Patent Description:
One exemplary identification technology, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track transponders or tags that may be attached to objects, wherein the transponders may contain electronically stored information. An RFID system has transponders and readers configured to interact at a predefined frequency. Radio frequency identification tags, labels or transponders may be thin and flexible, suitable for being attached or embedded into various objects.

Passive RFID transponders may collect energy from a nearby RFID reader's magnetic field or propagating radio waves. They may lack an internal power source, instead relying on the externally generated power which may be created by a resonant circuit that is attached to the transponder or to a microchip providing further functions.

Information plates are manufactured in large quantities. Having the wireless identification device, such as the RFID transponder, embedded into the information plate complicates the manufacturing process, as the simple and sturdy information plate is combined with a sensitive electronic device. The completed information plate must withstand harsh conditions, for example at the front of the vehicle. Weatherproofing the assembly may increase the manufacturing costs.

<CIT> discloses a combined RFID tag antenna, with a metal license plate, a slot antenna, a chip and a Printed Circuit Board. The slot antenna is arranged on the metal license plate and the chip is fixedly connected with the PCB, a bonding pad is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the PCB, and the PCB is fixedly connected with the metal license plate through the bonding pad.

<CIT> discloses a device for vehicle identification, comprising a license plate for a vehicle, wherein the license plate is made of electrically conductive material and provided with a transponder, particularly an RFID chip, wherein the transponder with both connections is electrically coupled to the material of the license plate and wherein the license plate is provided with a slot-shaped recess, wherein both connections at opposite sides of the slot-shaped recess are coupled to the license plate.

<CIT> discloses an electrically conductive, RFID-enabled signage that includes an electrically conductive article including an opening and an assembled device that is coupled to the electrically conductive article to provide RFID functionality to the electrically conductive article.

An information plate having an embedded wireless identity transponder and the manufacturing process of the information plate assembly are described hereinafter. The information plate body has a cavity or a slot for a wireless identification device. The wireless identification device is attached to a flexible layer, a pre-processed layer carrying the sensitive wireless identification device to the information plate. The flexible layer comprising the wireless identification device forms a smart film structure that does not, per se, possess full wireless identity transponder functionalities. The flexible layer is attached on the information plate body from a roll of flexible layer, with the wireless identification device being placed over the cavity. The wireless identification device has at least two connecting pins that extend to be in contact with the information plate body.

The information plate body is made of electrically conductive material, such as metal. Placing the connecting pins against the information plate body completes the wireless identification device's electric circuit. The information plate body is a functional part of the wireless identity transponder. The wireless identity transponder may be functional only after the information plate body completing the electric circuit. One example of the wireless identity transponder is a RFID transponder. In one embodiment, the wireless identity transponder is configured to operate at UHF frequencies. In one embodiment, the wireless identity transponder applies near field communication technology, NFC.

The cavity is be filled with a suitable filler material before placing the flexible layer on top of the information plate body. The filler material secures the RFID device in place and improves the reliability and/or durability of the assembly. The flexible layer may comprise durable material, reflective material or provide additional functionality to the information plate. The manufacturing method is fast and reliable, lowering the overall costs of producing robust information plates.

Exemplary implementations for the information plate relate to handling an electronic identity of the object carrying the information plate. The object may be stationary or moving. In one embodiment the information plate is a license plate attached to a road vehicle, wherein the information may be used to track the vehicle and the vehicle information on the road, collect road tolls or parking fees. Other embodiments may relate to keeping track of the property carrying the information plate, inventory, security, theft prevention or other implementations.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all the disadvantages of known information plates having embedded wireless identity transponders, RFID transponders or the manufacture thereof.

The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein.

