Abstract:
A method of making a resonant frequency tag which resonates at a predetermined frequency. The method involves providing a first conductive pattern having an inductive element and a first land and a second conductive pattern having a second land and a third land which are joined together by a link. The second conductive pattern is overlaid the first conductive pattern such that the second land is positioned over the first land. The third land is in electrical communication with the inductive element of the first conductive pattern. The formed resonant frequency tag is energized to determine if the tag resonates at the predetermined frequency. If the tag resonates properly, the third land is electrically coupled to the inductive element. If it does not, the second conductive pattern is adjusted so that overlapping portions of the first and second lands are changed, altering the capacitance to adjust the resonant tag frequency.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to resonant frequency tags and, more particularly, to a method for making such resonant frequency tags to provide for improved control of the resonant frequency of such tags. 
     Resonant frequency tags are tags which include a passive electrically resonant frequency circuit which resonates at a predetermined frequency when stimulated by a radio frequency electromagnetic field at about the resonant frequency of the tag and which is incident upon the tag. A resonant frequency circuit resonating within a region occupied by such an electromagnetic field perturbs the electromagnetic field. The perturbation of the electromagnetic field is detectable by suitable equipment. Consequently, the presence of a passive resonant frequency tag within a prescribed region may be detected. 
     Typically, resonant frequency tags are attached to or embedded within goods sold at retail or to the packaging for such goods in order to deter or detect theft. Resonant frequency tags used for this purpose are capable of being removed from the goods or deactivated when a legitimate sale is consummated. Resonant frequency tags which are not removed or deactivated at the point of sale may be detected by suitable detection apparatus generally placed at points of exit from a retail or other establishment. Such resonant frequency tags may have other uses including for identification or information purposes, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag which may or may not include an integrated circuit or chip. 
     Typically, a resonant frequency tag comprises a generally flat thin laminate of a dielectric layer separating two conductor layers. Typically, one of the conductor layers comprises a flat spiral conductor (coil) forming an inductor, and a land forming one plate of a capacitor which is connected to a proximal end of the coil. A second land forming a second plate of the capacitor is formed as the second conductor layer. A through connection between the second plate and a distal end of the coil completes the resonant frequency circuit comprising the coil inductor connected parallel with the capacitor. 
     It is required that the inductive and capacitive elements of resonant frequency tags be manufactured with some precision in order that the resonant frequency of the tags be held within prescribed limits of the detection apparatus. A generally used method for making resonant tags employs etching a metallic foil to form the components of the conductive layers. 
     The manufacturing techniques employed in producing the prior art and current resonant frequency tags results in some unwanted variability in the final tag frequency. The unwanted variability is generally the result of small changes in the value of the capacitive element which vary from resonant circuit to resonant circuit during the production process. Such variations in the value of the capacitive element may be due to several factors, including irregularities in the dielectric area between the plates of the capacitor. The present invention comprises a method for compensating for variations in the manufacturing process to produce resonant frequency tags with a more consistent resonant frequency. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, in one embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of making a resonant frequency tag which resonates at a predetermined frequency. The method comprises the steps of forming a first conductive pattern comprising an inductive element and a first conductive land, the first land having a first end connected to one end of the inductive element, and a second end spaced a predetermined distance from the first end; separately forming a second conductive pattern comprising a second land and a link element, the second land having a predetermined width; placing the second conductive pattern proximate to the first conductive pattern at a first predetermined location so that the second land overlies at least a portion of the first land with a dielectric therebetween to establish the plates of a capacitive element with a first predetermined capacitance which with the inductive element forms a resonant circuit; measuring the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and comparing the measured frequency with the predetermined frequency; if the resonant frequency does not match the predetermined frequency within a selected tolerance, moving the second conductive pattern so that the second land moves along the length of the first land to thereby change the capacitance of the capacitive element; repeating the last two steps until a match occurs; and securing the second conductive pattern to the first conductive pattern. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of making a series of resonant frequency tags which each resonate at a predetermined frequency, the method comprising the steps of forming a series of first conductive patterns, the first conductive patterns all being substantially the same, each first conductive pattern comprising an inductive element and a first conductive land, the first land having a first end connected to one end of the inductive element and a second end spaced a predetermined distance from the first end; separately forming a series of second conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns all being substantially the same and each second conductive pattern comprising a second conductive land and a link element, the second land having a predetermined width; securing a second conductive pattern to a first conductive pattern of the series at a first predetermined location so that the second land overlies at least a portion of the first land with a dielectric therebetween to establish the plates of a capacitive element of a first tag of the series, the capacitive element having a first predetermined capacitance; measuring the resonant frequency of the tag and comparing the measured frequency with the predetermined frequency; if the measured resonant frequency matches the predetermined frequency within a predetermined tolerance, securing a second conductive pattern to a subsequent first conductive pattern of the series at the first predetermined location so that the second land overlies at least a portion of the first land with a dielectric therebetween to establish the plates of a capacitive element of a subsequent tag, the capacitive element having the first predetermined capacitance and then repeating the prior and present steps for the remainder of the series and if the measured resonant frequency does not match the predetermined frequency within the predetermined tolerance, securing a second conductive pattern to the second surface of a subsequent first conductive pattern of the series at a second predetermined location, different from the first predetermined location so that the second land overlies at least a portion of the first land with a dielectric therebetween to establish the plates of a capacitive element of a subsequent tag, the capacitive element having a second predetermined capacitance and then repeating the prior and present steps for the remainder of the series. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of making a series of N resonant frequency tags with N being an integer greater than 1. Each of the N tags has a resonant frequency which differs from the resonant frequency of every other tag in the series by at least a predetermined minimum frequency range. The method comprises the steps of forming N first conductive patterns, the first conductive patterns all being substantially the same and each first conductive pattern comprising an inductive element and a first conductive land with a first end of the first conductive land being connected to one end of the inductive element and a second end of the first conductive land being spaced from the first end by a predetermined distance; separately forming N second conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns all being substantially the same and each second conductive pattern comprising a second land and a link element, the second land having a predetermined width; and sequentially securing a second conductive pattern to each of the first conductive patterns at a location so that the second land of each second conductive pattern overlies a portion of the first land of the corresponding first conductive pattern with a dielectric therebetween to establish the plates of a capacitive element for each resonant frequency tag, the location of each second conductive pattern relative to the first conductive land of a corresponding first conductive pattern and thus the amount by which each second land overlies the first land being different for each resonant frequency tag of the series so that the capacitance of the capacitive element of each resonant frequency tag is different from the capacitance of the capacitive element of every other resonant frequency tag of the series by at least a minimum value to thereby cause each resonant frequency tag to resonate at a different frequency from every other resonant frequency tag of the series. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first principal surface of a typical prior art resonant frequency tag; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view showing the second, opposite principal surface of the resonant frequency tag shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a resonant frequency tag produced in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred manufacturing process for producing resonant frequency tags of the type illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view of a portion of an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a second conductive pattern which includes an integrated circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of adjusting the frequency of a resonant frequency tag made in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the change in frequency of a resonant frequency circuit as a function of the thickness of the dielectric between the capacitor plates. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the same reference numeral designations are applied to corresponding elements throughout the several figures, there is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  a typical resonant frequency tag or tag  10  of a type for use with an electronic article security system (not shown). The tag  10  is generally of a type which is well known in the art of electronic article security systems, having two operational states: (1) an active state in which the tag  10  is detectable by an electronic article security system and (2) an inactive state in which the tag  10  is not normally detectable by an electronic article security system. As is well known in the art, the tag  10  is adapted to be secured to or otherwise borne by or within an item or article, or the packaging of such article for which security or surveillance is sought. The tag  10  may be secured to the article or its packaging at a retail or other such facility, or as is presently preferred, secured or incorporated into the article or its packaging by a manufacturer or wholesaler of the article. 
     The tag  10  is employed in connection with an electronic article security system (not shown), particularly an electronic article security system of the radio frequency or RF type such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,244 entitled “Electronic Security System Having Improved Noise Discrimination” which is incorporated herein by reference. Such electronic article security systems are well known in the art and therefore, a complete description of the structure and operation of such electronic article security systems is not necessary for an understanding of the present invention. Suffice it to say that such electronic article security systems establish a surveillance or detection zone, generally proximate to an entrance or exit of a facility, such as a retail store. The function of the security system is to detect the presence within the detection zone of an article having an active tag  10  secured thereto or secured to the article&#39;s packaging. 
