Current status and issues of printing technology for electronic marking (1)
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First, the preface
Speaking of printing, it is a means of copying some information on the media such as paper and copying it to the world. At present, the Internet has become the world-wide information circulation foundation, and collaboration between printing technology and network retrieval services, information communication, and IT technology is becoming stronger. As a result, printed products have shifted from pure paper media to electronic media or directly to the network, evolved into certified media, and finally assumed the role of an electronic wallet such as an IC card. This not only drives technological innovation, but also gradually changes the business model.
Electronic tagging (E tag) is the use of wireless technology. In order to combine the actual "object" with the virtual "network", it has become an indispensable technology to support the living environment, and it has attracted the attention of all parties. From the media perspective of loading intelligence, it belongs to the evolutionary form of print media; from the manufacturing point of view, it is closely related to printing technology. Here, we will only introduce the current status and issues of the production of commonly used electronic markers.
Second, the expected printing technology
For electronic marking, what kind of printing technology is desired is simply summarized as follows.
Reduce costs by printing. The transaction value of the electronic tag device lies in the database information that is inseparable from the electronic tag and the technical method that utilizes it. As many electronic tags are set as possible, so that more people can use it, which can breed more service conditions. Therefore, minimizing the cost of sharing standardized cryptosystems and electronic tags is key.
Second, to achieve thinness, plasticity, such as logistics labels, paper bills and tickets, in order to apply to existing media, it is required to be thin and plastic, and it has been recognized that printed semiconductors. In terms of research level, products with transistor line grades for electronic marking have been published. Further maturity in materials and production technology is expected in the future. As long as the mass production technology is determined, as with the barcode of the product, the electronic mark is printed at the same time as the graphic is printed.
Third, to achieve high performance, the most advanced technology, due to the miniaturization of IC chips, there is a cheap electronic mark on the market with a pentagram level, but it has not become a popular reason, mainly unable to meet the functional level required by users. In the future, the future will promote the stability of communication, the accuracy of reading, the influence and reliability of metal products and moisture, and the room for improvement in printing technology is quite large.
Third, the basic structure of electronic markers
Let's first understand the basic system of electronic markup. Most of the currently in use are battery-free passive electronic markers. The basis of the system is composed of IC tags, readers, networks, databases, and so on. The electronic mark is the working power and signal of the IC chip that is sent and received according to the electromagnetic field wave emitted by the reader. To do this, you need an antenna connected to the chip. What is now recognized by ISO for international standardization is only the communication rules related to the reader. There are no specifications for the shape and performance of electronic markers, just for a variety of purposes.
The shape of the antenna varies depending on the frequency band used. At present, Japan is dominated by the 13.56 MHz short-wave band, and the internationally used logistics mark is the UHF band in the 900 MHz range, which is considered to be the world standard. At present, there is no universal wave band, which is both good and bad, so choose the appropriate method according to the application software. Of course, it is sometimes mixed with identification technologies such as barcodes, such as barcodes on products, using short-waveband markers to manage inventory intelligence, logistics for individual units, and inventory management on Internet services marked with UHF. A database that combines objects and tags and automatic identification using wireless can control the retention and circulation of goods.
Fourth, the antenna manufacturing technology
Antennas are components that rely on the application of printing technology, and here are some explanations of some of its manufacturing techniques. The frequency bands have been mentioned above and can be classified accordingly.
A. Coil antenna using copper wire
B. Etched antenna made of metal foil and foil
C. Printed antennas using conductive ink
1. Coil antenna using copper wire
It is mainly used for livestock management or as an electronic anti-theft button for automobiles, using long-wavelength marks of 125 to 135 kHz. The fine copper lacquer is made into an empty core or rolled onto a sheet, and the IC module is joined by solder or welding. Although the original coil technology such as motors and inductors is the foundation, unique manufacturing equipment and IC connection technology are required for manufacturing. As for the production technology, even if it is mass-produced, each antenna is produced at the same time, and it needs to be produced one by one. Therefore, the cost reduction required for electronic marking and the roll to roll form are not suitable, so its association with printing technology. Sexuality is a relatively indifferent technique.
2. Etched antenna made of metal foil and foil
As a process flow, it belongs to the extension of printed circuit boards. The biggest advantage of this method is the flexibility of the model design and the high precision of reproduction. Not long ago, after the improvement of the technology for electronic marking, it became a technology that can cope with a wide range of applications such as short-wavelength belts, UHF belts, and microwave belts, and has mass production. The main technical improvements are as follows.
The first point is to make good use of general-purpose PET sheets to produce thin and rolled antennas. From then on, it is integrated with the processing technology of the roll. At present, electronic marking for trademarks, cards, chips, etc. has become the mainstream.
The second point is etching technology. Composite materials of aluminum foil and PEF film have long been used as packaging materials for tea and the like. Applications in electronic circuits are still rare. It has been applied to the circuit boards and electrodes of computers, and is used as a resonance circuit for anti-theft marks in Europe and the United States. It is engaged in mass production and seeks to reduce costs. Especially in the case of anti-theft lines, the riveting technique which is considered as a method of obtaining the connection between layers is a feature. The diaphragm is mechanically ruptured with an astigmatism pin, and the aluminum wiring in the surface is brought into contact and turned on. This is a practice for aluminum foil with high softness.
This is an absolute high productivity compared to the in-hole plating of the printed circuit board.
The third point is the formation technique of the resist model before etching. For a 1000 mm wide raw material, a resist model is printed at a high speed using a gravure printing machine. This may be inferior in accuracy compared to the model printed by photolithography, but it is absolutely advantageous to form a model at a speed of more than 50 meters per minute, and it is also possible to obtain a continuous model by using a rotary machine. biggest advantage.
The following is a description of the key points at the time of actual manufacturing.
A. Design of the base material
In the case of an antenna, after etching, except for the line to be left, it is removed by corrosion, so there are several points to be aware of the selection of the adhesive for lamination.
‧Adhesive force of aluminum foil and PET film
‧Transparency, uniformity of the adhesive, countermeasures against the infiltration of impurities
‧ resistance to corrosion
‧To deal with the heat resistance of the IC chip
‧Anti-blocking when taking up
B. Design of resist ink
‧Protective against corrosive hydrochloric acid
‧Solubility of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution for stripping solution
‧ fast drying, especially for the selection of dilution solvents that emphasize air drying
C. Design of the plate
‧Reproducible model linear ink hole and plate processing
‧Please pay attention to the design of the depth and number of lines and the plating treatment to prevent streaks or scratches.
D. Printing conditions
‧To maintain the stability of the long version, pay attention to the scraping material and angle
‧Ink transfer should consider the viscosity and defoaming of ink to prevent bubble generation
‧In case of hardening ink, pay attention to drying oven temperature and working speed
‧The accuracy of the matching of the patterns in the table, especially when the capacitor model is provided on the circuit
‧When encountering organic solvents, countermeasures should be taken to prevent ignition due to the charging of raw materials.
In addition to gravure printing, a resist film can be formed, but from the viewpoint of continuity of the pattern, if screen printing is employed, a rotation method is preferably used. In addition, when flexographic printing is used, it is preferable to develop an ink design suitable for an anti-corrosion film.