US20100263179A1

US20100263179A1 - LINING FOR BLOCKING WI-FI, ULTRA-SOUND, LASER, VHF, UHF, BLUE TOOTH, AND RFlD TAG SIGNAL

Info

Publication number: US20100263179A1
Application number: US11/382,070
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Donald Boldin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-08
Filing date: 2006-05-08
Publication date: 2010-10-21

Abstract

A method of blocking the signal of an RFID tag from being read without consent or knowledge of the owner. A lining or cloth is first made of non-magnetic material containing non-magnetic metal in such concentration as is capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from said Radio Frequency Identification Tag. The lining or cloth is then incorporated into an article of manufacture wherein the article may be used to hold a Radio Frequency identification Tag.

Lining for Blocking RFID Tag Signal Making a cloth or lining of non-magnetic material containing non-magnetic metal in such concentration as is capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from a Radio Frequency Identification tag; and incorporating the cloth or lining into an article of manufacture wherein the article may be used to block or attenuate a signal to or from a Radio Frequency Identification Tag.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

It provides a method of blocking or attenuating the electromagnetic signal of a Radio Frequency identification Tagging. It provides a method of blocking or attenuating the electromagnetic signal of a Radio Frequency Identification Tag, also known as automatic identification tag, anti-skimming tag, spy tag, and a RFID tag, to prevent it from being read without the consent or knowledge of the owner.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

RFID tags may be placed in, or attached to, about any item imaginable. The RFID tags are relatively inexpensive and can be made the size of a grain of rice or paper thin. The purpose of the tags is to store information on the microchip and then when the information is needed the chip instantly responds to an interrogating radio frequency signal by sending its information via radio wave, wi-fi wave, ultra-sound wave, blue tooth wave, LASER wave,
VHF or UHF wave to the interrogating reader, or receiving device.
The RFID tag may be active or passive. Active RFID tags may be powered by a solar or an internal battery which allows the RFID tag to send its information once activated. Activation can occur at a predetermined time or by an interrogation signal from a RFID reader. Active RFID tags can have a read range distance of tens of meters up to several hundred meters. Passive RFID tags can be activated without a battery by passing the tag through a magnetic field to induce a current in an internal coil and produce a radio signal from the tag. Passive RFID tags have a measuring distance of less than a meter to tens of meters.
RFID tags can be used in automobiles, bank ATM cards, building access cards, cargo containers, credit cards, currency, driver's licenses, inventory items, equipment items, livestock, individuals, mailing containers, and other commercial products. RFID tags will be used to store large amounts of data and these devices will be used on every item that can be identified by name, bar code, serial number, social security number, account number and is to be transported, stored, sold, consumed, or tracked. A major problem with the RFID tag is that it could be commanded to send its information without the owner's consent or knowledge. This could release sensitive information that could potentially harm the owner if it was obtained by someone that was not authorized. The RFID tag could expose that the owner is in possession of certain items that he wishes to remain private.
The present invention is to prevent unauthorized, unknowing and unconsented access to RFID tag information. An important feature of this invention is that it is concealed in everyday use items, which are used for purposes other than shielding an RFID device. These everyday items can be backpacks, bags, boxes, briefcases, cases, envelopes, handbags, money belts, night deposit bags, passport cases, patches, pockets, purses, sleeves and wallets, whose main purpose was not to shield the RFID tag. This invention has now made it possible for these items to block or prevent a RFID tag from being read. This is a low cost and invisible means to prevent the RFID tag from allowing unauthorized communication.
Prior art of shielding RFID signals involves the use of magnetic metals. U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,544 (2000) represents the culmination of this prior art. The '544 patent discloses an electromagnetic shield made of soft magnetic alloy with a very high initial and maximum magnetic permeability, which has been fully hydrogen annealed to develop optimum magnetic shielding properties. The use of magnetic shielding materials disclosed in the '544 patent was well known to permit the intrinsic electrical conductivity of the magnetic shielding material to sufficiently simulate a Faraday cage. Materials representative of the type disclosed in the '544 patent are high nickel content metal shielding foils commonly made of Permalloy or Mu-Metal.
The use of magnetic shielding material is similarly taught in related shielding fields. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,810 teaches that a magnetic shield for an optical gyroscope is assessed to be the most effective method to reduce the bias sensitivity is the addition of a magnetically shielding structure.
Unlike ‘the prior art disclosed in the '544 patent and other similar protection devices, the present invention does not utilize magnetic shielding material.
An RFID shield can be effective against an active RFID tag or a passive RFID tag, if it can prevent an activating signal from reaching the RFID tag, or if it can contain the radio signal once emitted from an RFID tag. The present invention accomplishes both of these shielding methods. It prevents an activating signal from reaching the RFID tag so that the passive RFID tag never produces a radio frequency signal. In the event that an RFID tag is programmed to transmit a signal at a predetermined point without an interrogating signal, then the invention would prevent that signal from reaching the reader. Even if the shield in this invention were to couple with such an active RFID tag, the invention would significantly attenuate any such secondary signal so as to make it very difficult to read the RFID tag.
The '544 patent is also typical of prior art wherein the shielding material is integrated into containers dedicated only to shielding a particular-size and shape RFID device. This is representative of the prior art wherein the use of welded can or shield which is fixed-in-place above a circuit to be protected. U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,663 (2003) is a typical example of such a shielding can for mounting on a printed circuit board.
United States patent application 20040223481 (2001) discloses a method and apparatus for selective blocking of radio frequency identification devices by generating an erroneous radio frequency response in answering an interrogation request from a reader, which thereupon prevents the reader from determining at least a portion of the identifier of an RFID device. ‘This application employs a different device and process, but is relevant because it teaches away from the present invention because only pre-designed containers are thought adequate. It does not envision the present invention of fabricating protection within common, everyday articles, but rather describes the problem as being current technologies inadequacy to shield the “vast range of objects, including clothing and inventory, that cannot be placed conveniently in containers.” By fabricating the shield within ordinary, everyday items, such as for example shopping bags, the present invention provides an RFID shield capable of easily shielding the “vast range of objects” described in the '481 patent application.
International application PCT/US01/06410 discloses a method of manufacturing an electromagnetic interference shielding. While this invention is for other than an RFID device, this patent application teaches that effective shielding is difficult to attain because discontinuities in shielding enclosures can lead to secondary transmission of the signal from the gap edges. While, the subject invention may not have 100% containment in all circumstances, it is important to understand that the invention does not have to be a fully enclosed containment shield surrounding the RFID device in order to interrupt or attenuate the signal either to or from an RFID tag. Significant attenuation of an interrogating signal or a responding RFID signal will occur with less than complete containment of the RFID tag.
The materials used in the present invention are housed within other everyday articles so that inadvertent RFID antenna coupling by physical contact is highly improbable. ‘The invention solves the problem of inadvertent direct contact antenna coupling to the shield because cloth, leather, plastic, paper, cardboard, etc. used in the method of the invention, prevent the lining or shield from touching the RFID tag and acting as an antenna. Unlike other types of potential shields, this invention provides flexibility in its ability to shield one or more tagged products of varying size without changing the design of the shield, or substantially changing the design of the products.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

