U.S. patent application number 10/845397 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for smart label.
This patent application is currently assigned to Infineon Technologies AG. Invention is credited to Jung, Stefan, Lauterbach, Christl.
Application Number | 20040244865 10/845397 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7705723 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040244865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung, Stefan ; et
al. |
December 9, 2004 |
Smart label
Abstract
A smart label device having at least one textile backing, at
least one flexible wire-like and/or thread-like electrical
conductor, which is arranged on or in the textile backing and has
at least one connection point for an electronic component, and at
least one electronic component, which is electrically connected to
the connection point of the conductor.
Inventors: |
Jung, Stefan; (Munich,
DE) ; Lauterbach, Christl;
(Hohenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P. O. BOX 5257
NEW YORK
NY
10150-5257
US
|
Assignee: |
Infineon Technologies AG
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
7705723 |
Appl. No.: |
10/845397 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10845397 |
May 14, 2004 |
|
|
|
PCT/EP02/12577 |
Nov 11, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
139/426R |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 19/07749 20130101;
G06K 19/027 20130101; G06K 19/07758 20130101; G06K 19/0775
20130101; D03D 1/0088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
139/426.00R |
International
Class: |
D03D 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2001 |
DE |
101 55 935.6 |
Claims
1. A device, in particular a smart label, comprising: at least one
textile backing, which is a woven fabric; at least one flexible
wire-like and/or thread-like electrical conductor arranged on or in
the textile backing; and at least one electronic component, which
is electrically connected to a connection point of the conductor;
wherein the woven fabric has at least one electrically conductive
weft and warp thread and the conductor comprises at least one
electrically conductive weft and warp thread of the woven fabric,
which are connected electrically conductively at their crossing
point in such a way that the conductor forms an electrically
conductive coil.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor
comprises a multiplicity of electrically conductive weft and warp
threads, some of which are connected electrically conductively at
their crossing points such that the conductor forms an electrically
conductive coil.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conductor has two
connection points, which form coil connections and are electrically
connected to the electronic component.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically
conductive weft and/or warp thread is an electrically conductive
yarn which comprises electrically insulating fibers and at least
one metal wire embedded therein.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal wire has an
electrically insulating sheathing.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor has at
least one metal wire.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal wire has an
electrically insulating sheathing.
8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the conductor is an
electrically conductive yarn which comprises electrically
insulating fibers and at least one metal wire embedded therein.
9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the conductor is
connected to the textile backing by an adhesive bond.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the textile backing
is coated with an adhesive.
11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adhesive is a
hot-melt adhesive.
12. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrically
conductive yarn is provided with an adhesive.
13. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the conductor forms
an electrically conductive coil.
14. The device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a second
textile backing arranged on the first textile backing in such a way
that the conductor is embedded between the backings.
15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic
component is an integrated circuit.
16. The device as claims in claim 15, wherein the integrated
circuit is a transponder integrated circuit.
17. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic
component is embedded in an insulator and arranged on the textile
backing.
18. A method for producing a device comprising the steps of:
providing at least one textile backing, on or in which at least one
flexible wire-like and/or thread-like electrical conductor is
arranged; electrically connecting a connection point of the
conductor to at least one electronic component; wherein the textile
backing is a woven fabric and the conductor has in each case at
least one electrically conductive weft and warp thread; and
electrically connecting at least one weft thread to a warp thread
at their crossing point, so that the conductor forms an
electrically conductive coil.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the conductor has a
plurality of electrically conductive weft and warp threads, and the
method further comprises the step of electrically connecting at
least a portion of the weft and warp threads at their crossing
points, so that the conductor forms an electrically conductive
coil.
