Rfid tag applicable to metal and rfid tag section of the same

Technical Field

0001The present invention relates to a metal-suitable RFID tag and an RFID tag unit, and in particular to an RFID tag unit separable from a metal-suitable RFID tag and allowing a printing and issuing, and to a metal-suitable RFID tag comprising the aforementioned RFID tag unit.

Background Art

0002Currently there is an increasing interest in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. The RFID tag is a type of a wireless integrated circuit (IC) tag, and is constituted of components including a large scale integrated circuit (LSI) chip, an antenna, and an external resin for molding the aforementioned components. The external size of an RFID tag varies widely, e.g., from 0.3 mm (the size of a sesame seed) to 20 to 30 mm (the size of a coin) in diameter, the size of an IC card. Also, there is a battery built-in type and there is a non battery built-in type. the former is called an active type tag and the latter is called a passive type tag.

0003An LSI chip built in the RFID tag comprises an antenna, a transmission/reception unit, a control unit and a memory. The memory stores a specific identification code (i.e., a unique ID) which is read by an RFID tag-use reader/writer (simply noted as "reader/writer" hereinafter). The readout of the unique ID of the RFID tag by the reader/writer is carried out by a radio communication via an RFID tag-use antenna (simply noted as "antenna" hereinafter). The radio communication employs a radio wave method or an electromagnetic induction method.

0004The characteristics of an RFID tag are usually greatly altered when it is attached to a metal. As an example, in the case of an RFID tag of the electromagnetic induction method, an eddy current flows when a magnetic flux enters a metal so that the eddy current acts in negating the magnetic flux. As a result, the communication range is greatly decreased, and, in the worst case, communicating becomes impossible. In such a case, an impact of a metal is eliminated if the attaching position of the RFID tag is separated from the metal by a certain distance.

0005Meanwhile, in the case of an RFID tag of the radio wave method, a multi-pass phenomenon is generated as a result of a radio wave reflecting on a metal surface. The multi-pass phenomenon causes a readout of information stored in the RFID tag to be unstable and a degradation of a power conversion efficiency of the antenna of the RFID tag, thereby degrading a communication ranges as in the case of the electromagnetic induction method.

0006Also in this case, an influence of a metal can be mitigated if the attaching position of the RFID tag is separated from the metal by a certain distance.

0007In the cases of a commercial products or other products, many are made from metallic materials. Therefore, there is metal-suitable RFID tag that can be put on the metal, and it has already been commercialized.

0008The metal-suitable RFID tag is configured to attach to a metal by keeping the antenna (i.e., the RFID tag antenna) clear of the metal in a suitable distance or sandwiching an RF absorption material between the RFID tag and the metal.

0009<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a vertical cross-section diagram showing a composition of a conventional metal-suitable RFID tag 100.

0010The metal-suitable RFID tag 100 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is configured so as to layer a metal reflection plate 101, a spacer 102, a substrate material part 103 and a PET(polyethylene terephthalate) material 104 in the aforementioned order.

0011The substrate material part 103 is incorporated with an RFID tag which is equipped with an LSI chip 111 at the approximate center thereof and an antenna (i.e., RFID tag antennas) 112 on both side surfaces. The RFID tag is constituted of the LSI chip 111 and antenna 112. The LSI chip 111 is integrated with a control part, a transmission/reception part, a memory and such. A dipole antenna is widely used as the antenna 112.

0012The metal reflection plate 101, being a thin plate attached to a metal via an adhesive (not shown in a drawing herein), reflects an RF reflected on the aforementioned metal. The spacer part 102, comprising a dielectric body and a Styrofoam, plastic or such, is for keeping enough space between the metal, to which the metal-suitable RFID tag 100 is attached, and the antenna 112 incorporated in the substrate material part 103. For example, a material having the function as an RF absorption member is used as a material for the space part 102.

