Identification tag with enhanced security

• US 6,154,137 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Karel, Gerald L., Sainati, Robert A., Piotrowski, Chester, Tsai, Ching-Long, Goff, Edward D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/093,120
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/551, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.4, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 340/568.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2485 Simultaneous detection of multiple EAS tags
• 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 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

A combination tag is disclosed, including a magnetically-responsive element and a radio frequency-responsive element. In one embodiment, the magnetically-responsive element also functions as an antenna for the radio frequency-responsive element.

Claims

1. A combination tag, comprising:

(a) a magnetically-responsive, detectable security element; and

(b) a radio frequency-responsive element including an integrated circuit that is reprogrammable, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element, wherein the radio frequency-responsive element is electrically coupled to the magnetically-responsive element and uses the magnetically-responsive element as at least part of an antenna.

2. A combination tag according to claim 1 wherein the magnetically-responsive element includes a low coercive force, high permeability ferromagnetic material.

3. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency-responsive element is physically coupled to the magnetically-responsive element.

4. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the magnetically-responsive element provides dual status information.

5. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency-responsive element communicates with a database to provide dual status information.

6. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the tag includes a programmable memory element that provides dual status information.

7. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency-responsive element includes a battery.

8. The combination tag of claim 1, where the magnetically-responsive element comprises a high permeability, low coercivity alloy of nickel and iron.

9. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the magnetically-responsive element consists of a high permeability, low coercivity amorphous alloy.

10. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the magnetically-responsive element is a thin film.

11. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the antenna is an electrical dipole.

12. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a coil.

13. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the tag further comprises a capacitor.

14. The combination tag of claim 13, wherein the capacitor is a distributed capacitor.

15. A system including the combination tag of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one interrogation source.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes an interrogation source for interrogating the magnetically-responsive element, and an interrogation source for interrogating the radio frequency-responsive element.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further includes a detector for detecting the presence of the combination tag.

18. The system of claim 17, installed in a library.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the system further includes a database having information about the combination tag.

20. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is associated with a library material.

21. The combination tag of claim 20, wherein the library material is a book.

22. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the tag has a maximum thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

23. A roll comprising a multiplicity of the combination tags of claim 1, the roll enabling automated sequential application of the tags to articles.

24. The combination tag of claim 1, wherein the magnetically-responsive element is responsive to an applied interrogation signal in the range of 50 Hz to 100 kHz, and the radio frequency-responsive element is responsive to a signal in the range of 125 kHz to 6 GHz.