Patents by Inventor Ian J. Forster

Ian J. Forster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12159521
    Abstract: RFID devices are provided for improving the performance of electronic surveillance article systems. The RFID devices may be modified in any of a number of ways to decrease their peak sensitivity and increase their bandwidth, thereby stabilizing their read range. The performance of an RFID device will depend on the nature of the article to which it is associated, such that the nature of the article to which the RFID device is to be associated may be factored into the design of the RFID device to equalize the performance at an operating frequency of RFID devices associated with different articles. By reducing the peak sensitivity and increasing the bandwidth of RFID devices in an electronic article surveillance system, the size of a transition zone between two read zones of the system may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12131614
    Abstract: RFID devices for use in electronic surveillance article (“EAS”) systems may be differently configured, resulting in different performance at the operating frequency or range of frequencies of an EAS system. The performance of differently configured RFID devices may be converged or rendered substantially similar by testing the performance of such RFID devices in a range of frequencies. At least one of the RFID devices is reconfigured to converge the performance of the RFID devices in the range of frequencies if the performance of the RFID devices is not sufficiently similar. This may include changing the configuration of an antenna, an RFID chip, and/or a non-functional component of an RFID device and/or the location in which an RFID device is associated to an article. Differently configured RFID devices may all be manufactured from the same initial configuration, with different RFID devices being differently processed before incorporation in an EAS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12112221
    Abstract: A temperature-sensing RFID device includes an RFID chip and an antenna electrically coupled thereto. The RFID chip includes a temperature sensor, while the antenna is adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A shielding structure and/or a thermally conductive or absorbent structure may be associated with the RFID chip. The shielding structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and an outside environment and configured to shield the temperature sensor from at least one environmental factor capable of affecting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of an article to which the RFID device is secured. The thermally conductive or absorbent structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and the article and configured to enhance thermal coupling between the temperature sensor and the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12112222
    Abstract: A temperature-sensing RFID device includes an RFID chip and an antenna electrically coupled thereto. The RFID chip includes a temperature sensor, while the antenna is adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A shielding structure and/or a thermally conductive or absorbent structure may be associated with the RFID chip. The shielding structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and an outside environment and configured to shield the temperature sensor from at least one environmental factor capable of affecting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of an article to which the RFID device is secured. The thermally conductive or absorbent structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and the article and configured to enhance thermal coupling between the temperature sensor and the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Publication number: 20240330640
    Abstract: An RFID device includes an antenna defining a gap, with an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna across the gap. The RFID chip may be incorporated into an RFID strap, in which a pair of connection pads is connected to the RFID chip, with the connection pads connected to the antenna on opposite sides of the gap. Alternatively, the antenna may be connected to bond pads of the RFID chip. At least a portion of the antenna has a cross section with an at least partially curved perimeter. The cross section of the antenna may be differently shaped at different locations, such as having a flattened oval shape at one location and a substantially circular shape at another location. A portion of the cross section of the antenna may have a non-curved, relatively sharp edge, which may break through an outer oxide layer of a connection pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventor: Ian J. FORSTER
  • Patent number: 12093759
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a target surface of a non-planar object may be provided. The method may include positioning an antenna on the target surface of the non-planar object, positioning a reactive RFID strap on the target surface, and coupling the reactive RFID strap to the antenna to induce an antenna response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12086667
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device may include a reactive strap may include a conductor enclosing an area and an RFID chip connected to the conductor, the conductor enclosing an area and defining a first opening, and a flexible substrate attached to the conductor and defining a second opening. The first and second openings together may define a passage through both the conductor and the flexible backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12056554
    Abstract: An RFID device includes an antenna defining a gap, with an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna across the gap. The RFID chip may be incorporated into an RFID strap, in which a pair of connection pads is connected to the RFID chip, with the connection pads connected to the antenna on opposite sides of the gap. Alternatively, the antenna may be connected to bond pads of the RFID chip. At least a portion of the antenna has a cross section with an at least partially curved perimeter. The cross section of the antenna may be differently shaped at different locations, such as having a flattened oval shape at one location and a substantially circular shape at another location. A portion of the cross section of the antenna may have a non-curved, relatively sharp edge, which may break through an outer oxide layer of a connection pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12056553
    Abstract: A tuning assembly for an RFID chip includes an input port, a control unit, and a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel between the input port and the control unit. A selector circuit is coupled to each capacitor and to the control unit and is configured to selectively allow and prevent current flow through any of the capacitors in response to commands from the control unit, thereby adjusting the capacitance of the RFID chip. The commands include a command to always allow current flow through a capacitor, another command to always prevent current flow through a capacitor, and a third command to selectively allow and prevent current flow through a capacitor (e.g., for automatic adjustment of the capacitance of the RFID chip). The control unit may be programmed before or after the RFID chip is coupled to an antenna, including after a fully assembled RFID label has been attached to an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 12039388
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an RFID device includes a reactive strap having an RFID chip and a conductive ring connected to the RFID chip. The RFID device may further include an antenna configured to be coupled to the reactive strap, and a tuning block set positioned in the vicinity of the reactive strap, a resonant frequency of the RFID device being determined at least in part by at least one of the shape of the tuning block set and the position of the tuning block set relative to at least the reactive strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Publication number: 20240232568
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a radio frequency identification (RFID) system may include at least one Ultra High Frequency (UHF) antenna component, a conductive loop having a largest dimension that is smaller than the wavelength of radiation transmitted at a Microwave Frequency (MW). The conductive loop may define a gap and an RFID chip may be electrically coupled to the conductive loop. The conductive loop may be configured to be resonant at an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and less resonant at Microwave Frequency (MW). The antenna component may be selected from the group consisting of a dipole antenna, a monopole antenna, a loop antenna, or a slot antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Ian J. FORSTER, Norman A. HOWARD, Panagiotis PETRIDIS, Muhammad RIZWAN
  • Patent number: 12020100
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wireless electronic device translation system includes a translator that includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a controlling unit coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The translator may be configured to receive a wireless communication signal transmitted from a first electronic device at a first frequency, interpret a communication content from the wireless communication signal using a first communication protocol, translate the first communication content to be transmitted as a wireless translated signal using a second communication protocol, and transmit the wireless translated signal at a second frequency to be received by a second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 11989605
    Abstract: RFID-integrated packages are disclosed combining a container, an article positioned within the container, and a packing material positioned within the container between at least a portion of the article and an inner surface of the container. The packing material is manufactured by at least partially associating it with an RFID device. The packing material may be formed of a recyclable material, such as paper. The packing material together with the RFID device is processed to provide it with an impact-absorbing configuration. Processing methods may include folding, crushing, and cutting or slitting, with the RFID device continuing to perform well after it and the packing material have been processed into the impact-absorbing configuration for use within the container. The entire RFID device may be associated to the packing material or only a portion or component of RFID device may be associated to the packing material, with another portion or component associated to the container or article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 11989610
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an RFID device may include a multilayer reactive strap having a first substrate, a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, and a first connection. The first conductor portion may enclose a first area and may be disposed on a first side of first substrate. A second conductor portion may enclose a second area and may be disposed on a second side of the first substrate. A first connection may couple the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion together, and may thereby form a multiturn coil that includes both the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 11966801
    Abstract: An RFID device includes a substrate and a lead frame secured to the substrate. The lead frame includes a pair of connection pads formed of a conductive material. An RFID chip and an antenna are electrically coupled to the lead frame. The width of the lead frame is substantially equal to the height of the lead frame. The connection pads of the lead frame may be oriented, among other options, along a direction parallel to a height of the substrate or along a direction parallel to a width of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Sowle, Ian J. Forster, Edward J. McGinniss
  • Patent number: 11900200
    Abstract: Dual-mode RFID devices are provided with an integrated dual-mode RFID strap including either a UHF/HF dual-mode RFID chip or the combination of a UHF RFID chip and an HF RFID chip. An HF antenna and a UHF antenna are both coupled to the integrated dual-mode RFID strap, with the UHF antenna being formed by an approach other than etching, such as a cutting or printing operation, thereby reducing the cost to manufacture the device. If a pair of chips is employed, one of the chips may have a greater thickness than the other chip, which allows for the thicker chip to be incorporated into the device after the thinner chip without requiring a minimum separation between the two chips due to the size of a thermode used to secure the chips. Additionally, the first chip may be tested before securing the second chip, thereby limiting the cost of a rejected device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 11886948
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with a configurable anti-tamper structure includes an RFID chip electrically connected to a configurable anti-tamper structure. The configurable anti-tamper structure includes a plurality of conductive segments substantially oriented in a ladder configuration. At least some of the plurality of conductive segments are cut to leave a single conductive path in accordance to the desired tamper detection application, and the RFID tag is attached with the anti-tamper structure placed across a break point to be monitored for tampering. When tampering occurs, the conductive path is broken and the RFID chip changes the data sent in response to interrogation by an RFID reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Publication number: 20240020508
    Abstract: A temperature-sensing RFID device includes an RFID chip and an antenna electrically coupled thereto. The RFID chip includes a temperature sensor, while the antenna is adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A shielding structure and/or a thermally conductive or absorbent structure may be associated with the RFID chip. The shielding structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and an outside environment and configured to shield the temperature sensor from at least one environmental factor capable of affecting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of an article to which the RFID device is secured. The thermally conductive or absorbent structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and the article and configured to enhance thermal coupling between the temperature sensor and the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Ian J. FORSTER
  • Patent number: 11842243
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems for use with tires include a stud comprising reactive strap technology including an RFID chip and conductor. The stud is configured so as to be connected to a tire and to provide near field communication. The stud also may be coupled to an antenna structure to provide a far field RFID tag. The stud may unintentionally move with respect to the antenna structure during use, so the antenna structure may be configured to accommodate such movement without a change in the tuning of the RFID tag. A multi-antenna label may be provided to allow for selective coupling of the stud to a particular antenna, with differently configured tires being coupled to different antennas of the same type of multi-antenna label, which allows for the same label configuration to be used with a wider variety of tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Publication number: 20230376720
    Abstract: A temperature-sensing RFID device includes an RFID chip and an antenna electrically coupled thereto. The RFID chip includes a temperature sensor, while the antenna is adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A shielding structure and/or a thermally conductive or absorbent structure may be associated with the RFID chip. The shielding structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and an outside environment and configured to shield the temperature sensor from at least one environmental factor capable of affecting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of an article to which the RFID device is secured. The thermally conductive or absorbent structure is oriented so as to be positioned between at least a portion of the RFID chip and the article and configured to enhance thermal coupling between the temperature sensor and the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Ian J. FORSTER