20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the conductor is
connected to the textile backing by an adhesive bond.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Patent
Application Serial No. PCT/EP02/12577, filed Nov. 11, 2002, which
published in German on May 22, 2003 as WO 03/042911, and is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a device with an electronic
component in a textile surrounding and to a method for producing
the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] "Smart labels", as they are known, will in future become
highly significant in the textiles sector in respect of the
logistics of the production process, sales and the care for or
cleaning of textiles. For example, smart labels may be provided
with contactlessly scannable transponder systems (known as RFID
tags), by means of which for example textile-specific information
can be retrieved. Examples of preferred application areas for
textiles provided with such tags are appropriate labeling of rented
laundry, laundry in laundry establishments or stock keeping. Of
particular significance in this connection is that the "smart
label" is resistant to the production and cleaning processes
usually used for textiles and also withstands use of the textiles
for their intended purposes. If the textiles labeled in this way
are items of clothing, they should also not detract from their
comfort when they are being worn or used.
[0004] Conventional "smart labels" typically comprise a small
silicon chip which contains a processor, a device for data
transmission (for example a modulator) and a limited memory for
receiving specific data. Also provided is an integrated coil, which
together with a capacitor and the silicon chip forms an oscillating
circuit, the resonant frequency of which is tuned to a specific
frequency. Typical frequencies used are 13.56 MHz and also 135 kHz.
The coil, which is an electrical conductor loop with one or more
turns, is brought into the alternating magnetic field of a
transmitting antenna for the reading process of the contactless
transponder system, so that an inductive coupling between the
transmitter and the antenna coil of the "smart label" is set up.
The alternating magnetic field has the effect of inducing an
electrical voltage in the coil, which is used in rectified form for
the voltage supplied to an integrated transponder circuit
(transponder IC or RFID chip). For commonly used frequencies and
permissible field strengths, loop areas of approximately 25
cm.sup.2 and 1 to 10 coil turns are customary.
[0005] Such a conventional "smart label" is represented in FIG. 4.
The coil 100 comprises metallic conductor tracks 102 applied to a
thin film of plastic (not visible in FIG. 4) in a planar
arrangement with a spiral structure. The metallic conductor tracks
102 may either be printed on or etched out by a lithographic step
and a subsequent etching process from a film coated for example
with copper. The structuring process is typically followed by
electrochemical reinforcement of the conductor tracks 102 to
achieve a low series resistance of the coil 100. The transponder IC
104 (known as the RFID chip) is brought into electrical contact on
one side of the coil 100. On the rear side of the film there is a
metal bridge (not represented in FIG. 4), through which electrical
contact has to be established in order to realize a connection
between the two ends of the coil and the chip 104.
[0006] Adverse aspects of such conventional "smart labels" are the
complex structuring process and the high series resistance of the
coil, which results in poor quality of the resonant oscillating
circuit. Furthermore, the planar coil requires a relatively large
area, since the coil turns have to be arranged next to one another.
However, it is particularly disadvantageous that the coil has to be
applied to a backing film which is relatively rigid and poorly
suited for textile applications. Such a coil which is applied to a
backing film represents a foreign body in textile applications,
which in particular reduces the wearing comfort of an item of
clothing. Moreover, conventional film-based coil systems are not
stable over long periods of time in textile applications, since
they can only withstand to a limited extent the loads typically
occurring (for example stretching, folding, ironing, washing
cycles, changes in temperature and exposure to moisture).
Furthermore, such a "smart label" can be seen and/or felt, which
may be detrimental, in particular for uses in items of clothing,
and hinders use as a guard against forgery and/or theft, for
example in high-quality brand-name articles of clothing.
[0007] The prior art also discloses the use of contactless
transponder systems for "smart labels" in which the transponder IC
is accommodated in a coin-shaped hard plastic disk, in which the
antenna coil is also located. Such conventional systems are even
worse than the film-based systems described at the beginning for
being embedded in textile surroundings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the stated disadvantages of the prior art, it is
an object of the invention to provide a device, in particular a
"smart label", which can be integrated well in a textile
surrounding and withstands the loads occurring therein. It is also
an object of the invention to provide a corresponding method for
producing such a device.
[0009] This object is achieved by a device and a method according
to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of
the dependent claims.
[0010] According to the invention, a device, in particular a "smart
label" for textiles, comprises at least one textile backing, at
least one flexible wire-like and/or thread-like electrical
conductor, which has at least one connection point for an
electronic component, and at least one electronic component, which
is electrically connected to the connection point of the conductor,
wherein the conductor is arranged on or in the textile backing.
[0011] According to the invention, the conductor, which may be for
example a spiral-shaped antenna coil of a transponder system, is
flexible and is of a wire-like and/or thread-like form. These
flexible properties of the conductor allow it to be arranged
directly in or on a textile backing. As a difference from known
"smart labels", the device according to the invention does not
represent a foreign body in a textile surrounding, since neither a
backing film nor a hard housing has to be used. A device according
to the invention consequently has considerably improved wearing
comfort and also more advantageous loading properties in comparison
with the conventional "smart labels" explained at the
beginning.
[0012] The textile backing is preferably a woven fabric. A woven
fabric is understood here as meaning a textile fabric made up of
two systems of threads, crossing in particular at right angles,
which are referred to--as usual--as warp and weft. The warp lies in
the longitudinal direction of the weaving process, while the weft
direction extends transversely to the weaving direction. The
textile backing may be, for example, a portion of woven fabric
which, together with the conductor or conductors arranged on or in
it, can be applied for example to a textile to be labeled.
Alternatively, the textile backing may also be the textile itself
that is to be provided with a device according to the
invention.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
woven fabric has at least one electrically conductive weft and/or
warp thread and the conductor comprises at least one electrically
conductive weft and/or warp thread of the woven fabric. In this
case, the conductor is arranged in the textile backing and itself
represents part of the woven fabric of which the textile backing
consists. As a result of the fact that the conductor, which may be
for example an antenna coil for a transponder IC, is a component
part of the textile backing itself, such a device according to the
invention can be embedded particularly well in a textile
surrounding.
[0014] The conductor preferably comprises at least one electrically
conductive weft thread and at least one electrically conductive
warp thread, which are connected electrically conductively to one
another at their crossing point. For example, in a simple woven
textile structure, two wiring levels which extend perpendicularly
to one another and are independent of one another may be provided
by corresponding electrically conductive weft and warp threads,
which can specifically be electrically connected to one another at
their crossing points. The contacting process of a weft thread with
a warp thread at their crossing point may take place for example by
means of a stamp or a roller, in particular by a fusing, soldering
or adhesive-bonding operation. Consequently, suitable electrical
connections of warp and weft threads can be used to produce a
complex path of the electrical conductor in the woven fabric in a
simple way.
[0015] The conductor preferably comprises a multiplicity of
electrically conductive weft and warp threads, some of which are
connected electrically conductively at their crossing points in
such a way that the conductor forms an electrically conductive
coil. Such a coil arranged in the textile backing typically has a
rectangular spiral form and represents a planar conductor
arrangement. The electrically conductive weft or warp threads are
preferably surrounded by an insulating sheathing, so that undesired
short-circuits at weft and warp crossing points can be avoided in a
simple way. The choice of a suitable point-contacting pattern of
warp and weft threads allows the problem of "back-wiring",
occurring in the case of conventional, film-based planar coils, to
be solved in a simple way without a bridge. Although, as in the
prior art, a substantially planar conductor arrangement is
consequently concerned, unlike in the case of film-based coils no
bridge is necessary for returning the contact inside the coil to
the outer contact (or vice versa).
[0016] The conductor preferably has two connection points, which
form the coil connections and are electrically connected to the
electronic component. The connection points of the conductor may
be, for example, weft and/or warp threads, which are connected to
contact areas of the electronic component, for example by a
soldering or adhesive-bonding step.
[0017] The electrically conductive weft and/or warp thread is
preferably an electrically conductive yarn which comprises
electrically insulating fibers and at least one metal wire embedded
or spun therein. Alternatively, the electrically conductive weft
and/or warp thread may also directly comprise a thin metal wire,
for example a copper wire. Such metal wires, possibly spun with
insulating fibers, are more robust and flexible than conductor
tracks printed onto a film. Moreover, metal filaments or wires
which are specifically surface-treated for the special surrounding
conditions of textiles can be advantageously produced. In
particular in comparison with coils produced by printing processes,
metal wires generally have a higher electrical conductivity.
