High reliability surveillance and/or identification tag/devices and methods of making and using the same

1. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

a) a unitary conductive structure comprising a bottom capacitor electrode and an inductor;

b) a first dielectric layer on the bottom capacitor electrode and inductor;

c) a top capacitor electrode on the first dielectric layer, the top capacitor electrode comprising a first conductive thin film;

d) a second dielectric layer on the top capacitor electrode and the conductive structure; and

e) a unitary electrically conducting feature on the second dielectric layer, the electrically conductive feature comprising a second conductive thin film, one portion of the electrically conducting feature contacting the top capacitor electrode and a second portion of the conducting feature contacting the conductive structure;

wherein the first dielectric layer prevents unintended reactivation of the device after deactivation.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric layer has a thickness of from 50 to 400 Å and a breakdown voltage of from about 5 to about 50 V.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the top capacitor electrode does not cover an entire surface of the conductive structure.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric layer and the top capacitor electrode have a substantially equal area.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the top capacitor electrode completely covers the first dielectric layer.

6. A method of detecting items with a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

a) causing or inducing a current sufficient for the device of claim 1 to radiate, reflect, or backscatter detectable electromagnetic radiation;

b) detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising attaching, affixing or including the device on or in one of the items.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing the device to perform an action upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising denoting an unauthorized removal of one or more of the items upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising signaling or triggering an alarm or lock upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

11. A method of deactivating a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

placing the device of claim 1 in an electromagnetic field; and

causing or inducing a voltage differential across the first dielectric layer sufficient to place the first dielectric layer in a shorted state or to change a capacitance of the first dielectric layer such that the device no longer resonates at a first frequency.

12. A method of deactivating a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

placing the device of claim 1 in an applied electromagnetic field; and

causing a non-volatile shifting of a threshold or capacitance of the device in response to the applied electromagnetic field having sufficient strength and an effective oscillating frequency to cause or induce a current, voltage and/or resonance in the device.

13. A surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

a) a bottom capacitor electrode on a substrate, the bottom capacitor electrode comprising a first conductive thin film;

b) a first dielectric layer on the bottom capacitor electrode;

c) a top capacitor electrode on the first dielectric layer, the top capacitor electrode comprising a second conductive thin film;

d) a second dielectric layer on the substrate, the second dielectric layer having first and second contact holes therein, respectively exposing the bottom capacitor electrode and the top capacitor electrode; and

e) an antenna and/or inductor having a first end coupled and/or connected to the bottom capacitor electrode through the first contact hole and a second end coupled and/or connected to the top capacitor electrode through the second contact hole.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first dielectric layer has a thickness of from 50 to 400 Å and a breakdown voltage of from 5 to 50 V.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the bottom capacitor electrode does not cover an entire surface of the substrate.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the top capacitor electrode does not cover the entire surface of the substrate.

17. A method of detecting items with a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

a) causing or inducing a current sufficient for the device of claim 13 to radiate, reflect, or backscatter detectable electromagnetic radiation; and

b) detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising attaching, affixing or including the device on or in the item.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising causing the device to perform an action upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising denoting an unauthorized removal of one or more of the items upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising signaling or triggering an alarm or lock upon detecting the detectable electromagnetic radiation.

22. A method of deactivating a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

placing the device of claim 13 in an electromagnetic field; and

causing or inducing a voltage differential across the first dielectric layer sufficient to place the first dielectric layer in a shorted state or to change a capacitance of the first dielectric layer such that the device no longer resonates at a first frequency.

23. A method of deactivating a surveillance and/or identification device, comprising:

placing the device of claim 13 in an applied electromagnetic field; and

causing a non-volatile shifting of a threshold or capacitance of the device in response to the applied electromagnetic field having sufficient strength and an effective oscillating frequency to cause or induce a current, voltage and/or resonance in the device.

24. A method of making a capacitor, comprising:

a) forming a first dielectric layer on a conductive substrate;

b) printing a (semi)conductive layer on at least a portion of the first dielectric layer;

c) etching the first dielectric layer using the (semi)conductive layer as a mask;

d) forming a second dielectric layer in a pattern on the conductive substrate and/or the (semi)conductive layer;

e) forming an electrically conducting feature on the second dielectric layer, one portion of the electrically conducting feature contacting the (semi)conductive layer and a second portion of the conducting feature contacting the conductive substrate; and

f) forming a bottom electrode from the conductive substrate.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the conductive substrate comprises a first elemental metal, a first alloy of elemental metals, or a first conductive inorganic compound;

the (semi)conductive layer comprises a second elemental metal, a second alloy of elemental metals, a second conductive inorganic compound, or a Group IV, Group III-V, or chalcogenide semiconductor; and

the electrically conducting feature comprises a third elemental metal, a third alloy of elemental metals, or a third conductive inorganic compound.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein forming the second dielectric layer comprises printing a liquid-phase dielectric precursor on the conductive substrate.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the conductive substrate comprises a metal film, metal foil, or metal sheet.

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein printing the (semi)conductive layer comprises printing a metal-containing ink, a metal precursor ink, or a liquid-phase semiconductor material on the first dielectric layer.

29. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first dielectric layer substantially reduces accidental healing or repairing of the device after deactivation.

30. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first dielectric layer prevents unintended reactivation of the device after deactivation.

31. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first dielectric layer substantially reduces accidental healing or repairing of the device after deactivation.

32. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first dielectric layer prevents unintended reactivation of the device after deactivation.