Abstract: A magnetomechanical EAS tag having a bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material so that stress, which is a result of ordinary use of an article incorporating the tag, demagnetizes the bias rending the EAS tag inactive is provided. In an alternate embodiment a mechanical mechanism is incorporated with a conventional EAS tag to deactivate the tag upon ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated. In yet another embodiment, a combination of the bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material and a mechanical deactivation mechanism is used to deactivate an EAS tag during ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated.

Abstract: A theft deterrent device has a body portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion has an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw is spaced from the lower jaw so as to define a mouth in which a portion of an article can be inserted. A pin is movably mounted in the upper jaw, at least between a retracted position in which the pin does not substantially extend into the mouth, and an extended position in which the pin extends through the mouth and into the lower jaw. Releasable locking structure is provided to secure the pin in the extended position. The device can be used in combination with electronic article surveillance technology to secure articles against theft, with reduced damage to the articles and with reduced risk to persons handling the tags. A detachment device for use with a theft deterrent device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A product tag system comprises: an RFID tag adapted for attachment to a product; a data store in the tag for bar code information relating to the product; a tag detacher for removing the tag from the product at a point of sale; an RFID tag reader for retrieving the bar code information from the tag when the tag is placed in the tag detacher; and, an display for presenting the bar code information in a form which can be scanned by a conventional bar code scanner, and/or in human readable form. A method for monitoring products comprise the steps of: attaching an RFID tag to a product; writing bar code information onto the tag; retrieving the bar code information from the tag at a point of sale; displaying the bar code information in a form which can be scanned by a conventional bar code scanner, and/or in human readable form; and, detaching the tag from the product.

Abstract: A flat magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance marker is provided having a magnetostrictive resonator and a pair of bias magnets disposed on opposite sides and adjacent the resonator to bias the resonator with a magnetic field of a preselected field strength. The pair of bias magnets and the resonator are maintained substantially parallel and coplanar with each other to form a thin, flat EAS marker. During assembly of the marker, the bias magnets can be laterally adjustable to fine-tune the resonant frequency of the marker, and to compensate for material variability. Alternately, during assembly of the marker, the bias magnets can be adjustable in length to fine-tune the resonant frequency of the marker, and to compensate for material variability.

Abstract: System for preventing detection stationary identification marker in a detection zone of an electronic article surveillance system. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting an exciter pulse for exciting an identification marker, and a receiver system for receiving a characteristic response energy emitted by an identification marker in an inhibit field of the detection zone and in a main area of said detection zone. A comparator system is provided for generating an alarm condition when the characteristic response energy received in the main area exceeds the characteristic response energy received in the inhibit field by a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An EAS activation/deactivation antenna in accordance with the invention comprises a core; a coil arrangement having at least two coils spirally wrapped about the core, the first coil having a first rotational direction and the second coil having a rotational direction counter to the first rotational direction; and, a current source operatively connected to the coil arrangement. In consequence of the inventive arrangement, a decaying or steady state, alternating or direct current supplied by a current source can excite the coil arrangement to produce a significant near magnetic field and a reduced far magnetic field, for activation or deactivation of EAS markers.

Abstract: An EAS tag in which the tag is held to an article by an attaching assembly a part of which is releasably prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the tag. The tag body is provided with an arcuate channel through which an arcuate detacher probe can be guided for releasing the attaching assembly part. A spring clamp provides the releasable preventing function and includes jaws specifically adapted to respond to in-plane torsional forces provided by the arcuate probe which is moved through the arcuate channel by rotation to reach the spring clamp. An abutment and spring gate mechanism is placed within the arcuate channel to prevent a relatively rigid wire formed into an arcuate shape from being used to release the attaching assembly part.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance and identification tag and system is provided. The tag couples energy from a radiated energy source, which comprises first and second radiated signals. A mixing member in the tag mixes the first and second signals to produce a sideband of the first signal, which is re-radiated by the tag. The mixing member is activated by a controller that switches the mixing member into and out of the circuit according to a code stored within the controller that is associated with an article to be identified. As the mixing member is activated and deactivated, the sideband is radiated in a sequential manner according to the stored code. A receiver detects the sideband, and a decoder recovers the stored code according to the sequence of received sideband emissions from the tag.