0013The conventional metal-suitable RFID tag 100 as configured above needs to increase the thickness of the spacer part 102, therefore the thickness of the metal-suitable RFID tag 100 increase in size as a result, its handling is difficult and its usage is limited. Further it is bulky and poorly flexible, hence precluding a printing/issuing by using a label printer (i.e., an RFID tag-use label printer).

0014Here, an "issuing" means the process of writing data to an RFID tag (including a metal-suitable RFID tag) and of printing. Also an RFID tag-use label printer has a built-in reader/writer function and is capable of writing data to an RFID tag and printing it.

0015The conventional metal-suitable RFID tag requires a writing of specific data individually by using a reader/writer due to the above described reasons. A printing on the metal-suitable RFID tag is limited to a printing in a lump at the production thereof or attaching a printed label thereto.

0016Incidentally, a known invention similar to the present invention is a composite body installable to a metallic body by using a pressure sensitive resin material after forming a composite body comprising a layer including an RFID and a layer which is formed on the aforementioned layer and which has a printable surface and printing a surface of the composite body (refer to a reference patent document 1).

0017Another known invention is a data carrier which employs either an electromagnetic induction method or a microwave method and which is directly mountable onto a metal surface; and a data carrier-use adaptor which integrates an upper layer constituted of a ferrite layer and a lower layer comprised of a good conductive metal layer and which is mountable onto a metal by attaching onto the back of the data carrier (refer to a reference patent document 2).

0018Yet another known invention is a method capable of adjusting a tuning frequency of a data carrier by attaching a metallic seal of a prescribed size to a prescribed position of a coil operating synchronously with a predetermined frequency (refer to a reference patent document 3).

0019Yet another known invention is a noncontact type data carrier comprising an IC chip and an antenna, in which a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit is adjustable. The noncontact type data carrier is configured to suppress a variation of a resonance frequency caused by a variation of capacitance of an IC chip constituting a resonance circuit of the data carrier by adjusting inductance of the antenna that is a part of the components constituting the resonance circuit. The specific composition is to adjust the inductance of the antenna by placing components, such as a closed loop antenna, a conductor (such as a metal) and a separate resonance circuit near the antenna (refer to a reference patent document 4). <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Translations of PCT Application No. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP2004510190PCT"><text>2004-510190</text></patcit></li><li>Patent document 2: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="JP2001006896A"><text>2001-6896</text></patcit></li><li>Patent document 3: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="JP2003027193A"><text>2003-27193</text></patcit></li><li>Patent document 4: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No. <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="JP2001160124A"><text>2001-160124</text></patcit></li></ul>

0020<patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="WO0225584A"><text>WO 02/25584</text></patcit> discloses a composite containing an RFID that can be mounted on, in, or adjacent a metal object without de-tuning of the antenna of the RFID. The composite includes a first RFID or a EAS device-containing layer and a foamable material layer held in proximity with the first layer. The foamable material layer expands in size and reduces in density when subjected to external stimuli, such as heat or microwaves. Pressure sensitive adhesive, when the composite is in a label form, may be used to mount the composite on or adjacent a metal object after printing of the printable surface of the composite.

0021<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US6259408B"><text>US 6,259,408</text></patcit> discloses a radio frequency transponder which comprises a substrate layer, a radio frequency integrated circuit affixed to said substrate layer and an antenna provided on said substrate layer in electrical connection with said radio frequency integrated circuit. The radio frequency integrated circuit is disposed in a flip-chip configuration facing downward toward said substrate layer, with electrical contacts aligned with the antenna.

0022<patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="WO2004093243A"><text>WO 2004/093243</text></patcit> discloses an RFID tag or label that includes a wireless communication system that is mounted in electrical proximity to a dielectric material. The wireless communication system includes a wireless communication device associated with an antenna system that has at least one conductive tab. The antenna system may be directly mounted on a dielectric substrate, which serves as the dielectric material, or alternatively may be mounted on a backing layer intermediate the dielectric substrate and the antenna system.

0023<patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="WO03009007A"><text>WO 03/009007</text></patcit> discloses a RFID tag devices with bridge circuit assemblies. The bridge circuit provides a one-sided circuit design.

