Abstract: An RFID reader apparatus designed to limit interference in a role of auditing individual RFID tagged or labeled items in areas of surrounding dense RIFD transponder populations. Such an RFID reader apparatus may include an RFID reader, a specialized antenna, and an enclosure, which may be constructed from ferrous material and which may be configured to hold the RFID reader and the specialized antenna in separate compartments. The enclosure may have one or more shelves, which may also be constructed from ferrous material. The RFID reader apparatus may also have a lid constructed from non-ferrous material. The RFID reader apparatus may be fitted to the bottom of an auditing workstation, for example with screws or other connectors, or may be placed within an auditing workstation specifically equipped to accommodate it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heat transfers that include silicone based heat transfer inks and digitally printed toner images, particularly for use on fabrics, apparel items, garments and accessories. The present subject matter is especially suitable for use in heat-transferable labeling or creating embellishments on polyester fabrics and garments.

Abstract: A method for recovering missed RFID tagged items in an RFID tunnel environment is disclosed. The method comprises using a dynamic RFID tunnel system comprised of a first RFID tunnel and a second RFID tunnel to inventory one or more containers of items having RFID tags. A first RFID read of the one or more containers is performed in the first RFID tunnel and compared to an expected containers' inventory stored in a database. If the comparison does not match, a second RFID read of the containers is performed in a second, subsequent RFID tunnel at a higher RFID read power and by moving the containers at a speed slower than a speed of movement of the containers into the first RFID tunnel. If a comparison of the second read to the expected containers' inventory still does not match, the containers may be recirculated through the tunnel system or may be diverted to an exceptions audit depending on how the system is configured.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of labeling a plurality of products includes coating a pressure sensitive adhesive to a roll of face stock, the roll of face stock configured to be converted to a plurality of individual labels aligned in a single lane; singulating an individual label from the roll of face stock; and applying the individual label to a product of the plurality of products, wherein the coating, singulating and applying are conducted sequentially in a single continuous operation with a single continuous web of material.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for delivering customized information related to a specific product of interest to consumer. In practice, the consumer uses a suitably enabled portable, mobile and/or wireless device (e.g., such as a mobile camera phone) to scan or otherwise read a marker associated with a product, retail item or other article of interest. From the marker, a unique ID is obtained (i.e., the marker ID). The marker ID is then used to cross-reference a URL or other like address in a database that relates marker IDs to corresponding URLs. The target URL is returned to the consumer's device and an http session is established with a content management server at the target URL. In one suitable embodiment, the content management server obtains a SKU and/or template web page ID that are associated with the marker ID in a database. Suitably, the SKU relates to the specific product with which the marker was associated.

Abstract: Various adhesive compositions are described which may optionally comprise one or more active agents such as pharmaceutical agents. The incorporation of one or more absorbents in combination with one or more crystallization inhibitors improves adhesive characteristics of the compositions. Also described are related methods of improving adhesive characteristics of adhesive compositions with the use of a combination of absorbent and inhibitor. Also described are related methods of using the compositions and articles incorporating such compositions.

Abstract: Vibration damping viscoelastic damping material laminates are described. The tapes generally include at least two viscoelastic damping material layers and at least one substrate. The tapes may optionally include one or more release liners. Also described are constrained layer systems formed by adhering the tape to a first substrate and/or second substrate undergoing vibration.

Abstract: High density read chambers are provided for scanning and/or encoding a plurality of RFID tagged items. Such chambers may include an enclosure with an interior defined by upper and lower surfaces, with a sidewall extending therebetween. An access (such as a door) may be associated with at least one of the surfaces or the sidewall, with the access being at least partially opened to access the interior of the enclosure from an outside location. The chamber further includes an antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure and an RFID reader associated with the antenna. The RFID reader receives signals from and/or transmits signals to the antenna, while the antenna emits a scanning or encoding signal within the interior of the enclosure, with at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces or the sidewall including a signal-reflective material facing the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A system for processing barcode information provided by the user, which may be used to print and encode RFID-enabled product labels. The system may include a bar code scanner or may include a manual bar code entry interface such as a keyboard and mouse, and may be configured to output a label corresponding to a barcode once the barcode has been scanned, optionally with user customization by an operator and optionally including variable data provided through a variable data module. This system may allow for the calculation of EPC values, the tracking of serial values used in the printing process, exporting of the printing history, and printing and encoding of tag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal foil laminate which may be used for example to produce an antenna for a radio frequency (RFID) tag, electronic circuit, photovoltaic module or the like. A web of material is provided to at least one cutting station in which a first pattern is generated in the web of material. A further cutting may occur to create additional modifications in order to provide additional features for the intended end use of the product. The cutting may be performed by a laser either alone or in combinations with other cutting technologies.

