Abstract: A releasable security tag for attachment to an article of merchandise is disclosed. Features of the security tag include: a locking mechanism with a release for attaching the tag to the article of merchandise; an EAS resonant circuit or an RFID circuit for responding to a first RF signal at a predetermined frequency corresponding to the resonant circuit or to the RFID circuit; an ambient RF energy harvesting circuit; a release signal detection circuit coupled to and powered by the ambient RF energy harvesting circuit and an electro-mechanical actuator electrically coupled to the release signal detection circuit. The electro-mechanical actuator releases the locking mechanism whenever the release signal detection circuit receives a release signal.

Abstract: A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale without the need for store employee involvement, assuming a valid sale is occurring. A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale that tracks the detacher operation and the time and date of such operation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring security systems including at least one pedestal set; a reason code generator; a computer to compile data received from the at least one pedestal set, and a graphical display to display the compiled data received from the pedestal set in the form of a maps of locations. An IP camera configured to operate for a period of time during the alarm event may be included. A method for monitoring security systems is also provided which includes providing at least one pedestal set, passing a tag through the pedestal set to create an event, generating a reason for the event observed by the pedestal set, compiling batches of data received from the at least one pedestal set; and graphically displaying the compiled data received from the pedestal set in the form of a maps of locations.

Abstract: A system for tracking items includes a turntable to receive a pallet containing articles having RFID devices, a wrap dispenser to wrap the articles with wrap as the turntable rotates and a transceiver disposed on the wrap dispenser to transmit and receive a signal from the RFID devices while the turntable is rotating and wrapping the articles. A method is provided including loading articles having RFID devices thereon on a pallet, loading the pallet on a turntable, attaching an end of a wrap to at least one of the articles, rotating the turntable to cause the wrap to encircle the articles until all of the articles are constrained in position by the wrap, transmitting a signal to the RFID devices to cause the each RFID device to emit a signal back to the transceiver, and reading the signals from the RFID devices to obtain information contained in the signals.

Abstract: A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale without the need for store employee involvement, assuming a valid sale is occurring. A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale that tracks the detacher operation and the time and date of such operation.

Abstract: A cigarette pack having at least one security tag formed from the metal layer of the cigarette pack liner. One version of the security tag utilizes a preformed coil that is electrically coupled to a portion of the metal layer to form a capacitor and thereby complete a coil/capacitor security tag. Another version of the security tag is forms the entire antenna from the metal layer and a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit is then coupled to the antenna. In both versions, the surrounding metal layer is severed from the location of either security tag to the edge of the liner.

Abstract: A communication-ready corrugated article and method for making the corrugated article is disclosed. The corrugated article includes a linersheet (e.g., craft paper), an undulating medium (e.g., craft paper), a conductive strip (e.g., metal, aluminum, wire, coil), and a security chip (e.g., RFID chip, EAS chip, integrated circuit, chip strap, RFID tag, EAS tag). The linersheet has a first side and a second side. The undulating medium is coupled to the first side of the linersheet, the conductive strip is positioned on the first side of the linersheet between the linersheet and the undulating medium. The security chip is attached to the second side of the linersheet opposite the conductive strip and is coupled to the conductive strip through the linersheet.

Abstract: A lock system having a remote actuating device, e.g., a portable member arranged to wirelessly transmit a wireless signal, and a passive lock for receiving that signal. The lock includes an acuatable trigger mechanism and a control circuit. The control circuit receives the wireless signal, which powers it. The control circuit also determines if the wireless signal is appropriate to unlock the lock, whereupon it produces a trigger signal. The trigger mechanism is responsive to the trigger signal to actuate and enable the lock to be opened.

Abstract: A rotary chip attach process and manufacturing approach takes chips (e.g., integrated circuits (ICs)) from a wafer in a rotary process. A chip wafer with a positioning unit is placed over the top of a sprocketed wheel that picks the ICs directly from the wafer and moves them in a semi-continuous in-step motion to a web that will accept the ICs. The sprocketed wheel includes chips that are preferably the same type as used in a typical pick-and-place robotic system, with vacuum heads adapted to pierce the wafer flat membrane (if needed), grab and IC and place and IC as desired. This positioning system keeps the IC's placement in an accurate position on the web, which can be made to move continuously with a plurality of sprocketed wheel placement units in place.

Abstract: A process for forming a portion of a package or envelope bearing printed indicia, a label bearing printed indicia or a sheet bearing printed indicia includes providing a substrate which constitutes a portion of the package, label or sheet to a printing apparatus, and utilizing the printing apparatus or an adjunct to the printing apparatus to form at least one electrically conductive component of an EAS and/or RFID tag on the substrate substantially contemporaneously with the printing of the indicia on the substrate. The forming of the electrically conductive component on the substrate is accomplished slightly prior to the printing of the indicia on the substrate, slightly after the printing of the indicia on the substrate and at the same time as the printing of the indicia on the substrate.

