Abstract: A method and system for producing an electromagnetic field that exhibits a strong near field that is sufficient to deactivate an electronic article surveillance, EAS, tag and a weak far field that is insufficient to deactivate the EAS tag are disclosed. According to one embodiment, two half-wavelength dipoles spaced apart by about a half-wavelength are excited by oppositely phased signals.

Abstract: A tag having a magnetic clamp for use in securing an item in order to prevent the unauthorized removal of the item from, for example, a retail store. The magnetic tag includes an attachment element that secures the item to the tag. A clamp having a locking region secures the attachment element such that the item cannot be separated from the tag. A keyed magnetic element on the clamp includes one or more hard magnets, where each hard magnet has either an outward-facing north or south polarity. By applying a magnetic force to the magnets, the locking region moves away from the attachment element thus allowing the item to be removed from the tag. The arrangement of magnets operates as a “key” and only a detacher unit with an identical magnetic pattern can apply the requisite magnetic force to the magnets to disengage the clamp from the attachment element to allow removal of the tag from the item.

Abstract: A security system tag. The security system tag includes a housing. The security system tag further includes an electronic article surveillance, EAS, element in which the EAS element is arranged to emit a detectable signal when introduced to an interrogation signal. The security system tag further includes a metal element in which the metal element is adapted to be heated. The security system tag further includes a first reversible adhesive proximate the metal element in which at least a portion of the first reversible adhesive de-bonds when thermally affected by the metal element when the metal element is heated.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an electromagnetic field that exhibits a strong near field that is sufficient to deactivate an electronic article surveillance, EAS, tag and a weak far field that is insufficient to deactivate the EAS tag are disclosed. According to one embodiment, two half-wavelength dipoles spaced apart by about a half-wavelength are excited by oppositely phased signals.

Abstract: A method for detecting metal using an electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) system. The EAS system includes a transmitter and a receiver. An EAS interrogation signal is transmitted to establish the interrogation zone. The EAS interrogation signal is used to detect EAS markers and metal objects within the interrogation zone. The EAS signal is received and a metal object present in the interrogation zone is detected during a metal detection cycle. The metal object is detected based upon perturbations in the received EAS interrogation signal. The metal detection cycle is periodically interspersed with at least one EAS detection cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method to detect RFID tags in electronic article surveillance systems using frequency mixing. The system includes an RFID module that includes an energy coupler to receive transmitted energy that includes a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency, and a mixing element to mix the first and second signals, to generate a third signal at a third frequency, and the energy coupler to transmit the third signal to an EAS detection system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tag having a magnetic clamp for use in securing an item in order to prevent the unauthorized removal of the item from, for example, a retail store. The magnetic tag includes an attachment element that secures the item to the tag. A clamp having a locking region secures the attachment element such that the item cannot be separated from the tag. A keyed magnetic element on the clamp includes one or more hard magnets, where each hard magnet has either an outward-facing north or south polarity. By applying a magnetic force to the magnets, the locking region moves away from the attachment element thus allowing the item to be removed from the tag. The arrangement of magnets operates as a “key” and only a detacher unit with an identical magnetic pattern can apply the requisite magnetic force to the magnets to disengage the clamp from the attachment element to allow removal of the tag from the item.

Abstract: A combination Electronic Article Surveillance/Radio Frequency Identification (“EAS/RFID”) tag and method and system for deactivating said combination EAS/RFID tags without the need to physically contact the tag with a deactivation device. The EAS/RFID tag replaces the conventional diode with a non-linear device such as a capacitor with a given breakdown voltage threshold. Inducing a predetermined voltage across the capacitor results in destruction of the capacitor rendering the EAS/RFID tag undetectable in the interrogation systems.

Abstract: A magnetic detacher has a core magnet and a ring magnet. The core magnet has a body with a top and bottom surface, and produces a first magnetic field. The ring magnet defines a cavity. The ring magnet has a body with a top and bottom and produces a second magnetic field. The ring magnet is axially aligned with the core magnet such that the first magnetic field opposes the second magnetic field along the bodies and enhances it within the cavity. The top surface of the core magnet is separated from the bottom surface of the ring magnet by a predetermined distance thereby producing a resultant magnetic field having a first resultant field strength at a specific position greater than a second resultant field strength produced at the same position when the top surface of the core magnet abuts the bottom surface of the ring magnet.

