Tamper evident label with transponder employing multiple propagation points

• US 6,794,000 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Matthew Thomas, Taylor, Douglas Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US10/197,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40.1, 428/40.9, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 428/201, 428/220, 343/873, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 428/40.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• 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 13/128 the housing being an electronic circuit unit, e.g. memory or CPU chip protecting computer components in secure or tamper resistant housings G06F21/86; protecting computer input devices, e.g. keyboards G06F21/83
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1438 Metal containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24314 Slit or elongated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential

Abstract

A RFID label with tamper-evident capabilities that is useable with many surfaces. The RFID label has a release layer positioned between the transponder substrate and the printed ink antenna. The release layer uses a pattern of adhesive whereby different surface'"'"'s cohesive strengths are accommodated. The adhesive pattern accommodates high and low substrate cohesive strength depending on which portion of the label is experiencing separation force. Because the release layer is in contact with the patterned adhesive, when the label is removed the antenna separates from the transponder substrate.

The patterned adhesive may be applied only to a localized area of the label to target a specific transponder feature.

The patterned adhesive may be also be combined with propagation slits in the label carrier film. The slits, when stressed, start propagating tears in the label surface ultimately severing the antenna, thereby destroying the transponder.

Claims

1. A tamper evident label RFID, comprising:

a layered construction of

a label face sheet,

a transponder carrier film positioned beneath the face sheet,

a transponder with an antenna,

a release agent positioned beneath the transponder carrier film, and

a patterned adhesive having an adhesive pattern, said adhesive pattern comprising areas of adhesive and areas free of adhesive and said areas of adhesive have varying adhesive strengths,

wherein said antenna is sandwiched between the release agent and the patterned adhesive and said label is attached to an object.

2. The RFID label of claim 1 wherein said adhesive pattern is a spiral and said spiral has an adhesive strength that increases toward the center of the spiral.

3. The RFID label of claim 1 wherein said adhesive pattern is a plurality of adhesive stripes and the adhesive footprint of at least a first adhesive stripe is different from the adhesive footprint of at least a second adhesive stripe.

4. The RFID label of claim 3 wherein the adhesive footprint of the stripes increases from the edges of the label to a substantially center line of the label.

5. The RFID label of claim 3 wherein the adhesive footprint of the stripes decreases from a substantially center line to the edges of the label.

6. The RFID label of claim 3 wherein the adhesive footprint is varied by varying the length of the adhesive stripes.

7. The RFID label of claim 3 wherein the adhesive footprint is varied by varying the width of the adhesive stripes.

8. The RFID label of claim 1 wherein the patterned adhesive is localized to a feature of said transponder.

9. The RFID label of claim 8 wherein the patterned adhesive is localized to a cross-over portion of the antenna.

10. The RFID label of claim 8 wherein the patterned adhesive is localized portion of the antenna connected to an integrated circuit.

11. The RFID label of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of propagation slits.

12. The RFID label of claim 11 wherein said propagation slits are in said carrier film.

13. The RFID label of claim 11 wherein said propagation slits are in said face sheet.

14. The RFID label of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of propagation slits.

15. The RFID label of claim 14 wherein said propagation slits are in said carrier film.

16. The RFID label of claim 14 wherein said propagation slits are in said face sheet.

17. The RFID label of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of propagation slits.

18. The RFID label of claim 17 wherein said propagation slits are in said carrier film.

19. The RFID label of claim 7 wherein said propagation slits are in said face sheet.

20. A tamper evident label RFID, comprising:

a layered construction of

a label face sheet,

a transponder carrier film positioned beneath the face sheet,

a transponder with an antenna,

a release agent positioned beneath the transponder carrier film,

a patterned adhesive having an adhesive pattern, and

a plurality of propagation slits

wherein said antenna is sandwiched between the release agent and the patterned adhesive.