0024<patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US2002003496A"><text>US 2002/003496</text></patcit> discloses an RF tag having an antenna that can be selectively tuned. The RF tag comprises an RF transponder integrated circuit and an antenna connected to the RF transponder integrated circuit. The antenna includes components such as tuning stubs and loading bars that are physically alterable to selectively vary the performance characteristics of the antenna. The tuning stub and loading bar may each further comprise a variably selectable length having elements that may be removed by punching, cutting, etching, laser trimming or another process.

0025<patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="JP11242786A"><text>JP-A-11242786</text></patcit> discloses a non-contact label with an IC chip in which information on an object is stored. A circuit pattern is provided in a base material and the antenna is formed by the circuit pattern. The circuit pattern is shortened by cutting off a part of the circuit pattern.

Disclosure of Invention

0026A purpose of the present invention is to accomplish a metal-suitable RFID tag allowing a printing and issuing by using an RFID tag-use label printer. Another purpose is to enable an RFID tag unit of the metal-suitable RFID tag to be easily used as a nonmetallic goods-use RFID tag.

0027The invention is defined in the indpendent claim. Optional features are set out in the dependent claims.

0028The impedance adjustment part is configured to be formed in a cut off area of the substrate material The seal member part is configured to comprise a sub-seal member formed under the impedance adjustment part and to comprise a main seal member which is formed under the sub-seal member in contact with the sub-seal member.

0029The composition is such that a first adhesive member is formed in a layer featuring the sub-seal member so as not to contact the sub-seal member, and a second adhesive member is formed between the sub-seal member and the substrate material part.

0030The RFID tag unit according to the present invention is constructed to make the thickness of it small, enabling a printing and issuing by using an RFID tag-use label printer, thereby enabling an improvement in work efficiency of printing and issuing the RFID tag unit. It is also constructed to cut off the impedance adjustment part cutoff part, thereby making it possible to use separately for an RFID tag of nonmetallic goods.

0031The metal-suitable RFID tag according to the present invention is constructed to print and issue the RFID tag unit of the present invention by using the RFID tag-use label printer, attaching the RFID tag unit to the metal sheet part, thereby making it possible to produce the metal-suitable RFID tag in good process efficiency.

Brief Description of Drawings

0032<ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a vertical cress-section diagram showing a composition of a conventional metal-suitable RFID tag.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a diagram showing an overall composition of a metal-suitable RFID tag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a diagram showing a composition of the RFID tag unit shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, with (a) showing a vertical cross-section diagram of the RFID tag unit, (b) showing a top view of a substrate material part 12 and (c) showing a rear view of a seal member part of (a).</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is an overall composition diagram of a metal sheet part shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a diagram showing a first preferred embodiment (i.e., embodiment 1) of a comprisal for cutting off an impedance adjustment part cutoff part.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a diagram showing a background example of a comprisal for cutting off an impedance adjustment part cutoff part.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> shows a top view of a label sheet in which an RFID tag unit is produced.</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref> shows a side view of a roll constituted by the label sheet shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref>.</li></ul>

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

0033The following is a description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention by referring to the accompanying drawings.

0034<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a diagram showing an overall composition of a metal-suitable RFID tag according to the present invention.

0035The metal-suitable RFID tag 1 according to the present invention comprises a metal sheet part 40 and an RFID tag unit 10 equipped on the metal sheet part 40 as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>.

0036The RFID tag unit 10 comprises a common RFID tag used for nonmetallic goods or such, and an impedance adjustment part for adjusting a tuning frequency of an antenna of the RFID tag. The RFID tag unit 10 can also be used as a single body by attaching it to nonmetallic goods. When using the RFID tag unit 10 as a single body for nonmetallic goods, the impedance adjustment part is preferably eliminated. The reason is that a tuning performance is reduced by an existence of the impedance adjustment part because the RFID tag unit 10 is produced in a premise of an attachment to a metallic surface.

