Reversibly deactivating a radio frequency identification data tag

• US 7,948,381 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wagner, Eric Francis, Onderko, John Christian, Chen, Fung-Jou, Velazquez, Herb Flores, Lindsay, Jeffrey Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/613,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/539.11, 340/665, 340/668, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies

Abstract

Reversibly activating or deactivating a radio frequency identification (RFID) data tag comprising a circuit responsive to an environmental factor. An RFID tag includes an RFID chip for storing an RFID code, an antenna for communicating a radio frequency (RF) signal, and an environmentally sensitive switch.

Claims

1. An article having an RFID circuit, the RFID circuit comprising:

an RFID chip;

an antenna configured to communicate with an RFID scanner via radio frequency signals;

a connection joining the antenna and the RFID chip; and

an environmentally sensitive switch in communication with the RFID chip, wherein an environmental factor selectively controlled by a user is configured to change the switch between a first state and a second state different than the first state, and wherein the switch comprises a first member and a second member movable relative to the first member between at least two different relative orientation states, and wherein the switch is responsive to the relative orientation state of the first and second members, and further wherein scanning of the RFID circuit is substantially disabled when the switch is in the first state, and enabled when the switch is in the second state.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the switch is a mechanical switch responsive to applied pressure.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises one or more of the following:

a load sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a contact sensor, and an orientation sensor.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device having a gravity-sensitive circuit.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is foldable.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the article comprises a passport.

7. An article having an RFID circuit, the RFID circuit comprising:

an RFID chip;

an antenna configured to communicate with an RFID scanner via radio frequency signals;

a connection joining the antenna and the RFID chip; and

an environmentally sensitive switch in communication with the RFID chip, wherein the switch is a touch sensitive switch responsive to contact with skin to change the switch between a first state and a second state different than the first state, and wherein scanning of the RFID circuit is substantially disabled when the switch is in the first state, and enabled when the switch is in the second state.

8. An article having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto, the RFID tag comprising personal data related to a user, the RFID tag being responsive to an environmental condition, the RFID tag comprising:

an RFID chip configured to store an RFID code;

an antenna configured to communicate a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

a switch coupling the RFID chip to the antenna, wherein the environmental condition closes the switch to enable the RFID chip and the antenna to communicate the RFID code via the RF signal, wherein the switch is in a first region of the article, and wherein the switch is responsive to the proximity of an element in a second region of the article, the second region being foldably movable relative to the first region.

9. The article of claim 8, wherein the article comprises a package including paperboard or corrugated board.

10. The article of claim 8, wherein the switch is normally off but can be temporarily activated upon demand by an action of the user to modify the environmental condition.

11. A personal protective article, comprising:

an RFID tag in an RFID circuit, wherein the RFID circuit comprises a switch responsive to a condition related to a manner in which the article is worn by a user, the switch comprising a first member movable relative to a second member between at least two different relative orientation states, and wherein the switch is responsive to the relative orientation state of the first and second members;

wherein when the article is worn in a proper orientation the switch is on and the RFID tag is activated, and when the article is worn in an improper orientation or not worn, the switch is off and the RFID tag is deactivated.

12. The personal protective article of claim 11 wherein the article comprises safety glasses.

13. A face mask, comprising:

a filtration section;

means for attaching the face mask to a user; and

an RFID tag coupled to at least one of the filtration section or the means for attaching, the RFID tag having an RFID circuit with a tension-sensitive switch, wherein the switch is configured to move from an open state to a closed state upon application of a suitable force applied to the means for attaching, and wherein the switch comprises a movable conductive terminal coupled to the means for attaching;

an antenna configured to communicate radio frequency signals with an external RFID scanner; and

a flexible connection joining the antenna and the conductive terminal.

14. The face mask of claim 13, wherein:

the face mask includes a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side; and

the means for attaching comprises an elastic strap having a first end coupled to a first attachment zone at the first side of the face mask and a second end coupled to a second attachment zone at the second side of the face mask, and wherein at least one of the first attachment zone and the second attachment zone includes the tension-sensitive switch.