# US 9,519,904 B2 · NFC/RF mechanism with multiple valid states for detecting an open container, and methods of making and using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,904 B2 - Document ID: US9519904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/820,378 - Filed: 2015-08-06 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-19 - Assignees: Thin Film Electronics ASA - Applicants: Matthew A. Bright - Inventors: Matthew A. Bright - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519904B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/07798: {part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers (electronic seals G09F3/03)} - A61J 1/00: Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes (capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00) - B65D 27/30: with special means for indicating unauthorised opening - B65D 55/028: {initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal} - B65D 79/02: Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport ({B65D79/005 takes precedence } ; measuring devices G01) - G06Q 30/0185: {Product, service or business identity fraud} - H04B 5/77: for interrogation - B65D 2203/10: Transponders - G06K 1/00: Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A wireless (e.g., near field or RF) communication device, and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The wireless communication device includes a receiver and/or transmitter, a substrate with an antenna thereon, an integrated circuit, and one or more protection lines. The antenna receives and/or transmits or broadcasts a wireless signal. The integrated circuit processes the wireless signal and/or information therefrom, and/or generates the wireless signal and/or information therefor. The integrated circuit has a first set of terminals electrically connected to the antenna. The protection line(s) are on a common or different substrate as the antenna. The protection line(s) sense or determine a continuity state of a package or container on which the communication device is placed or to which the communication device is fixed or adhered, and are electrically connected to a second set of terminals of the integrated circuit different from the first set of terminals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless communication device, comprising: a) a receiver and a transmitter; b) a substrate with an antenna thereon, said antenna receiving a first wireless signal and transmitting or broadcasting a second wireless signal; c) an integrated circuit configured to (i) process said first wireless signal and/or information therefrom, and (ii) generate said second wireless signal and/or information therefor, said integrated circuit having a first set of terminals electrically connected to said antenna, the integrated circuit comprising (i) a continuity sensor and (ii) a memory; and d) one or more protection lines on a common or different substrate, the protection line(s) being (i) configured to sense or determine a continuity state of a package or container on which the communication device is placed or to which the communication device is fixed or adhered, and (ii) electrically connected to said continuity sensor through a second set of terminals of said integrated circuit different from said first set of terminals, wherein the memory includes one or more bits configured to store a value corresponding to the continuity state of the container or package, and the second wireless signal communicates the value of the continuity state of the container or package. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said one or more protection lines comprises a plurality of said protection lines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising one or more redundant protection lines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises one or more printed layers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises one or more thin films. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna consists of a single metal layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the antenna and the one or more protection lines consist of a single common metal layer on a common substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, comprising a near field and/or radio frequency communication device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a second sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the continuity state of the package or container is opened when at least one of the one or more protection lines is broken, the continuity state of the package or container is closed or sealed when each of the one or more protection lines is not broken, and the one or more bits configured to store the value corresponding to the continuity state of the container or package can be changed from a first value when the continuity state is closed or sealed to a second value when the continuity state is opened. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plastic film or a plastic sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the substrate is scored to facilitate breaking the one or more protection lines when the container or package is opened. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a threshold comparator configured to receive an output of the continuity sensor, one or more bit lines for reading data from the memory, one or more sense amplifiers that convert signals on the one or more bit lines to digital signals, and one or more latches that temporarily store data from the one or more sense amplifiers; and an output of the threshold comparator is stored in the memory. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a first plurality of bits configured to store a unique identification code for the container or package, and the first plurality of bits comprise printed memory. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory further comprises a second plurality of bits configured to store overhead data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory contains 8 or more bits of data, and breaking one of the one or more protection lines causes a plurality of the bits of data in the memory to change. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the memory contains 24 or more bits of data, and stores (i) a first ID for the device when the value of the one or more bits corresponds to a closed or sealed continuity state and (ii) a second ID for the device different from the first ID when the value of the one or more bits corresponds to an opened continuity state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A package or container, comprising: a) first and second separable parts with an interface therebetween; and b) the wireless communication device of claim 1, on the first and second separable parts of the package or container, and over the interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The package or container of claim 18, wherein the integrated circuit and the antenna are on the first separable part of the package or container, and the one or more protection lines are on each of the first and second separable parts of the package or container and over the interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The package or container of claim 18, wherein the package or container comprises multiple sealed or closed compartments, said one or more protection lines comprises a plurality of said protection lines, and each of the plurality of protection lines extends over a unique one of the multiple sealed or closed compartments. ### Claim 21 A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device, comprising: a) forming an antenna on a first substrate, said antenna being configured to receive and transmit or broadcast a wireless signal; b) forming one or more protection lines on a common or different substrate; c) forming an integrated circuit on a substrate common with at least one of the antenna and the protection line(s), or different from each of the antenna and the protection line(s), the integrated circuit comprising (i) a continuity sensor electrically connected to at least one of said one or more protection lines and (ii) a memory; and d) electrically connecting the antenna to a first set of terminals of the integrated circuit, and the protection line(s) to a second set of terminals of the integrated circuit, wherein the memory includes one or more bits configured to store a value corresponding to a continuity state of the container or package, and the wireless communication device is configured to communicate the value of the continuity state of the container or package. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a near field and/or radio frequency communication device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein said one or more protection lines comprises a plurality of said protection lines. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein forming the integrated circuit comprises printing one or more layers of the integrated circuit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein forming the integrated circuit further comprises forming one or more layers of the integrated circuit by one or more thin film processing techniques. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a second sensor, and electrically connecting said one or more protection lines to the integrated circuit comprises electrically connecting said one or more protection lines to the second sensor. ### Claim 27 A method of detecting an opened package or container, comprising: a) placing a wireless communication device comprising an antenna, one or more protection lines, and an integrated circuit electrically connected to each of the antenna and the protection line(s) on the package or container such that at least one of the protection line(s) are over an interface between first and second separable parts of the package or container, the integrated circuit comprising (i) a continuity sensor electrically connected to at least one of said one or more protection lines and (ii) a memory that includes one or more bits configured to store a value corresponding to the continuity state of the container or package; b) using the integrated circuit, sensing the continuity state of the package or container; and c) communicating the value of the continuity state of the container or package using the wireless communication device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a near field and/or radio frequency communication device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the integrated circuit and the antenna are on the first separable part of the package or container, and the one or more protection lines are on each of the first and second separable parts of the package or container. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein said one or more protection lines comprises a plurality of said protection lines.