Security device for product packaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11200478-B2
Application number	US-201816760951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2018
Priority date	Jan 25, 2018
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

An RFID security device for product packaging is disclosed. The security device includes an RFID tag disposed on a first portion of a product package, and a booster antenna disposed on a second portion of the product package. The RFID tag and booster antenna are positioned on the product package so that the RFID tag will be electromagnetically coupled to the booster antenna when the product package is closed, and the RFID tag will be decoupled from the booster antenna when the product package is open.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An RFID security apparatus for product packaging, comprising:
an RFID tag disposed on a first portion of a product package; and
a booster antenna disposed on a second portion of the product package;
wherein the RFID tag and booster antenna are positioned on the product package so that the RFID tag will be electromagnetically coupled to the booster antenna when the product package is closed, and the RFID tag will be decoupled from the booster antenna when the product package is open.

2. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the booster antenna is printed on a surface of the product package.

3. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is embedded within the material of the product package.

4. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the product package is opened, the RFID tag remains operable with a reduced communication range compared to when the product package is closed.

5. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the booster antenna is a dipole with bends that reduce a footprint of the booster antenna while maintaining a resonant length.

6. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the booster antenna is a meander dipole with finger projections to increase coupling between the RFID tag and the booster antenna.

7. The RFID security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the product package comprises a tab on which the RFID tag is disposed, the package further comprising a slot to receive the tab, the booster antenna being disposed at the slot on the second portion of the product package to couple with the RFID tag when the tab is inserted in the slot.

8. The RFID security apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the slot is in, and the booster antenna is disposed on, a lid of the product package.

9. An RFID security system, comprising:
a product package comprising an RFID tag disposed on a first portion of the product package, and a booster antenna disposed on a second portion of the product package, wherein the RFID tag and booster antenna are positioned on the product package so that the RFID tag will be electromagnetically coupled to the booster antenna when the product package is closed, and the RFID tag will be decoupled from the booster antenna when the product package is open,
an RFID reader to communicate with the RFID tag while the product package is closed.

10. The RFID security apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the booster antenna is printed on a surface of the product package.

11. The RFID security apparatus of claim 9 , wherein, when the product package is closed, the RFID tag is fully or partially overlapped by the booster antenna.

12. The RFID security apparatus of claim 9 , when the product package is opened, the RFID tag remains operable with a reduced communication range compared to when the product package is closed.

13. The RFID security apparatus of claim 9 , wherein, when the product package is opened, the RFID reader loses communication with the RFID tag, and the RFID reader registers a tampering event in response to losing communication.

14. A method of manufacturing a product package with a security device, comprising:
disposing an RFID tag on a first portion of a product package;
disposing a booster antenna a second portion of the product package;
wherein the RFID tag and booster antenna are positioned on the product package so that the RFID tag will be electromagnetically coupled to the booster antenna when the product package is closed, and the RFID tag will be decoupled from the booster antenna when the product package is open.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein disposing the booster antenna on a first portion of a product package comprises printing the booster antenna on a surface of the product package.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein disposing an RFID tag on a first portion of a product package comprises embedding the RFID tag within the material of the product package.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein, when the product package is opened, the RFID tag remains operable with a reduced communication range compared to when the product package is closed.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the RFID tag is to communicate with an RFID reader while the product package is closed, and the RFID reader losses communication with the RFID tag when the product package is opened.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
registering a loss of communication with the RFID tag as a tampering event; and
issuing an alert to a staff member of the tampering event.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
when packaging is reclosed after a tampering event, resuming the previously lost communication with the RFID tag; and
retaining a record of the tampering event to allow inspection of the package for product integrity.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Ionescu Robert
• Ge Ning
• Holder Helen A
• Wittkopf Jarrid

Classifications

• G06K19/0723 Primary

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06K19/07794

  the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit · CPC title

• B65D5/4212

  Information or decoration elements, e.g. content indicators, or for mailing (B65D5/522 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06K19/07773 Primary

  Antenna details (antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22) · CPC title

• B65D5/20

  by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form (specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections B65D5/36) · CPC title