GB2469326A

GB2469326A - RFID Attachment Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2469326A
Application number: GB0906188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Dean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-08
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2010-10-13
Also published as: GB0906188D0

Abstract

Attachment apparatus 12 for attaching a radio frequency identification (Rfid) device (16 in fig. 2) to a part of a user includes an attachment part (14 in fig. 2) for attachment to the user such as to obtain long read performance, typically between 2 and 7 meters. The apparatus is arranged to enhance performance irrespective of orientation of the user part. Various attachment configurations are described, including a ring, arm band, lanyard or clip. A thin spacer (22) may be provided to enhance readability, and the RFID may be encapsulated within the apparatus. The apparatus may be constructed of resiliently flexible material, and may include an associated label displaying additional information. The tag may be of double dipole construction.

Description

I

Rild Body Tracking Tag The present invention relates to body tracking tags.

It is known to provtde radio frequency identification (REID) devices which are mounted to attachment means to form RFID tags which are attachable to users. The RF1D devices in such tags hold information such as identification information. When a user carrying an RFII) tag moves into a read field of an RFID reader, the information held by the device is transmitted to the reader, to permit, for example, user access to a defined area such as a building or, for tracking purposes.

However, for RFID devices operating at certain frequencies, in particular 840MHZ to 2.6GHZ, the humeri body acts to cloak the signal transmitted by the RFID device, reducing the effective transmission distance between the device and the reader. Limitations on the power of such devices imposed by regulating authorities mean that to ensure effective transmission of information, each user carrying such devices must make a positive effort to pass such devices relatively close to the reader, which is inconvenient for the user, and restricts the possible throughput of users passing the reader.

These devices are usually consumab'e for the reasons of economy, hygiene and environmental considerations, therefore it is advantageous that the device is passive, therefore containing no battery or connected power source, other than the induced energy from an interrogating radio signal.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body tracking tag, the tag including an attachment part for attachment to a part of a user, the attachment part including a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, the tag may include a spacer, the tag being arranged so that in use, the spacer locates between the device and the part of the user to which the tag is attached, producing readable distances of 2 to 7 meters, typically 3 meters The Rfid tag is of a double dipole construction typically operating between two parallel dipoles of different lengths to obtain two main resonances. The distance between the two dipoles is adjusted to reduce the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) between the two main resonances. The regular dipole shape is modified to a triangle and a quasi-rhombus shape to enhance the impedance bandwidth. Using two dipoles helps maintain stable radiatior patterns close to their resonance frequencies. The antenna provides end-tire radiation patterns over a wide usable bandwidth of 93 percent for phased-array antenna systems.

Possibly, the attachment part includes an attachment member, which consists of a pressure sensitive adhesive, and which may in use allow the tag to be secured to clothing around the user's part.

Possibly, the attachment part includes an associated label, which may contain a second rfid tag and be independently attached to an elongated band, and which may in use extend around the user's part, secured separately by adhesive or clasp, thus providing additional security identification.

Possibly, the attachment part includes an attachment member, which may be elongate and may be in the form of a band, and which may in use extend around the user's part.

Possibly, the spacer is formed of a heat deformable materi&, and may be formed of a material which may be deformed by body heat, which may be provided in use by the user's pact. Possibly, the deformation is a plastic deformation.

Possibly, the spacer is formed of a plastics material, Possibly, the plastics material has a density of between 100 and 150 kg/rn3, and may have a density of approximately 125 kg!m3. Possibly the plastics material has a Shore hardness of between 74 and 84, and may have a Shore hardness of approximately 79 Possibly, the spacer material is in the form of foam, which may be closed cell foam.

1 C) Possibly, the spacer is formed of a polyethylenelethylene vinyl acetate (PE/EVi4) oopolymer.

Possibly, the spacer is formed of a vacuum formed, rnoulded or cast material.

Possibly, the spacer has a thickness of at least 2mm, and may have a thickness of less than 20mm. Possibly, the thickness of the spacer is approximately 3mm.

Possibly, the tag includes mounting means for mounting the spacer to the attachment part by sliding in or encapsulation. Alternatively the mounting means may include a layer of adhesive which is located between the attachment part and the spacer.

Possibly, the attachment part includes an over-printable area, which may be located in an assembled condition on an opposite side of the attachment part to the spacer, and may be arranged to be visible in use.

Possibly, the attachment part is formed of a flexible material, and may be formed of a plastics material Possibly, the attachment part is movable between a planar condition and a loop condition.

Possibly, the attachment part includes fixing means for fixing the device to the attachment member. The fixing means may include a fixing member, which may overlay the device, encapsulating the device between the fixing member and the attachment member. The lixing means may include bonding means for bonding the fbcing member to the attachment parL The bonding means may inth,de a layer of adhesive.

The over-printable area may be located on the fixing member. Possibly, the exposed surface may be water repellent.

The body tracking tag may be suitable for use in hyenic environments such as hospitals, medical research facilities and food establishments. The tracktng tag may be crevice free, and may be fomied of a relatively smooth material, which may be waterproof, and ihich may be resistant to cleaning agents, decontamination agents or antibacterial agents, such as acids and alkalis.

