Dual-antenna, four-armed identification tag
Consistent with disclosed embodiments, systems, methods, and computer readable media pertaining to a battery-less identification tag for embedding into products may be provided. Embodiments may include a flexible substrate; a first differential antenna on the flexible substrate, the first differential antenna including a first meandering arm and a second meandering arm, and the first differential antenna being of a first size; a second differential antenna on the flexible substrate, the second differential antenna including a third meandering arm and fourth meandering arm, and the second differential antenna being of a second size smaller than the first size; and at least one communications chip connected to the first differential antenna and the second differential antenna.
1. A battery-less identification tag for embedding into products, the identification tag comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a first differential antenna on the flexible substrate, the first differential antenna including a first meandering arm and a second meandering arm, and the first differential antenna being of a first size;
a second differential antenna on the flexible substrate, the second differential antenna including a third meandering arm and fourth meandering arm, and the second differential antenna being of a second size smaller than the first size;
at least one communications chip connected to the first differential antenna and the second differential antenna; and
at least one capacitor on the flexible substrate, the at least one capacitor electrically connected to the communications chip, wherein at least one of the first differential antenna or the second differential antenna is configured to receive ambient energy for storage in the capacitor.
2. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor is incorporated within the communications chip.
3. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the communications chip is configured to be powered with the energy stored in the capacitor, to transmit identification signals via at least one of the first differential antenna or the second differential antenna.
4. The identification tag of claim 1 , further comprising an inductor on the substrate, the inductor being electrically connected to the communications chip.
5. The identification tag of claim 4 , wherein the inductor is printed on the substrate and electrically connected to the communications chip.
6. The identification tag of claim 4 , wherein the communications chip is configured to sense a time varying magnetic field.
7. The identification tag of claim 1 , further comprising a crystal, wherein the crystal is electrically connected to the communications chip.
8. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first differential antenna or the second differential antenna is configured for energy harvesting, and at least one of the first differential antenna or the second differential antenna is configured to transmit wireless signals using the harvested energy.
9. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a material including PET.
10. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the first differential antenna and the second differential antenna are formed of at least one of aluminum or copper.
11. The identification tag of claim 10 , wherein the first differential antenna and the second differential antenna are formed on the substrate through at least one of printing, depositing, etching, photolithography, or milling.
12. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag is encapsulated in a flexible, electrically insulating material.
13. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag further includes a trace connected to the communications chip, the trace passing through a portion to the tag configured to be connected to a product, and wherein the communications chip is configured to identify continuity of the trace.
14. The identification tag of claim 13 , wherein the trace comprises a tamper trace around an edge of the tag.
15. The identification tag of claim 13 , wherein the trace includes a tamper trace that is wider than 1 mm so that puncture by a sewing needle of less than 1 mm is incapable of severing the tamper trace.
16. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the meandering arms of at least one of the first differential antenna or the second differential antenna are connected to a loop trace.
17. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein a width of a trace of the first differential antenna is greater than a width of a trace of the second differential antenna.
18. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the first and second meandering arms are symmetrical.
19. The identification tag of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth meandering arms are symmetrical.