Switchable RFID antennas responsive to an environmental sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor system comprising:
- a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna;
a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time;
at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; and
at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch,wherein the switch has a conductive state and a non-conductive state, and when the switch is in the conductive state, the switch completes an electrical connection from the antenna of the primary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the primary RFID tag such that the primary RFID tag is activated and an electrical connection from the antenna of the secondary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the secondary RFID tag is shorted such that the secondary RFID tag is deactivated, andwherein when the switch is in the non-conductive state, the switch opens the electrical connection from the antenna of the primary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the primary RFID tag such that the primary RFID tag is deactivated and a short of the electrical connection from the antenna of the secondary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the secondary RFID tag is removed such that the secondary RFID tag is activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for switchable RFID tags responsive to an environmental sensor are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, and a switch being associated with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time. Each RFID tag may include an integrated circuit and an antenna. The system may also include at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch, and at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; and at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch has a conductive state and a non-conductive state, and when the switch is in the conductive state, the switch completes an electrical connection from the antenna of the primary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the primary RFID tag such that the primary RFID tag is activated and an electrical connection from the antenna of the secondary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the secondary RFID tag is shorted such that the secondary RFID tag is deactivated, and wherein when the switch is in the non-conductive state, the switch opens the electrical connection from the antenna of the primary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the primary RFID tag such that the primary RFID tag is deactivated and a short of the electrical connection from the antenna of the secondary RFID tag with the integrated circuit of the secondary RFID tag is removed such that the secondary RFID tag is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 20)
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6. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, an additional secondary RFID tag having an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; an additional switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the additional secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the additional secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the additional secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two third electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the additional switch; and at least two fourth electrical terminals electrically connecting the additional secondary RFID tag to the additional switch.
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7. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch comprises a sensor device having a dopant layer, a conductive polymer, and a permeable membrane located between the dopant layer and the conductive polymer, wherein when the sensor device reaches a threshold temperature, the dopant layer diffuses through the permeable membrane into the conductive polymer to increase the conductivity of the conductive polymer, and wherein the at least two first electrical terminals and the at least two second electrical terminals are electrically connected to the conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch comprises a sensor device having a chemical etchant layer, a conductive metal layer, and a permeable membrane located between the chemical etchant layer and the conductive metal layer, and wherein when the sensor device reaches a threshold temperature, the chemical etchant layer diffuses through the membrane into the conductive metal layer to degrade the conductivity of the conductive metal layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch comprises a sensor device having a first chamber with a conductive liquid, a second chamber, and a permeable membrane located between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein when the sensor device reaches a threshold temperature, the conductive liquid diffuses through the membrane into the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch comprises a sensor device having a first chamber with a gel, a second chamber, and a permeable membrane located between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein when the sensor device reaches a threshold temperature, the gel passes through the permeable membrane into the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A sensor system comprising:
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a primary RFID tag and a secondary RFID tag, each RFID tag comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna; a switch being electrically connected to the antenna of the primary RFID tag and the antenna of the secondary RFID tag and being electrically connected with the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag in a manner that the primary RFID tag and the secondary RFID tag are not activated at the same time; at least two first electrical terminals electrically connecting the primary RFID tag to the switch; at least two second electrical terminals electrically connecting the secondary RFID tag to the switch, wherein the switch comprises a sensor device having a first chamber with a pH modifying liquid, a second chamber with a pH sensitive gel, a third chamber, a first membrane located between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a second membrane located between the second chamber and the third chamber, and wherein when the sensor device reaches a threshold temperature, the pH modifying liquid diffuses through the first membrane into the second chamber and turns the pH sensitive gel to liquid, causing the pH sensitive gel to pass through the second membrane. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification