Identification device and method

A method for forming a device comprising:

• a) providing a substrate;
• b) forming a first conductive layer having an initial pattern of conductive material on at least a portion of the substrate;
• c) forming a first dielectric layer on at least a portion of the first layer;
• d) forming a second conductive layer on the first dielectric layer, the second conductive layer including a terminal pattern capable of being read optically by a reader to obtain information, the pattern formed at least in part by conductive material, wherein the initial pattern and the terminal pattern are in electrical contact;
• and
• e) forming a resonant circuit configured to resonate at a resonant frequency, the resonant circuit formed at least in part from at least a portion of the electrically conductive material of at least one of the initial pattern and the terminal pattern.

A machine readable program resident on a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system for forming a pattern of conductive material on a substrate, the system including a substrate and a printer capable of printing material on the substrate, wherein the program comprises:

• means for instructing the printer to print a first layer on the substrate, the first layer including an initial pattern including conductive material;
• means for instructing the printer to print a second layer over the first layer, the second layer including dielectric material;
• and
• means for instructing the printer to print a third layer over the second layer, the third layer having a terminal pattern configured and adapted to be read optically by the reader to obtain the information, the terminal pattern including conductive material, wherein the initial pattern of conductive material and the terminal pattern of conductive material are in electrical contact.

A system for identifying an object comprising:

• a) a device comprising:
• i) a substrate;
• ii) a first conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, the first conductive layer including an initial pattern of conductive material;
• iii) a first dielectric layer disposed on the first conductive layer;
• iv) a second conductive layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, the second conductive layer including a terminal pattern adapted and configured to be read optically by a reader to obtain information, the pattern formed at least in part by electrically conductive material, wherein the initial pattern and the terminal pattern are in operative communication with each other;
• v) a resonant circuit configured to resonate at a resonant frequency, the resonant circuit formed at least in part from at least a portion of the electrically conductive material of at least one of the initial pattern and the terminal the pattern;
• and
• b) a reader adapted and configured to read information from the device.