The apparatus of the present invention are directed to an selectively accessible electromagnetically resonant data storage element (implemented as a resonant tag, card, and / or embedded element), that is selectively responsive to predetermined electromagnetic interrogation thereof, that comprises a novel
membrane switch component for enabling a user to selectively enable and / or disable interrogatory access to the resonant component, to protect from unauthorized interrogation thereof (hereinafter “MSRDS element”). The inventive MSRDS element comprises a top circuitry layer, a bottom circuitry layer, which includes a microchip, a plurality of contact pads and an antenna, an insulation spacer layer, a pressure layer retention component, and an optional EM / EMI shielding layer. The
membrane switch may be formed through a combination of aligned and configured subcomponents of at least a portion of the element's
layers. In one embodiment thereof, the pressure layer retention component may be advantageously utilized to maintain the
membrane switch in a pressed down position to thereby enable the MSRDS element to function continuously (i.e., in an Always-ON security mode), until such time that the pressure layer retention component is removed. In this exemplary embodiment of the MSRDS element, for example used in conjunction with
consumer products, when a
consumer purchases a product that has been provided with the MSRDS element, they remove (e.g., peel off, etc.) the pressure layer retention component to change the element to an Always-OFF security mode, such that the MSRDS element is only accessible to electromagnetic interrogation thereof when the membrane switch is held down. Therefore, the MSRDS element of the present invention provides a greater level of
data security advantageously balanced with convenience—it is freely accessible prior to acquisition thereof by a user, and is thereafter easily made secure by the user, who is provided with the capability of readily and selectively enabling access to the data stored therein.