SWITCHABLE RFID TAG AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A SWITCHABLE RFID CIRCUIT

• US 20190318215A1
• Filed: 12/30/2016
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre For Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre For Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Mak, Chi Lun
• Granted Patent: US 10,776,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22

Abstract

A switchable RFID tag comprising at least one RFID code circuit disposed on an adjustable member being adjacent to an antenna; wherein the adjustable member is arranged to be manipulated to move the at least one RFID code circuit into a communication position whereby the RFID code circuit is coupled to the antenna; and into an inactive position whereby the RFID code circuit is uncoupled from the antenna.

Claims

1. A switchable RFID tag comprising

at least one RFID code circuit disposed on an adjustable member being adjacent to an antenna;

wherein the adjustable member is arranged to be manipulated to move the at least one RFID code circuit into a communication position whereby the RFID code circuit is coupled to the antenna; and

into an inactive position whereby the RFID code circuit is uncoupled from the antenna.

2. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustable member is a tag plate arranged to be rotated so as to move the at least one RFID code circuit into a communication position and into an inactive position.

3. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 2 further comprising at least one shield arranged to shield the at least one RFID code circuit from radio communications.

4. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one shield is positioned so as to shield the at least one RFID code circuit from radio communications when the at least one RFID code circuit is in the inactive position.

5. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 4, wherein the at least one RFID code circuit is placed onto a portion of the tag plate between a rotational axis of the circular arrangement and an edge of the tag plate.

6. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 5, wherein the communication position is when the portion of the tag plate with the at least one RFID code circuit desired to be activated is rotated to an antenna coupling of the antenna, arranged to form a connection between the at least one RFID code circuit on the portion of the tag plate and the antenna.

7. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 6, wherein the connection between the antenna and the at least one RFID code circuit on the portion of the circular arrangement in the communication position is capacitive.

8. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 7, wherein the antenna extends opposingly from the antenna coupling to substantially form a tangent with the circular arrangement.

9. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 8, wherein the tag plate has a plurality of RFID code circuits placed thereon, with each one of the plurality of RFID code circuits being arranged to be rotated into a communication position whilst the remaining RFID code circuits are in an inactive position.

10. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 9, wherein the tag plate is arranged to be manipulated such that the RFID code circuit being in a communication position can be rotated into an inactive position, with an adjacent RFID code circuit being rotated from an inactive position into a communication position.

11. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a window arranged to partially reveal the at least one RFID code circuit or the adjustable member positioned at the communication position.

12. A switchable RFID tag in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one RFID code circuit or the adjustable member is provided a visual indicator.

13. A method for operating a switchable RFID circuit comprising the steps of:

manipulating a tag plate having a plurality of RFID tags thereon between a communication position and an inactive position, wherein in the communication position, at least one of the plurality of RFID tags is arranged to couple with an antenna for communication, whilst the remaining RFID tags are shielded from the antenna.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of manipulating the tag plate further comprises the step of rotating the tag plate so as to move the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags into a communication position and into an inactive position.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the step of manipulating the tag plate includes shielding the remaining RFID tags from radio communications by at least one shield.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one shield is positioned so as to shield the remaining RFID tags from radio communications when the remaining RFID tags are in the inactive position.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are placed onto a portion of the tag plate between a rotational axis of the circular arrangement and an edge of the tag plate.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the communication position is when the portion of the tag plate with the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags desired to be activated is rotated to an antenna coupling of the antenna, arranged to form a connection between the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags on the portion of the tag plate and the antenna.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the connection between the antenna and the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags on the portion of the circular arrangement in the communication position is capacitive.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the antenna extends opposingly from the antenna coupling to substantially form a tangent with the circular arrangement.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein each one of the plurality of RFID tags being arranged to be rotated into a communication position whilst the remaining RFID tags are in an inactive position.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the tag plate is arranged to be manipulated such that the RFID tag being in a communication position can be rotated into an inactive position, with an adjacent RFID tag being rotated from an inactive position into a communication position.

23. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the switchable RFID circuit further comprising a window arranged to partially reveal the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags or the tag plate positioned at the communication position.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags or the tag plate is provided a visual indicator.