Identification device in the form of a tag-like strip affixable to an article

Claim 2

An identification device in the form of a tag-like strip affixable to an article, comprising at least an inductive member formed of flat conductor strips and a capacitive member formed of superposed flat conductor strips and a dielectric layer interposed therebetween and forming, together with said inductive member, a resonant circuit, wherein said flat conductor strips (89, 107,112; 90, 108, 113; 109, 112, 114; 110, 113, 115), in a manner so as to form striplines having distributed line inductances and distributed line capacitances, in mutual alignment, oppose one another in a first and a second plane and wherein said flat conductor strips form a first (clockwise-wound) multi-turn conductive spiral pattern (89, 107, 112; 109, 112, 114) and a second (counter-clockwise-wound) multi-turn conductive spiral pattern (90, 108, 113; 110, 113, 115) in said respective first and second plane, and wherein at least a first end portion (107, 114; 108, 115; 112; 113) belonging to a specific turn of said first multi-turn conductive spiral pattern in said first plane is superposed to the corresponding specific turn of said second multi-turn conductive spiral pattern in said second plane, and wherein the dielectric is arranged at least in spaces between mutually superposed flat conductor strips (between 89 and 90; 107 and 108; 112 and 113, 114 and 115).

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer is arranged between facing sides of mutually opposing flat conductor strips (87; 89, 90; 109, 110; 112, 113, 114, 115) and, at least in part, is formed of a homogenous dielectric sheet (93; 81) extending therebetween.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer is arranged between two facing sides of mutually opposing flat conductor strips (47 to 54; 87; 89, 90; 109, 110; 112, 113; 114, 115) and, at least in part, comprises a dielectric sheet (40; 41; 42; 81; 93) extending therebetween and an electrically insulating layer (45; 46; 88) extending at least on one face of the two opposing conductor strips (47 to 54; 87; 89, 90; 109, 110, 111, 113; 114, 115).

Claim 5

The device according to claim 3, wherein at least one electrically insulating layer (40 to 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93) is provided, which layer on its first face bonds to a face of said at least two mutually opposing flat conductors paths (31, 34; 47 to 54; 89, 107, 112; 90, 108, 113; 108, 112, 114; 110, 113, 115) and on its second face bonds to another layer having dielectric properties (40; 41; 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93).

Claim 6

The device according to claim 3, wherein the overall effective thickness of the interposed dielectric (45 and 46; 45 and/or 46 and 40 or 41 or 42, 81; (81), 88, 93) between mutually opposing flat conductor strips is greater than the average thickness of the dielectric provided in the lateral spaces between adjacent flat conductor strips forming multiple turns.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric layer is arranged between facing sides of mutually opposing flat conductor strips (47, to 54; 87; 89, 90; 109, 110; 112, 113; 114, 115) and, at least in part, comprises: a first electrically insulating layer (40 to 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93) having a first thickness and extending at least on the face of flat conductor strips in a first plane, and of a second electrically insulating layer (40 to 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93) having a second thickness and extending at least on the face of flat conductor strips in a second plane, so that the spacing of said flat conductor strips in said first and second plane at least in part is the sum of said first and second respective thickness.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one electrically insulating layer (40 to 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93) is provided, which layer on its first face bonds to a face of said at least two mutually opposing flat conductors paths (31, 34; 47 to 54; 89, 107, 112; 90, 108, 113; 108, 112, 114; 110, 113, 115) and on its second face bonds to another layer having dielectric properties (40; 41; 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93).

Claim 9

The device according to claim 6, wherein the overall effective thickness of the interposed dielectric (45 and 46; 45 and/or 46 and 40 or 41 or 42, 81; (81), 88, 93) between mutually opposing flat conductor strips is greater than the average thickness of the dielectric provided in the lateral spaces between adjacent flat conductor strips forming multiple turns.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric layer is arranged between two facing sides of mutually opposing flat conductor strips and comprises: a first electrically insulating layer (45; 46; 88) having a first thickness and extending at least on the face of flat conductor strips in a first plane, at least one homogenous dielectric sheet (40; 41; 42; 81; 93) having a third thickness, and a second electrically insulating layer (45; 46; 88) having a second thickness and extending at least on the face of the other flat conductor strips in a second plane, so that said dielectric sheet is arranged between said first and second electrically insulating layers and the spacing of said flat conductor strips in said first and second plane at least in part is the sum of at least first and second and third respective thickness.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 9, wherein at least one electrically insulating layer (40 to 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93) is provided, which layer on its first face bonds to a face of said at least two mutually opposing flat conductors paths (31, 34; 47 to 54; 89, 107, 112; 90, 108, 113; 108, 112, 114; 110, 113, 115) and on its second face bonds to another layer having dielectric properties (40; 41; 42; 45; 46; 81; 88; 93).

