Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
  • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
  • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
  • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
  • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
  • G08B13/2414—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags
  • G08B13/2417—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags having a radio frequency identification chip
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/0716—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
  • G06K19/07749—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
  • G06K19/07798—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
  • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
  • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
  • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
  • G08B13/2428—Tag details
  • G08B13/2431—Tag circuit details
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
  • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
  • G09F3/0297—Forms or constructions including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
  • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
  • G09F3/03—Forms or constructions of security seals
  • G09F3/0305—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used
  • G09F3/0329—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used having electronic sealing means
  • G09F3/0335—Forms or constructions of security seals characterised by the type of seal used having electronic sealing means using RFID tags
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
  • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
  • H01Q9/16—Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole
  • H01Q9/26—Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
  • H01Q1/2208—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems
  • H01Q1/2225—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to a strap comprising multiple pads. Specifically, the pads combine a connection to an RFID antenna and a sensing component into the same structure.
• the strap is a multi-port strap. Accordingly, the present specification makes specific reference thereto.
• RFID radio frequency identification
• Typical RFID tags or integrated circuits include a microprocessor, also known as a microchip, electrically connected to an antenna.
• the microchip is first attached to a pad having electrical leads that provides a larger attachment or "landing" area. This is typically referred to as a "strap" or “interposer.”
• the strap is then attached to the antenna.
• interposers include conductive leads or pads that are electrically coupled to the contact pads of the chips for coupling to the pads on the antennas, whereupon the area of coupling is sufficient to provide efficient coupling at UHF (ultra high frequency) frequencies.
• the chip would comprise a first port for coupling to the antenna and a secondary port.
• This secondary port can be configured to perform a number of functions, such as determining the open or closed circuit state. Further, determination of the connection state of the secondary port is determined by a low frequency pulse, which does not couple efficiently via the capacitance that couples the UHF connection to the antenna.
• the microprocessor within the RFID tags stores data, which can include identifying data unique to a specific item, which is transmitted to an external receiver (interrogator) for reading by an operator and processing of the item.
• the microprocessor also modulates a radio frequency (RF) signal that is transmitted via the antenna.
• the external reader (interrogator) is used to capture the data transmitted by the RFID tag.
• RFID tags can be attached to or associated with items, consumer or luxury goods, apparel or garments, consumable products such as food for inventory control, shipment control, loss prevention, and the like.
• the present invention discloses a multi-port strap comprising an RFID antenna and a sensing component. Specifically, the strap has a UHF port for coupling to an antenna and a secondary port. An extended area connected to the secondary port functions as an anti-tamper area, wherein a change of state indicates that the label has been cut out of the garment.
• the subject matter disclosed and claimed herein in one aspect thereof, comprises a multi-port strap comprising an RFID antenna and a sensing component.
• the strap has a first port for coupling to an antenna and a secondary port.
• An extended area connected to the secondary port functions as an anti-tamper area, wherein a change of state indicates that the label has been cut out of the garment.
• the secondary port initially in a closed circuit state due to the structure of the strap, becomes an open circuit when the secondary port is cut, torn, or in any other way broken.
• this change of state can be associated with a printed fabric label in a garment, food freshness label, or other tag or label, including those situations where the elements of the tag or label are created on an apparel item such as through a heat transfer process and the structure of the RFID tag is applied over the heat transfer area, where the state change indicates that the label, tag or heat transfer has been cut out of the garment.
• the secondary port is initially in an open circuit state and a material responsive to a sensed state can make it short circuit.
• the conductors of the secondary port may be given access to an external environment and change state in response to the presence of an environmental factor, such as moisture.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the multi-port strap device in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the multi-port device showing the area where a transverse cut or other break will change the state of the secondary port in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-port device wherein the secondary port is initially in an open circuit state in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of the multi-port device showing how the strap is suitable for sewing into a garment in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the multi-port device with an UHF antenna showing how cutting the extended area would change the secondary port state in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the multi-port device showing that the extended strap prevents a cut through the anti-tamper area from damaging the UHF antenna in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of an alternative structure of the multi-port device wherein the RFID chip detects the port state with a relatively low frequency pulse in accordance with the disclosed architecture.
• the present invention discloses a multi-port strap device having multiple pads that can combine a connection to an RFID antenna and a sensing function, such as an open or closed circuit state, into the same structure.
• Straps carrying RFID chips are known in the art.
• the pads of the strap can couple reactively to the pads on the antenna, whereupon the area of coupling is sufficient to provide efficient coupling at UHF (ultra high frequency) frequencies.
• UHF ultra high frequency
• an alternative chip with more than one port an example of this is the G2iL+ by NXP ® semiconductors.
• This chip has a UHF port for coupling to an antenna and a secondary port.
• This secondary port can be configured to perform a number of different functions, one of which is to determine the open or closed circuit state of the chip.
• an open circuit is defined as having a resistance greater than a pre-defined value and a closed circuit is defined as having a resistance lower than the pre-defined value.
• the determination of the connection state of the port is then determined by a low frequency pulse, which does not couple efficiently via the capacitance that couples the UHF connection to the antenna.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a strap device 100 comprising two ports, a first port 102 and a secondary port 104.
• the strap device 100 comprises a chip 106 and is coupled to a conductor structure, such as an antenna. Coupling between the antenna and strap device 100 may be a direct, conductive coupling or may be an indirect coupling, such as a capacitive or inductive coupling or any combination of conductive, capacitive and inductive coupling.
• the strap device 100 also comprises UHF (ultra high frequency) pads 108 on either side of the first port 102 for coupling to the antenna.
• the strap device 100 comprises an extended area connected to the secondary port 104, such as extended port pads 110 coupled to the secondary port 104.
