Methods for field programming radio frequency identification devices that control remote control devices

• US 7,042,336 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Romansky, Brian M., Foth, Thomas J., Chhatpar, Anand V., Pierce, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US10/430,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.5, 340/10.6, 340/5.26, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 341/20, 341/34, 235/462.15, 235/462.16, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
• 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 19/07749 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: H05K 1/0286 Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222

Abstract

A remote control device that is combined with a modified RFID circuit that allows an individual to enter information into different types of equipment. When an individual touches graphite contacts on the modified RFID circuit with his/her finger, the circuit will activate a RFID reader causing an action on another device.

Claims

1. A method for signaling information by a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit having a unique number generation portion that is activated when the RFID circuit is read by control equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

a) exposing on a material data bits of the number generation portion of the RFID circuit in a manner that the data bits will represent binary ones or zeros;

b) altering on a material the data bits of the number generation portion of the RFID circuit in a manner that the data bits will represent binary ones or zeros;

wherein the RFID circuit has a unique number generation portion that when combined with the number generation portion of the RFID circuit indicates to the control equipment which remote control device is being touched;

c) touching contacts on the material so that the RFID circuit will perform some function; and

d) coupling the RFID circuit to equipment to remotely control the equipment.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the equipment is a tape recorder.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the equipment is a computer.