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented as a wireless identification transponder, RFID tag or RFID transponder, the wireless identification device described is provided as an example and not a limitation. In one embodiment, the wireless identity transponder applies near field communication technology, NFC. The RFID transponder is one example of the wireless identification transponder. In one exemplary embodiment the RFID transponder is used at a UHF frequency spectrum from <NUM> to <NUM>. In one exemplary embodiment the RFID transponder is used at a microwave frequency spectrum of <NUM> and/or <NUM>. Within this document, the RFID tag and the RFID transponder have the same meaning. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of information plates for vehicles, mobile objects or stationary objects. An information plate, a number plate or any vehicle identification plate are examples of suitable applications for the wireless identification transponder disclosed herein. Vehicles may be cars, trucks, cargo equipment or watercraft and the mobile wireless identification transponder may be configured to communicate with a stationary reader. One example of the information plate is a license plate. Typically, information plates are placed outside the vehicle for providing visual information.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an isometric view of simplified and selected steps of the method for manufacturing the information plate. An information plate body <NUM> is illustrated as a bulk plate from where several information plates may be cut out. The information plate body <NUM> is made of electrically conductive material. In one embodiment, the information plate body is made of metal, for example steel, aluminium or metal alloy. In one embodiment, the information plate is made of electrically conductive plastic or composite material. In one embodiment the information plate body <NUM> is made of non-conductive material and has a layer or a coating of electrically conductive material.

A cavity <NUM> is formed into the information plate body <NUM>. In one embodiment, the cavity <NUM> is an opening in the information plate body <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> may be formed by cutting, drilling or punching through the information plate body <NUM>. In one embodiment, the cavity <NUM> is a recess in the information plate body <NUM> that may be formed, for example, by stamping the information plate body <NUM>. In one embodiment, the information plate body <NUM> is a multi-layer board comprising at least one non-conductive layer and at least one conductive layer and the cavity <NUM> is formed by removing a portion of conductive material from the information plate body <NUM>. If the information plate body <NUM> comprises multiple conductive layers, the cavity <NUM> may be formed by removing portion of one conductive layer. In one embodiment, the cavity <NUM> is formed by removing portion of all conductive layers on the same position.

The cavity <NUM> comprises suitable width for accommodating a wireless identification device <NUM>. The wireless identification device <NUM> comprises at least two connecting pins <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, that are configured to be in contact with the information plate body <NUM> while the wireless identification device <NUM> resides in the cavity <NUM>. In one embodiment, the connecting pins <NUM> extend to opposite sides of the cavity <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> is configured to function as part of a radio frequency antenna for the wireless identification device <NUM>, wherein the length, width and/or shape of the cavity <NUM> may be selected to perform at a predefined frequency. One example of the predefined frequency is suitable for RFID communication with travelling vehicles and stationary RFID readers. The size and shape of the cavity <NUM> may be designed according to the parameters derived from the size of the wireless identification device <NUM>, the required read range of the information plate application, thickness of the wireless identification device <NUM>, characteristics of the metallic layer, characteristics of the information plate body <NUM> and/or the required frequency. The cavity <NUM> may comprise multiple recesses and/or openings.

The wireless identification device <NUM> is positioned onto a flexible layer <NUM>. In one embodiment, the flexible layer <NUM> comprises an adhesive surface, configured to hold the wireless identification device <NUM> in place during the assembly. In one embodiment, the wireless identification device <NUM> is attached to the flexible layer <NUM> by an adhesive that is placed onto the flexible layer <NUM>. In the present example, the flexible layer <NUM> is released from a roll <NUM>. Multiple wireless identification devices <NUM> are positioned onto the flexible layer <NUM>, to be later placed over consecutive cavities <NUM>. After placing the wireless identification device <NUM> onto the flexible layer <NUM>, its connecting pins <NUM> are exposed to the side facing the information plate body <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the cavity <NUM> is filled by a filler material <NUM> before attaching the flexible layer <NUM> onto the information plate body <NUM>. The filler material <NUM> is a non-conductive material. The filler material <NUM> may cure after the wireless identification device <NUM> has been placed into the cavity <NUM>. In one embodiment, the filler material <NUM> is configured to secure the wireless identification device <NUM> firmly into the cavity <NUM> and provide further protection for the wireless identification device <NUM>.

The flexible layer <NUM> is attached, together with the wireless identification device <NUM>, to the information plate body <NUM>. The wireless identification device <NUM> is positioned over the cavity <NUM>. The at least two connecting pins <NUM> come into contact with the information plate body <NUM>. In one embodiment, the contact between the wireless identification device <NUM> connecting pin <NUM> and the information plate body <NUM> is enhanced by a drop of conductive paste. The electric circuit of the wireless identification device <NUM> is completed once the connecting pins <NUM> are connected to the conductive surface of the information plate body <NUM>, thereby forming the wireless identification transponder. The flexible layer <NUM> is in one embodiment pre-cut to match the surface of a finalized information plate <NUM>.

