System for controlling assets

• US 6,121,878 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Duan, Dah-Weih, Heinrich, Harley Kent, Brady, Michael John, Kodukula, Venkata S. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/190,564
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539, 340/547, 340/825.54, 340/572.5, 340/572.6
• 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 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• 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 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device antennas per se H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/0401 Bonding areas specifically adapted for bump connectors, e.g. under bump metallisation [UBM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• 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 2924/15153 the die mounting substrate comprising a recess for hosting the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15165 Monolayer substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 : Electromagnetic shielding

Abstract

A system for controlling assets for inventory, loss-control, or monitoring. The system includes a combination RFID and EAS tag and a reader.

Claims

1. A chattel identification unit, comprising:

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

a non-linear magnetic material operably associated with said 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 the non-linear magnetic material providing at least a portion of the tag antenna; and

a protective housing for protectively shielding said RF tag and said non-linear magnetic material from environmental effects.

2. The chattel identification unit of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field is sinusoidally varying with a frequency f₀, the electronic article surveillance magnetic field varying with a frequency having higher harmonics of f₀.

3. The chattel identification unit of claim 1, wherein the tag antenna comprises the non-linear magnetic material.

4. The chattel identification unit of claim 3, wherein the tag antenna comprises a first wire electrically connected to a semiconductor device incorporating the tag electronics.

5. The chattel identification unit of claim 4, wherein the first wire comprises non-linear magnetic material.

6. The chattel identification unit of claim 5, wherein the non-linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

7. The chattel identification unit of claim 6, wherein the non-linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

8. The chattel identification unit of claim 4, wherein a second wire cooperates with the first wire to form the tag antenna, the second wire comprising non-linear magnetic material.

9. The chattel identification unit of claim 4, 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.

10. The chattel identification unit of claim 9, wherein the non-linear magnetic material is coated with an electrically conducting material.

11. The chattel identification unit 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.

12. The chattel identification unit 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.

13. The chattel identification unit of claim 1, further comprising an article attachment apparatus for attaching said package to a chattel.

14. The chattel identification unit of claim 1 wherein said package is flexible.

15. A chattel control system, comprising:

(a) at least one chattel identification unit, said chattel identification unit including;

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

(ii) a non-linear magnetic material operably associated with said 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, the non-linear magnetic material providing at least a portion of the tag antenna; and

(iii) a protective housing for protectively shielding said RF tag and said non-linear magnetic material from environmental effects;

(b) at least one reader for reading information stored on said at least one chattel identification unit.

16. A chattel identification unit, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transponder comprising an integrated circuit package containing at least electronic circuitry and memory, and an antenna operatively coupled to the integrated circuit package;

a non-linear magnetic material providing a varying electronic article surveillance magnetic field in response to an interrogating magnetic field, the non-linear magnetic material providing at least a portion of the tag antenna; and

a protective housing enclosing said RF tag and said non-linear magnetic material to protect against environmental effects.

17. The chattel identification unit of claim 16, wherein the non-linear magnetic material further comprises an electrically conducting material layer affixed thereto.

18. The chattel identification unit of claim 16, wherein said non-linear magnetic material further comprises a parasitic element of the antenna.

19. The chattel identification unit of claim 16, wherein said non-linear magnetic material further comprises a tuning element of the antenna.

20. The chattel identification unit of claim 16, wherein said RF tag further comprises a power source.