METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING PRIVACY IN AN RFID SYSTEM

• US 20100026468A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Martinez de Velasco Cortina, Francisco, Nyalamadugu, Sheshidher, Liu, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.510
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• 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: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10277 the arrangement being mechanical, such as reinforced housings or protective cages against unlawful entry
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration

Abstract

A card comprises an antenna configured to generate and receive radio frequency signals, a chip coupled with the antenna, the chip configured to store sensitive information and communicate the information to an authorized reader via the antenna, and a switching mechanism configured to tune and detune the antenna relative to the chip to enable and disable respectively, the chips ability to communicate the sensitive information via the antenna.

Claims

1. A card, comprising:

an antenna configured to generate and receive radio frequency signals;

a chip coupled with the antenna, the chip configured to store sensitive information and communicate the information to an authorized reader via the antenna; and

a switching mechanism configured to tune and detune the antenna relative to the chip to enable and disable respectively, the chips ability to communicate the sensitive information via the antenna.

2. The card of claim 1, further comprising an activation mechanism for controlling the switching mechanism so as to tune and detune the antenna.

3. The card of claim 2, wherein the activation mechanism is a button.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a main portion, a first leg, and a second leg that is not in electrical communication with the first leg when the switching mechanism is in the first position, and wherein the switching mechanism causes the first leg and the second leg to be in electrical communication when the switching mechanism is in a second position.

5. The card of claim 4, wherein the antenna is tuned with respect to the chip when the first and second legs are in electrical communication, and detuned when they are not.

6. The card of claim 4, wherein the antenna is detuned with respect to the chip when the first and second legs are in electrical communication, and tuned when they are not.

7. The card of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a main portion and a leg that is not in complete electrical communication with the main portion when the switching mechanism is in the first position, and wherein the switching mechanism causes the leg and the main portion to be in complete electrical communication when the switching mechanism is in a second position.

8. The card of claim 7, wherein the antenna is tuned with respect to the chip when the leg and the main portion are in complete electrical communication, and detuned when they are not.

9. The card of claim 7, wherein the antenna is detuned with respect to the chip when the leg and the main portion are in complete electrical communication, and tuned when they are not.

10. The card of claim 1, wherein the card is a credit card.

11. The card of claim 1, wherein the card is an identification card.

12. The card of claim 1, wherein the card is a travel card.

13. The card of claim 1, wherein the card is a driver'"'"'s license.

14. A document, comprising:

an antenna configured to generate and receive radio frequency signals;

a chip coupled with the antenna, the chip configured to store sensitive information and communicate the information to an authorized reader via the antenna; and

a switching mechanism configured to tune and detune the antenna relative to the chip to enable and disable respectively, the chips ability to communicate the sensitive information via the antenna.

15. The document of claim 14, further comprising an activation mechanism for controlling the switching mechanism so as to tune and detune the antenna.

16. The document of claim 15, wherein the activation mechanism is a button.

17. The document of claim 14, wherein the antenna comprises a main portion, a first leg, and a second leg that is not in electrical communication with the first leg when the switching mechanism is in the first position, and wherein the switching mechanism causes the first leg and the second leg to be in electrical communication when the switching mechanism is in a second position.

18. The document of claim 17, wherein the antenna is tuned with respect to the chip when the first and second legs are in electrical communication, and detuned when they are not.

19. The document of claim 17, wherein the antenna is detuned with respect to the chip when the first and second legs are in electrical communication, and tuned when they are not.

20. The document of claim 14, wherein the antenna comprises a main portion and a leg that is not in complete electrical communication with the main portion when the switching mechanism is in the first position, and wherein the switching mechanism causes the leg and the main portion to be in complete electrical communication when the switching mechanism is in a second position.

21. The document of claim 20, wherein the antenna is tuned with respect to the chip when the leg and the main portion are in complete electrical communication, and detuned when they are not.

22. The document of claim 20, wherein the antenna is detuned with respect to the chip when the leg and the main portion are in complete electrical communication, and tuned when they are not.

23. The document of claim 14, wherein the document is an identification document.

24. The document of claim 14, wherein the document is a travel document.

25. The document of claim 14, wherein the document is a visa.

26. The document of claim 14, wherein the document is a passport.

27. A method for protecting the privacy of information stored on an RFID tag comprising an antenna and a chip when communicating the information, the method comprising:

controlling a switching mechanism so as to tune the antenna relative to the chip;

communicating the information to a reader when the antenna is tuned; and

controlling the switching mechanism so as to detune the antenna relative to chip after the information is communicated to the reader.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein controlling the switching mechanism comprises pushing a button.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising placing the RFID tag within proximity of the reader before communicating the information to the reader.

30. A method for tuning an antenna relative to a chip in an RFID tag, the antenna comprising a plurality of portions wherein not all of the portions are in complete electrical communication, the chip comprising a impedance match circuit, the method comprising:

configuring a switching mechanism such that all portions of the antenna are in complete electrical communication when the switching mechanism is activated and not in complete electrical communication when the switching mechanism is deactivated;

activating a switching mechanism so as to place all portions of the antenna in complete electrical communication; and

configuring the impedance matching circuit so as to tune the antenna relative to the chip when the switching mechanism is activated such that there is a good impedance match between the chip and the antenna when the switching mechanism is activated.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising accounting for external elements when configuring the impedance matching circuit.