Metal layers of a smartcard may be provided with slits overlapping at least a portion of a module antenna in an associated transponder chip module disposed in the smartcard so that the metal layer functions as a coupling frame. One or more metal layers may be pre-laminated with plastic layers to form a metal core or clad subassembly for a smartcard, and outer printed and/or overlay plastic layers may be laminated to the front and/or back of the metal core. Front and back overlays may be provided. Pre-laminated metal layers having an array of card sites, with each position having a defined area prepared for the later implanting of a transponder chip module characterized by different sized perforations and gaps around this defined area adjacent to the RFID slit(s), to facilitate the quick removal of the metal in creating a pocket to accept a transponder chip module.

A low-cost, multi-function adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform with a form factor that unobtrusively integrates one or more transducers and one or more wireless communication devices in an adhesive product system. In an aspect, the adhesive product system integrates transducer and wireless communication components within a flexible adhesive structure in a way that not only provides a cost-effective platform for interconnecting, optimizing, and protecting the constituent components but also maintains the flexibility needed to function as an adhesive product that can be deployed seamlessly and unobtrusively into various applications and workflows, including sensing, notification, security, and object tracking applications, and asset management workflows such as manufacturing, storage, shipping, delivery, and other logistics associated with moving products and other physical objects.

The positive feedback latch amplitude limiting control circuit and method of the passive radio frequency identification tag of the present disclosure can dynamically rectify and control the voltage between the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal. When the voltage between the antenna terminals is too high, the signal generating circuit turns on the discharge circuit, such that the charges at the antenna terminal are outputted to the ground, which reduces the rectified DC voltage. When the voltage between the antenna terminals is within the limited voltage, the signal generating circuit makes the discharge circuit in the turned-off state. The rectifier circuit rectifies all the charges at the antenna terminal into DC power for the load circuit, such that the current consumption is controlled to a certain extent. The discharge circuit in the present disclosure includes a MOS transistor whose gate voltage is indirectly controlled by a latch. An internal positive feedback latch mechanism of the latch makes the first control signal Si have a substantially strong pull-down driving force when being pulled to a low level, such that a control gate of the discharge path is fully turned off, which avoids a discharge state of the MOS transistor being in a sub-threshold region, and effectively reduces a leakage current in the discharge path, thereby improving communication performance.

Systems and methods for monitoring an attachment, such as a breaker head, for a mining machine. The system includes a breaker head, a wireless identification tag, a sensor, and an electronic processor. The wireless identification tag is coupled to the breaker head and includes a tag memory storing an identifier of the breaker head and an antenna. The sensor is configured to generate measurement data associated with the breaker head. The electronic processor is configured to receive measurement data from the sensor, generate a notification based on the measurement data, and transmit the notification to the wireless identification tag. Additionally, the wireless identification tag is configured to store the notification. The notification can then be later retrieved from the wireless identification tag by various devices, such as a further mining machine or a reader device of maintenance personnel.

RFID systems may be configured to use session-dependent replies. When an RFID tag is involved in a certain inventorying session, the tag may respond to inventorying commands with a reply that is at least partly generated based on the session. For example, the tag may generate a reply with a string that has parity based on the session or includes an identifier for the session. The string may be a random number, a tag identifier or item identifier, or any other suitable data sent from the tag.

An agent activated non-metal antenna for an ultra-high frequency (UHF) wireless sensor having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in electronic communication with the non-metal antenna, and a wireless data communication integrated circuit (IC), includes a conductive stimuli-responsive hydrogel material configured to be inactive prior to an interaction with an activating agent and active upon the interaction with the activating agent. The antenna is further configured to transmit power to turn on the wireless data communication IC only when the non-metal antenna is active upon interaction with the activating agent.

A card may store data on integrated circuits housed within the card. The card includes two short-range antennas and one long-range antenna that are configured to transmit the data. Antennas of the card may be configured to transmit the data in different directions as a result of a signal-blocking layer embedded within the card that isolates respective antennas from electromagnetic signals originating from a direction on the opposing side of the blocking layer. The long-range antenna may be configured to transmit identification data of the user, while the short-range antennas may be configured to transmit financial data related to the user. A system may be configured to instantiate events for the user of the card with the long-range antenna. Events that are instantiated by the long-range antenna may then be executed using the short-range antennas.

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.

A system and method are disclosed for tracking animals, which may include production animals as well as pets. The system and method may comprise a tag system that is attached to an animal that generally has at least a near-field-communication (NFC) tag. The tag system comprises at least an NFC tag and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. For NFC tags, such tags may be read with a portable computing device, such as a mobile telephone running NFC reader application software. The phone may communicate with a communications network and ultimately a computer server in order to relay information received from a respective electronic tag. The electronic tags may be fastened, embedded, or ingested by an animal. The electronic tags may be part of a mechanical coupling. Each mechanical coupling may comprise a different structure depending on the whether the tags are fastened to, embedded in, or ingested by the animal.

The disclosed embodiments provide a payment card. The payment card may have a first face and a second face opposite the first. Additionally, the payment card may comprise a first smart chip, the first smart chip having contacts that are electronically accessible from the first face of the card. The payment card may further comprise a first antenna coupled to the first smart chip, the first antenna providing near-field contactless access to the first smart chip and a second smart chip, the second smart chip having contacts that are electronically accessible from the second face of the card. Additionally, the payment card may comprise a second antenna coupled to the second smart chip, the second antenna providing near-field contactless access to the second smart chip and an RF block that electronically isolates the first antenna and the second antenna from each other.