Capacitive coupling of an RFID tag with a touch screen device acting as a reader

• US 9,256,773 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmaTech Group Limited (Paragon Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Féinics AmaTech Teoranta (Paragon Group Limited)
• Inventors: Finn, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US13/858,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/146 in combination with capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Capacitive coupling of an RFID tag with a touch screen device acting as an RFID reader, and methods to produce a capacitive coupling tag. A capacitive coupling tag, which communicates at near field distance with a host computing device by using the touch screen display of the host when the tag is placed on the touch screen or held in contact in close proximity to the touch screen by a person acting as a ground electrode and thereby causing a difference in electrical potential. A capacitive coupling tag which operates with or without a chip.

Claims

1. An RFID tag comprising:

an inductive coupling antenna combined with a capacitive coupling antenna and energizing a single RFID integrated circuit when in an electrostatic field or an electromagnetic field generated by a touch screen device or an RFID reader.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in series to the integrated circuit.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein:

the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in parallel to the integrated circuit.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

photovoltaic elements on the tag.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

touch electrodes on the tag.

6. The RFID tag of claim 5, further comprising:

shielding on some of the electrodes which may be scratched off.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a see-through area on the tag.

8. An RFID tag comprising:

an inductive coupling antenna combined with a capacitive coupling antenna and energizing a single RFID integrated circuit when in an electrostatic field or an electromagnetic field generated by a touch screen device or an RFID reader;

wherein end portions of an inductive wire antenna are un-insulated, and connections to an interposer or antenna substrate comprises a low resistance connection, enhancing the electrical performance.

9. The RFID tag of claim 8, wherein the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in series to the integrated circuit.

10. The RFID tag of claim 8, wherein the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in parallel to the integrated circuit.

11. The RFID tag of claim 8, further comprising:

photovoltaic elements on the tag.

12. The RFID tag of claim 8, further comprising:

touch electrodes on the tag.

13. The RFID tag of claim 12, further comprising:

shielding on some of the electrodes which may be scratched off.

14. The RFID tag of claim 8, further comprising:

a see-through area on the tag.

15. An RFID tag comprising:

an inductive coupling antenna combined with a capacitive coupling antenna and energizing a single RFID integrated circuit when in an electrostatic field or an electromagnetic field generated by a touch screen device or an RFID reader;

further comprising;

touch electrodes on the tag; and

shielding on some of the electrodes which may be scratched off.

16. The RFID tag of claim 15, wherein the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in series to the integrated circuit.

17. The RFID tag of claim 15, wherein:

the inductive and capacitive antennas are connected in parallel to the integrated circuit.

18. The RFID tag of claim 15, further comprising:

photovoltaic elements on the tag.

19. The RFID tag of claim 15, further comprising:

a see-through area on the tag.