RFID Tag Housing That Breaks the Antenna on Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID tags for objects like license plates are vulnerable to tampering and removal, and lack effective protection against outdoor weather conditions, leading to potential reattachment and functional failure.

Innovation Solution

An RFID tag design featuring a lower and upper housing that encases an antenna unit, where the housings are attached such that the antenna unit breaks when the upper housing is removed, providing tamper-proof attachment and protection from outdoor elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive layer is used to attach RFID tag to object, then RFID tag can be attached to object, but RFID tag can be removed and re-attached by using new adhesive layer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper proof attachmentVSAvoidattachment method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna unit is divided into multiple segments (first portion and second portion) that are separately attached to different housings. This segmentation ensures that when the housing is opened, the antenna unit is damaged and cannot be reused, preventing tampering while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna unit is pre-configured to be damaged when the housing is opened. The first portion is attached to the lower housing and the second portion to the upper housing, creating a preliminary anti-action that prevents removal and reattachment before any tampering attempt occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If conductive wire is used with short circuit detection, then RFID tag detects removal, but wire can be re-connected by welding or soldering techniques

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper detectionVSAvoidwire reconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna unit is segmented into portions attached to different housings, eliminating the need for separate detection wires. The segmentation itself provides the tamper detection mechanism, as the antenna unit is physically damaged when housings are separated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical detection method (wire break detection) is replaced with a mechanical damage mechanism. The antenna unit's physical integrity serves as the tamper detection indicator, eliminating the vulnerability of wire reconnection through welding or soldering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If antenna is etched on adhesion reducing layer, then antenna can be etched on substrate, but antenna comes loose and breaks when RFID inlay is removed from object

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna etchingVSAvoidantenna adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna unit is segmented and attached to both housings, creating multiple attachment points. This segmentation with distributed attachment strengthens the overall structure while maintaining the etching manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna unit is merged with both the lower housing (first portion) and upper housing (second portion). This merging creates a combined structure where the antenna benefits from the strength of both housings, preventing the adhesion and breakage problems of single-attachment designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If RFID inlay without robust casing is used, then RFID inlay can be attached to object, but RFID inlay is not protected from outdoor weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinlay structureVSAvoidweather protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna unit is nested within the housing structure, with the first portion attached to the lower housing and the second portion to the upper housing. This nesting provides robust protection against outdoor weather conditions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure combines multiple materials and attachment methods to create a composite structure that protects the antenna unit from weather conditions. The combination of lower housing, upper housing, and antenna unit creates a weather-resistant assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12493769B2RFID tag for a tamper proof attachment to an object such as a licence plate

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 ASSA ABLOY AB

AI summary

An RFID tag comprising a lower housing, an upper housing and an antenna unit. The lower housing is configured to be attached to an object. The upper housing is placed on the lower housing and comprises a peripheral portion laterally surrounding the lower housing and configured to be attached to the object. The antenna unit is positioned between the lower housing and the upper housing. A first portion of the antenna unit is attached to the lower housing and a second portion of the antenna unit is attached to the upper housing. When the distance between the upper housing and the lower housing changes in case someone attempts to remove the RFID tag from the object, the at least one first portion of the antenna unit remains attached to the lower housing and the at least one second portion of the antenna unit remains attached to the upper housing.