- (A) to provide a convenient, safe, easily used and economical method for attenuating or blocking signals to or from a Radio Frequency Identification tag;
- (B) to provide a process that precludes reading the data, identity, assets, money, inventory, etc.,
- (C) to provide an invention that permits reading the data, identity, assets, money inventory, etc., marked with a Radio Frequency identification tag after obtaining the individuals permission or authorization; and,
- (D) to provide a method that prevents the theft of ones identity or knowledge of ones personal items without authorization.

It is, therefore apparent that a need exists for a simple, cost effective, and consumer friendly method of defeating unauthorized reading of RFID tags on multi-varied items, while preserving legitimate and authorized RFID tag interrogations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A process for blocking any Radio Frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising making a lining of non-magnetic material containing non-magnetic metal in such concentration capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal by radio, LASER, ultra-sound, wi-fi, blue tooth, UHF, VHF to or from said Radio Frequency Identification tag and incorporating said lining into an article of manufacture wherein, the article may be used to hold a Radio Frequency identification tag.

FIG. 1 shows the process steps in a embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 describes a process for blocking an RFID tag signal. The process comprises two steps. The first step (I 0) is making a lining of non-magnetic material containing non-magnetic metal in such concentration capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from said Radio Frequency Identification tag. The second step (20) is incorporating said lining into an article of manufacture wherein the article may be used to hold a radio frequency identification tag.
The typical non-magnetic metals are aluminum, copper, gold, silver, platinum, chromium, nano-carbon tubes and compounds containing these and other non-magnetic metals. Other embodiments of the method may use a paint, cloth, thread, gel, aerosol, nano-particle or ceramic with any combination of non-magnetic metals in particulate form, embedded within. Typical application of the invention include lining within manufactured articles such as backpacks, bags, boxes, briefcases, cases, envelopes, handbags, money belts, night deposit bags, passport cases, patches, purses, sleeves, and wallets. In use, the lining prevents the Radio Frequency Identification Tag from receiving a readable interrogation signal. It also prevents a readable signal emitted from an RFID from reaching to an RFID reader.
In the preferred embodiment, the non-magnetic material is in such form, such as a foil, as to be flexible to maintain integrity in repeated use by bending or folding. Preferably, the lining is incorporated within the article of manufacture so that it is not visible without deconstructing the article.
In the alternative embodiments, other non-magnetic material may be used in combination with one or more non-magnetic metals or compounds thereof. Other non-magnetic materials include, but are not limited to, any combination of non-magnetic metals any cloth, thread, ceramic, plastic, aerosol, gel, nano-particle, or paint with non-magnetic metals uniformly distributed or embedded therein at such concentrations so as to attenuate or block transmission of an RFID signal when covering a Radio Frequency Identification Tag.
Illustrative examples of non-magnetic metals used in the invention are aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, carbon nano-tubes, and platinum. Other non-magnetic materials used in the invention are any non-magnetic compounds or molecules containing one or more non-magnetic metal atoms. Other such non-magnetic metals, non-magnetic compounds containing one or more non magnetic metal atoms, and combinations thereof, will be known to those skilled in the art.
In accordance with the process of the invention, the materials with any non-magnetic metal embedded or distributed therein are then incorporated into the manufacture of said article. For illustrative purposes, some examples of articles are locking night deposit bags, backpacks, bags, boxes, briefcases, cases, envelopes, handbags, money belts, night deposit bags, passport cases, patches, pockets, purses, sleeves, and wallets.
Another embodiment of the invention is a patch made of a material of the invention and having an adhesive backing. The preferred embodiment would have an adhesive of acrylate copolymer microspheres to allow the patch to temporarily adhere to the Radio Frequency Identification Tag to block the signal and later be removed by the user to permit reading by a Radio Frequency Identification reader.
