DURABLE RFID TAG

• US 20110174885A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syntag Manufacturing LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntag Manufacturing LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07728 the record carrier comprising means for protection against impact or bending, e.g. protective shells or stress-absorbing layers around the integrated circuit
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Plastic asset identification tags are described. The tags define an attachment feature by which the tag is attached to the asset. The tag also defines a cavity or slot in which an RFID transceiver is placed. Epoxy fills the remainder of the slot or cavity. The RFID transceiver is programmed to respond to interrogation by transmitting a unique identifier that is associated with the object to which the tag is attached. Additional information about the object may also be responsively transmitted, and in some embodiments that additional information is also written on the outside of the tag. Other tags seal the RFID transceiver within a pocket of flexible fabric-supported PVC.

Claims

1. An industrial asset tag, comprising:

a plastic tag body defining a cavity and a pass-through hole, the body being constructed of a plastic material and having an outer surface;

an RFID transceiver in the cavity; and

a plug filling substantially all of the portion of the cavity not occupied by the RFID transceiver, such that the RFID transceiver is not exposed along the outer surface;

wherein when the RFID transceiver receives a stimulus signal, it sends an answer signal encoding data associated with a unique identifier.

2. The tag of claim 1, wherein an asset identifier is visibly and legibly placed on the outside of the tag.

3. The tag of claim 2, wherein the answer signal also encodes the asset identifier.

4. The tag of claim 1, wherein the plug and the body combine to prevent water from reaching the RFID transceiver from outside the body.

5. The tag of claim 1, wherein the plastic material is treated to reduce the natural deterioration of the plastic material.

6. The tag of claim 1, in combination with an object passing through the through-hole, wherein characteristics of the object are visibly and legibly written on the outer surface of the body.

7. The tag of claim 6, wherein:

the object is a chain, and

the identifier is a serial number associated with the chain.

8. The tag of claim 1, wherein

the cavity has a rectangular opening;

and

the portion of the body exposed to the cavity is rifled.

9. A method of manufacturing an asset tag, comprising:

molding resin having at most about 0.01% moisture in a die to form a tag that has a body and defines a slot that opens to the outside of the tag body;

curing the resin tag to increase its moisture content to at least about 2%;

placing an RFID transceiver in the slot, wherein when the RFID transceiver receives a stimulus signal, it sends an answer signal encoding data associated with a unique identifier; and

injecting epoxy in the slot to cover the RFID transceiver.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

before the placing step, rifling at least a portion of the surface of the slot.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the resin is treated to substantially prevent natural degradation of the plastic material when exposed to sunlight.

12. A tag made according to the method of claim 9.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising writing the identifier for the object on the outside of the tag.

14. An asset tag, comprising:

a first layer of fabric-reinforced PVC;

a second layer of fabric-reinforced PVC, sealed around a closed path to the first layer to form an air pocket;

an RFID transceiver in the pocket, the transceiver being;

configured to transmit identity information in response to a stimulus signal; and

protected by the air pocket from crushing damage.

15. The asset tag of claim 14,

further comprising a lifting device to which the pocket is attached;

wherein the identity information identifies the lifting device.

16. The asset tag of claim 14, wherein the seal is waterproof.

17. The asset tag of claim 14, wherein the seal is created by RF welding.

18. The asset tag of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer extends beyond the pocket with a tail of sufficient size to allow attachment of the tail to a device.