Switchable radio-frequency identification tag device

• US 9,842,233 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Star Systems International Limited
• Original Assignee: Star Systems International Limited
• Inventors: Roesner, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): GUDORF, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US15/281,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• 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: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A switchable radio-frequency identification tag device. The device includes a first RFID module positioned on a first plane, at least one un-tuned antenna section positioned on a second plane, a shorting bar positioned on the second plane; and a sliding mechanism configured to move between a first position and a second position. The first plane is positioned parallel to the second plane. The first RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag in the first position. The first RFID module is coupled to the shorting bar in the second position.

Claims

1. A switchable radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag device comprising:

a first RFID module positioned on a first plane;

at least one un-tuned antenna section positioned on a second plane;

a shorting bar positioned on the second plane; and

a sliding mechanism configured to move between a first position and a second position;

wherein the first plane is positioned parallel to the second plane,

the first RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag in the first position, and

the first RFID module is coupled to the shorting bar in the second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first RFID module includes an RFID chip and two coupling pads.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first RFID module includes a tuning inductor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first RFID module is formed on a first polyester film substrate, the first polyester film substrate being positioned on the first plane, and

the shorting bar and the at least one un-tuned antenna section are formed on a second polyester film substrate, the second polyester film substrate being positioned on the second plane.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second RFID module positioned on the first plane;

a third RFID module positioned on the first plane; and

a second shorting bar;

wherein the sliding mechanism is further configured to move between the first position, the second position, and a third position; and

wherein, in the first position, the RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, and the second and third RFID modules are coupled to the first shorting bar; and

in the second position, the second RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, the first RFID module is coupled to the second shorting bar, and third RFID module is coupled to the first shorting bar; and

in the third position, the third RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, the first and second RFID modules are coupled to the second shorting bar.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first, second, and third RFID module, the first and second shorting bar, the at least one un-tuned antenna section, and the sliding mechanism are enclosed in a case.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein

the sliding mechanism causes a first visual indicator to display on the case when in the first position, and

the sliding mechanism causes a second visual indicator to display on the case when in the second position, and

the sliding mechanism causes a third visual indicator to display on the case when in the third position.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third RFID modules are formed on a first polyester film substrate, the first polyester film substrate being positioned on the first plane;

and

the first and second shorting bar and the at least one un-tuned antenna section are formed on a second polyester film substrate, the second polyester film substrate being positioned on the second plane and adhered to the case.

9. A switchable radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag device comprising:

an RFID module positioned on a first plane;

at least one un-tuned antenna section positioned on a second plane; and

a sliding mechanism configured to move between a first position and a second position;

wherein the first plane is positioned parallel to the second plane, and

the RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag in the first position.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the RFID module includes an RFID chip and two coupling pads.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first RFID module is formed on a first polyester film substrate, the first polyester film substrate being positioned on the first plane, and

the at least one un-tuned antenna section is formed on a second polyester film substrate, the second polyester film substrate being positioned on the second plane.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a second RFID module positioned on the first plane;

a third RFID module positioned on the first plane;

wherein the sliding mechanism is further configured to move between the first position, the second position, and a third position; and

wherein, in the first position, the RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, and the second and third RFID modules are not coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section; and

in the second position, the second RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, the first and third RFID modules are not coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section; and

in the third position, the third RFID module is coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section to form a tuned RFID tag, the first and second RFID modules are not coupled to the at least one un-tuned antenna section.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first, second, and third RFID module, the at least one un-tuned antenna section, and the sliding mechanism are enclosed in a case.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein

the sliding mechanism causes a first visual indicator to display on the case when in the first position, and

the sliding mechanism causes a second visual indicator to display on the case when in the second position, and

the sliding mechanism causes a third visual indicator to display on the case when in the third position.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and third RFID modules are formed on a first polyester film substrate, and the first polyester film substrate is positioned on the first plane;

and

the at least one un-tuned antenna section is formed on a second polyester film substrate, the second polyester film substrate being positioned on the second plane and adhered to the case.