RING-SHAPED PIECE OF JEWELRY HAVING AN RFID TRANSPONDER

Abstract

A ring-shaped piece of jewelry has a metal main body, which forms a receiving opening, and an RFID transponder, in which data that can be read out are stored and which is connected to an antenna structure, by means of which antenna structure signals can be exchanged with a reading device. The RFID transponder is part of a transponder array having at least two additional RFID transponders, which extend peripherally on a peripheral surface of the metal main body, and the transponder array has a distance of 2 to 6 mm between two adjacent RFID transponders.

Claims

1. A ring-shaped piece of jewellery, comprising: a metal main body which forms a receiving opening; and an RFID transponder on which data that can be read out are stored, the RFID transponder being connected with an antenna structure by which signals can be exchanged with a reader device, wherein the RFID transponder is part of a transponder array having at least two further RFID transponders arranged on a peripheral surface of the metal main body, and wherein the transponder array has a distance of 2 to 6 mm between two adjacent RFID transponders.

2. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein the data that can be read out are redundantly stored on the further RFID transponders.

3. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponders are designed at least partially as passive transponders.

4. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the RFID transponders have a near field antenna integrated in a chip housing.

5. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein the transponder array has at least one far field antenna.

6. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponders are held in a contactless manner spaced from the metal main body.

7. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponders are covered at least partially by a non-metallic material.

8. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 7, wherein the non-metallic material is formed at least partially by a carbon fibre structure, a lacquer or a ceramic.

9. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 7, wherein the non-metallic material is formed at least partially by gemstones.

10. A method for producing the ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, comprising: in a first step, the RFID transponders are positioned and fastened on a metal main body; in a second step, the RFID transponders fastened on the metal main body are encased in carbon fibre material; and in a third step, the carbon fibre material is subjected to heat in order to bake the RFID transponders into the carbon fibre material.

11. The production method according to claim 10, wherein the RFID transponder in the first step is adhesively bonded to the metal main body with the interposition of a layer of adhesive.

12. The production method according to claim 10, wherein the carbon fibre material used in the second step is strip-shaped in form.

13. The production method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to the second step, the RFID transponders are embedded in an aerogel.

14. A method for operating a readout arrangement with the ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 1, and a reading device, comprising: in a first step, an activating signal with a transmitting and receiving frequency is transmitted to the piece of jewellery by a transmitting device of the reading device; and in a second step, the data that can be read out are transferred from the piece of jewellery to a receiving device of the reading device, wherein the transmission of the activating signal takes place successively with different transmitting and receiving frequencies.

15. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein the transfer of the data that can be read out takes place as a function of a predetermined temporal positioning of the piece of jewellery in a receiving region of the reading device.

16. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein the reading device is connected with an electronic and/or mechanical safety device.

17. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 2, wherein the RFID transponders are designed at least partially as passive transponders.

18. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the RFID transponders have a near field antenna integrated in a chip housing.

19. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 3, wherein at least some of the RFID transponders have a near field antenna integrated in a chip housing.

20. The ring-shaped piece of jewellery according to claim 2, wherein the transponder array has at least one far field antenna.

Description

[0021] In the figures is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a readout arrangement according to the invention at the transfer of data that can be read out from a piece of jewellery to a reading device,

[0023] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a metal main body of the piece of jewellery according to FIG. 1 during a first production step,

[0024] FIG. 2B shows an enlarged sectional view of an upper section of the metal main body according to FIG. 2A after an RFID transponder has been mounted,

[0025] FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the metal main body according to FIG. 2A at the end of the first production step,

[0026] FIG. 2D shows a perspective view of the metal main body according to FIG. 2B after mounting an aerogel,

[0027] FIG. 2E shows a perspective view of the metal main body according to FIG. 2D during a second production step,

[0028] FIG. 2F shows a perspective view of the piece of jewellery according to FIG. 1 at the end of a third production step,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the piece of jewellery in an alternative embodiment, using a monocrystalline material,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the piece of jewellery in a further alternative embodiment, using an integrated far field antenna,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the piece of jewellery in a further alternative embodiment, using a far field antenna protruding from the metal main body and

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the piece of jewellery in a further alternative embodiment, using a foldable far field antenna.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a readout arrangement 2 having a piece of jewellery 4 in the form of a finger ring placed on the finger of a user B, and a reading device 6. This has transmitting and receiving means 8 which are connected with a readout electronic device 10. By means of the transmitting and receiving means 8, in this regard an electromagnetic field EF can be established in a near field of the reading device 6. In addition, by means of the transmitting and receiving means 8, activating signals AS can be sent to the piece of jewellery 4.

[0034] As can be learned in particular from FIGS. 2A to 2C, for the inductive generation of electric current and for receiving the activating signals AS, the piece of jewellery has a transponder array 12 having a plurality of passive RFID transponders 14 and a storage chip 16, which are held on a metal main body 22. Data that can be read out D are stored in each case in the transponders 14, such as in particular identification data, passwords or other release codes and access/authorisation rights.

[0035] By means of positioning the RFID transponders 14 on the part of the wearer or user B of the piece of jewellery 4 within the electromagnetic field EF, according to FIG. 1, the RFID transponders 14 can be supplied with energy and activated, wherein they transfer the data stored on their storage chip 16, such that this in turn be read by the transmitting and receiving means 8 and outputted to the readout electronic device 10. The data that can be read out D are in this regard stored in identical form on several or all RFID transponders 14 of the transponder array 12, such that, even in the case of lack of readability or failure of individual RFID transponders 14, these can be available redundantly and thus transmitted by at least one further RFID transponder 14 to the reading device 6.

[0036] The readout electronic device 10 has an analysis software, by means of which, on the basis of the data D incoming from the respective RFID transponder 14, an access or authorisation right of the user B of the piece of jewellery 4 can be verified. Inasmuch as an appropriate access for authorisation rights exists, a release signal FS is outputted to an electronic device 18 of a safety unit 20, which for example, as shown, is formed by a lock of a building or of a vehicle. Alternatively to this, the safety unit 20 can for example also be integrated into a data processing system, in order to be able to limit the use of data and/or programs to an authorised group of persons.

[0037] The construction or the method for producing the ring-shaped piece of jewellery 4 is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2F.

[0038] As can be learned from FIG. 2A, the metal main body 22, which is for example produced from a precious metal alloy such as for example a gold, silver or platinum alloy, has a receiving opening 24 for placing the piece of jewellery 4 on the finger of the user B. In a first production step, the transponder array 12 consisting of a plurality of RFID transponders 14 is fastened peripherally about the receiving opening 24 on the outer peripheral surface 26 of the metal main body 22. To this end, for example recesses 28 are let into the peripheral surface 26, into which, according to FIG. 2B, a connecting means 30, such as for example an adhesive or a solder, can be introduced, which fixes the RFID transponder 14 concerned with respect to the peripheral surface 26.

[0039] As can be learned from FIG. 2B, the RFID transponders 14 are in this regard held spaced from or without contact to the metal main body 22, with the interposition of the connecting means 30, in order to minimise an impairment of the transmitting and receiving of the RFID transponder 14 caused by the metal main body 22. In addition, according to FIG. 2C, the RFID transponders 14 arranged respectively adjacently have a spacing a of 2 to 6 mm also to one another, in order on the one hand to minimise a mutual disturbance and on the other hand to guarantee a closed peripheral transfer of the data that can be read out D.

[0040] As can in particular be learned from FIG. 2C, the RFID transponders 14 of the transponder array 12 have in each case an antenna structure integrated into a chip housing 32, which functions as a near field antenna 34 with a range of up to 2 cm.

