Durable RFID tag

• US 8,763,910 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syntag Manufacturing LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntag Manufacturing LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Peter J., Greenberg, Brandon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEDEKEL, TABITHA F
• Application Number:
  US13/054,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20110174885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/486, 235/487, 235/488, 235/492, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.7, 257/678, 257/679, 257/787
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07728 the record carrier comprising means for protection against impact or bending, e.g. protective shells or stress-absorbing layers around the integrated circuit
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Plastic asset identification tags are described. The tags define an attachment feature by which the tag is attached to the asset. The tag also defines a cavity or slot in which an RFID transceiver is placed. Epoxy fills the remainder of the slot or cavity. The RFID transceiver is programmed to respond to interrogation by transmitting a unique identifier that is associated with the object to which the tag is attached. Additional information about the object may also be responsively transmitted, and in some embodiments that additional information is also written on the outside of the tag. Other tags seal the RFID transceiver within a pocket of flexible fabric-supported PVC.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an asset tag, comprising:

molding resin in a die to form a tag that has a body and defines a slot that opens to the outside of the tag body;

curing the resin tag;

rifling at least a portion of the surface of the slot;

placing an RFID transceiver in the slot, wherein when the RFID transceiver receives a stimulus signal, it sends an answer signal encoding data associated with a unique identifier;

injecting an adhesive material in the slot to cover the RFID transceiver; and

attaching the asset tag to an industrial asset and the answer signal includes a serial number of the asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the resin is treated to substantially prevent natural degradation of the plastic material when exposed to sunlight.

3. A tag made according to the method of claim 1.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag is adapted and configured to be attached by at least one of a chain, strap, rope, sling, or cable to an object, and further comprising writing information about the object on the outside of the tag.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said molding resin has at most about 0.01 percent moisture, and wherein said curing is to increase the moisture content to at least about 2 percent.

6. An industrial asset tag for attachment to an industrial asset, comprising:

a plastic tag body defining a cavity and a pass-through hole, the body being constructed of a plastic material and having an outer surface and being adapted and configured for attachment to the industrial asset;

an RFID transceiver in the cavity, the RFID transceiver not being exposed along the outer surface; and

an adhesive material filling substantially all of the portion of the cavity not occupied by the RFID transceiver;

wherein when the RFID transceiver receives a stimulus signal, it sends an answer signal encoding data associated with a unique identifier, said tag body including an asset identifier visibly and legibly placed on the outside of the tag, the answer signal encoding at least some of the asset identifier, wherein the asset identifier includes data about the asset.

7. The tag of claim 6, wherein the adhesive material and the body combine to prevent water from reaching the RFID transceiver from outside the body.

8. The tag of claim 6, wherein the plastic material is treated to reduce the natural deterioration of the plastic material.

9. The tag of claim 6, which further comprises an object passing through the through-hole, wherein characteristics of the object are visibly and legibly written on the outer surface of the body.

10. The tag of claim 9, wherein:

the object is one of a chain, strap, rope, sling, or cable, and

the asset identifier is a serial number associated with the one object.

11. The tag of claim 6 wherein the data includes a serial number pertaining to the asset.

12. The tag of claim 6 wherein the data is the working load limit.

13. The tag of claim 6 wherein the pass-through hole is a first pass-through hole, and wherein said tag body further defines a second pass-through hole spaced apart from the first pass-through hole, wherein the cavity is not located between the first and second pass-through holes.

14. The tag of claim 6 wherein each of first and second pass-through holes are adapted and configured for looping connection to at least one of a chain, strap, rope, sling, or cable.

15. The tag of claim 6 wherein the cavity is rifled.

16. An industrial asset tag, comprising:

a plastic tag body defining a cavity and a pair of spaced apart pass-through holes adapted and configured for attaching said tag body to the industrial asset, the body being constructed of a plastic material and having an outer surface, the cavity not being located between the pass-through holes, said tag body including an asset identifier visibly and legibly placed on the outer surface of the tag, wherein the asset identifier includes data about the asset;

an RFID chip in the cavity, the RFID chip not being exposed along the outer surface; and

an adhesive material in the cavity and adhering the RFID chip to the tag body;

wherein said RFID chip transmits an answer signal that encodes a unique identifier associated with the asset after receipt of a stimulus signal.

17. The tag of claim 16, wherein the answer signal also encodes the asset identifier.

18. The tag of claim 16, wherein the adhesive material and the body combine to prevent water from reaching the RFID transceiver from outside the body.

19. The tag of claim 16, which further comprises an antenna external to said RFID chip.

20. The tag of claim 16, in combination with an object passing in a loop through each of the through-holes.

21. The tag of claim 20, wherein:

the object is at least one of a chain, strap, rope, sling, or cable, and

the identifier is a serial number associated with the one object.

23. The tag of claim 16 wherein the cavity is rifled.

22. The tag of 16 wherein the asset identifier includes at least one of working load limit, serial number, size, grade, reach in feet and inches, number of legs of the chain, and acquisition date and source.