Combination radio frequency transponder (RF Tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) material

• US 5,939,984 A
• Filed: 05/01/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.), Intermec IP Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schrott, Alejandro G., Gambino, Richard J., Brady, Michael J., Moskowitz, Paul A., von Gutfeld, Robert J., Cofino, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/071,413
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/825.54, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2408 using ferromagnetic tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01078 Platinum [Pt]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/10253 Silicon [Si]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence

Abstract

A combination of a radio frequency identification transponder (RFID Tag) and to a magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) device is disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transponder (tag), the RF tag comprising a tag antenna, tag electronics for storing information in a codable and recodable memory and for communicating information to a base station by modulating reflectance characteristics of the tag antenna, and a tag power supply; and

a non linear magnetic material connected with the RF tag, the non linear magnetic material generating a varying electronic article surveillance magnetic field when the non linear magnetic material is in a magnetic field sinusoidally varying with a frequency f₀, the electronic article surveillance magnetic field varying with a frequency having higher harmonics of f₀.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises the non linear magnetic material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tag antenna comprises a first wire electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first wire comprises non linear magnetic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the non linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a second wire cooperates with the first wire to form the tag antenna, the second wire comprising non linear magnetic material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tag antenna comprises a patch antenna electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics, the patch antenna having a ground plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the non linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises a patch antenna formed by a dielectric sheet having a first side and a second side, a first electrically conducting material attached to the first side, and a second electrically conducting material attached to the second side, wherein a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics is electrically connected to the first electrically conducting material and the second electrically conducting material, and wherein the non linear magnetic material is attached to the dielectric sheet.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises an electrically conducting wire antenna electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics, wherein the tag antenna and the semiconductor device are attached to a dielectric material and wherein the non linear magnetic material is attached to the dielectric material.