     The security tag  10  includes components (hereinafter described in greater detail) which establish a resonant circuit  11  which resonates when exposed to radio frequency RF energy at or near a predetermined detection resonant frequency of the resonant circuit  11 . A typical electronic article security system employing the tag  10  includes means for transmitting RF energy of a frequency at or near the resonant frequency of the security tag  10  into or through the detection zone and means for detecting an RF field disturbance that is caused by the presence of the security tag  10  resonant circuit  11  in the detection zone to establish the presence of the security tag  10  and thus a protected article, within the detection zone. 
     The typical tag  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises a generally rectangular, planar insulative or dielectric substrate  12  having first and second opposite principal surfaces  14 ,  16 . The substrate material may be any solid material or composite structure of material so long as it is insulative and can be used as a dielectric. Preferably the substrate  12  is formed of an insulated dielectric material of a type well known in the art, for example, a polymeric material such as polyethylene. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other dielectric materials may alternatively be employed in forming the substrate  12 . 
     The tag  10  further comprises circuitry located on the substrate  12  for establishing at least one resonant circuit  11  by forming predetermined circuit elements or components on both principal surfaces  14 ,  16  of the substrate  12  which will be hereinafter described. The circuit elements are formed by a combination of a first conductive pattern  18  imposed on the first principal surface  14  of the substrate  12  best seen in  FIG. 1 , which surface is arbitrarily selected as the top surface of the tag  10 , and a second conductive pattern  20  imposed on the opposite side or second principal surface  16  of the substrate  12  (best seen in FIG.  2 ). 
     The conductive patterns  18 ,  20  are formed on the substrate surfaces  14 ,  16 , respectively, with electrically conductive materials of a known type and in a manner which is well known in the electronic article surveillance art. In one known embodiment, the conductive material is patterned by a subtractive process (i.e. etching), whereby unwanted conductive material is removed by chemical attack after the desired conductive material for forming the conductive patterns  18 ,  20  has been protected, typically with a printed-on etch resistant ink. A suitable method for forming such conductive patterns is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,219 entitled “Planar Circuit Fabrication Process” which is incorporated by reference. The conductive material is preferably aluminum. However, other conductive materials (e.g., gold, nickel, copper, phosphor bronzes, brasses, solders, high density graphite, aluminum filled conductive epoxies or silver-filled conductive epoxies) can be substituted for aluminum without changing the nature of the resonant circuit  11  or its operation. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other suitable electrically conductive materials and/or fabrication methods could alternatively be employed. 
     The first and second conductive patterns  18 ,  20  establish a resonant circuit  11  having a resonant frequency within the detection range of the electronic article security system with which the tag  10  is employed. In the case of the tag  10 , the resonant circuit  11  is comprised of a single inductor or inductive element which is electrically connected in parallel with a single capacitor or capacitive element. As best shown in  FIG. 1  the inductive element comprises an inductive coil  26  formed as part of the first conductive pattern  18 . However, it will be recognized that the inductive coil  26  could be formed as part of the second conductive pattern  20 , or could be formed as part of both conductive patterns  18 ,  20 . Alternatively, there could be two or more inductive coils formed within the first and/or second conductive patterns  18 ,  20 . Further, the conductive patterns  18 ,  20  need not form an inductive coil  26  but, for instance, could establish an inductive reactance from the formation of an electrical transmission line constructed by strip line or microstrip methods and be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The resonant circuit of tag  10  further includes a capacitive element having a first plate formed by a first generally rectangular land portion  28  of the first conductive pattern  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a second plate formed by a second generally rectangular land portion  30  of the second conductive pattern  20  as shown in FIG.  2 . The conductive land portions or plates  28 ,  30  are aligned so as to overly each other and are separated by the dielectric substrate  12  to form the capacitive element. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the resonant circuit  11  is formed by the combination, in a series loop, of the inductive coil  26  electrically connected on one end to the generally rectangular land portion  28  of the first conductive pattern  18  and on the other end to the generally aligned rectangular land portion  30  of the second conductive pattern  20 , by a link (not shown) which passes through the dielectric substrate  12  to electrically connect the conductive patterns  18 ,  20 . Although the illustrated embodiment of the tag  10  includes a single capacitor formed by the land portions  28 ,  30 , two or more capacitor elements could alternately be employed and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The tag  10  as thus far described is typical of prior art security tags which are well known in the electronic security and surveillance art and have been in general usage. In forming such security tags, the area of the inductive coil  26  and the areas of the overlap of the capacitor plates  28 ,  30  are carefully selected so that the resonant circuit  11  formed thereby has a predetermined resonant frequency which generally corresponds to or approximates a detection frequency employed in an electronic article security system for which the tag  10  is designed to be employed. In the illustrated embodiment, the tag  10  resonates at or near 8.2 megahertz (MHz) which is a frequency commonly employed by electronic article security systems from a number of manufacturers. However, this specific frequency is not to be considered a limitation of the present invention. 