• This extended area (i.e., extended port pads 110) can perform functions such as anti- tamper functions, wherein the secondary port 104, initially in a closed circuit state due to the structure of the strap device 100, becomes an open circuit when the extended port pads 110 of the secondary port 104 area are cut, torn or in any other way broken.
• the secondary port 104 is an open/short circuit sensing port on the chip 106, such that when a user opens or shorts the circuit at the short circuit point 112, a change of state occurs. Accordingly, the secondary port 104, initially in a closed circuit state due to the structure of the strap device 100, becomes an open circuit (or short circuit) when the secondary port 104 is cut, torn, or in any other way broken.
• this change of state can be associated with a printed fabric label in a garment, or other tag or label provided on an apparel item, consumer good, food product or where the label or tag is created via a heat transfer product directly on the item where the state change indicates that the label has been cut out of the garment.
• the strap device 100 structure can be any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention.
• shape and size of the strap structure as shown in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes only and many other shapes and sizes of the strap structure are well within the scope of the present disclosure.
• dimensions of the strap structure i.e., length, width, and height
• the strap structure may be any shape or size that ensures optimal performance and sensitivity during use.
• the strap device 100 is coupled to an antenna, wherein the antenna structure can be any of a variety of materials, for example aluminum, copper, silver or another thin, conductive material, for example etched or hot-stamped metal foil, or any other suitable material as is known in the art, such as conductive ink which can be printed to make a suitable antenna.
• the antenna structure further comprises at least two conductor pads, or any suitable number of conductor pads as is known in the art.
• FIG. 1 shows the strap device 100 with a first UHF port 102 and a secondary port 104 which can set a bit in the chip's 106 memory associated with the open/closed circuit state of the secondary port 104 as previously described.
• the detection or secondary port 104 is larger than the first or UHF antenna coupling port 102 to extend the area that a change in state can be detected over.
• FIG. 2 discloses the strap device 100 and the extended area (i.e., extended port pads 110) across which a transverse cut or other break will change the state of the secondary port 104.
• FIG. 3 discloses an alternative embodiment wherein the secondary port 304 of the strap device 300 is initially an open circuit and a material responsive to a sensed state can make the secondary port 304 short circuit.
• the material used changes resistance in response to an environmental condition, and the resistance, if it is above the open / short circuit threshold, maintains the initial open circuit state, but if it is below creates the short circuit state.
• the change of resistance can be associated with an environmental factor that can be sensed through a protective layer designed to protect the antenna and strap, such as a film which can be a suitable plastic in one embodiment.
• the protective layer can protect the antenna and strap from changes in temperature or light.
• the conductors of the secondary port 304 can be given access to an external environment through an aperture in the protective layer.
• the presence of a conductive material in contact with the strap allows the secondary port 304 to change state in response to the presence of an environmental factor such as a conductive liquid, water.
• FIG. 3A discloses another feature of the strap device 300, wherein the relatively wide conductors of the strap device 300 stop the conductive path from being broken when a label carrying the tag is sewn into a garment.
• the punctures 312 created by a sewing needle and line of stitches 314 to attach the tag to a garment are shown in FIG. 3A.
• the wide areas of the extended port pads 310 prevent the sewing of the tag into the garment to change the secondary 304 port state.
• the needle performing the sewing punches a series of holes for the stitches to pass through, at intervals. In one embodiment, for instance, the holes are approximately 1mm diameter at a spacing of 2mm a part.
• a thin line / pad, below 1mm can be cut by the needle prematurely changing the state of the port.
• FIG. 4 discloses an example of a strap device 100 (i.e., tag) showing a line 400 where a label would commonly be removed or separated from a garment by cutting, wherein this cutting would change the secondary port 104 state, allowing the tag to perform anti-tamper functions.
• FIG. 4 also discloses the UHF antenna 402 coupled to the first port 102.
• FIG. 5 discloses a feature of the extended strap device 100 and its associated antenna design, wherein the extended area (i.e., extended port pads 110) designed to function as the anti- tamper secondary port 104 is separate from the UHF antenna area 500, such that a cut through the anti-tamper secondary port 104 and/or extended port pads 110 does not damage or disable the UHF antenna 402. This allows the bit state to still be read remotely.
• the extended area i.e., extended port pads 110
• the extended area prevents cuts from damaging the UHF antenna 402, wherein a cut within the UHF antenna area 500 would reduce read range.
• a transverse cut in the anti-tamper region, extended area changes state in the secondary port 104.
• FIG. 6 discloses an alternative embodiment wherein the strap device 600 is designed to work with an RFID chip that detects the secondary port 604 state with a relatively low frequency pulse, for example one lasting lOOnS.
• the extended area 610 of the secondary port 604 comprises large pads (i.e., a large coupling area) which are an open circuit, and the large pads couple to an anti- tamper/sensing structure 614 (i.e., an extended metal area formed as part of the UHF antenna 616) formed as part of the antenna process. Due to the large area of coupling from the large pads, the pulse can pass through the capacitive joints and determine the open/short circuit state of the loop.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Details Of Aerials (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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Citations (11)

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• 2015
  • 2015-09-15 US US14/854,093 patent/US10186126B2/en active Active
• 2016
  • 2016-09-15 BR BR112018004826-7A patent/BR112018004826B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2016-09-15 EP EP16770428.7A patent/EP3350751A1/en active Pending
  • 2016-09-15 CN CN201680053162.9A patent/CN108027894A/zh active Pending
  • 2016-09-15 JP JP2018513814A patent/JP6843842B2/ja active Active
  • 2016-09-15 WO PCT/US2016/051805 patent/WO2017048885A1/en active Application Filing

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