Abstract: An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag and method and system for deactivating EAS tags without the need to physically contact the tag with a deactivation device. The EAS tag replaces the conventional diode with a non-linear device such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor (“MOS”) capacitor with a given breakdown voltage threshold. Inducing a predetermined voltage across the MOS capacitor results in destruction of the MOS capacitor rendering the EAS tag undetectable in the EAS interrogation system.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package may include a substrate and an integrated circuit. The substrate may include at least one region, and a first magnetic material associated with the at least one region. The integrated circuit may have a second magnetic material associated therewith. The second magnetic material may be attracted to the first magnetic material to coupled the integrated circuit to the at least one region of the substrate. The IC package may be utilized in an RFID tag of an RFID system. An associated method for assembling an integrated circuit to a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: The invention may include a novel composition for and/or processing of an active element for an EAS marker that achieves the same or better performance of existing materials while solving the problem of higher cost. It may include a magnetomechanical active element formed by planar strip of amorphous magnetostrictive alloy having a composition FeaNibMc wherein a+b+c=100, wherein a is in a range of 40-70 weight percent, b is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and c is in a range of 10-50 weight percent, and where M is the balance of remaining elements; wherein the magnetomechanical active element is subject to batch annealing in the presence of a magnetic field that is substantially transverse to the ribbon length of the element and at a temperature of less than about 300° C. and for a time greater than at least about one hour.

Abstract: A near field antenna is disclosed which is configured to read an RFID label such that a localized electric E field emitted by the antenna at an operating wavelength resides substantially within a zone defined by the near field. The localized E field directs a current distribution along an effective length of the antenna corresponding to a half-wave to a full-wave structure.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the read range of a security tag by supplying an additional antenna system to the tag in order to provide power to a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) chip without the need to rely solely on power from the RFID reader. The security tag includes an RFID chip and a first antenna circuit coupled to the RFID chip where the first antenna circuit is adapted to decode interrogation signals from an RFID reader. The security tag also includes a second antenna circuit coupled to the RFID chip. The second antenna circuit is adapted to induce power from signals received from at least an alternate power source, such as an EAS transmitter, so that the RFID chip can be powered up and activated during an RFID interrogation round.

Abstract: A magnetic detacher has a core magnet and a ring magnet. The core magnet has a body with a top and bottom surface, and produces a first magnetic field. The ring magnet defines a cavity. The ring magnet has a body with a top and bottom and produces a second magnetic field. The ring magnet is axially aligned with the core magnet such that the first magnetic field opposes the second magnetic field along the bodies and enhances it within the cavity. The top surface of the core magnet is separated from the bottom surface of the ring magnet by a predetermined distance thereby producing a resultant magnetic field having a first resultant field strength at a specific position greater than a second resultant field strength produced at the same position when the top surface of the core magnet abuts the bottom surface of the ring magnet.

Abstract: A combination Electronic Article Surveillance/Radio Frequency Identification (“EAS/RFID”) tag and method and system for deactivating said combination EAS/RFID tags without the need to physically contact the tag with a deactivation device. The EAS/RFID tag replaces the conventional diode with a non-linear device such as a capacitor with a given breakdown voltage threshold. Inducing a predetermined voltage across the capacitor results in destruction of the capacitor rendering the EAS/RFID tag undetectable in the interrogation systems.

Abstract: An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag and method and system for deactivating EAS tags without the need to physically contact the tag with a deactivation device. The EAS tag replaces the conventional diode with a non-linear device such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor (“MOS”) capacitor with a given breakdown voltage threshold. Inducing a predetermined voltage across the MOS capacitor results in destruction of the MOS capacitor rendering the EAS tag undetectable in the EAS interrogation system.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package may include a substrate and an integrated circuit. The substrate may include at least one region, and a first magnetic material associated with the at least one region. The integrated circuit may have a second magnetic material associated therewith. The second magnetic material may be attracted to the first magnetic material to coupled the integrated circuit to the at least one region of the substrate. The IC package may be utilized in an RFID tag of an RFID system. An associated method for assembling an integrated circuit to a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A method for detecting metal using an electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) system. The EAS system includes a transmitter and a receiver. An EAS interrogation signal is transmitted to establish the interrogation zone. The EAS interrogation signal is used to detect EAS markers and metal objects within the interrogation zone. The EAS signal is received and a metal object present in the interrogation zone is detected during a metal detection cycle. The metal object is detected based upon perturbations in the received EAS interrogation signal. The metal detection cycle is periodically interspersed with at least one EAS detection cycle.

Abstract: A conduction structure for infrared microbolometer sensors and a method for sensing electromagnetic radiation may be provided. The microbolometer may include a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer. The microbolometer further may include a bolometer layer between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.