Abstract:
An information carrier arrangement for an item to be identified includes a detection plate connected to the item and an electric antenna associated with the item. An electronic chip or an electronic chip module is provided on the detection plate, and a coupling element is disposed on the detection plate and connected to the electronic chip or electronic chip module. The coupling element is inductively and/or capacitatively coupled to the electric antenna. The item to be identified can be a product, a living being, a label, a tag, a single package, a containerized package or a transport aid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an information carrier arrangement, washable textile goods, and an electronic ear tag for living beings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Electromagnetically non-contact readable information carriers, so-called RFID transponders, comprising a chip or chip module and an antenna are known for the identification of goods or living beings, and can be disposed on a product, a living being, a label, a tag, a package, a container or a transport aid such as a pallet, bag or container. The identification of goods and living beings using electromagnetically non-contact readable information carriers facilitates the manufacture, processing, storage, monitoring, logistics, sale and protection against tampering with such products, pirating, or the incorrect identification of the origin in meat production. In contrast to directly or coded optically readable information carriers, electromagnetically non-contact readable information carriers are largely tamper-proof and non-sensitive to contamination and cleaning agents and are also readable without optical sight. 
         [0003]    As a result of the miniaturized designs of electronic chips or chip modules for the HF, UHF and SHF ranges, these can be attached at suitable locations almost without impairing the use of the goods. However, the reading range of the information carrier is substantially dependent on the antenna connected to the electronic chip or chip module which must be matched to the working frequency and cannot be arbitrarily reduced in size without deterioration of the antenna gain. The connection or coupling or its reliability during the duration of usage between the antenna and the electronic chip or chip module can be a problem, especially if they are subjected to mechanical, thermal or chemical influences. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is the object of the invention to provide an antenna arrangement which allows non-contact coupling between the antenna and the electronic chip or chip module. 
         [0005]    In the information carrier arrangement according to the invention, the chip or the chip module is coupled inductively and/or capacitatively to the antenna. For this purpose the chip or the chip module is disposed together with the coupling element on a detection plate. The chip or the chip module and the coupling element form an integral unit, the detection plate. The antenna itself is designed as an electric antenna and requires no galvanic connection to the chip or chip module and coupling element. 
         [0006]    The combination of the correspondingly matched coupling element and the antenna also results in an increase in the bandwidth of the entire system whereby it is achieved that the information carrier arrangement is compatible for operation at different but neighboring frequencies as a result of different national regulations without design modifications and tuning. 
         [0007]    The electric antenna is preferably a dipole, half-wave emitter, full-wave emitter or a groundplane, and the coupling element is arranged at a location of the electric antenna where a minimal standing wave ratio occurs. 
         [0008]    The construction of the electric antenna as a dipole, half-wave emitter, full-wave emitter or as a groundplane allows resonant tuning to the working frequency and an antenna gain compared with an isotropic emitter. As a result of the arrangement of the coupling loop at a location of the electric antenna where a minimal standing wave ratio occurs, an optimal matching and range is obtained. 
         [0009]    The electric antenna can be mechanically shortened and have a meander-shaped extension inductance. As a result, matching to the working frequency can be achieved even with textile labels, textile goods or tags whose dimensions are smaller than an integer multiple of the quarter wavelength of the working frequency. The meander-shaped extension inductance allows a representation within one plane and without overlapping of the conductors. These can be produced industrially using conventional textile methods such as weaving or embroidering. 
         [0010]    The coupling element is preferably arranged as a coupling loop within a meander comprising two parallel conductors and one at right angles thereto. In this case, the coupling loop can be enclosed up to three quarters of its circumference which results in more efficient coupling between the coupling loop and the electric antenna. 
         [0011]    The electric antenna can be formed from a continuous electric conductor which is tuned in resonance by separating. The production of the antenna is simplified by processing a continuous conductor, e.g., a textile thread, a wire or a conducting film. By separating the electrical conductor, the antenna is formed at the desired location and at the same time is tuned individually in resonance to the working frequency of the detection plate used. 
         [0012]    The detection plate can be affixed to an item to be identified, which can be a product, living being, a label, a tag, a single package, a containerized package or a transport aid. The detection plate can be affixed by a reversibly detachable or irreversibly non-detachable fixing means. In the case of a reversibly detachable detection plate, the detection plate can be removed, e.g., after a production, transport or sales process if the information is subsequently no longer required or is not to be used by unauthorized persons. It is also possible to secure low-value goods using a cost-effective “disposable” electric antenna at least until sale. 
         [0013]    In the case of an irreversibly non-detachably connected detection plate, the information should be permanently linked to the product, the living being, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. Tampering is thereby made difficult and impossible without destroying the bond comprising product, label, tag, single package, containerized package or transport aid on the one hand and detection plate on the other hand. 
         [0014]    In the case of living beings, the arrangement can consist of a flexible male optical identification flag which also contains the flexible antenna and a pin which can penetrate through an animal&#39;s ear, for example, in order to be locked in a female electronic identification tag which contains the detection plate. The identification flag can only be used until the animal is slaughtered, while the identification tag can be re-used. 
         [0015]    The fixing means can be embodied as at least one pin attached to the detection plate and penetrating through the product, the living being, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid, and a knob for receiving one end of the pin, disposed on the detection plate on the opposite side of the product, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. This design of the fixing means makes it possible to achieve a positive connection and is thus particularly secure. In the case of the reversibly detachable design, removal is only possible using a special tool to prevent unauthorized removal. 
         [0016]    The fixing means can be embodied as welding or bonding or pasting or laminating or gluing or crimping or adhesive film or by means of a patch bond produced under heat and pressure. In this case, the fixing means can be embodied as hot melt adhesive or reaction adhesive. 
         [0017]    The detection means is joined to the product, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid directly, e.g., by merging fibers or filaments, or indirectly by an adhesive material. The properties of the joined layers comprising the detection plate and the product, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid are thus retained. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, the fixing means can be embodied as discrete joining points or very fine perforated adhesive film. This restriction to discrete joining points or a very fine, that is thin and flexible, perforated adhesive film avoids any stiffening of the bonded layers of the detection plate and the product, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. 
         [0019]    The fixing means can also be formed from weaving yarns which are laid in the area of the detection plate above the detection plate and are woven outside the detection plate with a fabric of the product, the label, the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. 
         [0020]    It is hereby possible to integrally fix the detection plate within a fabric of the product, label, tag, the single package, the containerized packaged or the transport aid. In this case, the join can be made within an industrial weaving process. The fixing means can also be embodied as a hook and pile-type closure, such as Velcro™ fasteners. 
         [0021]    It is hereby possible to rapidly fix and release the detection plate. The detection plate can be sealed with a coating. This coating can effectively protect the detection plate from mechanical and chemical influences. 
         [0022]    The detection plate can have a coupling loop which comprises shortenable coupler structures and can be adapted to the width of the product, label, tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid by cutting while retaining a closed coupling loop. This design makes it possible to have a standard configuration and therefore economical production of detection plates for different widths of products, labels, tags, single packages, containerized packages or transport aids. Since a closed coupling loop is still retained when cutting to the smaller width of the detection plate, close coupling of the coupling loop to an antenna is always ensured. 
         [0023]    The detection plate and/or the textile label, the textile goods or the tag can comprise a multi-part antenna and/or coupling loop which only produce frequency or impedance matching jointly and under mutual addition. This configuration makes tampering difficult by falsification or simple exchange of products, labels, tags, single packages, containerized packages or transport aids and detection plates since the entire system requires a plurality of components which must be tuned to one another. 
         [0024]    In a practical embodiment, the components of the multi-part antenna and/or coupling loop are attached to different carriers which are uniquely locally allocated among one another to ensure the function. In this case, the local arrangement of the components of the multi-part antenna and/or coupling loop requires particular specialized knowledge to ensure the interaction of all the components. Tampering is thereby made difficult. 
         [0025]    At least part element of the multi-part antenna and/or of the coupling element is arranged concealed in the detection plate and/or in the product, label, tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. Since the structure of the antenna or the coupling elements cannot be identified from outside, only a person with specialized knowledge can reconstruct this when individual components are removed, and thus tampering is made more difficult. 
         [0026]    According to a further development, at least two detection plates can be provided which can be interrogated jointly. This further development likewise or additionally provides improved protection from tampering since functioning of the entire system is only ensured when information from at least two detection plates can be interrogated. 
         [0027]    The detection plates can comprise mutually complementary information and can be evaluated as valid or invalid by joint interrogation. Examples of this are items of clothing which belong together such as socks, gloves, shoes, jackets and trousers which contain individual detection plates with information such as right, left, color, and size, but are packed as a unit in pairs and are provided with an antenna which also serves as an amplifier. Furthermore, a specific number of products belonging to a package or contents of a container consisting of a plurality of individual parts can also be examples. 
         [0028]    It is thereby achieved that an interrogation is only evaluated as valid if there exists a valid pairing or grouping. Tampering, confusions or missing parts can therefore be exposed. The amplifier antenna or plurality of amplifier antennae can also be arranged in a common package, containerized package or transport aid. Depending on the items with detection plates arranged in the package, containerized package or transport aid, one electric antenna or different electric antennae can be used for a plurality of detection plates or a plurality of electric antennae can be used by coupling for one detection plate. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the detection plates can exchange complementary information among one another with the aid of a reader and can be evaluated as valid or invalid by individual or joint interrogation. A security element of the authentication can hereby be moved into the detection plate and the information to be transmitted about a valid or invalid interrogation can be simplified or made more secure. 
         [0030]    The product can be embodied as textile goods, an item of clothing or safety belt and the electric antenna can be connected to the product, integrated in the product or a component of the product. Examples of textile goods are rental laundry and cleaning textiles. The label can be embodied as a textile label and the electric antenna can be connected to the label, integrated in the label or a component of the label. The antenna can be connected to the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid, it can be integrated in the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid, or it can be a component of the tag, the single package, the containerized package or the transport aid. 
         [0031]    The detection plate is preferably embodied separately from the electric antenna or the carrier of the electric antenna. As a result, the detection plate and the antenna or the carrier of the antenna can be manufactured separately, assembled and only subsequently optimally connected and coupled. 
         [0032]    Instead of an electric antenna, the reader can also have a magnetic antenna or an antenna with a magnetic component. This antenna can also be coupled to the coupling element of the detection plate embodied as a coupling loop for reading purposes. 
         [0033]    The invention also relates to washable textile goods. In this regard, it is also the object of the invention to make identification possible both in the dry state and in the wet state. By restricting the range, the information of the electronic chip or chip module on the detection plate can also be read in wet textile goods. When the coupling element is embodied as a coupling loop, the coupling is made inductively as an H-field antenna and is less dependent on electrical and capacitive influences like an electric antenna. Such influences can extremely detune the electric antenna when wet, for example, and thus make it unusable as a passive amplifier antenna. 
         [0034]    The invention further relates to an identification made for living beings. In this respect, it is the object of the invention to make identification possible both when the male optical identification flag is intact and when it is damaged or lost. 
         [0035]    Likewise by restricting the range, the information of the electronic chip or chip module on the detection plate can also be read if the identification flag is damaged or missing. If the coupling element is embodied as a coupling loop in the female electronic identification tag, the coupling is made inductively as an H-field antenna and is less dependent on electrical and capacitive influences like an electric antenna. 
         [0036]    Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, simply by way of illustration of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious aspects without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as the disclosure of the invention is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a textile label with an electric antenna as a mechanically shortened dipole and a detection plate; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a textile label with an electric antenna formed from a continuous electrical conductor which is brought into resonance by separating, and a detection plate; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3   a  is a plan view of a button-like detection plate affixed to a textile label; 
           [0041]      FIG. 3   b  is a section through a button-like detection plate affixed to a textile label with a pin which penetrates through the textile label and a counter-button; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4   a  is a detection plate with fixing means embodied as adhesive and a globtop coating; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4   b  is a detection plate which can be pressed directly into the adhesive pointing towards the textile surface; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is the detection plate from  FIG. 4   b  affixed to a textile label; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  is the detection plate from  FIG. 4   a  affixed to a textile ribbon; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  is a fabric for receiving a detection plate; 
           [0047]      FIG. 8   a  is a detection plate integrated into a fabric ribbon with a narrower width than that of the fabric ribbon; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8   b  is a detection plate integrated into a fabric ribbon having the same width as that of the fabric ribbon; 
           [0049]      FIG. 9  is a detection plate with a coupling loop comprising a shortenable structure; 
           [0050]      FIG. 10  is a detection plate affixed to a textile label using a patch; 
           [0051]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of the bandwidth of an electric antenna and the entire system; 
           [0052]      FIG. 12  is a packaging unit for relevant textile goods; 
           [0053]      FIG. 13  is a detection plate affixed to a safety belt with integrated antenna; 
           [0054]      FIG. 14  is a containerized package with a plurality of integrated antennae and detection plates affixed to each of the packaged products; 
           [0055]      FIG. 15  is a transport bag with integrated antenna and detection plate; and 
           [0056]      FIG. 16  is an electronic ear tag for a living being. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    An information carrier arrangement and its applications according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 16  of the accompanying drawings. 
