Smart Capsule Transponder with Breakable Leg Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product security and authentication systems for high-value items like wines and spirits often rely on destroying RFID components when the package is opened, limiting their ability to transmit complex information and track the product's life cycle post-access.
Innovation Solution
A cap design featuring a transponder with a breakable leg circuit that remains functional after disruption, allowing continued information access and tampering detection, including a NFC chip and antenna circuit integrated into a cap with a tear band or perforation that acts as a structural fuse, providing a one-time switch to indicate opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the RFID chip or antenna is destroyed when the package is opened, then tampering detection is achieved, but continued information transmission and product tracking becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID chip is divided into two functional segments: an antenna circuit that can be disrupted for tampering detection, and a memory chip that remains intact and functional. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable tampering detection through antenna disruption while preserving information storage and transmission capabilities through the intact memory chip, resolving the contradiction between security and information accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A control circuit acts as an intermediary between the antenna circuit and the memory chip. The control circuit enables or disables communication with the memory chip based on the integrity status of the antenna circuit. When the antenna is disrupted, the control circuit blocks access to the memory chip, preventing unauthorized reading while allowing legitimate continued access when the antenna is intact, thus maintaining both security and information availability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple warning label is used to indicate package opening, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but product authentication and tracking capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly integrates multiple functions into a single system: it provides tampering detection through antenna disruption, stores product information in the RFID memory chip, enables product tracking through continuous communication, and offers authentication through controlled access. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate simple warning labels while providing comprehensive authentication and tracking capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple mechanical warning labels with an electronic RFID system that uses electromagnetic fields for communication. The RFID chip and antenna circuit provide sophisticated authentication and tracking capabilities through electronic means, substituting the limited mechanical label system with a versatile electronic system that can store, transmit, and verify product information.
3Reliability
If the leg circuit is non-releasably affixed to the opening area, then tampering evidence reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leg circuit is designed as a disposable, non-releasably affixed component that is intentionally made breakable. Once the cap is opened or tampered with, the leg circuit breaks to provide permanent tampering evidence. This disposable design simplifies the overall system by using a simple, inexpensive component that performs its function once and then becomes inactive, avoiding the need for complex recovery or restoration mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable tampering evidence and continued information accessibility, preventing reverse alteration of data, and allowing detailed product tracking and authenticity verification.
Implementation Method 1
a NFC chip and antenna circuit integrated into a cap
Data Source
AI summary
The technology relates to a cap 1 having a head 4 and a skirt 7 with a circumferential opening area 20 characterized in that the cap 1 may include a transponder 10 including and antenna circuit 14 and a leg circuit 17 the leg circuit 17 extending to the skirt 7 and being non-releasably affixed to the opening area 20, whereby the leg circuit 17 is breakable by disruption of the opening area 20. The transponder 10 stores and is able to transmit information on the integrity of the cap 1 to a reading device.