0037The metal sheet part 40 is used by attaching the RFID tag unit 10 onto a metal, and comprises a spacer part for preventing the RFID tag unit 10 from an influence of a metal and a metal sheet part for attaching the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 constituted of the RFID tag unit 10 and metal sheet part 40.

0038As shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, when using the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 by attaching it to a metal 90, the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 is attached to the metal 90 via the back side of the metal sheet part 40.

0039<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a diagram showing a composition of the RFID tag unit 10 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>. <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (a)</figref> shows a vertical cross-section diagram of the RFID tag unit 10; <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (b)</figref> shows a top view of a substrate material part 12 shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (a); and Fig. 3 (c)</figref> shows a rear view of a seal member part 11 shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (a)</figref>.

0040The RFID tag unit 10 is constituted of the seal member part (i.e., a seal part) 11, substrate material part (i.e., substrate material) 12 and print member part (i.e., a print part) 13 as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (a)</figref>. The seal member part 11, substrate material part 12 and print member part 13 are layered together, with the first layer (i.e., the bottom layer) being the seal member part 11, the second layer (i.e., the middle layer) being the substrate material part 12 and the third layer (i.e., the top layer) being the print member part 13.

0041The seal member part 11 is a seal possessing adhesiveness for adhering the RFID tag unit 10 onto the metal sheet part 40. The substrate material part 12 consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material and paper and so on and in the surface, RFID tag and an impedance adjustment part are formed. The print member part 13 consists of paper, thermal paper, PET material, and is printable by label printer or such.

0042The top surface of the substrate material part 12 is formed with the RFID tag as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (a) and (b)</figref>. The RFID tag is constituted of an LSI chip 21, an antenna 22 and an impedance adjustment part 23 as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (b)</figref>.

0043The LSI chip 21 is formed approximately at the center of the surface of the substrate material part 12. The antenna 22 is a dipole antenna and is formed on both sides of the LSI chip 21. The antenna 22 is formed by etching, paste printing or such to the surface of the substrate material part 12. The impedance adjustment part 23 is a conductor and is equipped for adjusting an impedance characteristic of the antenna 22. The impedance adjustment part 23 may alternatively be equipped internally to the substrate material part 12, not in place of the surface thereof. Note that although the present embodiment is configured to use a dipole antenna as the antenna 22, another antenna type may also be applied.

0044If the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 supports radio waves of a high frequency wave band such as UHF band, the impedance component can be formed by a conductor in a loop form. Consequently, the impedance adjustment part 23 is connected to antennas 22 on the left and right and formed into a "box with one open vertical side".

0045The present embodiment is configured to form the impedance adjustment part 23 into a loop-formed conductor in a box-shape with one open vertical side; the form may be other than that, however, provided that it is loop-formed.

0046Also, an impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30 is provided for the place which is opposite to the above the impedance adjustment part 23 in the seal member part 11 as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (c)</figref>. The impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30 is equipped for cutting off the impedance adjustment part 23 of the RFID tag unit 10 when the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 is used as a single body. Note that the antennas 22 formed on the front surface of the substrate material part 12 and the impedance adjustment part 23 formed on the front surface or in the inside of the substrate material part 12 are shown by dotted lines in the description in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3 (c)</figref>.

0047The metal-suitable RFID tag 1 is configured so as to bring out a maximum performance when it is attached to a metal and therefore the performance is degraded to some extent when the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 is used as a single body.

0048Because of this, when using the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 separately, the impedance adjustment part 23 is cut off from the RFID tag unit 10 at the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30 before the usage. Cutting off the impedance adjustment part 23 of the metal-suitable RFID tag unit 10 enables the metal-suitable RFID tag 1 to bring out a maximum performance when it is separately used.

0049<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is an overall composition diagram of the metal sheet part 40 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>.