[0018] A further advantage in comparison with coils structured by
etching processes on films is also the lower metal consumption when
metal wires are used. This is so because, in production of
conductor tracks by an etching process, a large part of the metal
layer has to be removed for the definition of the metal track and
must be recovered from the etching solution, causing costs to be
incurred. If, for example, the conductor is designed as a spiral
coil for an antenna coil of a transponder IC, a coil with
comparable inductance but considerably increased quality can be
produced by the invention. The metal wire preferably has an
electrically insulating sheathing.
[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the conductor
is not arranged in the textile backing but on the same. The
conductor preferably has for this purpose a metal wire, which in
particular has an electrically insulating sheathing.
[0020] The conductor is preferably an electrically conductive yarn
which comprises electrically insulating fibers and at least one
metal wire embedded or spun therein. Although such a conductor is
more voluminous due to the additional textile thread, it is also
given a stronger textile character. When it is connected to the
electronic component, it must be ensured in this case that the
textile thread (which is not electrically conductive) does not
disturb the contacting with respect to the metal wire.
[0021] The conductor is preferably connected to the textile backing
by an adhesive bond. In particular, the textile backing may be
coated with an adhesive, for example a hot-melt adhesive, which is
preferably made possible by ironing the conductor on. If the
conductor is an electrically conductive yarn, it may be
additionally provided, if appropriate, with an adhesive, for
example in that it is impregnated with adhesive.
[0022] The conductor may be an electrically conductive coil, which
has for example been wound spirally around a hollow body and placed
and fixed on the textile backing.
[0023] A second textile backing may advantageously be arranged on
the first textile backing in such a way that the conductor is
embedded between the backings. This assembly of two textile
backings with an electrical conductor arranged between permits
particularly efficient mechanical protection of the conductor and a
high load-bearing capacity of the device according to the
invention. The electronic component is also advantageously arranged
between the two textile backings.
[0024] The electronic component may be an integrated circuit (IC),
in particular a transponder IC (known as an RFID chip). In
connection with a conductor, which represents a spiral,
electrically conductive coil, this is a way of creating a
contactlessly readable transponder system which can be integrated
in a textile surrounding in an outstanding way.
[0025] The electronic component is preferably embedded in an
insulator and attached to the textile backing. A waterproof and
soft material is expediently used for the insulator.
[0026] According to the invention, a method for producing a device,
in particular a device described above, comprises the steps of:
[0027] providing at least one textile backing, on or in which at
least one flexible wire-like and/or thread-like electrical
conductor is arranged, the conductor having at least one connection
point for an electronic component; and
[0028] electrically connecting the connection point of the
conductor to at least one electronic component.
[0029] The textile backing is preferably a woven fabric and the
conductor preferably has a multiplicity of electrically conductive
weft and warp threads, the method comprising the step of
electrically connecting at least one weft thread to a warp thread
at their crossing point. Alternatively, the conductor may be
connected to the textile backing by an adhesive bond.
[0030] Compared with conventional "smart labels", a device
according to the invention has the following advantages.
[0031] The electrical conductivity of a metal wire used in the
electrically conductive wire-like and/or thread-like conductor is
higher than that of conventionally used conductor tracks on plastic
films. This is manifested for example in a higher quality of an
antenna coil which can be formed by the conductor.
[0032] A loss of material, which is inherently involved in the
production process of a conventional antenna coil, does not occur
in the case of a production method according to the invention.
[0033] If the conductor is to be used in the form of a coil, a
device according to the invention allows the coil connections to be
led out without "back-wiring" with a bridge, as was necessary in
the case of conventional coils.
[0034] By contrast with conventional devices, no substrate film on
which the otherwise customary thick-film processes were applied is
necessary.
[0035] The production method according to the invention can be
reeled off from spindles in a highly parallel manner.
[0036] The "textile label" can be outstandingly incorporated in a
textile surrounding and can be comfortably worn, washed and
ironed.
