Verification of RFID activation using activatable inlay

An RF tag, comprising;

• an antenna;
• an integrated circuit;
• an activation circuit connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna;
• an activation indicator component forming a portion of the activation circuit, the activation indicator component having a component conductive state and a component nonconductive state,
• wherein the activation circuit is closed when the activation indicator component is in the component conductive state and the activation circuit is open when the activation indicator component is in the component nonconductive state,
• wherein the activation indicator component transitions from the component nonconductive state to the component conductive state responsive to an application of an activation action to the RF tag,
• wherein the RF tag is configured, responsive to the antenna receiving an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range, to emit a response signal via the antenna when the activation circuit is closed, and not emit the response signal when the activation circuit is open;
• an electrical circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit;
• a variable capacitance structure included as a portion of the electrical circuit, including a plurality of parallel paths;
• an indicator path included as one of the plurality of parallel paths;
• and
• an activatable environmental exposure indicator included as a portion of the indicator path, wired in series with a first capacitor having a first capacitance,
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator has an indicator conductive state and an indicator nonconductive state, such that when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator conductive state the indicator path is closed and the indicator path has the first capacitance, and when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator nonconductive state, the indicator path is open and the indicator path has no capacitance,
• wherein when the indicator path has the first capacitance, the response signal is a first distinct response signal, and when the indicator path has no capacitance, the response signal is a second distinct response signal, and
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator becomes environmentally sensitive responsive to the activation action, such that when the RF tag is subsequently exposed to a predetermined environmental exposure, the activatable environmental exposure indicator transitions from a first of the indicator nonconductive state and the indicator conductive state to a second of the indicator nonconductive state and the indicator conductive state.

An RF tag, comprising:

• an antenna;
• an integrated circuit;
• an activation circuit connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna;
• an activation indicator component forming a portion of the activation circuit, the activation indicator component having a component conductive state and a component nonconductive state,
• wherein the activation circuit is closed when the activation indicator component is in the component conductive state and the activation circuit is open when the activation indicator component is in the component nonconductive state,
• wherein the activation indicator component transitions from the component nonconductive state to the component conductive state responsive to an application of an activation action to the RF tag,
• wherein the RF tag is configured, responsive to the antenna receiving an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range, to emit a response signal via the antenna when the activation circuit is closed, and not emit the response signal when the activation circuit is open;
• an electrical circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit;
• a variable capacitance structure, forming a portion of the electrical circuit;
• an activatable environmental exposure indicator, included in the variable capacitance structure, having an unexposed state and an exposed state, the activatable environmental exposure indicator configured to become environmentally sensitive responsive to the activation action, such that when the RF tag is exposed to a predetermined environmental exposure subsequent to the activation action, the activatable environmental exposure indicator transitions from the unexposed state to the exposed state, the activatable environmental exposure indicator configured to not transition from the unexposed state to the exposed state prior to the activation action,
• wherein the variable capacitance structure has a first capacitive state when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the unexposed state, and a second capacitive state when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the exposed state,
• wherein the integrated circuit is configured, responsive to the antenna receiving an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range, to cause the antenna to emit a response signal which varies depending on whether the variable capacitance structure is in the first capacitive state or the second capacitive state.

A method for verifying activation of an RF tag having

• an antenna,
• an integrated circuit,
• an activation circuit connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna,
• wherein the integrated circuit is configured, responsive to the RF tag being interrogated by an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range which is received by the antenna, to cause the antenna to emit a response signal when the activation circuit is closed but not emit a response signal when the activation circuit is open,
• an activation indicator component forming at least a portion of the activation circuit, the activation indicator component having a component conductive state and a component nonconductive state, such that the activation circuit is closed when the activation indicator component is in the component conductive state and the activation circuit is open when the activation indicator component is in the component nonconductive state,
• wherein the activation indicator component transitions from the component nonconductive state to the component conductive state responsive to an application of an activation action to the RF tag,
• an indicator circuit electrically connected to the integrated circuit,
• wherein when the indicator circuit is open, the response signal is a first distinct response signal, and when the indicator circuit is closed, the response signal is a second distinct response signal, and
• an activatable environmental exposure indicator coupled to the indicator circuit and having an indicator conductive state and an indicator nonconductive state, such that the indicator circuit is closed when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator conductive state and the indicator circuit is open when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator nonconductive state,
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator becomes environmentally sensitive responsive to the activation action, such that when the RF tag is subsequently exposed to a predetermined environmental exposure, the activatable environmental exposure indicator transitions from a first of the indicator nonconductive state and the indicator conductive state to a second of the indicator nonconductive state and the indicator conductive state,
• the method comprising:
• providing a media process path including a first process point and a second process point, the second process point downstream of the first process point;
• providing, at the first process point, the RF tag;
• interrogating, at the first process point, the RF tag with an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range;
• confirming, at the first process point, that the RF tag does not emit a response signal responsive to the interrogation signal;
• applying, at the second process point, the activation action to the RF tag;
• interrogating, at the second process point, the RF tag with an interrogation signal in a predetermined radiofrequency range;
• and
• confirming the activatable environmental exposure indicator has been activated, at the second process point, based on the RF tag emitting the response signal responsive to the interrogation signal.