Methods and apparatuses for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags configured to allow antenna trim

• US 7,812,728 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Cathey, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/845,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 343/723, 343745-748, 343/750, 343/823, 343/868
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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 19/0726 the arrangement including a circuit for tuning the resonance frequency of an antenna on the record carrier
• 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: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A radio frequency communication device and method are disclosed. In one aspect, an RFID tag includes an adjustable antenna having a main segment and one or more additional segments that are short relative to the main segment; and the antenna is adjustable to electrically isolate one or more of the additional segments from the main segment. In another aspect, an RFID tag includes an antenna having a first section and a second section short relative to the first section; and the antenna is adjustable to disconnect the first and second sections from each other at a predetermined location. In a further aspect, an RFID tag includes an antenna having a first section and a second section; and the first section is adjustable to decrease the first length of the first section and the second section adjustable to increase the second length of the second section.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

communications circuitry; and

an adjustable antenna coupled to the communications circuitry, the antenna having a main segment and one or more additional segments, at least one of the one or more additional segments being short relative to the main segment to follow a layout of the main segment, the antenna being adjustable to electrically isolate one or more of the one or more additional segments from the main segment.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the one or more additional segments are configured to be electrically isolated through the use of an electrical current.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the one or more additional segments are configured to be electrically isolated through the use of a fuse.

4. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a first section of an antenna having a layout;

a second section of the antenna, the second section of the antenna being short relative to the first section of the antenna to follow the layout, the antenna being adjustable to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at a predetermine location; and

an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the antenna.

5. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein at least one fuse is located between the second section and the first section.

6. The RFID tag of claim 5, wherein the second section comprises one or more additional segments and one or more antifuses located between each of the one or more additional segments and the first section.

7. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the second section comprises one or more additional segments connected in series.

8. The RFID tag of claim 4, wherein the second section comprises one or more additional segments connected in parallel.

9. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

an integrated circuit; and

an antenna electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the antenna having a first section and a second section, the first section being electrically adjustable to decrease a first length of the first section, the second section being electrically adjustable to increase a second length of the second section.

10. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the first section comprises one or more segments interconnected via one or more fuses.

11. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in parallel.

12. The RFID tag of claim 10, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in series.

13. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the second section comprises one or more segments interconnected via one or more antifuses.

14. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in parallel.

15. The RFID tag of claim 13, wherein the one or more segments are electrically coupled to a main section of the antenna in series.

16. A method of forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

providing a substrate; and

providing an antenna on the substrate, the antenna comprising one or more fuses.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in parallel via the one or more fuses.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in series via the one or more fuses.

19. A method of forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method

comprising:

providing a substrate; and

providing an antenna on the substrate, the antenna comprising one or more antifuses.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in parallel via the one or more antifuses.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna includes one or more sections connected in series via the one or more antifuses.

22. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a memory to store an identification code identifying an object to which the RFID tag is attached;

a controller coupled with the memory;

a receiver coupled with the controller to receive wireless radio frequency interrogation signals from a reader;

a transmitter coupled with the controller to send the identification code, via wireless radio frequency signals, in response to the interrogation signals from the reader; and

an antenna coupled with at least one of the receiver and the transmitter, the antenna having;

a first section having a layout, and

a second section, the second section of the antenna being short relative to the first section of the antenna and following the layout of the first section of the antenna, the antenna being adjustable to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at a predetermine location.

23. The RFID tag of claim 22, wherein the antenna has at least one element, selected from the group consisting of a fuse and an antifuse, at the predetermined location.

24. The RFID tag of claim 22, wherein the antenna comprises at least one of a dipole antenna, a loop antenna, and a coil antenna.

25. The RFID tag of claim 22, wherein RFID tag further comprises a wake-up circuit.

26. The RFID tag of claim 22, wherein the RFID tag is configured to operate using power drawn from radio frequency (RF) energy transmitted from the reader.

27. The RFID tag of claim 22, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

28. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a processor;

at least one transmitter coupled to the processor to wirelessly provide radio frequency (RF) energy and interrogation signals;

at least one receiver coupled to the processor to receive responses to the interrogation signals;

a plurality of RFID tags attached to a plurality of objects, each of the RFID tags comprising;

an antenna having a first section and a second section, the second section of the antenna being short relative to the first section of the antenna to follow a layout of the first section of the antenna, the antenna being adjustable to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at a predetermine location;

a memory storing an identifier indentifying a respective object;

a controller coupled with the memory;

a receiver coupled with the antenna and the controller to receive the interrogation signals; and

a transmitter coupled with the antenna and the controller to transmit the identifier to the reader in accordance with the interrogation signals.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the antenna has at least one element, selected from the group consisting of a fuse and an antifuse, at the predetermined location.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein each of the RFID tags is configured to operate using power drawn from the RF energy transmitted by the at least one transmitter.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the antenna is selected from a group consisting of a dipole antenna, a loop antenna, and a coil antenna.

32. A method, comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having an antenna, the antenna comprising a first section and a second section, the second section of the antenna being short relative to the first section of the antenna to follow a layout of the first section of the antenna, the antenna being adjustable to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at a predetermine location; and

adjusting the antenna to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at the predetermine location.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the antenna comprise a fuse at the predetermined location;

and the adjusting comprises blowing the fuse.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

attaching the RFID tag to an object, wherein the RFID tag comprises a memory to store an identification code to identify the object.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

interrogating the RFID tag via wireless radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein the RFID tag comprises a receiver to receive the RF signals and a transmitter to provide the identification code in accordance with the RF signals; and

wherein the interrogating comprises providing radio frequency energy to power the RFID tag.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the adjusting is to tune the antenna to a resonant frequency.

37. A method, comprising:

transmitting wireless radio frequency interrogation signals from a reader to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to an object, the RFID tag storing an identifier of the object, the RFID tag having an antenna comprising a first section and a second section, the second section of the antenna being short relative to the first section of the antenna to follow a layout of the first section of the antenna, the antenna being adjustable to disconnect the first section and the second section from each other at a predetermine location, the RFID further having a receiver to receive the interrogation signals and a transmitter to provide the identifier according to the interrogation signals;

receiving the identifier from the RFID tag; and

disconnecting the first section and the second section from each other at the predetermine location.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the antenna comprise a fuse at the predetermined location;

and the disconnecting comprises blowing the fuse.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

attaching the RFID tag to the object.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing wireless radio frequency energy to power the RFID tag at least during a time period in which the transmitter provides the identifier.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the disconnecting is to tune the antenna to a resonant frequency.