Possibly, the RFID device operates at Ultra High Frequency (UHF), and may operate in the 300 MHz to 3GHz range. Possibly, the ideal range is between BBO MHzand 970 MHz.

Embodiments oP the present invention ll now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment part on release backing substrate; Figure 2 is a side sectional view along the line between arrows H-fl of Figure 1 of part of the attachment part; Figure 3 is a side sectional view along the line between arrows If-It of Figure 1 of part of the attachment part with an additional boundary layer.

Figure 4 is a typical view of a body tracking tags 12 in an applied conditions both chest and c'ip mounted 24; Figure 5 is a typical view of a body tracking tag 12 in applied conditions both arm band 23 and lanyard mounted 25; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the body tracking tag 12 of Figure 4 and Figure 5 in an assembled mounted condition 24 and 25; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the body tracking tag secondary information option 26 of Figure 1. The carrier or 26 is a band, strap forming a loop around the body part closed by a c'ip, adhesive area or tie.

Figure 1 shows an attachment part 12 which as shown in Figure 1 is in a planar condition. The attachment part of 12 includes an attachment member 14, which as shown in Figure 1 is in a planar condition and is in the form of a relatively flat strip of a flexible, sheet like material 15.

Figure 2 shows the attachment part 12 includes radio frequency identification (RFID) device 16 which is located between printable over tUrn 18 and the attachment member 14. The attachment part 12 includes fixing means for fixing the RFID device 16 to the attachment member 14, the fixing means including a fixing member 18 which overlays the device 16, sealingly ericapsuFating the device 16 between' the fixing member 18 and the attachment member 14. The fixing means includes bonding means for bonding the fixIng member 18 to the attachment member 14. In one example, the bonding means could include a layer of adhesive which extends continuously around the device 16 to provide a seal therearound. In another example, the bonding means could be provided by heat sealing the edges of the fixing member 18 to the attachment member 14.

The upper, outward surface of the lixing member 18 includes an over printable area 20, which may be over prmtable, for example by an inkjet or thermal printer to provide print 20 on the fixing member 18. The print 20 could include identification text such as barcodes, names, locations1 information, promotions, times etc. The attachment member 14 and the fixing member 18 are both formed of a flexible, waterproof material which is resistant to cleaning agents, decontamination agents or antibacterial agents such as acids, alkalis, TO alcohols and detergents The attachment part 12, comprising the fixing member 18 bonded to the attachment member 14 is also similarly flexible, waterproof, and resistant to cleaning agents, deontamina1ion agents or antibacterial agents such as acids, alkalis, alcohols and detergents. The attachment member 14 and the lixing member 18 could be formed of plastics material, which could be laminated.

Figure 3 shows a section lI-U of the body tracking tag. The tracking tag 12 includes an attachment part 14 as previously described and a spacer 21. The spacer 21, which form mounting means for mounting the spacer to the attachment part 12. The spacer 21 is formed of a closed cell foam material, which could be a plaslics material, and in one example could have a density of between 100 and 150 kg/rn3, and optimally could be approximately 125 kglm'. The spacer plastics material could have a Shore hardness of between 74 and 84, and in one example could optimally have a Shore hardness of approximately 79. The spacer material could be a polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate (PEIEVA) copolymer.

The spacer 21 could have a thickness of at least 1 millimetre, and could have a thickness of less than 20 millimetres. In one example, the thickness of the spacer is approximately 3 millimetres.

The other face of spacer 21 can be blank so as to facilitate slotting into envelope apertures as may be apparent on items 24 and 25 shown in figure 6.

Alternatively the means of attachment to clothing or direct skin contact is by 22 this could be pressure sensitive adhesive for means of direct adhesion to both clothing and or the skin.

Figure 4 shows the body tracking tag 12 in an assenthied and mounted condition in use, as part of a users body, such as the chest, a wrist, an arm or sleeve, an arm band, art ankle or any other convenient part, which is the side which is opposite to the side on which the printable member 20 may or may not be visible? The attachment member 14 maybe a pressure sensitive adhesive allowing mount ability to clothing without adhesive transfer or residue or fixed rigid or flexible substrates, The attachment member 23 is a band whereby the ends are brought together into a loop condition to form a loop around the part of the users body and are attached together by arty convenient means. For example, by adhesive overlap, a clip or tie, one possible means for comfort for the user can be constructed of elasticised means.

The material of the spacer 21 could be a heat defon'nable material, which can be deformed by body heat, so that as the user wears the tracking tag 12, the spacer 21 deforms to fit the part of the user to which it is attached, so that the tracking tag 12 is comfortable in use for the user. The deformation caused by the body heat could be a plastic deformation.

The spacer 21 could be formed of a relatively smooth material, which is waterproof and resistant to cleansing agents, decontamination agents or antibacteria' agents, such as acids, alkalis, alcohol arid!or detergents, so that the spacer 21 is suitable for use in hygienic enwonments such as hospitals, medical research facilities and food establishments this facilitates direct mounting to the skin by skin friendly adhesive 22.

The spacer 21 serves to space the RflD device 16 from the user, to shield the RFIt) device 16 from the user's body, and also reduces reflection of signals or absorption by the user's body. TIvs serves to increase the effective range of the RFIL) device 16. The spacer 21 a'so permits the use of an UHF RFID device which operates at Ultra High Frequency (UI-f F), and may operate in the 300 MHz to 3GHz range, which again serves to increase the effective range of the RAt) device 12. In one example, the effective range of the REtO device 12 is increased by approximately twenty times. Such an increase in range improves the usability of the body tracking tags 12 and the systems associated therewith, as users do not need to approach the tag readers as closely or carefully as with previous known arrangements. For example, Rfid device tag readers coutd be positioned at doorways to automatically track the movement of users therethrough, without consctous effort on the part of the user, as the whole width of the doorway is within the read distance of the reader.

After use, the spacer 21 and the attaciment part 12 can be disassembled for cleaning purposes and reuse, or for dtsposaL Both the attachment part 12 as described above and the spacer 21, carriers 23, 24 and 25 are suitable for use in hygienic environments such as hospitals, medical research facilities and food establishments.

The body tracking tags 12 of the present invention are particularly suited for use in hospitals for tracking Ihe location of patients, attendees and delegates at conferences and organised gatherings such as stadiums and concerts.

Tag readers could be positioned at dcorways. and at or adjacent to locations where people pass. The print 20 could include information relating to the user, which could be encoded for example as a barcode andfor displayed in text, so that the tracking tags 12 provide a plurality of checks of the location and identity of patients against the procedure to be performed, reducing the risk that mistakes of identity or procedure will occur, and also permitting the tracking of persons, who my wander or get lost in large buiIc1rigs, events both in end our door could also benefit from iclenlification.

Figure 7 shows the oplional additona1 secure element of the body tracking tag 26 in the loop condition in which the relatively narrow portions of the attachment member have been brought round to form a loop 28. In use, this loop would extend around a part of the user. Securing the loop possibly by means of clip, clasp, adhesive tag, tie or crimp seal. This additional secure element could also contain an encapsulated Rfid device 16 as shown in figures2and3.

The invention provides a body tracking tag which is suitable for use in hygienic environments, which provides a significantly improved reading range over which to transfer information, thus permitting ease of use for users. The body tracking tag is simple in use, and is therefore economical, and can be used either as a single use disposable item, or over longer periods with appropriate cleaning procedures suitable for the environment in whIch the tag is being used. The body tracking tag is relatively comfortable, and provides visual information which is accessible both to the user and to persons deaiing wIth the user such as hospital staff or event orgsniers.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The body tracking tag, the attachment part, the attachment member, the lixing member, the RFID device, and the spacer could be of any suitable size and shape, and formed of any suitable material. In addition the seccndaiy identifier if required may constitute any suitable means for attaching the relatively narrow portions 27 in figure 7 together could be used.

Any suitable means could be used for fixing the spacer to the attachment member.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance It should be understood that the Applicant claims proteotion in respect of any patentable feature or combrnation of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not partici.ilar emphasis has been p'aced thereon. *11

Claims

CLAIMS1. Attachment apparatus for attaching a radio frequency identification (Rfid) device to a user, the apparatus including an attachment part for attachment to a part of the user arid a device mounting part for mounting the device, the apparatus being arranged so that in use the device give enhanced performance to that of other standard Rfid passive devices irrespectIve of orientation of the pad of the user.
2. Attachment apparatus according to claim 1, in which the device mounting is directly onto uset c'othing or coverIng.
3. Attachment apparatus according to claims I or 2, ri which the device mounting part is substantal1y planar.
4. Attachment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the device could be separated by a thin spacer to facilitate readability when directly mounted onto human skin.
5. Attachment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the attachment part is in the form of a ring, which in use extends around the part of the user, which is a body part such as an arm or leg.
6. Attachment apparatus acoording to any of the preceding claims, in which the device mounting part. is mounted such as to be attached by means of a ctip.
7. Attachment apparatus acxrding to any of the preceding claims, in which the deve mounting part is formed of a resitiently fle,cibte material.
8. Attachment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the attachment part is fomied of a resiliently flexible material.
9. Attachment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the device mounting pait and attachment are integrally formed and together comprise a hanging member.
10. Attachment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which an associated label can facilitate additional secure identflication when used in association with a band or strap. held securely in place.
11. A radio frequency identification (Rfid tag, the tag including an Rfld device, the Rfid device mounted to or within attachment apparatus, the attachment apparatus being according to any of the preceding claims.
12. An Rfid tag according to claim 11, in which the Riki device is thced to or encapsulated within the attachment apparatus.
13. An Rtid tag accorthg to claims 11 and 12 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the tag is of a doubte dipole construction.
14. Attachment apparatus substantially as hereiribefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. An Rfid tag substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.