SWITCHABLE RFID TAG

• US 20130238405A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Roesner, Bruce B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,062,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• 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: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking

Abstract

An RFID tag and a method of its use are disclosed. One such RFID tag includes first, second, and third RFID inlays included on a tag housing, the first, second, and third RFID inlays each corresponding to a different rate identifier. The tag also includes a panel engaged with the housing and movable among first, second and third positions. The panel includes RFID shorting structures each positioned to electrically contact one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays such that, in any of the first, second, and third positions, only one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays remains active.

Claims

1. An RFID tag comprising:

first, second, and third RFID inlays included on a tag housing, the first, second, and third RFID inlays each corresponding to a different rate identifier;

a panel engaged with the housing and movable among first, second and third positions relative to the first, second, and third RFID inlays, and including a plurality of RFID shorting structures each positioned to electrically contact one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays such that, in any of the first, second, and third positions, only one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays remains disconnected from any of the plurality of RFID shorting structures.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the panel is slidable among the first, second and third positions within a slot in the housing.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID shorting structures are positioned on a surface of the panel facing the first, second, and third RFID inlays.

4. An RFID tag comprising:

a first RFID inlay disposed on a first surface;

a second RFID inlay disposed on a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, the first and second RFID inlays positioned in alignment with each other;

a panel movable between first and second positions relative to the first and second surfaces, the panel including;

a first RFID shorting structure;

a second RFID shorting structure offset from the first RFID structure such that, when the panel is in the first position, the first RFID shorting structure is offset from the first RFID inlay and the second RFID shorting structure is aligned with the second RFID inlay, and in the second position, the second RFID shorting structure is offset from the second RFID inlay and the first RFID shorting structure is aligned with the first RFID inlay.

5. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the first RFID shorting structure includes a shorting bar having a plurality of metallic pads, the metallic pads each arranged to electrically short a region of the first RFID inlay when aligned with the first RFID inlay.

6. The RFID tag of claim 5, wherein, when the panel is in the first position, the second RFID shorting structure is electrically connected to the second RFID inlay and the first RFID shorting structure is electrically disconnected from the first RFID inlay.

7. The RFID tag of claim 6, wherein, when the panel is in the second position, the first RFID shorting structure is electrically connected to the first RFID inlay and the second RFID shorting structure is electrically disconnected from the second RFID inlay.

8. The RFID tag of claim 7, whereby one of the first and second RFID inlays is deactivated when the panel is in either the first or second position.

9. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the panel has a first side and a second side, the first side facing the first surface and the second side facing the second surface.

10. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the panel has a thickness greater than or equal to about 5 millimeters.

11. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the panel is retained within a housing that includes the first and second surfaces, and is slidable between the first and second positions.

12. The RFID tag of claim 11, further comprising an affixation mechanism attached to the housing.

13. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the affixation mechanism comprises one or more suction cups.

14. The RFID tag of claim 4, further comprising:

a third RFID inlay disposed on the first surface, spaced apart from the first RFID inlay;

wherein the panel is movable to a third position relative to the first and second surfaces and further includes;

a third RFID shorting structure positioned on the panel offset from the first RFID shorting structure such that, when the panel is in the third position, the third RFID shorting structure is aligned with the first RFID inlay;

a fourth RFID shorting structure positioned on the panel offset from the second RFID shorting structure such that, when the panel is in the third position, the second RFID shorting structure is aligned with the second RFID inlay;

wherein, when the panel is in the first position, the first RFID shorting structure is aligned with the third RFID inlay.

15. An RFID tag comprising:

a first RFID inlay;

a second RFID inlay spaced apart from first RFID inlay;

a third RFID inlay and spaced apart from the first and second RFID inlays; and

a panel movable among first, second, and third positions relative to the first, second, and third RFID inlays, the panel including;

a first RFID shorting structure positioned such that, when the panel is in the first position, the first RFID shorting structure is aligned with the second RFID inlay and when the panel is in the second position, the first RFID shorting structure is aligned with the first RFID inlay;

a second RFID shorting structure offset from the first RFID shorting structure such that, when the panel is in the first position, the second RFID shorting structure is aligned with the third RFID inlay, when the panel is in the second position, the second RFID shorting structure is aligned with the second RFID inlay, and when the panel is in the third position, the second RFID shorting structure is aligned with the first RFID inlay; and

a third RFID shorting structure offset from the first and second RFID shorting structures such that, when the panel is in the third position, the third RFID shorting structure is aligned with the third RFID inlay.

16. The RFID tag of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third RFID inlays are each disposed on a first surface.

17. The RFID tag of claim 16, wherein the first surface comprises a surface of an RFID housing.

18. The RFID tag of claim 16, wherein the panel forms a portion of the RFID housing.

19. The RFID tag of claim 18, wherein the first surface comprises a surface of a second panel, and wherein the second panel is movable relative to the first panel.

20. A method of using an RFID tag, the method comprising:

associating the RFID tag with a user account, the RFID tag including first, second, and third RFID inlays corresponding to first, second, and third rate structures, wherein the RFID tag includes a panel movable among first, second and third positions relative to the first, second, and third RFID inlays and including a plurality of RFID shorting structures each positioned to electrically contact one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays such that, in any of the first, second, and third positions, only one of the first, second, and third RFID inlays remains disconnected from any of the plurality of RFID shorting structures; and

receiving a tag reading indicating that a first RFID inlay of the RFID tag is active, and charging the user account according to a first rate structure.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving a tag reading indicating that a second RFID inlay of the RFID tag is active, and charging the user account according to a second rate structure.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving a tag reading indicating that a third RFID inlay of the RFID tag is active, and charging the user account according to a third rate structure.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the tag reading occurs at an RFID reader.