[0037] If a washing or manufacturer label is used as the backing
for the conductor, no additional textile backing is necessary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] The invention is described below by way of example with
reference to preferred exemplary embodiments on the basis of
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0039] FIG. 1(a) shows a schematic representation of an endless
fabric strip, in which thread-like conductors are incorporated in
the warp direction and with a specific repeat in the weft
direction
[0040] FIG. 1(b) shows a schematic representation of a detail from
the fabric strip shown in FIG. 1(a), the thread-like conductor
forming by means of local contacting points an electrically
conductive coil;
[0041] FIG. 2(a)-(d)shows schematic representations of a method for
contacting a wire-like or thread-like conductor at contact areas of
an electronic component;
[0042] FIG. 3 shows schematic representations of the electronic
component contacted and cast in an insulator; and
[0043] FIG. 4 shows a conventional "smart label" with a metal track
coil on a film base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION
[0044] Schematically shown in FIG. 1(a) is an endless fabric strip
in which wire-like or thread-like conductors 10 have been woven,
for example on a loom for narrow fabrics. These electrically
conductive threads extend both in the warp direction Wa
(longitudinal direction) and with a specific repeat in the weft
direction We (transverse direction). Such an arrangement may also
be produced two-dimensionally on a loom for sheet-like fabrics.
Each of the conductors 10 indicated by a black line may comprise
one or more conductive threads. The conductors 10 may also be
yarns, in the case of which a thin metal wire is spun with at least
one insulating fiber, for example a synthetic fiber. Alternatively,
a thin metal wire may also be used directly as the wire-like
conductor.
[0045] Represented in FIG. 1(b) is a detail from the endless strip
shown in FIG. 1(a). The electrically conductive weft and warp
threads 10 running over one another can be connected at the
crossing points by suitable local contacting points 12, which are
schematically represented in FIG. 1(b) as black dots. The
contacting points 12 of the individual electrical conductors 10 may
be embossed by a die or a roller, in particular by fusing,
soldering or adhesive bonding of the metallic conductors 10. In
FIG. 1(b), the contacting points 12 form a spiral conductor, which
has a planar coil structure. For better illustration of the
electrical conduction path, the coil is emphasized in FIG. 1(b) by
a dashed line.
[0046] Accordingly, the 4.times.5 contacting points 12 respectively
connect two conductor tracks to one another, i.e. in each case a
weft thread to a warp thread 10, so that a spiral current path is
formed through the woven fabric. An additional contacting point 14
allows the current path to be led out from the interior of the coil
without a bridge being necessary, as in the prior art, as a
"back-wiring means". The pieces of the conductors 10 protruding
laterally beyond the coil have no effect, since their ends are open
and no current can flow. If desired, the edges of the woven fabric
may be additionally insulated, which can take place for example by
encapsulation using casting or fusing techniques. Furthermore,
portions of line which are not required can optionally be severed
by a knife or a punch. At connection points of the conductor 10,
which in this case represent the connections of the electrically
conductive coil, a transponder IC (RFID chip) is connected.
[0047] In the case of the embodiment just described of a device
according to the invention, the conductor 10 is arranged in the
textile backing, in which electrically conductive weft or warp
threads of the textile backing comprising a woven fabric are used
as conductors 10. However, it is alternatively possible as it were
to form the conductor from a thin, flexible, wire-like and/or
thread-like material which is electrically conductive. In a
subsequent production step, such a conductor is arranged on the
textile backing, for example by means of an adhesive step. A thin
coil wire, for example a copper wire, which is sheathed with silver
and insulating varnish, as also produced and used for conventional
coils and transformers, is suitable in particular for such a
conductor.
