RFID device with changeable characteristics

• US 7,460,015 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., Sasaki, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/864,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.3, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 340/10.5, 340/539.26, 340/539.27
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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 19/07345 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: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16 of an individual bump connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

An RFID device includes a first, relatively permanent portion and a second alterable or inactivatable portion. Upon the occurrence of some predetermined event, the second portion and/or its coupling to the first portion is physically altered, inactivating it. The first portion may itself be an antennaless RFID device that may be read at short range, and the second portion may be an antenna that, when coupled to the first portion, substantially increases the range at which the first portion may be read. The second portion may be configured to be altered or inactivated by any of a variety of predetermined events, such as involving physical, chemical or electrical forces, performed either on the RFID device, or upon an object to which the RFID device is coupled.

Claims

1. A method of altering read, transmit or detection characteristics of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining an RFID device, the RFID device comprising a substrate, a transponder chip and an antenna coupled to the chip; and

reducing a read, transmit or detection range of the RFID device via reducing an amount of the antenna that is coupled to the chip;

wherein said step of reducing the amount of the antenna comprises altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna;

wherein the RFID device is initially operable within an original range; and

wherein said step of reducing the read, transmit or detection range comprises leaving a remainder device sufficient for responding to a signal solely at a range shorter than the original range.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of leaving a remainder comprises leaving a remainder device sufficient for responding to a signal solely at a range less than approximately 15 mm.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna comprises a step taken from a group of steps consisting of:

exposing the device to a suitable solvent;

laundering an object to which the device is coupled; and

applying a physical force to at least part of the device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and/or the antenna includes soluble material.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the soluble material includes a water-soluble material.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a mixture of water and a laundry detergent.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble when a solvent is in a predetermined temperature range.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a dry cleaning fluid.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in carbon tetrachloride.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a soluble conductive material.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the soluble conductive material includes a soluble conductive ink.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna changes an operating frequency of the device.

13. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:

a substrate, a transponder chip and an antenna coupled to the chip; and

an arrangement for reducing a read, transmit or detection range of the RFID device via reducing an amount of the antenna that is coupled to the chip;

wherein said arrangement for reducing a read or detection range comprises an arrangement for altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna;

wherein said RFID device is initially operable within an original range; and

wherein said arrangement for reducing the read, transmit or detection range is adapted to leave a remainder device sufficient for responding to a signal solely at a range shorter than the original range.

14. The RFID device according to claim 13, wherein said arrangement for reducing the read, transmit or detection range is adapted to leave a remainder device sufficient for responding to a signal solely at a range less than approximately 15 mm.

15. The RFID device according to claim 13, wherein said arrangement for altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna comprises an arrangement taken from a group of arrangements consisting of:

an arrangement for facilitating exposing the device to a suitable solvent;

an arrangement for facilitating laundering an object to which the device is coupled; and

an arrangement for facilitating applying a physical force to at least part of the device.

16. The RFID device according to claim 13, wherein the substrate and/or the antenna includes soluble material.

17. The RFID device according to claim 16, wherein the soluble material includes a water-soluble material.

18. The RFID device according to claim 16, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a mixture of water and a laundry detergent.

19. The RFID device according to claim 16, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble when a solvent is in a predetermined temperature range.

20. The RFID device according to claim 16, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a dry cleaning fluid.

21. The RFID device according to claim 16, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in carbon tetrachloride.

22. The RFID device according to claim 13, wherein the antenna includes a soluble conductive material.

23. The RFID device according to claim 22, wherein the soluble conductive material includes a soluble conductive ink.

24. The RFID device according to claim 13, wherein said arrangement for altering a substantial portion of the substrate and/or the antenna changes an operating frequency of the device.