TAMPER-INDICATING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG AND METHODS OF INDICATING TAMPERING OF A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG

• US 20080143519A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Piotrowski, Chester
• Application Number:
  US11/613,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143519A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit

Abstract

A tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag including a substrate comprising piezoelectric material. The present invention also relates to methods of indicating that a radio frequency identification tag has been tampered with.

Claims

1. A tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag, comprising:

a substrate including a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the substrate comprises piezoelectric material;

a radio frequency identification antenna on the first major surface of the substrate; and

an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna;

wherein a voltage is generated in the piezoelectric material when the tag is tampered with.

2. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit will not function as a result of the voltage generated in the piezoelectric material.

3. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 2, wherein when the tag is interrogated by a radio frequency identification reader, the integrated circuit does not respond.

4. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a memory for recording events, and wherein when tampering of the tag occurs, an event is recorded in the memory.

5. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 4, wherein when the tag is interrogated by a radio frequency identification reader, the tag responds with information related to any event.

6. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1, wherein the tag may be remotely tested for tampering.

7. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1, wherein the tag indicates tampering even if there is no visible indication of tampering.

8. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1 further comprising tamper electrodes electrically attached to the integrated circuit.

9. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 8, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a memory for recording tampering events, and wherein when a voltage is generated in the piezoelectric material, a tampering event is recorded in the memory of the integrated circuit.

10. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises piezoelectric polymer film.

11. An electronic vehicle identification tag comprising the tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1.

12. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 1 in combination with an item to which the tag was assigned, wherein the item is a vehicle.

13. A tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag, comprising:

a substrate including a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the substrate comprises piezoelectric material; and

a radio frequency identification antenna on the first major surface of the substrate; and

an integrated circuit electrically connected to the first antenna, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a memory for recording events;

wherein when tampering of the tag occurs, a voltage is generated in the piezoelectric material and an event is recorded in the memory.

14. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13, wherein when the tag is interrogated by a radio frequency identification reader, the integrated circuit responds with information related to any event.

15. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13, wherein the tag may be remotely tested for tampering.

16. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13, wherein the tag indicates tampering even if there is no visible indication of tampering.

17. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13 further comprising tamper electrodes electrically attached to the integrated circuit.

18. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises piezoelectric polymer film.

19. An electronic vehicle identification tag comprising the tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13.

20. The tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag of claim 13 in combination with an item to which the tag was assigned, wherein the item is a vehicle.

21. A method of indicating tampering of a radio frequency identification tag, comprising the steps of:

providing a tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag, comprising;

a substrate including a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the substrate comprises piezoelectric material;

a radio frequency identification antenna on the first major surface of the substrate; and

an integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna;

wherein a voltage is generated in the piezoelectric material when the tag is tampered with;

attaching the tamper-indicating radio frequency identification tag to an assigned item;

tampering the radio frequency identification tag by attempting to remove or removing the tag from the assigned item; and

receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been tampered with by detecting a change in the response of the integrated circuit due to the voltage generated in the piezoelectric material.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a memory for recording events, and wherein the tampering step comprises recording a tampering event in the memory.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of

interrogating the tag by a radio frequency identification reader;

and

receiving from the integrated circuit information related to any tampering event.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the tampering step comprises damaging the functionality of the integrated circuit.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:

interrogating the tag by a radio frequency identification reader; and

not receiving a response from the integrated circuit.