0050The metal sheet part 40 is constituted of a metal reflection plate 41 and a spacer part 42 as shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref>. The metal reflection plate 41 is made of a thin plate or such. The spacer part 42 is made of a high dielectric body, polystyrene foam, plastic or such. If a high dielectric body is used as the spacer part 42, a high performance metal-suitable RFID tag 1 can be produced in a thickness no larger than one millimeter even for a metal-suitable RFID tag.

0051The next is a description of the RFID tag unit 10 according to the present invention.

0052<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a diagram showing a composition of an RFID tag unit 10 according to the inevnetion comprising the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30.

0053<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5 (a)</figref> shows a top view of the RFID tag unit 10 according to the invention and <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5 (b)</figref> is the diagram showing the cross-section D-D of <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5 (a)</figref>.

0054The RFID tag unit 10 according to the invention is configured to pre-cut out a lower part of a substrate material part 12 in which a part of an antenna 22 (i.e., the place where the antenna 22 and the impedance adjustment part 23 overlap with each other) is formed as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5 (b)</figref>. Therefore the composition is such that a part of metal surface of the antenna 22, which is formed on the substrate material part 12, is exposed. Further the impedance adjustment part 23 is equipped in the cut-out area of the substrate material part 12.

0055Also a seal member part 11 that is the lower layer of substrate material part 12 is composed of two layers, i.e., a layer comprising a main seal member 11a and another layer, which is layered on the aforementioned layer, comprising a sub-seal member 11b and a main seal-use adhesive (i.e., a first adhesive) 11c, which are layered on the main seal member 11a. In the upper layer of the seal member part 11, the composition is such that the main seal-use adhesive 11c does not contact with the sub-seal member 11b.

0056The impedance adjustment part 23 is pre-formed on the sub-seal member 11b by using a printing or etching. Therefore, the impedance adjustment part 23 is fitted into a cut-out area of the substrate material part 12 by attaching the sub-seal member 11b onto the substrate material part 12 so as to make the impedance adjustment part 23 enter the cut-out area of the substrate material part 12. A gap is provided between the impedance adjustment part 23 and substrate material part 12. The gap is provided for easy extraction of the impedance adjustment part 23 from the substrate material part 12 as will be described later.

0057It is configured such that the contact part between the sub-seal member 11b and substrate material part 12 is provided with a second adhesive (i.e., a sub-seal-use adhesive) 11d which adheres the sub-seal member 11b to the substrate material. Also, between the substrate material part 12 and print member part 13, a layer of a third adhesive 14 which adheres the substrate material part 12 to the print member part 13 is provided.

0058The RFID tag unit 10 according to the present invention is configured such that a part of the antenna 22 (i.e. , the part formed on the upward of the cutout part) formed on the impedance adjustment part 23, equipped in the cutout area of the substrate material part 12 and on the substrate material part 12, contacts with the impedance adjustment part 23 so as to be electrically connected. Because of this, a contact resistance is generated in the contact point between the impedance adjustment part 23 and an exposed part 22a of the antenna 22. A value of the contact resistance, however, can be estimated within a certain range, if the materials of the antenna 22 and impedance adjustment part 23 are known. Therefore, forming a pattern of the impedance adjustment part 23 by taking account of the contact resistance makes it possible to suppress a displacement of resonance (i.e., a displacement of a resonance frequency) to the minimum.

0059Meanwhile, the RFID tag unit 10 is configured to prevent the adhesive 11c from contacting with the sub-seal member 11b, and therefore even if the main seal member 11a is peeled off, the sub-seal member 11b maintains adhesion status to the substrate material part 12 with the adhesive 11d, preventing a peeling off.

0060When separately using the RFID tag unit 10 of the present embodiment by attaching it to nonmetallic goods or such, the main seal member 11a is to be peeled, followed by peeling off the sub-seal member 11b. This action separates the impedance adjustment part 23 from the antenna 22 and cuts the impedance adjustment part cut-off part 30A from the RFID tag unit 10. The present embodiment is configured to provide the gap between the impedance adjustment part 23 and substrate material part 12 as described above and therefore it is possible to easily extract the impedance adjustment part 23 from the cut-out area of the substrate material part 12 when peeling off the sub-seal member 11b.

