KR20090108050A - Universal tracking assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A universal tracking assembly that is capable of supporting more than one protocol used in electronic article surveillance (EAS) labels. The universal tracking assembly includes an acousto-magnetic (AM) EAS label with a Radio Frequency (RF) EAS label. The intrinsic characteristics and properties of the components of the individual labels are utilized to enhance the overall performance and utility of the combined EAS universal tracking assembly.

Description

Universal Tracking Assembly {UNIVERSAL TRACKING ASSEMBLY}

This application claims the priority of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 871,185, filed Jan. 24, 2007, entitled "UNIVERSAL TRACKING ASSEMBLY."

The present invention generally relates to a general purpose tracking assembly, and more particularly to a general purpose tracking assembly capable of supporting one or more protocols used in electronic article surveillance labels.

Barcodes are commonly used throughout the retail and retail industry to accurately determine the characteristics, price, and other important data of individual items. Barcodes, however, are purely passive and cannot provide or convey information on their own, but instead rely on known barcode readers to scan and interpret the information stored in barcodes themselves.

Recently, other electronic item surveillance (EAS) platforms / tags have been developed to address the shortcomings of known barcode systems. One such type of EAS is a radio frequency identification (RFID) platform / tag. RFID is a (typically) small batteryless microchip that can be attached to consumer goods, livestock, vehicles, and other objects to track movement. RFID tags are typically passive but can transmit data when prompted by a reader. The reader delivers electromagnetic waves that drive the RFID tag. This tag then transmits the information over a predetermined radio frequency or the like. This information is then captured and sent to a central database for proper processing.

RFID systems are typically composed of integrated circuits (ICs) connected to an antenna and are typically embedded in labels, transponders or tags, readers that emit electromagnetic waves from the connected antenna, and enterprise systems. These tags draw power from the reader's electromagnetic waves to power the IC, broadcast, decode the modulated signal that the reader picks up (via the antenna), and use the digital information used by the enterprise system. To convert.

There are two main types of RFID devices, including inductively coupled RFID tags (or known as high frequency (HF) tags). Typically, there are three main parts to an inductively coupled RFID tag:

Silicon microprocessors-These chips vary in size depending on their purpose.

Metal coil-consisting of copper or aluminum wire wound in a circle on the transponder, which serves as an antenna for the tag. The tag sends a signal to the reader, whose reading distance is determined by the size of the coil antenna. This coil antenna is operable at 13.56 MHz; And

Encapsulation material-A glass or polymer material surrounding the chips and coils.

Inductive RFID tags are powered by a magnetic field generated by a reader. The antenna of the tag picks up magnetic energy, and the tag communicates with the reader. The tag then modulates the magnetic field to retrieve the data and send it back to the reader. The data is sent back to the reader, which directs the data to the host computer and / or system.

Inductive RFID tags are very expensive on a per-unit basis with prices ranging from $ 1 for manual button tags to $ 200 for battery-powered read-write tags. The high cost for this tag is due to the process required to coil the silicon, coil antenna, and around the tag surface.

Another type of known RFID is a capacitively coupled RFID tag. These tags exclude metal coils and use a small amount of silicon to perform the same function as inductively coupled tags. Capacitively coupled RFID tags also have three main parts:

Silicon Microprocessors-Motorola's BiStatix RFID tags use silicon chips that are only 3 mm2. This tag can store 96 bits of information allowing one trillion unique numbers to be assigned to a product;

Conductive Carbon Ink-This special ink serves as an antenna for the tag. This is applied to the paper substrate through conventional printing means; And

Paper-Silicone chips are attached to carbon-ink electrodes printed on the back of the paper label, creating a low cost disposable tag that can be incorporated into a conventional product label.

By using conductive ink instead of metal coils, the price of inductively coupled tags is as low as 50 cents. This tag is also more flexible than inductively coupled tags. Capacitively linked tags can relay data to the tag reader even when they are bent, torn or crumpled. Unlike magnetic energy, which powers inductively coupled tags, capacitively coupled tags are powered by an electric field generated by a reader. The disadvantage of these tags is that they have a very limited range.