Abstract: A method for operator feedback when utilizing an RFID reader to find a specific RFID tagged article located in a plurality of RFID tagged articles is provided. Specific search criteria associated with a desired article are entered into the RFID reader. To begin searching for the specific RFID tagged article, the RFID reader sends out an interrogation signal to the RFID tags. An RFID tag responds with the desired RFID tag data. A processor compares the number of RFID tags matching the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received. A feedback signal is generated according to the ratio of RFID tags matching the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

Abstract: In an EAS system and method, a reference antenna is used to spatially separate the interference and tag signal allowing the interference signal to be removed, which improves performance of the EAS receiver. The reference antenna is coupled to the system by an adaptive filter, which can be a software filter that is continually adapting itself to optimum performance. The continuous adaptation obviates the need for manually tuning the coupling network and permits the system to perform at its optimum level over long periods of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for synchronized operation of a plurality of EAS systems. The system includes two or more EAS systems. Each EAS system has a receiver for receiving the same RF synchronization signal sent from a remote source, a transmitter for transmitting a marker exciter pulse and an exciter pulse receiver. The transmitter and exciter pulse receiver of each of the EAS systems are selectively enabled a predetermined time after receiving the RF synchronization signal so that all EAS systems in a localized area can be synchronized with one another.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system and method utilizing two transmitted signals to generate and detect a marker signal is provided. The first signal is set at or near the resonance of the marker so its energy can be transmitted and stored in the marker. The second signal is a low frequency magnetic field that changes the resonant frequency of the marker. Because the marker's resonant frequency is constantly varying in response to the low frequency magnetic field, the marker's response to the first transmitted signal also changes. As a result, the marker performs a modulation on the first transmitted signal. Detection of a sideband of the modulated signal indicates the presence of the marker within an interrogation zone formed by the two transmitted signals. Multiple interrogation zones can be implemented by transmitting multiple low frequency signals, one low frequency signal for each interrogation zone.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system responsive to the distance to a target within an interrogation zone is provided. The interrogation zone is defined by an electromagnetic field generated with a known level and transmitted by at least one antenna. A target within the interrogation zone can be any object, such as a person or shopping cart, within the interrogation zone. The target may include an EAS marker securable to an article for passage through the interrogation zone. The EAS marker is detectable at a frequency when in the electromagnetic field, and is detected by EAS detection equipment, as known in the art. The target within the interrogation zone is detected, and the distance from the antenna to the target is measured. The level of the electromagnetic field is controlled according to the distance to the target within the interrogation zone. The output level is adjusted to according to the distance to the target.

Abstract: A system to non-invasively interface a POS reader/scanner to an EAS tag deactivator is provided and includes a reader for reading indicia, such as a bar code, associated with an article. The system is non-invasive because the integrity of the POS reader is not violated by the interface. The POS reader generates a signal to indicate a successful read of the indicia associated with the article. A sensor senses the signal produced by the POS reader and generates an output signal. An EAS tag deactivator is connected to the sensor. The sensor output signal triggers the EAS tag deactivator, which will remain energized for a preselectable period of time to deactivate an EAS tag associated with the article.

Abstract: A tack assembly for a security tag includes a housing having an open interior. A tack-head with a tack is movable within the housing between an extended position in which the point of the tack is extended from the housing and a retracted position in which the point of the tack is positioned within the housing. Biasing structure is provided to bias the tack-head and attached tack to the retracted position. A method for safely securing a security tag to and removing a security tag from an article is also provided.

Abstract: A method for wireless synchronization of a first and second magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems arranged for operation in close proximity to one another. The method includes the steps of programming each of the first and second EAS systems for transmitting at least one unique signal into a partially overlapping interrogation zone of the EAS systems and for receiving any signals from the interrogation zones at respective and predetermined transmit and receive phases relative to a common reference. The first EAS system transmits at least one unique signal containing phase information which is received and identified at the second EAS system during one of its receiver phases as the one unique signal. The second EAS system uses the conveyed phase information received to transmit synchronously with transmissions from the first EAS system.

Abstract: A surveillance system for use in a checkout stand counter and the like, comprises: a camera mounted near the floor of the checkout stand counter; a monitor mounted to the checkout stand counter and positioned for convenient viewing by a cashier working at the checkout stand counter; and, constraints defining an aisle adjacent to the checkout stand counter for shopping carts moved alongside the checkout stand counter, whereby the surveillance system displays any objects on a lower tray of the shopping carts moved through the aisle. The checkout stand counter can comprise a numerical keyboard and the monitor can be positioned adjacent to the numerical keyboard, whereby the monitor is in a position giving an appearance of being associated with operation of the numerical keyboard.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system, comprising: an antenna for capturing signals generated in an interrogation zone, the captured signals including noise and, when at least one marker is present in the interrogation zone, a ring down signal with a characteristic frequency generated responsive to a magnetic field transmitted into the interrogation zone; a receiver having a signal processor for extracting amplitude and frequency information from the captured signals; and, a detector responsive to both the amplitude and frequency information for validating when the at least one marker is in the interrogation zone. The signal processor determines an average frequency of all markers in the interrogation zone, the detector being responsive to the average frequency. The signal processor can further determine successive frequency deviations of sequential frequency measurements and magnitudes of the deviations, the detector being responsive to the magnitudes of the deviations.