Wireless identification device, RFID device with push-on/push off switch, and method of manufacturing wireless identification device

• US 6,693,513 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/117,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/825.49, 340/572.3, 341/20
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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: 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 19/07749 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: H01H 2231/05 Card, e.g. credit card

Abstract

A wireless identification device including a housing; circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and a selectively actuated switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry identifies the device. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising configuring circuitry to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; coupling the circuitry to a push-on/push-off switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry provides the signal to identify the device; and encasing the circuitry in a housing such that the switch is actuable from outside the housing by touching a portion of the housing.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing;

circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a push on and push off switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry provides the signal to identify the device.

2. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein pushing the switch toggles the receiver between being enabled and disabled.

3. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the circuitry includes volatile memory.

4. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a transmitter and is configured to provide the signal by radio frequency.

5. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a modulator and is configured to provide the signal other than by magnetic coupling.

6. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the device includes a coil configured to receive power from an interrogator by magnetic coupling.

7. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the signal to the interrogator by magnetic coupling.

8. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes digital circuitry including a digital flag which is set when the switch is pressed and cleared when the switch is released, and wherein the circuitry polls the flag and does not provide the signal to identify the device except when the flag is set.

9. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the circuitry includes volatile memory.

31. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the circuitry includes a backscatter transmitter configured to provide a backscatter signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal;

the push on and push off switch is configured to control whether the circuitry provides the signal to identify the device by controlling whether the receiver is on or off, and further comprising;

receiver circuitry in the housing, coupled to the transmitter circuitry, and configured to receive the backscatter signal.

10. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing;

an integrated circuit in the housing including a receiver having an enable input, the receiver being selectively enabled in response to application of a signal of a predetermined voltage value on the enable input, the receiver being configured to receive an interrogation signal when enabled, the integrated circuit further including a transmitter configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a switch supported by the housing and configured to cause the receiver to be enabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is disabled and to cause the receiver to be disabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is enabled, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the predetermined voltage value and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the enable input and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring, and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being spaced apart from the first and second conductors by the insulating ring.

11. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the housing further includes an encapsulant over the diaphragm.

12. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the housing further includes a polyester film substrate, wherein the printed thick film is formed over the substrate, and wherein the housing is configured to effect connection of the second ends of the first and second conductors when pressure is applied to the substrate at location facing the diaphragm.

13. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 10 and further including a battery supplying power to the integrated circuit and to define the predetermined voltage value, and wherein the integrated circuit and the battery are located between the polyester substrate and the encapsulant.

14. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the transmitter is a backscatter transmitter.

15. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing including a substrate, and encapsulant over the substrate;

an integrated circuit in the housing including a receiver having an enable input, the receiver being selectively enabled in response to application of a signal of a predetermined voltage value on the enable input, the receiver being configured to receive an interrogation signal when enabled, the integrated circuit further including a transmitter configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a switch supported by the housing and configured to cause the receiver to be enabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is disabled and to cause the receiver to be disabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is enabled.

16. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 15 wherein the substrate comprises a polyester film.

17. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 15 wherein the switch includes a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end and a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor.

18. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the transmitter is a backscatter transmitter.

19. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising:

configuring circuitry to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal;

coupling the circuitry to a push on and push off switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry provides the signal to identify the device; and

encasing the circuitry in a housing such that the switch is actuable from outside the housing by touching a portion of the housing.

20. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a momentary switch.

21. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a pressure sensitive switch.

22. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a momentary, touch actuated switch.

23. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the coupling comprises coupling a flip-flop between the switch and the circuitry.

24. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising providing a battery and coupling the battery to the circuitry.

25. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 24 wherein the encasing comprises encasing the battery and the circuitry.

26. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising providing a thin profile battery and coupling the battery to the circuitry, and wherein the encasing comprises encasing the battery, the circuitry and the switch.

27. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 19, wherein configuring circuitry to provide the signal comprises configuring circuitry to provide a backscatter signal to identify the device in response to the interrogation signal.

28. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising:

supporting a battery on a film substrate, the battery having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

supporting circuitry on the substrate to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal when enabled;

supporting a latch on the substrate, and coupling the latch to the circuitry such that the latch toggles the circuitry between being enabled and disabled;

forming a push on and push off switch on the substrate and coupling the switch to the latch;

coupling the circuitry to the battery to connect the circuitry to the battery; and

flowing an encapsulant over the circuitry, latch, switch, and battery to define a housing including the encapsulant and the substrate.

29. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 28 wherein forming the switch comprises printing thick film on the substrate to define a first conductor having a first end coupled to the latch and having a second end, and a second conductor having a first end coupled to the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, placing an insulating ring such that its periphery circumscribes the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and placing a diaphragm over the insulating ring, the diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor.

30. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 28, wherein supporting circuitry on the substrate comprises supporting circuitry on the substrate that is configured to provide a backscatter signal to identify the device.

32. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing including a polyester film substrate;

an integrated circuit in the housing including a receiver having an enable input, the receiver being selectively enabled in response to application of a signal of a predetermined voltage value on the enable input, the receiver being configured to receive an interrogation signal when enabled, the integrated circuit further including a modulated backscatter transmitter configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a switch supported by the housing and configured to cause the receiver to be enabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is disabled and to cause the receiver to be disabled in response to being pushed while the receiver is enabled, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the predetermined voltage value and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the enable input and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring, and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being spaced apart from the first and second conductors by the insulating ring.

33. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 32 wherein the housing further includes an encapsulant over the diaphragm.

34. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 33, further including a battery supplying power to the integrated circuit and to define the predetermined voltage value, and wherein the integrated circuit and the battery are located between the polyester substrate and the encapsulant.

35. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 32 wherein the printed thick film is formed over the polyester substrate, and wherein the housing is configured to effect connection of the second ends of the first and second conductors when pressure is applied to the polyester substrate at location facing the diaphragm.