As the two previous examples of known RFID devices indicate, there is currently no industry standard RFID protocol. Different manufacturers use different RFID devices in their various products, and large department store stores, wholesalers, and / or shipping containers often include a plurality of different RFID devices.

Therefore, large retailers or transporters with a number of different products, each with a different RFID device attached, have great difficulty in matching the appropriate RFID tag with the appropriate reader and associated protocol while attempting interrogation of the RFID tag. It will be readily understood that it can have.

Therefore, it is essential for retailers and transporters to purchase and employ multiple RFID readers and protocols to ensure that all goods in their inventory are properly interrogated and classified according to the appropriate and attached particular type of RFID device. to be. Such undesirable duplication of readers and associated machines and protocols is clearly complex and expensive.

In addition, known RFID devices are designed to continue to communicate with an extended reader after the initial point of purchase. In other words, the known RFID device is designed such that the tracking of the product is made from the time the product leaves the factory to the buyer's house.

However, the characteristics of known RFID devices that allow such devices to continue to operate after the initial point of purchase and communicate with the reader also pose problems for close-located commercial or retail facilities.

For example, after a buyer purchases a product at a store, the RFID device will communicate with the integrated reader at checkout. This reader will detect and intercept the RFID device and then allow the buyer to exit the store without generating an alert for shoplifting. However, due to the resilient nature of RFID devices, such devices can continue to be passively 'active' even as the buyer enters other retailers, as often happens in mall or shopping mall environments. After the original purchaser leaves the second retail store, the RFID detection equipment in the second store may wake up the RFID tag and falsely alert the security system of the second store. This scenario is only exacerbated by the different RFID devices and protocols currently in the market.

In addition to the different RFID technologies mentioned above, there are other EAS technologies with their own operating protocols, such as acoustic magnetic (AM) EAS circuits. Similar to the problems mentioned above, for example, the problem for manufacturers can be ascertained which EAS technology will be employed at various stages of the manufacture, transportation, and inventory of goods mounted with one of a number of different EAS technologies. It is not.

Therefore, it will be understood that the main EAS protocols are the AM and RF types as described above. These different EAS protocols are each used independently by various large retailers and there are currently no compatible technologies. Therefore, the manufacturer / carrier must maintain separate inventory of their products for different EAS protocols and there is an additional cost in doing this, or the manufacturer / carrier must apply both tags / labels to each of their products and apply this alternative. There is an additional cost to run.

In view of the foregoing problems, a general object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system that can coordinate the use of different EAS technologies / devices by integrating one or more EAS technologies on a common substrate / platform. More preferably, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an integrated EAS label / tag assembly that is compatible with both AM type and RF systems (including RFID). More preferably, the present invention includes an AM type transponder consisting of one or more amorphous strips with high permeability, and magnetic biasing strips that can be cast, die cut, painted, printed. Amorphous strips are packaged so that they resonate freely and are sized to resonate at a predetermined frequency of a standard AM type EAS.

One object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system capable of responding to one or more EAS identification protocols.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system that integrates different EAS identification techniques on a common platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system that integrates different types of RF EAS identification techniques on a common platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a general purpose tracking system that integrates RF and AM EAS identification techniques on a common platform.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a combined electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag / label assembly that can be detected and responded to by interrogation by AM or RF technology / protocol.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag / label assembly that can use at least one common element that supports combined AM and RF technology / protocol.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to create a hybrid (i.e., combined) and optionally deactivateable EAS tag that can be detected by an AM EAS detector and an RF EAS detector (also including RFID). The manufacturing / design of such hybrid EAS tags / labels allows the inherent properties of the components to enhance the performance of the entire hybrid label / tag and the manufacturing efficiency to allow manufacturers / distributors of cheaper EAS solutions.

These and other objects of the present invention and its preferred embodiments will become apparent by considering the specification, claims, and drawings in its entirety.

1 schematically illustrates a known RFID EAS assembly.

2 schematically illustrates another known RFID EAS assembly.

3 schematically illustrates another known RFID EAS assembly.

4 schematically illustrates another known RFID EAS assembly.

5 schematically illustrates an integrated RFID EAS assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

6 schematically illustrates an integrated RFID EAS assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram for the integrated RFID EAS assembly of FIG. 6.

8 shows a top view of a combined EAS tag / label assembly showing the integrated AM and RF components, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

9 shows a side view of the combined EAS tag / label assembly shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart showing selective activation / deactivation of either AM or RF portion of the combined EAS tag / label assembly shown in FIGS. 8-9.

Known EAS assemblies, such as RFID tags, can be active or passive. The active RFID tag, including a battery, can transmit a strong response signal even in an area where the radio frequency field to be intergrated is weak. Therefore, active RFID tags can be detected and transmitted in a wider range than is possible with passive RFID. However, batteries have a limited operating life and significantly increase the size and cost of the tag. Passive tags derive the energy needed to power the tag from the interrogating radio frequency field, modulate the impedance that the antenna has for that intercepting field and thereby modulate the reflected signal back to the reader antenna Thereby using that energy to send the response code. Therefore, the range of passive tags is further limited.

Even within known passive RFID tags, there are significant performance differences, including significant performance differences in associated antennas, and corresponding integration and response ranges. While one embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with respect to passive tags, it will be readily understood that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to active tags.

1 illustrates a version of a passive RFID 10 that typically includes an integrated circuit 12 and an antenna 14. Integrated circuit 12 provides a primary identification function. The integrated circuit permanently (or semi-permanently) stores tag identification and other desired information, interprets and processes commands received from the interrogation hardware in response to requests for information by the interrogator, and simultaneously Software and circuitry to assist the hardware to resolve conflicts due to a plurality of tags responsive to the gate. As an option, the integrated circuit may provide for updating (read / write) the information stored in the memory as opposed to just reading the information (read only).

Antenna shape and characteristics depend on the desired operating frequency of the RFID portion of the tag. For example, a 2.45 GHz (or similar) RFID tag typically uses a dipole antenna, such as a linear dipole antenna 4a shown in FIG. 1, or a folded dipole antenna attached to a passive RFID 10a shown in FIG. 2. It may include. 13.56 MHz (or similar) RFID tags may typically use a spiral or coil antenna 14b as shown in RFID 10b of FIG. 3. Regardless of the particular design, antenna 14 intercepts radio frequency energy emitted by the integration source. This signal energy carries both power and command to the tag. Such an antenna allows the RF response element to absorb enough energy to power the IC chip, thereby providing a response to be detected. Therefore, the characteristics of the antenna must match the system in which the antenna is integrated. For tags operating in the high MHz to GHz range, the most important characteristic is the length of the antenna. Typically, the effective length of the dipole antenna is chosen to be close to half wavelength, or multiple of half wavelength, of the integration signal. In the case of tags operating in the low MHZ range (eg 13.56 MHz) where half-wavelength antennas are not feasible due to size limitations, the important characteristics are the antenna inductance and the number of turns of the antenna coil. Good electrical conductivity is required for both antenna types. Typically metals such as copper or aluminum are used, but other conductors are also acceptable, including magnetic metals such as permalloy.

4 shows a passive RFID tag 10c that uses a conductive ink portion 14c to act as an antenna for the RFID 10c. Although cheaper than manufacturing an RFID tag that includes a wound antenna array, the conductive ink antenna 14c is limited in range and power.

In short, there are therefore several different types of RFID tags that can incorporate magnetic response elements, or RF response elements. As will be appreciated, each of these different types of tags require different integration devices and protocols to efficiently interact with each tag type. This situation inevitably frustrates large retailers and the like who receive products from vast manufacturers using different RFID tag types.

Therefore, FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a single integrated RFID tag 20 includes both a self-responsive RFID 22 and an RF-responsive RFID 24. When so connected on a single RFID tag, these two RFID tag types allow the system to communicate with at least one tag 22/24, even if any type of integration device is employed by a user, or a retailer, for example. Guaranteed to be.

