JEWELRY RING HAVING A RFID TRANSPONDER AND A READING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A jewelry ring, such as a jewelry finger ring which is worn in particular on the finger, has a metal base body, which forms a fitting receptacle, and a radio-frequency identification (i.e., “RFID”) transponder in which readable data are stored and which has an antenna structure via which signals can be transmitted to a reading device. It is provided here that the RFID transponder is arranged on the inner side of the metal base body.

Claims

1. A jewelry ring, such as a jewelry finger ring worn in particular on the finger comprising: a metal base body, which forms a fitting receptacle, and an RFID transponder in which readable data is stored and which has an antenna structure via which signals can be transmitted to a reading device, wherein the RFID transponder is arranged on the inside of the metal base body, wherein the metal base body outwardly shields the RFID transponder.

2. (canceled)

3. The jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponder is accommodated in a transponder receptacle which is let into an inner side of the metal base body.

4. The jewelry ring according to claim 3, wherein the transponder receptacle is formed by a hole.

5. The jewelry ring according to claim 3, wherein the transponder receptacle is formed in the shape of a groove.

6. The jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein at least one further RFID transponder is accommodated on the inner side of the metal base body.

7. The jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID transponder is designed as a passive transponder.

8. The jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponder comprises a near-field antenna integrated into a chip housing.

9. The jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein the RFID transponder is held in a contactless manner at a distance from the metal base body.

10. The jewelry ring according to claim 3, wherein the RFID transponder is covered towards the fitting receptacle by a non-metallic material, which at least partially closes off the transponder receptacle.

11. The jewelry ring according to claim 10, wherein the non-metallic material is formed at least partially by a carbon fiber structure, a lacquer or a ceramic.

12. The jewelry ring according to claim 10, wherein the non-metallic material is formed at least partially by a gemstone.

13. A reading arrangement with a jewelry ring according to claim 1 and a reading device for data exchange with the RFID transponder of the jewelry ring, wherein the reading device comprises a reading area with receiving means for reading data from the RFID transponder, which reading area can be inserted into the fitting receptacle.

14. The reading arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the jewelry ring can be plugged onto the reading area.

15. The reading arrangement according to claim 14, wherein, in the plug-on direction, a tapering section is provided that is arranged before the reading area.

16. A reading arrangement with a jewelry ring according to claim 1, wherein an alignment arrangement is provided on the jewelry ring and on the reading device, by means of which alignment arrangement the jewelry ring can be positioned at the reading area in a predetermined rotational position in which the RFID transponder is arranged adjacent to the receiving means of the reading area.

17. A reading arrangement with a jewelry ring according to claim 3, wherein an alignment arrangement is provided on the jewelry ring and on the reading device, by means of which alignment arrangement the jewelry ring can be positioned at the reading area in a predetermined rotational position in which the RFID transponder is arranged adjacent to the receiving means of the reading area.

18. A reading arrangement with a jewelry ring according to claim 4, wherein an alignment arrangement is provided on the jewelry ring and on the reading device, by means of which alignment arrangement the jewelry ring can be positioned at the reading area in a predetermined rotational position in which the RFID transponder is arranged adjacent to the receiving means of the reading area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures. In the figures:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a jewelry ring according to the invention with RFID transponder,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a section through the jewelry ring according to FIG. 1 through plane II-II,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the jewelry ring,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a section through the jewelry ring according to FIG. 3 through plane IV-IV,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a reading arrangement with the jewelry ring and a reading device in the separated state, and

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the reading arrangement in the plugged-together state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the disclosed aspects.

[0031] Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0032] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the example embodiments.

[0033] Generally, the following description and the corresponding figures disclose a jewelry ring (2), such as a jewelry finger ring which is worn in particular on the finger (F), where the jewelry ring has a metal base body (4), which forms a fitting receptacle (6), and an RFID transponder (12) in which readable data is stored and which has an antenna structure (22) via which signals can be transmitted to a reading device (32). It is provided here that the RFID transponder (12) is arranged on the inner side of the metal base body (4), and wherein the metal base body outwardly shields the RFID transponder.

[0034] Additionally, the following description and corresponding figures generally disclose a reading arrangement with the aforementioned jewelry ring (2) and a reading device for data exchange with the RFID transponder of the jewelry ring, wherein the reading device (32) comprises a reading area (34) with receiving means (36) for reading data from the RFID transponder (12), which reading area (34) can be inserted into the fitting receptacle (6).

