US5581257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radio frequency automatic identification system
Assignee: Gordian Holding Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-30
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2014-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A radio frequency automatic identification system detects targets which include a plurality of radio frequency resonators. Information is attributed to the target in accordance with the radio frequency response characteristics of the target, such as the resonant frequencies of resonators present, and/or the spatial locations within the target of the resonators. Preferred resonators include thin dipoles, which may be metallizations on a plastic film substrate. Information may be attributed to a target by fabricating the target with resonators disposed at locations to encode information in accordance with a predetermined encoding system; alternatively, resonators may be randomly disposed, and a translation code applied to convert the radio frequency information to particular information in a particular format. Readers for use in the system read the radio frequency response characteristics of a target in the near field of a radiating aperture which is illuminated by a radio frequency source. Items which may be encoded with radio frequency readable information include documents, credit cards, and computer diskettes.
Inventors
- 👤 Morton Greene
- 👤 G. William Hurley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:05
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; C; C30; C30B; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/16; C30B29/18; C30B33/00; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/753; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/0672; G06K19/07; G06K19/0723; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G08B13/2417; G08B13/2422; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2437; G08B13/244; G08B13/2442; G08B13/2445; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2468; G08B13/2471; G08B13/2482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A target for authenticating a document, comprising: a plurality of thin dipoles disposed in a fixed arrangement on a substrate, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a random spatial position on said substrate, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates a composite RF waveform associated with said document when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with RF energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A target for authenticating a document, comprising: a plurality of thin dipoles disposed in a fixed arrangement on a substrate, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a random spatial position on said substrate, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates a composite RF waveform associated with said document when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with RF energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are randomly disposed in said fixed arrangement on said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The target of claim 2, wherein each of said thin dipoles has a random angular orientation on said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said fixed arrangement corresponds to an ordered arrangement of said plurality of thin dipoles on said substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The target of claim 4, wherein each of said thin dipoles has an ordered angular orientation on said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of metalized fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The target of claim 6, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of metalized glass fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The target of claim 1, wherein each of said thin dipoles is resonant at an interrogating frequency having a 1/2 wavelength equal to a length of said thin dipoles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said substrate is non-conductive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The target of claim 10, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper or plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The target of claim 11, wherein said thin dipoles are disposed between inner and outer layers of plastic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The target of claim 12, wherein said inner and outer layers of plastic represent first and second layers of an identification card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The target of claim 13, wherein said identification card is a credit card.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles are disposed throughout all of said surface area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles occupy only a portion of said surface area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles do not overlap on said substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The target of claim 1, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles partially overlap on said substrate.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a target for use in authenticating a document, comprising the step of disposing a plurality of thin dipoles in a fixed arrangement on a substrate, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said substrate, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates a composite RF waveform associated with said document when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with RF energy.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a target for use in authenticating a document, comprising the step of disposing a plurality of thin dipoles in a fixed arrangement on a substrate, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said substrate, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates a composite RF waveform associated with said document when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with RF energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said disposing step comprises the steps of: (1) coating said substrate with a layer of metal to form a coated substrate; (2) forming a plurality of exposed metal areas by applying a photo-resist layer to said coated substrate; and (3) forming said plurality of thin dipoles by removing said exposed metal areas from said substrate with a chemical etchant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are randomly disposed in said fixed arrangement on said substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein each of said thin dipoles is disposed at a random angular orientation on said substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said fixed arrangement corresponds to an ordered arrangement of said plurality of thin dipoles on said substrate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23, wherein each of said thin dipoles has an ordered angular orientation on said substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of metalized fibers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19, wherein each of said thin dipoles is resonant at an interrogating frequency having a 1/2 wavelength equal to a length of said thin dipoles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said substrate is non-conductive.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper or plastic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said thin dipoles are disposed between inner and outer layers of plastic.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said inner and outer layers of plastic represent first and second layers of an identification card.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said identification card is a credit card.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles are disposed throughout all of said surface area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles occupy only a portion of said surface area.