The document discusses how Murata's MAGICSTRAP product can be used to add RFID tagging capabilities to printed circuit boards (PCBs). MAGICSTRAP is an RFID tag component that can be placed directly on existing metal layers in a PCB or other substrate to act as the antenna, without needing additional antenna circuitry. This allows PCBs and other electronics to be easily tagged for applications like supply chain management, traceability, and anti-counterfeiting. A case study is presented of how Schneider Electric uses MAGICSTRAP to tag their PCBs for improved production tracking and quality control.

1. Creating Value While Using UHF RFID
Electronics:
PCB Tagging with Magicstrap

2. RFID System – Basic Elements
3 Elements of
an RFID System

3. RFID System – Tag Elements
MAGICSTRAP®
is
a Tag Component
Tag/Inlay
Antenna
(PET film etc.)
(Cu, Al, Sn
etc.)
Strap
a IC
IC
UHF - IC Module Substrate

4. Rethinking Tags: Reduce to the MAGICSTRAP®
Efficiently use existing metallization as antenna
Food Packages Electronics
Pharmacy
Tag/Inlay Instead of adding cost
Antenna
(PET film etc.)
(Cu, Al, Sn
etc.)
Expensive

5. Rethinking Tags: Reduce to the MAGICSTRAP®
Efficiently use existing metallization as antenna
Food Packages Electronics
Pharmacy
Simply place the Magicstrap on an existing
metallization layer (e.g. aluminum layer on the food
package or ground plane in the PCB) and it will be
used as a booster antenna.
Depending on the size, permittivities and form
factors you can achieve several meters of read
range.

6. 4 Types of reference antenna on PCB
Type1 Type2 Type3 Type4
10cm
3.2x1.3cm
1.2x1.0cm (4.2cm2)
0.5x0.5cm 0.5x1.0cm (1.2cm2)
(0.25cm2) (0.5cm2)
MAGICSTRAP®
4cm
Read range
0.7m 1.6m 3.6m 5m
(at 4W EIRP, 915MHz, with 6dBi directivity antenna and circularly polarized wave

7. What is inside of MAGICSTRAP® ?
RFID IC Resin mold
MAGICSTRAP®
Substrate Ceramic Multilayer
(LTCC)
Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics
Embedded RF circuit
- RFID IC
- RF (matching) circuit in LTCC
- Wideband antenna filter – all global UHF RFID bands covered
- ESD protection
- Antenna for Magnetic Coupling
Environmental Friendly: 100% GREEN materials

8. How does MAGICSTRAP® work on PCB?
MAGICSTRAP®
Conventional Dipole Antenna mounting position
1
Dipole Antenna with wide area
2
PCB antenna with MAGICSTRAP®
3 PCB ground
MAGICSTRAP® recognizes the PCB as a dipole antenna.
MAGICSTRAP® makes stable RFID tag on PCB.
Confidential

9. Simply Add Some Magic to Your PCB
Supply Chain Management Traceability
Conventional PCB
without RFID tag
function
AP®
ICSTR
MAG
1. xxx
2. xxxxxxxxx
3. xxx
4. xxxx
5.
6.
xxxxx
xx
Advanced PCB
7.
8.
xx
xx
with RFID tag function
Anti-Counterfeit
Add MAGICSTRAP® and your PCB will become a full RFID Tag!

10. And explore the added value by UHF RFID
Traceability Supply Chain
Example !
Management
MAGICSTRAP®
inside!
Anti-Counterfeiting
The product itself will become a full RFID Tag over the whole value chain!

12. Use Case: The Schneider Automation business
Seligenstadt (Germany)
Schneider Automation Gmbh Shanghaï (China )
€400 Millions business Schneider Electric investment Ltd
1200 employees.
4 subsidiaries around the world
4 RD locations
1 specialized factory
North Andover (North America)
Schneider Automation INC
Carros, Sophia (France)
Schneider Automation S.A.S

13. Actual Use Case Magicstrap on PCB
Schneider Electrics - France

14. Current product tracking solutions
PCB • Laser marking 2D code on each
PCB
identification – Collect assembly process
parameters
– Process interlock
PCBA
• 2D matrix code sticker after coating
assembly – Used as anti error system in FAT
and test lines
• HF RFID tag
– Removed and recycled
Coating
FAT1 FAT2 FAT…

15. Schneider approach to RFID
• Compensate tag over cost by productivity gain
– Replace multiple labeling by one SMD component UHF tag
– Tag cost is the key figure
– Assembly cost can be neglected
– Use the same tag along PCBA assembly process and FAT process
• Evaluate implementation constraints

16. What can Magicstrap do for Schneider ?
Access PCB panel data in line
Hold more data
before/after reflow
Access multiple
Access tagged PCBA data after PCBA data into a shielded
conformal coating product (with precautions)

17. TraceItAll
solution
Cost Component cost is compensated by process
savings
ROI All identification operation are suppressed
Real time data capture increase precision of process
Quality control
Product history is archived
On demand data can be included into the product
Service They remain accessible in a running configuration
Energy savings 102 MWh for one year
Environment Product end of live recycling processing data

19. Magic Keys for Value Creation
- Start with closed loop scenario (production traceability)
but additional values over whole process identified
- Anti-counterfeiting
- Maintenance
- Recycling
- ...
- Use Smart Tag Solution based on
existing process
- Transform the product
- Add RFID uses Step by Step
Project Partners AIM Members
Reader-Writers System Solutions
Antennas and Middleware

20. Take a R(F)IDe with me
aschmoldt@murata.de http://www.murata.com/products/rfid/index.html