The wireless identification transponder may not be functional prior to completion of the electric circuit. Therefore, in one embodiment, the wireless identification devices <NUM> are not functional via the radio interface when they are placed on the storage, on the feeder on the assembly line or at the flexible layer <NUM>. This mitigates the risk of tampering or eavesdropping the data stored at the wireless identification device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the wireless identification transponder is registered as a functional entity only after full assembly.

In the example of <FIG> the portion of flexible layer <NUM> being in contact with the wireless identification device <NUM> is electrically non-conductive. In the final assembly the flexible layer may cover the whole wireless identification device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the flexible layer <NUM> covers the information plate body <NUM> partially - as one example, an outer edge of the flexible layer <NUM> may be <NUM> from the outer edge of the information edge body <NUM>. The non-conductive flexible layer <NUM> allows radio waves to travel through, enabling the wireless identification device <NUM> to receive and transmit information. The flexible layer <NUM> may comprise visual information, a registration number, a reflective material to enhance the visibility of the information plate or any other visual or functional feature. In one embodiment the flexible layer <NUM> is transparent, allowing the visual information of the information plate body <NUM> to be seen through. In one embodiment, the flexible layer <NUM> is opaque. The flexible layer <NUM> is the top layer or outside layer of the fully assembled information plate.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an isometric view of an assembly line for manufacturing information plates <NUM>. In this example, the production travels from left to right. A first stage on the assembly line is a cutting station <NUM> for cutting the cavity <NUM> to the bulk sheet of information plate body <NUM>. The distance between two consecutive cavities <NUM> is stored to a controlling computer of the assembly line, as part of the layout of the final information plate. Size of the cavity <NUM> may be selected to match the desired radio frequency. The cavity <NUM> may be cut by known methods. The first stage in the assembly line may also be used to stamp shapes to the information plate body <NUM>.

A second stage on the assembly line is a filler station <NUM> for filling the cavity <NUM> with the filler material <NUM>. The controlling computer may set the amount of filler material to match the size of the cavity <NUM>. The filler material <NUM> may not cure until the information plate <NUM> is finalized or before the wireless identification device <NUM> is placed into the cavity <NUM>. Later stage of the assembly line may comprise means for curing the filler material <NUM>, for example by heat or by ultraviolet radiation.

A third stage on the assembly line comprises placing the rest of the components onto the information plate body <NUM>. The flexible layer <NUM> is fed from a roll <NUM>. The controlling computer is configured to place the wireless identification device <NUM> to the flexible layer <NUM>, into the position matching the cavity <NUM> on the bulk sheet of information plate body <NUM>. The wireless identification device <NUM> is received from a feeder roll <NUM>. As the assembly proceeds, the flexible layer <NUM> is laid on the information plate body <NUM> as a continuous process. The flexible layer <NUM> may be matched with the wireless identification device <NUM> at a separate place, wherein the distance between consecutive wireless identification devices <NUM> is predefined to match the distance between consecutive cavities <NUM>. In one embodiment, the controlling computer comprises means for cutting the cavities <NUM> along the detected positions of consecutive wireless identification devices <NUM> on the roll <NUM> of flexible layer <NUM>.

The fourth stage on the assembly line comprises cutting the information plate <NUM> from the bulk sheet. The complete information plate <NUM> is received from the cutting station <NUM>. The cutting station <NUM> may comprise testing the functionality of the information plate <NUM>, as it is the first stage where the radio interface of the information plate <NUM> is fully functional. The cutting station <NUM> may comprise registration functions for the electronic identification data, such as RFID data, and assign the identification data with the physical identification plate.