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles do not overlap on said substrate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles partially overlap on said substrate.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for authenticating an object, comprising: (A) an RF source for illuminating said object with an RF source signal; (B) an RF detector for receiving a composite RF response signal from said object in response to said RF source signal; and (C) a processor, coupled to said detector, for determining whether said composite RF response signal is representative of an authentic response signal; wherein a plurality of thin dipoles are disposed in a fixed arrangement on said object, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said object, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates said composite RF response signal when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with said RF source signal.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for authenticating an object, comprising: (A) an RF source for illuminating said object with an RF source signal; (B) an RF detector for receiving a composite RF response signal from said object in response to said RF source signal; and (C) a processor, coupled to said detector, for determining whether said composite RF response signal is representative of an authentic response signal; wherein a plurality of thin dipoles are disposed in a fixed arrangement on said object, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said object, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates said composite RF response signal when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with said RF source signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are randomly disposed in said fixed arrangement.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 37, wherein each of said thin dipoles has a random angular orientation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said fixed arrangement corresponds to an ordered arrangement of said plurality of thin dipoles.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 39, wherein each of said thin dipoles has an ordered angular orientation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of metalized fibers.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said thin dipoles are formed of aluminum.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 36, wherein each of said thin dipoles is resonant at an interrogating frequency having a 1/2 wavelength equal to a length of said thin dipoles.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are positioned on a substrate on said object.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said substrate is non-conductive.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 45, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper or plastic.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 46, wherein said thin dipoles are disposed between inner and outer layers of plastic.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 47, wherein said inner and outer layers of plastic represent first and second layers of an identification card.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 48, wherein said identification card is a credit card.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles are disposed throughout all of said surface area.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles occupy only a portion of said surface area.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles do not overlap on said substrate.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles partially-overlap on said substrate.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for authenticating an object, comprising the steps of: (A) illuminating said object with an RF source signal from an RF source; (B) receiving, with an RF detector, a composite RF response signal from said object in response to said RF source signal; and (C) determining whether said composite RF response signal is representative of an authentic response signal; wherein a plurality of thin dipoles are disposed in a fixed arrangement on said object, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said object, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates said composite RF response signal when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with said RF source signal.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for authenticating an object, comprising the steps of: (A) illuminating said object with an RF source signal from an RF source; (B) receiving, with an RF detector, a composite RF response signal from said object in response to said RF source signal; and (C) determining whether said composite RF response signal is representative of an authentic response signal; wherein a plurality of thin dipoles are disposed in a fixed arrangement on said object, each of said thin dipoles being formed of an elongated metal article having a fixed spatial position on said object, wherein said fixed arrangement of thin dipoles generates said composite RF response signal when said plurality of thin dipoles are illuminated with said RF source signal.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of moving said object through a reading slot while illuminating said object with said RF source signal.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 55, wherein said composite RF response signal represents an amplitude of an RF signal generated by said thin dipoles as said object is moved through said reading slot.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 54, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are randomly disposed in said fixed arrangement.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 57, wherein each of said thin dipoles has a random angular orientation.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 54, wherein said fixed arrangement corresponds to an ordered arrangement of said plurality of thin dipoles.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 59, wherein each of said thin dipoles has an ordered angular orientation.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 54, wherein each of said thin dipoles is resonant at an interrogating frequency having a 1/2 wavelength equal to a length of said thin dipoles.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 54, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles are positioned on a substrate on said object.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 62, wherein said substrate is non-conductive.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 63, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper or plastic.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 64, wherein said thin dipoles are disposed between inner and outer layers of plastic.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 65, wherein said inner and outer layers of plastic represent first and second layers of an identification card.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 66, wherein said identification card is a credit card.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 62, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles are disposed throughout all of said surface area.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 62, wherein said substrate has a surface area and said plurality of thin dipoles occupy only a portion of said surface area.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 62, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles do not overlap on said substrate.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 62, wherein said plurality of thin dipoles partially-overlap on said substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |