Patent EP0615285A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0615285A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attaching an electronic circuit to a substrate
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
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Filing: 1994-03-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-03-11
Abstract
Abstract Integrated circuits such as transponders (10) are attached to a substrate (28) such as cardboard packaging material by adhering an integrated circuit to the substrate, applying a patch antenna (18) to the substrate and the integrated circuit, and applying a sealing layer (40) over the integrated circuit and at least a portion of the antenna. In variations of the method, an indentation (34) may be formed in the substrate into which the integrated circuit is placed. The patch antenna may be screen printed onto the substrate and the integrated circuit, using conductive ink, or may be a metallic foil which is applied to the substrate and the integrated circuit. Where the integrated circuit is a transponder, it can be programmed with an identification code, either before or after being attached to the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J.C. Marsh
- 👤 Gideon J. Gouws
- 👤 Mark H. Carson
- 👤 Mario A. Marais
- 👤 Trevor M. Hodson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:23
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/30; B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/4212; B65D5/4233; B65D5/44; B65D5/52; B65D5/528; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/245; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K19/0775; G06K19/07771; H10W70/00; H10W70/099; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H10W70/614; H10W72/071; H10W72/077; B31; B31B; B31B50/00; B31B50/74; B31B50/81; B65D2203/00; B65D2203/10; B65D2211/00; H10W70/67; H10W70/68; H10W70/682; H10W72/072; H10W72/07231; H10W72/07236; H10W72/073; H10W72/07331; H10W72/07337; H10W72/351; H10W72/353; H10W72/354; H10W72/701; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/724; H10W99/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/901; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49016; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of attaching an electronic circuit to a substrate characterised in that it comprises: providing an electronic circuit having at least two electrical terminals; securing the electronic circuit to the substrate; and applying a conductive element to the substrate and the electronic circuit to define an antenna, so that the conductive element makes electrical contact with the at least two electrical terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the conductive element comprises a layer of conductive ink, printed in the shape of the antenna.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 characterised in that the conductive ink comprises carbon or metallic particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the conductive element comprises a metallic foil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 4 characterised in that the metallic foil is applied to the electronic circuit prior to securing the integrated circuit to the substrate, with the foil and the circuit being applied together to the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 4 characterised in that the metallic foil is applied to the substrate after the electronic circuit has been secured to the substrate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any one of claims 4 to 6 characterised in that the metallic foil has an adhesive layer thereon for securing the foil to the substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 7 characterised in that the adhesive layer is removed from the metallic foil in areas corresponding to the position of the electrical terminals of the electronic circuit prior to application of the foil to the electronic circuit or the substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 4 characterised in that the metallic foil is applied to the substrate prior to securing the electronic circuit to the substrate, and the electronic circuit is subsequently attached to predetermined areas of the metallic foil, thereby to secure the electronic circuit to the substrate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any one of claims 4 to 9 characterised in that includes attaching the electrical contacts of the electronic circuit to predetermined areas of the foil using a conductive adhesive.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
51 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that it includes applying solder to the at least two electrical terminals, applying the conductive layer to the substrate so that it makes contact with the terminals, and reflowing the solder to join the antenna to the terminals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that it includes forming a cavity or indentation in the substrate to receive the electronic circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the cavity or indentation is formed by punching or stamping the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the cavity or indentation is formed by moulding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the cavity or indentation is formed in a plastics substrate by the application of a heated tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the cavity or indentation is formed in a plastics substrate by heating the electronic circuit and pressing it into the substrate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
38 words
A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 characterised in that an upper surface of the electronic circuit bearing the electrical terminals is substantially flush with the surface of the substrate after being secured thereto.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 characterised in that it includes applying a protective coating over the electronic circuit and at least a portion of the antenna.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 18 characterised in that the protective coating comprises a layer of settable sealant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 18 characterised in that the protective coating comprises a label.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 characterised in that the electronic circuit is an integrated circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 21 characterised in that the electronic circuit is a transponder which is programmable with an identity code, the method including programming the identity code into the transponder before or after securing it to the substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 22 characterised in that it includes applying contacts of a programming device to both the transponder and the antenna after securing the transponder and the antenna to the substrate, to program the transponder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 22 characterised in that it includes applying at least one contact element to the substrate which is in contact with a respective terminal of the transponder, and applying contacts of a programming device to the antenna and the at least one contact element after securing the transponder and the antenna to the substrate, to program the transponder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 24 characterised in that it includes applying a protective coating to the transponder, a portion of the antenna and a portion of the contact element prior to programming of the transponder, the contacts of the programming device being applied to uncoated portions of the antenna and the contact element.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
53 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 25 characterised in that the substrate comprises at least first and second components, the second component being secured to the first component after attachment of the electronic circuit and the antenna thereto, so that the electronic circuit and the antenna are substantially enclosed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A packaging component characterised in that it comprises a substrate to which an integrated circuit has been attached by the method of any one of claims 1 to 26.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A packaging component according to claim 27 characterised in that the substrate comprises cardboard.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A packaging component according to claim 27 characterised in that the substrate comprises glass, plastics or metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A packaging component according to any one of claims 27 to 29 characterised in that the substrate defines a container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A packaging component according to any one of claims 27 to 29 characterised in that the substrate defines a closure for a container.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An identification tag characterised in that it comprises a substrate to which an integrated circuit has been attached by the method of any one of claims 1 to 26.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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