Abstract: A wire embedded bridge made by the apparatus and method disclosed by example herein may be commonly used for the formation of an RFID circuit or chip strap. The process uses flexible polyester and/or other films as a base component of the bridge. A wire is heated and embedded into the poly sheet at precise locations in a continuous process, for example, with the poly continuously moving in a machine direction. The locations of the wire make chip placement onto the wire track reliable and inexpensive, preferably using heat and pressure to bond the chips with the embedded wire and form a protected RFID circuit.

Abstract: A poly sheet continuously moving in a machine direction is heated to a temperature just below its glass thermal temperature to make the poly malleable. A circuit (e.g., RFID chip, EAS chip, transponder, IC) is placed on the poly sheet and embedded into the poly sheet, preferably with a heat resistant soft (e.g., rubber) roller that presses the circuit into the poly without breaking the circuit. A conductive strip or wire may be applied on or into the poly sheet to align with connection points (e.g., conductive bumps) of the circuit for conductive communication with the circuit. The conductive strip or wire is preferably cut to form gaps that are nonconductive between the cut sections of wire to avoid shorting of the circuit and/or allow the conductive strip or wire to function as an antenna for the circuit, and thus to form a chip strap or tag. The poly sheet thus provides a protective womb or shield for the circuit and wire.

Abstract: A capacitor strap that is applied to a security tag coil or antenna to form and properly tune an EAS or an RFID security tag. The capacitor strap is a thin film capacitor formed of two metal foils in between which is a dielectric material having ends that are electrically coupled to different points of a security tag coil or antenna. The capacitor strap may include an RFID integrated circuit, either in series or in parallel with the capacitor, which is then applied to security tag coil at a particular location to tune the tag to a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting the presence of an article. The system includes a transmitter for radiating a first electromagnetic signal at a predetermined primary frequency and a resonant tag secured to the article. The resonant tag generates a second electromagnetic signal in response to receiving the first electromagnetic signal. The second electromagnetic signal has components at the primary frequency and at a predetermined secondary frequency different from the primary frequency. The system also includes a receiver for receiving the second electromagnetic signal and a computer connected to an output of the receiver. The computer processes the received second electromagnetic signal and generates an output signal when the secondary frequency is detected in the second electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A re-usable identification tag that includes a combination of RFID (radio frequency identification) elements and EAS (electronic article surveillance) elements, or multiple RFID elements without an EAS element, or multiple EAS elements without RFID elements. Systems and methods for tracking or detecting a re-usable identification tag having multiple elements therein to correspond with multiple detection zones such that as the re-usable tag moves from one detection zone to another, the tag can be tracked and/or activate an alarm and/or transmit data to a database.

Abstract: A damage resistant mount for an object is provided which includes a mounting plate, a first post having a first end and a second end, the first end rigidly attached and extending from the mounting plate, and a two-way, swinging, spring-loaded, self closing hinge disposed on the post. The hinge has an outside hinge leaf and an inside hinge leaf and the post is rigidly attached to the inside hinge leaf. A second post having a first and a second end is included where the first end is rigidly attached to and extends from the outside hinge leaf. An object mounting device is disposed on the second end of the second post.

Abstract: A method of making a resonant frequency tag which resonates at a predetermined frequency. The method involves providing a first conductive pattern having an inductive element and a first land and a second conductive pattern having a second land and a third land which are joined together by a link. The second conductive pattern is overlaid the first conductive pattern such that the second land is positioned over the first land. The third land is in electrical communication with the inductive element of the first conductive pattern. The formed resonant frequency tag is energized to determine if the tag resonates at the predetermined frequency. If the tag resonates properly, the third land is electrically coupled to the inductive element. If it does not, the second conductive pattern is adjusted so that overlapping portions of the first and second lands are changed, altering the capacitance to adjust the resonant tag frequency.

Abstract: A method for installing an RFID tag on shipping articles includes applying a strip of conductive material to the surface of the article and providing an RFID chip having a body, a first bottom conductive point, a second bottom conductive point and a nonconductive fin between the first bottom conductive point and the second bottom conductive point. The fin is received in the shipping article. The RFID chip is attached to the shipping article by inserting the chip onto the strip of conductive material on the shipping article such that the fin severs the strip into a first strip and a second strip. The first bottom conductive point is electrically attached to the first strip and the second bottom conductive point is electrically attached to the second strip.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a tag includes the steps of applying a first patterned adhesive to the surface of the substrate and applying a first electrically conductive foil to the first patterned adhesive. A portion of the first electrically conductive foil not adhered to the first patterned adhesive is removed and a second patterned adhesive is applied to a portion of a surface area of the tag. A preformed second electrically conductive foil is applied to the second patterned adhesive to adhere the second electrically conductive foil to the surface of the substrate and portions of the first and second electrically conductive foils are electrically coupled to each other to form a tag circuit. A second patterned adhesive can be disposed between the first and second electrically conductive foils.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time concurrent detection of 13.56 MHz RFID and 8.2 MHz EAS identification tags using a single stimulus signal.