An embedded trace capacitive signet is described. The embedded trace capacitive signet provides for authentication and validation through interaction with a touch screen of a computing device such as a smart phone. The embedded trace capacitive signet has a substrate such as a card, a plurality of conductive circle points affixed to the substrate, a user conductive area that allows a user to provide capacitance to the conductive circle points, and thin traces connecting each circle point to the user conductive area. Placing the circle points in different locations produces unique cards that can be detected by a touch screen of a computing device to initiate a software based application.

This disclosure is generally directed to an RFID system that includes a hybrid RFID tag offering a functionality of a passive RFID tag and an active RFID tag. When operating as a passive RFID tag, an RF signal received from an RFID reader is harvested to produce a DC voltage for powering the hybrid RFID tag. The harvested DC voltage is coupled into a capacitor at a slow-charging rate so as to avoid a capacitor inrush current causing an abrupt power supply voltage drop. A controller chip in the hybrid RFID tag can execute some RFID functions at this time, thereby speeding up a response to the RFID reader. The capacitor is then charged at a fast-charging rate for storing a reserve charge. The hybrid RFID tag can subsequently use the reserve charge to operate as an active RFID tag without waiting for an RF signal from the RFID reader.

An embedded trace capacitive signet is described. The embedded trace capacitive signet provides for authentication and validation through interaction with a touch screen of a computing device such as a smart phone. The embedded trace capacitive signet has a substrate such as a card, a plurality of conductive circle points affixed to the substrate, a user conductive area that allows a user to provide capacitance to the conductive circle points, and thin traces connecting each circle point to the user conductive area. Placing the circle points in different locations produces unique cards that can be detected by a touch screen of a computing device to initiate a software based application.

A capacitive coupled radio frequency identification, RFID, tag and method for reading the tag, the tag comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first planar surface and a second planar surface distal from the first planar surface. A metallic pad formed on the first planar surface of the semiconductor substrate. A circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the metallic pad and the second planar surface of the semiconductor substrate, the circuit configured to respond to a radio frequency, RF, input signal by providing a data signal encoded by varying an impedance between the metallic pad and the second planar surface of the semiconductor substrate.

The present invention relates to a method comprising providing one or more information carrier(s) with a dielectric and/or conductive pattern and a detection device having a capacitive touch screen and inducing an interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is based on a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern and generates a touch signal and wherein the interaction is induced by relative motion between the information carrier and the touch screen. The invention further relates to a system comprising an information carrier comprising a dielectric and/or conductive pattern which encodes information and a detection device having a touch screen; the detection device is able to decode the information upon interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is caused by a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern.

A device is provided that includes an electrically conductive structure on a non-conductive substrate for generating a time-dependent signal on a capacitive surface sensor. A method for generating a tamper-proof time-dependent signal on a surface sensor is also provided by means of such a device. A system or kit for carrying out the method and generating a time-dependent, tamper-proof signal on a capacitive surface sensor is also provided.

The invention relates to a method for the detection of modified information patterns of a capacitive information carrier comprising at least one electrically conductive material forming at least one modifiable electrically conductive pattern, wherein information is encoded within the characteristics of the electrically conductive pattern. The method comprises at least the steps of modifying the characteristics of the electrically conductive pattern and capacitively detecting a second information pattern encoded within the characteristics of the modified electrically conductive pattern. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a capacitive information carrier for use in the method according to the invention and a method for manufacturing a capacitive information carrier for use in the method according to the invention.

A system includes a structure configured to hold items, at least one capacitive touch sensor, and an item scanner configured to move the capacitive touch sensor relative to the structure and to identification elements disposed on the items held by the structure. Each identification element represents a multi-digit code. The capacitive touch sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal comprising sequences of waveforms in response to movement of the capacitive touch sensor relative to the identification elements. Each sequence of waveforms includes the multi-digit code that identifies one of the items.

The invention relates to a capacitive, planar information carrier with a first, second and third electrically conductive area wherein the first electrically conductive area is overprinted with a first dielectric layer having a first relative permittivity ε1 and wherein the third electrically conductive area is overprinted with a second dielectric layer having a second relative permittivity ε2. In another aspect, the invention relates to an information carrier formed from an electrically conductive surface of an object or an electrically conductive object. In other aspects, the invention relates to methods for the manufacture of information carriers, methods for detecting information carriers and to the use of an information carrier.

An apparatus and method and electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a memory element configured to store information; a switching element coupled to the memory element; wherein the switching element is configured to be switched from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal provided by a capacitive touch screen and wherein when the switching element is in the second state the information can be read from the memory element by the capacitive touch screen.