GB2398454A

GB2398454A - Housing for an RFID module

Info

Publication number: GB2398454A
Application number: GB0229800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Brotherton Ratcliffe
Original assignee: Paxton Access Ltd
Current assignee: Paxton Access Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-20
Filing date: 2002-12-20
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: GB0229800D0

Abstract

An RFID tag is disclosed comprising water-resistant housing means encapsulating an RFID module and means for supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist. The housing has a volume of no greater than about 2cm<3> and a mass of no greater than about 5 grams. The housing may be supported by a strap, which may include a self-locking mechanism, or by another means, such as adhesive.

Description

I

:Elousing for an RFII) module The invention relates to the field of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices and, in particular to the field of housings for RFID modules.

The use of RFID modules is widespread and the modules have a wide range of purposes, including tracking products through stages of a production line and electronically tagging pets. One of the most widespread uses for the modules is as secure access devices, for example for providing access to a workplace for employees or for ensuring that only authorised persons access a particular room or area. Reference to an RFID module as used herein is intended to encompass any wireless accessible device and is not limited to any particular standard.

The modules are commonly incorporated into cards or key fobs which can be attached to key rings. These can be inconvenient to carry or to take out to present to an RFID reader, which normally requires the module to be a few centimetres from the reader.

The invention seeks to provide a more convenient means of carrying and presenting an RFID module.

It has been appreciated that it would be convenient to build the functionality of an RFID access device into a wristwatch; in this way the RFID module is both conveniently carried and readily presentable to a reader. However, this approach would require a user to obtain a specialized wristwatch.

Aspects of the invention are outlined in the independent claims which follow and preferred features of the aspects are provided in the dependent claims. Features of each aspect may be applied to other aspects unless otherwise stated. Aspects of embodiments of the invention are outlined below.

According to a first aspect, there is provided herein an RFID tag comprising: water-resistant housing means encapsulating an RFID module, the housing having a volume of no greater than about 2cm3 and a mass of no greater than about 5 grams; and means for supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist.

Preferably, the mass of the housing is no greater than about 2 grams. Further preferably, the mass of the housing is no greater than about 1 gram.

Preferably the housing has a volume of no greater than Icm3. Preferably, the housing has a length (24a) no greater than about 3 cm, preferably about 1.5cm or less. Preferably, the housing has a width (20a) of no greater than about 2cm, preferably about Icm or less.

Preferably, the housing has a height (22b) of no greater than about lcm, preferably about O.Scm or less.

Since the RFID tag is small and light, the RFID module may be carried discreetly and easily. Supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist, for example by securing the housing to an item worn by the user means that, although the tag is small, it is not easily lost or mislaid. Supporting the tag close to the wrist also provides the user with fast and convenient access to the module when it is required. It is not necessary to access a set of keys in order to use the key fob or to extract a card from a wallet or card holder.

Preferably, the RFID tag is arranged for securing to a watch strap. Hence the tag may be carried conveniently and securely but discreetly.

According to an alternative embodiment, the RFID tag is arranged for securing to a cufflink, or incorporated into a cufflink.

Attachment of the tag to a watch strap or cufflink may be particularly advantageous, since these items are worn every day and are easily accessed when the module is needed. In this way, the task of accessing the RFID module may be simplified from retrieving a card or key fob from a pocket or bag to holding an arm up to the sensor. l

Preferably, the supporting means comprises a self-locking strap attached to or, more preferably, integrally formed with the housing means. The versatile self-locking strap may allow the housing means for the RFID module to be attached around and held securely to a wide variety of accessories or articles of clothing.

Preferably, the strap has a length of no greater than about 12cm, typically less than about gem, and a width of no greater than about lcm, preferably about 0.3cm.

The strap is preferably arranged to attach to an object having a circumference of about 1 cm to 5cm. If the self-locking strap is longer than the circumference of the object around which it is attached, then any excess length of strap may be removed by the user.

According to an alternative embodiment, the means for supporting the housing of the RFID tag comprises a self-adhesive surface. This alternative embodiment also allows for secure attachment of the tag to a wide variety of items, for example a user's accessories or articles of clothing. The tag may also be attached to items of equipment, such as computer hardware items or audio or video equipment. Data may be stored in the RFID module, for example to allow identification of the equipment by, for example, a handheld identification device. The self-adhesive surface may further allow attachment of the RFID module to, for example, a mobile telephone, a PDA or another handheld device for use as an access module as outlined above.