0061As described above, the RFID tag unit 10 according to the present invention is configured to cut off the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30A (i.e., the impedance adjustment part 23) from the RFID tag unit 10, thereby making it possible to suppress a displacement of resonance to a minimum and use the RFID tag unit 10 by making it bring out the maximum performance when separately using the RFID tag unit 10 by attaching it to nonmetallic goods or such.

0062An RFID tag unit 10 according to an example useful in order to understand the background of the invention is configured to pre-process an impedance adjustment part cutoff part with perforations and cut off it.

0063<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a diagram showing an RFID tag unit 10 according to such an example useful in order to understand the background of the invention

0064<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6 (a)</figref> is a top view showing an overall composition of the RFID tag unit 10 according to the example

0065The RFID tag unit 10 according to the example is configured to provide an impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30B in a part of a substrate material part 12 positioned under an impedance adjustment part 23 and in a part of a seal member part 11 positioned under the substrate material part 12 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6 (a)</figref>. The outer frame of the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30B is formed with perforation line 60.

0066<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6 (b)</figref> is a diagram showing an enlargement of the perforation line 60 of the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30B. The perforation line 60 is constituted of a plurality of circular holes lining up in a certain interval as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6 (b)</figref>. The perforation line 60 is formed by separating from the antennal 22 by a prescribed distance. The reason is to prevent the antenna 22 from being mistakenly cut off when cutting off the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30B. Also, the perforation line 60 is formed to the respective ends of the substrate material part 12 and seal member part 11 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6 (b)</figref>.

0067The example is configured to allow a cutoff of the impedance adjustment part cutoff part 30B provided on the back side of the RFID tag unit 10 along the perforation line 60, thereby making it possible to easily cut off the impedance adjustment part 23 from the antenna 22.

0068In this execution form, more than one RFID tag 10 is made on label seat 70 as shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref>. Since the label sheet 70 is thin, it is possible to apply printing (and issuing) onto the surface of the RFID tag units 10 produced on the label sheet 70 by using a label printer. When using the PET material which processed leuco in this case to print member part 13, the print in the surface in RFID tag unit 10 becomes rewritable and the print and the issue become possible repeatedly many times Then, placing the printed/issued RFID tag unit 10 and the main seal member 11a overlapped on a metal makes it possible to use an RFID tag constituted of the RFID tag unit 10 and the main seal member 11a as a metal-suitable RFID tag.

0069<figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref> shows a side view of a roll constituted of the label sheet 70 shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref>. The face on the direction indicated by the arrow is the top surface of the label sheet 70 in the showing of <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref>.

0070The roll 80 shown in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref> is made by winding the label sheet 70 in multitude around a cylindrical core 81 having a cavity around its center. Setting the roll 80 to a label printer enables it to continuously print and issue the RFID tag unit 10.

0071The metal-suitable RFID tag according to the present invention is constructed to separate a RFID tag unit and a metal sheet part from each other, thereby enabling a printing and issuing of the RFID tag unit by using an RFID tag-use label printer. This makes it possible to greatly improve a work efficiency for printing and issuing the RFID tag unit. Also, an impedance adjustment unit can be cut off from the RFID tag unit. This also enables a simple work process when using the RFID tag unit separately as a nonmetallic goods-use RFID tag. Furthermore, simply attaching a metal sheet part under the RFID tag makes it possible to easily produce a metal-suitable RFID tag. Therefore the production efficiency thereof improves greatly.

Applicability to Industrial

0072The metal-suitable RFID tag according to the present invention is constructed to make it possible to print on and issue an RFID tag unit by using an RFID tag-use label printer and therefore enable a retail business such as a supermarket and convenience store, or a self-owned business, to easily print and issue an RFID tag unit by purchasing an RFID tag-use label printer.