     The resonant frequency tag  10  as shown and described is generally adequate for its intended purposes. However, because of the manufacturing techniques used for making the tag  10 , it is not unusual for the resonant frequency of at least a portion of the tags which are produced to vary from the desired resonant frequency. Such variations in the resonant frequency of a tag  10  may be due to variations in the thickness of the dielectric between the two capacitor plates  28 ,  30 , slight misalignments in the capacitor plates,  28 ,  30  and other factors. As a result, in order to make sure that any tag  10  having a resonant frequency at or near the desired resonant frequency is detected when passing through the surveillance zone of a detection system, it is necessary to vary the frequency employed by the detection system at least within a prescribed range both above and below the desired resonant frequency. For example, if the desired resonant frequency is 8.2 MHz, the detection system must be operational for frequencies between about 7.6 MHz and about 9.0 MHz. Producing detection systems which function within such a detection frequency range is less efficient than detection systems which operate in a much smaller detection frequency range. 
     The present invention overcomes the problems associated with such variations in the resonant frequency of the prior art resonant frequency tag  10  by employing a different manufacturing process or method to more precisely control the positioning of the second capacitor plate relative to the first capacitor plate to thereby more tightly control the capacitance of the capacitor and to thereby more tightly control the resonant frequency of the tag.  FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a resonant frequency tag  110  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The resonant frequency tag  110 , like the tag  10  as described above, includes at least one inductive component and at least one capacitive component connected in parallel to form a resonant circuit having substantially the same characteristics as the resonant circuit  11  as described above. 
     Like the tag  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tag  110  of  FIG. 3  is formed by a combination of a first conductive pattern  118  and a second conductive pattern  120  with a dielectric therebetween. The first conductive pattern  118  may be formed using a subtractive process (i.e., etching) as described above in connection with tag  10  by die cutting, an additive or conductive ink process or any other suitable technique. As with the prior art tag  10  the conductive material employed in forming both the first and second conductive patterns  118 ,  120  is preferably aluminum. However, other conductive materials could alternatively be employed. As with the prior art tag  10 , the first conductive pattern  118  is comprised of an inductive coil  126  and a first capacitor plate formed by part of a first conductive land  128 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the land  128  includes a first or proximal end  128   a  which is electrically connected to one end of the inductive coil  126  and a second or distal end  128   b . The first and second ends  128   a  and  128   b  of land  128  are separated by a predetermined distance which establishes the length of the land  128 . In the illustrated embodiment, the land  128  further includes first and second lateral sides  128   c  and  128   d  extending between the first and second ends  128   a  and  128   b . The first side  128   c  is generally straight and generally parallel to a portion of the inductive coil  126 . The second side  128   d  extends at an angle so as to not be parallel to the first side  128   c . In this manner, the width of the land  128  (i.e. the distance between the first and second sides  128   c ,  128   d ) decreases or tapers when moving along the length from the first end  128   a  to the second end  128   b . In all other respects, the first conductive pattern  118  is substantially the same as the first conductive pattern  18  of the above-described prior art tag  10 . Preferably, the first conductive pattern is at least initially supported by a carrier sheet  113  which may be paper or the like. 
     A second principal distinction between the present tag  110  and the prior art tag  10  lies in the structure of the second conductive pattern  120  and the manner in which the second conductive pattern  120  is secured to the first conductive pattern  118 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the second conductive pattern  120  comprises a generally symmetrical and preferably rectangularly shaped second conductive land  130  a portion of which forms the second capacitor plate. The land  130  is generally rectangular and symmetrical including generally parallel first and second lateral sides  130   a  and  130   b  and generally parallel first and second ends  130   c  and  130   d . The first end  130   c  is electrically connected to a generally elongated conductive link  132  which terminates in a further generally rectangular conductive land  134 . Unlike the prior art tag  10 , the second conductive pattern  120  of the present embodiment is preferably formed separately and apart from the first conductive pattern  118 . The second conductive pattern  120  may be formed using a subtractive or etching process, an additive or conductive ink process, a die cut process or in any other manner which is known or becomes known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The second conductive pattern  120  may include a dielectric layer (not shown) or, if desired, a separate dielectric layer or film may be placed between the second conductive pattern  120  and the first conductive pattern  118  before they are secured together. Alternatively, the first conductive pattern  118  may include a dielectric layer, at least in the area of the first conductive land  128 . 