Claim 12

The device according to claim 9, wherein the overall effective thickness of the interposed dielectric (45 and 46; 45 and/or 46 and 40 or 41 or 42, 81; (81), 88, 93) between mutually opposing flat conductor strips is greater than the average thickness of the dielectric provided in the lateral spaces between adjacent flat conductor strips forming multiple turns.

Claim 13

The device according to claim 1, wherein said flat conductor strips (89, 107, 112; 109, 112, 114) in a first of the two planes form a first (clockwise) conductive spiral pattern having clockwise multiple turns, and wherein said flat conductor strips (90, 108, 113; 110, 113, 115) in a second of the two planes form a second (counter clockwise) conductive spiral pattern having counter clockwise multiple turns and wherein both clockwise and counter clockwise conductive spiral patterns face one another, in a mutually registrated opposition with respect one to another, and wherein the dielectric effective between said opposing conductive spiral patterns, at least in part of its thickness, comprises at least one electrically insulating layer forming at least a flat dielectric spiral path (88) having multiple turns and having a minimum outline which is congruent with the outline of one of both clockwise and counter clockwise conductive spiral patterns (89, 107, 112; 90, 108, 113; 109, 112, 114; 110, 113, 115).

Claim 14

The device according to claim 1, wherein the flat conductor strips (89, 107, 112; 109, 112, 114) in said first plane forms a first (clockwise) conductive spiral pattern having clockwise multiple turns, and wherein the flat conductor strips (90, 108, 113; 110, 113, 115) in said second plane form a second (counter clockwise) conductive spiral pattern having counter clockwise multiple turns, and wherein said conductive spiral patterns face one another, in a mutually aligned opposition with respect one to another, and wherein the dielectric effective between opposing conductive spiral patterns, at least in part of its thickness, is comprised of a first electrically insulating layer forming at least a first flat dielectric spiral path having clockwise multiple turns and having a minimum outline which is congruent with the outline of said first (clockwise) conductive spiral pattern (89, 107, 112; 109, 112, 114) and of a second electrically insulating layer forming at least a second flat dielectric spiral path having counter clockwise multiple turns and having a minimum outline which is congruent with the outline of said second (counter clockwise) conductive spiral pattern (90, 108, 113; 110, 113, 115), and wherein said clockwise and counter clockwise multiple turns of said first and second dielectric spiral paths face one another in a mutually aligned opposition, and wherein said first (clockwise) conductive spiral pattern (89, 107, 112; 109, 112, 114) is registrated to said second flat dielectric spiral path and wherein said second counter clockwise conductive spiral pattern (90, 108, 113; 110, 113, 115) is registrated to said first flat dielectric spiral path.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer is comprised of an electrically insulating layer (88) extending on the opposing face of one of the two multi-turn conductive spiral patterns (87; 89, 90; 109,112,114; 110,113; 115).

Claim 16

For use in electronic security systems, an identification device carrying a planar resonant circuit and having the form of a tag-like strip affixable to an article and comprising: a first spiral conductive path (39; 109; 87) in a first plane, a second spiral conductive path (90; 110; 87) in a second plane arranged in parallel to said first plane, an insulating layer (88; 93; 93, 88; 88, 93; 88, 93, 88) spacing opposing faces of said first and second conductive spiral paths and being provided at least in the projected spaces between the mutually facing parts of the first and second conductive paths, said first spiral conductive path and second spiral conductive path being aligned so that they overlap each other over a major portion of the lengths of said conductive paths to form a distributed capacitance by virtue of said alignment.

Claim 17

For use in electronic security systems, an identification device carrying a planar resonant circuit and having the form of a tag-like strip affixable to an article and comprising: a first spiral conductive path (39; 109; 87) in a first plane, a second spiral conductive path (90; 110; 87) in a second plane arranged in parallel to said first plane, an insulating layer (88; 93; 93, 88; 88, 93; 88, 93, 88) spacing opposing faces of said first and second conductive spiral paths and being provided at least in the projected spaces between the mutually facing parts of the first and second conductive paths, said first spiral conductive path and second spiral conductive path being aligned so that they overlap each other over a major portion of the lengths of said conductive paths to form a distributed capacitance by virtue of said alignment.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 15, wherein the overall degree of said overlap contributing to the distributed capacitance is at least 70% of the facing areas between conductive elements on opposing surfaces of said insulating layer.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 15, wherein the overall degree of said overlap contributing to distributed capacitance typically ranges between 90% and 100% of the facing areas between conductive elements.

