Abstract:
A RFID tag includes: an antenna section having a first base and a loop antenna; a strap section having a second base and a first conductive pattern to which a circuit chip is electrically connected; and a protection section having a protection body having relatively high rigidity and a second conductive pattern in which the protection body has a groove formed therein large enough to house the circuit chip, and the second conductive pattern electrically connects the first conductive pattern to the loop antenna.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag that contactlessly exchanges information with an external device and a method of manufacturing the RFID tag. As used herein, the term “RFID tag” may be also referred to as the term “wireless IC tag” by those skilled in the art. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A RFID tag is known, including a base made of plastic or paper and an antenna section arranged on the base and having an antenna for wireless communication, wherein a circuit chip is mounted on the antenna section, as a conventional RFID tag, which contactlessly exchanges information with an external device represented by a Reader/Writer. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exemplary RFID tag. 
     Part (a) of  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an RFID tag  200 , and Part (b) of  FIG. 1  depicts a cross section of the RFID tag  200  taken along with line A-A of Part (a) of  FIG. 1 . 
     The RFID tag  200  includes a base  201   a  made of a sheet-shaped PET film, an antenna section  201  having a loop antenna  201   b  arranged on the base  201   a , and a circuit chip  202  that is electrically connected to the loop antenna  201   b  through bumps  202   a  and fixedly mounted on the base  201  by an adhesive  203 . 
     The circuit chip  202  included in the RFID tag may exchange a variety of information wirelessly with an external device (not shown) through the loop antenna  201   b.    
       FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an exemplary method of manufacturing the RFID tag  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In step S 21 , a wafer  204 , on which plural circuit chips  202  are formed on the surface, is prepared and then divided into the plural circuit chips  202 , the method of which is called Wafer Dicing. Next in step S 22 , any one of the divided circuit chips  202  is adhered by an adhesion rotation nozzle  601 , with a bottom surface of the circuit chip  202  where the bumps  202   a  are formed facing the adhesion rotation nozzle  601 . Then, the adhesion rotation nozzle  601  rotates 180 degrees, with the circuit chip  202  adhered to the adhesion rotation nozzle  601 , so that the opposite surface of the bottom surface, i.e., the top surface of the circuit chip  202 , is directed upward in step S 23 . Next, while the top surface of the circuit chip  202  is adhered to a heating pressure head  602 , the circuit chip  202  is separated from the adhesion rotation nozzle  601  in step S 24 . Subsequently, in a step not shown, the heating pressure head  602  is moved over a place of mounting the circuit chip  202 , around which the adhesive  203  is applied on the antenna section  201 , with the circuit chip  202  adhered to the heating pressure head  602 , so that the circuit chip  202  may be positioned over the mounting place of the base  201   a  included in the antenna section  201 . After then, the heating pressure head  602  moves down, so that the circuit chip  202  is positioned on the mounting place of the base  201   a  in step S 25 . In step S 25 , the positioning is precisely performed to ensure the loop antenna  201   b  contacts the tiny bumps  202   a  of the circuit chip  202 . Then, the heating pressure head  602  heats the adhesive  203  at a temperature required to cure the adhesive  203 , pressurizing the circuit chip  202  not to be floated over the adhesive  203  that has not been cured in step S 26 . The adhesive  203  hardens as the heating and pressurizing continue to be performed during a predetermined period of time, so that the circuit chip  202  becomes adhered to the base  201   a , thus competing the RFID tag  200  in step S 27 . 
     The RFID tag thus prepared is generally attached to a product for use. For example, the RFID tag may be attached to a product, such as clothes, which may be easily deformed. In this case, there could occur a problem as described below, such as detachment of the circuit chip or disconnection between the antenna and the circuit chip. 
       FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an example of detachment of the circuit chip or disconnection of the antenna and the circuit chip in the RFID tag  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In a case where the RFID  200  is attached to a product which may be easily deformed, the antenna section  201  may be also easily bent by deforming of the product, since the base  201   a  included in the antenna section  201  is made of a material that may be easily bent. Although the base  201   a  is easily bent, the circuit chip  202  is difficult to bend, so that a bending stress may concentrate on a peripheral area of the circuit chip  202 . Therefore, the bumps  202   a  may be separated from the loop antenna  201   b , and this leads to detachment of the circuit chip  202  or disconnection between the circuit chip  202  and the loop antenna  201   b.    
     Conventionally, a technique is known to public, for example, such as the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H9-30170, where a circuit chip and its peripheral area are covered with a resin to prevent detachment of the circuit chip in a case where the circuit chip is mounted on a substrate made of a material that is easily bent. 
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an example where the circuit chip  202  and its peripheral area included in, for example, the RFID tag  200  shown in  FIG. 1 , are covered with a resin in order to prevent the detachment of the circuit chip  202 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the resin  205  covers the peripheral area of the circuit chip  202  and the top surface of the circuit chip  202  as well as the adhesive  203  extending off the circuit chip  202 . By doing so, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the base  201   a  included in the antenna section  201  from affecting the peripheral area of the circuit chip  202  that is vulnerable to such deformation, thus preventing the detachment of the circuit chip  202  or disconnection between the circuit chip  202  and the loop antenna  201   b.    
     In the technique where the circuit chip and its peripheral area are covered with a resin shown in  FIG. 4 , however, it needs to thicken the resin layer more than a predetermined thickness to sufficiently protect the circuit chip. In the above technique for protecting the circuit chip, for example, the thickness of the resin layer should generally range from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm. However, such a thickness of the resin layer counteracts the demand for a thinner RFID tag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a thin RFID tag capable of sufficiently protecting its circuit chip against deformation, and a method of manufacturing the RFID tag. 
     An RFID tag according to the present invention includes: 
     an antenna section having a first base and an antenna arranged on the first base; 
     a strap section having a second base smaller than the first base, a first conductive pattern arranged on the second base and electrically connected to the antenna, and a circuit chip connected to the first conductive pattern, mounted on the second base, and electrically connected to the antenna to perform wireless communication through the antenna; and 
     a protection section having a protection body larger in rigidity than the first base and larger in size than the second base, the protection body having a groove formed therein large enough to accommodate the circuit chip, the protection section further having a second conductive pattern arranged on the protection body outside the groove, 
     wherein the protection section is mounted on the antenna section such that the protection covers the strap section, with the circuit chip accommodated in the groove, the second conductive pattern is connected to the first conductive pattern, and the second conductive pattern is connected to the antenna. 
     Here in the RFID tag according to the present invention, it is preferable that “the protection body of the protection section may be made of a resin,” or “in the strap section, the first conductive pattern is contact-connected to the circuit chip, and in the protection section, the second conductive pattern is contact-connected to the antenna, so that a contact area between the second conductive pattern and the antenna is larger than another contact area between the first conductive pattern and the circuit chip.” 
     In the RFID tag according to the present invention, the circuit chip included in the strap section is connected to the antenna of the antenna section through the second conductive pattern of the protection section larger in rigidity than the base of the antenna. Accordingly, even though the first base is made of a material that may be easily deformed, such deformation of the first base hardly affect the strap section because of relatively high rigidity of the protection section, thus preventing detachment of the circuit chip or disconnection of the circuit chip from the first conductive pattern. In the RFID tag according to the present invention, a stress caused by deformation of the first base is liable to concentrate on a connection part between the second conductive pattern of the protection section and the loop antenna of the antenna section. However, unlike a case in which the circuit chip is electrically connected to an external device through the tiny bump, and thus the contact area is limited, contact between the second conductive pattern and the antenna according to the present embodiment may be made at any contact area. By having the second conductive pattern electrically connected to the antenna in a contact area broader than the contact area between the circuit chip and the first conductive pattern as in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to make the connection part between the second conductive pattern of the protection section and the loop antenna of the antenna section have a sufficient resistance against concentrating stress caused by deformation of the first base. The protection section, serving to protect the circuit chip against deformation as described above, may be easily made thin, which in turn allows the overall RFID tag to be made thin, by forming the protection body with resin, for example, as in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, a thin RFID tag may be obtained where the circuit chip may be sufficiently protected against deformation according to the present invention. 
