Usage modification of RFID transponder

• US 7,469,126 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMARTRAC Investment B.V. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Upm Raflatac Oy (UPM-Kymmene Oyj)
• Inventors: Miettinen, Jarkko, Hanhikorpi, Marko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M
• Application Number:
  US10/889,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 340/571, 3405721-5727
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• 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: 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: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags

Abstract

An RFID transponder is disclosed in which predetermined conductive portions will be removed from the transponder should the transponder be removed from a first object to which it is attached. The transponder has a first response to applied RF before the predetermined portions are removed and a second response after such removal. An RF detector can be used to scan objects with transponders to detect the first or the second response and thereby determine when a transponder has been moved.

Claims

1. An identifier for attachment to an object, comprising:

a substrate having an electrically conductive coil which forms an antenna of an RFID transponder adhered thereto by a first strength of adhesion;

an electrically conductive path disposed in proximity to and in reactive electrical communication with the electrically conductive coil; and

an adhesive layer for adhering the conductive path to an object such that when the identifier is removed from the object the electrically conductive coil remains adhered to the substrate and a portion of the conductive path remains adhered to the object to interrupt the reactive electrical communication between the electrically conductive coil and the conductive path, the identifier exhibiting a first response to radio frequency signals when the conductive coil is in reactive electrical communication with the conductive path and exhibiting a second response, different from the first response when the reactive electrical communication is interrupted.

2. The identifier according to claim 1 wherein the first response is resonance at a first predetermined range of frequencies and the second response is resonance at a second range of frequencies different from the first range.

3. The identifier according to claim 2 wherein the reactive electrical communication comprises a capacitive connection.

4. The identifier according to claim 2 wherein the reactive electrical communication comprises an inductive connection.

5. The identifier according to claim 1 wherein the first response and the second response exhibit a different Q.

6. The identifier according to claim 1 wherein the reactive electrical communication between the conductive coil and the conductive path includes an ohmic connection.

7. The identifier according to claim 1 further comprising an intermediate adhesive between the conductive coil and the conductive path.

8. The identifier according to claim 7 wherein the adherence of the intermediate adhesive between the conductive coil and the conductive path is less than the adherence of the conductive coil and the substrate.

9. The identifier according to claim 8 wherein the adherence of the intermediate adhesive between the conductive coil and the conductive path is less than the adherence of the conductive path to the object.

10. The identifier according to claim 1 wherein the object is a compact disk.

11. The identifier according to claim 1 wherein the object is a DVD.

12. The identifier according to claim 1 comprising a dielectric layer between the electrically conductive coil and the electrically conductive path.

13. An apparatus for detecting an identifier of claim 1 which has been removed from an object, the apparatus including a device which provides an RF signal and exposes the identifier to radio frequency energy and an RFID scanner which detects the second response.

14. The apparatus for detecting an identifier of claim 13 which has been removed from an object and detecting a Q exhibited by the identifier.

15. An identifier for attachment to an object, comprising:

a substrate having an electrically conductive coil which forms an antenna of an RFID transponder adhered thereto by a first strength of adhesion;

an electrically conductive path disposed in proximity to and in reactive electrical communication with the electrically conductive coil, the reactive electrical communication selected from the group consisting of a capacitive connection and an inductive connection; and

an adhesive layer for adhering the conductive path to an object such that when the identifier is removed from the object the electrically conductive coil remains adhered to the substrate and a portion of the conductive path remains adhered to the object to interrupt the reactive electrical communication between the electrically conductive coil and the conductive path, the identifier exhibiting a first response to radio frequency signals when the conductive coil is in reactive electrical communication with the conductive path and exhibiting a second response, different from the first response when the reactive electrical communication is interrupted.

16. The identifier according to claim 15 wherein the first response is resonance at a first predetermined range of frequencies and the second response is resonance at a second range of frequencies different from the first range.

17. The identifier according to claim 16 further comprising an intermediate adhesive between the electrically conductive coil and the conductive path.

18. The identifier according to claim 17 wherein the adherence of the intermediate adhesive between the electrically conductive coil and the conductive path is less than the adherence of the electrically conductive coil and the substrate.