Patents Assigned to Smartrac Technology
  • Patent number: 10790160
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to ID frequency identification (RFID) transponders and receivers. More specifically to the methods, apparatus and systems of the fabrication of the transponders and receivers. In one example embodiment, to methods, apparatus, and systems to form effective barriers for devices having a layer structure, including encapsulating at least a portion of the side of the devices from being degraded due to impurity penetration into a laminate structure of the devices, which can cause corrosion or malfunction of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GmbH
    Inventors: Laurence Singleton, Ray Freeman
  • Patent number: 10679115
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide various designs of multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tags which are compact in size and tamper-proofing. In one aspect, a proposed multi-frequency RFID tag includes both a high frequency (HF) subsystem and an ultra-high frequency (UHF) subsystem. The HF subsystem and the UHF subsystem share a common integrated circuit (IC) chip and a common substrate. The HF subsystem further includes a HF loop antenna coupled to the IC chip. The UHF subsystem further includes a coupling antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip but electrically isolated from the HF loop antenna. The UHF subsystem also includes an UHF antenna having a region for receiving the RFID module. When the RFID module is positioned within the receiving region of the UHF antenna, the UHF antenna is coupled to the IC chip in the RFID module via the coupling antenna, thereby forming the UHF subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventor: Lauri Johannes Huhtasalo
  • Patent number: 10558828
    Abstract: A system for providing item information includes: a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an item; and a mobile device comprising an RFID reader. The RFID tag includes stored information related to the item, and the RFID reader is configured to access the RFID tag, obtain the item information, and communicate the item information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: Francisco Martinez de Velasco Cortina, Manfred Rietzler
  • Patent number: 10552725
    Abstract: A transponder apparatus for a transponder unit has a UHF and HF transponder The UHF transponder has a transponder support, a UHF antenna and a UHF chip. The HF transponder has an HF antenna and an HF chip. The UHF antenna is at the transponder support and is made up of conducting UHF antenna structures in transponder support planes which are spatially separated from one another. The transponder apparatus includes an electrically-insulating attachment layer connecting the UHF transponder to the HF antenna. The transponder apparatus includes an electrically-insulating spacer element connected to the HF transponder and which spatially separates the UHF transponder and the HF transponder relative to a body. The UHF transponder is disposed on the HF antenna. A conducting HF antenna structure of the HF antenna extends beyond a covering surface of the UHF transponder and the HF antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Klemm, Carsten Nieland, Sebastian Gallschütz
  • Patent number: 10474851
    Abstract: A method for collision avoidance in a multi-reader environment comprising a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) interrogators, the method comprises each of the plurality of interrogators entering a quiet state during which none of the interrogators transmits, each of the plurality of interrogators selecting a transmit time after the quiet period during which each of the interrogator will attempt to transmit, each of the plurality of interrogators monitoring their associated receive path, an interrogator of the plurality of interrogators transmitting an instruction during its selected transmit time indicating the beginning of a session when the interrogator does not detect data on its receive path prior to its select transmit time, the interrogator comparing its receive path to its transmit path when it transmits the instruction, the interrogator returning to the quiet state when the receive path does not match the transmit path, and the interrogator completing the session when the receive path
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventor: Kirk Greefkes
  • Patent number: 10341341
    Abstract: A method for mutual authentication in an RFID system comprising an RFID reader and an RFID tag, the method comprising requesting an identification from the tag, receiving the identification, using the received identification to select a password associated with the identification, generating a password key based on the selected password, encrypting the selected password using the password key, and transmitting the encrypted password to the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: John Fairbanks, Douglas Moran, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 10339436
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide various designs of multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tags which are compact in size and tamper-proofing. In one aspect, a proposed multi-frequency RFID tag includes both a high frequency (HF) subsystem and an ultra high frequency (UHF) subsystem. The HF subsystem and the UHF subsystem share a common integrated circuit (IC) chip and a common substrate. The HF subsystem further includes a HF loop antenna coupled to the IC chip. The UHF subsystem further includes a coupling antenna electrically coupled to the IC chip but electrically isolated from the HF loop antenna. The UHF subsystem also includes an UHF antenna having a region for receiving the RFID module. When the RFID module is positioned within the receiving region of the UHF antenna, the UHF antenna is coupled to the IC chip in the RFID module via the coupling antenna, thereby forming the UHF subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventor: Lauri Johannes Huhtasalo
  • Patent number: 10292270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact bump connection (24) and to a method for producing a contact bump connection between an electronic component being provided with at least one terminal face (11) and a contact substrate (26) being contacted with the component and having at least one second terminal face (25), wherein the first terminal face is provided with a contact bump (10), which has a raised edge (15) and has at least one displacement pin (16) in a displacement compartment (18) being surrounded by the raised edge and being open towards a head end of the contact bump, and wherein, in a contact region (31) with the first terminal face, the second terminal face has a contact bead (30), which is formed by displacement of a contact material (29) of the second terminal face into the displacement compartment and which surrounds the displacement pin, said contact bead having a bead crown (33) which is oriented to a bottom (17) of the displacement compartment and is raised relative to a level contact surface (32)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Carsten Nieland, Frank Kriebel
  • Patent number: 10277401
    Abstract: A method for authenticating a document comprises obtaining the contents of a document, obtaining biometric characteristics from an individual, forming a message based on the contents of the document and the biometric characteristics of the individual, generating a digital signature based on the message and a key, and writing the digital signature to an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag affixed to the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zhu, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 10262167
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) switch tag is disclosed. This RFID switch tag includes a base component having an ultra-high frequency (UHF) booster, and a detachable component having at least one UHF RFID module and a high frequency (HF) RFID module. In some embodiments, the detachable component is positioned in close proximity to the base component in a first configuration of the RFID switch tag such that the at least one UHF RFID module is sufficiently coupled to the UHF booster in the base component to form an UHF RFID system having a desired performance. The detachable component can also be separated from the base component to obtain a second configuration of the RFID switch tag, and the HF RFID module remains functional within the detached detachable component so that the detachable component can be used as a standalone HF RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: Sheshi Nyalamadugu, Joe Mullis, Bobby Leanio
  • Patent number: 10235545
    Abstract: RFID tags are used for many purpose including tracking. RFID interrogators are used to retrieve information from tags. In many applications, a plurality of RFID interrogators are required. Synchronization between interrogators in the same theater of operation is critical to ensure that their broadcasts do not interfere with each other. In fixed RFID interrogator applications, RFID interrogators can be wired together allowing a channel to synchronize the transmissions of the RFID interrogators. Methods described herein can ensure that synchronization is maintained in the event of the failure of a synchronizing master. Furthermore, additional methods for synchronizing RFID interrogators in wireless applications are described allowing synchronization in the absence of wired connections between interrogators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: James Robert Kruest, Gary Bann
  • Patent number: 10104542
    Abstract: A method for updating a group encryption key association, the method includes receiving an encrypted group key from a second device, where the group key has been encrypted using a device key of a first device. The method further includes, in the first device, using the group key to encrypt an input vector, transmitting the encrypted input vector, encrypting privacy-sensitive information using a device key, an encryption algorithm, and the input vector, and transmitting the encrypted privacy-sensitive information to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Tahan, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 10068167
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder that includes an RFID chip, a loop that is electrically connected to the RFID chip, and a substantially transparent antenna coupled to the loop. In various embodiments, the RFID transponder can be affixed over a light source (e.g., vehicle headlights) while preserving the luminance from the light source. Alternately or in addition, the RFID transponder can be affixed to a surface (e.g., product packaging, license plates) without obscuring any marks, designs, motifs, and/or text on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY FLETCHER, INC.
    Inventor: Lauri Johannes Huhtasalo
  • Patent number: 9806748
    Abstract: The transponder comprises an antenna and a receiver circuit (2) for receiving RF signals, this receiver circuit is implemented with a control mechanism to activate it at least periodically in a listening mode. This receiver circuit is comprises a decoding circuit (4), formed at least by a demodulator (8) and a decoder (10), and a wake-up circuit (14B) to analyze received RF signals in the listening mode and arranged for controlling the activation of the decoding circuit in this listening mode. The wake-up circuit comprises a frequency discriminator (17) and a digital modulation or preamble detector (18) downstream from a field clock generator (28). The wake-up circuit receives as entry an alternating signal branched from the signal chain through the receiver circuit upstream from the demodulator and it activates the decoding circuit only when a modulation or a preamble is detected in a received RF signal by the digital modulation or preamble detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: EM Microeclectronic-Marin SA, SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY Wehnrath GmbH
    Inventors: Michal Prazan, Michal Prokes, Jürgen Fehle, Ulrich Friedrich
  • Patent number: 9215809
    Abstract: Contact bumps between a contact pad and a substrate can include recesses and protrusions that can mate with the material of the substrate. The irregular mating surfaces between the contact bumps and the contact pads can enhance the bonding strength of the contacts, for example, against shear and tension forces, especially for flexible systems such as smart cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Nieland, Frank Kriebel
  • Publication number: 20150208508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact bump connection (24) and to a method for producing a contact bump connection between an electronic component being provided with at least one terminal face (11) and a contact substrate (26) being contacted with the component and having at least one second terminal face (25), wherein the first terminal face is provided with a contact bump (10), which has a raised edge (15) and has at least one displacement pin (16) in a displacement compartment (18) being surrounded by the raised edge and being open towards a head end of the contact bump, and wherein, in a contact region (31) with the first terminal face, the second terminal face has a contact bead (30), which is formed by displacement of a contact material (29) of the second terminal face into the displacement compartment and which surrounds the displacement pin, said contact bead having a bead crown (33) which is oriented to a bottom (17) of the displacement compartment and is raised relative to a level contact surface (32)
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Carsten Nieland, Frank Kriebel
  • Patent number: 8917219
    Abstract: An RFID transponder antenna has a carrier substrate and an auxiliary substrate. The carrier substrate is provided with a contact point for a first connection to an integrated circuit, and a first conductor path including at least two coil turns. A first end of the path forms a contact terminal for a second connection to the integrated circuit. The other end forms a connection point for an electrical connection to a second conductor path. The second path on the auxiliary substrate forms a bridge over the coil turns. The second conductor path has one end connected to the contact point, and another end connected to the connection point providing a permanent connection between the auxiliary substrate and/or the first conductor path, and the carrier substrate and/or second conductor path; the permanent connection being formed at least at one point lying between both ends of the auxiliary substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Smartrac Technology Dresden GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Semar, Michael Schaefer, Marco Wagner, Henry Prescher
  • Publication number: 20140084460
    Abstract: Contact bumps between a contact pad and a substrate can include recesses and protrusions that can mate with the material of the substrate. The irregular mating surfaces between the contact bumps and the contact pads can enhance the bonding strength of the contacts, for example, against shear and tension forces, especially for flexible systems such as smart cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Nieland, Frank Kriebel
  • Patent number: D992536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Smartrac Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Shubin Ma
  • Patent number: D993227
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Smartrac Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Shubin Ma