     Further preferably, the RFID tag according to the present invention may include a conductive adhesive tape that connects the first conductive pattern with the second conductive pattern each other, or that connects the second conductive pattern with the antenna each other. 
     Connection between the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern or connection between the second conductive pattern and the antenna may be simply made upon manufacture according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     A method of manufacturing an RFID tag according to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an RFID tag includes the steps of: 
     preparing an antenna section having a first base and an antenna arranged on the first base, a strap section having a second base, a first conductive pattern, and a circuit chip, and a protection section having a groove formed therein large enough to accommodate the circuit chip, a protection body and a second conductive pattern, the second base of the strap section being smaller than the first base, the first conductive pattern being arranged on the second base to be electrically connected to the antenna, the circuit chip being connected to the first conductive pattern, mounted on the second base to be electrically connected to the antenna, thereby performing wireless communication through the antenna, the protection body being larger in rigidity than the first base and larger in size than the second base, the second conductive pattern arranged on the protection body outside the groove; 
     making the protection section cover the strap section so that the circuit chip is accommodated in the groove and the second conductive pattern is connected to the first conductive pattern; and 
     mounting the protection section, which is made to cover the strap section in the covering step, on the antenna section so that the second conductive pattern is connected to the antenna. 
     In the method of manufacturing the RFID tag according to the present invention, the connection between the second conductive pattern and the antenna may be made at any contact area, and therefore, the positioning of the protection section may be less precisely and easily performed in the mounting step, which is advantageous at the time of manufacturing. That is, the present invention enables a method of manufacturing a thin RFID tag where the circuit chip may be sufficiently protected against deformation according to the present invention. 
     Although a basic manufacturing method of RFID tag has been disclosed herein to avoid repetition of description, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of RFID tag manufacturing methods may be included in the present invention, each of which corresponds to each of the RFID tags described above. 
     As described above, the thin RFID tag where the circuit chip is sufficiently protected against deformation and the method of manufacturing the thin RFID tag can be obtained according to the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exemplary RFID tag. 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an exemplary method of manufacturing the RFID tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an example of the occurrence of detachment of the circuit chip or disconnection of the circuit chip from the antenna in the RFID tag  200  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an example where the circuit chip and its peripheral area included, for example, in the RFID tag shown in  FIG. 1 , are covered with resin in order to prevent the detachment of the circuit chip. 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the RFID tag shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein the RFID tag is exploded into an antenna section, a strap section, and a protection section. 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the strap section. 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the protection section. 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed view of the antenna section. 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating each step of the method of manufacturing the RFID tag performed until the protection section covers the strap section. 
         FIG. 11  is a view illustrating each step of the method of manufacturing the RFID tag performed until the protection section, which has been covering the strap section, is mounted on the antenna section, which completes the RFID tag. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an RFID tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Part (a) of  FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary RFID tag  100  according to an embodiment of the RFID tag of the present invention, and part (b) of  FIG. 5  depicts a cross sectional view of the RFID tag  100  taken along the line B-B of Part (a) of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the RFID tag  100  includes an antenna section  101 , a strap section  102 , and a protection section  103  as described in detail below. The antenna section  101 , the strap section  102 , and the protection section  103  correspond to an example of the antenna section, an example of the strap section, and an example of the protection section, respectively, of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the RFID tag  100  shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein the RFID tag  100  is exploded into the antenna section  101 , the strap section  102 , and the protection section  103 .  FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the strap section  102 ,  FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the protection section  103 , and  FIG. 9  is a detailed view of the antenna section  101 . Part (a) of  FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view illustrating the strap section  102 , and Part (b) of  FIG. 7  depicts a cross sectional view of the strap section  102  taken along the line C-C of Part (a) of  FIG. 7 . 
     Hereinafter, each of the antenna section  101 , the strap section  102 , and the protection section  103  constituting the RFID tag  100  shown in  FIG. 5  will be described also with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
     The antenna section  101  includes a first base  101   a  made of a sheet-shaped PET film, and a loop antenna  101   b  arranged on the first base  101   a . The first base  101   a  and the loop antenna  101   b  correspond to an example of the first base and an example of the exemplary loop antenna, respectively, of the present invention. 