Abstract: Methods for forming and incorporating microparticles containing one or more active agents into adhesives are described. The methods involve spray drying a liquid of the one or more active agents and obtaining the active agent in a particulate form. The dry powder is then blended or otherwise incorporated with the adhesive of interest. Also described are various medical products utilizing the adhesive and one or more active agents in microparticle form, and related methods of use.

Abstract: A combined EAS and RFID circuit includes an HF coil antenna, a UHF tuning loop, and an RFID chip coupled to a strap that includes a first coupling area and a second coupling area. The coil ends of the HF coil antenna are configured to capacitively and/or conductively couple to one or both of the first coupling area or second coupling area of the strap. The HF coil antenna can include a gap between turns for non-interfering placement of the UHF tuning loop. The EAS circuit can be deactivating upon application of a field at the resonant frequency of sufficient intensity to cause the breakdown voltage to be exceeded between a coil end and coupling area. The threshold breakdown voltage between a coil end and a coupling area can be reduced by laser ablation treatment of a conductive surface of one or both of the coil end or coupling area.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag system includes a first strap mounting pad of an RFID antenna component, and a second strap mounting pad of the RFID antenna component, the second strap mounting pad being electrically coupled to the first RFID strap mounting pad. At least one of the first strap mounting pad and the second strap mounting pad may extend diagonally with respect to a wide edge direction of the antenna component, thus making the RFID antenna component configured to receive both a strap that is parallel to a wide edge direction of the antenna component and a strap that is perpendicular to a wide edge direction of the antenna component.

Abstract: Provided herein are multilayer damping laminates comprising at least one constraining layer and at least one discontinuous damping layer. At least one discontinuous damping layer comprises one or more damping material regions and one or more gap regions, wherein the percent coverage of at least one discontinuous damping layer by one or more damping material regions is less than 99%. Also provided are systems and methods using the multilayer damping laminates.

Abstract: Cure in place pressure sensitive adhesive compositions are described that comprise one or more of a bodying component, a structural diluent, a radical diluent as well as additives such as crosslinkers, external catalysts, photoinitiators and stabilizers/process aids. The bodying component can be acrylic or non-acrylic.

Abstract: A fastener device adapted for attaching at least one tag (or other identifier) to an object. The fastener device comprises a T-bar component, a paddle component, and a filament component flexibly attached to both the T-bar component on one end and the paddle component on the other end. In some embodiments, the fastener device is deployable via a fastener dispensing device comprising a needle designed to puncture a hole in at least one tag and the object while also inserting the T-bar component through the hole. Once inserted, the paddle component exerts a cantilever spring force against at least one tag holding the tag(s) securely against the object.

Abstract: A multi-layer conductor device is disclosed comprising two or more conductors used in an antenna for a more durable radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The conductors interconnect electrically, but are separated mechanically, so a failure in one conductor will not necessarily cause a failure in the other conductor. And, if the failure occurs at different locations on the antenna, the current path through the antenna will bridge the break.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing RFID devices are provided with self-limiting heating features. Inducing current flow through the antenna of an RFID device (e.g., by exposing the antenna to a changing magnetic field) will increase heat of the RFID device, thereby curing/sintering elements of the RFID device (which may include curing an adhesive used to couple the antenna to an RFID chip) without applying external heat, which typically heats regions of the RFID device that were not intended to be heated (e.g., the substrate to which the antenna is secured). Inducing current flow through the antenna of an RFID device will reduce the resistance of the antenna, which has a heat-limiting effect that prevents overheating of the RFID device. Inducing current flow may also change the resonant frequency of the antenna, which may provide another heat-limiting effect.