Another embodiment of the invention is a protective sleeve lined with or made with a material of the invention, said sleeve to subsequently be capable of shielding one or more items having an RFID tag. Sleeves of this design are typically made for protection of an item against damage, e.g. a compact disk sleeve. While such sleeves are regularly made for a host of consumer items, manufacturing them with the materials of the invention would add protection against unauthorized reading of any Radio Frequency identification tag on the item in the sleeve.
Another embodiment of the invention is an envelope used for mailing letters and other items lined with or made with a material of the invention.
Another embodiment of the invention is a pocket in clothing, e.g., jackets and pants lined with or made with a material of the invention.
Another embodiment of the invention is a cover for ground fault electrical outlets that prevents the RFID reader 1scanner from triggering the ground fault outlet.
From the description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention will prevent a Radio Frequency identification tag from receiving an interrogating radio signal sent by a reader and from transmitting a signal from the tag to a reader.
Accordingly, the Radio Frequency identification tag blocking material can be used in any item that a Radio Frequency identification tagged ‘item can be placed inside. The Radio Frequency identification tagged items signal is blocked until the item is removed to be read. This prevents the Radio Frequency identification tagged item from being read without the individual's consent or knowledge. The Radio Frequency identification tag is not harmed, altered or damaged in any way.
Although the description above contains many uses, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A process for blocking the signal of a Radio Frequency identification tag comprising the steps of, making a lining or thread and cloth of non-magnetic material containing non-magnetic metal in such concentration as is capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from said Radio Frequency identification tag; and incorporating said lining or thread and cloth into an article of manufacture wherein the article may be used to hold a Radio Frequency identification tag within it.

A. Wherein said non-magnetic metal is selected from a group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, carbon nanotubes, and platinum.

B. Wherein said lining or thread and cloth does not substantially affect the ability of the article to bend or fold in its intended use and wherein said bending and folding does not alter the ability of said lining or thread and cloth to attenuate or block said signal.

C. Wherein said lining or thread and cloth is incorporated in said article of manufacture in such a manner that it is not visible without deconstructing the article of manufacture.

D. Wherein said non-magnetic material is in the form of a foil.

E. Wherein said article of manufacture is selected from a group consisting of a bags, backpacks, bags, boxes, briefcases, cases, clothing, envelopes, handbags, labels, money belts, night deposit bags, passport cases, patches, pockets, purses, sleeves and wallets.

F. Wherein said non-magnetic metal is a compound comprised of molecules containing one or more non-magnetic metal atoms.

2. A process for blocking the signal of a Radio Frequency identification Device comprising the steps of, making a lining of thread, cloth, plastic, gel, aerosol, paint, or glue with non-magnetic metals uniformly distributed or embedded therein in such concentration as is capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from a Radio Frequency identifications tag; and incorporating said lining or thread and cloth into an article of manufacture wherein the article may be used to hold a Radio Frequency identification tag within it.

A. Wherein the lining or thread and cloth is integrated into the manufacture of, the article such that it is unrecognizable as a lining and is indistinguishable from the components of the article.

B. Wherein the lining is incorporated into a cover for ground fault outlets that prevents an RFID reader from triggering the ground fault.

3. A process for blocking the signal of a Radio Frequency identification Device comprising the steps of, making a patch comprised of a ceramic, plastic, gel, aerosol, paint, or glue with non-magnetic metals uniformly distributed or embedded therein in such concentration as is capable of blocking or attenuating transmission of a signal to or from a Radio Frequency identification tag; and applying an adhesive to one side of said patch, wherein said adhesive is capable of adhering the patch to a Radio Frequency identification tag.

A. Wherein said adhesive is made of acryl ate copolymer microspheres.