Therefore, it is an important form of the present invention that more than one RFID tag is integrated into a single RFID tag. In so doing, the present invention ensures that at least one integrated RFID tag will respond to the integration with the desired information, regardless of the integration system used at or within any particular location. Therefore, retailers only need to purchase one integration system without worrying that they cannot communicate with products with different types of RFID tags.

It will be readily appreciated that the present invention is not limited to integrating magnetically responsive RFID and RF-responsive RFID together, but extends to the integration of any known or discovered type of RFID tag.

It is another object of the present invention that the main element present in one RFID tag may be generally used for another integrated RFID tag present on the integrated RFID tag 20. For example, if the integrated RFID tag 20 supports both the RFID tags of FIGS. 3 and 4, the RFID tag of FIG. 4 may use the antenna 14b of the RFID tag of FIG. 3, and thus is illustrated in FIG. 4. Conductive ink increases the range of RFID tags.

It will be readily understood that the common use of a single component between different RFID tags is not limited to sharing antenna elements. Indeed, the present invention considers equally the shared use of any component in any RFID tag that is installed on a single platform.

5 shows the shared use of both RFID 22/24 and battery or power supply element 26. The use of a shared or common power supply 26 effectively eliminates the range limitations associated with any type of RFID tag, as well as being more economical than providing a separate power supply for each integrated RFID.

As mentioned above, large retailers and the like often receive goods from various manufacturers that can be located at different points throughout the world. Each of these individual manufacturers can attach the RFID tag of their choice to the product at the time of manufacture. These goods are then carried by the carriers, who can then attach different RFID tags to the goods depending on the particular RFID system / configuration they use. Finally, the retailer himself can attach the product to another RFID tag that works well with the integration system employed by the retailer in his selection and configuration.

That is, any given article can have a plurality of different RFID tags attached, attached or attached thereto. Therefore, when a customer leaves the store, the retailer may deactivate their RFID tag attached to the product, but the retailer's deactivation system may communicate with other types of RFID tags that may also be located in or on the product. Problems arise when you can't.

When one or more additional RFID tags on a given product are not properly deactivated due to its different configurations and protocols, the customer enters another unrelated store with the purchased first product and the non-deactivated RFID is secured at the second store. There is a possibility of making the system work.

The integrated nature of the RFID tag 20 shown in FIG. 5 eliminates the possibility of being mistaken for any such shoplifting caused by an RFID tag that is not deactivated. 6 shows an integrated RFID tag 30 that supports an array of six different RFID tags 32. It will be appreciated that there may be more or fewer RFID tags 32 formed in the integrated RFID tag 30 without departing from the broader form of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the integrated RFID tag 30 shown in FIG. As shown in step 34, an interrogator (such as one of the known RFID readers) is used for scanning or interrogating the integrated RFID tag 32. The interrogator then identifies one or more RFID tags 32 present in the array that are compatible with the interrogator's technology in step 36. The interrogator then generates a command or signal to deactivate the RFID tags in the array that are compatible with the interrogator as shown in step 38. Thereafter, in step 40 the deactivation signal is communicated internally of the RFID tag 30 to the RFID tag 32 which is not deactivated, thereby deactivating all RFID tags 32 regardless of their configuration or protocol.

Therefore, it is another aspect of the invention that the integrated nature of the RFID tag 30 enables full deactivation of all RFID tags 32 at any time, even when the interrogator can deactivate one RFID tag 32 in the array. It is an important form. Therefore, after a customer purchases a product and the integration system employed by the retailer deactivates the retailer's RFID, the present invention is directed to all other RFID (or other types, as described in more detail below) in the array. EAS assembly) will also be deactivated. This avoids the possibility of a customer being mistaken for shoplifting when moving from store to store with a product they had previously purchased.

Communication between the RFID tags 32 may be via direct electrical connection, or via filament 44 (as shown in FIG. 6), or through electromagnetic coupling, such as parasitic coupling, capacitive coupling, or inductive coupling. Can be achieved.

When employing the combined (or integrated) RFID tag 30 according to the present invention, existing industries or retailers may recognize their combined RFID tag regardless of the technology supporting each of the different RFID circuits supported thereon. There is no need to change the protocol used in terror gating. That is, irrespective of the integration or reader device used by various manufacturing and retail outlets, the integrated and combined EAS tag assemblies always incorporate at least one type of RF circuit that can communicate with each interrogator or reader. Will have

Given the different technologies being used by various manufacturers of RFID EAS tags, and the anticipated ongoing developments in the art, the integrated RFID tags of the present invention effectively mimic the universal standards of RFID that do not currently exist and related interrogators / readers. (mimic) Therefore, until such standards are accepted globally, the integrated RFID tag of the present invention provides a platform to hide the differences between competing RFID technologies.

Other embodiments of the present invention can be visualized by reviewing the above. Like the integrated RFID tag 20 shown in FIG. 5, the present invention considers equally that the deactivation signal communicated with either the RFID 22 or 24 is also communicated with the common power source 26. By changing the state of the power source, deactivation of the RFID 22 will also effectively deactivate the RFID 24.

Therefore, FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a related embodiment of a combined EAS assembly with a plurality of integrated RFID technologies. Therefore, the combined EAS assembly shown in FIGS. 5-7 can respond to integration by different RFID protocols.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combined EAS assembly 50 is shown in FIGS. 8-9. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, the combined EAS assembly 50 integrates AM and RF components and technologies into a single combined and general purpose EAS tag / label assembly.

The combined EAS tag assembly 50 comprises a third layer of an AM component comprising a first portion 52 of an RF component exhibiting inductance, a second portion 54 of an RF component exhibiting capacitance, a resonator, and a bias magnet. A portion 56, and a fourth portion 58, which serves as a substrate and supports the combined EAS tag 50. As shown in FIG. 9, the third multilayer portion 56 includes an amorphous resonator 60 and a bias magnet 62.

Known RF resonators are typically formed of LC tank circuits, which simply consist of inductors and capacitors. In contrast, EAS tag assembly 50 will capture the resonant frequencies of both the RF and AM components of the label, allowing space in the center of the RF circuit to place the AM type label. The AM portion can be placed at various locations on the RF circuit, but interaction must be considered, and the RF portion must be tuned. Positioning the AM component in the center of the open space in the RF circuit will primarily affect the inductance. Placing the AM portion at other locations can affect the inductance depending on the attachment means or the dielectric, and can certainly affect the capacitance. Either way, after the AM portion is placed in an inactive state, the RF portion is designed to surround the AM component and tuned to accommodate the interaction for any capacitance or inductance effect. This tuning will take into account the center frequency and the quality of the circuit.

RF label components can be manufactured by various manufacturing methods such as die cutting, laser cutting, hot foil printing, embossing, conductive ink printing, and the like. This manufacturing method is incidental to the importance of the design of the RF portion of the combined EAS tag assembly 50. The means and location of the AM circuit portion relative to the RF circuit portion will affect the benefits of the shielding characteristics. Therefore, the RF label component according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-9 is generally formed or stamped out of the material and forms an LC tank circuit that resonates at a predetermined frequency. The LC tank circuit can be formed by itself by stacking "foils" (or inks, etc.) with dielectrics designed to form inductors and parallel plate capacitors.

Therefore, it is another important aspect of the invention that the RF subsystem of the EAS tag assembly / label 50 is formed in one way and the combined EAS tag / label assembly 50 is formed with a specific material that resonates at an appropriate frequency, such as an AM label. Form.

Similar to the known AM label, the subsystem of the EAS tag assembly 50 includes a bias magnet 62, one or more resonators 60 cut from an amorphous alloy such as 'MetGlas', and a magnetic limit ( magnetorestriction) and packaging to allow resonance (Metglas 2826MB3 was used, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular alloy).

Therefore, it is another major form of the present invention that the design of the EAS tag assembly 50 allows at least one AM circuit component to be part of an RF circuit. The balance / tuning of the AM subsystem is at least partly influenced by the inclusion of additional resonators, and the main shape, to form the RF subsystem, as well as to contribute to the resonance of the AM subsystem. Such AM label components can also be produced by various manufacturing methods and can include cutting, bias magnet printing, and the like. The specific method of manufacturing the RF or AM component of the EAS tag assembly 50 is ancillary to the design of the combined EAS tag assembly 50, and it is readily understood that the present invention is not limited by the way the EAS tag assembly is manufactured. Will be.

Another important form of the present invention is that the design of the EAS tag assembly 50 will allow only one portion to be activated at a given time. Therefore, when the tag is activated for AM, it is deactivated for RF. This also corresponds to the inherent characteristics of the label itself, as shown below:

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, a resonant component (which may be formed from a glass or a number of known amorphous alloys, used for a self-limiting resonator) is used as the resonator in the AM subsystem, as well as one of the RF subsystems. It may be a layer or part of a layer. The bias magnet 62 may also be one layer or part of a layer.

In addition, the resonator component may also be effective for EMF shielding. For example, when a shield is located behind an RF component, the signal from the RF is not absorbed by the package it is intended to protect, but is directed outwards towards the EAS gate where the signal is to be detected. The shielding form can coexist with the substantial performance of both the AM and RF components when the RF circuit is designed and tuned to accommodate the interaction between the AM component and the RF component. However, as mentioned above, the means and location of the AM portion relative to the RF portion will affect the benefits of the shielding properties.

Therefore, it will be readily appreciated that a manufacturer with a combined EAS tag assembly 50 may incorporate a label / tag 50 into a product or package during manufacture and maintain a single inventory. When an order for a product comes in, the product is elected and the appropriate AM or RF component is activated / deactivated. This can be done automatically on the conveyor system or separately. A flowchart illustrating this briefly is shown in FIG. 10.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated EAS label / tag assembly 50 that is compatible with both AM type and RF systems (including RFID). The present invention includes an AM type transponder consisting of one or more amorphous alloy strips with high permeability, and magnetic biasing strips that can be cast, die cut, painted, printed. Amorphous strips are packaged so that they can resonate freely and are sized to resonate at a given frequency of a standard AM type EAS.

The invention also includes an RF (or RFID) component that can be manufactured by any number of known processes. The die cutting or laser cutting process of the material makes it easy to mass produce a precision tuned RF type EAS tag that exhibits a square shape with an open space at the center, which minimizes the number of manufacturing steps and devices, and / or Or preferred method because it facilitates precise tuning of the interaction between components regardless of the position of the components and the RF antenna type (but any number of methods can be used).

Open spaces are desirable when combining two types of tags / labels (AM and RF) to maximize the shielding effect. However, open space is not essential for producing high functionality combined / general tags that provide business benefits that reduce inventory and associated costs.

In addition, the RF subsystem of the combined EAS tag / label assembly 50 is characterized by an LC tank circuit with the following angular frequencies:

라디안/초; 여기서 L은 헨리이고 C는 패럿이다;

Radians / second; Where L is Henry and C is farad;

The resonant frequency is as follows:

라디안/초; 여기서 L은 헨리이고 C는 패럿이다;

Radians / second; Where L is Henry and C is farad;

In Hertz,

이다.

to be.

The AM subsystem of the combined EAS tag / label assembly 50 is characterized by an amorphous self-limiting alloy of one or more strips or ribbons magnetically biased by the installation of a bias magnet. The resonator provides a constant resonant frequency when a given bias field is applied. Although it is common to have a plurality of resonators, the design of the present invention does not exclude the use of a single resonator or a plurality of arrangements. In short, resonators of the same thickness can be achieved with as long as possible, and the overall width is approximately the same. Approximately, if a single resonator can be designed approximately 38 mm long, and 2x wide, two separate resonators of the same length with x width can be used assuming the same thickness.

