Wireless identification device, RFID device, and method of manufacturing wireless identification device

• US 6,037,879 A
• Filed: 10/02/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASONGWED, ANTHONY A
• Application Number:
  US08/942,781
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/571, 340/572, 340/573, 340/542, 342/42, 342/51
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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

Abstract

A wireless identification device including a housing; circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and a selectively actuated switch supported by the housing and permitting operation of the circuitry only while the switch is actuated. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising configuring circuitry to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; coupling the circuitry to a selectively actuated switch, such that the circuitry provides the signal only while the switch is actuated; and encasing the circuitry in a housing such that the switch is actuable from outside the housing by touching a portion of the housing.

Claims

1. A wireless identification device comprising:

a housing;

circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a selectively actuated switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the signal is provided to identify the device, the circuitry including digital circuitry having a digital flag which is toggled between a first state and a second state in response to the switch being pressed, and wherein the circuitry polls the flag and provides the signal to identify the device depending on the state of the flag.

2. A wireless identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the switch is a momentary switch.

3. A wireless identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the switch is a pressure sensitive switch.

4. A wireless identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the switch is a momentary, touch actuated switch.

5. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the device further includes a battery supplying power to the circuitry.

6. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing;

circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a pressable switch supported by the housing and permitting the circuitry to provide the signal to identify the device only while the switch is pressed, wherein the circuitry includes digital circuitry including a digital flag which is set when the switch is pressed and cleared when the switch is released, and wherein the circuitry polls the flag and does not provide the signal to identify the device except when the flag is set.

7. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circuitry includes an active wireless transponder, and wherein the device further includes a battery supplying power to the circuitry.

8. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the switch connects the battery to the circuitry while the switch is pressed and disconnects the battery from the circuitry when the switch is not pressed.

9. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the circuitry includes non-volatile memory.

10. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circuitry includes a transmitter and is configured to provide the signal by radio frequency.

11. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circuitry includes a modulator and is configured to provide the signal other than by magnetic coupling.

12. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the device includes a coil configured to receive power from an interrogator by magnetic coupling.

13. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the switch connects the coil to the circuitry while the switch is pressed and disconnects the coil from the circuitry when the switch is not pressed.

14. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the signal to the interrogator by magnetic coupling.

15. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the circuitry includes volatile memory.

16. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a printed circuit board configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a pressable switch on the printed circuit board and permitting the circuitry to provide the signal to identify the device only while the switch is pressed, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the second terminal of the battery and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the second power terminal of the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring, and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being spaced apart from the first and second conductors by the insulating ring.

17. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing;

a battery in the housing having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

an integrated circuit in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal, the integrated circuit having a first power terminal coupled to the first terminal of the battery and having a second power terminal; and

a selectively pressed switch supported by the housing and connecting the circuitry to the battery only while the switch is pressed, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the second terminal of the battery and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the second power terminal of the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring, and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being spaced apart from the first and second conductors by the insulating ring.

18. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 17 wherein the housing further includes an encapsulant over the diaphragm.

19. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 17 wherein the housing further includes a polyester film substrate, wherein the printed thick film is formed over the substrate, and wherein the housing is configured to effect connection of the second ends of the first and second conductors when pressure is applied to the substrate at location facing the diaphragm.

20. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 17 wherein the integrated circuit and the battery are located between the polyester substrate and the encapsulant.

21. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a housing including a substrate and encapsulant over the substrate;

a battery supported in the housing having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and

a selectively pressable switch formed in the housing between the substrate and the encapsulant and coupling the circuitry to the battery only while the switch is pressed, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to one terminal of the battery and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being biased away from connecting the first and second conductors by the insulating ring.

22. A radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises a polyester film.

23. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising:

configuring circuitry to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal;

coupling the circuitry to a selectively actuated switch, such that the circuitry provides the signal only while the switch is actuated, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end configured to be coupled to a power source and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulating ring having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and a diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face of the diaphragm being biased away from contacting at least one of the first and second conductors by the insulating ring; and

encasing the circuitry in a housing such that the switch is actuable from outside the housing by touching a portion of the housing.

24. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a momentary switch.

25. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a pressure sensitive switch.

26. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the circuitry to a momentary, touch actuated switch.

27. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the switch between the circuitry and a power supply.

28. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the switch between the circuitry and a battery.

29. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 28 wherein the encasing comprises encasing the battery and the circuitry.

30. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device in accordance with claim 23 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the switch between the circuitry and a button type battery, and wherein the encasing comprises encasing the battery and the circuitry and the switch.

31. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising:

supporting a battery on a substrate, the battery having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

supporting circuitry on the substrate to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal;

forming a selectively pressable switch on the substrate and coupling the switch to the battery and the circuitry to connect the circuitry to the battery only while the switch is pressed, the switch including a first conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to one of the terminals of the battery and having a second end, a second conductor formed of printed thick film and having a first end coupled to the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, an insulator having a periphery circumscribing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and a diaphragm having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, the conductive face being normally biased away from at least one of the first and second conductors by the insulator.

32. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising:

supporting a battery on a film substrate, the battery having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

supporting circuitry on the substrate to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal;

forming a selectively pressable switch on the substrate, and coupling the switch to the battery and the circuitry to connect the circuitry to the battery only while the switch is pressed, forming the switch including printing thick film on the substrate to define a first conductor having a first end coupled to the battery and having a second end, and a second conductor having a first end coupled to the circuitry and having a second end spaced apart from the second end of the first conductor, placing an insulating ring such that its periphery circumscribes the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor, and placing a diaphragm over the insulating ring, the diaphragm having a periphery corresponding to the periphery of the insulating ring and having a conductive face facing the second end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor; and

flowing an encapsulant over the circuitry, switch, and battery to define a housing including the encapsulant and the substrate.