Jamming device against RFID smart tag systems

• US 20040100359A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindsay, Jeff, Ellingson, Daniel L., Reade, Walter C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/20 for contactless carriers, e.g. RFID carriers record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/44 characterized by the control of the jamming waveform or modulation type
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/86 related to preventing deceptive jamming or unauthorized interrogation or access, e.g. WLAN access or RFID reading record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257

Abstract

A RFID jamming device and methodology are provided for inhibiting unwanted intrusions of RFID smart tag technology. The device includes a mechanism for actively or passively preventing a RFID scanner from accurately receiving information from smart tags associated with products.

Claims

1. A jamming device for inhibiting unwanted intrusions of RFID smart tag technology, said device comprising means for inhibiting smart chip RFID scanners from accurately receiving information from smart tags associated with products.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device is portable so as to be carried or worn by an individual.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein said inhibiting means comprises a passive device.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises a structure containing a sufficient number of RFID chips so as to overwhelm a RFID scanner with simultaneous RFID signals to an extent that the scanner cannot process such signals.

5. The device as in claim 4, wherein said structure comprises at least about 1,000 RFID chips.

6. The device as in claim 4, wherein said structure comprises at least about 10,000 RFID chips.

7. The device as in claim 4, wherein said structure is disguised as a consumer electronic device.

8. The device as in claim 4, wherein said structure is of a size so as to fit within one of a pocket, purse, briefcase, and backpack.

9. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises an RFID chip that emits a signal conveying a code with an odd number of bits, the odd number being at least 3 or greater.

10. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises an RFID chip that emits a signal conveying a code with a number of bits greater than about 500.

11. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises an RFID chip that emits a signal conveying a code with a number of bits greater than 1000.

12. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises an RFID chip that emits a signal conveying a code with a number of bits greater than 2000.

13. The device as in claim 3, wherein said passive device comprises an RFID chip that emits a signal conveying a code with a number of bits greater than 4000.

14. The device as in claim 1, wherein said inhibiting means comprises an active device.

15. The device as in claim 14, wherein said active device comprises a RFID transmitter that generates jamming RFID signals in the presence of a RFID scanner.

16. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits generally continuously.

17. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits upon detection of a RFID scanner signal.

18. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits upon detection of a RFID signal from a smart tag.

19. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits jamming signals at select frequencies.

20. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits jamming signals at random frequencies.

21. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device sequentially sweeps a frequency band with jamming signals.

22. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device simultaneously emits signals at a plurality of frequencies.

23. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device transmits modulated RFID signals as the jamming signal.

24. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device is disguised as a consumer electronic device.

25. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device is of a size so as to fit in at least one of a pocket, purse, briefcase, and backpack.

26. The device as in claim 15, wherein said active device comprises an alarm to indicate when said device is within range of a RFID scanner.

27. The device as in claim 14, wherein said active device emits a radiofrequency signal having a signal strength substantially greater than the signal strength of any of the smart tags associated with the product, based on signal strength measurements when a scanner is at a distance of 10 centimeters from the smart tags associated with the product and at a distance of 10 centimeters from the jamming device.