Radio frequency identification device with visual indicator

• US 7,504,953 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/744,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/691.6
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• 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 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0341 having label sealing means

Abstract

An RFID device includes a chip, an antenna operatively coupled to the chip, and a visual indicator operatively coupled to the chip. The visual indicator provides a visual indication of an operative state of the device. The visual indication may be human readable and/or machine readable, and may provide visual indication that is dependent on a change in an operative state of the device. The operative state that triggers the visual indication may include a state in which the chip has temporarily or permanently been rendered inoperative or disabled, that is, in which the chip no longer responds to, or otherwise interacts with, ordinary incoming RF signals such as from a device reader. The visual indicator may be included in a display that functions by any of a variety of suitable mechanisms, such as by use of electrochromic materials, thermochromic materials, liquid crystals, or chemically-reactive materials.

Claims

1. A label attached to a container or product shipped by air, said label comprising radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, said RFID device comprising:

a chip;

an antenna operatively coupled to the chip; and

a display operatively coupled to the chip;

wherein the antenna is configured to receive signals to be passed on to the chip;

wherein the operability of the RFID device is disabled during aircraft flight by sending a first signal to the RFID device causing the RFID device to temporarily suspend normal operations; and

wherein the display comprises a visual indicator that provides a visual indication of an operative state of the RFID device, and the visual indicator selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material.

2. The label of claim 1 wherein the display involves mixing of chemically-reactive materials, such that the display is actuated by mixing the chemically-reactive materials to change color of at least part of the display.

3. The label of claim 1 wherein the operative state of the RFID device is an internal operative state of the RFID device regarding whether the RFID device is disabled before the aircraft flight.

4. The label of claim 1 wherein the operative state of the RFID device is an internal operative state of the RFID device regarding whether the RFID device responds to, or otherwise interacts with, ordinary radio-frequency (RF) signals.

5. The label of claim 1 wherein a second signal is sent by the RFID device confirming that the first signal was received and acted upon by the RFID device.

6. The label of claim 1 wherein normal operation of the RFID device is resumed by sending a third signal to the RFID device.

7. The label of claim 6 wherein the operative state of the RFID device is an internal operative state of the RFID device regarding whether the RFID device has resumed its normal operation.

8. The label of claim 6 wherein the third signal is a wake-up signal to the RFID device.

9. The label of claim 1,

wherein the printed material comprises at least one of text or one or more machine readable symbols;

and

wherein the at least one of the text or the one or more machine readable symbols are unreadable when obscured by the display.

10. The label of claim 1, wherein the display is operatively coupled to an energy storage device that provides power for actuating the display.

11. The label of claim 1, wherein the display permanently displays the visual indicator when power is supplied to the display.

12. The label of claim 1, wherein the display transiently displays the visual indicator when power is supplied to the display.

13. The label of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises multiple, separately-actuatable visual elements.

14. A product associated with an RFID-based identification, authentication and/or sales management system, said product comprising an RFID device, said RFID device comprising:

a chip;

an antenna operatively coupled to the chip; and

a display operatively coupled to the chip;

wherein the antenna is configured to receive signals to be passed on to the chip;

wherein the display comprises a visual indicator that provides a visual indication of an operative state of the RFID device;

wherein the visual indicator selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material; and

wherein the printed material includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers, signs, symbols and machine readable symbols.

15. The product of claim 14 wherein:

the at least one element is a discount or sale price; and

the discount or sale price is shown on the display when a signal is sent to the RFID device.

16. The product of claim 14 wherein:

the at least one element is a bar code; and

a changed version of the bar code is shown on the display when a signal is sent to the RFID device.

17. The product of claim 16 wherein the changed version of the bar code results in a new price being associated with the product during a checkout process.

18. The product of claim 14 wherein the visual indicator is used to authenticate the product when a signal is sent to the RFID device.

19. The product of claim 18 wherein the visual indicator indicates the source of the product.

20. The product of claim 18 wherein the visual indicator indicates the serial number of the product.

21. The product of claim 18 wherein the visual indicator indicates a code necessary for use of the product.

22. The product of claim 21 wherein the code makes a software product usable.

23. The product of claim 14 wherein the operative state of the RFID device is an internal operative state of the RFID device regarding whether a proper sales transaction of the product has occurred.

24. The product of claim 23 wherein either a permanent or a refreshable visual indicator is displayed upon a proper sale.

25. The product of claim 14 wherein the at least one element selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers, signs, symbols and machine readable symbols are unreadable when obscured by the display.

26. The product of claim 25 wherein attempt to remove obscuring display damages the underlying printed material.

27. A system for managing or validating a ticket, said ticket comprising radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, said RFID device comprising:

chip;

an antenna operatively coupled to the chip; and

a display operatively coupled to the chip;

wherein the antenna is configured to receive signals to be passed on to the chip;

wherein the display comprises a visual indicator that provides a visual indication of an operative state of the RFID device;

wherein the visual indicator selectively displays or obscures underlying printed material; and

wherein the displayed underlying material authenticates the ticket and/or indicates the value of the ticket.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the printed material includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers, signs, symbols and machine readable symbols.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the ticket is a lottery ticket or other form of gambling ticket.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the ticket is authenticated by sending a command signal to the RFID device.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the command signal is sent when a payment is authorized.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the command signal is sent when money is transferred.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the command signal is sent when a predetermined change display code is received from a lottery or authenticating company.

34. The system of claim 27 wherein the ticket is a transportation ticket.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the display indicates the number of rides remaining or amount of fares still chargeable on the ticket.