Electronically switchable RFID tags

• US 9,495,852 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mynette Technolgies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mynette Technolgies, Inc.
• Inventors: Colby, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US14/468,110
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.34, 340/10.41, 340/572.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• 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 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• 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 13/2405 characterised by the tag technology used

Abstract

Various switchable RFID devices are disclosed. These switchable RFID devices may include one or more RFID tags and one or more switches. Some of these one or more switches are optionally wireless. In various embodiments, the switchable RFID devices include identity devices, financial devices, remote controls, and the like. In some embodiments, switches are configured to enter data into a switchable RFID device, for example to select a financial account.

Claims

1. An inventory system including:

an RFID reader configured to detect a signal from a switchable RFID tag, the signal being indicative of removal of the switchable RFID tag from an article;

a point of sale device configured for recording a sale of the article and determine if removal of the RFID tag from the article was by an authorized sales person; and

a memory configured to store an association of the signal and an identity of the article and to store an identity of the authorized sales person who removed the RFID tag from the article.

2. The inventory system of claim 1, further including the article, wherein the article includes electronics, clothing, pharmaceuticals, hardware, jewelry, or digital media.

3. The inventory system of claim 1, further including a circuit configured to identify when the removal of the switchable RFID tag occurs without a recording of the sale of the article.

4. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the switchable RFID tag is also configured for tracking inventory of the article prior to sale.

5. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the switchable RFID tag is configured to be detached from a first article and the attached to a second article.

6. The inventory system of claim 1, wherein the switchable RFID tag is attached to the article by an electrical conductor and the switchable RFID tag is responsive to a state of the electrical conductor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising the switchable RFID tag, wherein the switchable RFID tag comprises:

a first circuit configured to change state when the security device is tampered with;

a second circuit configured to send a first RF signal in response to the state; and

a third circuit configured to send a second RF signal independent of the state.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the state change is caused by the removal of the security device from a retail article.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are in separate RFID tags.

10. system of claim 7, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are in the same RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit share an antenna.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the second circuit is configured to send the first RF signal only when the state is changed.

13. The system of claim 7, further including a display surface configured for displaying information regarding an article, the information including a price, a SKU or a name, the display surface being on the security device.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising the switchable RFID tag, wherein the switchable RFID tag comprises:

a circuit configured to generate a first signal and a second signal, the first signal being responsive to tampering of a security device and the second signal being different from the first signal and being configured to detect movement of a retail article from a location;

an antenna configured to receive an RF signal; and

a power circuit configured to use the RF signal to power the circuit to send both the first and second signals.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the first circuit is configured to change state when the second circuit is removed from an adhesive layer.

16. The security system of claim 14, wherein the circuit is configured to be attached to a retail article using a pin.

17. The security system of claim 1, further including the article.