Systems and methods for breakaway RFID tags

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253876-B2
Application number	US-201514636916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 21, 2006
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A breakaway RFID tag is configured such that it comprises part of a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCB). Thus, the breakaway RFID tag can be used to track the PCB as it migrates through a manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the RFID tag can be assembled first and then used to track the PCB as it is populated with components and installed into larger assemblies and ultimately into the end device. Once the PCB is installed into a larger assembly or the end device, the breakaway RFID tag is configured such that it can be broken off and attached to the outside of the larger assembly or end device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:
a main circuit area;
a breakaway radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and
a breakaway connection configured to:
allow the breakaway RFID tag to be detached from the main circuit area to which it is initially attached; and
allow the breakaway RFID tag to be attached to an exterior of an assembly comprising the PCB after the breakaway RFID tag is detached from the main circuit area;
wherein the breakaway RFID tag is configured to store tracking information associated with the assembly comprising the PCB.

2. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the tracking information associated with the assembly includes information of at least one repair operation performed on the assembly.

3. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway RFID tag is further configured to store information of at least one repair operation performed on the main circuit area.

4. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway RFID tag comprises:
a printed antenna; and
an integrated circuit (IC) pad configured to receive an RFID transponder IC.

5. The PCB of claim 4 , wherein the printed antenna and IC pad are disposed on a breakaway portion of the PCB.

6. The PCB of claim 4 , wherein the breakaway RFID tag further comprises an RFID transponder disposed on the IC pad.

7. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway connection comprises a narrow portion of the PCB disposed between the main circuit area and the breakaway RFID tag.

8. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag.

9. The PCB of claim 1 , wherein the breakaway RFID tag comprises an active RFID tag.

Assignees

• Neology Inc

Inventors

• Elizondo Paul
• Azevedo John

Classifications

• H05K1/142

  Arrangements of planar printed circuit boards in the same plane, e.g. auxiliary printed circuit insert mounted in a main printed circuit · CPC title

• G06K7/10475 Primary

  arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices · CPC title

• G06K19/07796

  arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers · CPC title

• H05K2201/09127

  PCB or component having an integral separable or breakable part · CPC title

• H05K1/02

  Details · CPC title