Radio frequency identification device with visual indicator
First Claim
1. A method of using a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, the method comprising:
- disabling normal operation of the device, thereby placing the device in a disabled state; and
a visual indicator providing a visual indication on a display of the device, wherein the visual indication indicates the disabled state; and
wherein the visual indicator selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material under the display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID device includes a chip, an antenna operatively coupled to the chip, and a visual indicator operatively coupled to the chip. The visual indicator provides a visual indication of an operative state of the device. The visual indication may be human readable and/or machine readable, and may provide visual indication that is dependent on a change in an operative state of the device. The operative state that triggers the visual indication may include a state in which the chip has temporarily or permanently been rendered inoperative or disabled, that is, in which the chip no longer responds to, or otherwise interacts with, ordinary incoming RF signals such as from a device reader. The visual indicator may be included in a display that functions by any of a variety of suitable mechanisms, such as by use of electrochromic materials, thermochromic materials, liquid crystals, or chemically-reactive materials.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of using a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, the method comprising:
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disabling normal operation of the device, thereby placing the device in a disabled state; and a visual indicator providing a visual indication on a display of the device, wherein the visual indication indicates the disabled state; and wherein the visual indicator selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material under the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of using a radio frequency identification (RFID) device for merchandise validation, comprising the steps of:
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providing an RFID device, the RFID device including a chip, an antenna operatively connected to the chip and a display operatively connected to the chip; connecting the RFID device to an item of merchandise; sending signals to the RFID device to display a visual indication; and displaying the visual indication relating to a status of the item of merchandise; and wherein a visual indicator of the display selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material under the display. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of using a radio frequency identification (RFID) device for merchandise validation, comprising the steps of:
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providing an RFID device, the RFID device including a chip, an antenna operatively connected to the chip and a display operatively connected to the chip; placing the RFID device on a carrier label or tag having printed matter so that the printed matter is under the RFID device display; connecting the RFID device to an item of merchandise; wherein the display includes a visual indicator that provides a visual indication of an operative state of the RFID device; sending at least a first signal to the RFID device to display the visual indication of a first operative state of the RFID device; and the visual indicator selectively displaying or obscuring the underlying printed matter of the carrier label or tag under the display. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification