Abstract:
A radio frequency identification, RHD, device ( 116 ) for use at an article ( 114 ) is described that communicates information with a washing machine ( 100 ). The RFID device ( 116 ) comprises RFID circuitry ( 118 ), an antenna ( 120 ) connected to the RFID circuitry ( 118 ), as well as switching means ( 122 ) connected to any of the RFID circuitry ( 118 ) and the antenna ( 120 ) and configured to react to contact with a fluid ( 108 ) in the washing machine ( 100 ) by switching the RFID circuitry ( 118 ) from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. The two modes of operation comprise at least a respective first and second ability to communicate with the washing machine ( 100 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    RFID tags are typically small, often bendable, tags comprising a small integrated circuit and an antenna. The typical size of the circuit is about 1 mm 2 , while the antenna is typically much larger. RFID tags generally have no electric power of their own, in the form of a battery or similar power source, but respond to an externally generated electromagnetic field, generated by an RFID reader terminal. When an RFID tag is located in such an electromagnetic field, it gains electric power from it and, typically, receives messages from the reader terminal and gives responses with data to the reader terminal. 
         [0003]    Needless to say, RFID tags are low-power devices, but they have gained more and more capabilities since their introduction some years ago. An RFID tag typically comprises a processing unit and is thereby able to do more or less advanced processing of data that is received and/or read from internal memory. An RFID tag may contain several types of memory, such as NV-RAM (non-volatile RAM), which operates only when electric power is present as well as ROM (read only memory) and EEPROM. 
         [0004]    RFID tags are very widely used in a wide variety of application environments. Examples include animal identification tags, access keys to doors, suitcase handling at airports, supply chain management, inventory management, etc. 
         [0005]    In particular, RFID tags are extremely useful at the supply chain/inventory/sales side, including such use as providing merchandise with information that enhances efficiency in virtually all parts of the supply chain, from the factory to the end user/customer. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, it is now anticipated that RFID tags will be useful also when an article has been purchased by an end user/customer and found its way into the home of the user. For example, in the case of washable articles such as clothing, there now exist washing machines that can autonomously select a washing program based on information they receive from an RFID tag embedded in the clothing. 
         [0007]    A description of a prior art RFID transponder for use in clothing can be found in the international patent application published as WO 2004/047013. 
         [0008]    A drawback with prior art RFID tags is, however, that information from tags may get into the hands of unauthorized parties. That is, prior art tags do not provide necessary privacy protection when users/consumers carry readable RFID tags around in public places. For example, unauthorized and malicious parties can scan the tags and identify what items a person is carrying. This can be embarrassing, and it can effectively direct criminals to expensive articles of clothing or other portable goods. Furthermore, even if the information released by tags does not allow for identification of products, the information stored in the tag is typically time-independent. This gives malicious parties a very effective way of tracking a person. 
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the invention is to overcome drawbacks of prior art RFID systems as discussed above. 
         [0010]    The object is achieved in different aspects by means of an RFID device and a washing machine as claimed. 
         [0011]    Hence, in a first aspect the invention provides a radio frequency identification, RFID, device for use at an article to communicate information with a washing machine. The RFID device comprises RFID circuitry, an antenna connected to the RFID circuitry, as well as switching means connected to any of the RFID circuitry and the antenna and configured to react to contact with a fluid in the washing machine by switching the RFID circuitry from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. The two modes of operation comprise at least a respective first and second ability to communicate with the washing machine. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the invention include those where the RFID circuitry is configured such that the first mode of operation comprises that the RFID circuitry is able to communicate a first set of information and that the second mode of operation comprises that the RFID circuitry is able to communicate a second set of information, the second set of information being larger than the first set of information. 
         [0013]    The RFID circuitry may in embodiments of the invention be configured such that the first mode of operation comprises that the RFID circuitry is unable to communicate information. For example, the switching means may be arranged such that they are connected between the antenna and the RFID circuitry. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the switching means are configured to react to contact with the fluid such that the second mode of operation of the RFID circuitry is maintained only during the contact with the fluid. 
         [0015]    Moreover, in some embodiments, the switching means are configured to react to contact with the fluid such that the second mode of operation of the RFID circuitry is maintained also after the contact with the fluid has been terminated. 
         [0016]    Embodiments include those where the switching means comprise a fuse and a fluid sensitive switch. The fuse may be configured to react to a received signal, for example a relatively high power signal received from an RFID reader, by becoming non-conducting, thereby switching the RFID circuitry to enter the first mode of operation. 
         [0017]    In a second aspect, the invention provides a washing machine comprising a control unit and an RFID reader configured to operate in connection with at least one RFID device as described above. 
         [0018]    In other words, the invention provides an RFID tag that solves the privacy problem discussed above. For example, at a point of sale, the inventive RFID tag is “disabled”, e.g. by burning a ROM component or wire connected to the RFID circuitry of the tag. As a result, the tag enters the first mode of operation in which communication with the tag is, if not made impossible, at least made difficult. The actual “disabling” can be done by transmission of a powerful electromagnetic signal from, e.g. an RFID reader or any other suitable transmitter. 
         [0019]    In the “disabled” state, i.e. the first mode of operation, the tag is then functional only if enough conducting moisture is applied onto the tag. As stated above, this is made possible by way of the switching means that are configured to establish electric contact only when conducting liquid is present. As exemplified, the switching means may be located at a “strategic” location in connection with the RFID circuitry, such as between the antenna and the RFID circuitry. 
         [0020]    Hence, a typical usage scenario is one in which the tag operates normally prior to sale, the tag is then effectively disabled before a user/customer brings the article on which the tag is present out of the point of sale. The tag remains non-communicating as long as it stays dry and is re-enabled again only when the article with the tag is put into a washing machine that pumps fluid (water, dry cleaning fluid etc.) onto the article. 
         [0021]    A washing machine that is properly enabled to deal with RFID tags will typically first pump a small amount of cold water onto the clothes. Then it scans the tags for information regarding recommended temperatures, spin drying, color combinations, amounts of detergent etc. Based on this information it will choose a program that will not damage the products. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The invention will now be described in some more detail with reference to the drawings, where: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating an RFID tag at a piece of clothing in a washing machine, 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an RFID tag according to one embodiment of the invention, 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a graph showing penetration depth with 10 dB attenuation for RF signals in the frequency interval 10 MHz to 5 GHz, 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows and embodiment of an RFID tag according to the present invention, 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a moisture sensor, and 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows an interface between the moisture sensor and the EPROM of the RFID chip. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows, schematically, a washing machine  100  comprising a washing fluid container  106 , a control unit  102 , an electromechanical interface unit  104  to which a washing fluid supply  124  and a washing fluid drain  126  are connected and an RFID reader  110  with an antenna  112 . 
         [0030]    A washable article  114  is immersed in washing fluid  108  in the container  106 . An RFID tag  116  is attached to the washable article  114 . The RFID tag  116  comprises RFID circuitry  118 , connected to which are an antenna  120  and switching means  122 . The switching means  122  are configured such that they have “disabled” the RFID circuitry, e.g. by burning a ROM component or wire connected to the RFID circuitry  118 . As a result, the tag has entered a mode of operation in which communication with the tag  116  is, if not made impossible, at least made difficult. The actual “disabling” can be done by transmission of a powerful electromagnetic signal from, e.g., an RFID reader or any other suitable transmitter, prior to introduction of the washable article  114  with the tag  116  into the washing machine  100 . 
         [0031]    The control unit  102  is configured to control, via the electromechanical interface unit  104 , washing cycles in terms of, e.g., inflow and outflow of the washing fluid  108 , temperature of the washing fluid  108  as well as rotation of the container  106 . In operation, the control unit  102  communicates with the RFID tag  116  and with any other tag attached to articles present in the container  106 . The communication is performed by means of radio frequency, RF, signals via the RFID reader  110 , the RFID reader antenna  112 , the tag antenna  120  and the tag RFID circuitry  118 . An effect of the tag  116  being immersed in the washing fluid  108  is that the switching means  122  become electrically conductive. The RFID circuitry  118  reacts to the electrically conductive switching means  122  by operating in a mode of operation where the communication, via the antennas  120  and the RFID reader  110 , with the control unit  102  is enabled. 
         [0032]    By reading information contained in the RFID circuitry  118 , the control unit  102  is then capable of performing a washing cycle dictated by information communicated from the RFID circuitry  118  and any other RFID circuitry of tags present in the container  106 . 
         [0033]    An alternative configuration of an RFID tag  216  is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The tag  216  comprises RFID circuitry  218  connected to an antenna  220  via switching means  222 . The switching means  222  are configured such that they are in one of two states. A first state in which the antenna  220  is disconnected from the RFID circuitry  218  and a second state in which the antenna  220  is connected to the RFID circuitry  218 . The first state corresponds to the first mode of operation of the RFID circuitry  218  and the second state corresponds to the second mode of operation of the RFID circuitry  218 , as discussed above. The switching means  222  may comprise a fuse  224  and a fluid sensitive switch  226 . 
         [0034]    The first state is obtained, for example as described above, by submitting the tag  216  and hence also the switching means  222  to a powerful electromagnetic signal from, e.g. an RFID reader or any other suitable transmitter, thereby effectively “burning away” a part of an electric lead in the fuse of the switching means  222 . The second state is obtained, as already described, by subjecting the fluid sensitive switch of the switching means  222  to a conductive washing fluid, which effectively acts as a “replacement” electric lead for the “burnt away” lead in the fuse, connecting the antenna  220  with the RFID circuitry  218 . 
         [0035]    Although RF signals typically are attenuated when propagating through fluids such as water, this is not an obstacle that prevents operation of the invention as described. In fact, weakening of the RF signal used in the communication between the reader  110  and the tag  116  by 10 dB is typically considered as acceptable. As seen in the graph of  FIG. 3 , at frequencies around 10 MHz the RF signal penetrates 25 cm into salty liquid, which is more than sufficient in a washing machine. The more salty the liquid, the smaller the penetration depth of the signal. Water is less salty than the liquid used for the illustration in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of an RFID tag according to the present invention. 
         [0037]    To re-activate the RFID-tag when exposed to a liquid, such as tap-water in a washing machine, the configuration shown in  FIG. 4  could be applied. The Tag-reader can be a standard RFID-reader, built into the washing machine. The RFID tag, attached to the product (e.g. cloths, textile, . . . ) is provided with a sensor (in its simplest form galvanic contacts). This sensor is electrically connected to the RFID-chip (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0038]    The RFID circuits of the RFID tag contain a non- volatile, electrically programmable memory (EPROM). The content of this memory can be programmed by a code, transmitted by a tag-reader. The EPROM contains information to program the washing machine. But on top of that, a few bits of the EPROM are preserved to set the RFID circuits in a disable mode (e.g. sleep-mode) or enabled mode (active mode). When the product leaves the shop, the RFID reader in the shop will program the RFID tag into its sleep-mode. Once in the sleep mode, the tag cannot be activated anymore by any reader. Even when the tag is put into the washing machine, the dedicated tag-reader into the washing machine cannot re-activate the RFID, as long as the sensor (e.g. moisture depending resistor) is dry. From the moment that a certain amount of tap-water is put into the washing machine, and thus the sensor detects a minimum required amount of moisture, the tag-reader from  FIG. 4  can program the EPROM of the tag, and set the RFID tag in its ‘active’ mode. From that moment, the contents of the tag&#39;s EPROM can be read out by the reader, and the washing machine can be programmed conform this data. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows an example of an implementation of the moisture depending sensor. A simple “no-cost” moisture sensor can be constructed by means of two galvanic contacts, on the surface of the RFID tag. These contacts are connected to the circuits on board of RFID chip. 
         [0040]    To interface this sensor to the RFID chip, this chip has to be provided with two additional bond pads (contacts). Moreover, these bond pads on the chip could act as sensor themselves. In that case no additional bond wires or other contacts are required on the tag. Furthermore, a low-power, high gain amplifier should be integrated on board of the chip. The output-signal of this (DC-) amplifier should be digitized by e.g. a smith-trigger circuit. The output of the smith-trigger will be a digital “0” or “1”, representing “no moisture present” or “moisture present”. On its turn, this digital signal will be programmed in the EPROM on board of the chip, and as a consequence, the chip can be activated (enabled). Obviously, this process can only take place when the tag powered by the magnetic field of the tag-reader in the washing machine.