Monitoring device for detecting opening of packaging

• US 7,564,354 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Law, Douglas Alan, Sremaniak, Shawn Konrad, Eren, Selcuk Suat, Roberts, Paul Allen, Jaeger, Brian Jules
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/320,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/572, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting whether a device has been opened. A first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is installed in the package, typically during manufacturing. A first component is included in the first RFID tag. The first component modifies a power source to the first RFID tag in response to the package being opened after the first RFID tag is installed. The first RFID tag indicates a first event in response to the power supply being modified.

Claims

1. A method for detecting whether a package has been opened, said method comprising:

installing a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in said package;

including a first removable disabler wire in said first RFID tag;

modifying, utilizing said first removable disabler wire, power to said first RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said first RFID tag is installed;

indicating, utilizing said first RFID tag, a first alert in response to said power being modified;

said first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a first back, said first back including a first removable tear-away portion and a first remaining back portion;

securing said first tear-away portion only to a first surface of said package;

securing said first remaining back portion only to a second surface of said package;

securing said first removable disabler wire to said first tear-away portion;

removing said first tear-away portion and said first removable disabler wire from said first back in response to said package being opened, wherein said first remaining back portion remains secured to said second surface after said package has been opened;

modifying said power in response to said first tear-away portion and said first removable disabler wire being removed;

installing a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in said package;

including a second removable enabler wire in said second RFID tag;

using said second removable enabler wire to modify power to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

indicating, utilizing said second RFID tag, a second alert in response to power to said second RFID tag being modified;

said second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a second back, said second back including a second removable tear-away portion and a second remaining back portion;

securing said second tear-away portion to said first tear-away portion;

securing said second remaining back portion to said first remaining back portion;

securing said second removable enabler wire to said second tear-away portion;

removing said first tear-away portion from said first back and said second tear-away portion from said second back in response to said package being opened;

modifying power to said first RFID tag in response to said first tear-away portion and said first removable disabler wire being removed; and

modifying power to said second RFID tag in response to said second tear-away portion and said second removable enabler wire being removed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

uniquely identifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

preventing said first RFID tag from transmitting said first RFID identifier prior to said power being modified; and

transmitting, by said first RFID tag, said first RFID identifier in response to said first removable disabler wire being removed from said RFID tag.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

uniquely identifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

uniquely identifying said second RFID tag utilizing a second unique RFID identifier;

transmitting, by said first RFID tag, said first RFID identifier prior to said power being modified to said first RFID tag;

preventing said second RFID tag from transmitting said second RFID identifier prior to said power being modified to said second RFID tag;

preventing said first RFID tag from transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said power being modified to said second RFID tag; and

transmitting, by said second RFID tag, said second RFID identifier in response to said power being modified to said second RFID tag.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag including a first microchip that includes logic of said first RFID tag;

uniquely indentifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

preventing said first microchip from receiving power utilizing said first removable disabler wire, wherein said first removable disabler wire is a tear-away wire that causes a short circuit around said microchip when said first removable disabler wire is present, and wherein said first removable disabler wire is present prior to said package being opened, said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier while said first removable disabler wire is present;

said second RFID tag including a second microchip that includes logic of said second RFID tag;

uniquely identifying said second RFID tag utilizing a second unique RFID identifier;

connecting said second microchip to power utilizing said second removable enabler wire that is included in said second RFID tag, wherein said second removable enabler wire is a tear-away wire that connects said second microchip to power when said second removable enabler wire is present, and wherein said second removable enabler wire is present prior to said package being opened, said second RFID tag transmitting said second RFID identifier while said second removable enabler wire is present; and

tearing said second tear-away portion away from said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said second RFID tag ceasing to transmit said second RFID identifier in response to said package being opened.