Apparatus having at least one packaging unit with an rfid chip which is used for radio-frequency identification, and method therefor

Abstract

An apparatus comprises at least one RFID chip ( 30 ), which is surrounded by a metallic outer casing ( 11 ) of a packaging unit ( 1 ), is used for radio-frequency identification and has a circuit ( 32 ) and an antenna structure ( 31 ), and a transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ) for transmitting a transmission signal ( 42 ) and/or receiving a response signal ( 43 ) from the RFID chip ( 30 ), wherein the response signal ( 43 ) can be evaluated using an evaluation unit ( 44 ) which is connected to the transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ). The RFID chip ( 30 ) has an operating frequency in a frequency band ( 50 ) below a range of a blocking frequency ( 54 ) which is determined by the conductivity of the metallic outer casing ( 11 ) and the thickness thereof.

1 . Device having at least one RFID chip ( 30 ) surrounded by a metal outer casing ( 11 ) of a packaging unit ( 1 ) and serving for radiofrequency identification, said chip comprising a switching circuit ( 32 ) and an antenna structure ( 31 ), and having a transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ) for transmitting a transmission signal ( 42 ) and/or receiving a response signal ( 43 ) from the RFID chip ( 30 ), the response signal ( 43 ) being capable of evaluation by an evaluating unit ( 44 ) connected to the transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ), and the RFID chip ( 30 ) has an operating frequency which is in a frequency band ( 50 ) below a range of a blocking frequency ( 54 ) which is determined by the conductivity of the metal outer casing ( 11 ) and its thickness. 
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) has an operating frequency LF-RFID ( 55 ) in the range from 20 to 500 kHz or an operating frequency HF-RFID ( 56 ) in the range from 3 to 30 MHz. 
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) has a sensor which influences the response signal ( 43 ) of the RFID chip ( 30 ). 
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the sensor of the RFID chip ( 30 ) is constructed as a capacitor structure ( 33 ) and the capacitance or change in capacitance of the capacitor structure ( 33 ) modifies the response signal ( 43 ) from the RFID chip ( 30 ) which can be evaluated with a measuring arrangement ( 40 ) associated with the evaluating unit ( 44 ). 
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the capacitor structure ( 33 ) comprises a dielectric the dielectric constant ∈ of which is dependent on the relative humidity (r.h.) or on a gas concentration. 
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the measuring arrangement ( 40 ) comprises, for evaluating the response signal ( 43 ), a measuring amplifier and a tuneable capacitance measuring bridge. 
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the metal outer casing ( 11 ) is made up of an aluminium film or a composite film consisting of at least one aluminium layer and at least one other layer of plastics or paper. 
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the metal outer casing ( 11 ) has a 10 to 50 μm thick aluminium film or aluminium layer. 
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the metal outer casing ( 11 ) is part of an outer packaging ( 10 ). 
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) is attached to a separate plastic card inside the outer packaging ( 10 ). 
   
   
       11 . Device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) is attached to the inside of the outer packaging ( 10 ) inside the outer packaging ( 10 ). 
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the outer packaging ( 10 ) comprises at least one blister card ( 20 ) to which the RFID chip ( 30 ) is attached. 
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the metal outer casing ( 11 ) is part of an aluminium composite cover film of a blister card ( 20 ), the RFID chip ( 30 ) being located on the blister card ( 20 ) or inside a cavity ( 21 ) in the blister card ( 20 ) and covered by the aluminium composite cover film. 
   
   
       14 . Device according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) is attached to a separate plastic card inside the cavity ( 21 ). 
   
   
       15 . Device according to  claim 1  and a pharmaceutical product. 
   
   
       16 . Method of identifying the contents and/or condition of a packaging unit with an RFID chip ( 30 ) serving for radiofrequency identification, which has a switching circuit ( 32 ) and an antenna structure ( 31 ), wherein a transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ) sends a transmission signal ( 42 ) and/or receives a response signal ( 43 ) from the RFID chip ( 30 ) and the response signal ( 43 ) is evaluated by means of an evaluating unit ( 44 ) connected to the transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ), characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) surrounded or covered by a metal outer casing ( 11 ) as part of the packaging unit ( 1 ) is operated at an operating frequency that lies in a frequency band ( 50 ) below a range of a blocking frequency ( 54 ) which is determined by the conductivity of the metal outer casing ( 11 ) and its thickness. 
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the RFID chip ( 30 ) is operated at an operating frequency LF-RFID ( 55 ) in the range from 20 to 500 kHz or an operating frequency HF-RFID ( 56 ) in the range from 3 to 30 MHz. 
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the response signal ( 43 ) of the RFID chip ( 30 ) is influenced in its coding and/or response frequency by means of a sensor connected to the RFID chips ( 30 ) or integrated in the RFID chip ( 30 ) and is received and evaluated by the transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ). 
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the response signal ( 43 ) of the RFID chip ( 30 ) is modified in its frequency by means of a capacitor structure ( 33 ) which is connected to the RFID chip ( 30 ) or is integrated therein and the dielectric constant ∈ of which is influenced by the relative humidity (r.h.) or by a gas concentration, and is received and evaluated by a measuring arrangement ( 40 ) of the evaluating unit ( 44 ) of the transmitting/receiving unit ( 41 ). 
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the response signal ( 43 ) of the RFID chip ( 30 ) is amplified by means of a measuring amplifier within the measuring arrangement ( 40 ) and the capacitance of the capacitor structure ( 33 ) of the RFID chip ( 30 ) is determined by means of a tuneable capacitance measuring bridge within the measuring arrangement ( 40 ) by comparison with a reference capacitance within the capacitance measuring bridge. 
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterised in that before the RFID chip ( 30 ) with the sensor or the capacitor structure ( 33 ) is packed into the packaging unit ( 1 ) calibration is carried out. 
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 21 , characterised in that, for the calibration, the RFID chip ( 30 ) with the capacitor structure ( 33 ) is subjected to specified humidity levels at a defined temperature in a dynamic vapour sorption scale, the response signal ( 43 ) from the RFID chip ( 30 ) is measured with the measuring arrangement ( 40 ) at the different humidity levels and from this an inherent frequency dependent on the humidity is determined. 
   
   
       23 . Method according to  claim 16  for the measurement of humidity or a gas concentration in blisters, pouches, polymer blisters, bottles or containers and/or packaging in general with volumes ranging from the ml range to larger containers, and in the development of packaging and for online monitoring during production.