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US 6,421,013 B1Granted
Tamper-resistant wireless article including an antenna
AssigneeAmerasia International Technology, Inc.
InventorKevin Kwong-Tai Chung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless article, such as an identification tag or badge, includes an electronic device mounted on a substrate and connected a loop antenna for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency signals. Electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate or in holes through the substrate of the wireless article connect the antenna terminals to the electronic device contacts. The structure and materials of the wireless article may be rugged and strong to provide a tamper-resistant article, and/or may include one or more weakened or frangible portions that easily break to provide a tamper-destruct article. The wireless article may be arranged to resist heat, moisture and/or solvents, to function in severe environments such as laundering and industrial processes.
Claims57
A tamper-resistant article comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing broad planar surfaces, said substrate including at least one layer of a strong dielectric adhesive on the first broad planar surface thereof having an exposed surface adapted for adhesively attaching said substrate to an object;
- a pattern of electrically-conductive material including an elongated electrical conductor on the first or the second broad planar surface of said substrate and having at least one electrical contact;
- and
- at least one electronic device attached to the first or the second broad planar surface of said substrate by a strong adhesive and having at least one contact electrically connected to the contact of said pattern of electrically-conductive material,
- whereby at least one of the at least one layer of strong dielectric adhesive of said substrate and the strong adhesive attaching said electronic device render said article resistant to tampering.
2 more elements
A tamper-resistant article comprising:
- a substrate including at least one layer of a strong dielectric adhesive having an exposed surface adapted for attaching said substrate to an object and having at least two holes;
- a pattern of electrically-conductive material including an elongated electrical conductor on one surface of said substrate and having at least one electrical contact;
- and
- at least one electronic device attached to said substrate by a strong adhesive and having at least one contact electrically connected to the contact of said pattern of electrically-conductive adhesive,
- whereby at least one of the strong dielectric material of said substrate and the strong adhesive attaching said electronic device render said article resistant to tampering, and
- a second pattern of electrically-conductive material having at least two additional electrical contacts on a second surface of said substrate, each of said at least two additional contacts being electrically connected to said pattern of electrically-conductive material on the one surface of said substrate through the at least two holes, respectively, wherein said electronic device has at least two contacts electrically connected respectively to the at least two additional contacts of the electrically-conductive material.
3 more elements
A tamper-destruct article comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing broad planar surfaces, said substrate including at least one layer of a dielectric adhesive on the first broad planar surface thereof having an exposed surface adapted for adhesively attaching said substrate to an object;
- a pattern of electrically-conductive material including an elongated electrical conductor on the first or the second broad planar surface of said substrate and having at least one electrical contact;
- and
- at least one electronic device attached to the first or the second broad planar surface of said substrate by an adhesive and having at least one contact electrically connected to the contact of said pattern of electrically-conductive material;
- wherein at least one of said pattern of electrically conductive material and the electrical connection of the contact of said electronic device to said substrate includes at least one frangible region,
- whereby tampering with said article tends to break at least one of the frangible regions of said pattern of electrically-conductive material and the adhesive attaching said electronic device.
3 more elements
A tamper-destruct article comprising:
- a substrate including at least one layer of a dielectric adhesive having an exposed surface adapted for adhesively attaching said substrate to an object and having at least two holes;
- a pattern of electrically-conductive material including an elongated electrical conductor on one surface of said substrate and having at least one electrical contact;
- and
- at least one electronic device attached to said substrate by an adhesive and having at least one contact electrically connected to the contact of said pattern of electrically-conductive material;
- wherein at least one of said pattern of electrically conductive material and the electrical connection of the contact of said electronic device to said substrate includes at least one frangible region,
- whereby tampering with said article tends to break at least one of the frangible regions of said pattern of electrically-conductive material and the adhesive attaching said electronic device, and
- a second pattern of electrically-conductive material having at least two additional electrical contacts on a second surface of said substrate, each of said at least two additional contacts being electrically connected to said pattern of electrically-conductive material on the one surface of said substrate through the at least two holes, respectively, wherein said electronic device has at least two contacts electrically connected respectively to the at least two additional contacts of the electrically-conductive material.
