Detecting tampered with radio frequency identification tags

• US 8,427,316 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bielas, Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US12/052,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 343/718, 343/878, 343/867
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for tracking tampered with RFID tags. In some implementations, an RFID tag includes a tearable substrate including at least a portion of an RFID circuit. The portion of the RFID circuit is substantially destroyable in response to at least an attempt to remove the tag from a surface. In addition, the RFID includes an adhesive layer adjacent at least a portion of the tearable substrate and configured to affix the tag to the surface.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a plastic substrate having a bottom surface;

a fibrous substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface and including at least a portion of an RFID circuit on the bottom surface, wherein the RFID circuit is diffused into the fibrous substrate;

a chip directly connected to the portion of the RFID circuit on the bottom surface of the fibrous substrate and affixed to the bottom surface of the fibrous substrate;

a first adhesive layer adjacent the bottom surface of the plastic substrate and the top layer of the fibrous substrate and configured to affix the plastic substrate to the fibrous layer; and

a second adhesive layer adjacent the portion of the RFID circuit and the chip and configured to affix the portion of the RFID circuit and the chip to an object surface, wherein the RFID circuit is substantially destroyed in response to at least an attempt to remove the fibrous substrate from the object surface.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit includes a metallic ink.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit includes a tuning loop such that the tuning loop is substantially destroyed in response to at least an attempt to remove the tag.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit is destroyed in response to at least shearing substantially parallel to a plane of the fibrous substrate.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit is destroyed in response to at least shearing substantially perpendicular to a plane of the fibrous substrate.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a release liner affixed to at least a portion of a surface of the fibrous substrate using the second adhesive layer.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit is at least partially diffused into the fibrous substrate using one or more thermal processes.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the chip comprises a memory connected to the RFID circuit using thermal compression.

9. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit is passive.

10. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is inoperable when the portion of the RFID circuit is destroyed.

11. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the portion of the RFID circuit is destroyed when the substrate is torn during an attempt to remove the tag.

12. A method of manufacturing a Break On Removal (BOR) tag, comprising:

printing a least a portion of an RFID circuit on a bottom surface of a fiber material;

heating the fiber material for a period of time to diffuse at least a portion of the RFID circuit into the bottom surface of the fiber material;

affixing a top surface of the fiber material to a bottom surface of a plastic substrate using a first adhesive layer;

affixing a memory chip the bottom surface of the fiber material;

directly connecting the memory chip to the at least portion of RFID circuit diffused into the bottom surface of the fiber material; and

affixing a release liner to the RFID circuit and the chip on the fiber material using a second adhesive layer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the portion of the RFID circuit is printed using flexography.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the RFID circuit is printed using conductive ink.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the fiber material is paper.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the fiber material is heated to 100°

C. or greater.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising affixing a facing material adjacent the RFID circuit using an adhesive.