         [0058]      FIG. 1  shows a textile label  10  with an electric antenna  12 . The antenna is designed as a mechanically shortened dipole with a meandering inductance  14 . The terms “meander” or “meandering” herein refer to the back and forth pattern made by the inductance  14  on the label  10 . Located inside the meander  14  at the center of the antenna  12  is a detection plate  16  comprising an electronic chip or chip module  18  (referred to hereafter and in the claims as “electronic chip”) and a coupling loop  20  connected to the electronic chip  18 . The coupling loop  20  is located at a location of low impedance of the electric antenna  12 . An inductive coupling with simultaneous impedance matching between the coupling loop  20  and the electric antenna  12  is achieved as a result of the arrangement inside a meander  14  comprising two parallel conductors and another conductor at right angles thereto. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2  shows another textile label  10  with an electric antenna  12 . The antenna  12  is formed from an originally continuous electrical conductor  22  which is separated at two locations  24 ,  26  and thus forms a dipole. The conductor  22  is separated at locations having a distance of half a wavelength of the working frequency. As a result, the dipole antenna formed is simultaneously in resonance with the working frequency. Located adjacent to the antenna  12  is a detection plate  16  comprising an electronic chip  18  and a coupling loop  20  connected to the electronic chip  18 . The coupling loop  20  is located at a location of low impedance of the electric antenna  12 , preferably in the center or offset by more than one eighth of the wavelength with respect to the center. An inductive coupling with simultaneous impedance matching between the coupling loop  20  and the electric antenna  12  is also achieved by this means. 
         [0060]    In general, the coupling loop can be positioned in the magnetic field produced by the antenna with large tolerances in the central area but in this case, a mismatch of the impedance can result in a smaller range. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3   a  shows a button-like detection plate  16  affixed to a textile label in plan view, which incorporates the information carrier arrangement from  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 3   b  is a section through a button-like detection plate  16  with a pin  28  that penetrates through the textile label  28  and a counter-button  30 . Since this detection plate  16  is positively connected to the textile label  10 , it can be designed as very small. It is thereby inconspicuous and barely impairs the wearing comfort. In addition, it offers little working surface when cleaning and is therefore particularly durable. The connection can be made by pressing together the button components  16 ,  30 . Depending on the design of the connection, the connection can be released non-destructively, optionally by using a special tool, or in the case of a snap-on connection, it can only be released while destroying it at the same time. 
         [0063]      FIG. 4   a  shows a detection plate  16  with fixing means embodied as adhesive  32  and a coating  34 . The detection plate  16  comprises a soft flexible film  36  which adapts flexibly to a textile label, textile goods or to a tag. The adhesive  32  can be a hot setting or reaction adhesive which bonds to the threads of the textile label, the textile goods or the tag. A coating  34  with globtop material offers protection from mechanical, thermal and chemical influences. Another coating can also form an adhesive surface at the same time if the detection plate comprising the chip pointing in the direction of the textile label, the textile goods, or the tag is bonded thereto. 
         [0064]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4   b , an adhesive  38  can also be applied to the textile label  10  itself and then the detection plate  16  with the chip  18  is pressed in the direction of the textile label  10  into the adhesive  38 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 5  shows the detection plate  16  from  FIG. 4   b  affixed to a textile label  10 . In this case, the detection plate  16  is stuck onto the back of the textile label  10  which is not visible. 
         [0066]      FIG. 6  shows the detection plate  16  from  FIG. 4   a  as affixed to a textile ribbon  40  at uniform distances in an assembly process. The textile ribbon  40  runs from a supply roll  42  to a finished roll  44 . In a first station  46  a detection plate  16  wetted with a reaction adhesive  32  is applied to the textile ribbon  40 , in a second station  48  a silicon coating is applied, and in a third station  52  the reaction adhesive  32  and/or the silicon coating  50  is activated by UV light. When using a structure as shown in  FIG. 4   b , the detection plate  16  together with the chip  18  can be pressed in the direction of the textile label  10  into a drop of adhesive  38 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 7  shows a fabric  54  for receiving a detection plate  16 . The fabric  54  is produced on a weaving machine which comprises an additional compartment for independently controlling a portion of the warp threads  56 . In this way, it is possible to alternately weave all the warp threads on one occasion and only a portion of the warp threads on another occasion and guide the other warp threads  56  further on the fabric  54 . A receiving chamber for detection plates is thus formed, which is delimited on a flat side by a woven area of warp and weft threads and on the other flat side by unwoven warp threads  56 . At the side, the chamber is then again delimited by the completely woven warp and weft threads. At the same time, an electrically conducting weft thread can be guided in a meander shape and form an extension inductance. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  show fabric ribbons  54  fabricated as in  FIG. 7  with warp threads  56  and an electrically conducting weft thread  58  guided in a meander shape and chambers  60  for receiving a detection plate  16 . In  FIG. 8   a  the detection plate  16  only extends over a portion of the width of the textile ribbon  54 . With the coupling loop  20  arranged on the detection plate  16 , a close coupling with a meander of the antenna  58  can be achieved regardless of the width of the textile ribbon  54 , but this variant would result in a tilted position of the reel when rolling the textile ribbon  54  onto a roll. 
         [0069]    In  FIG. 8   b  the detection plate  16  extends over the entire width of the textile ribbon  54 . A tilted position of the reel is thus avoided when winding the textile ribbon onto a roll. 
         [0070]    In order to be able to use uniformly produced detection plates  16  for textile ribbons  54  of different width,  FIG. 9  shows a variant with a coupling loop  20  which comprises a shortenable coupling structure  62 . If the textile ribbon  54  is shorter than the original detection plate  16 , the detection plate  16  can be adapted to the width of the textile ribbon  54  by cutting while retaining a closed coupling loop  20 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  shows a detection plate  16  affixed to a textile label  10  using a patch  64 . The patch  64  has a coating with a hot melt adhesive. The patch  64  placed over the detection plate  16  is affixed to the textile label  10  by pressure and heat. The detection plate  16  is thereby included and thus fixed to the textile label  10  at the same time and covered by the patch  64 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of the bandwidth of an electric antenna as a curve  66  and of the entire system as curve  68 . Shown here as an example is the curve  66  of the bandwidth of an antenna whose resonance frequency corresponds to a first permitted working frequency of 868 MHz. The diagram shows that at a second permitted working frequency of 915 MHz, the antenna would already be located outside its optimum. In conjunction with the coupling element, however, a broad-band characteristic of the entire system is obtained, as indicated by the bandwidth curve  68 , so that no matching to different national standards is required. 
         [0073]      FIG. 12  shows a packaging unit  70  for relevant textile goods, here a pair of socks  72 ,  74 . Each sock has its own detection plate  16   a ,  16   b  which comprises additional information on size as well as right and left. The two detection plates  16   a ,  16   b  are coupled to a common electric antenna  12  as an amplifier antenna and are evaluated by a joint interrogation. The antenna  12  is located in the packaging unit  70  in this case. 
         [0074]      FIG. 13  shows a detection plate  16  affixed to a safety belt  76  with built-in antenna  12 . The antenna  12  is formed from an originally continuous electrical conductor  22  which extends along the safety belt  76  as in  FIG. 2 , and is separated at two locations  24 ,  26 , thus forming a dipole. The conductor  22  is separated at locations at a distance of half a wavelength of the working frequency and which lie in the area of a stop button  78  which fixes the closure buckle in a rest position. In this case, the stop button  78  is constructed as in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  and comprises the detection plate  16 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 14  shows a containerized package  80  comprising a plurality of integrated electric antennae  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  and detection plates  16   c ,  16   d ,  16   e  affixed to the packaged products  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c . The plurality of detection plates on or at the products  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c  are coupled to a common electric antenna or different electric antennae  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  which act as passive amplifier antennae. The coupling is effected spontaneously depending on the position of the products  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c  in the containerized package  80 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 15  shows a transport bag  86  with built-in antenna  12 . The antenna  12  is located here in one of the carrying loops  88 . A detection plate  16  of the transport bag  86  can be allocated to the antenna  12  as shown. In addition, it is possible for products located in the transport bag  86  to be fitted with their own detection plates and a plurality of antennae  12  in the transport bag  86  can act as separate or common passive amplifier antennae. 
         [0077]      FIG. 16  shows an electronic ear tag  90  for a living being. The electronic ear tag consists of a button-like detection plate  92  comprising a chip  18  and a coupling element  20  and is connected to an identification flag  94  by means of a pin  96  which penetrates through the ear of the living being. The pin  96  is preferably part of the identification flag  94 . In addition to an optically readable identifier  98 , the identification flag  94  comprises an electric antenna  12  coupled to the coupling element  20 . In the case of cattle or pigs, for example, the optically readable identifier  98  can contain officially prescribed information and can be linked by means of a concordance database to information stored in the chip  18 . At the same time, the identification flag  94  also bears the conducting structure of the electric antenna  12 . 
         [0078]    If the identification flag is lost or damaged, a duplicate can be connected to a button-like detection plate. When the identification flag is replaced by a new identification to be registered, this must be re-linked to information stored in the chip or chip module. The detection plate can then be re-used. Likewise, the detection plate can be re-used after slaughtering but the identification flag can only be used once on an animal and must then be disposed of. 
         [0079]    While the invention has been specifically described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.