RFID device with changeable characteristics

• US 8,199,016 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., Sasaki, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/116,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.6, 340/539.26, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 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 19/07345 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 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16 of an individual bump connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

An RFID device includes a first, relatively permanent portion and a second alterable or inactivatable portion. Upon the occurrence of some predetermined event, the second portion and/or its coupling to the first portion is physically altered, inactivating it. The first portion may itself be an antennaless RFID device that may be read at short range, and the second portion may be an antenna that, when coupled to the first portion, substantially increases the range at which the first portion may be read. The second portion may be configured to be altered or inactivated by any of a variety of predetermined events, such as involving physical, chemical or electrical forces, performed either on the RFID device, or upon an object to which the RFID device is coupled.

Claims

1. A method of associating information with an object, the method comprising:

coupling an RFID device to the object, the RFID device having a chip and an antenna, wherein the RFID device is configured to change electrical characteristics during expected use of the object when the chip is separated from at least a portion of the antenna and continue functioning in a short read range; and

transferring the object to a user.

2. The method of associating information with an object as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of coupling the RFID device to the object includes adhering the RFID device to the object.

3. The method of associating information with an object as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of coupling the RFID device to the object includes attaching the RFID device to the object.

4. The method of associating information with an object as recited in claim 1, including a further step of providing a substrate for the RFID having a first portion and a second portion, prior to the step of coupling.

5. The method of associating information with an object as recited in claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion are delineated from one another by a visual indicator.

6. A method of protecting consumer privacy, comprising

providing an RFID device having a first portion and a second portion, and an object;

coupling the RFID device to the object; and

removing one of the first portion and the second portion from the RFID device;

wherein the removal of one of the first portion and the second portion results in a change of electrical characteristics for the RFID device from an expanded read range to function in a short read range and the RFID continues to function in an altered state.

7. The method of protecting consumer privacy as recited in claim 6, wherein the first portion and the second portion are delineated by a visible indicator.

8. The method of protecting consumer privacy as recited in claim 6, wherein the visual indicator is selected from the group consisting of perforations, a score, a severing line, a printed line, and combinations thereof.

9. A consumer privacy protection RFID device, comprising:

an RFID device having a first portion, a second portion, an antenna, and an integrated circuit connected to the antenna, with the antenna disposed on each of the first and portion and the second portion;

wherein;

the integrated circuit has a short read range when the integrated circuit is not connected to one of the first and second portions of the antenna, and an expanded read range when the integrated circuit is connected to both the first and second portions of the antenna, the RFID device is configured to be attached to an object, and the RFID device is encoded with information related to the object, and

when the first portion is separated from the second portion, the read range of the RFID device is altered from the expanded read range to function in the short read range.

10. The consumer privacy protection RFID device as recited in claim 9, wherein the short read range is less than about 15 mm.

11. The consumer privacy protection RFID device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first portion of the RFID device is characterized as having the short read range.

12. The consumer privacy protection RFID device as recited in claim 9, wherein the RFID device includes a strap.

13. The consumer privacy protection RFID device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first portion and the second portion are delineated by a visible indicator.

14. The consumer privacy protection RFID device as recited in claim 13, wherein the visual indicator is selected from the group consisting of perforations, a score, a severing line, a printed line, and combinations thereof.