Battery-powered RF tags and apparatus for manufacturing the same

A portable power source assembly for providing electrical energy to a portable electronic device, said assembly comprising:

• an electrically insulting substrate;
• a first pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form an anode structure;
• a second pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming an electrode structure:
• and
• electrolyte applying means for applying an electrolyte to said electrode structure between said anode and cathode structures for forming a battery for providing said electrical energy to said portable electronic device;
• wherein said applying means comprises a reservoir for holding said electrolyte and wherein said reservoir is in coextensive alignment with said electrode structures when applying said electrolyte to form said battery:
• and
• wherein said reservoir is divided into discrete segments, and wherein said applying means includes means for selecting respective ones of said reservoir segments for applying said electrolyte to corresponding respective portions of said electrode structures whereby said formed battery provides said electrical energy to said portable electronic device for a preselected limited time period.

An RF tag assembly comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• an RF transmitter provided on said substrate for transmitting a predetermined identification code;
• a first pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar anode structure;
• a second pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming a planar electrode structure coupled to said RF transmitter;
• and
• electrolyte applying means for applying an electrolyte on top of said planar electrode structure between said planar anode and cathode structures for forming a battery for providing electrical energy to said RF transmitter.

An RF tag assembly comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• an RF transmitter provided on said substrate for transmitting a predetermined identification code;
• a first pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form an anode structure;.
• a second pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming an electrode structure coupled to said RF transmitter;
• and
• electrolyte applying means for applying an electrolyte to said, electrode structure to said anode and cathode structures for forming a battery for providing electrical energy to said RF transmitter,
• wherein said applying means comprises a reservoir for holding said electrolyte and wherein said reservoir is in coextensive alignment, with said electrode structures when applying said electrolyte to form said battery;
• and
• wherein said reservoir is divided into discrete segments, and wherein said applying means includes means for selecting respective ones of said reservoir segments for applying said electrolyte to corresponding respective portions of said electrode structures whereby said formed battery provides said electrical energy to said portable electronic device for a preselected limited time period.

An RF tag subassembly comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• an RF transmitter on said substrate for transmitting a predetermined identification code;
• a first pattern of conductive material on said substrate to form an anode structure;
• a second pattern of conductive material on said substrate to form a cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming an electrode structure coupled to said RF transmitter;
• and
• a protective layer overlying .said substrate, said protective layer having an opening to expose said electrode structure to permit an electrolyte to be applied to said electrode structure for forming a battery to provide electrical energy to said RF transmitter.

A portable power source assembly for providing electrical energy to a portable electronic device, said assembly comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• a first pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar anode structure;
• a second pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming a planar electrode structure;
• and
• a protective layer overlying said substrate, said protective layer having an opening to expose said planar electrode structure to permit an electrolyte to be applied to said electrode structure for forming a battery to provide electrical energy.

An RF tag subassembly comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• circuitry, coupled to said substrate and receiving electrical energy from a battery, for providing a predetermined identification code;
• a first pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar anode structure;
• a second pattern of conductive material provided on said substrate to form a planar cathode structure, said anode and cathode structures forming a planar electrode structure;
• and
• a protective layer overlying said substrate, said protective layer having an opening to expose said planar electrode structure to permit an electrolyte to be applied to said electrode structure for forming said battery to provide electrical energy for said circuitry.