One exemplary embodiment of the complete information plate comprises the information plate body <NUM> made of electrically conductive material, the cavity <NUM> at the information plate body <NUM>, and the wireless identification device <NUM> positioned over the cavity <NUM>. The wireless identification device <NUM> comprises at least two connecting pins <NUM> connected to the information plate body <NUM> surrounding the cavity <NUM>. In one embodiment the connecting pins <NUM> are connected at opposite sides of the cavity <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> comprises cured filler material <NUM> configured to fill the space between the wireless identification device <NUM> and the information plate body <NUM>. The flexible layer <NUM> may by itself comprise multiple layers. The non-conductive flexible layer <NUM> may cover the entire wireless identification device <NUM>. If the flexible layer <NUM> comprises conductive material, an opening <NUM> matching the cavity <NUM> is formed to the conductive material to enable the radio antenna function of the cavity <NUM>. In one embodiment, the flexible layer <NUM> comprises the non-conductive flexible layer and a conductive layer, wherein the opening <NUM> is formed only to the conductive layer and the non-conductive layer remains intact.

Electrically conductive portion of the flexible layer <NUM> may provide functionality to the radio antenna. The conductive portion is configured to cover at least the connecting pins <NUM> of the wireless identification device <NUM>. The information plate body <NUM> completes the electric circuit of the wireless identification device <NUM>. The information plate body <NUM> and the wireless identification device <NUM> form together the wireless identification transponder.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an isometric view of the assembly line for manufacturing information plates <NUM>, wherein the flexible layer <NUM> comprises conductive material. The difference to the previous example is the opening <NUM> configured to prevent blocking the radio transmission.

In some embodiments the sequence of the stages may be altered. In one embodiment, the filler station <NUM> for filling the cavity <NUM> with the filler material <NUM> is positioned after cutting the information plate <NUM> from the bulk sheet. In one embodiment, the information plate body <NUM> is cut into shape and separated from the bulk sheet before placing the flexible layer <NUM> onto the information plate body <NUM>. In one embodiment, the bulk sheet comprises cavities <NUM> before entering the assembly line.

<FIG> illustrates schematically one exemplary placement of the identification device <NUM> over the cavity <NUM>. In one exemplary embodiment, a second symmetrical axis <NUM> of the wireless identification device <NUM> is at a distance d between <NUM> and <NUM> from a first symmetrical axis <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>. In one embodiment, the distance d is between <NUM> and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the distance d is between <NUM> and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the distance d is between <NUM> and <NUM>. The asymmetrical placement of the distance d may occur at either side of the first symmetrical axis <NUM>. The first symmetrical axis <NUM> and the second symmetrical axis <NUM> are parallel in these exemplary embodiments. In one embodiment, the asymmetrical placement of the identification device <NUM> improves performance of the wireless identification transponder. In one exemplary embodiment the improved performance occurs at <NUM> asymmetrical placement. Examples of the improved performance are improved antenna gain or improved antenna radiation pattern.

<FIG> illustrates schematically one alternative exemplary placement of the identification device <NUM> over the cavity <NUM>, wherein the first symmetrical axis <NUM> and the second symmetrical axis <NUM> are parallel and overlap. In one exemplary embodiment, the cavity <NUM> is shaped asymmetrically.

<FIG> illustrates as a flowchart the steps of the method for manufacturing the information plate <NUM>. Step <NUM> comprises providing the information plate body <NUM> made of electrically conductive material. Step <NUM> comprises providing a cavity <NUM> into the information plate body <NUM>. Step <NUM> comprises providing a wireless identification device <NUM> comprising at least two connecting pins <NUM>. Step <NUM> comprises positioning the wireless identification device <NUM> onto a flexible layer <NUM>, having the at least two connecting pins <NUM> exposed. Step <NUM> comprises placing the flexible layer <NUM> onto the information plate body <NUM>, wherein the wireless identification device <NUM> is positioned over the cavity <NUM> and the at least two connecting pins <NUM> come into contact with the information plate body <NUM>.

Although at least a portion of the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A method for manufacturing an information plate having a wireless identification transponder:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the method comprises the steps of:
providing an information plate body (<NUM>) made of electrically conductive material;
providing a cavity (<NUM>) into the information plate body (<NUM>);
providing a wireless identification device (<NUM>) comprising at least two connecting pins (<NUM>);
positioning the wireless identification device (<NUM>) onto a flexible layer (<NUM>), having the at least two connecting pins (<NUM>) exposed;
placing the flexible layer (<NUM>) onto the information plate body (<NUM>) from a roll of flexible layer (<NUM>), wherein the wireless identification device (<NUM>) is positioned over the cavity (<NUM>) and the at least two connecting pins (<NUM>) come into contact with the information plate body (<NUM>).