Secure optionally passive RFID tag or sensor with external power source and data logging

1. A secure optionally passive RFID tag system comprising:

a passive RFID tag having a first environmentally rugged and sealed housing;

said tag further comprising means for receiving radio signals from at least one base station and for transmitting radio signals to at least one base station;

said tag further comprising means for being powered exclusively by received radio energy;

said tag further comprising means for storing data;

an external power and data logging device having a second environmentally rugged and sealed housing;

said external power and data logging device further comprising at least one battery;

said external power and data logging device further comprising electronic circuitry including a digital memory configured for reading, storing and writing data;

said external power and data logging device providing means for powering said tag;

said external power and data logging device providing means for reading and storing data from said tag; and

a means for reversibly joining said first environmentally sealed housing to said second environmentally sealed housing which maintains an environmental seal for said tag and said external power and data logging device.

2. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein:

said external power and data logging device further comprises means for writing data to said tag; and

said tag further comprises means for transmitting data received from said external power and data logging device.

3. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said tag includes a means for attachment to an object.

4. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 3 , wherein said means for attachment is an adhesive.

5. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein:

said received signals are encrypted;

said tag further comprises means for decrypting signals and encrypting signals; and

said transmitted signals are encrypted.

6. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 5 , wherein said signals are encrypted and decrypted via means including AES based authentication.

7. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said tag further comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of fiber optic cable loop, temperature sensor, radiation sensor, light level sensor, humidity sensor, vibration sensor, chemical sensor, gas sensor, pressure sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope; and

wherein said data includes data received from said sensor.

8. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein:

said tag further comprises an electrical connector;

said external power and data logging device further comprises a matching electrical connector;

said means for powering said tag at least partially comprises communicating electrical power through said electrical connectors; and

said means for reading data from said tag at least partially comprises communicating data through said electrical connectors.

9. The secure passive RFID tag system of claim 8 , wherein:

attaching said external power and data logging device to said tag causes said tag to be powered by said battery; and

attaching said external power and data logging device to said tag causes said digital memory to read and store data from said tag.

10. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 9 , wherein:

if signals are received from at least one base station, said tag may cause said external power and data logging device to write stored data back to said tag, whereby said tag may then transmit said data to the base station.

11. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 8 , wherein:

said connectors each have a longitudinally oriented connecting axis; and

at least one of said connectors is movably mounted to provide accommodation of positioning errors between said connectors.

12. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 9 , wherein said movably mounted connector provides substantially planar movement perpendicular to said connecting axis;

said movably mounted connector further provides angular movement; and

thereby said movably mounted connector is positionally adaptable to said matching connector.

13. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 12 , wherein said planar movement provides at least 0.030″ of movement; and

said angular movement provides at least 1 degree of movement.

14. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 12 , said movably mounted connector further comprising:

a connector holder configured for attachment to one of said connectors;

said connector holder having a flexible region, wherein flexure of said flexible region provides said angular movement;

said flexible region being at least partially bounded by a thicker and less flexible border;

at least one channel partially enclosing said border;

said border being slidable within said channel; and

thereby said connector holder being slidable within said channel provides said planar movement perpendicular to said connecting axis.

15. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 8 , further comprising;

a means for tamper detection in proximity to said connectors; and

a means for providing alarm data if tampering is detected.

16. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 8 , wherein said connectors are USB format connectors.

17. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said means for being environmentally sealed together includes a protruding port of generally tubular shape, a captive rotatable cap configured to releasably engage with said port, and a reversibly compressible sealing element configured to seal between said port and said cap.

18. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a means for tamper detection in said tag; and

a means for providing alarm data if tampering is detected.

19. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 18 , wherein said means for tamper detection further comprises a fiber optic cable loop having a first end, a second end and a loop portion;

said first and second ends being affixed within said first housing;

said loop portion being external to said first housing;

said fiber optic cable loop containing an optical signal propagating from said first end to said second end; and

whereby tampering is detected if said optical signal is interrupted or altered.

20. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 18 , wherein said means for tamper detection further comprises a means for disabling or destroying the functionality of said tag if tampering is attempted upon said tag.

21. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a means for tamper detection in said external power and data logging device; and

a means for providing alarm data if tampering is detected.

22. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said battery is accessible through a battery compartment;

said battery compartment further comprising a battery door;

said tag including a means for attachment to an object; and

said door being configured to be inaccessible when said tag is attached to an object.

23. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said battery is rechargeable through means selected from the group consisting of having an environmentally sealed charger port or wirelessly recharging the batteries.

24. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said means for powering said tag and said means for reading data from said tag comprise at least one flexible cable joining said external power and data logging device and said tag via at least one environmentally sealed connector pair.

25. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said external power and data logging device further comprises a means for active wireless transmission of data.

26. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said means for receiving radio signals from at least one base station and for transmitting radio signals to at least one base station further comprises the use of UHF frequencies and far-field electromagnetic propagation.

27. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said tag further comprises an antenna; and

said antenna is selected from the group consisting of patch antennas, linear polarized antennas, dual-polarized antennas and circularly polarized antennas.

28. The secure optionally passive RFID tag system of claim 1 , wherein said means for transmitting radio signals comprises phase shift keyed backscatter modulation.

29. A secure optionally passive RFID tag or sensor system comprising:

a passive RFID tag having a first environmentally rugged and sealed housing;

said housing further comprising means for adhesively attaching to an object;

said housing further comprising tamper detection means;

said tag further comprising means for receiving radio signals from at least one base station and for transmitting radio signals to at least one base station;

said tag further comprising means for decrypting signals and encrypting signals;

said received signals and said transmitted signals being encrypted;

said tag further comprising means for being powered exclusively by received radio energy;

said tag further comprising means for storing data;

said tag further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of fiber optic cable loop, temperature sensor, radiation sensor, light level sensor, humidity sensor, vibration sensor, chemical sensor, gas sensor, pressure sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope;

wherein said data includes data received from said sensor;

an external power and data logging device having a second environmentally rugged and sealed housing;

said external power and data logging device further comprising at least one battery;

said external power and data logging device further comprising electronic circuitry including a digital memory configured for reading, storing and writing data;

said external power and data logging device providing means for powering said tag;

said external power and data logging device providing means for reading and storing data from said tag;

a means for reversibly joining said first environmentally sealed housing to said second environmentally sealed housing which maintains an environmental seal for said tag and said external power and data logging device;

said tag further comprising an electrical connector;

said external power and data logging device further comprising a matching electrical connector;

said means for powering said tag at least partially comprising communicating electrical power through said electrical connectors;

said means for reading data from said tag at least partially comprising communicating data through said electrical connectors;

wherein attaching said external power and data logging device to said tag causes said tag to be powered by said battery; and

attaching said external power and data logging device to said tag causes said digital memory to read and store data from said tag.

30. The secure optionally passive RFID tag or sensor system of claim 29 , wherein:

said external power and data logging device includes a means for writing data to said tag; and

said tag having means for transmitting data received from said external power and data logging device.