Radio frequency identification device and method

• US 7,649,463 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/848,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/825.27, 340/825.29, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• 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 19/07749 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing an enclosed transceiver, such as a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag. Structurally, in one embodiment, the tag comprises an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an RF antenna mounted on a thin film substrate powered by a thin film battery. A variety of antenna geometries are compatible with the above tag construction. These include monopole antennas, dipole antennas, dual dipole antennas, a combination of dipole and loop antennas. Further, in another embodiment, the antennas are positioned either within the plane of the thin film battery or superjacent to the thin film battery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

loading a plurality of flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) devices into a dispenser, the RFID devices removably attached to a backing, wherein each of the RFID devices comprises a first flexible sheet having an antenna substantially disposed on the first sheet and a single integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna, the IC comprising a memory configured to store data and a transceiver configured to receive a signal and to provide the data in response to the signal; and

dispensing a flexible RFID device of the plurality of flexible RFID devices through an opening of the dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of each of the RFID devices is of a substantially uniform thickness.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises:

a second flexible sheet, wherein at least a portion of the second sheet is affixed to at least a portion of the first sheet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second sheet of each of the RFID devices is of a substantially uniform thickness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises an adhesive material to affix each device to a respective article and to affix each device to the backing.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with each of the RFID devices using a spread spectrum signal in the range of 200 MHz to 10 GHz.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the backing is in a roll format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a shield to substantially prevent the plurality of flexible RFID devices from receiving a signal.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information includes a bar code.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising affixing each of the flexible RFID devices to a respective article.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices about the respective article.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each respective article is airport baggage.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising testing each of the RFID devices.

15. A method comprising:

removably mounting a plurality of flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) devices on a backing, wherein each of the RFID devices comprises;

a first flexible sheet,

an antenna disposed on the first sheet, and

an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna, the IC comprising a memory configured to store data and a transceiver configured to receive a signal and to provide the data in response to the signal; and

storing the backing with the RFID devices in a cache for dispensing the RFID devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cache is configured to dispense the RFID devices through an opening.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises a second flexible sheet;

and at least a portion of the second sheet is affixed to at least a portion of the first sheet.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first sheet of each of the RFID devices is of a substantially uniform thickness;

and the second sheet of each of the RFID devices is of a substantially uniform thickness.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises an adhesive material for removably mounting to the backing and for affixing to an article.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the backing is in a roll format.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the cache comprises a shield to substantially prevent the RFID devices from receiving a signal while the RFID devices are stored in the cache.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising testing each of the RFID devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising placing ground plates on both sides of a sheet of the RFID devices to shield each of the RFID devices in a shielded cavity to test each of the RFID devices.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the testing comprises testing using a wavelength to render leakage through a thickness between the plates negligible.

25. A method comprising:

providing a set of flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) devices within a dispenser for dispensing the RFID devices, the RFID devices removably mounted to a backing, wherein each RFID device comprises an antenna and a single integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna, the IC comprising a memory configured to store data and a transceiver configured to receive a signal and to provide the data in response to the signal; and

dispensing from the dispenser a flexible RFID device of the plurality of flexible RFID devices.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the antenna of each RFID device is disposed on a first sheet of a substantially uniform thickness and wherein each RFID device further comprises a second sheet of a substantially uniform thickness laminated to at least a portion of the first sheet.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises an adhesive material to affix each device to a respective article and to affix each device to the backing.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the dispensing further comprises separating, via the dispenser, the flexible RFID device from the backing.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicating with each of the RFID devices using a spread spectrum signal in the range of 200 MHz to 10 GHz.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the backing is in a roll format.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the information includes a bar code.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising affixing each of the flexible RFID devices to a respective article.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices about the respective article.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each respective article is airport baggage.

36. The method of claim 25, further comprising testing each of the RFID devices.

37. A method comprising:

providing, within a dispenser, a set of flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) devices mounted on a roll of backing material, the dispenser for holding the roll and dispensing the RFID devices, wherein each RFID device comprises an antenna and a single integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna, the IC comprising a memory configured to store data and a transceiver configured to receive a signal and to provide the data in response to the signal, wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises an adhesive material to affix each device to a respective article and to affix each device to the backing; and

dispensing from the dispenser a flexible RFID device of the plurality of flexible RFID devices.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the antenna of each of the RFID devices is disposed on a first sheet of a substantially uniform thickness and wherein each of the RFID devices further comprises a second sheet of a substantially uniform thickness laminated to at least a portion of the first sheet.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the dispensing further comprises separating, via the dispenser, the RFID device from the backing material.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising affixing each of the flexible RFID devices to a respective article.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising printing information on each of the flexible RFID devices about the respective article.