At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote transceiver. The RFID tag includes a substrate; and first and second circuits disposed on the substrate and comprising respective first and second antennas magnetically coupled to one another. At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a RFID tag having a plurality of RF circuits, where each RF circuit is electronically coupled to a sensing element.

A secure asset supply cabinet comprises bins for holding assets and a programmable lock. The programmable lock comprises a short range wireless interface (e.g. RFID or NFC) and a physical lock actuatable by processing circuitry. The programmable lock receives an unlock code via the short range wireless interface, e.g. by a user entering credentials on a portable wireless device. The received unlock code is authenticated based on an authentication or lock code. If the unlock code is authentic, the physical lock is actuated to unlock the asset supply cabinet. Each bin may have a wireless asset tag on its surface. Each tag may comprise a user-actuatable button and be encoded with a unique ID. When a user performs a predetermined gesture with the button, such as pressing it twice, a restock message including the ID is transmitted to a wireless access point.

In aspects of RFID-based sensory monitoring of sports equipment, a number of RFID readers are positioned throughout a sports area to interrogate RFID tags that are associated with objects, such as sports equipment, used within the sports area. An object, such as a sports ball or protective equipment, can be set in motion along a trajectory within the sports area, and a RFID tag associated with the object receives an interrogation from the RFID readers positioned throughout the sports area. The object can include sensors integrated within a housing of the object, and the sensors are implemented to sense data about the motion and the trajectory of the object, as well as contact by the object with other objects. The sensed data is then communicated from the RFID tag of the object back to the one or more RFID readers that initiated the interrogation of the RFID tag.

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.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader sequentially carries out inventory rounds with passive RFID sensor tags. Each RFID sensor tag has at least one sensing element arranged to sense a predetermined quantity. The reader reads one value of the predetermined quantity based on a backscattering modulation frequency used by the passive RFID sensor tag during each inventory round and releases the RFID sensor tag prior to reading next value of the predetermined quantity based on a backscattering modulation frequency used by the passive RFID sensor tag during a subsequent inventory round. If the passive RFID sensor comprises two or more sensing elements having different sensor characteristics, the reader reads one of the sensing elements of the passive RFID tag during one inventory round and releases the passive RFID sensor tag prior to reading another one of the sensing elements of the passive RFID sensor tag during a subsequent inventory round.

A wireless asset location tracking system and related techniques are disclosed. The system may include one or more beacon tags and one or more micro-zone (mZone) transmitters disposed at designated locations. A given mZone transmitter may transmit an mZone signal including data pertaining to its identity, and thus location. A given beacon tag receiving the mZone signal may pull mZone identification data therefrom and relay it in its own beacon signal, along with other data. In this manner, a given mZone transmitter may provide information pertaining to the location within the host space of a given beacon tag within its transmission range. The beacon signal may be received by any gateway or reader device within range, and information therefrom may be delivered through the internet to a server database. The information stored at the server database may be accessed to monitor and track tagged assets and control overall system operation.

Embodiments include multi-function electronic payment card and device systems capable of generating a programmed magnetic field of alternating polarity based on a speed of a card swipe, and methods for constructing the device for the purpose of emulating a standard credit card. An apparatus is described to allow the device to emulate behavior of a credit card when used in electronic credit card readers. Additionally methods are described to allow user control of the device for the purpose of authorizing or controlling use of the device in the application of credit, debit and cash transactions, including cryptocurrency and card-to-card transactions. Methods are also described for generating a limited-duration credit card number when performing a transaction for the purpose of creating a limited-use credit card number, which is limited in scope of use to a predetermined number of authorized transactions. Furthermore the device may interact with other similar devices in proximity for the purpose of funds or credit/debit transfers.

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.

A card, such as a payment card, or other device may include an electronics package. The electronics package may include electronic components mounted on a flexible, printed circuit board. The electronics package may be laminated (e.g., via a hot, cold, or molding lamination process) between layers of transparent polymer. A hologram may be fixed to one side of the electronics package such that the hologram may be viewed from the exterior of the laminated card having transparent polymer layers. As such, the hologram may not be removed without breaching the integrity of a transparent polymer layer.

The present invention is directed toward a communication device in communication with a motion sensing mechanism or other utility. The motion sensing mechanism or other utility is adapted to provide data to the communication device. The data is used to selectively allow or restrict the communication device's ability to transmit messages, which may include sensitive data, to a second electronic device. Thus, the motion sensing mechanism or other utility is utilized to limit access to data on the communication device to only instances when the utility provides the communication device with a recognized data input.