WO2001029763A1

WO2001029763A1 - Device for contactlessly inserting an electronic label into an object and methods for using the device to this end

Info

Publication number: WO2001029763A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/002763
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lazzari
Original assignee: Information Technology Development
Priority date: 1999-10-15
Filing date: 2000-10-05
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Also published as: FR2799678A1; AU7793800A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for contactlessly inserting an electronic chip-type label into an object of any kind and of any shape, and to methods for using said device to that end. The inventive device is portable and is configured in the form of a case or a manual tool. The invention is suitable for use in the area of contactless identification and authentication by electronic chip.

Description

DEVICE FOR INSERTING A NON-CONTACT ELECTRONIC LABEL INTO AN OBJECT, AND METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING THE SAME.

DESCRIPTION

Technical area

The subject of the present invention is a device for inserting an electronic label, of the contactless electronic chip type, into any object of variable shape and nature, as well as the implementation methods. It finds applications in the field of electronic identification and authentication.

State of the prior art

Smart cards use an integrated circuit, mounted in the plastic of the card, and connected to contacts. There are also contactless smart cards. The electronic circuit is connected to an inductor which receives electromagnetic induction by its energy, supplied by a fixed station, which allows the electronic circuit to have a dialogue with the fixed station. By extension to these devices, chips have been developed connected to a coil, the whole being presented as a label, which can be affixed to the object to be identified, a bit like bar code labels. Patent EP 0 827 108 A2 describes such a label. One of the drawbacks of these labels is that they are quite large, that their cost is high, and that the thickness of the chip containing the integrated circuit often causes destructive snagging. In order to reduce the size of the chip, and therefore its cost, electronic labels have been developed consisting of an electronic chip on which the induction coil is deposited. The surface of this label is therefore much smaller than that where the coil is separated from the integrated circuit. Due to its small size, the transmission of energy between the integrated circuit and the fixed inductor device requires a short distance between the inductor and the integrated circuit of the label. In general, the most widespread application of these objects is the smart card, specialized for telephone, banking, medical applications, identity cards or passports, etc. The mounting of the chip in the plastic card , is done in the factory. Numerous patents describe these mounting methods. Let us quote for example, the patents 2 673 041, WO 99/31626, 2 695 854, EP 0 705 654 A1 which are methods and machines for inserting the chip into its plastic support card.

In order to avoid the drawbacks associated with the use of a sticky label for the identification of various objects, it has been proposed the insertion of a chip having on its active surface a microbool, inside of a micro-cavity, as described in patent application No. 9902316 of February 16, 1999, bearing the title: Device for electronic authentication without miniaturized contact. The electronic chip (100) of FIG. 1, carrying its coil - on its upper surface, is inserted inside an open micro-cavity (101) formed in the material (103) of the object (200) to identify. The electrical label, made up of a contactless electronic chip, is then coated in a protective resin (102). The electronic chip in this assembly is well protected because it does not exceed the surface of the object carrying it, and because it is perfectly coated and sealed, protecting it from any aggressive environment.

This last method of assembly has many advantages, compared to the simple bonding of an electronic label on the surface. of the object.

However, this mounting method requires complex machines installed in workshops, and specialized according to the shape, size, nature of the objects in which one wants to install the electromque chip.

These difficulties mean that the installation of small electronic chips is done in the factory, and is limited to objects of shape, size, always similar materials, which represents a major drawback.

The present invention adjustment aims to provide a simple, portable device, which ensures the insertion on any object, shape, size, variable materials, as well as the insertion methods of the contactless electronic chip. Statement of the invention

To this end, the invention provides a simple, portable device for inserting and coating an electronic label constituted by a contactless electronic chip, in the surface of any object,

5 comprising reference supports, means for holding the object on its reference supports, means for producing a micro-cavity in the surface of the object, a store containing electronic chips, means for installation of a chip in the micro-cavity, means for temporarily holding the chip in the micro-cavity, means for

^ 0 control of the presence and functionality of the electronic chip, the means for coating the chip, all of these operations being performed by the device according to the invention. The invention also proposes the methods associated with the insertion of the chip, implementing the device of the invention.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a simple and portable device, as well as the associated methods, for inserting a contactless electronic label into the surface of an object, comprising reference supports, allowing position the object, A so that the micro-cavity is produced in a precise location, chosen on the surface of the object, means for holding the object on its reference supports, so that the device is fixed and well positioned during all the insertion operations of the electronic chip, means for punching or machining the material of the object, according to shapes and 5 depths adapted to the size of the electronic chip, to produce a micro- cavity, means for depositing a drop of glue at the bottom of the micro-cavity for temporary maintenance of the electronic chip, of an electronic chip store, making it possible to supply chips on demand, a placement head in the micro-cavity of an electronic chip, means for checking the presence and proper functioning of the electronic chip, means for polymerizing the drop of temporary holding glue, means for depositing a drop of resin d coating, means for polymerizing the coating resin. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings. Brief description of the drawings. Figure 1, already described, shows the diagram of a contactless electronic chip, inserted in a micro cavity. Figure 2 shows the reference supports, and the connecting means of the device according to the invention, and of the object in which the electronic chip is to be inserted. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the device according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a side view of the device according to the invention. Figure 5 shows the tool holder associated with the device Figure 6 shows the device installed in a case.

Detailed description of embodiments

Figure 2 shows the means of positioning and holding the object, relative to the device. The device is mounted on a base (202) which constitutes the body of the device. This base on which all the organs of the device are mounted, can be installed in a portable case, in order to facilitate its transport, or can be in the form of a manual tool, connected to a case by a flexible cord, or more simply as a stand-alone hand tool, such as pliers. On the base (202), a removable plate (205) is mounted. On this removable plate (205), there are reference supports (203). The shape of the removable plate, the shape and the number of its reference supports, their position, are determined according to the shape of the object (200) and the chosen position (201) of the microcavity to be produced. in the object (200). Also found on this plate, the fixing means (204) which provide the mechanical connection between the plate (205) and the object (200). Thus, the same device according to the invention can receive different removable plates (205) each being adapted to its own object (200).

Figure 3 shows a top view of the device according to the invention. Above the base (202) and the plate (205), there is a support (300) which supports a tool holder (301). The support (300) makes it possible to position the tool holder (301) in the working position, in order to carry out on the surface of the object (200) the operations necessary for the installation of the electronic chip, or to move the holder away tool from its working position, in order to select the tool for the next operation. The support (300) is therefore mounted on the base (202) in order to be able to approach or move away from the surface of the object (200). In the illustration given in FIG. 4, this movement of bringing the support (300) closer and further away from the surface of the object (200) is effected by simple pivoting around an axis (402) . The working position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the support for the tool holder (301) is given by a stop (403), known to those skilled in the art. Any other means of bringing the support (300) closer to the object (200) can also be used, such as for example a vertical linear displacement. On the support (300), is fixed a tool holder (301) as shown in Figure 3. According to the illustration of Figure 3, the tool holder (301) is rotatable, and allows by simple rotation to position a chosen tool opposite the position (201) where the electronic chip is to be installed in the surface of the object (200). Any other type of tool holder, known to those skilled in the art, such as a linear tool holder, can be used. In this case, the different tools are mounted on a linear movement carriage. The movement of this carriage makes it possible to position the chosen tool facing the position (201). According to the illustration in Figure 3, the tool holder is rotatable (301), and has several positions (303) which can receive the different tools, as shown in Figure 5. The tool holder (301) includes in the example given 8 positions listed (3011 to 3018). It is mounted on the support (300). Its rotation is either manual, or controlled by an automation known to those skilled in the art. In the first position (3011), there is a first tool for forming the microcavity in the surface of the object (200). This tool may for example be a punch, or a micro-cutter, as shown in FIG. 4. The micro-cutter (400) is mounted at the end of a motor axis (401). In the case of machining, the tool can also be a micro-sandblasting nozzle, a pressurized water jet, or an ultrasonic, or EDM machining electrode, or a laser beam. . The choice of tool formation of the micro-cavity, is done according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, depending on the material of the object (200) in which the micro-cavity (102) is to be produced. Once the micro-cavity is complete, the tool holder is raised, and it is rotated by an eighth of a turn, so that the second tool (3012) is in position (201) of FIG. 3. The second tool allows to deliver a drop of glue, of calibrated diameter. This type of tool is known to those skilled in the art. The tool holder is lowered into the working position, and the tool (3012) deposits a small drop of glue at the bottom of the cavity. The function of this glue is to hold the electric chip 0 until it is coated in a resin. The drop of glue therefore provides temporary support. Before polymerizing this drop of glue, the tool holder is raised, it is rotated by an eighth of a turn, so that the position (3013) is opposite the micro-cavity located at (201). The tool holder is lowered into the working position. Position (3013) 5 includes an electronic chip store. The previously selected electronic chips are stored in this barrel-type store, or charger type, or any other type known to those skilled in the art. The end of the store is equipped with a dispenser which supplies only one electronic chip at a time. This dispenser is known to those skilled in the art. The electronic chip is therefore placed at the bottom of the micro-cavity, and momentarily held in place by the glue which has been placed at the bottom of this same cavity, the glue not yet being polymerized, the surface tension of the glue is sufficient to hold the chip at the bottom of the cavity. The tool holder is raised, it is rotated by an eighth of a turn, it is lowered into the working position, so that the tool located in position (3014) is opposite the micro-cavity located in position ( 201). The tool (3014) is a tool for checking the presence and functioning of the electronic chip. It consists of a micro-coil, connected to _Q electronics _. control. The micro-coil supplies the chip with its energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The energy received allows the electronic chip to send messages, such as a code for example, or to communicate with the control electronics. If the control result is satisfactory, presence, by the signal emitted by the chip, and proper functioning of the chip, then we go to the next step, if on the other hand there is no electronic chip, or if it malfunctions, or if not not the right chip, the object (200) is removed, then cleaned before being reintroduced on the plate (205) in order to receive another drop of glue, and another electronic chip. If the control is satisfactory, then the tool holder is raised, it is rotated by an eighth of a turn, it is lowered into the working position, with the tool (3015). This tool is an optical fiber which delivers an ultraviolet light, in the case where the temporary holding adhesive is polymerizable by ultraviolet rays, or a flow of hot air, in the case where the adhesive is polymerizable by heat. The hardening of the glue under the microchip maintains this

10 last in place, at the bottom of the cavity. The tool holder is again raised, it is rotated by an eighth of a turn, and it is lowered into the working position, so that the tool (3016) is positioned opposite the micro-cavity in position (201) . It is a distributor of a calibrated drop of coating resin. The drop of resin falls into the cavity, and

1 ^ completely coats the electronic chip. The volume of the drop is calibrated so as not to exceed the surface of the object (200) in which the micro-cavity has been produced. In order to have a good coating, it is sometimes necessary to use a tool having an ultrasonic head, located in position 3017, which by the effect of ultrasound, makes well penetrate the drop of

20 coating resin in the cavity. If the coating resin is polymerizable by an ultraviolet ray, then, after having raised the tool holder, having rotated it by an eighth of a turn, and having lowered it into the working position, the fiber can be reused optic which provides an ultraviolet ray r _yc located in position (3015). It is also possible to use a heat-polymerizable coating resin. In which case, the tool located in position (3018), after installation, facing the micro-cavity in position (201) generates a flow of hot air according to methods and methods known to those skilled in the art . If necessary, a final check is carried out

30_ using the tool (3014). All operations are either automatic, semi-automatic, or manual. It is of course possible to choose other types of tools which can fulfill the tasks described below, according to the methods of the invention.

- Mounting of the object (200) on its plate (205) in contact with the reference supports. - Maintaining the object (200) in position for the duration of the operations.

- Formation by punching or machining a micro-cavity in the surface of the object (200), of dimension slightly larger than that of the electronic chip, that is to say between a few square millimeters, and a portion of a millimeter square and of depth equal to a few tenths of ______ l_imeter, to one millimeter. The shape of the microcavity is either circular, or square or rectangular, depending on the tool used to form it.

- Deposit at the bottom of the cavity a drop of glue for temporary maintenance of the electronic chip.

- Installation at the bottom of the micro-cavity of an electronic chip, from a store and a distributor of electronic chip 5.

- Control p ^re sence, operation of the electronic chip by a reading head having an exciting coil connected to a control électromque. If the control is satisfactory, then the rest of the operations are initiated, if not, the object (200) is removed, 0 cleaned and then reintroduced on the plate (205)

- Polymerization of the temporary glue, by ultraviolet light, or by heating, depending on the type of temporary glue chosen.