     Once the second conductive pattern  120  has been separately formed, it is carried on a carrier sheet or substrate  216  (shown on  FIG. 4 ) so that it can be placed on the first conductive pattern  118  at a location such that at least a portion of the second land  130  overlies at least a portion of the first land  128  (with the dielectric therebetween), the overlying portions establishing capacitor plates to form a capacitor having the correct capacitance for establishing a resonant circuit having a frequency which is the precise predetermined resonant frequency or is within a very tight tolerance of the predetermined resonant frequency. Preferably, when the second conductive pattern  120  is located at the correct position with the second land  130  overlying at least a portion of the first land  128  to form the correct capacitance, the second conductive pattern  120  is secured to the first conductive pattern  118  using an adhesive (which may be the dielectric layer), hot pressing (heat and pressure) or some other suitable technique. As will be appreciated when viewing  FIG. 3 , the area of overlap of land  128  and land  130  may be altered, preferably before the second conductive pattern  120  is secured to the first conductive pattern  118  by simply moving or sliding the second land  130  (second conductive pattern  120 ) along the length of the first land  128  generally parallel to the first side  128   c . Moving land  130  toward the second end  128   b  of land  128  decreases the area of overlap of lands  128 ,  130  to thereby effectively decrease the size of the capacitor plates and the capacitance of the resulting capacitive element. Correspondingly, moving land  130  toward the first end  128   a  of land  128  increases the area of overlap between the two lands  128 ,  130  to thereby effectively increase the size of the capacitor plates and the capacitance of the capacitive element. As is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the resonant frequency of a resonant circuit is established by the value of the inductance and the value of the capacitance in accordance with a predetermined formula 
       F   =       1     2   ⁢           ⁢   π   ⁢           ⁢       L   ·   C           .         
 
Increasing the capacitance of a resonant circuit while keeping the inductance constant decreases the frequency and decreasing the capacitance while keeping the inductance constant increases the resonant frequency. By precisely selecting the bonding location of the second conductive pattern  120  on the first conductive pattern  118 , the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit may be precisely controlled or tuned to correspond to a predetermined target resonant frequency within a very tight tolerance.
 
     Once the position of the second conductive pattern  120  has been established and the second conductive pattern  120  has been secured to the first conductive pattern  118 , the resonant circuit is completed by establishing a conductive link (not shown), typically referred to as a weld through, which passed through the dielectric to electrically connect together the conductive land  134  on the distal end of the second conductive pattern  120  with the coil  126  of the first conductive pattern  118 . The establishment of the link through the dielectric effectively connects the inductance and capacitance in parallel thereby completing the resonant circuit. The frequency of the resonant circuit can be determined utilizing suitable test equipment well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. If the resonant frequency of the tag  110  corresponds to the predetermined or desired resonant frequency, within a predetermined tolerance, then no further action need be taken. If the frequency of the resonant circuit does not correspond to the predetermined resonant frequency, then the capacitance of the resonant circuit must be adjusted either upwardly or downwardly. Since it may be difficult if not impossible to effectively remove the second conductive pattern  120  from the first conductive pattern  118 , the position of the second conductive pattern  120  may be adjusted accordingly for a subsequent tag  110  being produced during a manufacturing process. Eventually, by carefully adjusting the position of the second conductive pattern  120  on the first conductive pattern  118  of subsequently produced tags, the resonant frequency of such subsequently produced tags may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly until the resonant frequency is at the predetermined frequency within the prescribed tolerance. In this manner, the resonant frequency of a tag  110  may be “tuned” to match the predetermined desired resonant frequency. 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view of a portion of a tag  310  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The tag  310  includes a first conductive pattern which includes an inductive element or inductor coil  326  with a land  328  connected to the distal end of the coil  326 . However, unlike the land  128  as described above in connection with  FIG. 3 , the land  328  in connection with the present embodiment is generally rectangularly shaped. More particularly, the land  328  in connection with the present embodiment includes a first end  328   a  which is generally parallel and spaced apart from a second end  328   b . The land  328  further includes generally parallel lateral sides  328   c  and  328   d . Thus, unlike the land  128  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the width of land  328  does not change when moving along the length of land  328  between ends  328   a  and  328   b.    