Claim 20

The device according to claim 15, wherein said distributed capacitance formed of overlapped conductive paths and the insulating layer therebetween depends, to a major degree, on the accuracy of positional registration of portions of one of both conductive spiral paths (89 or 90, 109 or 110) with respect to the cover material (65) carrying the conductive path construction of the device.

Claim 21

The device according to claim 15, wherein said distributed capacitance formed of overlapped conductive paths and the insulating layer therebetween substantially depends on the width and width variation of one of the conductive spiral paths (89, 90; 109, 110) only.

Claim 22

The device according to claim 15, wherein said insulating layer includes at least a sheet-like continuous insulative substrate (93) substantially extending over the full area of the circuit device.

Claim 23

The device according to claim 15, wherein said first spiral conductive path (89, 109) has an inner and an outer portion and wherein said outer portion (107; 114) comprises a conductive path which is wider than the inner portion of said first conductive spiral path.

Claim 24

The device according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second spiral conductive paths (89, 109; 90, 110) have an inner and an outer portion and wherein said outer portions (107, 114; 108, 115) are wider than said inner portions (112; 113; 79).

Claim 25

The device according to claim 15, wherein the diameter of said first spiral conductive path (90; 110) is larger than the diameter of said second conductive path (89; 109).

Claim 26

The device according to claim 15, wherein the major portion of said conductive paths (89, 90; 109, 110; 87) overlap each other over substantially the entire length of at least one of said conductive paths (89, 90; 109, 110; 87).

Claim 27

The device according to claim 15, wherein said first and second spiral conductive paths (89, 90; 109, 110) have substantially equal areas.

Claim 28

The device according to claim 15, wherein said first spiral conductive path (90; 110) is wider than said second spiral conductive path (89; 109).

Claim 29

The device according to claim 15, wherein said first spiral conductive path forms a first (clockwise-wound) conductive spiral pattern and said second spiral conductive path forms a second (counter-clockwise-wound) conductive spiral pattern, each forming approximately one half of an inductor coil and one half of a capacitive element of the device.

Claim 30

The device of claim 27, wherein said inductor coil halves are electrically insulated from each other.

Claim 31

The device of claim 27, wherein said inductor coil halves are electrically connected in series with respect one to another, so that said first spiral conductive path forms a first (clockwise-wound) conductive spiral pattern and said second spiral conductive path forms a second (counter-clockwise-wound) conductive spiral pattern each path having a substantially constant direction of turn.

Claim 32

The device of claim 29, wherein the electrical connection between said first and second spiral conductive paths is realized by way of said first and second spiral conductive paths' forming an integral one-piece conductor path device of constant material properties along its full length.

Claim 33

The device of claim 29, wherein said multi-turn conductive spiral patterns turn with a constant turn direction by at least two times.

Claim 34

The device of claim 29, wherein the electrical connection between said first and second conductive paths is realized by way of a connecting means for providing a current path between said first and second individual spiral conductive paths.

Claim 35

The device of claim 29, wherein the electrical connection is between outer portions of said first and second spiral conductive paths.

Claim 36

The device of claim 15, wherein a first set of flat conductor strips and a second set of flat conductor strips respectively forming clockwise- and counter-clockwise-wound multi-turn conductive spiral patterns are electrically connected to each other in a suitable location along aligned first and second flat conductor strips, so that said multi-turn conductive spiral patterns are electrically connected, and include open inner and outer end portions (107, 114; 108, 115; 112; 113) each turn of which is insulatively superposed to the corresponding turn of the opposed multi-turn conductive spiral pattern.

Claim 37

The device according to claim 15, wherein said tag-like strip has a coverface for carrying data and printed information for additionally serving for point-of-sale functions for an article of merchandise to which it is affixed.

Claim 38

The device according to claim 15, wherein said tag-like strip has a face provided with an adhesive film which is covered and protected by a delaminating sheet prior to its use.

Claim 39

The device according to claim 15, wherein said tag-like strip has a coverface with a punched out hole in the interior of said spirally arranged flat conductor paths.

Claim 40

The device according to claim 15, wherein at least a specific one of said spirally arranged conductor paths is provided for being cut out by way of stamping a hole through the entire device for rendering it deactivated with respect to said electronic security system.