RFID device with changeable characteristics

• US 20050012616A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., Sasaki, Yukihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16 of an individual bump connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

An RFID device includes a first, relatively permanent portion and a second alterable or inactivatable portion. Upon the occurrence of some predetermined event, the second portion and/or its coupling to the first portion is physically altered, inactivating it. The first portion may itself be an antennaless RFID device that may be read at short range, and the second portion may be an antenna that, when coupled to the first portion, substantially increases the range at which the first portion may be read. The second portion may be configured to be altered or inactivated by any of a variety of predetermined events, such as involving physical, chemical or electrical forces, performed either on the RFID device, or upon an object to which the RFID device is coupled.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:

a transponder chip; and

an antenna coupled to the chip;

wherein coupling between the chip and at least part of the antenna is alterable upon occurrence of a predetermined event; and

wherein the device has different electrical characteristics depending on whether the coupling between the chip and the at least part of the antenna is altered.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event includes exposing the device to at least one chemical.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one chemical includes water.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event includes an electrical event that includes applying an electrical force to at least part of the device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is a physical force event that includes applying a physical force to at least part of the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes an alterable portion that is altered upon the occurrence of the predetermined event.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the alterable portion includes at least a portion of the antenna.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the alterable portion includes substantially all of the antenna.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the alterable portion includes at least one fusible link of the antenna.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the antenna is soluble in water.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the alterable portion includes the chip.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the alterable portion includes a soluble material that is altered by exposure to a suitable solvent.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material is a water-soluble material.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined event includes laundering an object to which the device is coupled.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a mixture of water and a laundry detergent.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble when the solvent is in a predetermined temperature range.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in a dry cleaning fluid.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material includes a material that is soluble in carbon tetrachloride.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material includes a substrate material supporting at least part of the antenna.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the soluble material includes a soluble conductive material.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the soluble conductive material includes a soluble conductive ink.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the alterable portion is alterable upon application of a predetermined physical force to at least part of the device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the predetermined physical force includes a stretching force.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the predetermined physical force includes a centrifugal force.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the predetermined physical force includes a severing force for physically separating portions of the device.

26. The device of claim 6, wherein the alterable portion includes substantially all of a substrate of the device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the substrate includes a soluble material.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the soluble material includes a water-soluble material.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the chip is part of an antennaless device coupled to the antenna.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein alteration makes the device unreadable.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein alteration changes an operating frequency of the device.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein alteration reduces a distance over which the device is readable.

33. The device of claim 1, in combination with an object to which the device is coupled.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein the predetermined event is an event associated with use of the object.

35. The device of claim 1, wherein the chip is connected to conductive leads as part of an interposer.

36. A method of associating information with an object, the method comprising:

coupling an RFID device to the object, wherein the RFID device is configured to change electrical characteristics during expected use of the object; and

transferring the object to a user.

37. A method of at least reducing accessibility of information associated with an object, the method comprising:

receiving an object with an RFID device coupled thereto, wherein the RFID device is configured to have read characteristics of the RFID device changed by occurrence of a predetermined event associated with ordinary use of the object; and

changing read characteristics of the device by using the object in an ordinary way.