BACKGROUND

Statement of the Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to tags (e.g., Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tags). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to implementing systems and methods for providing tags adapted to be incorporated with or in items (e.g., textile products).

Description of the Related Art

There are many RFID tags known in the art. Once such RFID tag comprises a Visual Source Tag (“VST”) Item Level Intelligence (“ILI”) hard tag made by Sensormatic Electronics, LLC of Florida. The VST ILI hard tag consist of an RFID tag attached to Polyethylene Terephthalate (“PET”) substrate and encased in an Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (“ABS”) plastic housing. The VST ILI hard tag is hard to defeat by malicious individuals (e.g., thieves). However, the VST ILI hard tag is difficult to remove at Point Of Sale (“POS”) systems. In order to address these drawbacks of the VST ILI hard tag, swing tickets have been created that contain RFID tags on PET and imbedded in paper. The problem with the swing ticket configuration is that the swing ticket be easily removed from the retail item without damaging the same, which results in less security from theft.

Therefore, it makes sense to insert an RFID tag directly into the retail item that the RFID tag is intended to protect. One such solution involves incorporating the RFID tag in a thread that can be sewn into cloth. Theoretically, this is an inexpensive solution that uses standard sewing techniques. However, the standard sewing techniques tend to damage the RFID tag causing failure rates of 1-20% that are not acceptable. Accordingly, a special machine has been employed required to install the RFID tag thread into cloth. In order to have physical strength, a wire is coated by a thick coating. Consequently, the RFID tag thread is able to be felt by someone touching the cloth and can be seen after the cloth has been ironed. In addition, this solution is relatively expensive.

Another solution includes placing RFID tags on care or brand labels of retail items. This label based solution has several drawbacks. For example, the care/brand labels have known locations and are easy to remove from the retail items using a cutting tool (e.g., scissors). Also, care/brand labels are usually small so the RFID tags antennas need to be meandered which reduces the RFID tag performance. If the care/brand label material has thickness or stiffness, then the care/brand labels will cause irritation to the individuals wearing the item. Finally, if the retail item is a garment for the upper body, then an individual might try to steal the garment by putting it on in a fitting room and wearing it out of the retail store without paying for the same. The back of a person's neck is a difficult location to try and read an RFID tag from an exit gate. Tag detection is much better if the RFID tag is installed in a seam of the garment.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure concerns implementing systems and methods for integrating tags with items. The methods comprise: turning a reel by an amount that allows a portion of an elongate narrow substrate that includes a first tag of a plurality of tags to be paid out (where each of the plurality of tags comprises (1) at least one antenna formed of a trace or wire disposed on the elongate narrow substrate and (2) a communication enabled device coupled to the elongate narrow substrate so as to have an electrical coupling or connection with the at least one antenna); determining dielectric and tuning properties of the first item (e.g., using a look up table or sensor data); dynamically tuning the first tag to optimize tag performance in view of the dielectric and tuning properties of a first item being fabricated; cutting the elongate narrow substrate so as to cause the first tag to be placed on the first item being fabricated; and/or coupling the first tag to the first item being fabricated.

In some scenarios, the first tag is dynamically tuned by decreasing a thickness of the trace disposed on the elongate narrow substrate, or clipping one or more ends of the wire disposed on the elongate narrow substrate. Alternatively and/or additionally, the first tag is dynamically tuned by sewing at least one metal thread into the first item at a location where the first tag is to reside.

In those or other scenarios, at least one side of the elongate narrow substrate is sewn to the first item during the coupling. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate narrow substrate is pushed into the first item during the coupling, and/or the elongate narrow substrate is at least partially enclosed within a cavity formed between the first item and a layer of cloth during the coupling. The layer of cloth may have a metal thread for tuning an operating frequency of the first tag.

In those or other scenarios, the methods also comprise validating that the first tag is operating properly after the first tag has been coupled to the first item. The first tag may be replaced with a second tag of the elongate narrow substrate when a validation is not made that the first tag is operating properly.

In those or other scenarios, the methods also comprise adding color to a flexible fluid resistive material; and/or coating the elongate narrow substrate with the plurality of tags using the flexible fluid resistive material. The color added to the flexible fluid resistive material can match a color of the first item. The portion of the elongate narrow substrate that includes a first tag may alternatively be painted using paint of a color that matches the color of the first item.

The present disclosure also concerns systems for integrating tags with items. The systems comprise a reel on which an elongate narrow substrate is wound. The elongate narrow substrate comprises a plurality of tags coupled thereto. The elongate narrow substrate with the plurality of tags may be coated using a flexible fluid resistive material. The flexible fluid resistive material can have a color that matches a color of the item(s). Each of the plurality of tags comprises at least one antenna formed of a trace or wire disposed on the elongate narrow substrate, and a communication enabled device coupled to the elongate narrow substrate so as to have an electrical coupling or connection with the at least one antenna.

The system also comprises: a first device (e.g., a laser, razor and/or sewing machine) that dynamically tunes a first tag of the plurality of tags so as to optimize tag performance in view of dielectric and tuning properties of a first item being fabricated; a second device (e.g., a razor and/or scissors) that cuts the elongate narrow substrate so as to cause the first tag to be placed on the first item being fabricated; and a third device (e.g., a nozzle to dispense an adhesive, a heater to apply heat, and/or a sewing machine) that couples the first tag to the first item being fabricated. The portion of the elongate narrow substrate that includes a first tag can be painted using paint with a color that matches a color of the item.

The system may further comprise a computing device that determines dielectric and tuning properties of the first item using a look up table or sensor data, prior to when the first tag is dynamically tuned. The first tag may be dynamically tuned by decreasing a thickness of the trace disposed on the elongate narrow substrate, clipping one or more ends of the wire disposed on the elongate narrow substrate, and/or sewing at least one metal thread into the item at a location where the first tag is to reside.

In some scenarios, the third device sews at least one side of the elongate narrow substrate to the item, pushes the elongate narrow substrate into the item, and/or encloses the first tag within a cavity formed between the item and a layer of cloth. The layer of cloth may have a metal thread for tuning an operating frequency of the first tag.

In those or other scenarios, the system also comprises a fourth device (e.g., a tag reader) configured to validate that the first tag is operating properly after the first tag has been coupled to the item. The first tag may be replaced with a second tag of the elongate narrow substrate when a validation is not made that the first tag is operating properly.

