Monitoring device for detecting opening of packaging

• US 20070152822A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Paul, Law, Douglas, Sremaniak, Shawn, Eren, Selcuk, Jaeger, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting whether a device has been opened. A first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is installed in the package, typically during manufacturing. A first component is included in the first RFID tag. The first component modifies a power source to the first RFID tag in response to the package being opened after the first RFID tag is installed. The first RFID tag indicates a first event in response to the power supply being modified.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting whether a package has been opened, said apparatus comprising:

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package;

a first component included in said first RFID tag;

said first component modifying a first power source to said first RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said first RFID tag is installed; and

said first RFID tag indicating a first alert in response to said first power supply being modified.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier prior said first power supply being modified; and

said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said first power supply being modified.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier prior to said first power supply being modified; and

said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier in response to said first power supply being modified.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package;

said second RFID tag having a second unique RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said second RFID tag;

a second component included in said second RFID tag;

said second component modifying a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier prior to said first power supply being modified;

said second RFID tag being unable to transmit said second RFID identifier prior to said second power supply being modified;

said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier in response to said first power supply being modified; and

said second RFID tag transmitting said second RFID identifier in response to said second power supply being modified.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first component modifying said first power source by removing said first RFID tag from said first power source in response to said package being opened after said first RFID tag is installed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first component modifying said first power source by connecting said first RFID tag to said first power source in response to said package being opened after said first RFID tag is installed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag including a microchip that includes logic of said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

said first component being a tear-away disabler wire that removes said microchip from said first power source by providing a short circuit around said microchip prior to said package being opened, said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier while said disabler wire is present; and

said disabler wire being torn away from said RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said package being opened.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag including a first microchip that includes logic of said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

said first component being a tear-away portion of a wire that connects said first microchip to said power source prior to said package being opened, said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier while said tear-away portion is present; and

said tear-away portion being torn away from said RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said first RFID tag ceasing to transmit said RFID identifier in response to said package being opened.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first RFID tag including a first microchip that includes logic of said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag having a unique first RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag including said first component that is a tear-away disabler wire that removes said first microchip from said first power source by providing a short circuit around said first microchip prior to said package being opened, said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier while said disabler wire is present, said disabler wire being present prior to said package being opened;

said disabler wire being torn away from said RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said package being opened;

a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package;

said second RFID tag including a second microchip that includes logic of said second RFID tag;

said second RFID tag having a second unique RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said second RFID tag;

said second RFID tag including a second microchip that includes logic of said second RFID tag;

said second RFID tag having a unique second RFID identifier that uniquely identifies said second RFID tag;

a second component included in said second RFID tag;

said second component modifying a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

said second RFID tag including said second component that is a tear-away portion of a wire that connects said second microchip to said second power source prior to said package being opened, said second RFID tag transmitting said second RFID identifier while said tear-away portion is present, said tear-away portion being present prior to said package being opened; and

said second tear-away portion being torn away from said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said second RFID tag ceasing to transmit said second RFID identifier in response to said package being opened.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said alert being a transmission of an RFID identifier that identifies said RFID tag.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said alert being a cessation of a transmission of an RFID identifier that identifies said RFID tag.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a first back, said first back including a first removable tear-away portion and a first remaining back portion;

said first tear-away portion secured only to a first surface of said package;

said first remaining back portion secured only to a second surface of said package;

said first component secured to said first tear-away portion;

said first tear-away portion including said first component being removed from said first back in response to said package being opened; and

said first power source being modified in response to said first tear-away portion and said first component being removed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package;

a component included in said second RFID tag;

said second component modifying a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

said second RFID tag indicating a second alert in response to said second power source being modified;

said second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a second back, said second back including a second removable tear-away portion and a second remaining back portion;

said second tear-away portion secured to said first tear-away portion;

said second remaining back portion secured to said second remaining back portion;

said second component secured to said second tear-away portion;

said first tear-away portion being removed from said first back and said second tear-away portion being removed from said second back in response to said package being opened; and

said second power source being modified in response to said first tear-away portion, said first component, said second tear-away portion, and said second component being removed.

