User Manual

CHAPTER 5: RFID TAGS
COBALT HF RFID CONTROLLERS OPERATOR’S MANUAL
P/N: 17-1320 REV 01 (03-06) PAGE 56 OF 116
One area, in particular, that has shown recent promise is the process of electroplating
printed or screened antenna coils with an additional layer of copper to improve durability
and conductivity.
5.4.2 Printed Circuit Board RFID Tags
RFID tags that incorporate Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology are designed for
encasement inside totes, pallets, or products that can provide the protection normally
associated with injection-molded
enclosures.
These tags are made primarily from
etched copper PCB materials (FR-4,
for example) and are die bonded by
means of high quality wire bonding.
This procedure ensures reliable
electrical connections that are
superior to flip-chip assembly
methods. The RFID tag’s integrated
circuit is then encapsulated in epoxy
to protect it and the electrical
connections.
5.4.3 Molded RFID Tags
Molded tags, which are PCB tags
that have been protected with a durable resin overmolding, are the most rugged and
reliable type of tag offered by Escort Memory Systems. These tags are designed for
closed loop applications where the tag is reused;
thereby the cost of the tag can be amortized over
the life of the production line.
Typically, molded tags will be mounted to a pallet
or carrier which transports the product throughout
the production process. Some of the applications
for these tags include, but are not limited to:
embedding the tag into concrete floors for location
identification by forklifts and automatically guided
vehicles (AGVs), shelf identification for storage
and retrieval systems, and tool identification.
High temperature (HT) tags, using patented
processes and specialized materials, allow tags to
survive elevated temperatures, such as those
found in automotive paint and plating applications.
Escort Memory Systems offers a wide variety of
molded tags that have been developed over the
years for real world applications.