Fabricating multifunction adhesive product for ubiquitous realtime tracking
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating an adhesive product, comprising:
- providing a flexible tape substrate;
at each of multiple respective segment locations along the flexible tape substrate, forming at least one device layer comprising an antenna, a wireless communications system, a sensor operable to generate ambient data characterizing an environmental state of the segment in response to exposure to external stimulus, a processor, an energy source, at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium, and at least one respective flexible circuit electrically connecting the wireless communications system to the antenna, the processor to the wireless communications system and the sensor, and the energy source to the processor, the sensor, and the wireless communications system;
providing a flexible tape cover; and
annealing the at least one device layer between the flexible tape substrate and the flexible tape cover to form a flexible laminated structure; and
encoding the at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium with processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to perform operations comprising processing the ambient data, storing the processed ambient data, and controlling the wireless communications system to transmit wireless messages comprising the processed ambient data to one or more network nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-cost, multi-function tracking system with a form factor that unobtrusively integrates the components needed to implement a combination of different localization techniques and also is able to perform a useful ancillary function that otherwise would have to be performed with the attendant need for additional materials, labor, and expense. An example tracking system is implemented as an adhesive product that integrates tracking components within a flexible adhesive structure in a way that not only provides a cost-effective platform for interconnecting, optimizing, and protecting the components of the tracking system but also maintains the flexibility needed to function as an adhesive product that can be deployed seamlessly and unobtrusively into various tracking applications and workflows, including person and object tracking applications, and asset management workflows such as manufacturing, storage, shipping, delivery, and other logistics associated with moving products and other physical objects.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating an adhesive product, comprising:
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providing a flexible tape substrate; at each of multiple respective segment locations along the flexible tape substrate, forming at least one device layer comprising an antenna, a wireless communications system, a sensor operable to generate ambient data characterizing an environmental state of the segment in response to exposure to external stimulus, a processor, an energy source, at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium, and at least one respective flexible circuit electrically connecting the wireless communications system to the antenna, the processor to the wireless communications system and the sensor, and the energy source to the processor, the sensor, and the wireless communications system; providing a flexible tape cover; and annealing the at least one device layer between the flexible tape substrate and the flexible tape cover to form a flexible laminated structure; and encoding the at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium with processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to perform operations comprising processing the ambient data, storing the processed ambient data, and controlling the wireless communications system to transmit wireless messages comprising the processed ambient data to one or more network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of fabricating an adhesive product, comprising:
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providing a flexible tape substrate; at each of multiple respective segment locations along the flexible tape substrate, forming at least one device layer comprising an antenna, a wireless communications system, a processor, an energy source, a respective wake circuit that delivers power from the respective energy source to the respective processor and the respective wireless communications system in response to a separation of the respective segment from the adhesive product that comprises a cut across the adhesive product that creates an open circuit in an electrical path of the respective wake circuit, at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium, and at least one respective flexible circuit electrically connecting the wireless communications system to the antenna, the processor to the wireless communications system, and the energy source to the processor, and the wireless communications system; providing a flexible tape cover; annealing the at least one device layer between the flexible tape substrate and the flexible tape cover to form a flexible laminated structure; and encoding the at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium with processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to perform operations comprising controlling the wireless communications system to communicate wireless messages with one or more network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification