Frangible RFID tag and method of producing same

• US 9,626,620 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation
• Inventors: McDowell, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US14/894,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 235487, 235488, 235492, 3405721
• 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 19/07726 the record comprising means for indicating first use, e.g. a frangible layer
• 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

A frangible RFID tag includes a substrate having at least one weakened area, an RFID chip and an antenna. The RFID chip and the antenna are located on the substrate and the antenna is electrically connected to the RFID chip. The RFID tag also includes a plurality of adhesive areas applied to the underside of the substrate. The adhesive areas allow the RFID tag to be secured to an object. The adhesive areas may be spaced from one another to form at least one gap between the adhesive areas. The gap(s) may be located under the at least one weakened area.

Claims

1. A frangible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a substrate having at least one weakened area;

an RFID chip located on the substrate;

an antenna located on the substrate and electrically connected to the RFID chip;

a plurality of adhesive areas applied to an underside of the substrate and configured to allow the RFID tag to be secured to an object, the plurality of adhesive areas spaced from one another, thereby forming at least one gap between the plurality of adhesive areas, the at least one gap being located under the at least one weakened area; and

a top layer located on and covering the substrate, RFID chip and antenna, the top layer being a solid layer of material and having a tensile strength below the tensile strength required to remove the RFID tag from the object such that the top layer is configured to tear upon an attempted removal of the RFID tag from the object, wherein the top layer is unperforated or uncut.

2. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first release liner located below the plurality of adhesive areas and configured to be removed from the plurality of adhesive areas prior to securing the RFID tag to the object.

3. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive layer located above the substrate, the top layer secured to the substrate via the adhesive layer.

4. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the top layer is opaque.

5. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the top layer is a thin polymer layer.

6. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the top layer protects the RFID chip from dust and moisture.

7. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of adhesive areas are areas of high bond adhesive.

8. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the weakened areas are cuts formed within the substrate.

9. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 8, wherein the cuts are die-cuts.

10. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the weakened areas extend below the antenna.

11. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a loop, one of the at least one weakened area being within the loop.

12. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the weakened areas are configured to cause destruction of the RFID tag upon removal of the RFID tag from the object.

13. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 12, wherein destruction of the RFID tag includes tearing of the antenna.

14. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the top layer is uniform.

15. A blood component storage container comprising:

a body defining an interior volume for storing a blood component; and

a frangible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to a surface of the storage container, the RFID tag comprising;

a substrate having at least one weakened area;

an RFID chip located on the substrate;

an antenna located on the substrate and electrically connected to the RFID chip,

a plurality of adhesive areas applied to an underside of the substrate and configured to allow the RFID tag to be secured to the blood component storage container, the plurality of adhesive areas spaced from one another, thereby forming at least one gap between the plurality of adhesive areas, the at least one gap being located under the at least one weakened area, and

a top layer located on and covering the substrate, RFID chip and antenna, the top layer being a solid layer of material and having a tensile strength below the tensile strength required to remove the RFID tag from the object such that the top layer is configured to tear upon an attempted removal of the RFID tag from the object, wherein the top layer is unperforated or uncut.

16. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the frangible RFID tag further includes:

a first release liner located below the plurality of adhesive areas and configured to be removed from the plurality of adhesive areas prior to securing the RFID tag to the blood storage container.

17. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the frangible RFID tag further includes:

an adhesive layer located above the substrate, the top layer secured to the substate via the adhesive layer.

18. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the top layer is opaque.

19. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the top layer is a thin polymer layer.

20. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the top layer protects the RFID chip from dust and moisture.

21. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of adhesive areas are areas of high bond adhesive.

22. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the weakened areas are cuts formed within the substrate.

23. A blood component storage container according to claim 22, wherein the cuts are die-cuts.

24. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the weakened areas extend below the antenna.

25. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the antenna includes a loop, one of the at least one weakened area being within the loop.

26. A blood component storage container according to claim 15, wherein the weakened areas are configured to cause destruction of the RFID tag upon removal of the RFID tag from the blood component storage container.

27. A blood component storage container according to claim 26, wherein destruction of the RFID tag includes tearing of the antenna.

28. A method of producing a frangible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

providing a device layer having a substrate and an antenna and an RFID chip located on the substrate;

forming at least one weakened area within the substrate;

applying a plurality of adhesive areas to an underside of the substrate, the plurality of adhesive areas configured to allow the RFID tag to be secured to an object and being spaced from one another, thereby forming at least one gap between the plurality of adhesive areas, the at least one gap being located under the at least one weakened area; and

applying a top layer to a top surface of the device layer, the top layer covering the device layer, antenna and RFID chip, the top layer being a solid layer of material and having a tensile strength below the tensile strength required to remove the RFID tag from the object such that the top layer is configured to tear upon an attempted removal of the RFID tag from the object, wherein the top layer is unperforated or uncut.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

applying a first release liner to the plurality of adhesive areas, the first release liner configured to be removed from the plurality of adhesive areas prior to securing the RFID tag to an object.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the top layer includes an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer securing the top layer to the device layer.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein the top layer is opaque.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein the top layer is a thin polymer layer.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of adhesive areas are areas of high bond adhesive.

34. A method according to claim 28, wherein forming the at least one weakened area within the substrate includes cutting the substrate.

35. A method according to claim 28, wherein forming the at least one weakened area within the substrate includes die-cutting the substrate.

36. A method according to claim 28, wherein the weakened areas extend below the antenna.

37. A method according to claim 28, wherein the antenna includes a loop, one of the at least one weakened area being within the loop.

38. A method according to claim 28, wherein the at least one weakened area is configured to cause destruction of the RFID tag upon removal of the RFID tag from the object.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein destruction of the RFID tag includes tearing of the antenna.

40. A frangible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a substrate having at least one weakened area;

an RFID chip located on the substrate;

an antenna located on the substrate and electrically connected to the RFID chip;

a plurality of securement areas located on an underside of the substrate and configured to allow the RFID tag to be secured to an object, the plurality of securement areas spaced from one another, thereby forming at least one gap between the plurality of securement areas, the at least one gap being located under the at least one weakened area; and

a top layer located on and covering the substrate, RFID chip and antenna, the top layer being a solid layer of material and having a tensile strength below the tensile strength required to remove the RFID tag from the object such that the top layer is configured to tear upon an attempted removal of the RFID tag from the object, wherein the top layer is unperforated or uncut.

41. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of securement areas are configured to be chemically bonded to the surface to the object.

42. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 41, wherein the at least one gap is an un-bonded area between the bonded areas.

43. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 40, wherein the plurality of securement areas are configured to be thermally bonded to the surface to the object.

44. A frangible RFID tag according to claim 43, wherein the at least one gap is an un-bonded area between the bonded areas.