Visual identification tag deactivation

• US 20070024445A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Weslake, Paul, O'Hagan, James, Hohberger, Clive
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

A device for deactivating an RFID portion on an identification tag and indicating that the RFID portion is deactivated. The present invention addresses current privacy concerns regarding potential use of RFID technology after the point of sale. The device for deactivating the RFID portion of an identification tag provides visual indication that the RFID portion is deactivated. The visual indication occurs without the use of additional equipment or electronics. The visual indication component of the present invention is easy to interpret, so that a viewer will be able to quickly determine whether the RFID portion of the identification tag has been deactivated.

Claims

1. An identification tag for visually indicating deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

an electronic circuit portion for storing an identification associated with said tag; and

a deactivation indicating portion,

wherein said deactivation indicating portion is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

2. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is mechanically deactivated.

3. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is deactivated using a fuse.

4. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is deactivated using a deactivation device.

5. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said visual indication of said deactivation indicating portion occurs under alternate lighting conditions.

6. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating color.

7. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating indicia.

8. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit portion is an RFID tag comprising at least a memory and an antenna.

9. An identification tag for visually indicating deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

a first layer;

a second layer;

an electronic circuit portion, wherein at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is located between said first layer and said second layer; and

a deactivation indicating portion,

wherein said deactivation indicating portion is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

10. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said electronic circuit portion is adhered to at least a part of at least one of said first layer and said second layer.

11. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said visual indication of said deactivation indicating portion occurs under alternate lighting conditions.

12. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating color.

13. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating indicia.

14. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said first layer has an outer surface having an outer surface color, and said deactivation indicating portion has an indicating surface having an indicating color, wherein said indicating color contrasts said outer surface color, and wherein said indicating color is visual when at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is deactivated.

15. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said second layer is coated by an environmentally reactive dye that reacts when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to an environmental stimulus.

16. The identification tag of claim 15, wherein said environmentally reactive dye produces a visual indicating color when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to said environmental stimulus.

17. The identification tag of claim 15, wherein said environmentally reactive dye produces a visual indicating indicia when said environmentally reactive dye is exposed to said environmental stimulus.

18. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein said second layer comprises preprinted text on a surface of said second layer, that is revealed when said first layer is removed.

19. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein at least a part of said first layer is adhered to said second layer with a first adhesive and at least a part of said electronic circuit portion is deactivated when said first layer and said second layer are separated.

20. The identification tag of claim 9, wherein at least a part of said first layer is adhered to said second layer with a first adhesive and at least a part of said second layer is adhered to an item with a second adhesive.

21. The identification tag of claim 20, wherein when said first layer is separated from said second layer, said second layer remains attached to said item.

22. The identification tag of claim 19 further comprising a deactivation device connected to one of said first and second layers, wherein when said first and second layers are at least partially separated, said deactivation device deactivates said electronic circuit portion.

23. The identification tag of claim 22, wherein said deactivation device is a severing cord capable of deactivating at least a part of said electronic circuit portion when said first layer is separated from said second layer.

24. The identification tag of claim 23, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said severing cord extends adjacent said circuit chip such that said severing cord deactivates at least a part of said circuit chip when said first layer is separated from said second layer.

25. The identification tag of claim 23, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said severing cord extends adjacent at least a part of said antenna such that said severing cord deactivates said at least a part of said antenna when said first layer is separated from said second layer.

26. The identification tag of claim 23, wherein said severing cord is attached to said first layer such that when said first layer is separated from said second layer, said severing cord remains attached to said first layer.

27. The identification tag of claim 23, wherein said electronic circuit portion is adhered to at least a part of one of said second layer and said first layer, and wherein said severing cord is attached to the other of said second layer and said first layer.

28. The identification tag of claim 19, wherein said first layer comprises a tab portion extending from at least a part of said first layer, wherein said tab portion is capable of being manipulated for separating said first layer from said second layer.

29. The identification tag of claim 23, wherein said first layer comprises a tab portion extending from at least a part of said first layer, wherein said tab portion is capable of being manipulated for separating said first layer from said second layer, and wherein said severing cord deactivates at least a part of said electronic circuit portion when said first layer is separated from said second layer by manipulating said tab portion and at least partially separating said first layer from said second layer.

30. The identification tag of claim 29, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said severing cord extends adjacent said circuit chip such that said severing cord deactivates at least a part of said circuit chip when said first layer is separated from said second layer by manipulating said tab portion and at least partially separating said first layer from said second layer.

31. The identification tag of claim 29, wherein said RFID portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said severing cord extends adjacent said antenna such that said severing cord deactivates at least a part of said antenna when said first layer is separated from said second layer by manipulating said tab portion and at least partially separating said first layer from said second layer.

32. An identification tag for visually indicating deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

an electronic circuit portion; and

a deactivation indicating portion comprising at least one indicating layer,

wherein said at least one indicating layer is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit.

33. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating color.

34. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said electronic circuit is deactivated using a deactivation device.

35. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said visual indication of said deactivation indicating portion occurs under alternate lighting conditions.

36. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said deactivation indicating portion indicates deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion by providing a visual indicating indicia.

37. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said electronic circuit portion is an RFID tag comprising at least a memory and an antenna.

38. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicating layer further comprises a removable coating, wherein removal of said removable coating provides visual indication of deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

39. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicating layer is located adjacent to said electronic circuit portion, and said at least one indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface includes capsules containing an indicating ink, and a surrounding reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink.

40. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicating layer is located adjacent to said electronic circuit portion, and said at least one indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface includes capsules containing an indicating ink, and a surrounding reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink to create a visual indicating color.

41. The identification tag of claim 32, wherein said at least one indicating layer is located adjacent to said electronic circuit portion, and said at least one indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface includes capsules containing an indicating ink, and a surrounding reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink to create an indicating indicia.

42. The identification tag of claim 39, further comprising a deactivation device, wherein when said deactivation device is removed from said identification tag, said deactivation device deactivates at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

43. The identification tag of claim 42, wherein said deactivation device is a removable tape assembly, wherein at least a part of said tape assembly is attached to said electronic circuit portion such that when said tape assembly is removed, said tape assembly deactivates at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

44. The identification tag of claim 43, wherein the removal of said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant coating.

45. The identification tag of claim 43, wherein when said tape assembly is removed, said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant coating to create a visual indicating color.

46. The identification tag of claim 43, wherein when said tape assembly is removed, said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant coating to create a visual indicating indicia.

47. The identification tag of claim 44, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said tape assembly is adhered to at least a part of said circuit chip such that at least a part of said circuit chip is separated from said antenna when said tape assembly is removed from said identification tag.

48. The identification tag of claim 44, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein said tape assembly is adhered to at least a part of said antenna such that at least a part of said antenna is severed when said tape assembly is removed from said identification tag.

49. An identification tag for visually indicating electronic circuit deactivation, said identification tag comprising:

an electronic circuit portion; and

a deactivation indicating portion comprising a top indicating layer and a bottom indicating layer,

wherein said at least one indicating layer is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit.

50. The identification tag of claim 49, wherein at least one of said top indicating layer and said bottom indicating layer includes capsules, said capsules containing indicating ink, and at least one of said top indicating layer and said bottom indicating layer includes a reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink.

51. The identification tag of claim 49, wherein said top indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of said top indicating layer includes capsules, said capsules containing an indicating ink, and wherein said bottom indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface of said bottom indicating layer includes a reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink.

52. The identification tag of claim 51, wherein said top indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of said top indicating layer includes capsules, said capsules containing an indicating ink, and wherein said bottom indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface of said bottom indicating layer includes a reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink to create a visual indicating color.

53. The identification tag of claim 51, wherein said top indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of said top indicating layer includes capsules, said capsules containing an indicating ink, and wherein said bottom indicating layer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface of said bottom indicating layer includes a reactant coating that reacts when exposed to said indicating ink to create a visual indicating indicia.

54. The identification tag of claim 49, wherein said electronic circuit portion is an RFID tag comprising at least a memory and an antenna.

55. The identification tag of claim 51, further comprising a removable tape assembly, wherein at least a part of said tape assembly is attached to said electronic circuit portion such that when said tape assembly is removed from said identification tag, said tape assembly deactivates at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.

56. The identification tag of claim 55, wherein the removal of said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant coating.

57. The identification tag of claim 55, wherein the removal of said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant coating to create a visual indicating color.

58. The identification tag of claim 55, wherein the removal of said tape assembly severs at least a part of said at least one indicating layer such that at least a part of said indicating ink is exposed to said reactant to create a visual indicating indicia.

59. The identification tag of claim 55, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein at least a part of said tape assembly is adhered to at least a part of said circuit chip such that said circuit chip remains attached to said tape portion when said tape assembly is removed from said identification tag.

60. The identification tag of claim 55, wherein said electronic circuit portion comprises at least an antenna and a circuit chip, and wherein at least a part of said tape assembly is adhered to at least a part of said antenna such that at least a part of said antenna remains attached to said tape assembly when said tape assembly is separated from said second portion.

61. An electronic circuit capable of indicating visually when the electronic circuit is deactivated comprising:

an electronic circuit portion; and

a deactivation indicating portion,

wherein said deactivation indicating portion is capable of visually indicating deactivation of at least a part of said electronic circuit portion.