Flexible RFID Label with Tamper Detection for Lab Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RFID labels lack global usability, extended reading range on small glass surfaces, flexibility for cylindrical containers, high temperature resistance, chemical resistance, and tamper detection features, particularly in laboratory settings.
Innovation Solution
A flexible RFID label with a flat support material base, integrated RFID microelectronic device, and antennas capable of communicating in dual frequency ranges (UHF and NFC), featuring predefined cuts for tamper detection and a conductive loop, along with an adhesive and protective polypropylene layer for chemical resistance and adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a RFID label is designed with large dimensions to achieve extended reading range, then the reading range is improved, but the flexibility to stick on different containers with varying sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID label is designed with a flexible support material base that can be segmented or cut into different sizes and shapes. The predefined cuts allow the label to be divided into smaller portions that can be adapted to fit containers of various dimensions, thereby maintaining flexibility while preserving the RFID functionality for reading range requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support material base is made of flexible material that can dynamically adapt its shape and size. This flexibility allows the same label design to be conformably applied to different container geometries (cylindrical bottles, vials, syringes) without requiring multiple fixed-size label variants, thus resolving the contradiction between extended reading range and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a RFID label uses dual frequency ranges for NFC and UHF to achieve global usability, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID label integrates both NFC and UHF frequency capabilities into a single unified device. By merging multiple frequency ranges into one label, the invention achieves global usability across different regions and applications without requiring separate labels for different frequency requirements, thus improving versatility while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID label is designed as a universal multi-functional device that operates across multiple frequency ranges (NFC and UHF). This multi-functionality allows the same label to be used globally in different countries and applications, eliminating the need for region-specific labels and thereby improving adaptability while the integrated design keeps complexity manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a RFID label is made small in dimensions to fit limited glass surfaces, then the adaptability is improved, but the reading range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID label utilizes a flexible thin film support material base that can be applied to small curved surfaces of containers like vials and syringes. The flexibility allows the label to conform to limited glass surfaces while maintaining its RFID antenna functionality, thereby achieving both small-size adaptability and adequate reading range through efficient antenna design on the flexible substrate.
4Reliability
If a RFID label includes tamper detection function with conductive loop to achieve security, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper detection function is merged with the existing RFID label structure by integrating a conductive loop into the support material base. This conductive loop works in conjunction with the RFID microelectronic device to provide tamper detection without requiring a completely separate security system, thus improving reliability while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID label's microelectronic device performs self-diagnosis by monitoring the integrity of the conductive loop. When the loop is broken or tampered with, the system automatically detects this change and can communicate the tamper status, providing self-service security monitoring that improves reliability without adding complex external detection systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a RFID label for marking containers or equipment, preferably in a laboratory environment and including in particular cylindrical bottles, vials, syringes, etc., by adhering the RFID layer to a surface thereof. The RFID label has a flat flexible support material base (11), at least one RFID microelectronic device (5c) included in the flat support material base (11), and at least one antenna (5a,5b) connected with the at least one RFID microelectronic device (5c) and included in the flat support material base (11). The flat support material base (11) has a number of predefined cuts (8) distributed about its outer periphery and/or the at least one RFID microelectronic device (5c) includes a tamper detection function and a conductive loop (5d) connected with tamper detection function terminals of the RFID microelectronic device (5c) is included in the flat support material base (11).