Radio frequency data communications device with selectively removable antenna portion and method
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed on the flexible substrate comprising programmable storage adapted for storing a unique identification code; and
at least one antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals disposed on the flexible substrate and electrically coupled to the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit, and having portions configured for enabling the tag to be selectively modified to adjust the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag,wherein the receiver sensitivity is initially to radio frequency signals transmitted at a first distance from the RFID tag and after an adjustment by modifying the portions configured to be modified, the receiver sensitivity is to radio frequency signals transmitted at a second distance from the RFID tag that is less than one half the first distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable radio frequency data communications device has a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit with integrated circuitry, interrogation receiving circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit forming at least part of the integrated circuitry and configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit, an antenna electrically coupled to the interrogation receiving circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit, a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device, and at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to realize a desired receiver sensitivity of the communications device. Additionally, a method for tuning receiver sensitivity and/or transmitter sensitivity according to construction of the above device is disclosed.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:
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a flexible substrate; a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed on the flexible substrate comprising programmable storage adapted for storing a unique identification code; and at least one antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals disposed on the flexible substrate and electrically coupled to the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit, and having portions configured for enabling the tag to be selectively modified to adjust the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag, wherein the receiver sensitivity is initially to radio frequency signals transmitted at a first distance from the RFID tag and after an adjustment by modifying the portions configured to be modified, the receiver sensitivity is to radio frequency signals transmitted at a second distance from the RFID tag that is less than one half the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for manufacturing an adjustable sensitivity radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
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providing a flexible substrate; providing an antenna disposed on the flexible substrate for receiving radio frequency signals, the antenna initially configured for a first receiver sensitivity and having one or more portions configured for modification, wherein the first receiver sensitivity is to radio frequency signals transmitted at a first distance from an RFID tag; modifying the one or more portions configured for modification to adjust the first receiver sensitivity to a second receiver sensitivity, wherein the second receiver sensitivity is to radio frequency signals transmitted at a second distance from the RFID tag that is less than one half the first distance; and providing a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit on the flexible substrate, coupled to the antenna, and adapted for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, and having a programmable memory adapted to store a unique identifier, operable for storing and for transmitting a unique identification signal responsive to a received interrogation message. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for mass producing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with selective receiver sensitivity, comprising:
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providing a sheet of flexible material having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and having boundaries; defining a plurality of areas within the boundaries of the sheet of flexible material to define the RFID tags; disposing within each of the plurality of defined areas an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, the antenna having at least one portion configured to be physically modified to detune the antenna to reduce the receiver sensitivity of the respective RFID tag from a first receiver sensitivity to a second receiver sensitivity after the respective RFID tag is formed; disposing within each of the plurality of areas a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit having programmable memory for storing and retrieving identification information; electrically coupling the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit within each of the plurality of areas to the respective radio frequency signal antenna; and separating the plurality of areas containing the RFID tags from the sheet of flexible material and from one another to form individual RFID tags. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:
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a substrate of less than five one thousandths of an inch thick and having a first surface and a second opposing surface; conductive material patterned onto the first surface to form an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, wherein portions of the antenna are adapted to be physically modified to alter the effective length of the antenna; a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed on the first surface and electrically coupled to the antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, and having programmable memory to store identification information for transmission in response to a received radio frequency interrogatory signal; and visible printed information disposed on the second surface for indicating information pertaining to an article corresponding to the RFID tag; wherein the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag may be adjusted from an initial state of sensitivity to radio frequency signals transmitted from a first distance a reduced receiver sensitivity to radio frequency signals transmitted from a second distance of less than half the first distance, by physically modifying the portions of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for modifying an RFID tag, comprising:
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providing the RFID tag comprising a substrate of less than five one thousandths of an inch thick and having a first surface and a second opposing surface, conductive material patterned onto the first surface to form an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, wherein portions of the antenna are configured to be physically modified so as to alter the effective length of the antenna, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed on the first surface and electrically coupled to the antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, and having programmable memory to store identification information for transmission in response to a received radio frequency interrogatory signal; and physically modifying the portions of the antenna that are configured to be physically modified to shorten the effective length of the antenna so as to reduce the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag from an initial receiver sensitivity to a reduced receiver sensitivity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for modifying an RFID tag, comprising:
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providing the RFID tag comprising a substrate of less than five one thousandths of an inch thick and having a first surface and a second opposing surface, conductive material patterned onto the first surface to form an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, wherein portions of the antenna are configured to be physically modified so as to alter the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag from an initial receiver sensitivity to a reduced receiver sensitivity, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed on the first surface and electrically coupled to the antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, and having programmable memory to store identification information for transmission in response to a received radio frequency interrogatory signal; and physically modifying the portions of the antenna that are configured to be physically modified to reduce the receiver sensitivity of the RFID tag from the initial receiver sensitivity to the reduced receiver sensitivity. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification