Person-Centric Activation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tag

• US 20160371517A1
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Debates, Scott, Forest, Francis, Lautner, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,965,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07309 Means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or onto record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10019 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes

Abstract

In embodiments of person-centric RFID tag activation, an RFID tag is configured so as to be active or inactive based on proximity to a person. An RFID tag includes an integrated circuit (IC), an antenna coupled to the IC, and skin proximity activation circuitry. For example embodiments, the skin proximity activation circuitry is configured to establish an active state for the RFID tag if proximate to skin and an inactive state if not proximate to skin. For an example implementation, an RFID tag is placed in an operationally active state in which an interrogation signal is detectable by an IC if at least one skin contact point is touching skin. For another example implementation, an RFID tag is placed in a communicatively active state in which a received interrogation signal may trigger the sending of a response signal if a detected temperature comports with a human-appropriate range of temperatures.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive an interrogation signal;

an integrated circuit coupled to the antenna, the integrated circuit configured to respond to the interrogation signal if the RFID tag is in an active state, and configured to not respond to the interrogation signal if the RFID tag is in an inactive state; and

skin proximity activation circuitry that is configured to establish the active state if the RFID tag is proximate to skin, or to establish the inactive state if the RFID tag is not proximate to skin.

2. The RFID tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID tag comprises at least a portion of a medical implement.

3. The RFID tag as recited in claim 2, wherein the medical implement comprises a bandage including adhesive that is adapted to secure the bandage to skin.

4. The RFID tag as recited in claim 2, wherein the medical implement comprises a sensor and includes adhesive that is adapted to secure the sensor to skin.

5. The RFID tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the skin proximity activation circuitry is configured to establish the active state if the RFID tag is in contact with skin or to establish the inactive state if the RFID tag is not in contact with skin.

6. The RFID tag as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the RFID tag further comprises a first skin contact point and a second skin contact point; and

the skin proximity activation circuitry is configured to comprise (i) a completed circuit that includes a length of skin between the first skin contact point and the second skin contact point if the RFID tag is in contact with the length of skin or (ii) an open circuit between the first skin contact point and the second skin contact point if the RFID tag is not in contact with skin.

7. The RFID tag as recited claim 6, wherein the first skin contact point comprises a first adhesive skin pad, and the second skin contact point comprises a second adhesive skin pad.

8. The RFID tag as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the antenna includes a first antenna end and a second antenna end;

the integrated circuit includes a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal; and

the first skin contact point is coupled to the first antenna end, the second antenna end is coupled to the first antenna terminal of the integrated circuit, and the second antenna terminal of the integrated circuit is coupled to the second skin contact point.

9. The RFID tag as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the RFID tag further comprises a temperature sensor that is adapted to produce a temperature value responsive to a skin temperature; and

the skin proximity activation circuitry is configured to establish the active state or the inactive state based on the temperature value.

10. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the skin proximity activation circuitry is configured to establish the active state if the temperature value is above a lower temperature threshold or to establish the inactive state if the temperature value is below the lower temperature threshold.

11. The RFID tag as recited in claim 10, wherein the skin proximity activation circuitry is further configured to establish the active state if the temperature value is below an upper temperature threshold or to establish the inactive state if the temperature value is above the upper temperature threshold.

12. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a first skin contact point;

a second skin contact point;

an integrated circuit including a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal of the integrated circuit coupled to the second skin contact point; and

an antenna including a first antenna end and a second antenna end, the first antenna end coupled to the first skin contact point and the second antenna end coupled to the first antenna terminal of the integrated circuit.

13. The RFID tag as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the RFID tag is configured to enable completion of skin proximity activation circuitry if the first skin contact point and the second skin contact point are positioned against skin; and

the integrated circuit is configured to detect an interrogation signal that is received via the antenna if the skin proximity activation circuitry is completed by the skin.

14. The RFID tag as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the RFID tag further comprises a temperature sensor that is adapted to detect a skin temperature; and

the integrated circuit is configured to respond to a received interrogation signal based on the detected skin temperature.

15. The RFID tag as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the integrated circuit is configured to send a response signal via the antenna if the detected skin temperature comports with a temperature range.

16. A method for person-centric activation of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

sensing a skin temperature to detect a temperature value;

comparing the detected temperature value to at least one temperature threshold;

receiving an RFID interrogation signal; and

determining whether to respond to the RFID interrogation signal based on said comparing.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the at least one temperature threshold comprises a lower temperature threshold;

said comparing comprises comparing the detected temperature value to the lower temperature threshold; and

said determining comprises (i) electing not to send a response signal if the detected temperature value is below the lower temperature threshold and (ii) electing to wirelessly send the response signal if the detected temperature value is above the lower temperature threshold.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein:

the at least one temperature threshold further comprises an upper temperature threshold;

said comparing further comprises comparing the detected temperature value to the upper temperature threshold; and

said determining further comprises (i) electing not to send the response signal if the detected temperature value is above the upper temperature threshold and (ii) electing to wirelessly send the response signal if the detected temperature value is below the upper temperature threshold.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said determining comprises sending a response signal for the RFID interrogation signal if the detected temperature value comports with the at least one temperature threshold, the response signal including an indication of the detected temperature value.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the RFID tag includes an integrated circuit and an antenna; and

the method further comprises routing via skin a current signal for at least one of the integrated circuit or the antenna.