Passive device shield with proximity change alert

Abstract

A passive device shield 2 used to protect a passive chip containing data embedded in a device from remote skimming at a frequency which activates the chip to send the data, the shield 2 being removable to enable authorized reading of the chip data. The shield 2 is adapted to block the frequencies which activate the chip, the shield 2 further having a transmitter 18 which sends a coupling signal at a non-blocked frequency to a receiver 20, at least one of the receiver/and transmitter 18 having means to monitor the distance between the transmitter 18 and receiver 20 and an alert means to indicate when a predetermined distance has been exceeded.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A An apparatus comprising:
 a shield for a passive device and a receiver remotely coupled to the shield, the shield being adapted to provide radio frequency shielding to block selected radio frequencies, the shield further comprising a transmitter to send a coupling signal to the receiver, the coupling signal being of at least one non-blocked frequency, the receiver having means to monitor the distance between the receiver and transmitter and an alert means to indicate when the measured distance exceeds a predetermined value at which frequencies the shield is blocking, the selected radio frequencies including an operation frequency of a radio frequency identification tag; and 
 a radio frequency transmitter fixed to the shield, the transmitter having an operating radio frequency, wherein the shield is not blocking to the operating radio frequency. 
 
     
     
       2. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is adapted to be selectively removable from a the passive device it shields. 
     
     
       3. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the transmitter or receiver has means to adjust the predetermined value, the transmitter has means to act as a locating device to search for the shield and provide an alert signal when in range, and the receiver has means to selectively deactivate the coupling, further comprising a receiver, the receiver being configured to monitor a distance between the receiver and the transmitter. 
     
     
       4. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the alert means comprises an indication of at least one of time and date that the predetermined distance was exceeded, and means to indicate the last time the shield and receiver were paired. 
     
     
       5. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver has means to search for the shield in order to pair the receiver with the transmitter, the receiver having additional means to activate the alert means if the transmitter cannot be found. 
     
     
       6. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the further comprising an alert means comprises including at least one of a vibrating alert, a sound alert, a visual alert, and an alert that increases in pitch and intensity. 
     
     
       7. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is provided with a stiffener, at least in the vicinity of the transmitter, wherein the stiffener is in the form of a coating to the shield, the coating being in the form of at least one laminated surface. 
     
     
       8. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield provides the shielding by the provision of a shielding layer, the shield having a further thin surface provided on the shielding layer, the further thin layer enabling the provision of printed messages on the shield. 
     
     
       9. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is between 3 to 100 meters. 
     
     
       10. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver, wherein the receiver is incorporated in a mobile phone, the receiver being configured to monitor a distance between the receiver and the transmitter. 
     
     
       11. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver has means to detect signals from a plurality of coupled transmitters. 
     
     
       12. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is operable to send a coupling signal is in the form of at least one of the radio frequency signal, a blue tooth signal, low-powered blue tooth signal and a Wi-Fi signal. 
     
     
       13. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver has means to indicate the presence of the transmitter when in range, thereby ensuring the user that the device is working properly. 
     
     
       14. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield has means to enable information to be stored thereon, the information means being in the form of further comprises at least one of a printable layer, a re-printable layer, thermoplastics layer, writable memory, and rewritable memory. 
     
     
       15. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein a further receiver is provided adapted to read the coupling signal of the transmitter and which enables identification of the shield, wherein the further receiver has means to link the transmitter whose coupling signal it reads to an identification pass and means to provide details of that pass to the shield. 
     
     
       16. A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein plurality of further receivers are provided which are linked in a network and have means to track the location of the shield, wherein the network of receivers has means to enable at least one of the identification and tracking of a plurality of different shield transmitters, and has means to activate the tracking and location of a particular shield transmitter, and wherein the activation means is activated when a particular shield has not been presented for inspection within a set period of time. 
     
     
       17. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield has fastening means to selectively attach it to a the passive device, the passive device incorporating a passive chip, the fastening means being in the form of at least one of a shield being incorporated on a band which is adapted to wrap around and retain a plurality of items to be shielded or a clamp which enables the shield to be clipped to a the passive device. 
     
     
       18. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is and transmitter are incorporable in at least one of the following a bag, wallet, purse, item of clothing, document, book and passport. 
     
     
       19. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a shield of sheet material and incorporates a shielding layer having a maximum thickness of 0.4 mm and being constructed of a material adapted to provide radio frequency shielding with an attenuation of at least 50 dB. 
     
     
       20. A shield according to The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is specifically adapted to shield frequencies of 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
       21. A system comprising:
 a shield for a passive device adapted to provide radio frequency shielding to block selected radio frequencies at which frequencies the shield is blocking,   a radio frequency transmitter fixed to the shield and having an operating radio frequency at which the radio frequency transmitter sends a coupling signal, wherein the shield is not blocking to the operating radio frequency, and   a receiver that provides an alert when a distance between the radio frequency transmitter and receiver exceeds a predetermined value.    
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield is fixed to the transmitter by incorporation into a wallet or purse.  
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation frequency includes 13.56 MHz.  
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the radio frequency transmitter is configured to operate at 433 MHz.