Combined RF and AM labels / tags (including RFID) independently provide a complete system with cheap means to manufacture these labels / tags, as well as potential improvements in performance and product shielding. Depending on the position of the AM portion relative to the RF portion, shielding may be improved. A resonator, which is an amorphous alloy, is essentially a shielding material. The customized design according to the present invention is such that the amorphous alloy used as the resonator in the AM tag will shield the product and reflect the signal outward in a predetermined direction so that the RF signal is not absorbed by the labeled product. something to do.

Thus, the combined EAS tags described with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 5-10 each include at least a first and a second circuit portion, each circuit portion being excited (or a suitable reader / The ability to 'integrate' by a recorder is an important form of the present invention. Therefore, a combined EAS tag / label assembly is created that can properly communicate with any number of different interrogation protocols regardless of the technical protocol of the interrogator / reader.

It will also be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed in connection with FIGS. 5-10 are not limited to the characteristics of EAS circuits integrated into a combined EAS tag / label. That is, any number or different types of EAS circuits existing or to be developed will be integrated on a common substrate of EAS tags / labels without departing from the expanded form of the present invention. In addition, although the present invention envisions incorporating different types of EAS circuits, each capable of excitation / integration by appropriate interrogation protocols, on a common substrate, the combined EAS labels / tags of the present invention may be arranged between different EAS circuits. Seek to use at least one common element or component. In this way, a reduction in the overall size and cost of the combined EAS tag / label assembly of the present invention is realized.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various obvious modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for the elements without departing from the essential scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

Electronic tracking label, A first circuit portion for allowing integration by a first technical protocol; And A second circuit portion that allows for integration by a second technical protocol different from the first technical protocol, and And the first circuit portion and the second circuit portion are formed on a common substrate. 2. The electronic tracking label according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit portion and the second circuit portion are in electrical communication with each other. 2. The electronic tracking label of claim 1 wherein said first circuit portion is a component of a radio frequency circuit and said second circuit portion is a component of an acoustic-magnetic circuit. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit portion is a component of an inductively coupled radio frequency circuit; And the second circuit portion is a component of a capacitively coupled radio frequency circuit. The electronic tracking label according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit portion and the second circuit portion share at least one common element. 6. The electronic tracking label of claim 5 wherein said at least one common element is a power source. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the radio frequency circuit comprises a capacitor and an inductor assembly; The acoustic magnetic circuit comprises an amorphous resonator; And And the amorphous resonator is located between the capacitor and inductor assembly and the substrate. A method of forming a universal tracking label, Forming a first circuit portion capable of excitation by a first integration protocol on a substrate; And Forming a second circuit portion on the substrate, the second circuit portion being excited by a second integration protocol, And wherein the first integration protocol is different from the second integration protocol. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring the component of the first circuit portion to be a radio frequency circuit; And And configuring the component of the second circuit portion to be an acoustic magnetic circuit. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring the component of the first circuit portion to be an inductively coupled radio frequency circuit; And Configuring the component of the second circuit portion to be a capacitively coupled radio frequency circuit. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the first circuit portion and the second circuit portion to share at least one common element. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: configuring the radio frequency circuit to include a capacitor and an inductor assembly; Configuring the acoustic magnetic circuit to include an amorphous resonator; And Positioning the amorphous resonator between the capacitor and inductor assembly and the substrate. General purpose identification assembly, A first device comprising a magnetic response element; A second device comprising a radio frequency response element, And a component of one device of the first device and the second device is shared by the other of the first device and the second device. 14. The universal identification assembly of claim 13 wherein the component is an antenna. 14. The universal identification assembly of claim 13 wherein the component is a power source. A method of transferring data between identification assemblies having different operating protocols, Securing the first identification circuit having the first operating technique to the substrate; Securing a second identification circuit to the platform having a second operating technique different from the first operating technique; Electrically connecting the first identification assembly and the second identification assembly; Interrogating one of the first identification assembly and the second identification assembly, thereby causing one of the first and second identification assemblies to take action; And And communicating instructions independently of the other of said first and said second identification assembly.

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