Wireless Identification Device, RFID Device With Push-on/Push-off Switch, and Method of Manufacturing Wireless Identification Device

Abstract

A wireless identification device including a housing; circuitry in the housing configured to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; and a selectively actuated switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry identifies the device. A method of manufacturing a wireless identification device, the method comprising configuring circuitry to provide a signal to identify the device in response to an interrogation signal; coupling the circuitry to a push-on/push-off switch supported by the housing and controlling whether the circuitry provides the signal to identify the device; and encasing the circuitry in a housing such that the switch is actuable from outside the housing by touching a portion of the housing.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) apparatus, comprising: 
 a layer of supporting material that is transparent and has a thickness of less than five one thousandths of an inch;    one or more antennas disposed on a surface of the supporting material and having connection terminals;    a monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the layer of supporting material and comprising a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency signals, a radio frequency transmitter for communicating radio frequency signals, a microprocessor, and a memory for persistently storing data;    a power supply for providing power to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit; and    electrical connections coupling the one or more antennas to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  and further comprising visible indicia disposed on the layer of supporting material.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the memory further comprises unalterable data stored in the memory.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the radio frequency transmitter is operable to communicate radio frequency signals by backscatter reflection of received radio frequency signals.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the power source further comprises a thin film battery disposed adjacent the layer of supporting material.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the radio frequency transmitter is operable to actively transmit radio frequency signals responsive to a command received as a portion of a radio frequency signal by the radio frequency receiver.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit is operable to receive a modulated radio frequency signal in the radio frequency receiver including a command is operable to, to interpret the command in the microprocessor is operable to, to retrieve data stored in the persistent memory responsive to the command, and is operable to communicate radio frequency modulated signals including the retrieved data using the radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit memory further comprises a volatile memory.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the volatile memory further comprises a static RAM memory.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the unalterable data stored in the data further comprise a unique identification code.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the memory comprises non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising: 
 an interrogator operable for transmitting and receiving modulated radio frequency signals including commands and data to and from one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags;    articles in remote proximity to the interrogator; and    one or more RFID tags affixed to one or more of the articles, each RFID tag further comprising a layer of supporting material that is transparent and has a thickness of less than five one thousandths of an inch, one or more antennas disposed on a surface of the supporting material and having connection terminals, a monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the layer of supporting material and comprising a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency signals, a radio frequency transmitter for communicating radio frequency signals, control logic, and a memory for persistently storing data, a power supply for providing power to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit; and electrical connections coupling the connection terminals to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit;    wherein the interrogator is operable to receive radio frequency signal responses to a radio frequency transmission from the interrogator including a request for RFID tags receiving the transmission to respond.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  and further comprising one or more additional interrogators operable for transmitting and receiving modulated radio frequency signals including commands and data to and from one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles comprise baggage.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles comprise mail.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles are express packages.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles are retail goods.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles are perishable goods.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles are cases containing multiple units within each case.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the articles are pallets carrying one or more units.