Abstract: A system and method for attaching devices with straps to a common bus includes a bus having a flexible non-conductive substrate configured for roll-to-roll processing and two or more flexible bus conductors disposed on the substrate. The flexible bus conductors are configured to receive devices with straps via roll-to-roll processing. Each device with straps is capacitively coupled to at least two of the bus conductors using pressure sensitive adhesive. The flexible bus conductors are configured to transfer power, data, or power and date with each attached device with straps. Each device with straps can be an energy harvester device, an energy storage device, an energy consuming device, a sensor device, or a control device.

Abstract: A flexible RFID wire tag includes an RFID chip and an associated antenna formed of a deformable filament. The antenna may be helically shaped and deformable from an initial helical configuration to an expanded helical configuration having a greater diameter. An object or a portion of an object is positioned within an open interior of the helical antenna and then the antenna is returned from the expanded configuration to the initial configuration to cause the antenna to contact and grip the object. In another aspect, first and second ends of the antenna are secured to an object, with the filament being configured to deform and/or vibrate upon being subjected to a stimulus so as to modify at least one operational parameter of the antenna. Such a deformable filament may be helical or may be differently configured, such as to be incorporated into a cardboard ticket.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID device is disclosed that contains a first conductive structure and a second conductive structure formed from multiple conductive materials configured to move between a first operating condition and a second operating condition when exposed to an event or other stimuli. The second conductive structure is initially operatively coupled to the first conductive structure in the first operating condition. However, after exposure to the event, the first conductive structure is altered to change the behavior of the RFID device. The RFID device is attachable to a substrate, such as a garment or a fabric, and the event may be a single or multiple occurrence event, such as washing, stretching, heating, or exposure of the RFID device to electrical signals.

Abstract: A conductive structure for use with a RFID device having a metallic mass that is below a standard detection threshold of a metal detector and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed herein. The conductive structure preferably comprises a pair of dipole arms extending from a tuning loop, wherein each of the pair of dipole arms terminates in a load end. The conductive structure may be manufactured from a printed metallic ink, or by cutting, lasering, or etching a metal foil. The conductive structure is modified to reduce overall thickness and metallic mass of the device as much as possible, while still maintaining an acceptable level of performance. Portions of the load ends may also be hollowed out to further reduce the conductive structure's metallic mass.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an RFID device includes an RFID assembly that includes an RFID antenna and an RFID chip electrically coupled to the RFID antenna, the RFID assembly having a first side and a second side. The RFID device may further include a first layer including a visual element and having a first side and a second side, the first side of the first layer contacting a first side of the RFID assembly. The RFID device may further include a second layer having a first side and a second side, the first side of the second layer contacting at least one of the first visual element and the RFID assembly.

Abstract: An antenna configured to support high frequency and ultra-high frequency RFID modes includes a coiled metal trace configured to provide low resistance and high Q for operation as a loop antenna in a high frequency mode. Adjacent sections of the coiled metal trace are separated by a narrow gap of about 200 ?m or less for ultra-high frequency coupling between adjacent sections of the metal trace for operation as a monopole or dipole antenna in an ultra-high frequency mode. The antenna may include a ground plane configured to be disposed in proximity to the metal trace to substantially reduce the effect of environmental metal proximate to the antenna during operation of the antenna in the high frequency mode or ultra-high frequency mode. The antenna may include a dielectric configured to be disposed between the ground plane and the metal trace.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a RFID reader system to increase the percentage of RFID tags successfully inventoried in a container comprising a relatively large number of RFID tagged items in close proximity to one another. To achieve the greater percentage of successfully inventoried RFID tagged items, a transmitting system capable of reading an RFID tag and a receiving system capable of determining how much of the transmitted power propagates through the volume of RFID tagged items is positioned on either side of the container. A host system in communication with both the transmitting and receiving systems then utilizes one or more parameters of the transmitting system to maximize propagation of the RFID signal through the container and, therefore, increase the percentage of RFID tags successfully inventoried with the ultimate goal being 100%.

Abstract: A recyclable RFID device having one or more recoverable components configured to remain substantially intact during a waste recycling process. The one or more recoverable components comprises a RFID coupling strap and a substrate encapsulating the RFID coupling strap. A filtering system for recovering the recyclable RFID device from a waste stream is also disclosed, and comprises a waste collection container, a RFID device detection unit, and a RFID device diversion area. Additionally, a filtering system for recovering the recyclable RFID device during a waste recycling process is disclosed. The filtering system enables separating the recyclable RFID device from a packaging and detecting the separated components of the recyclable RFID device including the one or more recoverable components. The separated components including the RFID chip is then diverted from the waste stream for reuse.

Abstract: RFID-based electronic surveillance article systems are provided with first and second receiving antennas. An RF signal is transmitted to an RFID device, which transmits a return signal that is received by the receiving antennas. A position of the RFID device may be determined based on a difference between the strength of the return signal when received by the first antenna and the strength of the return signal when received by the second antenna. If RF signals are transmitted by the receiving antennas, the position of the RFID device may be determined by changing the strengths of the RF signals transmitted by each antenna and comparing the strength of the RF signal transmitted by the first antenna when the RFID device is at a threshold for receiving the signal to the strength of the RF signal transmitted by the second antenna when the RFID device is at the threshold.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides an RFID device that operates in wide-band and is orientation insensitive. The RFID device includes a first resonator and a second resonator. The first resonator includes a sheet of electrically conductive material, defining an area covered by a perimeter. The RFID device also includes a slot defined by opposing sides and the slot being extended from an open end of an edge of the perimeter of the sheet to a closed end stretching within an internal region of the sheet. The RFID device includes a conductive member placed between the open end and closed end and is contoured by the slot in between. The second resonator includes a loop conductor coupled to an integrated circuit (chip). The second resonator is contained within the closed end of the slot and is spaced by a gap from the opposing sides. The RFID device is formed on a substrate.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.