# US 10,769,391 B2 · Flexible label with activating circuitry

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- Number: US 10,769,391 B2
- Document ID: US10769391B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/564,454
- Filed: 2019-09-09
- Published: 2020-01-02
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-19
- Assignees: RFMicron, Inc.
- Applicants: RFMicron, Inc.
- Inventors: Tanmay Zargar; Alan Wayne Hansford; Shahriar Rokhsaz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769391B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications}
- G06K 19/0717: {the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- G06K 19/07345: {by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches}
- G06K 19/07726: {the record comprising means for indicating first use, e.g. a frangible layer}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

A label sensor that can be affixed to an item includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes a memory, an environmental sensor, a radio frequency (RF) front end that includes a tuning circuit, and a processing module. The processing module is operably coupled to the memory, the environmental sensor, and the RF front end. The second section includes an activation circuit that is operable, upon receiving an input, to activate one or more of the memory, the environmental sensor, the RF front end and the processing module. The activation causes the label sensor to be put in a first operational mode of a plurality of operational modes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A label sensor comprising:
a first section of the label sensor, wherein the label sensor is operable to be affixed to an item, and wherein the first section includes:
memory;
an environmental sensor;
a radio frequency (RF) front end, wherein the RF front end includes a tuning circuit; and
a processing module operably coupled to the memory, the environmental sensor, and the RF front end; and
a second section of the label sensor that includes an activation circuit, wherein the activation circuit is operable, upon receiving an input, to activate one or more of the memory, the environmental sensor, the RF front end and the processing module, and wherein the activation causes the label sensor to be put in a first operational mode of a plurality of operational modes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises two or more of:
initially activating a computing device;
initializing of coefficients for data processing;
configuration of the label sensor by a user;
operation of the memory;
operation of the environmental sensor;
operation of the RF front end; and
operation the processing module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the label sensor is fabricated on a flexible circuit board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the input comprises one or more of:
a radio frequency (RF) signal;
an electrical input; and
a mechanical input.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the RF front end further includes one or more of:
a receiver;
a transmitter; and
an antenna.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the activation circuit further comprises:
two or more switches, wherein a first combination of activation of the two or more switches enables the first operational mode, and wherein a second combination of activation of the two or more switches enables a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The label sensor of claim 6, wherein a switch of the two or more switches has two operational states.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The label sensor of claim 6, wherein a switch of the two or more switches has more than two operational states.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1 further comprises:
a first portion of the label sensor being operable to move one or more distances with respect to a second portion of the label sensor, wherein the movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion of a first distance of the one or more distances is operable to enable the first operational mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the activation circuit further comprises:
one or more removable layers operably coupled to the label sensor, wherein a first layer of the one or more removable layers, when removed, is operable to enable the operational mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the item comprises one or more of:
a container;
a box;
a vial;
a package;
a personal item;
a pet;
an automobile component; and
an article of manufacture.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor is operable to determine one or more quantities comprising one or more of:
a moisture;
a temperature;
a pressure;
a humidity;
an altitude;
a sonic wave;
a human contact;
a surface condition;
a tracking; and
a location.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1, wherein the first section further comprises:
a power source, wherein the power source includes one or more of:
a power harvesting circuit operably coupled to the RF front end and the activation circuit; and
a battery operably coupled to the activation circuit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The label sensor of claim 1 further comprises:
activating, by the activation circuit, the one or more of the memory, the environmental sensor, the RF front end and the processing module by providing enabling signals to the one or more of the memory, the environmental sensor, the RF front end and the processing module, wherein the enabling signals cause each of the one or more of the memory, the environmental sensor, the RF front end and the processing module to be placed in one of an active mode, a sleep mode and an inactive mode.