     The present embodiment further includes a second conductive pattern  320  which is precisely the same as the second conductive pattern  120  as shown in FIG.  3 . In particular, and as shown in  FIG. 5 , the second conductive pattern  320  includes a generally rectangularly shaped land  330 , the first end of which is electrically connected to a generally elongated conductive link  332 . As with the embodiment described above in connection with  FIG. 3 , the capacitance of the resonant frequency tag  310  is established by the degree to which the land  330  of the second conductive pattern overlies the land  328  of the first conductive pattern with the dielectric therebetween.  FIG. 5  illustrates a situation in which a portion (approximately one half) of the width of land  330  overlies land  328  to provide a certain capacitance. In order to decrease the value of the capacitance, land  338  may be moved further away from the first end  328   a  of land  328  to thereby decrease the area in which land  330  overlies land  328 . In order to increase the capacitance, land  330  may be moved toward the first end  328   a  of land  328  to thereby increase the area by which land  330  overlies land  328 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred system configuration for implementing a method of manufacturing resonant frequency tags in accordance with the present invention. The completed tags  110  are structurally the same as the tag  110  described above in connection with FIG.  3  and are secured together along opposite edges in a sequential series or web  200  for purposes of illustrating the present invention. In the web  200 , which may be formed by a continuous carrier sheet  113 , each of the partially completed tags  110  are oriented with the first conductive pattern  118  facing upwardly. As part of the manufacturing process, the web  200  of partially completed tags is moved from the left toward the right in a stepwise or indexed manner as illustrated by the flow arrows. Movement of the web  200  of partially completed tags is controlled by a drive roller  210  which is driven to index for a predetermined distance by a drive mechanism comprised of an electric motor  212  and suitable drive members  214 . Other drive mechanisms may alternately be employed. In addition, in some applications, the second conductive pattern  120  may be applied to the first conductive pattern  118  after the partially completed tag  110  has been applied to an associated product. For example, it is known in the art that some items, particularly items with a high metal content, may change the frequency of an applied resonant frequency tag. By applying a partially completed tag  110  to the item and thereafter applying the second conductive pattern  120 , any frequency shift caused by the item to which the tag  110  is attached can be compensated for by adjusting the position of the second conductive pattern  120  to adjust the resonant frequency of the completed tag  110  to be at the predetermined, desired frequency. 
     A first supply roll  214  includes a plurality of previously formed second conductive patterns  120  which are spaced apart a predetermined distance on the downwardly facing side of a supporting substrate such as release paper  216 . The second conductive patterns  120 , which may include a dielectric layer with heat seal properties, are positioned on the release paper  216  such that as the release paper  216  is removed from the supply roll  214 , the second conductive patterns  120  are aligned with the first conductive patterns  118  of the web  200  in the manner described above in connection with the tag of  FIG. 3. A  pair of idler rollers  218 ,  220  and a take up roll  222  assist in establishing the proper orientation of the second conductive patterns  120  with respect to the first conductive patterns  118  of the partially completed tags of the web  200 . A pressing mechanism  224 , of a type well known to those skilled in the art, is positioned between the two idler rollers  218 ,  220  for pressing one of the second conductive patterns  120  into engagement with each of the partially completed tags  110  of the web  200 . The pressing mechanism  224  may employ pressure, heat or a combination of heat and pressure for securing or bonding the second conductive patterns  120  to the first conductive patterns  118  of the partially completed tags  110 . 
