RFID DEVICES CONFIGURED FOR DIRECT INTERACTION

• US 20140176307A1
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian James
• Granted Patent: US 10,657,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• 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 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9618 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

An RFID tag is provided with an RFID chip and an antenna and interactive switch electrically coupled to the RFID chip. When a user physically interacts with the switch (such as by pressing the switch with a finger), the antenna transmits an input signal to an RFID reader of an RFID-based control system. The RFID reader, in turn, transmits a control signal to an electronic device for controlling the device. The RFID tag may be incorporated into any of a number of devices, such as a keyboard or article of clothing, and can function to operate a variety of electronic devices, including audio-visual devices and gaming systems.

Claims

1. An RFID tag, comprising:

an RFID chip;

an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip; and

an interactive switch electrically connected to the RFID chip, wherein the antenna is configured to return a modified signal to an RFID reader when a user physically interacts with the interactive switch.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is configured to be removably securable to various surfaces.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising printed information indicative of the signal to be transmitted by the antenna when a user physically interacts with the interactive switch.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising an optical indicator electrically connected to the RFID chip and responsive to physical interaction with the interactive switch.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a tactile indicator electrically connected to the RFID chip and responsive to physical interaction with the interactive switch.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising an audible indicator electrically connected to the RFID chip and responsive to physical interaction with the interactive switch.

7. An RFID-based control system for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

an RFID reader configured to transmit a control signal to an electronic device upon receiving an input signal; and

an RFID tag comprising;

an RFID chip,

an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip, and

an interactive switch electrically connected to the RFID chip, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit a return input or modified signal to the RFID reader when a user physically interacts with the interactive switch after the RFID reader has polled the RFID tag.

8. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further including an electronic device comprising an electronic audio-visual device.

9. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further including an electronic device comprising an electronic graphic display device.

10. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further including an electronic device comprising an electronic gaming device.

11. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further comprising an article of clothing into which the RFID tag is incorporated.

12. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further comprising an order-placement interface unit into which the RFID tag is incorporated.

13. The RFID-based control system of claim 12, wherein the order-placement interface unit comprises a menu card.

14. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, further comprising an array of RFID tags configured as a keyboard.

15. The RFID-based control system of claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is generally transparent and further including a light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the RFID tag.

16. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

providing an RFID tag comprising an interactive switch;

physically interacting with the interactive switch of the RFID tag;

transmitting an input signal from the RFID tag to an RFID reader in response to said physically interacting with the interactive switch; and

transmitting a control signal from the RFID reader to an electronic device in response to said transmitting an input signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting a control signal includes transmitting a control signal from the RFID reader to an electronic audio-visual device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting a control signal includes transmitting a control signal from the RFID reader to an electronic graphic display device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting a control signal includes transmitting a control signal from the RFID reader to an electronic gaming device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing an RFID tag includes incorporating an RFID tag into an article of clothing.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing an RFID tag includes incorporating an RFID tag into an order-placement interface unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said order-placement interface unit comprises a menu card.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing an RFID tag includes providing an array of RFID tags configured as a keyboard.