Activatable RF tags with variable read range

A radio frequency (RF) tag, comprising:

• an integrated circuit;
• an antenna, having a plurality of antenna portions;
• wherein a first antenna portion of the plurality of antenna portions is electrically connected in a closed circuit with the integrated circuit, and
• a first activatable environmental exposure indicator and a second activatable environmental exposure indicator, each having a conductive state and a nonconductive state,
• wherein, when the first activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the conductive state, a second antenna portion of the plurality of antenna portions is in the closed circuit with the first antenna portion and the integrated circuit and, when the first activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the nonconductive state, the second antenna portion is in an open circuit,
• wherein, when the first activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the conductive state and the second activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the conductive state, a third antenna portion of the plurality of antenna portions is in the closed circuit with the first antenna portion, the second antenna portion and the integrated circuit and, when at least one of the first activatable environmental exposure indicator and the second activatable environmental exposure indicator are in the nonconductive state, the third antenna portion is in an open circuit,
• wherein the first activatable environmental exposure indicator includes a first plurality of microcapsules, each microcapsule of the first plurality of microcapsules including a frangible shell containing a first payload, the first payload comprising a first conductive material and a first liquefiable material,
• wherein the first liquefiable material is configured to liquefy responsive to a first predetermined environmental exposure,
• wherein the frangible shells of the first plurality of microcapsules are configured to contain the first payload when the first liquefiable material is liquefied,
• wherein the second activatable environmental exposure indicator includes a second plurality of microcapsules, each microcapsule of the second plurality of microcapsules including a frangible shell containing a second payload, the second payload comprising a second conductive material and a second liquefiable material,
• where in the second liquefiable material is configured to liquefy responsive to a second predetermined environmental exposure,
• wherein the frangible shells of the second plurality of microcapsules are configured to contain the second payload when the second liquefiable material is liquefied,
• wherein the frangible shells of the first plurality of microcapsules and the frangible shells of the second plurality of microcapsules are configured to rupture in response to an application of an activation action exceeding a predetermined activation threshold, releasing the first payload and the second payload respectively, and
• wherein after the frangible shells of the first plurality of microcapsules are ruptured, responsive to the activation action, and responsive to the first liquefiable material being liquefied, the first activatable environmental exposure indicator transitions to the conductive state, thus establishing a closed circuit between the integrated circuit and the second antenna portion,
• wherein after the frangible shells in the second plurality of microcapsules are ruptured responsive to the activation action, and responsive to the second liquefiable material being liquefied, the second activatable environmental exposure indicator transitions to the conductive state, thus establishing a closed circuit between the second antenna portion and the third antenna portion.

A radio frequency (RF) tag, comprising:

• an integrated circuit,
• an antenna, having a first antenna portion, a second antenna portion and a third antenna portion,
• wherein the first antenna portion is electrically connected in a closed circuit with the integrated circuit;
• an activation indicator component, having a component conductive state and a component nonconductive state;
• and
• an activatable environmental exposure indicator, having an indicator conductive state and an indicator nonconductive state,
• wherein the second antenna portion is in the closed circuit with the integrated circuit and the first antenna portion when the activation indicator component is in the component conductive state, and in an open circuit when the activation indicator component is in the component nonconductive state,
• wherein when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator conductive state and the activation indicator component is in the component conductive state, the third antenna portion is in a closed circuit with the integrated circuit, and when at least one of the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the indicator nonconductive state and the activation indicator component is in the component nonconductive state, the third antenna portion is in an open circuit,
• wherein the activation indicator component includes a first plurality of microcapsules, each having a nonconductive frangible shell containing a conductive material,
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator includes a second plurality of microcapsules, each microcapsule of the second plurality of microcapsules having a nonconductive frangible shell containing a liquefiable material,
• wherein the liquefiable material is configured to liquefy responsive to a predetermined environmental exposure,
• wherein the frangible shells of the first plurality of microcapsules and the frangible shells of the second plurality of microcapsules are configured to rupture in response to an application of an activation action exceeding a predetermined activation threshold, releasing the conductive material and the liquefiable material respectively, and
• wherein when the conductive material is released from the frangible shells of the first plurality of microcapsules, the conductive material forms a first electrical connection across the activation indicator component, transitioning the activation indicator component to the component conductive state,
• wherein when the liquefiable material liquefies responsive to the predetermined environmental exposure after the liquefiable material is released from the frangible shells of the second plurality of microcapsules, the liquefiable material forms a second electrical connection across the activatable environmental exposure indicator, transitioning the activatable environmental exposure indicator to the indicator conductive state.

A radio frequency (RF) tag, comprising:

• an integrated circuit;
• an antenna, having an operational antenna length, electrically connected to the integrated circuit;
• and
• an activatable environmental exposure indicator included in the antenna, having a first state and a second state,
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator is configured to transition from the first state to the second state responsive to a predetermined environmental exposure occurring after an application of an activation action,
• wherein the activatable environmental exposure indicator does not transition from the first state to the second state prior to the application of the activation action, even when exposed to the predetermined environmental exposure, and
• wherein the operational antenna length is configured to change based on whether the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the first state or the second state,
• wherein the integrated circuit is configured to cause the antenna to emit a response signal responsive to an interrogation signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader having a specified frequency range and a specified power range which is received by the antenna, the response signal having a) a first read range for the RFID reader when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the first state and b) a second read range for the RFID reader when the activatable environmental exposure indicator is in the second state.