[0041] For the special protection of the RFID transponders 14 map particularly with regard to the effects of heat during the further production methods and/or during the use of the piece of jewellery 4, as shown in FIG. 2D, these can be encased additionally in an aerogel 36, or embedded therein.

[0042] In a second production step, the RFID transponders 14 are then, according to FIG. 2E, covered with a non-metallic material 38, which serves particularly for designing the piece of jewellery 4 or for at least partial enclosing of and for the protection of the RFID transponders 14. To this end, for example lacquers, ceramic materials or plastics can be used, which on one hand support a qualitative impression of the piece of jewellery 4 and at the same time guarantee an uninterrupted exchange of signals between the transponder array 12 and the reading device 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2E, the non-metallic material 38 is formed by a strip-shaped carbon fibre structure 40, which is fastened to the outer peripheral surface 26 of the metal main body 22 with the interposition of the peripheral transponder array 12.

[0043] In a third production step, the metal main body 22, with the carbon fibre structure 40 mounted with the interposition of the transponder array 12, is subjected to a temperature of between 180 and 220°, in order to embed the individual RFID transponders 14 in the carbon fibre structure 40 which deforms in a viscous manner at these temperatures. Here, the aerogel 36 provided between the transponder array 12 and the carbon fibre structure 40 prevents a dangerous increase in temperature at the RFID transponders 14. After an additional post-processing, in this manner the finished piece of jewellery 4 can be obtained with a carbon fibre structure 40 polished on the outside, according to FIG. 2F.

[0044] Alternatively to the embodiment according to FIG. 2F, the non-metallic material, according to FIG. 3, can be formed at least portionally also by an amorphous or crystalline gemstone, in particular by a monocrystalline material 42, such as for example in the form of cut zirconia stones.

[0045] In a further alternative embodiment, the piece of jewellery 4 can have, alternatively or additionally to the integrated near field antenna 34 of the transponder array 12 according to FIG. 2B, also a far field antenna 44 with a range of more than 2 cm, which to this end for example extends across a material length of at least 8.5 cm. As shown in FIG. 4, the field antenna 44 can to this end be embedded in a sinuous or curved shape in an outer surface 46 of the piece of jewellery 4, and in this regard themselves serve as a design element.

[0046] Alternatively to this integrated accommodation, according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the field antenna 44 can also protrude from the metal main body 22, wherein the protruding position can be provided either permanently or also only temporarily by means of a freely-chosen folding mechanism 48, in order to unfold the far field antenna 44 as required and otherwise to keep it in a resting position on the metal main body 22 and as is shown in FIG. 6 by dot-dashed lines.

[0047] In any case, during the use of the piece of jewellery 4, according to FIG. 1, this is positioned in the electromagnetic field EF of the reading device 6, such that a least one of the RFID transponders 14 provided thereon can be activated by the activating signal AS. As a result, the RFID transponder 14 concerned transmits the data D stored on its storage chip 16, which in turn can be received and processed by the reading device 6.

[0048] In order, during this signal exchange, also to be able to cover frequency shifts which can be caused by the individual shape of the piece of jewellery 4, the transmitting of the activating signal AS he takes place successively with various transmitting and receiving frequencies which are stored in the readout electronic device 10. The stored frequencies here preferably cover all frequency shifts which can be expected for a production series of the piece of jewellery 4.

[0049] Furthermore, a temporal coding can be provided on the readout electronic device 10, which makes the forwarding of the release signal FS dependent on a specified temporal positioning of the piece of jewellery 4 in the electromagnetic field EF of the reading device 6. Thus, the opening or releasing of the electronic and/or mechanical safety device 20 can be made dependent not only on the data stored on the piece of jewellery 4 being made available, but also on a coded implementation of the reading procedure which is known only to the legitimate owner of the piece of jewellery 4.

[0050] Reference is made to the fact that all above-described elements and characteristics of the various embodiments of the object according to the invention are interchangeable or can be combined, in as much as an exchange or a combination thereof is not ruled out for technical reasons.