VISUAL IDENTIFICATION TAG DEACTIVATION

• US 20080150721A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: WESLAKE, PAUL, O'Hagan, James, Hohberger, Clive
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

A device for deactivating an RFID portion on an identification tag and indicating that the RFID portion is deactivated. The present invention addresses current privacy concerns regarding potential use of RFID technology after the point of sale. The device for deactivating the RFID portion of an identification tag provides visual indication that the RFID portion is deactivated. The visual indication occurs without the use of additional equipment or electronics. The visual indication component of the present invention is easy to interpret, so that a viewer will be able to quickly determine whether the RFID portion of the identification tag has been deactivated.

Claims

1. An identification tag for visually indicating deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

an electronic circuit portion for storing an identification associated with said tag; and

a deactivation indicating portion,

wherein said deactivation indicating portion is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

2. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is mechanically deactivated.

3. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is deactivated using a fuse.

4. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is deactivated using a deactivation device.

5. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said visual indication of said deactivation indicating portion occurs under alternate lighting conditions.

6. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating color.

7. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating indicia.

8. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit portion is an RFID tag comprising at least a memory and an antenna.

9. An identification tag for visually indicating deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

a first layer;

a second layer;

an electronic circuit portion, wherein at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is located between said first layer and said second layer; and

a deactivation indicating portion,

wherein said deactivation indicating portion is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

10. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said electronic circuit portion is adhered to at least a part of at least one of said first layer and said second layer.

11. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said visual indication of said deactivation indicating portion occurs under alternate lighting conditions.

12. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating color.

13. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating indicia.

14. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said first layer has an outer surface having an outer surface color, and said deactivation indicating portion has an indicating surface having an indicating color, wherein said indicating color contrasts said outer surface color, and wherein said indicating color is visual when at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is deactivated.

15. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said second layer is coated by an environmentally reactive dye that reacts when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to an environmental stimulus.

16. The identification tag of claim 15, wherein said environmentally reactive dye produces a visual indicating color when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to said environmental stimulus.

17. The identification tag of claim 15, wherein said environmentally reactive dye produces a visual indicating indicia when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to said environmental stimulus.

18. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said second layer comprises preprinted text on a surface of said second layer, that is revealed when said first layer is removed.

19. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein at least a part of said first layer is adhered to said second layer with a first adhesive and at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is deactivated when said first layer and said second layer are separated.

20. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein at least a part of said first layer is adhered to said second layer with a first adhesive and at least a part of said second layer is adhered to an item with a second adhesive.