Abstract: A security device for protecting a merchandise item that includes a housing, a first cable, a second cable, a spool, a locking mechanism and a crossover device that is in the housing and is rotatable about a vertical axis. The locking mechanism locks the spool so that it is not rotatable about the vertical axis. The cable crossover device is placed on a side of a merchandise item opposite the housing. The crossover device in is formed with a crossover body and a latch. The crossover body has the first cable slidably attached to it. The latch is configured to be locked to the crossover body. The second cable slidably is attached to the latch. The latch is configured to be partially released from the crossover body when it unlocked.

Abstract: A system for radio frequency identification of a tag in an interrogation zone, includes a calibration node disposed in the interrogation zone to measure a signal strength of radio frequency identification signals from a beamforming system and provide signal data in accordance with the signal strength. A reader node is configured to receive the signal data and adjust the radio frequency identification signals generated by the beamforming system based upon the signal data. At least one of the calibration node, the reader node and the beamforming system is a configurable monitoring system. The calibration node, the reader node, and the beamforming system are coupled in a feedback control loop. The beamforming system includes a plurality of beamforming nodes. A signal of at least one beamforming node is optimized in accordance with the feedback control loop.

Abstract: A security device may include a spool, locking mechanism, button, plug, and latch. The spool is configured to either wind or unwind a cable for wrapping around an object. The locking mechanism is configured to partially lock the spool. The button may be used to move the locking mechanism between locked and unlocked positions. The button may be blocked by inserting a plug into a housing of the device such that the button can not be activated to unlock the spool. The plug may be secured to the housing through the latch that prevents the unauthorized removal of the plug. For an enhanced locking feature, the latch and the plug may be configured to require at least two forces to move the latch and free the plug. The spool, locking mechanism, and button may be stacked along a common axis to provide a more compacted design.

Abstract: Security devices according to the present invention may be configured to secure merchandise supported by a display card. The security device may include a housing defining an aperture configured to receive a secured portion of the article, an engagement member disposed generally proximate the aperture, and a sliding member configured to move the engagement member from the release position to a capture position. The secured portion may be removed from the aperture while the engagement member is in the release position and the secured portion may be inhibited from removal while the engagement member is in the capture position. The engagement member may define an engagement aperture where the secured portion of the article that is received through the aperture of the housing is also received through the engagement aperture of the engagement member.

Abstract: A locking device is provided for locking a container having sidewalls and at least one lid defining an open position and a closed position. The locking device may include an elongate lock member configured to engage the lid(s) and a lock housing that is associated with at least one of the sidewalls. The lock housing may be configured to at least partially receive the elongate lock member. The locking device may be designed to be installed on the container in the field, or the locking device may be integrally formed with the container. The lock housing may include a security element that is detectable by a security system to guard against theft of the container. In some cases, a security module is provided that releasably attaches to the lock housing to provide further alarm functionality.

Abstract: A localization method for use in a tag communication system includes associating a supertag having a plurality of tags with an item, reading backscatter signals from the tags of the plurality of tags to provide a plurality of backscatter signals, estimating a signal parameter of the backscatter signals of the plurality of backscatter signals to provide a plurality of derived signal parameters, and localizing the item in accordance with the plurality of derived signal parameters. The backscatter signals are read by a tag reader having a single antenna and the item is localized in accordance with an antenna array technique performed upon the plurality of derived signal parameters. The backscatter signals are read with an antenna array to provide a further plurality of derived signal parameters for each tag of the plurality of tags, and the item is localized in accordance with the further pluralities of derived signal parameters.

Abstract: An antenna device and supports for an antenna. The antenna device includes a plate-like support, having a from, back, and surrounding side face. The surrounding side face has a first groove. The front of the support has at least one second groove. The first antenna cable is located in the first groove and in the second groove. The first and second end regions of the second groove are spaced apart from the surrounding side face. The first end region of the second groove has a first opening to the first groove, and the second end region of the second groove has a second opening to the first groove. The first antenna cable is routed through the first and second openings.

Abstract: A system for protecting articles, especially displayed goods, from theft is typically configured to produce information about the article when a person is detected approaching the article or the article is moved but not taken. The system typically includes an alarm which may be sounded if the article is moved too far from the display position or under other conditions.

Abstract: A tag communication method includes providing a tag reader operating at a first frequency and having transmit and receive antenna ports, providing a frequency converter module having transmit and receive plugs adapted to directly mate with the transmit and receive ports, and directly mating the transmit plug with the transmit port and the receive plug with the receive port. A transmit signal at the first frequency is received from the reader by the converter module by way of the directly mated transmit plug and converted to a second frequency differing from the first frequency to provide a converted transmit signal which is transmitted to the tag. A receive signal is received from the tag at the second frequency and converted to the first frequency to provide a converted receive signal which is applied by the conversion module to the reader by way of the directly mated receive plug.

Abstract: A solid housing tag and method to form the solid housing tag, the method including for example, an injection molding process. The solid housing tag has a single, continuous housing of which at least partially surrounds one or more various tag components arranged about a frame. The tag components may include a lock component and/or security component. The security component may include EAS elements, such as AM, EM, and/or RF technology elements; RFID elements; and/or benefit denial type elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to dynamically controlled, electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems whereby an array of antenna elements is digitally phased and actively driven for concurrent transmission, and digitally phased and combined in the receiver unit to improve security tag detection. In particular, the individual frequency and phase of the plurality of the transmit/receive signals are rapidly varied to allow for automated manipulation (steering) of the transmit field pattern and receive field sensitivity. It is the object of this invention to achieve the following features via means of digital phasing and dynamic computer control: sufficient far-field cancellation, null-free detection and uncompromised detection performance regardless of tag's orientation.

Abstract: A security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, a first portion of an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, a second portion of the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF), benefit denial (e.g., ink-filled or dye-filled capsules) elements or any combination thereof. Because the security tag is not removed from the article at the point-of-sale, the security element is deactivatable. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for correcting data received from a power cable is presented. A method receives communication data from a near end of a cable that has near and far ends. The data is compared using hysteresis to a high threshold and/or a low threshold. The data is reset to produce corrected data by resetting the data to either a high value or a low value based on the comparing. For example, when the corrected data is high, the data is reset to a low value when the communication data crosses the low threshold and when the corrected data is low, the data is reset to a high value when the communication data crosses the high threshold. The corrected data can provide a power supply data needed so that it can more accurately provide a power through the cable to the far end of the cable.

Abstract: A multi-attach disposable security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a deactivatable security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF) elements or any combination thereof. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.