Smart radio frequency identification (RFID) items

• US 20060261950A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bandy, William R., Arneson, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US11/391,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261950A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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 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 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30107 Inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for radio frequency identification (RFID) items/objects are described. In embodiments of the present invention, resonant frequency characteristics of materials of the items/objects are used to enable RFID functionality in the items/objects. In an aspect of the present invention, a RFID item comprises a resonant material. An integrated circuit (IC) die is electrically coupled to the resonant material. The resonant material functions as an antenna for the IC die. The IC die may be attached to a quadraposer substrate to be electrically coupled to the resonant material.

Claims

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

a resonant material of the item; and

an integrated circuit (IC) die electrically coupled to the resonant material, wherein the resonant material functions as an antenna for the IC die.

2. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein the item is a cigarette pack.

3. The RFID item of claim 2, wherein the cigarette pack includes a foil sheet, wherein the foil sheet comprises said resonant material.

4. The RFID item of claim 3, wherein said IC die is mounted to said foil sheet.

5. The RFID item of claim 3, further comprising a quadraposer layer attached to said foil sheet, wherein said IC die is mounted to said quadraposer layer, wherein said IC die is electrically coupled to the foil sheet through the quadraposer layer.

6. The RFID item of claim 3, wherein said foil sheet has a slot formed therethrough, wherein said slot is sized to adjust a resonant frequency of said foil sheet.

7. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein the item is one of a bag, a window, a car windshield, a license plate, a boat, an electrical outlet, and a building.

8. The RFID item of claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate having a conductive pattern, wherein the IC die is mounted on the substrate and is electrically coupled to the conductive pattern, wherein the conductive pattern electrically couples the IC die to the resonant material.

9. The RFID item of claim 8, wherein the conductive pattern is configured to match an impedance characteristic of the resonant material.

10. The RFID item of claim 8, wherein the conductive pattern includes a plurality of electrically conductive segments.

11. The RFID item of claim 10, wherein an electrically conductive segment of the plurality of electrically conductive segments electrically couples a pad of the IC die to the resonant material.

12. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein a packaging of the item includes the resonant material.

13. The RFID item of claim 12, wherein the packaging is one of a bottle, a can, a vitamin container, a medicine container, a packaging for an optical storage medium, a packaging for a toy, a packaging for an appliance, or a packaging for a cosmetic.

14. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein the item is a consumer good.

15. The RFID item of claim 14, wherein the consumer good is one of a shoe, an article of clothing, a credit card, or a handheld electronic device.

16. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein the item is a sign, a doorway, a, locking mechanism, a light fixture, a house wiring;

a flooring material, a window, a windshield, a wheel, a license plate, or a statue.

17. The RFID item of claim 1, wherein the item is an optical storage medium.

18. The RFID item of claim 17, wherein the optical storage medium is a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DVD).

19. A method for forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled item, comprising:

characterizing an item to determine an impedance characteristic;

forming a quadraposer to match the impedance characteristic; and

integrating the quadraposer with the item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said forming a quadraposer to match the impedance characteristic comprises:

mounting an integrated circuit die to a substrate having a conductive pattern.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said integrating the quadraposer with the item comprises:

attaching the quadraposer to the item.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said integrating the quadraposer with the item comprises:

inserting the quadraposer in the item.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said integrating the quadraposer with the item comprises:

forming the item such that the quadraposer is in the object.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said integrating the quadraposer with the object comprises:

attaching the quadraposer to packaging of the object.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said forming a quadraposer to match the impedance characteristic further comprises:

configuring the conductive pattern to match the impedance characteristic.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said configuring the conductive pattern to match the impedance characteristic comprises:

forming the conductive pattern to have a determined size.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said configuring the conductive pattern to match the impedance characteristic comprises:

forming the conductive pattern to have a determined shape.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said configuring the conductive pattern to match the impedance characteristic comprises:

forming the conductive pattern to have a determined thickness.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said configuring the conductive pattern to match the impedance characteristic comprises:

forming the conductive pattern from a selected conductive material.

30. A radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled item, comprising:

a quadraposer means comprising an electrical circuit means and an interface means, wherein the interface means interfaces the electrical circuit means with a resonant material of the item, wherein said interface means matches an impedance characteristic of the resonant material.

31. The RFID enabled item of claim 30, wherein the interface means includes a substrate means.

32. The RFID enabled item of claim 31, wherein the substrate means includes a conductive pattern.

33. The RFID enabled item of claim 31, wherein the electrical circuit means includes an integrated circuit (IC) die.