Non-reusable identification device

• US 20050166436A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• 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:
  US11/070,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/633
• 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

An identification device has a band and a non-reusable tamper-resistant fastening arranged to join opposite end regions of the band to fasten it around a limb of a user. A transponder circuit and antenna are attached to the band, so that they are responsive to a received wireless signal. In response to the received wireless signal, the transponder emits a wireless signal representative of information pre-stored in the transponder. An electrically conductive continuous loop on the band couples to the transponder and forms an electrically continuous path along substantially the entire length of the band. The conductive loop also serves as an extension of antenna, so that the transponder is thus arranged to become inoperative and disable the transponder if the loop is broken.

Claims

1. A wristband mounted identification apparatus comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit comprising;

a transponder chip for receiving and generating signals; and

an antenna;

wherein the apparatus further comprises a continuous conductive path disposed along a length of the wristband, the continuous conductive path serving as an extension of the antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous conductive path is an electrically conductive frangible loop.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous conductive path extends in a direction away from the antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous conductive path extends along substantially the entire length of the wristband.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-reusable tamper resistant fastening mechanism for joining opposite end regions of the wristband.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-reusable tamper resistant fastening mechanism is an adhesive layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-reusable tamper resistant fastening mechanism comprises a hole formed in at least one end of the wristband and a barbed peg formed on the other end of the wristband, 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.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of holes formed in the wristband such that the wristband may be adjustably fitted to a wrist by passing the peg through a selected one of the holes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the continuous conductive path closely encircles each one of the holes.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a portion of said continuous conductive path closely encircles the peg.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the continuous conductive path closely encircles each of the holes and the peg as a single conductive path.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous conductive path runs along at least two parallel edges of the wristband.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous conductive path runs along an edge region of each of two ends of the wristband.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is located within the transponder chip.

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

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

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

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transponder chip is electrically connected to the electrically conductive path in such a way as to become inoperative and disable the transponder chip if the continuous conductive path is broken.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the antenna extension span substantially the entire length of the wristband.