Patent ID: 8576051

Claim:
An RFID tag assembly for use in tracking or timing of a progress of a user comprising: an RFID tag having a mounting substrate with an exposed first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface, at least one of which is adapted for selective attachment to a surface of a carrier, said RFID tag having an RFID semiconductor chip having a predetermined operating frequency with an antenna interface mounted on the second planar surface, a conductor electrically coupled to the antenna interface of the RFID semiconductor chip, and an antenna electrically coupled to the conductor; and a spacer composed of a foam material that is non-conducting and non-absorbing of a substantial amount of energy at the predetermined operating frequency, said spacer is attached to the at least one of the first and second planar surfaces of the mounting substrate and is positioned for placement between a surface of the body of the user and the RFID tag for positioning at a minimum spaced apart distance from the surface of the body of the user during operation of the RFID tag, wherein the spacer is dimensioned to have a spaced apart distance between the surface of the body of the user and the mounting substrate of greater than or equal to about ¼ of a wavelength of the predetermined operating frequency.