Magnetic tape storage media having RFID transponders

• US 6,201,474 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kodukula, Venkata S. R., Duan, Dah-Weih, Brady, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,528
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/568.1, 343/720, 343/894, 242/348.4, 242/348, 455/193.1, 235/381, 235/487
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/042 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

A magnetic tape information storage media includes a cassette housing having one or more spools for holding a length of magnetic tape and an integral radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder. The RFID transponder may be utilized by an external system to provide functions such as, automated sale, rental, or loan of the media, authentication of the media, indexing of information recorded to the media, enablement/disablement of playback of the media, recording of the number of times the media has been played, inventory, and the like.

Claims

1. A magnetic tape storage media, comprising:

a housing having at least one spool;

a length of magnetic tape wound onto the spool, said magnetic tape having a magnetic coating disposed thereon for storing information; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder integrally contained within said housing for communicating with an external system, wherein said RFID transponder is integrally formed on said magnetic tape.

2. The magnetic tape storage media according to claim 1, wherein said RFID transponder comprises an antenna formed on said magnetic tape and a radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID IC) adhered to said magnetic tape and bonded to the antenna.

3. The magnetic tape storage media according to claim 2, wherein said RFID transponder further comprises an impedance adjustment element for adjusting the impedance of the antenna.

4. The magnetic tape storage media according to claim 2, wherein the metallized magnetic coating of said magnetic tape forms a conductive ground plane for the antenna.

5. The magnetic tape storage media according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic tape includes at least one leader, and wherein said RFID transponder is at least partially formed on the leader.

6. A magnetic tape storage media, comprising:

a housing having at least one spool;

a length of magnetic tape wound onto the spool, said magnetic tape having a magnetic coating disposed thereon for storing information; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder integrally contained within said housing for communicating with an external system, wherein said RFID transponder comprises an antenna formed on said magnetic tape and a radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID IC) adhered to the spool and interconnected to the antenna.

7. The magnetic tape storage media according to claim 6, wherein the spool included a recess formed therein and the RFID IC is contained within the recess.