[0048] In order for example to produce an antenna coil for a
transponder IC, such a thin coil wire is preferably wound around a
hollow body, on which the beginning and end of the wire are firmly
clamped by means of a holding device. Immediately thereafter, the
beginning and end of the wire are attached in an electrically
conducting manner to the transponder IC, as described in detail
later. Subsequently, the transponder IC may be sealed with a drop
of insulating, wash-resistant and temperature-resistant plastic and
subsequently placed on the textile backing, which has been coated
for example with hot-melt adhesive for textiles, by stripping it
from the winding device. The transponder IC with the coil is fixed
on the textile backing by brief heating and application of
pressure. The textile backing with the "smart label" created in
this way can subsequently be ironed into a textile and assume its
function. After the operation of ironing it onto the textile, which
may be for example an item of clothing or an item of laundry, the
coil with the transponder IC is protected from both sides by woven
textile fabric and no longer needs any additional
encapsulation.
[0049] It is likewise possible to wind the coil from a textile
thread in which a metal wire has been spun. Although the coil is
rather more voluminous as a result, it has a stronger textile
character. When it is connected to the chip, it must be ensured in
this case that the textile thread does not disturb the contacting
with respect to the metal wire. If appropriate, it is even possible
to impregnate the thread with the textile adhesive and to realize
the connection of the individual conductors to one another and to
the textile backing by the thread.
[0050] Coil wires have proven to be particularly suitable for the
thin metal wires used, for example the coil wire TW-D with a
diameter of 40 .mu.m from the company Elektro-Feindraht AG,
Eschholzmatt, Switzerland. This copper wire is silver-coated and
provided with a polyamide insulating varnish. It has been
specifically tested for textile applications and proven to be
washable and also resistant to dry cleaning and temperatures of up
to 100.degree. C.
[0051] In order to produce an inductance corresponding to a
conventional "smart label" according to FIG. 4, such a wire is
preferably wound up on a winding device. The winding device may be,
for example, a cuboidal body with an edge length of 2.7 cm or a
round cylinder with a diameter of 3.04 cm, onto which seven turns
of the copper wire are wound. The winding device has two clamps, by
which the beginning and end of the wire can be fixed.
[0052] On the winding device itself, the transponder IC is brought
into electrical contact with the ends of the wire, which is
represented in FIGS. 2(a) to (d). This advantageously takes place
by a low-melting solder paste 20 being printed onto the contact
areas 18 of the transponder IC 16--as represented in FIG. 2(b). The
solder paste 20 may comprise for example solder balls and a flux.
PbAgSn is suitable in particular as the solder. Thereafter, the
connection points of the conductor 10 are arranged on the contact
areas 18 prepared in this way of the transponder IC 16 and locally
heated, for example by means of a gas flame, a laser or an electric
arc, until the solder melts and bonds with the wire 10. The
conductor 10 used has an insulating sheathing 22, which is removed
by the heat effect (schematically represented by a lightning symbol
in FIG. 2(c)). During the positioning and connecting operation, the
conductor 10 is held by means of holding clamps 24 in relation to
the contact areas 18 covered with solder paste. The result of the
electrical and mechanical fixing by the heating operation is
schematically represented in FIG. 2(d).
[0053] The transponder IC contacted in this way is subsequently
encapsulated by applying to it a drop of sealing compound 26, which
makes the chip resistant to washing and ironing and mechanically
protects it. A waterproof and soft insulator is particularly
suitable for the sealing compound 26. The wound coil wire 10 with
the transponder IC 16 prepared in this way is stripped from the
winding device and placed onto a textile backing, which is
preferably coated with a layer of hot-melt adhesive for textiles.
The loosely wound coil with the chip is fixed on the textile
backing by brief heating and application of pressure. The preferred
device according to the invention prepared in this way can then be
ironed onto an item of clothing or some other textile. The coil
with the transponder IC is then protected on both sides by textile
and withstands even relatively great mechanical loads. The
conductor used, preferably a coil wire, is so flexible that it can
be adapted well to the woven fabric and cannot be snapped off by
bending.
[0054] It is particularly preferred for the device according to the
invention to be placed in a manufacturer or material label flap
which has already been attached to the item of clothing and coated
on its inner surfaces with textile adhesive. The coil with the
transponder IC can be fixed in the label flap by an operation in
which heat and pressure are applied.
* * * * *