US 2015/0310715 A1Published application

Secure passive rfid tag with seal

AssigneeDirac Solutions, Inc.

InventorsFaranak Nekoogar, Matthew Reynolds, Scott Lefton, Farid Dowla, Richard Twogood

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Abstract

A secure passive RFID tag system comprises at least one base station and at least one passive RFID tag. The tag includes a fiber optic cable with the cable ends sealed within the tag and the middle portion forming an external loop. The loop may be secured to at least portions of an object. The tag transmits and receives an optical signal through the fiber optic cable, and the cable is configured to be damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein the optical signal is significantly altered if the cable is damaged or broken. The tag transmits the optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from the base station and compares the transmitted optical signal to the received optical signal. If the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal are identical, the tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to the base station.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:

at least one base station;
at least one passive RFID tag, said tag being powered exclusively by received radio energy;
said tag further comprising means for receiving radio signals from said base station and transmitting radio signals to said base station;
said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a second end and a middle portion therebetween, wherein said first and second ends are fastened within said tag and said middle portion forms an external loop;
said loop adapted to be secured to, around or through at least portions of an object;
said tag having means for transmitting an optical signal through said fiber optic cable, and means for receiving said optical signal;
said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken;
said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station;
said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal;
and
whereby if said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical, said tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to said base station.

8 more elements

A secure passive RFID tag system comprising:

at least one base station;
at least one passive RFID tag, said tag being powered exclusively by received radio energy;
said tag further comprising a microcontroller or microprocessor;
said tag further comprising a parasitic patch type antenna;
said tag further comprising means for receiving encrypted radio signals from said base station, decrypting said radio signals, and transmitting encrypted radio signals to said base station;
said tag further comprising further comprising signal processing circuitry and at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of temperature sensor, radiation sensor, light level sensor, humidity sensor, vibration sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope;
said tag further comprising an optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal and an optical receiver for receiving an optical signal;
said optical signal being an infra-red signal;
said tag further comprising an environmentally sealed enclosure;
said enclosure being at least partially formed of a radio transparent molded polymer;
said enclosure having adhesive tape means for attachment to an object;
said tag having a fiber optic cable comprising a first end, a middle portion and a second end, wherein said first end is environmentally sealed within said tag and in optical communication with said optical transmitter;
said enclosure having an environmentally sealable port for receiving said second end of said fiber optic cable and placing said second end in optical communication with said optical receiver;
wherein said second end may be field inserted and environmentally sealed into said port;
whereby inserting said second end into said port forms said middle portion into an external loop;
said loop being adapted to be secured to, around or through at least portions of an object;
said fiber optic cable being frangible and therefore easily damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein said optical signal is detectably altered if said fiber optic cable is damaged or broken;
said tag transmitting said optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from said base station;
said tag having means for comparing said transmitted optical signal to said received optical signal;
said tag determining a tamper status dependent upon whether said transmitted optical signal and said received optical signal are approximately identical;
and
whereby said tag transmits a radio signal comprising tamper status data and sensor data to said base station.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.