DE102006022160B3 - Test device with HF / UHF dual band antenna for testing RFID transponders in a production device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a test device (1) for testing a transponder (2) which can be moved into a test area of a production device, comprising:
a first transmitting device (4) for emitting a radio signal in order to operate the transponder (2) to be tested in the test area;
- A second transmitting means (5) for providing an alternating magnetic field to operate the transponder (2) by inductive magnetic coupling;
wherein the first and second transmitting means (4, 5) are opposed to each other with respect to the test area (TB);
- A first shielding device (8) which attenuates the radio signal in a different of the test area (TB) shielding (AB) at least so that a transponder located there (2) is not operable; and
- A second shielding device (10) which attenuates the alternating magnetic field in the shielding region (AB) so that there located transponder (2) is not operable.

Description

The The invention relates to a test device with HF / UHF dual band antenna for testing RFID transponders in a production device, in particular for RFID transponders.

In modern manufacturing equipment for RFID transponders be great numbers manufactured by transponders in an automated manner. Usually such manufacturing equipment are suitable to produce both transponders with HF and UHF antennas, the - based on different transmission principles - in particular be read at different frequencies. To the so produced To test RFID transponders after their production, their functioning becomes with the help of a suitable test device, which can be installed in the production device or installed, tested, depending on the type of manufactured Transponders exchanged the test device due to their size must become.

Around the RFID transponder in a production device, in which several Transponder can reach the area of the test device, one after the other to be able to test individually are suitable shielding measures necessary to make sure that only the selected, tested transponder is tested by the test device. To becomes common provided, with the help of metal plates, the alternating magnetic field from neighboring non-testable transponders.

A Such shielding may, for example, for a reader and a Transponders operating in the HF range, d. H. the activation an alternating magnetic field with a frequency of e.g. about 13.56 MHz need, be provided in a manner that either the generated magnetic field specifies a defined propagation path or in which the alternating magnetic field in a conductive material due to the law of induction the magnetic field opposite magnetic field outside of the test area causing the alternating magnetic field so far weakens, that no activation of the transponder can take place.

In previous production equipment for such transponders So far, RFID transponders have been used only for the HF range or only for the UHF range produced and then tested or at least tested separately. In such manufacturing equipment to for the RF range or for a UHF range transponder can be manufactured. Despite the usually cramped Space situation within the manufacturing device, it is desirable that manufactured transponder both by activation in the RF range as well as by activation in the UHF range test, so a Replacement of the test device when changing the type of manufactured Transponders can be omitted and thus also transponders, both can be operated in the HF range as well as in the UHF range, fully tested can be.

To the It is shielding of a radio radiation used in the UHF range necessary, as conductive as possible surface structures to form that for the electromagnetic radiation is not penetrable and due their geometric dimensions do not resonate with the radiating Antenna can enter the test device.

US 6 104 291 A describes as well US Pat. No. 6,487,681 B1 a test system for transponders, which has a transmitting device for emitting a radio signal, with which the transponder to be tested is operated. A shielding device which attenuates the radio signal in a shielding area other than the test area is described. It is the arrangement of only one transmitter.

It It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved test device for a manufacturing equipment to disposal with the transponder both in the RF range and in the UHF range can be tested.

These The object is achieved by the test device according to claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention is a Test device for testing a transponder in a test area preferably in a production device for transponders intended. The test device comprises a first transmitting device for radiating a radio signal to the transponder in the test area to operate. Furthermore, a second transmitting device for providing an alternating magnetic field provided to the transponder operate inductive magnetic coupling. The first and the second Transmitter are with respect to of the test area arranged opposite each other.

With a first shielding device, the radio signal can be attenuated in a shielding region different from the test region at least in such a way that a transponder located there is not operable. With the aid of a second shielding device, the alternating magnetic field in the shielding area can be so attenuated that a transponder located there is not be is drivable.

On this way it is possible a test device available to provide a transponder testing for both reading out in the HF range as well as for reading in the UHF range within a production device, wherein in the presence of a plurality of transponders only the transponder, which is located in the test area, by both transmitting devices can be operated.

Especially may be the first shielding with conductive, isolated from each other Segments that are relative to the first transmitting device immediately behind the shielding area are arranged, and with a non-conductive region, with respect to the first transmitting device is arranged behind the test area, provided be. The segments are preferably capacitive with a reference potential, especially about the second shielding device, coupled.

