# US 10,503,940 B2 · Secure passport reading

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- Number: US 10,503,940 B2
- Document ID: US10503940B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/418,726
- Filed: 2017-01-28
- Published: 2017-07-13
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-07
- Assignees: Mynette Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Steven Michael Colby
- Inventors: Steven Michael Colby
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503940B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/10158: {methods and means used by the interrogation device for reliably powering the wireless record carriers using an electromagnetic interrogation field}
- G06K 7/10316: {using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers (antennas in general H01Q1/22)}
- G06K 19/07709: {the interface being a keyboard}
- G06K 19/07758: {arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag}
- G06Q 20/227: {characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer}
- G06Q 20/3278: {RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices}
- G06Q 20/4012: {Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Various switchable RFID devices are disclosed. These switchable RFID devices may include one or more RFID tags and one or more switches. Some of these one or more switches are optionally wireless. In various embodiments, the switchable RFID devices include cellular phones, security devices, identity devices, financial devices, remote controls, and the like. The switchable RFID devices are optionally disposed in a passport.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating an RFID tag disposed within a passport, the method comprising:
receiving energy to power the RFID tag, via an antenna disposed within the passport;
reading a state of the RFID tag from a state memory;
examining the read state;
and in the alternative:
if the read state is a first state, sending an RF response using the antenna,
if the read state is a second state, sending a restricted response using the antenna, the restricted RF response including less data than the RF response.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the RF response includes personal identifying information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the restricted RF response does not include the personal identifying information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the RF response includes data displayed on the passport.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data configured to change the state of the RFID tag.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising opening the passport to move a metallic shielding away from the antenna.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the metallic shielding includes a mesh.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the metallic shielding includes multiple layers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the metallic shielding includes a wire mesh.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the metallic shielding includes metallic fibers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the energy is received in an RF signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the RF signal is received from more than one direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically changing the state of the RFID tag after sending the RF response.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is disposed in a cover of the passport.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the passport includes an RF shield configured to block signals from reaching the antenna.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the RF shield includes a metal mesh.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the RF shield includes metallic fibers.

### Claim 18

A method of operating an RFID tag disposed within a passport, the method comprising:
receiving energy to power the RFID tag, via an antenna disposed within the passport and coupled to the RFID tag;
determining a state of the RFID tag; and
in the alternative:
if the state is a first state, sending an RF response using the antenna, the RF response including personal identifying information visually displayed on a surface of the passport,
if the state is a second state, sending a restricted RF response using the antenna, the restricted RF response including less personal identifying information than the RF response.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the restricted RF response does not include the personal identifying information.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the personal identifying information includes a photograph.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the restricted RF response does not include any personal identifying information.