[0035] Further, the following description and corresponding figures generally disclose a reading arrangement with a jewelry ring, specifically the aforementioned jewelry ring (2), wherein an alignment arrangement is provided on the jewelry ring (3) and on the reading device (32), by means of which alignment arrangement the jewelry ring (2) can be positioned at the reading area (34) in a predetermined rotational position in which the RFID transponder (12) is arranged adjacent to the receiving means (36) of the reading area (34).

[0036] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a jewelry ring 2 in the form of a jewelry finger ring with a metal base body 4, which forms a fitting receptacle 6, by means of which the jewelry ring 2 can be put on a finger F. The metal base body 4 is formed in particular by precious metal, such as in particular by a gold, silver and/or platinum alloy.

[0037] On an inner side 8 delimiting the fitting receptacle 6, the metal base body 4 has a transponder receptacle 10 which serves for fastening an RFID transponder 12. The transponder receptacle 10 can, as shown, be formed by a hole 14 in the form of a blind hole let into the inner side 8. As a result, the RFID transponder 12 accommodated therein is shielded outwardly by a closed outer side 16 of the metal base body 4.

[0038] The RFID transponder 12 is here designed as a passive transponder with a chip housing 18 in which a memory chip 20 and an antenna structure 22 are accommodated. The memory chip 20 here serves to store data such as, in particular, identification or access data or codes, such as access codes for bank accounts or cryptocurrencies. The antenna structure 22 preferably forms a near-field antenna, the range of which extends exclusively into the fitting receptacle 6 and in this case is at most 2 cm.

[0039] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the RFID transponder 12 is held in the transponder receptacle 10 at a distance from the metal base body 4, for example by means of an adhesive 24. In addition, the RFID transponder 12 is covered by a non-metallic material M towards the fitting receptacle 6, which non-metallic material closes off the transponder receptacle 10. In this case, the non-metallic material M can be formed at least in part by a carbon fiber structure, a lacquer or a ceramic. Alternatively or additionally, the non-metallic material M closing off the transponder receptacle can also be formed by a gemstone 26.

[0040] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of the jewelry ring 2, in which the transponder receptacle 10 is formed by a groove 28 which is let into the inner side 8, in particular a circumferential groove 28. This enables at least one further RFID transponder 12 or a transponder array, that is for example circumferentially arranged, to be accommodated. As an alternative to accommodating the at least two RFID transponders 12 in the common groove 28, two or more holes 14 can also be let into the inner side 8.

[0041] In this case, both the at least one hole 14 and the groove 28 can already be provided during the manufacture of the jewelry ring 2 or can also be introduced only subsequently into an existing jewelry ring 2, for example by drilling or milling.

[0042] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a reading arrangement 30 with the jewelry ring 2 and a reading device 32, which is provided for communicating with the RFID transponder 12.

[0043] In this case, the reading device 32 is shaped in one part such that the jewelry ring 2 can be plugged thereon along a plug-on direction R and into abutment with an end stop E which is formed adjacent to a reading area 34. In this reading area 34, receiving means 36 are accommodated, by means of which the RFID transponder 12 can be read.

[0044] In order to enable easier plugging-on of the jewelry ring 2 in the plug-on direction R, a tapering section 38, which is arranged upstream of the reading area, is additionally provided on the reading device 32.

[0045] In addition, alignment means 40, such as, for example, contour-forming regions on the outer side 16, can be provided on the jewelry ring 2, which in an intended rotational position of the jewelry ring 2 in relation to the reading device 32 can be brought into interaction with, for example, complementary alignment counterpart means 42. During the interaction of the alignment means 40 and alignment counterpart means 42, the jewelry ring 2 can be brought into a predetermined rotational position or held there when the end stop E is reached, in which position the at least one RFID transponder 12 is arranged adjacent to the receiving means 36, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0046] In this predetermined end stop position, an alternating electromagnetic field, which activates the RFID transponder 12, can now be generated via activation means 46 of the reading device 32, so that the data stored therein can be transferred to the adjacent receiving means 36 of the reading device 32. Via the reading device 32, the data can then be further used to grant the user the access concerned, such as to a bank account or to a cryptocurrency.

[0047] It is pointed out that all the above-described elements and features of the various embodiments of the subject-matter according to the invention are interchangeable or can be combined with one another, provided an exchange or a combination thereof is not ruled out for technical reasons.