RFID security system and methods

• US 20070090954A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lookout Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Flexilis Incorporated (Lookout Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00

Abstract

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag security device that selectively enables the readability of a RFID tag in a passport or book. The device has an RFID tag on one page and at least one layer of conductive material on a different page such that the tag and conductor are in parallel planes when the book or passport is closed and separated when it is open. Multiple conductors may be used on covers or pages surrounding the tag such that the tag is sandwiched between conductive materials when the book or passport is closed and loose when the book or passport is open. Optionally, the tag can be coupled to one of the conductive layers with a spacer placed between the tag and conductor. A two-part RFID tag assembly is also disclosed to have strong adhesives on both sides and weak bonds to detachably couple the two parts together.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag security device, comprising:

a first layer of conductive material coupled to an item having the RFID tag; and

wherein the first layer is capable of interfering with a frequency transmission between the RFID tag and a RFID reader when the first layer is disposed in parallel to the RFID tag.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second layer of conductive material coupled to the item and positioned to sandwich the RFID tag with the first layer when the item is in a first configuration.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second layers are coupled to the item so that when the item is in a second configuration the frequency transmission between the reader and the tag is allowed.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the conductive material is an electrically conductive material and wherein interfering includes blocking a radio frequency transmission.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive material is configured in at least one of foil, solid core, stranded core, sheet, and mesh.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second layers are coupled to each other in a book-like fashion, wherein the first configuration resembles a closed book, and wherein the second configuration resembles an open book.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second layers is flexible.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising a spacing layer coupled to at least one of the first layer and the RFID tag, and wherein the spacing layer comprises a ferrite-based material or other material with high magnetic permeability and high resistivity.

9. The device of claim 4 further comprising a spacing layer coupled to at least one of the first layer and the RFID tag, and wherein the spacing layer comprises a non-conducting dielectric material.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is a jacket capable of retrofitting the item, and wherein the item is a passport or a book.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the first layer is part of a binding of the item, and wherein the item is a book or a passport.

12. A RFID assembly for attaching a RFID tag to an item, comprising:

a first subassembly comprising a first layer of conductive material;

a second subassembly comprising a RFID; and

a weak bond to detachably couple the first subassembly to the second subassembly.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the second subassembly further comprises a spacing layer, and a second layer of conductive material.

14. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising, wherein the weak bond is a coupler selected from at least one of chemical coupler and mechanical coupler.

15. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a first adhesive layer disposed on a top side of the assembly to adhere to a surface of the item, and a second adhesive layer disposed on a bottom side of the assembly to adhere to a second surface of the item.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the chemical coupler is a weak adhesive layer capable of being removed from the assembly when the first subassembly is detached from the second subassembly.

17. A method of attaching a RFID tag to a book or a passport:

provide a two-part RFID assembly having adhesives on its top and bottom sides;

wherein a first part of the assembly comprises an electrical conductive layer capable of disrupting a radio frequency transmission;

wherein a second part of the assembly comprises a RFID tag; and

wherein the first and second parts are detachably coupled together.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

open the book or the passport;

adhere the assembly onto a page of the book or passport; and

close the book or passport to allow both the top and bottom sides of the assembly to adhere to the book or the passport.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detach the first part from the second part by opening the book or the passport.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second part of the assembly further comprises a second electrical conductive layer positioned in parallel to the tag and a spacer positioned in parallel to the tag to minimize an effect of the second layer to the tag.