Activation mechanisms for tracking tags
Aspects of the disclosure provide systems including liner material and tracking tags. A first tracking tag may be at least initially arranged on the liner material. The first tracking tag may also include beacon transmission circuitry including one or more batteries, a top layer, a bottom layer including an adhesive, and an activation mechanism. The activation mechanism may be configured to activate the first tracking tag and cause the beacon transmission circuitry to transmit beacon signals in order to enable tracking of the object. The activation mechanism may further include an initially closed circuit that extends beyond a perimeter of the top layer, and the activation mechanism may be configured to automatically activate the tracking tag when the tracking tag is separated from an adjacent tracking tag on the liner material.
1. A system comprising:
liner material; and
a first tracking tag and a second tracking tag both at least initially arranged on the liner material, the first tracking tag and the second tracking tag including beacon transmission circuitry and a deactivation circuit configured to deactivate the beacon transmission circuitry when the deactivation circuit is cut, the beacon transmission circuitry including one or more batteries, a top layer, a bottom layer including an adhesive, and an activation mechanism configured to activate a respective one of the first or second tracking tag and cause the beacon transmission circuitry to transmit beacon signals in order to enable tracking of an object, wherein the activation mechanism includes an initially closed circuit that extends beyond a perimeter of the top layer, and wherein the activation mechanism of the first tracking tag is configured to automatically activate the first tracking tag when the first tracking tag is separated from the second tracking tag by peeling of the first tracking tag from the liner and breaking the initially closed circuit.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag includes a conductive material including a copper foil tape.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the copper foil tape is at least 3 millimeters in width.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the copper foil tape is perforated.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag connects the one or more batteries to a processor configured to activate the beacon transmission circuitry when the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag is broken.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag is configured such that breaking the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag activates the first tracking tag and causes the beacon transmission circuitry to transmit the beacon signals.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag is arranged at least partially between the second tracking tag and the liner material.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag is configured such that removing the first tracking tag from the liner material causes the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag to be broken, and wherein a portion of the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag remains attached to the second tracking tag.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tracking tag further includes guidelines on the top layer for aligning the first tracking tag with an opening of a package, and wherein the guidelines are arranged such that by cutting along the guidelines will cut the deactivation circuit.
10. A method for activating a first tracking tag arranged on a liner material, the method comprising:
removing the first tracking tag from a second tracking tag on the liner material by peeling the first tracking tag away from the liner material and breaking an initially closed circuit, wherein peeling the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag causes the initially closed circuit of the first tracking tag to be broken thereby activating first beacon transmission circuitry of the first tracking tag to generate beacon signals and a portion of the initially closed circuit remains attached to the second tracking tag; and
deactivating the first beacon transmission circuitry of the first tracking tag by cutting or otherwise breaking a deactivation circuit of the first tracking tag,
wherein the second tracking tag includes second beacon transmission circuitry configured to generate beacon signal when activated.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying the first tracking tag to an object via an adhesive of the first tracking tag, wherein application of the first tracking tag to the object enables tracking of the object via the beacon signals.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the initially closed circuit extends beyond a perimeter of a top layer of the first tracking tag, such that separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag results in the portion of the initially closed circuit remaining attached to the liner material.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion remains attached to the liner material between the second tracking tag and the liner material.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the initially closed circuit includes a conductive material including copper foil tape that is broken upon removal of the first tracking tag from the liner material.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the initially closed circuit connects one or more batteries of the first tracking tag to a processor of the first tracking tag, and wherein separating the first tracking tag from the second tracking tag enables the one or more batteries to power the processor.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying the first tracking tag to a package using guidelines on a top layer of the first tracking tag to align the first tracking tag with an opening of the package.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein deactivating the first beacon transmission circuitry of the first tracking tag includes cutting open the package.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein cutting or otherwise breaking the deactivation circuit causes a signal to be sent to a processor of the first tracking tag which, in turn, causes the processor to send a signal to the first beacon transmission circuitry of the first tracking tag which causes the first tracking tag to cease transmitting the beacon signals.