     The strap section  102  includes a second base  102   a  made of a sheet-shaped PET film, a first conductive pattern  102   b  arranged on the second base  102   a , and a circuit chip  102   c  electrically connected to the first conductive pattern  102   b  to perform wireless communication through the loop antenna  101   b . The first conductive pattern  102   b  includes left and right electrode parts  102   b _ 1  arranged on left and right ends, respectively, of the second base  102   a  and left and right pattern parts  102   b _ 2  coupling the left and right electrode parts  102   b _ 1  to left and right bumps  102   c _ 1  of the circuit chip  102   c , respectively, as shown specifically in  FIG. 7 . The circuit chip  102   c  is arranged so that the left and right bumps  102   c _ 1  contact the left and right pattern parts  102   b _ 2 , and attached on the second base  102   a  by an adhesive  102   d . The second base  102   a , the first conductive pattern  102   b , and the circuit chip  102   c  respectively correspond to an example of the second base, an example of the first conductive pattern, and an example of the circuit chip of the present invention. 
     The protection section  103  includes a protection body  103   a  larger in rigidity than the first base  101   a , and left and right second conductive patterns  103   b  arranged on left and right ends, respectively, of the protection body  103   a , each of which electrically connects the loop antenna  101   b  to the first conductive pattern  102   b . The protection body  103   a  has a groove  103   a _ 1  formed on a surface of the protection body  103   a  that faces the strap section  102 . The groove  103   a _ 1  has such width and depth that the circuit chip  102   c  of the strap section  102  may be accommodated in the groove  103   a _ 1 . The second conductive pattern  103   b  that is formed all over the surface like a sheet covers the peripheral area of the groove  103   a _ 1  facing the strap section  102 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . In the present embodiment, the protection body  103   a  is formed by molding fiber-enhanced resin in which glass fibers are dispersed in epoxy resin. The protection body  103   a  may sufficiently protect the circuit chip  102   c  with a thickness of about 0.2 mm. The protection body  103   a  and the second conductive pattern  103   b  correspond to an example of the protection body and an example of the second conductive pattern, respectively, of the present invention. 
     In the present embodiment, the strap section  102  is covered by the protection section  103 , with the circuit chip  102   c  accommodated in the groove  103   a _ 1  of the protection section  103 , and the left and right second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  are connected to the left and right electrode parts  102   b _ 1 , respectively, of the strap section  102  (see  FIG. 7 ), as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The protection section  103 , covering the strap section  102 , is mounted on the antenna section  101 , with the second conductive pattern  103   b  connected to the loop antenna  101   b . The protection section  103  is fixedly attached to the strap section  102  by putting a conductive adhesive tape  104  between the electrode part  102   b _ 1  and the second conductive pattern  103   b , and the protection section  103  is fixedly attached to the antenna section  101  by putting a conductive adhesive tape  105  between the second conductive pattern  103   b  and the loop antenna  101   b . The conductive adhesive tapes  104  and  105  correspond to an example of conductive adhesive tapes of the present invention. 
