4  and the flanges  30 ,  32  which are in the form of contact points. The point at which the staples  12   a ,  12   b  are connected to the conductors  4  is expediently additionally protected with an electrically conductive drop of glue  42 . The chip  6   a , together with its staples  12   a ,  12   b  and the connecting points to the conductors, is covered on both sides of the textile sheet material using a casting compound  44  and is thus protected against environmental influences. 
         [0019]    The conductor  4  is generally arranged on the textile sheet material  2 ,  2   a  in the form of a continuous thread and is respectively provided with an interruption  46  between its connecting points in the region of the chip  6 ,  6   a  in order to provide the chip  6 ,  6   a  with respective conductor sections  4   a ,  4   b  which form the antenna needed to operate the chip. The chip is an integrated circuit (IC), in particular a transponder IC, a so-called RFID chip. Such a textile sheet material comprising a chip is used, for example, as an intelligent label, a so-called smart label, which will become very important in future in the textile sector as part of logistics, the manufacturing process, sales and the maintenance and cleaning of textiles. Such intelligent labels may be equipped with transponder systems (so-called RFID tags) which can be contactlessly called and can be used to retrieve textile-specific information, for example. Preferred areas of use for textiles equipped in this manner are, for example, corresponding labeling of hired clothes, clothes in laundries or in storage. It is particularly important in this context for the intelligent label to be resistant to the methods which are usually used to manufacture and clean textiles and for it to withstand the intended use of the textiles. Such intelligent labels are also used for theft protection in shops. The range of use is so varied that it can hardly be grasped. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           2  Textile sheet material 
           2   a  Textile sheet material 
           4  Conductor 
           4   a  Conductor section 
           4   b  Conductor section 
           6  Chip 
           6   a  Chip 
           8  Contact point 
           10  Contact point 
           12  Staple 
           12   a  Staple 
           12   b  Staple 
           14  Holding foot 
           16  Holding foot 
           18  Glue 
           20  Enclosure 
           22  Shoulders 
           24  Shoulders 
           26  Casting compound 
           28  Opening 
           30  Flange 
           32  Flange 
           34  Shank of the staple 
           36  Shank of the staple 
           38  Holding foot 
           40  Holding foot 
           42  Glue 
           44  Casting compound 
           46  Interruption