     As shown, once the tags of the web  200  pass beyond the second idler roller  220 , each completed tag  110  of the web  200  includes a second conductive pattern  120  which has been secured so that at least a portion of the second land  130  of the second conductive pattern  120  overlies a portion of the first land  128  of the first conductive pattern  118  to establish a capacitance for the resonant circuit as described above. As the web  200  of completed tags  110  moves further toward the right, each of the tags passes through a welding mechanism  226  which creates the link which passes through the dielectric to electrically connect together the inductive portion  126  of the first conductive pattern  118  and the land  134  of the second conductive pattern  120  to thereby complete the resonant circuit. The welding mechanism  226  is of a type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Yet further along the production line, the resonant frequency of each of the tags  110  of the web  200  is measured utilizing a suitable probe  228  and frequency determining equipment  230  which are both also of a type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In effect, the probe  228  sequentially subjects each resonant frequency tag of the web  200  to a series of frequencies which are close to (above and below) the predetermined resonant frequency and then “listens” to see whether the tag  110  resonates at a particular frequency in a pulse/listen manner which is well known in the art. Once the precise frequency of each resonant frequency tag  110  is determined, the frequency information is sent from the frequency determining equipment  230  to a controller  232  which compares the resonant frequency as measured for each tag  110  with the desired or predetermined resonant frequency. If the resonant frequency of the tag  110  matches the predetermined resonant frequency within a prescribed small tolerance (for example, 100 KHz), then the manufacturing process is permitted to continue in the same manner with the subsequent second conductive patterns  120  being secured to succeeding tags  110  in the same position as the prior tag to maintain the same capacitance and thus the same frequency. On the other hand, if the controller  232  determines that the measured resonant frequency does not match the predetermined frequency within the prescribed tolerance, then the position of the second conductive pattern  120  on subsequent tags is adjusted to either increase the capacitance or decreased the capacitance of subsequent tags  110  depending upon the result of the comparison. In the embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the position of the second conductive pattern  120  may be adjusted by adjusting the indexing of the web  200  by increasing or decreasing the time of the actuation of the electric motor  212  to thereby change the location of the first conductive pattern  118  of each partially completed tag  110  relative to the pressing mechanism  224  and second conductive pattern  120 . Decreasing the time of the actuation of the electric motor  212  effectively moves the position of the second conductive pattern  120  to be closer to the second end  228   b  of conductive land  128  of the tags  110  to thereby decrease the capacitance of the resulting resonant circuit. Increasing the time of the actuation of the electric motor  212  effectively moves the position of the second conductive pattern  120  toward the first end  128   a  of conductive land  128  to effectively increase the capacitance of the resulting resonant circuit. By utilizing the above-described process, the position of the second conductive pattern  220  will promptly be in the correct location for subsequent tags  110  along the web  200  so that the frequency of subsequently produced tags  110  will continue to match the predetermined resonant frequency within the prescribed tolerance. 
     It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the manufacturing process disclosed in  FIG. 4  is but one embodiment implementing the present invention. If desired, the frequency measuring station  228 ,  230  could be located prior to the welding mechanism  226  or could be integrated as part of the pressing mechanism  224 . For example, the pressing mechanism  224  could include non-metallic plates (not shown) for engaging and pressing together the first conductive pattern  118  and second conductive pattern  120  with a probe that measures the frequency of a tag  110  as the second conductive pattern  120  and the first conductive pattern  118  are being pressed together but before the second conductive pattern  120  is actually secured to the first conductive pattern  118 . While the frequency reading thus obtained will not be the same as it would for a completed tag  110 , a relationship exists between the read frequency and the final frequency of the completed tag  110  which enables an adjustment to be made to the position of the second conductive pattern  120  in order to have the completed tag  110  resonate at the desired frequency. Suitable feedback may be provided to control the position of the second conductive pattern  120 . This method is illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG.  7  and the diagram of FIG.  8 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , it can be seen that a measured frequency within the target range when the second conductive pattern  120  is separated from the first conductive pattern  118  by the dielectric thickness and an additional air gap, results in a completed tag (i.e., with the second conductive pattern  120  engaging the dielectric) with a frequency which corresponds to the desired frequency within the prescribed tolerance. 
