Post application editing of multiresonator chipless radio frequency identification (RFID)

• US 9,734,446 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Larson, James R., Gibson, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/943,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 235492, 3405721
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks
• 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

Abstract

A method and structure for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system including an RFID tag. The RFID tag can include a dampener configured to dampen a resonation of a resonator. Prior to dampening the resonation of the resonator using the dampener, the RFID tag may be configured to transmit a first response signal from a transmit antenna. Subsequent to dampening of the resonation of the resonator using the dampener, the RFID tag may be configured to transmit a second response signal that is different from the first response signal. The dampener may include a chemical agent or a fusible link.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising an RFID tag, the RFID tag comprising:

a receive antenna;

a transmit antenna;

a plurality of resonators electrically coupled between the receive antenna and the transmit antenna;

a dampener configured to selectively and individually dampen resonation of each resonator of the plurality of resonators wherein, prior to dampening of the resonation of one of the resonators using the dampener, the RFID tag is configured to transmit a first response signal from the transmit antenna and, subsequent to dampening of the resonation of the resonator to be dampened using the dampener, the RFID tag is configured to transmit a second response signal that is different from the first response signal from the transmit antenna, wherein the dampener comprises a microencapsulation layer comprising a plurality of microencapsulated particles, and each microencapsulated particle comprising an outer membrane and a chemical agent encapsulated by the outer membrane;

a protective layer overlying the microencapsulation layer, wherein the protective layer provides a security overlayer that is configured to damage the microencapsulation layer when tampered with and is further configured to seal the chemical agent within the RFID tag during use; and

a registration layer on the protective layer, wherein the registration layer provides indicia regarding a physical location of each of the plurality of resonators such that the physical location of each resonator of the plurality of resonators may be individually identified and each resonator may be individually dampened.

2. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the outer membrane of each microencapsulated particle is configured to be ruptured through an application of pressure to the microencapsulation layer.

3. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein the chemical agent is an electrical conductor.

4. The RFID device of claim 3, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a material selected from aluminum, copper, silver, platinum, lead tin, conductive organic composites and combinations thereof.

5. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein the chemical agent is an oxidizing agent configured to individually oxidize each resonator of the plurality of resonators.

6. The RFID device of claim 5, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a material selected from hydrogen peroxide, inorganic oxidizing agents, and combinations thereof.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the registration layer is a pigment on the protective layer.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the registration layer is a rigid layer having a plurality of openings therein, wherein each opening provides the indicia regarding the physical location of each resonator of the plurality of resonators.

9. A method for operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:

transmitting an interrogation signal from an interrogator to a receive antenna of an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag comprises a plurality or resonators;

transmitting a first response signal from the RFID tag to the interrogator;

subsequent to the transmitting of the first response signal, dampening a resonation of one resonator of the plurality of resonators within the RFID tag, wherein the dampening comprises;

locating a position of the resonator to be dampened using a registration layer that provides indicia that identifies a physical location of each resonator of the plurality of resonators such that the physical location each resonator of the plurality of resonators may be individually identified and each resonator may be individually dampened;

applying a pressure to a protective layer at the physical location of the resonator to be dampened that is identified by the indicia, wherein the indicia and the protective layer overlies a microencapsulation layer; and

rupturing a plurality of microencapsulated particles and releasing a chemical agent from the plurality of microencapsulated particles onto the resonator to be dampened during the applying of the pressure to the protective layer;

subsequent to the dampening of the resonation of the resonator within the RFID tag, transmitting the interrogation signal from the interrogator to the receive antenna of the RFID tag; and

transmitting a second response signal from the RFID tag to the interrogator, wherein;

the second response signal is different from the first response signal;

the protective layer is a security overlayer that damages the microencapsulation layer when tampered with; and

the protective layer further seals the chemical agent within the RFID tag subsequent to the rupturing of the plurality of microencapsulated particles.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the chemical agent is an electrical conductor and the dampening further comprises curing the electrical conductor to solidify the electrical conductor subsequent to releasing the chemical agent onto the resonator to be dampened.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the rupturing of the plurality of microencapsulated particles releases an electrical conductor selected from dispersed conductive metal particulates, conductive solutions, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the chemical agent is an oxidizing agent and the dampening further comprises at least partially oxidizing the resonator subsequent to releasing the chemical agent onto the resonator to be dampened.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the rupturing of the plurality of microencapsulated particles releases an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, common inorganic oxidizing agents and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

aligning a tool with the position of the resonator to be dampened, wherein the aligning of the tool with the registration layer aligns the tool with a pigment that is printed or stamped onto the protective layer; and

rupturing the plurality of the microencapsulated particles at the location of the resonator to be dampened that is identified by the indicia.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

aligning a tool with the position of the resonator to be dampened, wherein the aligning of the tool with the registration layer aligns the tool with an opening in a rigid layer comprising a plurality of openings therein, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings identifies a position of each resonator of the plurality of resonators; and

rupturing the plurality of the microencapsulated particles at the location of the resonator to be dampened that is identified by the indicia.