One and Two-Part Printable EM Tags

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of assembly, labeling and programming decoupled EM tags used in the tagging and tracking of items wherein the tags including a printable label portion and a decoupler portion which are combined after printing on the surface of and programming a programmable device associated with the label portion.

1 . A method for manufacturing a decoupled EM tag comprising the steps of:
 preparing a printable label including a printable layer having a first surface and a second surface, an adhesive material layer adjacent to the printable layer second surface and an antenna electrically connected to a programmable device both located between the printable layer and the adhesive layer;   preparing a decoupler having a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface defining a first conductive side wall; and   attaching the printable label to the decoupler top surface by adhering the printable label adhesive layer into contact with the decoupler top surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a printer is used to print on the printable surface of the printable label before the printable label is attached to the decoupler surface to form a printed label. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the programmable device is programmed at a time selected from before the printable label is printed, during the printing of the printable label and after printing of the printable label. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the decoupler includes a second conducting side wall and a conducting end wall conductively connected to the first conducting side wall and second conducting side wall the first conducting side wall and second conducting side wall being spaced apart and substantially parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the decoupler first conducting side wall is attached to the surface of an item and thereafter the printable label is attached to the decoupler. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the decoupler is built into an item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the decoupler includes a second conducting side wall that defines at least part of the decoupler top surface and wherein the second conducting side wall includes at least one gap. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the printable surface of the printable tag is printed with a standard bar code printing device on demand with printed features selected from standard one dimensional, two dimensional, and human readable, variable, and sequential data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the printable label includes a carrier film layer between the printable layer and the adhesive layer wherein the programmable device and the antenna are associated with the carrier film layer. 
     
     
         10 . A printable label comprising:
 a printable layer;   an adhesive layer; and   a programmable device electrically united to an antenna, the combination being located between the printable layer and the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         11 . The printable layer of  claim 10  including a backing layer covering the adhesive layer. The printable label may optionally include one or more alignment features  20 . 
     
     
         12 . The printable layer of  claim 10  including a conductive side wall layer. 
     
     
         13 . The printable layer of  claim 10  including as least one alignment feature. 
     
     
         14 . The printable layer of  claim 10  further including a carrier film layer having a first side and a second side and located between the printable layer and the adhesive layer wherein the programmable device and the antenna are both associated with a same side of the carrier film. 
     
     
         15 . The printable layer of  claim 10  including a conductive side wall layer having a gap. 
     
     
         16 . A deconstructed decoupler comprising:
 a sheet including a conductive material layer having a first surface and a second surface, a dielectric layer associated with the conductive material layer second surface and at least one folding point wherein the folding point allows the sheet to be folded over upon itself at least one time such that the conduct material layer is prevented from creating a short circuit.   
     
     
         17 . The deconstructed decoupler of  claim 16  wherein there is a gap between an edge of the conductive material layer and the edge of the sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The deconstructed decoupler of  claim 17  including a programmable device and an antenna located essentially in the gap between the edge of the conductive material layer and the edge of the sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The deconstructed decoupler of  claim 16  wherein dielectric layer has a first surface that abuts the conductive material layer and a second surface including an adhesive material layer. 
     
     
         20 . The deconstructed decoupler of  claim 18  including a printable sheet associated with at least a portion of the conductive material layer first surface. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled)