Destructible RFID transponder

• US 7,557,715 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TC License Limited
• Inventors: Noakes, Scott H., Burnett, Matthew K., Johnson, Charles A., Tiernay, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally; Kerri L
• Application Number:
  US11/349,093
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices

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 plastic protective card for carrying a circuit. The circuit includes an integrated circuit that is adhesively attached to the protective card. The protective card and circuit are then attached to the flat surface. When the protective card is removed, the integrated circuit is pulled off with the protective card 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 protective card;

an integrated circuit attached to the protective card;

a first substrate layer having a first side and a second side retaining a first electronic element, wherein the first side of the first substrate layer is arranged to be adhered to a surface by a first adhesive layer, and a first portion of the second side of the first substrate layer is adhered to the protective card by a second adhesive layer; and

,

a second substrate layer having a first side and a second side retaining a second electronic element operatively coupled to the first electronic element, wherein the first side of the second substrate layer is adhered to a second portion of the second side of the first substrate layer by a third adhesive layer, and the second electronic element is operatively attached to the integrated circuit;

wherein the first adhesive layer is stronger than the second adhesive layer, and the third adhesive layer is stronger than the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element;

wherein said first and second electronic elements form a passive circuit component and when, said first substrate layer is attached to said surface by said first adhesive layer, an attempt to remove the tag from said surface results in at least one of;

said integrated circuit becoming operatively detached from said second electronic element, or said second substrate layer becoming separated from said first substrate layer so as to damage said operative coupling between said first and second electronic elements, damaging said passive circuit component.

2. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein when the protective card is removed from the surface, the first and second substrate layers remain with the surface and the integrated circuit is removed with the protective card, thereby severing the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element.

3. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 1, wherein the second adhesive layer has an annular shape defining an opening and the second substrate layer fits in the opening of the annular second adhesive layer.

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

the protective card has a first side that contains a recess and the integrated circuit is located within the recess.

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

the protective card contains a hole and the integrated circuit is located within the hole.

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

the first substrate layer is opaque.

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

the first side of the first substrate layer comprises a material on which graphics and text can be printed.

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

the protective card has a first side and a second side and a label displaying information about the tag is attached to the second side of the protective card.

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

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

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

the surface to which the first substrate layer of the electronic tag is arranged to be adhered is an interior surface inside a vehicle.

11. A tamper resistant electronic tag, comprising:

a protective card;

an integrated circuit attached to the protective card;

a first substrate layer having a first side and a second side retaining a first electronic element, wherein the first side of the first substrate layer is arranged to be adhered to a surface by a first adhesive layer, whereupon the protective card is adhered to the surface; and

,

a second substrate layer having a first side and a second side retaining a second electronic element operatively coupled to the first electronic element, wherein the first side of the second substrate layer is adhered to the second side of the first substrate layer by a second adhesive layer, and the second electronic element is operatively attached to the integrated circuit;

wherein the adhesion between the first substrate layer and the surface when the first substrate layer is adhered thereto is stronger than the adhesion between the protective card and the surface, and

wherein the second adhesive layer is stronger than the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element; and

wherein said first and second electronic elements form a passive circuit component and when said first substrate layer is attached to said surface by said first adhesive layer, an attempt to remove the tag from said surface results in at least one of;

said integrated circuit becoming operatively detached from said second electronic element, or said second substrate layer becoming separated from said first substrate layer so as to damage said operative coupling between said first and second electronic elements, damaging said passive circuit component.

12. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein when the protective card is removed from the surface after having been adhered thereto, the first and second substrate layers remain with the surface and the integrated circuit is removed with the protective card, thereby severing the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element.

13. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the protective card has a first side that contains a recess and the integrated circuit is located within the recess.

14. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the protective card contains a hole and the integrated circuit is located within the hole.

15. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the first substrate layer is opaque.

16. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the first side of the first substrate layer comprises a material on which graphics and text can be printed.

17. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the protective card has a first side and a second side and a label displaying information about the tag is adhered to the second side of the protective card.

18. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

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

19. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 11, wherein:

the surface to which the protective card of the electronic tag is arranged to be adhered is an interior surface inside a vehicle.

20. A tamper resistant electronic tag, comprising:

a protective card;

an integrated circuit attached to the protective card;

a first substrate layer retaining a first electronic element, wherein the first substrate layer is arranged to be adhered to a surface by a first adhesive layer, and is adhered to the protective card by a second adhesive layer; and

,

a second substrate layer retaining a second electronic element operatively coupled to the first electronic element, wherein the second substrate layer is adhered the first substrate layer by a third adhesive layer, and the second electronic element is operatively attached to the integrated circuit;

wherein the first adhesive layer is stronger than the second adhesive layer, and the third adhesive layer is stronger than the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element; and

wherein said first and second electronic elements form a passive circuit component and when said first substrate layer is attached to said surface by said first adhesive layer, an attempt to remove the tag from said surface results in at least one of;

said integrated circuit becoming operatively detached from said second electronic element, or said second substrate layer becoming separated from said first substrate layer so as to damage said operative coupling between said first and second electronic elements, damaging said passive circuit component.

21. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein when the protective card is removed from the surface after having been adhered thereto, the first and second substrate layers remain with the surface and the integrated circuit is removed with the protective card, thereby severing the operative attachment between the integrated circuit and the second electronic element.

22. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein the second adhesive layer has an annular shape with an opening and the second substrate layer fits in the opening of the annular second adhesive layer.

23. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

the protective card has first side that contains a recess and the integrated circuit is located within the recess.

24. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

the protective card contains a hole and the integrated circuit is located within the hole.

25. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

the first substrate layer is opaque.

26. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

the first side of the first substrate layer comprises a material on which graphics and text can be printed.

27. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

the protective card has a first side and a second side and a label displaying information about the tag is attached to the second side of the protective card.

28. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

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

29. The tamper resistant electronic tag of claim 20, wherein:

wherein the surface to which the first substrate layer of the electronic tag is arranged to be adhered is an interior surface inside a vehicle.