Security tag and process for making same

Abstract

A tag and method of making it. The tag includes a first adhesive layer provided in a first predetermined pattern between a surface of a first substrate and a first conductive foil. The first pattern corresponds to a pattern for a first conductive trace, e.g., a portion of a resonant circuit. The first conductive foil is laminated, e.g., adhesively secured, to the surface of the first substrate to form a first conductive layer. A first portion of that layer is shaped, e.g., die-cut, to generally correspond to the first pattern. A second portion of the first conductive layer not corresponding to the first portion is removed, to establish the first conductive trace, with the adhesive layer confined within the boundaries of the first conductive trace. Another conductive trace is secured to the first conductive trace, with a dielectric therebetween, to form a resonant circuit.

1 . A method of fabricating a tag for reflecting electromagnetic energy for the purpose of indicating the presence of said tag, said tag comprising a substrate having a surface, said method comprising: 
 a. applying a first patterned adhesive to said surface of said substrate;    b. applying a first electrically conductive foil to said first patterned adhesive to adhere said first electrically conductive foil thereto;    c. removing a portion of said first electrically conductive foil not adhered to said first patterned adhesive;    d. applying a second adhesive layer to a portion of a surface area of said tag, said surface area comprising said surface and said first electrically conductive foil;    e. applying a preformed second electrically conductive foil to said second adhesive layer to adhere said second electrically conductive foil to said surface area; and    f. electrically coupling portions of said first and second electrically conductive foils to each other to form a tag circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second adhesive layer comprises a heat sealable dielectric.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  , wherein said second adhesive layer is disposed between said first and second electrically conductive foils.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive layer is disposed on said second preformed electrically conductive foil and applied to said surface of said substrate simultaneously with said second preformed electrically conductive foil.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein one of said first and second electrically conductive foils forms a portion of an inductor and a plate of a capacitor and the other of said first and second electrically conductive foils forms another plate of said capacitor.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tag circuit comprises an antenna.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of removing said portion of said first electrically conductive foil by die cutting.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of dimpling said tag to provide a preferred deactivation point where said first and second electrically conductive foils are disposed relatively closer to each other.  
   
   
       9 . A tag arranged to reflect electromagnetic energy for the purpose of indicating the presence of said tag, said tag comprising a substrate having a surface, comprising: 
 a. a preformed first patterned adhesive disposed over said surface of said substrate;    b. a first layer of electrically conductive material having a shape corresponding to a desired final pattern for a first electrically conductive trace secured to said surface of said substrate by said preformed first patterned adhesive wherein said preformed first patterned adhesive corresponds to said desired final pattern;    c. a second adhesive layer disposed over a portion of a surface area of said tag, said surface area comprising said surface and said first electrically conductive trace;    d. a second electrically conductive trace disposed over said second adhesive layer to adhere said second electrically conductive trace thereto; and    e. an electrical connection for electrically coupling portions of said first and second electrically conductive traces to form a tag circuit.    
   
   
       10 . The tag of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises an inductive element and wherein one of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises a first plate of a capacitive element.  
   
   
       11 . The tag of  claim 10 , wherein the other of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises a second plate of said capacitive element.  
   
   
       12 . The tag of  claim 11 , wherein said tag circuit comprises an LC resonant circuit.  
   
   
       13 . The tag of  claim 9 , wherein said preformed first patterned adhesive is a printed layer.  
   
   
       14 . The tag of  claim 13 , wherein said printed layer is a flexographic printed layer.  
   
   
       15 . The tag of  claim 9 , wherein said first electrically conductive trace is formed from a first sheet of conductive material applied to said preformed first patterned adhesive.  
   
   
       16 . The tag of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises a coating of dielectric material thereon.  
   
   
       17 . The tag of  claim 16 , wherein said coating of dielectric material comprises a flood coated dielectric layer.  
   
   
       18 . The tag of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of said coating of dielectric material is disposed between said first and said second electrically conductive traces to form a capacitive element.  
   
   
       19 . The tag of  claim 9 , wherein said substrate comprises a non-polymeric material.  
   
   
       20 . The tag of  claim 9 , wherein said substrate comprises paper.  
   
   
       21 . A tag arranged to reflect electromagnetic energy for the purpose of indicating the presence of said tag, said tag comprising a substrate having a surface, comprising: 
 a. a first patterned adhesive disposed over said surface of said substrate, said first patterned adhesive having a shape corresponding to a desired final pattern for a first electrically conductive trace;    b. said first electrically conductive trace disposed over said first patterned adhesive to adhere to said first electrically conductive trace thereto;    c. a second adhesive layer disposed over a portion of a surface area of said tag, said surface area comprising said surface and said first electrically conductive trace;    d. a second electrically conductive trace disposed over said second adhesive layer to indirectly adhere said second electrically conductive trace to said first electrically conductive trace; and    e. an electrical connection for electrically coupling portions of said first and second electrically conductive traces to form a tag circuit.    
   
   
       22 . The tag of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises an inductive element and wherein one of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises a first plate of a capacitive element.  
   
   
       23 . The tag of  claim 22 , wherein the other of said first and second electrically conductive traces comprises a second plate of said capacitive element.  
   
   
       24 . The tag of  claim 23 , wherein said tag circuit comprises an LC resonant circuit.  
   
   
       25 . The tag of  claim 21 , wherein said first patterned adhesive is a printed layer.  
   
   
       26 . The tag of  claim 25 , wherein said printed layer is a flexographic printed layer.  
   
   
       27 . The tag of  claim 21 , wherein said first electrically conductive trace is formed from a first sheet of conductive material applied to said first patterned adhesive.