Non-reusable identification device

• US 20050146435A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bartronics America, Inc. (Systems America Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Proximities Incorporated (Bartronics India Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lerch, John W., Girvin, Joshua M.
• Application Number:
  US11/070,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0286 provided with adaptations for labelling machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A non-reusable tamper-resistant identification device, such as may be fastened around a limb of a user. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit is disposed in a band of material, such as is suitable for use as a wristband. The RFID circuit comprises an antenna and a transponder, disposed adjacent the antenna and cooperating therewith for emitting and receiving a wireless signal. An electrically conductive loop forms at least a portion of a connection between the antenna and the transponder. In addition, the electrically conductive loop forms a continuous conductive path along substantially the entire length of the band. The conductive loop is preferably frangible and easily broken in response to an attempt to remove the band from the wearer'"'"'s limb.

Claims

1. An identification apparatus comprising:

a band of material;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit disposed in the band, the RFID circuit comprising;

an antenna; and

a transponder chip, disposed adjacent to the antenna and cooperating therewith for emitting and receiving a wireless signal; and

an electrically conductive loop directly connected to the antenna, the electrically conductive loop forming an electrically conductive continuous path along substantially the entire length of the band.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a non-reusable tamper resistant fastening mechanism is used to join opposite end regions of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-reusable, tamper resistant fastening mechanism is an adhesive layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-reusable, tamper resistant fastening mechanism comprises a hole formed in at least one end of the band and a barbed peg formed on the other end of the band, with the barbed peg arranged to pass through the hole and lock into a mating hole and shaped to resist removal from the mating hole.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive loop closely encircles the holes formed in the band.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of holes formed in the band such that the band may be adjustably fitted to a wrist by passing the peg through a selected one of the holes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive loop closely encircles each one of the holes.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive loop closely encircles the peg.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive loop runs along at least two edges of the band.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive loop encircles each of the holes and the peg as a single conductive wire trace.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transponder chip and the antenna are located on the same integrated circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit is located on a portion of the band inboard of a respective one of the ends.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrically conductive loop extends as a continuous wire loop outward along the band to an opposite end thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is formed as a conductive coil.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the conductive coil antenna encircles the transponder chip.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive loop is frangible and easily broken.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transponder chip and antenna are located on a different substrate than the electrically conductive continuous path.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection provided by the electrically conductive loop is a series connection between the transponder chip and the antenna.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive loop is frangible and easily broken in response to an attempt to remove the apparatus from a wearer'"'"'s limb.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transponder chip is arranged to become inoperative and disabled if the electrically conductive loop is broken.

21. An identification apparatus comprising:

a band of material;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit disposed in the band, the RFID circuit comprising;

an antenna; and

a transponder chip, cooperating therewith for emitting and receiving a wireless signal; and

an electrically conductive loop directly connected to the antenna, the combination of the electrically conductive loop and the antenna spanning substantially the entire length of the band.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a non-reusable tamper resistant fastening mechanism is used to join opposite end regions of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the non-reusable, tamper resistant fastening mechanism is an adhesive layer.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the non-reusable, tamper resistant fastening mechanism comprises a hole formed in at least one end of the band and a barbed peg formed on the other end of the band, with the barbed peg arranged to pass through the hole and lock into a mating hole and shaped to resist removal from the mating hole.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the electrically conductive loop closely encircles the holes formed in the band.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of holes formed in the band such that the band may be adjustably fitted to a wrist by passing the peg through a selected one of the holes.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electrically conductive loop closely encircles each one of the holes.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive loop closely encircles the peg.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive loop runs along at least two edges of the band.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electrically conductive loop encircles each of the holes and the peg as a single conductive wire trace.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transponder chip and the antenna are located on the same integrated circuit.

32. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the RFID circuit is located on a portion of the band inboard of a respective one of the ends.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the electrically conductive loop extends as a continuous wire loop outward along the band to an opposite end thereof.

34. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the antenna is formed as a conductive coil.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the conductive coil antenna encircles the transponder chip.

36. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive loop is frangible and easily broken.

37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transponder chip and the antenna are located on a different substrate than the conductive loop.

38. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the connection provided by the electrically conductive loop is a series connection between the transponder chip and the antenna.

39. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electrically conductive loop is frangible and easily broken in response to an attempt to remove the apparatus from a wearer'"'"'s limb.

40. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transponder chip is arranged to become inoperative and disabled conductive if the electrically conductive loop is broken.