Around To achieve a shield in the shielding, the Segments of the first shielding spaced from each other with a distance which is less than a quarter of the wavelength of the Radio signal. Furthermore, the segments should each have dimensions (Length, Width, diagonal, circumference) whose lengths are each half the wavelength of Radio signals and their multiples are different to no resonances with the transmitting antenna for to cause the radio signal.

The second shielding means may be provided with a conductive area, between the shielding area and the second transmitting device is arranged, and provided with a non-conductive region be in direct line between the test area and the second Transmitter is arranged so that a befindlicher in the test area Transponder radio radiation emitted by the second transmitter is sent out, can receive.

The first and / or second shielding means may be a carrier plate have on which the conductive Segments of the first shielding or the conductive region the second shielding device is applied, in particular both the first and the second shielding on a common support plate can be trained.

Farther can be provided a transport device, with the on a band applied transponder through the test area and the Shielding area to be transported so that each of the transponder in the test area for testing is movable.

Farther can a first matching device connected to the first shielding device is coupled to the size and / or the position of the non-conducting area on the transponder to be tested manually or automatically adjust, and a second adjustment device be provided, which is coupled to the second shielding device is to the size and / or the position of the non-conductive region of the second shielding device manually or automatically adjust the transponder to be tested.

According to one another embodiment the first transmitting device comprise a microstrip and / or patch antenna.

embodiments The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It demonstrate:

1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

2 a plan view of a schematic representation of the first shielding with conductive segments;

3 a plan view of the test device from a first direction A;

4 a plan view of the test device from a second direction B;

5 a plan view of the test device with an inserted band with RFID transponders; and

6 an illustration of a manufacturing apparatus with a test device according to the invention.

In 1 a test device for use in a (not shown) manufacturing device is shown, with the RFID transponder, also called RFID tags, RFID labels and the like, can be tested. RFID transponders can be read out without contact using a reader. The production device produces RFID transponders 2 in the form of a continuous band that can be cut apart for separation, or on a carrier band 3 on which the transponders 2 are applied during manufacturing and subsequent testing and can be solved thereafter.

The test device 1 provides the transponder 2 both by means of an alternating magnetic field with a frequency in the RF range (eg at 13.56 MHz) as well as with the aid of radio radiation in the UHF range (at about 900 MHz) to be able to read or test, the testing either only in the RF range or only in the UHF range or simultaneously in both areas is carried out.

For this purpose, a first transmitting device 4 with a UHF test antenna 41 and a second transmitting device 5 with an RF test antenna 51 intended. The first and the second transmitting device 4 . 5 are parts of respective test units that address the respective transmitter device in a manner suitable and suitable for testing to operate the transponder being tested. The carrier tape 3 with the transponders 2 is in the illustrated embodiment between the UHF test antenna 41 and the RF test antenna 51 passed through, so that the test antennas 41 . 51 opposite each other.

The transponders 2 are on the carrier tape 3 Usually arranged with a small distance from each other, so that without suitable shielding the transponder 2 by the first or second transmitting device 4 . 5 would be addressed. In order now from the first transmitting device 4 emitted radio radiation only on the transponder to be tested 2 and from the transponders not to be tested 2 to mitigate or weaken so far that the non-tested transponder 2 are not addressed, with respect to the first transmitting device 4 behind the carrier tape 3 that the transponders 2 carries, a first shielding device 8th provided that the reception of radio radiation by the transponder 2 prevented in Abschirmbereichen AB and in a test area TB, which is provided as a window between two shielding areas, allows. The shielding areas and the test area are essentially the areas that make up the transponders 2 on their way out of the production equipment. This is the first shielding 8th provided with an electrically conductive segmented structure whose segments 81 isolated from each other. The segments may be square, rectangular, honeycomb or in any other shape and provide conductive metal surfaces, for. The geometric dimensions of the segments are chosen so that with respect to the radio frequency of the UHF antenna 41 radiated radio radiation no resonances on the side surfaces, the circumference or the diagonal of these segments 81 can occur, ie that none of the geometric dimensions has a length which corresponds to half the wavelength of the radio radiation or a multiple thereof.