     As described above, the RFID tag  100  according to the present embodiment may prevent the detachment of the circuit chip  102   c  or disconnection of the circuit chip  102   c  from the first conductive pattern  102   b  included in the strap section  102  since the deformation of the first base  101   a  that may be easily bent can not affect the strap section  102  by the protection section  103  with high rigidity. In the RFID tag  100  of the embodiment, the stress caused by deformation of the first base  101   a  easily concentrates on a connection part between the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  and the loop antenna  101   b  of the antenna section  101 . Thus, the RFID tag  100  of the embodiment ensures sufficiently broad contact area to overcome the concentration of the stress. Moreover, as the protection body  103   a  of the protection section  103 , serving to protect the circuit chip  102   c  from deformation, is formed by molding fiber-enhanced resin, where glass fibers are dispersed in epoxy resin, this protection section  103  may sufficiently protect the circuit chip  102   c  with a thin width of about 0.2 mm. This makes the RFID tag  100  thin overall. As such, it is possible to implement a thin-type RFID tag capable of sufficiently protecting the circuit chip  102   c  from deformation according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method of manufacturing the RFID tag  100  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 9 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts each step of the manufacturing method of the RFID tag performed until the protection section  103  covers the strap section  102 .  FIG. 11  depicts each step of the method of manufacturing the RFID tag performed until the protection section  103 , which has been covering the strap section  102 , is mounted on the antenna section  101 , which completes the RFID tag  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in the manufacturing method of RFID tag, firstly, the antenna section  101 , the strap section  102 , and the protection section  103  are prepared in step S 11 . Although the process in step S 11  corresponds to the preparing step according to the present invention, the antenna section  101  and the protection section  103  are not shown in step S 11  of  FIG. 10 , focusing on the preparation of the strap section  102 . 
     In the preparation of the strap section  102 , a reel body  110  is used, where the first conductive pattern  102   b  shown in  FIG. 7  is provided in plurality on a long PET film so that the electrode part  102   b _ 1  of one first electrode pattern is located adjacent to the electrode part  102   b _ 1  of its neighboring first electrode pattern. In step S 11 , the long PET film is drawn out of the reel body  110 , and the circuit chips  102   c  are mounted on the PET film, so that each of the circuit chips  102   c  is connected to each of the plural first conductive patterns  102   b  arranged on the PET film. The mounting of the circuit chip  102   c  is performed by attaching the circuit chip  102   c  on the PET film by the adhesive  102   d . The process of mounting the circuit chip  102   c  is identical to that in the manufacturing method of the conventional RFID tag, described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , and therefore, the detailed description will be omitted. In step S 11 , the circuit chip  102   c  needs to be precisely positioned as in the conventional method of manufacturing the RFID tag in order to ensure that the first conductive pattern  102   b  may contact the tiny bumps  102   c _ 1  of the circuit chip  102   c  (see  FIG. 7 ). In addition, in the conventional method of manufacturing the RFID tag described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , when using the reel body as in the present embodiment, for example, a reel body on which plural loop antennas are arranged is required in order to mount the circuit chips. However, according to the present invention, since the first conductive pattern  102   b  is smaller than the loop antenna in the present embodiment, the plural first conductive patterns  102   b  may be arranged on the reel body  110  at higher densities compared to the arrangement of the loop antennas. As a consequence, the mounting of circuit chip  102   c  may be efficiently performed in the present embodiment compared to that in the conventional method of manufacturing the RFID tag. In step S 11 , after the circuit chip  102   c  has been mounted on the PET film, two adjacent electrode parts  102   b _ 1  of two adjacent first conductive patterns  102   b  are separated from each other by a cutter  501 , and this gives the strap section  102 . 
     In step S 12 , the circuit chip  102   c  of the strap section  102  acquired in step S 11  is adhered to a first adhesion rotation nozzle  502 , and then the first adhesion rotation nozzle  502  rotates 180 degrees, with the strap section  102  adhered to the first adhesion rotation nozzle  502 , so that the first base  102   a  of the strap section  102  is directed upward. Next, in step S 13 , the first base  102   a  of the strap section  102  is adhered to a first pressure head  503 , and simultaneously, the strap section  102  is separated from the first adhesion rotation nozzle  502 . Subsequently, in step S 14 , the first pressure head  503  is moved over the protection section  103 , with the strap section  102  adhered to the first pressure head  503 . At this time, the conductive adhesive tape  104  is arranged on the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  so that the electrode part  102   b _ 1  of the strap section  102  may stick to the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103 . In step S 14 , the circuit chip  102   c  is located directly over the groove  103   a _ 1  of the protection section  103 , and simultaneously, the electrode part  102   b _ 1  of the strap section  102  is located directly above the conductive adhesive tape  104  adhered to the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103 . In step S 14 , the positioning of the strap section  102  over the protection section  103  is precisely performed to ensure that the circuit chip  102   c  is accommodated in the groove  103   a _ 1  of the protection section  103  and the electrode part  102   b _ 1  contacts the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  when the strap section  102  is arranged over the protection section  103 . And, in step S 14 , after the positioning, the first pressure head  503  moves downward so that the strap section  102  may be arranged over the protection section  103 . After the arrangement, in step S 15 , the first pressure head  503  pressurizes the strap section  102  at a pressure as needed to secure the strap section  102  to the protection section  103  through the conductive adhesive tape  104 . Through step S 15 , the strap section  102  is substantially covered with the protection section  103 . The series of steps S 12  through S 15  correspond to an example of the covering step according to the present invention. 
     After the strap section  102  has been covered with the protection section  103 , the process moves to step S 16  of  FIG. 11 . In step S 16 , the protection section  103  that covers the strap section  102  is adhered to a second adhesion rotation nozzle  504 , and then the second adhesion rotation nozzle  504  rotates 180 degrees, with the strap section  102  adhered to the second adhesion rotation nozzle  504 , so that the protection section  103  is directed upward. In step S 17 , the protection section  103  that covers the strap section  102  is adhered to a second pressure head  505  and simultaneously separated from the second adhesion nozzle  504 . In step S 18 , the second pressure head  505  is moved over the antenna section  101 , with the protection section  103  covering the strap section  102  adhered to the second pressure head  505 . The conductive adhesive tape  105  is attached on a part of the loop antenna  101   b  of the antenna section  101 , on which the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  is to be arranged. In step S 18 , the protection section  103 , which covers the strap section  102 , is positioned over the antenna section  101 , so that the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  is arranged directly over the conductive adhesive tape  105  attached to the loop antenna  101   b . The positioning of the protection section  103  over the antenna section  101  may be less precisely performed in step S 18  than the positioning of the circuit chip  102   c  in step S 11  shown in  FIG. 10  or the positioning of the strap section  102  in step S 14  since the second conductive pattern  103   b  of the protection section  103  is broad enough that the second conductive pattern  103   b  may easily contact the conductive adhesive tape  105 , as can be seen from  FIG. 5  or  6 , and therefore, in the present embodiment, the positioning of the protection section  103  may be simplified. In step S 18 , after the positioning has been completed, the second pressure head  505  moves downward, and the protection section  103  covering the strap section  102  is arranged over the antenna section  101 . After the arrangement, in step S 19 , the second pressure head  505  pressurizes the protection section  103  at a pressure as needed to secure the protection section  103  to the antenna section  101  through the conductive adhesive tape  105 . After step S 19 , the protection section  103  covering the strap section  102  is completely mounted on the antenna section  101 , and the RFID tag  200  is complete in step S 20 . The series of steps S 16  through S 20  correspond to an example of the mounting step according to the present invention. 
     In accordance with the method of manufacturing the RFID tag as described above with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the thin RFID tag  100  may be manufactured where the circuit chip  102   c  has been sufficiently protected against the deformation described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 9 . In the method of manufacturing the RFID tag, as described above, the mounting of the circuit chip  102   c  may be performed efficiently as described in step S 11  with reference to  FIG. 10 , and the positioning of the protection section  103  may be simply performed as described in step S 18  with reference to  FIG. 11 . In short, this method is suitable for use in manufacturing the RFID tag  100 . 
     Although the first base  101   a  and the second base  102   a , which are made of a sheet-shaped PET film, respectively, exemplify the first base and the second base according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first base and the second base according to the present invention may be made of paper. 
     Although the protection body  103   a  made by molding the fiber-reinforced resin, where glass fibers have been dispersed in an epoxy resin exemplifies the protection body according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the protection body according to the present invention may be made of a hard resin or fiber-reinforced resin where carbon fibers have been dispersed in an epoxy resin. 
     Although the loop antenna  101   b  exemplifies the antenna according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the antenna according to the present invention may be a dipole antenna. 
     In the above-embodiments of the RFID tag according to the present invention, the securing of the strap section  102  to the protection section  103  and the securing of the protection section  103  to the antenna section  101  are performed by using the conductive adhesive tape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, such securing may be performed by using a conductive adhesive.