14. A method for detecting whether a package has been opened, said method comprising:

installing a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in said package;

including a first component in said first RFID tag;

modifying, utilizing said first component, a first power source to said first RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said first RFID tag is installed; and

indicating, utilizing said first RFID tag, a first alert in response to said first power supply being modified.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

uniquely identifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

preventing said first RFID tag from transmitting said first RFID identifier prior said first power supply being modified; and

transmitting, by said first RFID tag, said first RFID identifier in response to said first power supply being modified.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

uniquely identifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

including a second component said second RFID tag;

modifying, by said second component, a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

installing a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in said package;

uniquely identifying said second RFID tag utilizing a second unique RFID identifier;

transmitting, by said first RFID tag, said first RFID identifier prior to said first power supply being modified;

preventing said second RFID tag from transmitting said second RFID identifier prior to said second power supply being modified;

preventing said first RFID tag from transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said first power supply being modified; and

transmitting, by said second RFID tag, said second RFID identifier in response to said second power supply being modified.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

said first RFID tag including a first microchip that includes logic of said first RFID tag;

uniquely identifying said first RFID tag utilizing a unique first RFID identifier;

removing said first microchip from said first power source utilizing a first component that is included in said first RFID tag, said component being a tear-away disabler wire that removes said microchip from said first power source by providing a short circuit around said microchip prior to said package being opened, said first RFID tag being unable to transmit said first RFID identifier while said disabler wire is present;

tearing said disabler wire away from said RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier in response to said package being opened;

installing a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in said package;

said second RFID tag including a second microchip that includes logic of said second RFID tag;

uniquely identifying said second RFID tag utilizing a second unique RFID identifier;

including a second component in said second RFID tag;

modifying, by said second component, a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

said second RFID tag including a second microchip that includes logic of said second RFID tag;

connecting said second microchip to said second power source utilizing said second component that is included in said second RFID tag, said second component being a tear-away portion of a wire that connects said second microchip to said second power source prior to said package being opened, said second RFID tag transmitting said second RFID identifier while said tear-away portion is present; and

tearing said second tear-away portion away from said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened, said second RFID tag ceasing to transmit said second RFID identifier in response to said package being opened.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

said first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a first back, said first back including a first removable tear-away portion and a first remaining back portion;

securing said first tear-away portion only to a first surface of said package;

securing said first remaining back portion only to a second surface of said package;

securing said first component to said first tear-away portion;

removing said first tear-away portion and said first component from said first back in response to said package being opened; and

modifying said power source in response to said first tear-away portion and said first component being removed.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

installing a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package;

a second component included in said second RFID tag;

said second component modifying a second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

modifying, by said second component, said second power source to said second RFID tag in response to said package being opened after said second RFID tag is installed;

indicating, utilizing said second RFID tag, a second alert in response to said power supply being modified;

said second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a second back, said second back including a second removable tear-away portion and a second remaining back portion;

securing said second tear-away portion to said first tear-away portion;

securing said second remaining back portion to said second remaining back portion;

securing said second component to said second tear-away portion;

removing said first tear-away portion from said first back and said second tear-away portion from said second back in response to said package being opened;

modifying said first power source in response to said first tear-away portion and said first component being removed; and

modifying said second power source in response to said second tear-away portion and said second component being removed.

20. An apparatus for detecting whether a package has been opened, said apparatus comprising:

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package, said first RFID tag having a first RFID tag identifier that uniquely identifies said first RFID tag;

a first component included in said first RFID tag;

a second radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed in said package, said second RFID tag having a second RFID tag identifier that uniquely identifies said second RFID tag;

a second component included in said second RFID tag;

prior to said package being opened and after said first RFID tag and said second RFID tag have been installed in said package, said first RFID tag transmitting said first RFID identifier and said second component preventing said second RFID tag from transmitting said second RFID identifier; and

in response to said package being opened after said first and said second RFID tags have been installed in said package, said second RFID tag transmitting said second RFID identifier and said first component preventing said first RFID tag from transmitting said first RFID identifier.