The shielding effect of the thus formed first shielding device 8th can only be achieved if the transponder to be tested 2 as close to the surface of the first shielding, ie as close as possible to the conductive segments 81 are located. Preferably, this is the carrier tape 3 with the transponders applied to it 2 on the first shielding device 8th up or over it only with very small distance over it. Will the distance between the first shielding 8th and the transponders 2 magnified to several millimeters, so the shielding effect against the radio radiation, and the first transmitting device disappears 4 can the transponder 2 on the carrier tape 3 , which are located in the shielding, also provide energy. In doing so, several of the transponders would be tested 2 detected simultaneously and thus no clear association between read transponder and its spatial arrangement would be possible. The shielding effect is based essentially on the fact that the segments 81 absorb all the energy of the UHF radio radiation and thus close to the segments no to operate the transponder 2 required energy is available.

To a shielding effect by the first shielding 8th in the test area TB to avoid, has the segmented area of the first shielding 8th a non-conductive area in the region of the test area, ie in the area that is relative to the first transmitting device 4 immediately behind the carrier tape 3 lies.

The first shielding device 8th That is, the segment-like conductive surfaces disposed in the respective shielding region AB may be on a support plate, for example 9 For example, be made of PCB or a suitable non-conductive material, be applied. The segment-like surfaces can z. B. be formed as metallic layers having an arrangement, as for example in 2 is shown. There are the segments 81 formed as rectangular conductive surfaces which are electrically separated from each other by narrow non-conductive portions. The distances between the segments 81 should not exceed a quarter of the wavelength of the radio radiation used and in the illustrated embodiment, the distances are given with a millimeter, while the lengths of the rectangular conductive segments are given as 19 millimeters. In the 2 dimensions given are only examples, and serve to illustrate the first shielding 8th ,

To shield from the second transmitter 5 emitted magnetic alternating field is a second shielding device 10 provided, which is a planar conductive layer in an area associated with the shielding AB, ie in an area between the shielding and the RF antenna 51 is arranged, provides and no conductive layer between the RF antenna 51 and the test area TB. The electrically conductive layer serves to induce the alternating magnetic field to generate eddy currents which cause a magnetic field opposing the magnetic field. The opposite magnetic field weakens the magnetic alternating field, which by the second transmitting device 5 is discharged, leaving only a weakened magnetic alternating field on the transponder 2 impinges in the shielding AB, which is not sufficient to the transponder 2 operate in the shielding area in the HF range.

Through the recess of the conductive surface in the area between the RF antenna 51 and the test area TB, there is no weakening of the alternating magnetic field in the test area TB, so that a transponder located there 2 can be tested. The first and the second shielding device 8th . 10 may be provided as separate components, but it is also possible, the segmented surface of the first shielding 8th and the conductive surface of the second shielding device 10 on two opposite sides of the carrier plate 9 applied. This also has the advantage that the segments of the first shielding 8th Capacitive with the electrically conductive surface of the second shielding device 10 are coupled. This can preferably be connected to the reference potential of the production device, for. B. a ground potential to be connected (not shown), so that the reference potential of the second shielding device, the coupled power of the radio radiation can be derived. The derived power of the radio radiation is then no longer as power for the transponder 2 , which are located in the shield AB, available, although the transponder located there 2 for the first transmitting device 4 are immediately visible.

The first and second shielding device or the carrier plate provided with these 9 can each be formed in two parts or in several parts, so that the shielding devices are located on two sides of a substantially trained as a window test area TB. The width of the test area TB and the position of the test area TB can thus be achieved by manually or automatically displacing the individual parts of the screening facilities 8th . 10 be set.

In particular, the shifting of the individual parts of the shielding devices 8th . 9 . 10 be carried out independently and automatically to the test area TB respectively on the position and size of the transponder to be tested 2 adjust. For adjusting the position of the individual parts of the shielding devices 8th . 10 can by adjusting devices 11 take place, the parts of the shielding in a suitable manner parallel to the course of the carrier tape 3 with the transponders 2 can move. For manual shifting of the individual parts of the shielding devices 8th . 9 . 10 For example, the shielding devices can be displaceably arranged along longitudinal slots and / or rails.

The transmitting devices 4 . 5 are part of a first and second test unit (not shown) and can each one, two or more test antennas 41 . 51 that work in different frequency ranges. In this case, the first transmitting device 4 a transmitting device for transmitting radio radiation in the UHF range and the second transmitting device comprises means for emitting an alternating magnetic field in the RF range.

In the segments of the first shielding may due to appropriate Dimensioning thus no antenna currents flow.

The carrier plate 9 of the shielding system is provided on both sides with metallic layers, wherein the material of the metallic surfaces may be the same or different. In particular, the metallic conductive surface of the second shielding device is to be provided with a sufficient thickness so that eddy currents of sufficient magnitude can be formed to produce an attenuating alternating magnetic field.

In 3 is a plan view from a viewing direction A on the test device of 1 shown. One recognizes the filled conductive surfaces of the second shielding device 10 and the second transmitting device 5 which is disposed over an elongated space between the two parts of the second shielding device.

In 4 is a plan view from a viewing direction B on the test device of 1 shown. The segmented conductive surfaces of the first shielding device 8th are on the opposite side of the carrier plate 9 applied.

As in 5 is shown, runs a carrier tape 3 with transponders applied to it 2 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the gap between the two parts of the shielding means 8th . 9 . 10 , Above the carrier tape 3 is the UHF antenna 41 the first transmitting device 4 arranged around the transponder located in the test area 2 to run for testing. Both the UHF antenna 41 the first transmitting device 4 as well as the RF antenna 51 the second transmitting device 5 can with a distance of 0 to 50 centimeters to the carrier tape 3 (on which the transponders 2 are arranged) be provided.

In 6 is a production device with a test device according to the invention 1 shown.

The UHF antenna can be designed as a microstrip or patch antenna, those with corresponding (not shown) completion and tuning elements may be provided to optimize the impedance parameters.

All Features disclosed in the application documents are considered to be essential to the invention as long as they are individually or in combination with respect to State of the art are new.

1

test device

2

transponder

3

carrier tape

4

first transmitting device

5

second transmitting device

8th

first shielding

9

support plate

10

second shielding

11

matcher

41

UHF antenna

51

RF antenna

81

segments

A

line of sight

B

line of sight

FROM

shielding

TB

test area

Claims (11)

Test device ( 1 ) for testing a transponder which can be moved into a test area of a production device ( 2 ), comprising: - a first transmitting device ( 4 ) for emitting a radio signal to the transponder to be tested ( 2 ) in the test area; A second transmitting device ( 5 ) for providing an alternating magnetic field to the transponder ( 2 ) operate by inductive magnetic coupling; wherein the first and the second transmitting device ( 4 . 5 ) are arranged opposite to each other with respect to the test area (TB); A first shielding device ( 8th ), which at least attenuates the radio signal in a shielding area (AB) different from the test area (TB) in such a way that a transponder located there ( 2 ) is not operable; and a second shielding device ( 10 ) which weakens the alternating magnetic field in the shielding area (AB) in such a way that a transponder located there (FIG. 2 ) is not operable. Test device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first shielding device ( 8th ) with conductive, isolated segments ( 81 ) related to the first transmitting device ( 4 ) are arranged directly behind the shielding region (AB), and with a non-conductive region, which with respect to the first transmitting device (FIG. 4 ) is arranged behind the test area (TB) is provided. Test device ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the segments ( 81 ) capacitively with a reference potential, in particular via the second shielding device ( 10 ) are coupled. Test device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the segments ( 81 ) are spaced apart from one another by a distance that is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the first transmission device ( 4 ) emitted radio signal. Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the segments ( 81 ) each have dimensions whose lengths are each different from the half wavelength of the radio signal and their multiples. Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a first adjustment device ( 11 ) provided with the first shielding device ( 8th ) is coupled to the size and / or the position of the non-conductive region of the first shielding device (FIG. 8th ) on the transponder to be tested ( 2 ). Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second shielding device ( 10 ) with a conductive region which is located between the shielding region (AB) and the second transmitting device ( 5 ) and with a non-conductive region, which lies in direct line between the test region and the second transmission device (FIG. 5 ) is arranged, is provided. Test device ( 1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that a second adjustment device ( 11 ) provided with the second shielding device ( 10 ) is coupled to the size and / or the position of the non-conductive region of the second shielding device ( 10 ) on the transponder to be tested ( 2 ). Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first and / or the second shielding device ( 8th . 10 ) a carrier plate ( 9 ), on which the conductive segments ( 81 ) or the conductive region are applied. Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a transport device is provided for transponder, the transponder applied to a band transported through the test area and the Abschirmbereich (AB), so that each of the transponder ( 2 ) in the test area (TB) for testing. Test device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first transmitting device comprises a microstrip and / or patch antenna.