- Distribution of a drop of coating resin

- Penetration of the coating resin drop into the cavity by 5 ultrasonic agitation.

- Ultraviolet or heat polymerization of the coating resin.

- If necessary, final functional check of the electronic _{τ 0} chip using the same tool (3014) as before.

Figure 6 shows the device according to the invention installed in its carrying case. We find the plate (205) which allows the positioning of the object (200), mounted on the base (202), the tool holder (301), whose electronic chip distributor store is in position in the figure. In its automatic version, there is under the support (300) a jack (600) which controls the lifting or positioning of work, support (300), as well as the stop (403). There are also all the control means (601) for the automations for raising and lowering the support (300), the rotation of the tool holder (301), the control of each tool, the control electronics, with a flat screen (603). All of the connection cables, optical fibers, flexible tubes for glue or resin, are connected from the case, to the tools, by flexible loops (602) to allow the tool holder, and support to move as needed.

When the object (200), in the surface of which one wishes to install an electronic chip, is small, and easily manipulated, the presentation of the device in a case as shown in FIG. 6 is well suited. On the other hand, when it comes to installing the electronic chip (100) in a heavy or bulky object, such as a car door for example, then the device according to the invention presents itself

15 in the form of a manual tool such as pliers for example, which an operator manipulates by hand, this pliers grouping together all of the elements described above, namely, the base (202), the plate (205), the tool holder (301), with its tools, and the support (300). This clamp can -, _Ω be either autonomous, or be connected by a flexible cord, in which circulate the various cables, optical fibers, or flexible tube to a case including the automations.

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Claims

1. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, characterized in that the device comprises mechanical reference supports, means for holding the object, means for forming a micro- cavity in the surface of the object, means for pre-bonding an electronic label, means for installing an electronic label in the micro-cavity, means for checking the presence and operation of the electronic label, means for coating the electric label, all of these means constituting a portable device

2. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a removable plate (205), of shape adapted to the object (200), comprising reference supports, and means for holding the object (200) on these reference supports, for the duration of the operations for inserting the electronic label.

3. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tool holder (301) allowing, by rotation or linear displacement, to position tools in the axis of the position (201) where the electronic label will be inserted.

4. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to claim 3, characterized in that the tool holder (301) comprises a tool for forming by punching or machining a micro-cavity, a tool for depositing a drop of temporary holding glue at the bottom of the micro-cavity, an electronic label store, a device for placing an electronic label at the bottom of the micro-cavity, a tool for checking the presence and functioning of the electronic label, a tool for polymerization by ultraviolet ray, or by a jet of hot air of the temporary holding glue, a tool for depositing a drop resin calibrated coating, an ultrasonic head tool for penetrating the coating resin into the micro-cavity, a polymerization tool by ultraviolet ray or by a jet of hot air, the coating resin.

- 5. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to claim 4, characterized in that the drop of coating resin is calibrated in order to fill the micro-cavity, without exceeding the surface of the object in which the micro-cavity was produced.

; o 6. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface. of an object, according to claim 4, characterized in that the tool holder is mounted on a support (300) making it possible to raise it, to position a new tool, and to put it in the working position, in the axis of the position (201) where the electronic label will be inserted.

7. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device is installed in a portable case, comprising the automatic controls.

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8. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to claim 6, characterized in that the device mounted on the base (202) is in the form of a manual tool which can be manipulated by a operator, connected by a flexible cord to a portable case including the automatic controls.

9. Device for inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized - _. in that the device mounted on the base (202) is in the form of an autonomous manual tool.

10. Methods of inserting an electronic label into the surface of an object, comprising the following steps:

- Mounting of the object on the plate (205) in contact with the reference supports. - Maintaining the object on the plate (205) throughout the duration of the operations.

- Formation by punching or machining a micro-cavity

- Drop a drop of temporary holding glue at the bottom of the cavity

- Installation of an electric label at the bottom of the cavity

- Presence and operation control of the electronic tag

- Polymerization of the drop of temporary holding glue

- Deposit of a drop of coating resin of calibrated volume. - Penetration by ultrasound of the drop of coating resin in the microcavity.

- Polymerization of the coating resin.