# US 9,436,900 B2 · RFID switch tag > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,900 B2 - Document ID: US9436900B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/480,458 - Filed: 2014-09-08 - Published: 2014-12-25 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-06 - Assignees: Neology, Inc. - Applicants: Neology, Inc. - Inventors: Joe Mullis; Sheshi Nyalamadugu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436900B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/07715: {the interface being used to indicate that the record carrier is active, e.g. a blinking light to indicate that the record carrier is busy communicating with a secondary device or busy computing} - G06K 19/041: {Constructional details (G06K19/06 takes precedence)} - G06K 19/07345: {by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches} - G06K 19/07701: {the record carrier comprising an interface suitable for human interaction} - G06K 19/07703: {the interface being visual} - G06K 19/07745: {Mounting details of integrated circuit chips} - G06K 19/07754: {the connection being galvanic} - G06K 19/07773: {Antenna details (antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22)} - G06K 19/07794: {the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit} - H01Q 1/2225: {used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Various embodiments of RFID switch devices are disclosed herein. Such RFID switch devices advantageously enable manual activation/deactivation of the RF module. The RFID switch device may include a RF module with an integrated circuit adapted to ohmically connect to a substantially coplanar conductive trace pattern, as well as booster antenna for extending the operational range of the RFID device. The operational range of the RFID switch device may be extended when a region of the booster antenna overlaps a region of the conductive trace pattern on the RF module via inductive or capacitive coupling. In some embodiments, all or a portion of the booster antenna may at least partially shield the RF module when the RFID switch device is in an inactive state. The RFID switch device may further include a visual indicator displaying a first color if the RFID switch device is in an active state and/or a second color if the RFID switch device is in an inactive state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An RFID device comprising: a booster antenna adapted to extend the operational range of the RFID device; a first RF module comprising a first integrated circuit and a first set of one or more conductive traces, wherein at least one conductive trace of the first set of one or more conductive traces is configured to electrically couple to a coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a first position relative to the first set of one or more conductive traces; a second RF module comprising a second integrated circuit and a second set of one or more conductive traces, wherein at least one conductive trace of the second set of one or more conductive traces is configured to electrically couple to the coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a second position relative to the second set of one or more conductive traces; and a switching mechanism adapted to change the position of the coupling region of the booster antenna at least between the first position associated with the first RF module and the second position associated with the second RF module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the booster antenna comprises a conductive trace pattern disposed upon a substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the first and second integrated circuits are configured to ohmically connect to the first and second sets of one or more conductive traces, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the first and second integrated circuits are substantially coplanar with the first and second sets of one or more conductive traces, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive trace of the first set of one or more conductive traces is configured to capacitively couple to the coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a first position relative to the first set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive trace of the first set of one or more conductive traces is configured to inductively couple to the coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a first position relative to the first set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the booster antenna is configured to at least partially shield the first RF module when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a second position relative to the first set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive trace of the second set of one or more conductive traces is configured to capacitively couple to the coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a second position relative to the second set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive trace of the second set of one or more conductive traces is configured to inductively couple to the coupling region of the booster antenna when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a second position relative to the second set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the booster antenna is configured to at least partially shield the second RF module when the coupling region of the booster antenna is located in a first position relative to the second set of one or more conductive traces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a slider. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The RFID device of claim 1 further comprising an indicator adapted to visually indicate the status of the RFID device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The RFID device of claim 12 wherein the indicator is adapted to display a first color if the first RFID module is active, and is further adapted to display a second color if the first RFID module is inactive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The RFID device of claim 12 wherein the indicator is adapted to display a first color if the second RFID module is active, and is further adapted to display a second color if the second RFID module is inactive. ### Claim 15 An RFID transponder, comprising: a first substrate comprising a first conductive trace pattern, wherein at least a portion of the first substrate is configured to serve as an antenna for the RFID transponder; a second substrate comprising a first integrated circuit, a second conductive trace pattern, a second integrated circuit, and a third conductive trace pattern, wherein at least a portion of the second conductive trace pattern is configured to electrically couple with at least a portion of the first conductive trace pattern when the first substrate is located in a first position relative to the second substrate, and at least a portion of the third conductive trace pattern is configured to electrically couple with at least a portion of the first conductive trace pattern when the first substrate is located in a second position relative to the second substrate; and a switching mechanism configured to switch the position of the first substrate between a first position and at least a second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the first integrated circuit is configured to ohmically connect to the second conductive trace pattern, and the second integrated circuit is configured to ohmically connect to the third conductive trace pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the first integrated circuit, the second integrated circuit, the second conductive trace pattern, and the third conductive trace pattern are substantially coplanar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are positioned upon separate planes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein said electrical coupling comprises capacitive coupling. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein said electrical coupling comprises inductive coupling. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch the position of the first substrate between a first position and at least a second position upon rotation of a substantially circular member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch the position of the first substrate between the first position and at least the second position upon rotation of a substantially triangular member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch the position of the first substrate between the first position and at least the second position upon activation of a lever. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, further comprising an indicator adapted to visually indicate the status of the RFID transponder. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The RFID transponder of claim 15, wherein the first integrated circuit and the second conductive trace pattern form a first RF module; and wherein the second integrated circuit and the third conductive trace pattern form a second RF module.