SECURE PASSIVE RFID TAG WITH SEAL

• US 20150310715A1
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dirac Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dirac Solutions Inc.
• Inventors: Nekoogar, Faranak, Lefton, Scott, Dowla, Farid, Reynolds, Matthew, Twogood, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,818,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening

Abstract

A secure passive RFID tag system comprises at least one base station and at least one passive RFID tag. The tag includes a fiber optic cable with the cable ends sealed within the tag and the middle portion forming an external loop. The loop may be secured to at least portions of an object. The tag transmits and receives an optical signal through the fiber optic cable, and the cable is configured to be damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein the optical signal is significantly altered if the cable is damaged or broken. The tag transmits the optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from the base station and compares the transmitted optical signal to the received optical signal. If the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal are identical, the tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to the base station.

Claims

1. A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:

at least one base station;

at least one passive RFID tag, said tag being powered exclusively by received radio energy;

said tag further comprising means for receiving radio signals from said base station and transmitting radio signals to said base station;

said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a second end and a middle portion therebetween, wherein said first and second ends are fastened within said tag and said middle portion forms an external loop;

said loop adapted to be secured to, around or through at least portions of an object;

said tag having means for transmitting an optical signal through said fiber optic cable, and means for receiving said optical signal;

said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken;

said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station;

said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal; and

whereby if said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical, said tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to said base station.

2. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said tag includes means for attachment to an object.

3. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 2, wherein said tag is capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals while attached to a metal substrate of substantially greater area than the area of said tag.

4. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 2, wherein said means for attachment is an adhesive.

5. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 4, wherein said adhesive is an adhesive tape.

6. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said tag includes an environmentally sealed enclosure.

7. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 6, wherein said first and second ends are environmentally sealed within said tag.

8. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 6, wherein said enclosure is at least partially formed of a radio transparent molded polymer.

9. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein if the information content of said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are not identical, said tag transmits an alarm radio signal to said base station.

10. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said second end may be field inserted and environmentally sealed into said tag.

11. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 10, wherein said second end may be removed and then reinserted into said tag without damage to said fiber optic cable.

12. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 11, further comprising means for authorizing a permitted removal and subsequent reinsertion of said second end without a resultant alarm signal.

13. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 12, wherein said means for authorizing said permitted removal and subsequent reinsertion includes but is not limited to parameters selected from the group consisting of length of time, specific time interval, said tag receiving an authorization code, said base station receiving an authorization code, a physical key being used with said tag, and a physical key being used with said base station.

14. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 10, wherein said second end is permanently inserted and sealed into said tag such that any attempt to remove said fiber optic cable will cause damage to said fiber optic cable.

15. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 10, wherein said tag further comprises an aperture;

said aperture providing access to an optical transmitter or receiver recessed within said tag;

wherein said second end is insertable into said optical transmitter or receiver;

said optical transmitter or receiver having a twist-lock means for aligning and retaining said second end;

said twist-lock means being exclusively accessible through said aperture;

said twist-lock means being at least partially tubular with an outer surface at least partially comprising grip enhancing features selected from the group consisting of conical portions, ridges, knurls, high-friction texture, conformal material, and high-friction material; and

said system further comprising a twist-lock tool configured for insertion into said aperture, engaging said outer surface, and actuating said twist-lock means.

16. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 15, wherein said twist-lock tool further comprises:

a substantially cylindrical body having a center axis, a handle end and an engaging end;

a longitudinal slot traversing at least said engaging end portion of said body, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of said fiber optic cable and a depth encompassing said center axis, thereby rendering at least a portion of said center axis substantially hollow;

said engaging end having an outer diameter less than the width of said aperture;

said engaging end having an internal surface at least partially comprising grip enhancing features selected from the group consisting of conical portions, ridges, knurls, high-friction texture, conformal material, and high-friction material;

said grip enhancing features of said engaging end and said grip enhancing features of said twist-lock means being sufficiently matched to provide mutual grip enhancement; and

whereby said twist-lock tool may be held by said handle and used to grip and engage said twist-lock means in order to lock or unlock said second end at said optical transmitter or receiver without interfering with or damaging said optical fiber.

17. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said fiber optic cable is not armored, thereby increasing tamper sensitivity and facilitating field-trimming to a desired final length in order to optimize secure attachment and to reduce the risk of accidental damage or successful tampering via excess cable length.

18. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 17, wherein said fiber optic cable at least partially comprises a poly methyl methacrylate optical core.

19. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said fiber optic cable is an environmentally rugged and high temperature resistant fiber optic cable at least partially comprising:

an optical core made from materials selected from the group consisting of high temperature resistant optical polymers, quartz, and glass; and

a jacket made from materials selected from the group consisting of high temperature resistant polymers and metals.

20. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein:

said received radio signals are encrypted;

said tag further comprises means for decrypting signals and encrypting signals; and

said transmitted radio signals are encrypted.

21. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said tag further comprises a microcontroller or microprocessor.

22. The secure RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said optical signal comprises an infra-red signal.

23. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said optical signal comprises data selected from the group consisting of a single bit of data, a relatively small number of bits of data, at least one random number, or an encrypted message such as an encryption of a clock/timer signal.

24. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein said tag further comprises a parasitic patch type antenna.

25. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 24, wherein said tag has a transmission range of at least 6 meters.

26. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one base station comprises multiple base stations;

said multiple base stations are selected from the group consisting of fixed base stations and mobile base stations; and

said multiple base stations are networkable in order to increase geographic area coverage and allow communication with said tag from multiple vantage points.

27. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one tag comprises multiple tags;

wherein said means for transmitting an optical signal, said means for receiving an optical signal and said fiber optic cable in combination form a fiber optic link; and

wherein a first fiber optic link in one of said tags is interconnected to at least a second fiber optic link in at least one other of said tags, whereby said optical signal is passed along said fiber optic cables in a ring.

28. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of temperature sensors, radiation sensors, light level sensors, humidity sensors, vibration sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopes;

signal processing and conditioning circuitry configured for acting upon the signals produced by said sensors; and

wherein said tag transmits a radio signal comprising tamper status data and sensor data to said base station.

29. A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:

at least one base station;

at least one passive RFID tag, said tag being powered exclusively by received radio energy;

said tag further comprising a microcontroller or microprocessor;

said tag further comprising a parasitic patch type antenna;

said tag further comprising means for receiving encrypted radio signals from said base station, decrypting said radio signals, and transmitting encrypted radio signals to said base station;

said tag further comprising further comprising signal processing circuitry and at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of temperature sensor, radiation sensor, light level sensor, humidity sensor, vibration sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope;

said tag further comprising an optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal and an optical receiver for receiving an optical signal;

said optical signal being an infra-red signal;

said tag further comprising an environmentally sealed enclosure;

said enclosure being at least partially formed of a radio transparent molded polymer;

said enclosure having adhesive tape means for attachment to an object;

said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a middle portion and a second end, wherein said first end is environmentally sealed within said tag and in optical communication with said optical transmitter;

said enclosure having an environmentally sealable port for receiving said second end of said fiber optic cable and placing said second end in optical communication with said optical receiver;

wherein said second end may be field inserted and environmentally sealed into said port;

whereby inserting said second end into said port forms said middle portion into an external loop;

said loop being adapted to be secured to, around or through at least portions of an object;

said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken;

said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station;

said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal;

said tag determining a tamper status dependent upon whether said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical; and

whereby said tag transmits a radio signal comprising tamper status data and sensor data to said base station.

30. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said tag has a transmission range of at least 6 meters.

31. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said tag is capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals while attached to a metal substrate of substantially greater area than the area of said tag.

32. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said optical signal comprises an encoded signal selected from the group consisting of a single bit of data, a relatively small number of bits of data, at least one random number, or an encrypted message such as an encryption of a clock/timer signal.

33. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said second end may be removed and then reinserted into said tag without damage to said fiber optic cable.

34. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 33, further comprising means for authorizing a permitted opening and subsequent reattachment of said second end without a resultant alarm signal.

35. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 34, wherein said means for authorizing said permitted opening and subsequent reattachment includes but is not limited to parameters selected from the group consisting of length of time, specific time interval, said tag receiving an authorization code, said base station receiving an authorization code, a physical key being used with said tag, and a physical key being used with said base station.

36. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said second end is permanently inserted into said tag such that any attempt to remove said fiber optic cable will cause damage to said fiber optic cable.

37. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein said fiber optic cable may be field-trimmed to a desired final length in order to optimize secure attachment and to reduce the risk of accidental damage or successful tampering via excess cable length.

38. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein:

said at least one base station comprises multiple base stations;

said multiple base stations are selected from the group consisting of fixed base stations and mobile base stations; and

said multiple base stations are networkable in order to increase geographic area coverage and allow communication with said tag from multiple vantage points.

39. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 29, wherein:

said at least one tag comprises multiple tags;

wherein said means for transmitting an optical signal, said means for receiving an optical signal and said fiber optic cable in combination form a fiber optic link; and

wherein a first fiber optic link in one of said tags is interconnected to at least a second fiber optic link in at least one other of said tags, whereby said optical signal is passed along said fiber optic cables in a ring.

40. A method of using a secure passive RFID tag, comprising:

attaching at least one secure passive RFID tag having a fiber optic cable with a first end affixed within said tag, a second end free, and a middle portion therebetween, to a surface of a container;

securing said middle portion to, around or through at least one portion of at least one feature on said container;

inserting said second end into an aperture in said tag;

securing said second end within said tag;

transmitting a radio signal from at least one base station to said tag;

receiving said radio signal at said tag;

powering said tag via said radio signal;

transmitting an optical signal from one end of said fiber optic cable through said middle portion to the other end of said fiber optic cable;

receiving said optical signal at said other end;

comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal;

determining the tamper status of said fiber optic cable through the comparison of said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal;

transmitting said tamper status as a radio signal from said tag; and

receiving said tamper status at said base station.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

trimming said second end to a desired length after securing said middle portion.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

environmentally sealing said second end within said tag.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

encrypting a signal at a base station prior to transmitting the encrypted signal as a radio signal;

decrypting said encrypted radio signal at said tag;

encrypting said tamper status prior to transmitting said tamper status as a radio signal; and

decrypting said encrypted tamper status at said base station.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said optical signal transmitted from one end of said fiber optic cable is encoded or encrypted.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving sensor signals from sensors incorporated into said tag;

processing said sensor signals into sensor data;

transmitting said sensor data as a radio signal from said tag; and

receiving said sensor data at said base station.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

encrypting said sensor data;

transmitting said encrypted sensor data as a radio signal from said tag;

receiving said encrypted sensor data at said at least one base station; and

decrypting said encrypted sensor data at said base station.

47. A method of installing a fiber optic cable in a secure passive RFID tag, comprising:

having a secure passive RFID tag including an aperture containing a recessed fiber optic transmitter or receiver having a twist-lock barrel for receiving a fiber optic cable end;

having a fiber optic cable with a first end affixed within said tag, a second end free, and a middle portion therebetween;

securing said middle portion to, around or through at least one portion of at least one feature on an object to be monitored;

inserting a twist-lock tool into said aperture;

using said twist-lock tool to engage with and unlock said barrel;

inserting said second end into said barrel;

using said twist-lock tool to lock said barrel;

removing said twist-lock tool from said aperture; and

fastening a cover over said aperture.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

trimming said second end to a desired length after securing said middle portion.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

environmentally sealing said second end within said aperture.