RFID tags with modifiable operating parameters

• US 7,633,394 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian James
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/719,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/568.1, 156/264, 156/256, 156/285, 156/302, 343/787, 343/895, 428/40.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• 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: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 Assembling formed circuit to base

Abstract

A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a facestock and a liner. The facestock includes an RFID circuit with an operating parameter, and the liner is releasably attached to the facestock such that when the liner is detached from the facestock, the operating parameter of the RFID circuit is desirably modified. The RFID tag may be configured so that the operating parameter that is modified is, for example, a read range or a propagation direction. The RFID circuit may include an RFID chip and an antenna, and the liner may include an electrical element that modifies a read range of the RFID circuit when the liner is attached to the facestock. More specifically, the electrical element may electrically couple with the antenna when the liner is attached to the facestock, thereby reducing the read range of the circuit. When the liner is removed, the antenna is decoupled from the electrical element and thereby enabled to operate at another read range, i.e., a specified operating range. Alternatively, the electrical element may couple with the antenna of the RFID circuit so that energy is propagated from the element in a direction that is orthogonal to a normal direction of propagation of the antenna.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for reading patient information comprising:

a facestock including at least one RFID circuit; and

a liner releasably attached to the facestock;

said liner including an electrical element for modifying an electrical characteristic of the RFID circuit such that the RFID circuit has a first read range when the liner is attached to the facestock, and a second read range when the liner is detached from the facestock;

wherein the liner is attached to the facestock when feeding the tag to a printer; and

wherein the liner is detached from the facestock when applying the tag to a patient medical folder or a patient test sample.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the first read range is less than about 1 meter, and the second read range is at least about 2 meters.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the first read range is less than about 10 centimeters, and the second read range is at least about 4 meters.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the RFID circuit includes an energy-radiating antenna.

5. The RFID tag of claim 4 wherein the electrical element inhibits the energy radiated by the antenna when the liner is attached to the facestock.

6. The RFID tag of claim 4 wherein the electrical element detunes the antenna when the liner is attached to the facestock.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the facestock comprises a label associated with a patient and the liner comprises a label sheet.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the facestock includes a plurality of the RFID circuits.

9. The RFID tag of claim 8 wherein the liner includes a plurality of electrical elements operably juxtaposed with each of the RFID circuits such that the electrical elements modify the electrical characteristics of the RFID circuits.

10. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the liner includes a transmission line that is operably juxtaposed with each of the RFID circuits such that the transmission line electrically couples with each of the RFID circuits to modify the electrical characteristic thereof.

11. A method of reading patient information comprising:

applying a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to a patient medical folder or a patient test sample;

said RFID tag comprising a facestock including at least one RFID circuit; and

a liner releasably attached to the facestock;

said liner including an electrical element for modifying an electrical characteristic of the RFID circuit such that the RFID circuit has a first read range when the liner is attached to the facestock, and a second read range when the liner is detached from the facestock;

wherein the liner is attached to the facestock when feeding the tag to a printer; and

wherein the liner is detached from the facestock when applying the tag to the patient medical folder or the patient test sample.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first read range is less than about 1 meter, and the second read range is at least about 2 meters.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first read range is less than about 10 centimeters, and the second read range is at least about 4 meters.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the RFID circuit includes an energy-radiating antenna.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the electrical element inhibits the energy radiated by the antenna when the liner is attached to the facestock.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the electrical element detunes the antenna when the liner is attached to the facestock.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the facestock comprises a label associated with a patient and the liner comprises a label sheet.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the facestock includes a plurality of the RFID circuits.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the liner includes a plurality of electrical elements operably juxtaposed with each of the RFID circuits such that the electrical elements modify the electrical characteristics of the RFID circuits.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the liner includes a transmission line that is operably juxtaposed with each of the RFID circuits such that the transmission line electrically couples with each of the RFID circuits to modify the electrical characteristic thereof.