MULTI-FREQUENCY RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG

• US 20160342883A1
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartrac Technology Fletcher, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Huhtasalo, Lauri Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 10,339,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide various designs of multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tags which are compact in size and tamper-proofing. In one aspect, a proposed multi-frequency RFID tag includes both a high frequency (HF) subsystem and an ultra high frequency (UHF) subsystem. The HF subsystem and the UHF subsystem share a common integrated circuit (IC) chip and a common substrate. The HF subsystem further includes a HF loop antenna coupled to the IC chip. The UHF subsystem further includes a coupling antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip but electrically isolated from the HF loop antenna. The UHF subsystem also includes an UHF antenna having a region for receiving the RFID module. When the RFID module is positioned within the receiving region of the UHF antenna, the UHF antenna is coupled to the IC chip in the RFID module via the coupling antenna, thereby forming the UHF subsystem.

Claims

1. A multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a detachable RFID module that includes;

an integrated circuit (IC) chip;

a first antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip, wherein the first antenna is tunable to operate in a first frequency range in conjunction with the IC chip; and

a coupling antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip; and

a second antenna configured to operate in a second frequency range, wherein the second antenna is coupled to the IC chip by coupling to the coupling antenna.

2. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a coil antenna.

3. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range is a high frequency (HF) range.

4. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second frequency range is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) range.

5. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the coupling antenna is a coil antenna tunable to operate in the second frequency range.

6. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the coupling antenna comprises one or more loops of conductive wires.

7. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second antenna includes:

a substrate;

an antenna structure disposed on the substrate; and

an aperture located in the vicinity of the antenna structure and configured to receive the detachable RFID tag.

8. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the detachable RFID module is positioned within the aperture of the second antenna.

9. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the antenna structure is a hologram dipole antenna.

10. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is coupled to the IC chip by inductively coupled to the coupling antenna.

11. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is coupled to the IC chip by electrically connected to the coupling antenna.

12. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second antenna, the coupling antenna, and the IC chip form an RFID subsystem operable in the second frequency range.

13. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the multi-frequency RFID tag is inoperable in the second frequency range when the detachable RFID module is physically separated from the second antenna.

14. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the detachable RFID module further comprises a substrate to provide structural supports for the IC chip, the first antenna and the coupling antenna.

15. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the coupling antenna is positioned within the first antenna.

16. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the IC chip further includes:

an analog input unit, which further includes a dual-frequency interface module communicative coupled to the first antenna and the coupling antenna;

a memory configured to store identification information; and

a digital control unit coupled between the analog input unit and the memory.

17. A multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a chip module, comprising;

an RFID chip;

a high-frequency (HF) antenna coil that is coupled to the RFID chip; and

an ultra-high frequency (UHF) loop that is coupled to the RFID chip; and

an antenna, that is coupled to the RFID chip via the UHF loop.

18. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the HF antenna coil comprises etched aluminum and is coupled to the RFID chip by crimping.

19. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the HF antenna coil is coupled to the RFID chip via dielectric and conductive inks deposited over the HF antenna coil.

20. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the antenna is tuned to operate in an UHF range.

21. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 18, wherein detaching the chiploop from the antenna renders the multi-frequency RFID tag inoperable with respect to at least an UHF system.

22. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 21, wherein the UHF system comprises one of the following:

an electronic toll collection (ETC) system, an automated parking system, and a vehicle tracking system.

23. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the HF antenna coil is tuned to operate in a near field communication (NFC) system.

24. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 23, wherein the NFC system comprises one of the following:

a contactless payment system and an electronic identification system.

25. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the HF coil is positioned inside the UHF loop.

26. The multi-frequency RFID tag of claim 17, wherein the UHF loop is positioned inside the HF coil.

27. A multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) module, comprising:

a substrate;

an integrated circuit (IC) chip disposed on the substrate;

a first antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip and disposed on the substrate, wherein the first antenna is tunable to operate in a HF range in conjunction with the IC chip; and

a coupling antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip and disposed on the substrate, wherein the coupling antenna is configured to couple the IC chip to a second antenna operable in an UHF range and separated from the multi-frequency RFID module.

28. The multi-frequency RFID module of claim 27, wherein the coupling antenna is positioned inside the first antenna.

29. The multi-frequency RFID module of claim 27, wherein the first antenna is positioned inside the coupling antenna.