Silent radio frequency identifier (RFID) state and restore back is described herein. An RFID tag enters a silent state by receiving a sleep command from an RFID reader. While the RFID tag is in the silent state, only an awake command will restore back normal operation of the RFID tag. Other received commands or interrogations from the RFID reader are ignored and responses are not transmitted to the RFID reader.

An RFID tag for capacitively coupled RFID communication with an RFID reader. The RFID tag comprising an integrated circuit (IC), the IC including a first RFID tag electrode arranged to capacitively couple with a first electrode of the RFID reader to form a first capacitor, and a second RFID tag electrode arranged to capacitively couple with a second electrode of the RFID reader to form a second capacitor when the RFID tag is in a first position relative to the RFID reader; power supply circuitry configured to extract power from a first time-varying signal received from the RFID reader via at least one of the first RFID tag electrode and the second RFID tag electrode, and supply the extracted power to circuitry of the RFID tag; and data transmission circuitry configured to receive the extracted power from the power supply circuitry, and transmit data to the RFID reader via at least one of the first RFID tag electrode and the second RFID tag electrode.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and reader system including an array of circular resonators with interdigitated capacitor fingers wherein the fingers of each pair are radially aligned and bars disposed between the resonators to reduce coupling between adjacent resonators, wherein subsets of the resonators resonate at respective different resonant frequencies, and the resonators of each of the subsets have the same resonant frequency; and the radio frequency response produced by the tag at a resonant frequency varies depending on the activation of resonators of the subset corresponding to the resonant frequency.

A portable object (10) comprises an integrated circuit (11), a first pad (12) that is mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit (11) and a second pad (13) that is mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit (11). The portable object (10) is designed for data transfer by capacitive coupling of the first pad (12) to a first conducting line (33) and of the second pad (13) to a second conducting line (34), when the portable object (10) is brought in vicinity to the first and the second conducting line (33, 34).

An electromagnetic induction wireless communication system including: a magnetic antenna; an electric antenna; a tuning capacitor coupled to the magnetic antenna configured to tune the magnetic antenna; a controller configured to control the operation of the communication system; a signal source coupled to the controller configured to produce a communication signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and the electric antenna; a voltage control unit coupled to the signal source configured to produce one of an amplitude difference, phase difference, and an amplitude and a phase difference between the communication signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and electric antenna.

A smartcard (SC) having at least a contactless interface, such as having a dual interface transponder chip module (TCM) with a chip (IC), a module antenna (MA) for the contactless interface, and contact pads (CP) for a contact interface. Metal layers (ML) may have openings (MO) for receiving the module, and slits (S) or nonconductive stripes (NCS) extending to the openings, thereby forming coupling frames (CF). A card body (CB) for the smartcard may comprise two such metal layers (front and rear coupling frames) separated by a layer of non-conductive (dielectric) material. A front face card layer and a rear face card layer may complete a multiple coupling frame stack-up for a smartcard. Various slit designs (configurations, geometries) are described and illustrated. The slit may be filled. The slit may be reinforced.

Systems and methods for integrating tags with items. The methods comprise: dynamically determining a length of each metal thread to be incorporated into or trace to be disposed on a item to optimize tag performance in view of dielectric and tuning properties of the item. In the metal thread scenarios, the methods also involve: creating a metal thread having the length that was dynamically determined; and sewing the metal thread into the item being produced to form an antenna for a first tag. In the trace scenarios, the methods also involve forming the trace on the item being produced to form an antenna for a first tag. Next, at least a communications enabled device is attached to the item so as to form an electrical coupling or connection between the communications enabled device and the at least one antenna.

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, wherein the metallic pad formed on the first planar surface extends beyond the semiconductor substrate. Wherein the metallic pad is rectangular, elongate or T-shaped, and/or the capacitive coupled RFID tag further comprises a metal electrode in electrical contact with the second planar surface.

Among other things, the invention concerns an apparatus for securing a product against forgery, the apparatus including a microchip with an integrated circuit that may be read out in a contactless manner, a first metallization layer arranged on a first chip side of the microchip, and a second metallization layer arranged on a second chip side opposite to the first chip side. The first and second metallization layers are each electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and function as electrodes for a capacitive readout of the integrated circuit. The microchip is fixable to the product or integrable into the product. The invention further concerns the use of a microchip as a security feature in a product as well as a method for securing a product against forgery.

An IC tag in which precision reduction is suppressed and which is compact and manufactured easily, and a manufacturing method of IC tag are provided. The IC tag has: antennas disposed on one surface of a substrate; a capacitor which includes a dielectric and first and second electrodes disposed on one surface of the substrate, and in which an electrostatic capacitance changes irreversibly corresponding to changes in ambient environment; and an IC chip which detects the electrostatic capacitance of the capacitor via a pair of external terminals to which the first and second electrodes are respectively connected, and wirelessly transmits information based on a detection result via the antennas.