# US 10,311,355 B1 · RFID tags > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,355 B1 - Document ID: US10311355B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/086,855 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Camerin Cole Hahn; Matthew Perkins; Nikolai Orlov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311355B1 ## CPC - G06K 19/07794: {the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit} - G06K 19/0776: {the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker} - G06K 19/07771: {the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract This disclosure describes RFID tags that include capacitive shields to capacitively couple with antennas of the RFID tags when exposed to threshold levels of electromagnetic energy, such as when placed in a microwave. In some instances, these capacitive shields comprise a material that is both thermally conductive and electrically conductive. When exposed to electromagnetic energy of a high frequency, the capacitive shield may capacitively couple to the antenna of the RFID and, thus, may receive energy from the antenna. Given the properties of the capacitive shield, the capacitive shield may convert this energy into thermal energy and dissipate this heat into an ambient environment of the RFID tag. By doing so, the capacitive shield lessens the risk that dangerous arcing will occur from the electromagnetic energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an antenna, residing on the top surface of the substrate in a spiral pattern; a jumper, residing on the bottom surface of the substrate and coupling a first end of the antenna with a second end of the antenna; an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the antenna; an adhesive layer residing on the bottom surface of the substrate; and a metal layer, coupled to the bottom surface of the substrate via the adhesive layer, the metal layer having a slot that leads to an opening in the metal layer that is larger than the slot such that material of the metal layer resides beneath a first portion of the substrate on which the antenna resides and the opening in the metal layer resides beneath a second portion of the substrate that does not include at least a portion of the antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An RFID tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a first portion that is substantially linear and a second portion having a substantial sine-wave shape. ### Claim 3 A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an antenna, coupled to the top surface of the substrate; and a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive layer includes a slot such that a first portion of the antenna resides over the conductive layer but a second portion of the antenna does not reside over the conductive layer, and wherein the slot of the conductive layer leads into an opening in the conductive layer that is larger than the slot, at least a portion of the opening corresponding to at least a portion of the substrate on which at least a portion of the antenna does not reside. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, further comprising an adhesive layer coupled to the bottom surface of the substrate, and wherein the conductive layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the substrate via the adhesive layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the conductive layer is coupled to the top surface of the substrate, and further comprising an insulating layer between the conductive layer and the antenna. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, further comprising a jumper that couples a first end of the antenna with a second end of the antenna, and wherein the jumper resides at least partly over the conductive layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, further comprising a jumper that couples a first end of the antenna with a second end of the antenna, and wherein the conductive layer is substantially C-shaped, G-shaped, H-shaped, or U-shaped and material of the substantially C-shaped, G-shaped, H-shaped, or U-shaped conductive layer resides below the jumper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the conductive layer capacitively couples to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is approximately equal to 2.5 Gigahertz and does not capacitively couple to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is approximately equal to 14 Megahertz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the conductive layer capacitively couples to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is greater than a frequency threshold, the conductive layer converting the electromagnetic energy into thermal energy such that the thermal energy dissipates from the conductive layer into an ambient environment of the RFID tag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) An RFID tag as recited in claim 3, wherein the antenna comprises a first portion that is substantially linear and a second portion having a substantial sine-wave shape. ### Claim 11 A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an antenna, coupled to the top surface of the substrate; and a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the substrate to capacitively couple to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is greater than a frequency threshold, the conductive layer converting the electromagnetic energy into thermal energy such that the thermal energy dissipates from the conductive layer into an ambient environment of the RFID tag, wherein the conductive layer includes a slot such that a first portion of the antenna resides over the conductive layer but a second portion of the antenna does not reside over the conductive layer, the slot leading into an opening in the conductive layer, the opening being larger than the slot and at least a portion of the opening corresponding to at least a portion of the substrate that does not include at least a portion of the antenna. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, further comprising a jumper that couples a first end of the antenna with a second end of the antenna, wherein the jumper resides at least partly over the conductive layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, further comprising a jumper that couples a first end of the antenna with a second end of the antenna, and wherein the conductive layer is substantially C-shaped, G-shaped, H- shaped, or U-shaped and material of the substantially C-shaped, G-shaped, H-shaped, or U-shaped conductive layer resides below the jumper portion of the antenna. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the conductive layer capacitively couples to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is approximately equal to 2.5 Gigahertz and does not capacitively couple to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a frequency that is approximately equal to 14 Megahertz. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the conductive layer has a value of electrical conductance that is greater than approximately 1.00×107 Siemens at 20° Celsius. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the conductive layer comprises one or more of metal, silicon, germanium, carbon, or conductive particulate glue. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) An RFID tag as recited in claim 11, wherein the antenna comprises a first portion that is substantially linear and a second portion having a substantial sine-wave shape. ### Claim 18 A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an antenna, coupled to the top surface of the substrate; and a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the substrate to capacitively couple to the antenna in response to the RFID tag being exposed to electromagnetic energy having a threshold frequency, wherein the conductive layer includes a slot such that a first portion of the antenna resides over the conductive layer but a second portion of the antenna does not reside over the conductive layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The RFID tag as recited in claim 18, wherein the conductive layer is further to convert the electromagnetic energy into thermal energy such that the thermal energy dissipates from the conductive layer into an ambient environment of the RFID tag.