Method, system, and apparatus for RFID removal detection

• US 8,884,764 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/034,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/551, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• 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: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

According to one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus, system and method for forming RFID labels is disclosed. The RFID labels can include an RFID chip, at least one antenna element and at least one conductive material. The RFID chip may then transmit desired signals based upon a coupling of the conductive material to the RFID chip.

Claims

1. A tamper indicating RFID label, comprising:

an RFID chip having at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

at least one antenna coupled to the RFID chip; and

a conductive material forming a loop coupled to the RFID chip that influences a response signal sent from the RFID label when it is read such that when the conductive loop changes from a closed path to an open path one or more digital bits are altered, and

wherein the conductive loop is configured such that,

a first end of the conductive loop is coupled to the first terminal of the RFID chip,

a second end of the conductive loop is coupled to the second terminal of the RFID chip, and

portions of the conductive loop near the first end of the conductive loop and the second end of the conductive loop are configured such that, between the portions, there is non-straight line access from an area outside the RFID label to a gap between the first terminal and the second terminal of the RFID chip.

2. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein the conductive loop is further configured such that exactly one line of the conductive loop substantially encircles the RFID chip and at least one antenna.

3. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is coupled to the RFID chip in such a manner that a cut or tear of the RFID label would sever the conductive loop prior to reaching the RFID chip.

4. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip transmits a first signal when interrogated and the conductive loop is intact and a second signal when interrogated and the conductive loop has been tampered.

5. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein portions of the conductive loop preceding the first end of the conductive loop and the second end of the conductive loop are arranged in a substantially zigzagged pattern.

6. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is a plurality of inter-digital fingers coupled to the RFID chip.

7. The RFID label of claim 6, wherein the inter-digital fingers have an aggressive adhesive disposed on a first side and a weak adhesive disposed on a second side.

8. The RFID label of claim 7, wherein the aggressive adhesive couples the inter-digital fingers to a product and the weak adhesive couples the inter-digital fingers to the RFID chip.

9. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is a pin, a first conduct layer and a second conductive layer.

10. The RFID label of claim 9, further comprising a clutch that couples the pin to the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the pin and the clutch further couple the RFID label to a product.

11. The RFID label of claim 1, further comprising an RF block coupled to the conductive loop.

12. The RFID label of claim 1, further comprising at least one capacitor coupled to the conductive loop.

13. The RFID label of claim 1, further comprising at least one inductor coupled to the conductive loop.

14. The RFID label of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conductive loop is thinned.

15. A method of preventing tampering to products having RFID tags, comprising:

sending a first signal from an RFID chip of an RFID label when a coupling between the RFID chip and a conductive material is intact, the RFID label includes

the RFID chip,

at least one antenna coupled to the RFID chip, and

the conductive material that forms a loop that is coupled to the RFID chip at a first terminal and a second terminal of the RFID chip, the loop configured to provide only non-direct access to the RFID chip from outside the RFID label and only between the first and second terminals of the RFID chip; and

sending a second signal from the RFID chip when the coupling between the RFID chip and at least a portion of the conductive material is not intact such that when the conductive loop changes, from a closed path to an open path, one or more digital bits are altered.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second signal is sent due to breaking, tearing or cutting of the conductive material.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the conductive loop encircles the RFID chip.

18. A method of forming a tamper-resistant RFID tag, comprising:

disposing an RFID chip on a substrate;

disposing at least a first antenna element on the substrate;

coupling the at least first antenna element to the RFID chip;

disposing a conductive loop on the substrate; and

connecting a first portion of the conductive loop to a first terminal on the RFID chip and connecting a second portion of the conductive loop to a second terminal on the RFID chip in such a manner that there is no straight-line access from an area outside the RFID tag to the RFID chip, and access is available to the RFID tag only via a gap between the first terminal and the second terminal, and

wherein the RFID chip and conductive loop are configured such that when the conductive loop changes from a closed path to an open path one or more digital bits are altered.