Secure passive RFID tag with seal
First Claim
1. A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:
- at least one base station;
at least one passive RFID tagsaid tag further comprising energy harvesting, conversion, and management circuitry, thereby enabling said tag to be powered exclusively by received radio energy;
said tag further comprising radio receiver circuitry for receiving radio signals from said base station and a backscatter modulator for transmitting radio signals to said base station;
said tag being capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals while attached to a metal substrate of substantially greater area than the area of said tag;
wherein said received radio signals are encrypted;
wherein said tag further comprises means for decrypting signals and encrypting signals;
wherein said transmitted radio signals are encrypted;
said tag having a transmission range of at least 6 meters;
said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween, wherein said first and second ends are fastened within said tag and said middle portion forms an external loop;
said loop adapted to be secured to, around, or through at least portions of an object;
said tag having a fiber optic transmitter for transmitting an optical signal having an information content through said fiber optic cable, and a fiber optic receiver for receiving said optical signal;
said fiber optic transmitter or receiver being recessed inside an aperture in said tag;
wherein said second end is insertable into said fiber optic transmitter or receiver through said aperture;
said fiber optic transmitter or receiver having a hollow threaded barrel for fiber optic insertion containing a twist-lock compression feature for aligning and retaining said second end;
a twist-lock tool configured for insertion into said aperture and engaging and actuating said hollow threaded barrel;
said hollow threaded barrel being configured for hand-tightening to actuate said twist-lock compression feature;
said hollow threaded barrel being inaccessible for hand-tightening within said aperture without the use of said twist-lock tool;
the actuating of said hollow threaded barrel and thus said twist-lock compression feature upon said inserted second end via said twist-lock tool thereby attaching said tag to an object by said loop;
said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken;
said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station;
said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal; and
whereby if said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical, said tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to said base station.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A secure passive RFID tag system comprises at least one base station and at least one passive RFID tag. The tag includes a fiber optic cable with the cable ends sealed within the tag and the middle portion forming an external loop. The loop may be secured to at least portions of an object. The tag transmits and receives an optical signal through the fiber optic cable, and the cable is configured to be damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein the optical signal is significantly altered if the cable is damaged or broken. The tag transmits the optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from the base station and compares the transmitted optical signal to the received optical signal. If the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal are identical, the tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to the base station.
48 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:
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at least one base station; at least one passive RFID tag said tag further comprising energy harvesting, conversion, and management circuitry, thereby enabling said tag to be powered exclusively by received radio energy; said tag further comprising radio receiver circuitry for receiving radio signals from said base station and a backscatter modulator for transmitting radio signals to said base station; said tag being capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals while attached to a metal substrate of substantially greater area than the area of said tag; wherein said received radio signals are encrypted; wherein said tag further comprises means for decrypting signals and encrypting signals; wherein said transmitted radio signals are encrypted; said tag having a transmission range of at least 6 meters; said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween, wherein said first and second ends are fastened within said tag and said middle portion forms an external loop; said loop adapted to be secured to, around, or through at least portions of an object; said tag having a fiber optic transmitter for transmitting an optical signal having an information content through said fiber optic cable, and a fiber optic receiver for receiving said optical signal; said fiber optic transmitter or receiver being recessed inside an aperture in said tag; wherein said second end is insertable into said fiber optic transmitter or receiver through said aperture; said fiber optic transmitter or receiver having a hollow threaded barrel for fiber optic insertion containing a twist-lock compression feature for aligning and retaining said second end; a twist-lock tool configured for insertion into said aperture and engaging and actuating said hollow threaded barrel; said hollow threaded barrel being configured for hand-tightening to actuate said twist-lock compression feature; said hollow threaded barrel being inaccessible for hand-tightening within said aperture without the use of said twist-lock tool; the actuating of said hollow threaded barrel and thus said twist-lock compression feature upon said inserted second end via said twist-lock tool thereby attaching said tag to an object by said loop; said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken; said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station; said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal; and whereby if said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical, said tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to said base station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:
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at least one base station; at least one passive RFID tag; said tag further comprising energy harvesting, conversion, and management circuitry, thereby enabling said tag to be powered exclusively by received radio energy; said tag further comprising a microcontroller or microprocessor; said tag further comprising a parasitic patch type antenna; said tag being capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals while attached to a metal substrate of substantially greater area than the area of said tag; said tag further comprising radio receiver circuitry for receiving encrypted radio signals from said base station, means for decrypting said received radio signals, means for encrypting radio signals, and a backscatter modulator for transmitting said encrypted radio signals to said base station; said tag having a transmission range of at least 6 meters; said tag further comprising signal processing circuitry and at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of temperature sensor, radiation sensor, light level sensor, humidity sensor, vibration sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope; said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween; said tag further comprising a fiber optic transmitter for transmitting an optical signal having an information content through said fiber optic cable, and a fiber optic receiver for receiving said optical signal; said optical signal being an infra-red signal; said tag further comprising an environmentally sealed enclosure; said enclosure being at least partially formed of a radio transparent molded polymer; said enclosure having adhesive tape means for attachment to an object; one of said fiber optic transmitter or receiver being recessed inside an aperture in said tag; wherein said second end is insertable into said fiber optic transmitter or receiver through said aperture, thereby placing said second end in optical communication with said fiber optic transmitter or receiver; said fiber optic transmitter or receiver having a hollow threaded barrel for fiber optic insertion containing a twist-lock compression feature for aligning and retaining said second end; a twist-lock tool configured for insertion into said aperture and engaging and actuating said hollow threaded barrel; said hollow threaded barrel being configured for hand-tightening to actuate said twist-lock compression feature; said hollow threaded barrel being inaccessible for hand-tightening within said aperture without the use of said twist-lock tool; said aperture further comprising an environmentally sealable port wherein said second end may be field inserted and environmentally sealed into said port; wherein said first end is environmentally sealed within said tag and in optical communication with the other of said fiber optic transmitter or receiver; whereby inserting said second end into said port forms said middle portion into an external loop; said loop being adapted to be secured to, around, or through at least portions of an object, whereby said twist-lock tool engaging and actuating said hollow threaded barrel and thus said twist-lock compression feature upon said inserted second end thereby secures said loop, and thereby attaches said tag to an object; said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken; said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station; said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal; said tag determining a tamper status dependent upon whether said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical; and whereby said tag transmits an encrypted radio signal comprising tamper status data and sensor data to said base station. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of using a secure passive RFID tag, comprising:
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attaching at least one secure passive RFID tag having a fiber optic cable with a first end affixed within a first fiber optic connector disposed within said tag, a second end free, and a middle portion therebetween, to a surface of a container, said surface being of substantially greater area than the area of said tag; securing said middle portion to, around or through at least one portion of at least one feature on said container; inserting said second end into a second fiber optic connector disposed within an aperture in said tag, wherein said fiber optic connector includes a twist-lock compression feature configured for hand-tightening of said fiber optic connector around a fiber optic cable, but said aperture prevents hand-tightening of said fiber optic connector without the use of a twist-lock tool configured to reach within said aperture and engage said twist-lock compression feature of said second fiber optic connector; securing said second end within said tag via the use of said twist-lock tool, thereby further attaching said tag to said container by said fiber optic cable; encrypting a first signal at, at least one base station; transmitting said encrypted first signal as a first radio signal from said base station to said tag over a distance of at least 6 meters; receiving said first radio signal at said tag; harvesting energy from said first radio signal at said tag; converting said energy to DC voltage at said tag; managing said DC voltage at said tag; powering said tag via said DC voltage; decrypting said encrypted radio signal at said tag; transmitting an optical signal from one end of said fiber optic cable through said middle portion to the other end of said fiber optic cable; receiving an optical signal at said other end; comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal; determining a tamper status of said fiber optic cable through the comparison of said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal; encrypting said tamper status; transmitting said encrypted tamper status via a backscatter modulator as a second radio signal from said tag over a distance of at least 6 meters; receiving said encrypted tamper status at said base station; and decrypting said encrypted tamper status at said base station. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification