Switching radio frequency identification (RFID) tags

• US 8,416,079 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Roesner, Bruce B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US12/477,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.4, 340/10.5, 340/10.1, 340/5.4, 340/572.1, 340/5.41, 340/5.62, 340/572.7, 200/600, 235/382, 235/600, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed switching RFID tags. In some implementations, the RFID system includes an RFID tag and a panel. The panel includes one or more contacts configured to move between a first position and a second position. The second position forms an electrical connection between the RFID tag and the one or more contacts to update a state of the RFID tag.

Claims

1. An RFID system comprising:

an RFID tag including an antenna affixed to a first panel; and

a second panel including a first portion of the panel with a first image, a second portion of the panel with a second image, and a metal element configured to move relative to the RFID tag affixed to the first panel between a first position and a second position, the metal element in the second position forms electrical connections with a first portion of the antenna and a second portion of the antenna, and the second position is configured to substantially conceal the first portion of the second panel with the first image while the second portion of the second panel with the second image is visible.

2. The RFID system of claim 1, the electrical connections formed in the second position short the antenna.

3. The RFID system of claim 1, the electrical connections formed by a capacitive coupling between the metal element and the first portion and the second portion of the antenna.

4. The RFID system of claim 1, the electrical connections form a short between the first portion of the antenna and the second portion of the antenna to deactivate the RFID tag.

5. The RFID system of claim 1, the metal element comprising metal foil.

6. The RFID system of claim 1, further comprises a case including the first panel and configured to enclose at least a portion of the second panel, the RFID tag affixed to the case.

7. The RFID system of claim 1, further comprises a case including the first panel and configured to slide relative to the second panel to a plurality of different positions, each position associated with a different tag state, and the RFID tag affixed to the case.

8. The RFID system of claim 1, at least of one of the first visual indicator or the second visual indicator includes one or more colors to visually identify a current state of the RFID tag.

19. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a first shape with a first color and the second image comprises a second shape with a second color different from the first color.

9. A method, comprising:

wireless communicating with an RFID reader in accordance with a first set of operating parameters associated with a first physical configuration of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag includes an antenna, is affixed to a first panel and is movable relative to a second panel including a first portion of the second panel with a first image and a second portion of the second panel with a second image, the first physical configuration configured to substantially conceal the second image while the first image is visible; and

in response to at least updating the RFID tag to a second physical configuration, updating operating conditions of the RFID tag to a second set of operating parameters, wherein the second panel includes a metal element configured, in the second physical configuration, to form electrical connections with a first portion of the antenna and a second portion of the antenna, and the second physical configuration is configured to substantially conceal the first image while the second image is visible.

10. The method of claim 9, the electrical connections formed in the second physical configuration short the antenna.

11. The method of claim 9, the electrical connections includes capacitively coupling the first portion of the antenna and the second portion of the antenna.

12. The method of claim 9, the electrical connections form a short between the first portion of the antenna and the second portion of the antenna to deactivate the RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 9, the metal element includes a metal foil.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag is affixed to the first panel of a case configured to enclose at least a portion of the second panel.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein an update to the second configuration includes sliding a cover including the first panel relative to the second panel to a plurality of different positions, each position associated with a different tag state.

16. The method of claim 9, at least of one of the first visual indicator or the second visual indicator includes one or more colors to visually identify a current state of the RFID tag.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the first image comprises a first shape with a first color and the second image comprises a second shape with a second color different from the first color.

17. A system, comprising:

a means for wireless communicating with an RFID reader in accordance with a first set of operating parameters associated with a first physical configuration of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag includes an antenna, is affixed to a first panel, and is movable relative to a second panel including a first portion of the second panel with a first image and a second portion of the second panel with a second image, the first physical configuration configured to substantially conceal the second image while the first image is visible; and

in response to at least updating the RFID tag to a second physical configuration, a means for updating operating conditions of the RFID tag to a second set of operating parameters, wherein the second panel includes a metal element configured, in the second physical configuration, to form electrical connections with a first portion of the antenna and a second portion of the antenna, and the second physical configuration is configured to substantially conceal the first image while the second image is visible.

18. The system of claim 17, at least of one of the first visual indicator or the second visual indicator includes one or more colors to visually identify a current state of the RFID tag.