Arched radio frequency identification (RFID) devices

• US 10,331,992 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barcoding, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Barcoding, Inc.
• Inventors: Steinmetz, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Thien T
• Application Number:
  US15/786,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20190114524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, devices, and other implementations, including a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that includes a sheet comprising a middle strip section separable from a remainder of the sheet, and two side strips flanking the separable middle strip section, with the middle strip section including an attachment structure. The RFID device further includes a radio frequency circuit configured to receive RF transmissions and to transmit reply RF signals. The middle strip section is initially attached to the two side strips in a non-separated configuration, and is configured to be partly separated from the two side strips flanking the middle strip section, and to be attached to at least one of the two side strips at a corresponding at least one attachment point such that the middle strip section, when attached, protrudes relative to a plane defined by the remainder of the sheet to form an arched structure.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device, comprising:

a sheet comprising;

a middle strip section separable from a remainder of the sheet, the middle strip section including an attachment structure; and

two side strips flanking the separable middle strip section; and

a radio frequency circuit configured to receive RF transmissions and to transmit reply RF signals responsive to the RF transmissions;

wherein the middle strip section is initially attached to the two side strips in a non-separated configuration, and is configured to be partly separated from the two side strips flanking the middle strip section, and to be attached to at least one of the two side strips at a corresponding at least one attachment point such that the middle strip section, when attached, protrudes relative to a plane defined by the remainder of the sheet comprising the two side strips to form an arched structure;

and wherein the middle strip section is of a length longer than respective lengths of the two side strips, wherein the middle strip section comprises an end portion protruding past end portions of the two side strips when the middle strip is in the non-separated configuration, and wherein the attachment structure comprises one or more tabs extending transversely from the end portion of the middle strip section with the one or more tabs configured to be secured to the at least one of the two side strips at corresponding at least one attachment point when the middle strip section is partly separated from the two side strips.

2. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tabs include adhesive layers configured to adhere to the corresponding at least one attachment point on the at least one of the two side strips.

3. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachments point comprises one or more notches to securely receive the one or more tabs of the middle strip section.

4. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the middle strip section is attached to the two side strips, in the non-separated configuration, at perforated edges separating different length sides of the middle strip section from respective length sides of the two side strips.

5. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the middle strip section is disposed in the non-separated configuration on an adhesive section of a substrate layer, with the middle strip section configured to be peeled when separated from the two side strips.

6. The RFID device of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to couple the RFID device to an other object.

7. The RFID device of claim 6, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one adhesive layer covering at least one underside surface of at least one of the two side strips.

8. The RFID device of claim 6, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a receiving structure mountable on the other object, the receiving structure configured to securely receive at least the two side strips.

9. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency circuit comprises:

a communication module to receive and transmit RFID communications, a controller to process received data and transmitted data, and a power harvester to inductively generate electrical current or voltage from at least the received RFID communications to power at least the communication module and the controller.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching the RFID device to an other object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein attaching the RFID device to the other object comprises:

exposing at least one adhesive layer covering at least one underside surface of at least one of the two side strips; and

securing the exposed at least adhesive layer to a surface of the other object.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein attaching the RFID device to the other object comprises:

placing at least the two side strips in a receiving structure mountable on the other object.

10. A method comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising a sheet including a middle strip section separable from a remainder of the sheet with the middle strip section including an attachment structure, two side strips flanking the separable middle strip section, and a radio frequency circuit configured to receive RF transmissions and to transmit reply RF signals responsive to the RF transmissions, wherein the middle strip section is initially attached to the two side strips in a non-separated configuration;

partly separating the middle strip section from two side strips flanking the middle strip section; and

attaching the partly separated middle strip section to at least one of the two side strips at a corresponding at least one attachment point such that upon attaching the middle strip section, the attached middle strip section forms an arched structure protruding relative to a plane defined by the remainder of the sheet comprising the two side strips;

wherein the middle strip section is of a length longer than respective lengths of the two side strips, wherein the middle strip section comprises an end portion protruding past end portions of the two side strips when the middle strip is in a non-separated configuration, and wherein attaching the partly separated middle strip section to the at least one of the two side strips comprises attaching one or more tabs extending transversely from the end portion of the middle strip section to the at least one of the two side strips at the corresponding at least one attachment point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least the one or more tabs include adhesive layers configured to adhere to the corresponding at least one attachment point on the at least one of the two side strips.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the partly separated middle strip section to the at least one of the two side strips at the corresponding at least one attachment point comprises:

receiving at one or more notches located at the at least one of the two side strips the one or more tabs of the middle strip section.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the middle strip section is attached to the two side strips, in the non-separated configuration, at perforated edges separating different length sides of the middle strip section from respective length sides of the two side strips.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the middle strip section is disposed in the non-separated configuration on an adhesive section of a substrate layer, and wherein partly separating the middle strip section from two side strips comprises:

peeling the middle strip section from the adhesive section of the substrate layer.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the radio frequency circuit comprises:

a communication module to receive and transmit RFID communications, a controller to process received data and transmitted data, and a power harvester to inductively generate electrical current or voltage from at least the received RFID communications to power at least the communication module and the controller.