Tamper resistant electronic tag

• US 7,301,462 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TC License Limited
• Inventors: Butler, Danny G., Holling, Andrea N., Reeves, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/246,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.3, 340/572.9, 340/572.5, 340/10.1, 340/5.8, 235/487
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A tamper resistant electronic tag that wirelessly receives and transmits unique subscriber information to and from a transceiver so that financial transactions can occur quickly and seamlessly. In a preferred embodiment, the tag works in conjunction with a roadway toll booth and is mounted onto a flat interior surface of a vehicle, where it can receive and transmit electronic information to and from a toll booth. That allows a driver to pay the toll fee without having to stop his vehicle. The electronic tag includes a hard plastic support case for carrying a circuit. The circuit includes an integrated circuit that is adhesively attached to the support case. The support case and circuit are then attached to the flat surface. When the support case is removed, the integrated circuit is pulled off with the support case while the rest of the circuit remains attached to the flat surface, thereby severing the circuit, and rendering it inoperable. This prevents the unwanted tampering and unauthorized use of the electronic tag.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant electronic tag comprising:

a support case having a first and second side;

a circuit sheet having a first and second side, the second side of the circuit sheet having a circuit, and the circuit including an integrated circuit;

wherein a portion of the circuit is adhesively attached to the first side of the support case; and

wherein said first side of circuit sheet is adhesively attached to a surface, such that if the support case is removed from the surface, the circuit sheet remains attached to the surface and the portion of the circuit attached to the support case is removed with the support case and is severed from the circuit sheet, rendering the electronic tag inoperable.

2. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

said support case includes a recess, and the integrated circuit is placed within the recess so that the first side of the support case and the first side of the circuit sheet present a generally flat surface.

3. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

the portion of the circuit attached to the support case is the integrated circuit, so that removal of the support case severs the integrated circuit from the circuit.

4. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic tag is attached to a flat surface in a vehicle.

5. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

the circuit includes an antenna electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the antennae being capable of sending and receiving electronic information.

6. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

the circuit sheet comprises a flexible substrate onto which the circuit is attached.

7. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein:

the first side of the support case includes a notch for aiding the removal of the support case from the surface.

8. A tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information, comprising:

a support case having a first side and a second side; and

a substrate having a first and second side, said substrate including a circuit with an integrated circuit on the second side, wherein a portion of said circuit is attached to the support case;

wherein the first side of the substrate is attached to a surface such that if the support case is removed from the surface, the substrate remains attached to the surface and the portion of the circuit attached to the support case is removed with the support case, thereby severing the circuit.

9. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 8, wherein:

the integrated circuit is attached to the support case and removing the support case severs the integrated circuit from the remainder of the circuit.

10. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 9, wherein:

said support case includes a recess and the integrated circuit is placed within the recess so that the first side of the support case and the first side of the substrate presents a generally flat surface.

11. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 10, wherein:

said support case further includes a depression for holding the substrate so that the first side of the substrate and the first side of the support case is generally flat.

12. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 11, wherein:

the circuit includes a generally flat antennae electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the antennae being able to send and receive electronic information.

13. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 12, wherein:

the first side of the support case includes a notch for aiding the removal of the support case from the surface.

14. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 8, wherein:

the integrated circuit is able to receive and modify a signal to incorporate information into the signal.

15. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 8, wherein:

wherein the electronic tag is attached to an interior surface inside a vehicle.

16. A tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information, comprising:

a support case and a substrate, said substrate including a circuit with an integrated circuit on the second side;

wherein one of the substrate or a portion of the circuit is bonded to the support case and the other one of the substrate or portion of the circuit is bonded to a surface such that if the support case is removed from the surface, the substrate or portion of the circuit remains bonded to the surface and the other of the substrate or the portion of the circuit is removed with the support case, thereby severing the circuit.

17. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 16, wherein:

said support case includes a recess and the integrated circuit is placed within the recess so that the support case and the substrate present a generally flat surface.

18. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 16, wherein:

the circuit includes a generally flat antennae electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the antennae being able to send and receive electronic information.

19. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 16, wherein:

the integrated circuit is able to receive and modify a signal to incorporate information into the signal.

20. A tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information, comprising:

a support case and a circuit;

the circuit including an integrated circuit, wherein a portion of said circuit is attached to the support case and another portion of the circuit is attached to a surface; and

wherein if the support case is removed from the surface, the portion of the circuit attached to the support case is severed from the portion of the circuit attached to the surface.

21. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 20, wherein:

said support case includes a recess and the integrated circuit is placed within the recess so that the support case and the substrate present a generally flat surface.

22. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 20, wherein:

the circuit includes a generally flat antennae electrically connected to the integrated circuit, the antennae being able to send and receive electronic information.

23. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 20, wherein:

the integrated circuit is able to receive and modify a signal to incorporate information into the signal.

24. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 20, wherein:

the integrated circuit is soldered to the circuit.

25. A tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information, comprising:

a support case and a circuit;

wherein the support case and circuit are attached to a surface such that if the support case is removed from the surface, a portion of the circuit remains attached to the support case and another portion of the circuit remains attached to the surface, thereby severing the circuit.

26. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 25, wherein:

the circuit includes an integrated circuit and an antenna.

27. The tamper resistant electronic tag for sending and receiving electronic information of claim 26, wherein:

the electronic tag is attached to a vehicle.

28. A method of using a tamper resistant electronic tag comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic tag having a support case and a circuit sheet, said circuit sheet having a circuit, a portion of which is attached to the support case;

attaching said circuit sheet to a surface so that the circuit sheet is located between the support case and the surface, wherein removing the support case from the surface removes the portion of the circuit attached to the support case, while the circuit sheet and remaining portion of the circuit is attached to the surface, thereby severing the circuit and rendering it inoperable;

receiving an interrogation signal from a transceiver; and

retransmitting a signal incorporating subscriber information back to said transceiver.

29. The method of using a tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 28, wherein:

the circuit is adhesively attached to the support case and the circuit sheet is adhesively attached to the surface.

30. The method of using a tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 28, wherein:

the circuit includes an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being adhesively attached to the support case, so that removal of the support case from the surface severs the integrated circuit from the circuit.

31. The method of using a tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 30, wherein:

the support case is a generally flat rigid sheet having a recess therein to accommodate the placement of the integrated circuit so that the circuit can lie flat against the support case.

32. The method of using a tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 28, wherein:

the electronic tag is attached to an interior surface of a vehicle.