Preferably, the housing means is manufactured from plastic. The housing means is preferably moulded. The tag is preferably manufactured in a range of colours of plastic.

According to one preferable embodiment, the RFID module is potted into a pre-moulded housing.

According to an alternative embodiment, the module is incorporated into the housing as the housing is being moulded.

Preferably the aerial for the RFID module is mounted to the back of the RFID chip. This minimises the overall dimensions of the module, allowing the module to be incorporated into a smaller and more convenient housing.

A further aspect provides an RFID tag with an RFID module sealed therein, wherein the RFID tag comprises: a water-resistant housing section arranged to encapsulate the RFID module; an elongate strap attached to or formed integrally with the housing; a locking element attached to or formed integrally with the housing arranged to lock the elongate strap into substantially a ring structure.

Preferably, the length of the elongate strap of the RFID tag is sufficient to attach the RFID tag to an object having a circumference of about I cm to 5cm.

A further aspect provides a cufflink with an RFID module integrated therein.

A further aspect provides a kit of parts comprising a plurality of RFID tags according to any of the preceding apparatus aspects or any of their preferred features.

Preferably the tags in the kit of parts have a variety of colours. The tags may be colour coded, for example, different colours may indicate different areas of a building that may be accessed. The colours may also be provided to allow individuals to select tags which combine most discreetly with their accessory or article of clothing.

A further aspect provides a method of attaching an RFID module to an item worn in proximity to a user's wrist comprising: providing water-resistant housing means encapsulating an RFID module, the housing having a volume of no greater than about 2cm3 and a mass of no greater than about 5 grams; supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist Preferred features of the preceding aspects may be applied to the present aspect.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings which are not intended to be limiting in any way. Any dimensions or angles indicated in the; drawings are exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. Alternative embodiments may provide a tag with different dimensions. Aspects of the invention are set out in the claims. i

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings in which: Figs. ]a and lb are schematic diagrams of one embodiment of the RFID tag described herein; Figs. 2a and 2b are further views of the embodiment of the RFID tag illustrated in Figs. Ia and Ib; Figs. 3a and 3b are schematic diagrams of a further embodiment of the invention; Figs. 4a and 4b are further views of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3a and 3b; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the invention; Figs 6a and 6b illustrate aspects of a further embodiment of the invention; l Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the housing of the invention described herein; Fig. 9 illustrates an aspect of a further embodiment of the housing described herein; Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of part of a further embodiment of the tag described herein.

RFID modules are well known in the art and typically comprise a silicon chip with some processing capacity and a small data storage capability and an aerial, which may be used to communicate with a central detection unit at radio frequencies. The aerial is commonly implemented as a metal, typically copper, coil with a graphite core.

RFID modules can operate at any radio frequency, but typically operate in the ranges 100 kHz to 150 kHz or 10MHz to 15MHz. In particular, the RFID module uses a 125kHz or a 13.56MHz carrier. A typical read range for an RFID module is around 20 to 30mm but longer range devices are available.

RFID modules normally cannot operate reliably if there is anything metallic or conductive between the aerial and the central detection unit and therefore the modules normally cannot be incorporated into metallic or conductive housings.

The RFID modules used in RFID tags generally obtain their power from the central i detection unit and communication between the RFID module and the central detection unit is typically encrypted, but the invention is not limited to any standard. The detection unit requests an identification code from the module, which responds by sending the code. Once the code has been received and verified, the detection unit may either access further details on the module or perform a further action, such as allowing access to a room or building.

Figs. la and lb show two sides of one embodiment of the RFID tag, which comprises housing 10a, 10b for encapsulating the RFID module and a selflocking strap 12a, 12b attached to the housing. In this embodiment, one end of the self-locking strap 18a, 18b may be inserted into a clip 14a, 14b at the other end of the strap to form a ring structure. The I strap may be tightened but, in this embodiment, the strap is designed so that it cannot be loosened. Hence the housing is attached securely to whatever the strap is attached around.

In this embodiment, the housing is moulded prior to the RFID module being inserted, so mountings are provided to hold the RFID module in the correct position in the housing whilst potting compound is added to secure the module.

As illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b, according to a typical embodiment, the housing section 10a, 10b has a length 24a of approximately 15mm, a width 20a of approximately 8mm and a depth 22b of approximately 5mm. The dimensions used in other embodiments may be larger or smaller, but a housing of these dimensions is considered to be small enough to be carried conveniently and to be attached discreetly to clothing or an accessory.

In this embodiment, the strap and housing are moulded from plastic. They are preferably moulded in one piece, but may be moulded separately and then joined together. Using plastic allows the tags to be durable but inexpensive, hence allowing the tags to be replaced when necessary, for example, if access control to a room or building needs to be altered for a user or group of users.

The tag may be used for a wide variety of purposes. According to the present embodiment, the strap of the tag may be attached around a watch strap or another accessory, for example the handle of a handbag or a belt. This would be particularly useful for a security access mechanism as described above, for example to allow a user to access a place of work or particular rooms in a building.

A further use for the apparatus may be in access to transport systems, for example a ski lift may be accessed by wearers of the tag. In this embodiment, the tag may be attached to a watch strap as described above or may be attached to an item of skiing equipment, such as the zip of the jacket or a belt.

The RFID tags described herein may further be used as patient tags, for example to monitor the position of patients within a hospital or to provide information about the patient to doctors, nurses and consultants. The tags may be attached, for example to a patient's identification wrist band or to the patient's bed or medical equipment.

In a final embodiment, the RFID tags may be attached to the collar of a pet and may provide basic information about the pet, such as details about its owner, or may provide access, for example to a cat flap or to a food tray. The use of the tags in this way may be an inexpensive alternative to the known method of tagging pets by inserting a microchip under the animal's skin.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b, which show a tag with a housing having a self-adhesive surface. This type of tag may be attached to an item using the self-adhesive surface and may be carried by the user for purposes similar to those described above. The tag may also be attached to stationary items, for example computer hardware equipment. Data on the tag may then be accessed by a handheld reader device. Data stored could include, for example, an identification code for the equipment or details of when the equipment was last used and by whom it was used.

The description above is not intended to be exhaustive, but merely illustrates possible implementations and embodiments of the invention. Additional uses of the tags and methods outlined herein and modifications of the tags described will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims: 1. An RFID tag comprising: water-resistant housing means

encapsulating an RFID module, the housing having a volume of no greater than about 2cm3 and a mass of no greater than about 5 grams; and means for supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist.
2. An RFID tag according to Claim 1, wherein the mass of the housing is no greater than about 1 gram.
3. An RFID tag according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the volume of the housing is no greater than about 1 cm3.
4. An RFID tag according to any preceding claim wherein the RFID tag is arranged for securing to a watch strap.
5. An RFID tag according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the RFID tag is incorporated into a cufflink.
6. An RFID tag according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the means for supporting the housing comprises a self-locking strap attached to or integrally formed with the housing means.
7. An RF1D tag according to Claim 6 wherein the self-locking strap is arranged to attach to an object having a circumference of about I cm to 5cm.
8. An RFID tag according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the means for supporting the housing comprises a self-adhesive surface. i
9. An RFID tag according to any preceding claim wherein, the housing means is manufactured from plastic.
10. An RFID tag according to any preceding claim wherein the RFID module is potted: into apre-moulded housing.
11. An RFID tag according to any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the module is incorporated I into the housing when the housing is moulded.
12. An RFID tag according to any preceding claim wherein the aerial for the RFID module is mounted to the back of the RFID chip.
13. An RFID tag having an RFID module sealed therein, wherein the RFID tag comprises: a water-resistant housing section arranged to encapsulate the RFID module; 2 an elongate strap attached to or formed integrally with the housing; a locking element attached to or formed integrally with the housing and arranged to lock the elongate strap into substantially a ring structure.
14. An RFID tag according to Claim 13 wherein the length of the elongate strap is suffcuent to attach the RFID tag to an object having a circumference of about tom 2 to 5cm.
15. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of RFID tags according to any preceding claim.
16. A kit of parts according to Claim 15 wherein the plurality RFID tags have a variety of colours.
17. A further aspect provides a method of attaching an RFID module to an item worn in proximity to a user's wrist comprising: providing waterresistant housing means encapsulating an REID module, the housing having a volume of no greater than 2cm3 and a mass of no greater than about 5 grams; supporting the housing in proximity to a user's wrist:
18. An RFID tag substantially as any one herein described or as illustrated in any of the figures. I