Tamper indicating radio frequency identification label

• US 6,888,509 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mikoh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mikoh Corporation
• Inventors: Atherton, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/129,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 343/718, 343/878, 343/867, 343/873, 343/700.MS, 343/895, 343/441, 343/897, 343/872, 340/572.1, 340/571, 340/568.1, 340/572.7, 235/492, 235/487, 235/488, 235/384, 235/441, 257/679, 257/782, 257/777, 257/778
• US Class Current: 343/718
• 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: H01L 23/573 using passive means
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A tamper indicating label is provided. The label may include RFID components and a tamper track coupled to the RFID components. The tamper track should be constructed from a destructible conducting path. Additionally, the tamper track can be formed such that it is damaged when the label is tampered. In one embodiment, adhesion characteristics of the tamper track are adapted to break apart the tamper track when the label is tampered, for example, by removal from an object. The RFID components may retain their RF capability and detect when the tamper track has been damaged to indicate that the label has been tampered. Alternatively, the RFID capability of the RFID components may be disabled when the tamper track is damaged, indicating tampering.

Claims

1. A tamper indicating label comprising:

an RFID (radio frequency identification) layer providing an RFID function;

an attachment layer supporting the RFID layer and to attach the tamper indicating label to a surface;

a destructible electrically conducting path between the RFID layer and the attachment layer;

a pattern of an adhesion modifying coating to modify adhesion characteristics of the destructible conducting path to the RFID layer or the attachment layer, whereby the destructible conducting path is disrupted when the label is tampered, thereby modifying the RFID function of the RFID layer.

2. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the destructible conducting path is an RFID component.

3. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the destructible conducting path is connected to RFID components in the RFID layer.

4. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the RFID layer includes an RFID integrated circuit and one of an antenna and an induction loop.

5. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the adhesion modifying coating covers a majority of an area of contact between the RFID layer and the attachment layer.

6. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the adhesion modifying coating is between the RFID layer and destructible electrically conducting path.

7. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the adhesion modifying coating is between the destructible electrically conducting path and the adhesive layer.

8. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 wherein the pattern of the adhesion modifying coating includes at least two types of adhesion modifying coating.

9. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 further comprising a visual tamper indicator arranged under the RFID layer and wherein the RFID layer is substantially transparent whereby the visual tamper indicator is visible.

10. The tamper indicating label of claim 9 wherein the visual tamper indicator is a colored layer and an adhesion-modifying substance is arranged between the RFID layer and the adhesive layer, the adhesion-modifying substance causing the colored layer to have different adhesion strengths with respect to the RFID layer and the attachment layer to thereby create a visual pattern on tampering of the label.

11. The tamper indicating label of claim 9 further comprising:

a visual tamper indicator comprising a colored layer arranged under the RFID layer and wherein the RFID layer is substantially transparent, whereby the visual tamper indicator is visible; and

an adhesion-modifying substance arranged between the RFID layer and the adhesive layer, the adhesion-modifying substance causing the colored layer to have different adhesion strengths with respect to the RFID layer and the adhesive layer to thereby create a visual pattern on tampering of the label.

12. The tamper indicating label of claim 1 where the destructible electrically conducting path is formed from a conductive ink.

13. A tamper indicating label comprising:

a substrate having RFID components and a destructible conducting path; and

an attachment layer supporting the substrate, at least a part of the destructible conducting path being in contact with the attachment layer;

an adhesion-modifying coating disposed between the substrate and the attachment layer, the adhesion-modifying coating causing relative adhesion strengths of the destructible conducting path to the substrate and the attachment layer to vary, whereby the destructible conducting path is modified if the label is at least partially removed from a surface to which it has been applied, thereby modifying RFID characteristics of the RFID components.

14. The tamper indicating label of claim 13 further comprising:

a second conducting path formed on a top surface of the substrate and wherein the RFID components include an integrated circuit chip on the top surface of the substrate, the integrated circuit chip being connected to the second conducting path; and

through-connects linking the second conducting path with the destructible conducting path, which is formed on a bottom surface of the substrate between the substrate and the attachment layer.

15. The tamper indicating label of claim 14 wherein the second conducting path and the destructible conducting path together form one of an antenna and an induction loop.

16. The tamper indicating label of claim 13, further comprising a top coating formed over the top surface of the substrate.

17. The tamper indicating label of claim 13 wherein the adhesion-modifying coating is between the substrate and the destructible electrically conducting path.

18. The tamper indicating label of claim 13 wherein the adhesion-modifying coating is between the destructible electrically conducting path and the attachment layer.

19. The tamper indicating label of claim 13 wherein the adhesion-modifying coating includes at least two types of adhesion-modifying coating.

20. The tamper indicating label of claim 14 wherein the second conducting path forms one of an antenna and an induction loop, and the destructible conducting path forms a functionally separate tamper detection electrical circuit.

21. The tamper indicating label of claim 14 further comprising a top coating formed over the top surface of the substrate.

22. The tamper indicating label of claim 13 in which the destructible conducting path is formed from a printed electrically conductive ink.

23. A security label for attachment to an object, comprising:

RFID components providing an RFID function;

means for attaching the RFID components to the object;

at least one conducting path connected to the RFID components and contacting the means for attaching,

means for modifying adhesion between the RFID components and the means for attaching, whereby the at least one conducting path is interrupted or substantially disrupted when the label is partially or completely removed form a surface to which it has been applied, thereby modifying RFID characteristics of the RFID components.

24. The security label of claim 23 further comprising a substrate supporting the RFID components and wherein the means for attaching comprises a layer of adhesive contacting the substrate and wherein the means for modifying the adhesion comprises an adhesion modifying substance in contact with the at least one conducting path and at least one of the substrate and the layer of adhesive, the adhesion modifying substance modifying relative adhesion of the at least one conducting path to promote disruption to or interruption of the at least one conducting path when the label is partially or completely removed from the surface to which it has been applied, thereby modifying the RFID characteristics of the RFID components.

25. The security label of claim 23 further comprising:

a substrate, the RFID components being formed on a top surface of the substrate; and

connection points extending from the RFID components to a bottom surface of the substrate, the means for attaching contacting the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the at least one conducting path is formed on a bottom surface of the substrate and connects to the connection points.

26. The security label of claim 24 wherein the at least one conducting path must be intact for the RFID components to operate.

27. The security label of claim 25 wherein the at least one conducting path is a circuit functionally separate from the RFID components.

28. The security label of claim 25 wherein the at least one conducting path is a track of conducting material formed in a pattern that extends around substantially the entire circumference of the bottom surface of the substrate.

29. The security label of claim 25 wherein the RFID components include an induction loop or antenna and the at least one conducting path is formed in series with the induction loop or antenna.

30. The security label of claim 25, wherein the at least one conducting path forms an induction loop or antenna.

31. The security label of claim 23 further comprising:

a substrate, the RFID components formed on a top surface of the substrate; and

connection points extending from the RFID components to a bottom surface of the substrate, wherein a portion of the at least one conducting path extends from each connection point to form an induction loop or antenna.

32. The security label of claim 31 wherein the at least one conducting path must be intact for the RFID components to operate.

33. The security label of claim 24 wherein the RFID components comprise an RFID integrated circuit on a bottom surface of the substrate, the means for attaching contacts the bottom surface of the substrate, and the at least one conducting path forms one of an antenna and an induction loop on the bottom surface of the substrate.

34. The security label of claim 33 wherein the at least one conducting path must be intact for the RFID components to operate.

35. The security label of claim 24, wherein the RFID components include an induction loop or antenna and the at least one conducting path is formed in parallel with the induction loop or antenna.

36. The tamper indicating label of claim 23 wherein the at least one conducting path is made from an electrically conductive ink.

37. A tamper indicating RF identification system, comprising:

a substrate having a top and a bottom surface;

RFID components applied to the bottom surface of the substrate;

an electrically conductive layer applied in a pattern to the bottom surface of the substrate;

an adhesive layer supporting the substrate such that the RFID electronic components and the conductive layer are sandwiched between the substrate and the adhesive layer, and wherein the adhesive layer, the substrate, and conductive layer have relative adhesion strengths such that when the system is partially removed from a surface to which it has been applied, at least one of the RFID components and the conductive layer is altered to modify the RFID characteristics of the system.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising an adhesion modifying layer provided between the substrate and the adhesive layer to adjust the relative adhesions strengths of the electrically conductive layer and thereby promote damage to the electrically conductive layer when the system is partially removed from a surface to which it has been applied.

39. A security apparatus for indicating tampering, comprising:

an object having a conducting path with at least two end points;

a security label arranged on the object, the label comprising RFID components and a destructible conducting path between the RFID components and individual end points.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein a disruption to the destructible conducting path or the conducting path causes a detectable modification to the RFID function of said RFID components.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the RFID components respond in a pre-determined manner when a connection between the RFID components and end points is interrupted or substantially disrupted, or when the electrical pathway through the conducting path and the destructible conducting path is interrupted or substantially modified.

42. The combination of a security label and an object, wherein:

the security label comprises;

RFID components;

means for attaching the RFID components to the object; and

destructible electronics connected to the RFID components, the destructible electronics being broken or substantially disrupted when the label is at least partially removed from the object; and

the object comprises;

a surface for receiving the security label;

a conducting path having two ends, the ends of the conducting path being coupled to the destructible electronics thereby forming a circuit through the RFID components, the destructible electronics and the conducting path, whereby RFID characteristics of the RFID components are modified if the connection between the end points and the RFID components, via the destructible electronics, or through the conducting path, is interrupted or substantially disrupted.

43. A tamper indicating label, comprising:

RFID components provided on a substrate;

means for attaching the RFID components to an object;

a tamper track connected to the RFID components, the tamper track being one or more electrically conducting pathways adapted to be damaged when the label is tampered and the RFID components being adapted to detect an interruption in, or substantial disruption to, the tamper track while maintaining their RFID capability; and

means for modifying the adhesion of the tamper track, whereby the tamper track adheres partially to the means for attaching and partially to the substrate when the label is tampered.

44. The label of claim 43 wherein the tamper track is interrupted or substantially disrupted when the means for attaching is interfered with.

45. The label of claim 43 wherein the RFID components are active components.

46. The label of claim 45 wherein the RFID components test the tamper track and record data if the tamper track is significantly damaged or interrupted.

47. The label of claim 43 wherein the RFID components are passive.

48. The label of claim 43 wherein the RFID components comprise an RFID integrated circuit and one of an induction loop and an antenna.

49. The label of claim 43 wherein the RFID components are permanently altered when the interruption in the tamper track is detected by an RFID read/write device.

50. The label of claim 43 wherein the means for attaching is a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

51. A tamper indicating label, comprising:

a substrate;

an adhesive layer;

a tamper track arranged between a first side of the substrate and the adhesive layer;

an adhesion modifying layer arranged in a pattern between the first side of the substrate and the adhesive layer so that portions of the tamper track have different adhering strengths to the substrate and the adhesive layer whereby the tamper track is disrupted when the label is tampered with;

an RFID integrated circuit arranged on a second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the tamper track via through connects in the substrate, the RFID chip being connected to other RFID components to provide an RFID function and to detect any disruption in the tamper track while maintaining the RFID function.

52. The label of claim 51, wherein the RFID chip is permanently altered when the tamper track is disrupted.

53. The label of claim 51, further comprising one of an antenna and an induction loop formed on the second side of the substrate and connected to the RFID integrated circuit to provide an RFID function.

54. The label of claim 53, wherein one of the antenna and the induction loop are connected to the RFID chip via two contact pads.

55. The label of claim 51 wherein when the tamper track is interrupted, or significantly disrupted, the functions or characteristics of the RFID chip are altered in a manner detectable by an RFID reading device so as to indicate the tamper track has been interrupted or significantly disrupted.

56. A tamper indicating label comprising:

a substrate having first and second portions, the second portion being adapted to be looped back and connected to the first portion to from a closed loop;

an RFID transponder arranged on the first portion;

a tamper track coupled to the RFID transponder and extending at least partially into the second portion of the substrate;

an adhesive layer arranged on at least a part of the substrate in the second portion that contains the tamper track;

an adhesion modifying coating provided in a pattern between the adhesive layer and the substrate in the region of the tamper track so as to vary the relative adhesion strength of the tamper track and thereby promote modification to the tamper track in that part of the substrate when the closed loop is tampered.

57. The label of claim 56 wherein the second portion is looped back and attached to the first portion by the adhesive layer, the attachment being in an area where either the RFID transponder or the tamper track is arranged.

58. The label of claim 56 wherein a second adhesive layer is arranged on the first portion of the substrate in an area where the second portion is attached.

59. The label of claim 56 further comprising a top or bottom layer formed on regions of the substrate where the adhesive layer is not present.

60. The label of claim 56 wherein the RFID transponder maintains its RFID function if the closed loop is tampered or cut so that the tamper track is modified, and also detects the modification in the tamper track due to the closed loop being tampered or cut.

61. An RFID read/write apparatus, comprising:

means for reading information from an RFID label;

means for interpreting the information to determine if the label is tampered; and

means for writing data to the label indicating the label is tampered if the information indicates the label is tampered.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the data is written permanently to an electronic memory in the label.

63. A tamper indicating apparatus, comprising:

RFID components providing an RFID function;

a destructible conducting path associated with the RFID components;

an attachment layer to attach the RFID components and the destructible conducting path to an object, the attachment layer contacting at least part of the destructible conducting path; and

an adhesion modifier to provide differing relative adhesion strengths of the destructible conducting path so as to promote disruption to the destructible conducting path if the RFID components or attachment layer are tampered with, wherein the RFID components comprise means for detecting and indicating a disruption in the destructible conducting path.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the RFID components further comprise an electronic memory, the electronic memory contents being modified when a disruption in the destructible conducting path is detected.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the RFD components further comprise a clock, the electronic memory recording the date and time when the disruption is detected.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the data stored in the electronic memory is permanently modified.

67. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the RFID components are active RFID components.

68. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the RFID components are passive.

69. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the RFID components comprise an RFID integrated circuit and one of an antenna and an induction loop.

70. A tamper indicating RF identification system, comprising:

a substrate having a top and a bottom surface;

RFID components applied to the top surface of the substrate;

an electrically conductive layer applied in a pattern to the bottom surface of the substrate and connected to the RFID components on the top surface of the substrate;

an adhesive layer supporting the substrate such that the conductive layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the adhesive layer, and wherein the adhesive layer, the substrate, and conductive layer have relative adhesion strengths such that when the system is partially removed from a surface to which it has been applied, the conductive layer is altered so as to modify the RFID characteristics of the system.

71. The system of claim 70 further comprising an adhesion modifying layer provided between the substrate and the adhesive layer to adjust the relative adhesions strengths of the conductive layer and thereby promote damage to the conductive layer when the system is partially removed from a surface to which it has been applied.