4 more elements
A wireless article having an electronic device embedded therein and adapted to evidence tampering therewith comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing broad planar surfaces;
- an electronic device mounted on the first broad planar surface of said substrate;
- a patterned electrically-conductive material on one of the first and second broad planar surfaces of said substrate electrically coupled to said electronic device, said patterned electrically-conductive material including a frangible region susceptible to breaking upon tampering therewith;
- and
- a layer of melt-flowable adhesive on the first broad planar surface of said substrate covering said electronic device, whereby said electronic device is encapsulated by said layer of melt-flowable adhesive, said layer of melt-flowable adhesive being adapted for adhesively attaching said substrate to a utilization object.
2 more elements
A wireless article having an electronic device embedded therein and adapted to evidence tampering therewith comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces;
- an electronic device mounted on the first surface of said substrate;
- a patterned electrically-conductive material on said substrate electrically coupled to said electronic device, said patterned electrically-conductive material including a frangible region susceptible to breaking upon tampering therewith;
- and
- a layer of melt-flowable adhesive on the first surface of said substrate covering said electronic device, whereby said electronic device is encapsulated by said layer of melt-flowable adhesive, said layer of melt-flowable adhesive being adapted for attaching said substrate to a utilization object;
- wherein said patterned electrically-conductive material includes an elongated electrical conductor, and
- wherein said elongated electrical conductor is a loop antenna of one of (a) a deposited pattern of conductive adhesive and (b) a hot-stamped foil of copper or silver on the second surface of said substrate, and electrically connected to said electronic device by electrically-conductive adhesive vias through said substrate.
4 more elements
A wireless article having an electronic device embedded therein and adapted to evidence tampering therewith comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces;
- an electronic device mounted on the first surface of said substrate;
- a patterned electrically-conductive material on said substrate electrically coupled to said electronic device, said patterned electrically-conductive material including a frangible region susceptible to breaking upon tampering therewith;
- and
- a layer of melt-flowable adhesive on the second surface of said substrate, said layer of melt-flowable adhesive being adapted for attaching said substrate to a utilization object.
2 more elements
An electronic article comprising:
- a layer of electrically insulating adhesive providing a planar adhesive substrate, the adhesive having an adhesive bond strength that substantially exceeds the intrinsic strength of the adhesive, whereby attempting to remove the planar adhesive substrate from an object to which it is adhesively attached by said adhesive results in damage to the planar adhesive substrate before separation of the planar adhesive substrate from the object;
- an electronic device that is one of mounted to and embedded in said planar adhesive substrate;
- and
- an antenna on a surface of said planar adhesive substrate and electrically connected to said electronic device.
1 more element
An electronic article comprising:
- a layer of electrically insulating adhesive providing a substrate, the adhesive having an adhesive bond strength that substantially exceeds the intrinsic strength of the adhesive, whereby attempting to remove the substrate from an object to which it is attached by said adhesive results in damage to the substrate before separation of the substrate from the object;
- an electronic device that is one of mounted to and embedded in said adhesive substrate;
- and
- an antenna on a surface of said adhesive substrate and electrically connected to said electronic device,
- wherein said electronic device is electrically connected to said antenna by electrically-conductive adhesive that is one of (a) of substantially lower intrinsic strength than the intrinsic strength of the adhesive of said substrate, and (b) soluble in a solvent that dissolves the adhesive of said substrate, whereby attempting to remove the electronic article from a utilization object by physical force or solvent tends to damage the electrical connection of the antenna to the electronic device.
2 more elements
An electronic article comprising:
- a layer of electrically insulating adhesive providing a substrate, the adhesive having an adhesive bond strength that substantially exceeds the intrinsic strength of the adhesive, whereby attempting to remove the substrate from an object to which it is attached by said adhesive results in damage to the substrate before separation of the substrate from the object;
- an electronic device that is one of mounted to and embedded in said adhesive substrate;
- and
- an antenna on a surface of said adhesive substrate and electrically connected to said electronic device,
- wherein at least a portion of said antenna is a frangible region having a strength substantially less than the intrinsic strength of the adhesive of said substrate, whereby attempting to remove the electronic article from the object by physical force tends to damage the antenna.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.