Abstract:
A sealing cap with an anti-counterfeit and identification capability comprises a cap body, an identification chip with a signal emitting device generating an identification signal, and a destructive device, characterized in that the cap body is electrically connected with the signal generating device and serves as an antenna of a relatively large area and in that the destructive device after dismounting of the cap destroys the capability to emit radiation and thus prevents said identifying chip from being dismounted and reused.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an anti-counterfeit sealing cap with identification capability, particularly to an anti-counterfeit sealing cap with wireless frequency identification capability. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Spirits, beverages, cosmetics and other valuable liquids need protection against counterfeit and theft during transport. Usually, caps of liquid bottles are equipped with protective measures and techniques, as follows:
     1. A protective ring is attached at a lower edge of a cap, which is destroyed upon any attempt to open the bottle, so that unauthorized opening and resealing of the bottle is easily detected, by which the contents thereof may have been exchanged.   2. Characters or drawings are printed on the cap which are invisible under normal light, but visible under ultraviolet light, thus identifying the bottle as a genuine product.   3. Three-dimensional printing and a polishing treatment identify the bottle as a genuine product.   

   Above conventional protective measures use optical methods or destruction of packaging to recognize counterfeit and protect against unauthorized opening and resealing. However, examining of bottles has to be performed manually, there are no specific product data stored, and bottles have to be examined one by one, resulting in difficulties for mass production and processing of data. 
   Another conventional protective measure lies in using bar codes to store product data. This method, however, requires a bar code reader, storage space is limited, so that detailed information has to be stored elsewhere, e.g., on a server computer, and are not immediately accessible. Furthermore, reading bar codes requires optical scanning of samples one by one and is therefore not suitable for quick processing of large volumes. 
   To meet recent demand for high sales volumes, automatization and quick processing of mass-produced items, wireless identification (RFID) techniques have been developed. A wireless identification device mainly comprises a tag, an antenna and a reader. The tag is equipped with a semiconductor chip. Having entered a magnetic field generated by the reader, an electric current is induced, which supplies energy for reading out and sending data stored on the chip. Sent data are received by the reader and transmitted to a central processing system. 
   Since reading of data is performed without contacting and without wires, large volumes of data are read out fast, making this method suitable for high-volume processing and sales. Large supermarkets, security checkpoints for air and sea freight and customs checkpoints have introduced RFID for faster processing and increased security. 
   Currently, usage RFID is still in an introductory phase and has so far only partly replaced the usage of bar codes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,619 “Method and system for preventing counterfeiting of high price wholesale and retail items” discloses a cap equipped with a semiconductor chip and an antenna. The chip is read out only once and then destroys itself, so that there is only a one-time reading capability, not allowing for repeated reading of data. 
   However, the antenna of this RFID device has a limited area, which restricts an angle of reading, and the chip is not protected from being dismounted and reinserted in counterfeit products, so that no effective protection against pirating is achieved. Furthermore, the chip is only usable once for reading and uses its readability immediately after that. But for the distribution of goods, reading of information is often required at various stages, which cannot be performed from conventional chips. Therefore, conventional RFID devices still need some improvement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the main object of the present invention to provide an anti-counterfeit sealing cap with wireless frequency identification capability which has a cap body and a semiconductor identifying chip attached to an inner side thereof, with the cap body acting as an antenna and the identifying chip being automatically destroyed if the cap body is opened. 
   By the design of the present invention, the cap body as a whole serves as an effective area of the antenna, ensuring a large effective area of the antenna and an unrestricted angle of radiation, increasing detecting sensitivity. Automatic destruction of the identifying chip upon opening of the cap body serves as an effective measure against counterfeiting. 
   Furthermore, the identifying chip can be read repeatedly without opening the cap, thus being suitable for use in mass production. 

   
     The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional side view of the anti-counterfeit sealing cap of the present invention in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the anti-counterfeit sealing cap of the present invention in the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the anti-counterfeit sealing cap of the present invention in the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the anti-counterfeit sealing cap of the present invention in the fourth embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the anti-counterfeit sealing cap with identification capability of the present invention in a first embodiment mainly comprises: a cap body  10 , sealing an opening of a container  1  and having a surface; a semiconductor identifying chip  20 , attached to an inner side of the cap body  10 , storing product data; and a destructing device  30 . The identifying chip  20  has a signal emitting device  21 . Several connectors  22  connect the signal emitting device  21  and the cap body  10 , so that signals generated by the signal emitting device  21  are radiated by the cap body  10  serving as an antenna to a reader in an RFID device for frequency identification. The destructing device  30  is mounted between the cap body  10  and the container  1 . Upon opening the cap body  10 , the destructing device  30  destroys the capability of the identifying chip  20  to send signals, preventing unauthorized opening and reuse of the cap body  10 . 
   The identifying chip  20  works similarly to conventional RFID semiconductor chips and therefore does not need further explanation. 
   The main characteristic of the present invention lies in the entire surface of the cap body  10  acting as antenna radiating signals from the identifying chip  20 , so that a large effective area of the antenna results and signals from the identifying chip  20  are radiated out with increased intensity and reading sensitivity is enhanced. Thus reading of product data is performed with higher effectivity and higher throughput of read product samples is achievable, while reading errors are reduced. 
   In the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the cap body  10  is made of electrically conductive material, like copper or aluminum, so that the entire surface thereof acts as an antenna. The signal emitting device  21  of the identifying chip  20  and the cap body  10  are connected, so that signals from the identifying chip  20  are radiated by the cap body  10 . 
   Another characteristic of the present invention is the destructing device  30 , preventing opening and dismounting of the cap body  10 . In the first embodiment, the destructing device  30  has a ring  31  that is separate from the cap body  10 , with several connecting elements  32  inserted between the ring  31  and the cap body  10 . When the cap body  10  is opened, the connecting elements  32  break, so that the ring  31  and the cap body  10  become separated. At least one part of the identifying chip  20  is connected with the destructing device  30 . Upon opening of the cap body  10 , the identifying chip  20  is pulled on from opposite sides, so that the identifying chip  20  is mechanically destroyed or the connectors  22  break. 
   Since the identifying chip  20  is broken by the destructing device  30  when the cap body  10  has been opened, a reader of an RFID device readily notices that opening of the cap body  10  has occurred, so that unauthorized reuse thereof is prevented. Furthermore, the identifying chip can be read repeatedly without opening the cap, thus being suitable for use in mass production. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the present invention in a second embodiment has a cap body  10 A made of plastics or another electrically non-conductive material. An antenna  11 A made of electrically conductive material covers a large part of the cap body  10 A. Electrical connection between the signal emitting device  21  of the identifying chip  20  and the antenna  11 A is established by the connectors  22 . Preferably, the antenna  11 A is a metal plate or is printed on the cap body  10 A. 
   In the first and second embodiments, the present invention has antennas of nearly equal areas, resulting in nearly equal signal effectivities. The second embodiment of the present invention, however, due to the applicability of plastic caps allows for a wider range of applications. 
   Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in a third embodiment of the present invention, the destructing device  30  has a plug  33  sealing the container  1 . After removing the cap body  10 , the plug  33  is separated therefrom. At least one part of the identifying chip  20  is connected with the plug  33 , while via the connectors  22  being connected with the cap body  10  or the antenna. Therefore, when the cap body  10  is removed, the identifying chip  20  is tom apart or the connectors  22  break, eliminating any signal emission capability. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the destructing device  30  has a plug  34  which is separate from the cap body  10 . In contrast to the third embodiment of the present invention, the identifying chip  20  is mounted on the inner side of the cap body  10  and at least one of the connectors  22  is connected with the plug  34 . Therefore, when the cap body  10  is opened, the connectors  22  break, and no transmission of signals from the identifying chip  20  to the cap body  10  is possible anymore. 
   By the design of the present invention and usage thereof in conjunction with RFID technology, data in high volume are fast and reliably read, and proper identification of product samples is achieved. An increased area of the antenna enhances reading sensitivity and reduces reading errors, and the destructing device  30  ensures that no unauthorized opening and resealing of the cap occurs.