Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a method of operating an RFID tag

• US 7,002,474 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Woodward, Sean, De Souza, Kenneth G., Fare, James W. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/197,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/574.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/01 Testing electronic circuits therein
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprises RFID circuitry, an antenna, and a detector responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency and for controlling cooperation between the RFID circuitry and the antenna when electromagnetic radiation of the predetermined frequency is detected. The detector may be responsive to light of the predetermined frequency to enable cooperation between the RFID circuitry and the antenna when light of the predetermined frequency is detected. Alternatively, the detector may be responsive to light of the predetermined frequency to disable cooperation between the RFID circuitry and the antenna when light of the predetermined frequency is detected.

Claims

1. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag inchiding (i) RFID circuitry other than circuitry external to the RFID tag, (ii) an antenna connectable to the RFID circuitry and for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) activatable means for, when activated in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal, interconnecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna to allow the RFID circuitry to receive the interrogating signal from the interrogating source so as to enable operation of the RFID tag.

2. A check according to claim 1, wherein the activatable means includes a phototransistor which turns ON in response to detecting a beam of light of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.

3. A check according to claim 1, wherein the activatable means includes a transistor which turns ON in response to the antenna receiving a tuned frequency which is of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.

4. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag including (i) RFID circuitry other than circuitry external to the RFID tag, (ii) an antenna connectable to the RFID circuitry and for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) activatable means for, when activated in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation which is from a source external to the RFID tag and which is of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal, disconnecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna from each other to prevent the RFID circuitry from receiving the interrogating signal from the interrogating source so as to disable operation of the RFID tag.

5. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag including (i) internal RFID circuitry, (ii) an antenna for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal and for electrically connecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna to each other to allow the internal RFID circuitry to receive the interrogating signal from the interrogating source so as to enable operation of the RFID tag when electromagnetic radiation of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal is detected.

6. A check according to claim 5, wherein the means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency includes a phototransistor which turns ON in response to detecting a beam of light of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.

7. A check according to claim 5, wherein the means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency includes a transistor which turns ON in response to the antenna receiving a tuned frequency which is of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.

8. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag including (i) internal RFID circuitry, (ii) an antenna for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) means responsive to electromagnetic radiation which is from a source external to the RFID tag and which is of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal and for electrically disconnecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna from each other to disable operation of the RFID tag when electromagnetic radiation from the source external to the RFID tag and of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal is detected.

9. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag including (i) RFID circuitry other than circuitry external to the RFID tag, (ii) an antenna connectable to the RFID circuitry and for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) activatable means for, when activated in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal, disconnecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna from each other to prevent the RFID circuitry from receiving the interrogating signal from the interrogating source so as to disable operation of the RFID tag;

wherein the activatable means includes a phototransistor which turns ON in response to detecting a beam of light of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.

10. A check comprising:

sheet material; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet material during manufacture of the check, the RFID tag including (i) internal RFID circuitry, (ii) an antenna for receiving an interrogating signal of an interrogating frequency from an interrogating source, and (iii) means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal and for electrically disconnecting the RFID circuitry and the antenna from each other which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal to disable operation of the RFID tag when electromagnetic radiation of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal is detected;

wherein the means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined frequency includes a phototransistor which turns ON in response to detecting a beam of light of the predetermined frequency which is different from the interrogating frequency of the interrogating signal.