     As can be appreciated from  FIG. 8 , the capacitance of a tag may also be changed, at least slightly, by varying the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism  224 . For example, applying additional pressure effectively decreases the separation between the capacitor plates to thereby increase capacitance and decreasing the pressure effectively increases the distance between the capacitor plates to decrease capacitance. Control of the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism  224  may be accomplished by the controller  232  based upon the frequency reading obtained by the frequency measuring station  228 ,  230 . Alternatively, the pressing mechanism  224  could include its own frequency measuring equipment to provide for immediate feedback for real time controlling of the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism  224 . Other techniques or equipment for controlling the amount of pressure applied to the second conductive pattern  120  will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Controlling the pressure applied by the pressing mechanism  224  can thus be used as a way of fine tuning the resonant frequency of each tag. Other variations in the manufacturing process will be apparent those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In addition to providing a method for making resonant frequency tags which resonate at a predetermined frequency or within a small tolerance of a predetermined frequency, the present invention comprises a method of making a series of individually unique resonant frequency tags, each of which resonates at a different frequency within a frequency range. As can clearly be understood by the foregoing description, the frequency of a resonant frequency tag is an inverse function of the capacitance and the inductance of the tag and is established by the formula set forth above. As also described above, in the resonant frequency tag shown on  FIG. 3 , the inductance is constant and is determined by the size and other characteristics of the inductive coil  126  of the first conductive pattern  118 . The frequency of the tag  110  of  FIG. 3  is thus determined by the capacitance of the tag which is established by the location of the second conductive pattern  120  and, more particularly, the portion of the conductive land  128  which is overlaid by the conductive land  130  to establish the capacitance of the capacitive element. The more the second conductive pattern  120  and, particularly conductive land  130  moves toward the first end  128   a  of the first conductive land  128 , the greater the capacitance of the resonant frequency circuit and, thus, the lower the frequency and vice versa. 
     In some applications, rather than having a series of resonant frequency tags which all resonant at the same or at nearly the same frequency, it is desirable to have a series of resonant frequency tags, each of which resonates at a frequency which is different from the resonant frequency of every other tag in the series. Such a series of tags, all having different frequencies, can be useful in radio frequency identification (RFID) by associating a resonant frequency tag having a particular known frequency with a particular item. Thus, by detecting a tag having a particular resonant frequency, the presence of the item associated with the tag having the particular frequency may also be detected. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a series of N resonant frequency tags (N being an integer greater than 1) may be made by merely varying the position of the second conductive pattern  130  on each tag as described above. Thus, for example, a first resonant frequency tag having a first resonant frequency may be established by locating the second conductive pattern  130  proximate to the first end  128   a  of the conductive land  128 , a second resonant frequency tag having a second resonant frequency may be made by positioning the second conductive pattern  130  a little bit closer to the second end  128   b  of the first conductive land, etc. By moving the second conductive pattern  130  by only a small distance along the length of the first conductive land  128  an entire series of N resonant frequency tags may be made. For example, by employing the above-described techniques it is possible to make a series of about 2,800 resonant frequency tags within the frequency range of 2 to 30 MHz with the resonant frequency of each tag of the series differing from the resonant frequency of each of the other resonant frequency tags of the series by a frequency range of at least 10 kHz. 
     Making a series of resonant frequency tags with each tag having a different resonant frequency may be accomplished in the same manner and using the same techniques as described above in connection with FIG.  4 . However, unlike  FIG. 4  in which the described goal is to produce tags having the same frequency, the equipment disclosed and described is operated to create resonant frequency tags having different frequencies by adjusting the time of actuation of the electric motor  212  to change the position of the placement of the second conductive patterns  120  relative to the first conductive patter  118  for each tag accordingly. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second conductive pattern  620  in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. The second conductive pattern  620  is essentially the same as the second conductive pattern  120  as described above and shown in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In particular, the second conductive pattern  620  includes a generally rectangularly shaped second conductive land  630  the first end of which is connected to a generally elongated conductive link formed of two sections  632   a  and  632   b  which are spaced apart by a gap  632   c  of a predetermined minimum width. The second section  632   b  of the conductive link in turn is connected to a further generally rectangular conductive land  634 . The second conductive pattern  620  may be formed using a subtractive or etching process, an additive process such as conductive ink, a die cut process or in any other manner which is known or becomes known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The second conductive pattern  620  may include a dielectric layer. 
     The second conductive pattern  620  further includes an integrated circuit  650  which is preferably secured to one of the first and second sections  632   a ,  632   b  of the link element. The integrated circuit  650  which is of a type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art includes at least two electrical leads with a first electrical lead  652  being electrically connected to the first link element section  632   a  and the second lead  654  being electrically connected to the second link element section  632   b . By incorporating an integrated circuit  650  in this manner, a resonant frequency tag made in accordance with any of the above-described methods may be employed as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag of the type which includes a memory chip for storing identification information. The resonant circuit thus acts as an antenna and power source for the integrated circuit  650  for radiating a radio frequency signal determined by the data stored within the memory of the integrated circuit. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.