Abstract: A material used to form a biasing element for a magnetomechanical EAS marker has a coercivity that is lower than the coercivity of biasing elements used in conventional magnetomechanical markers. The marker formed with the low coercivity material can be deactivated by applying an AC magnetic field at a level that is lower than is required for deactivation of conventional markers. The marker with the low coercivity bias element can also be deactivated when at a greater distance from a deactivation device than was previously practical.

Abstract: A device for deactivating a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker includes a deactivation coil array and a coil driving circuit. The coil driving circuit repetitively energizes the deactivation coil array according to a predetermined timing to generate a magnetic field for deactivating the EAS marker. The driving circuit includes at least one storage capacitor, circuitry for charging the at least one storage capacitor and a switching circuit for selectively forming a resonant circuit which includes the storage capacitor and at least some of the coils of the coil array to generate a ring-down signal in the coils. A timing circuit controls the switching circuit to generate the ring-down signal repetitively at the predetermined timing.

Abstract: A resonant RF electronic article surveillance marker includes a substrate, a coil formed on the substrate, and a capacitor formed on the substrate. The coil includes a magnetic element which exhibits a GMI effect. Two signals are employed to interrogate the marker—an RF carrier signal and a low-frequency alternating magnetic field. Because of the presence of the GMI element, the marker mixes the low frequency signal with the carrier signal to generate a sideband of the carrier signal. The sideband signal is very unique and can be detected with a high degree of reliability. The marker may also include magnetic control elements which can be magnetized to disable the marker and de-magnetized to reactivate the marker.

Abstract: A self-checkout/self-check-in and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system is provided. EAS tags and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are connected to articles for use with the invention. A preferred embodiment for self-checkout includes a housing having a cavity for receiving articles for self-checkout. The cavity is disposed within a deactivation zone. The RFID tags are read, and after verification of an authorized transaction, a deactivation antenna is energized to deactivate the EAS tags, and a stored inventory database is updated. Information about the transaction can be displayed. A preferred embodiment for self-check-in includes an elongated housing into which articles are deposited for return. Once deposited, the articles pass through the housing and out the other end.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing data from indicia associated with an article and for deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with the article comprising a housing defining a volume in which a bag can be placed for packaging the article, a scanner positioned adjacent the upper portion of the volume to capture data from the indicia associated with the article as the article is placed into the bag; and deactivation means positioned below the scanner to deactivate the electronic article surveillance tag when the article is in the bag.

Abstract: In an intelligent video information management (IVIM) system, a first sequence of dynamic video images is generated by a first video camera on a first occasion and is recorded on a hard disk. The same camera, or a different camera, generates a second sequence of dynamic video images on a second occasion that is later than the first occasion, and the second sequence is recorded on the hard disk. Both sequences are reproduced from the hard disk and are displayed simultaneously. Alternatively, the first sequence is reproduced and displayed while the second sequence is being recorded.

Abstract: A cap for a bottle to be protected from theft includes a covering portion for covering an opening of the bottle and an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") marker. The covering portion has a surface and a wall that extends downward from the surface and along a circumference of the surface. The EAS marker comprises a circular disk positioned within a cavity defined by an inner surface of the wall of the covering portion and a marker element attached to and extending downward from the circular disk. The marker element is insertable through the opening of the bottle and provides a signal that is detectable by an electronic article surveillance system.

Abstract: A method for moving and controlling a video surveillance camera comprises the steps of: supporting a video surveillance camera for tilting movements about mutually perpendicular axes; transforming tilt and pan commands into angular movement commands; rotating the camera about the mutually perpendicular axes responsive to the angular movement commands, the video camera having a substantially hemispherical field of view as the camera is pivoted about the axes and the video camera generating a picture which is inverted relative to true horizontal over a portion of the field of view; and, automatically rotating the picture to a substantially right-side-up orientation whenever necessary, whereby a right-side-up picture is provided throughout the field of view without continuous panning rotation of the video camera. In a corresponding system, a servo mechanism tilts the video camera, a motion controller transforms the tilt and pan commands and a video signal processor rotates the picture.

Abstract: An EAS marker for use in a microwave-GMI article surveillance system includes a length of wire which exhibits a giant magneto-impedance effect, and deactivation elements installed along the length of the wire. The deactivation elements exhibit semi-hard ferromagnetic properties and have a triangular profile, or alternatively exhibit acute-angle corners or have edges that cross the wire at acute angles. The deactivation elements can be magnetized to disable the marker.

Abstract: A single antenna transmits and receives signals. The single antenna has first and second antenna loops substantially lying in a common plane and partially overlapping. First and second transceiver circuits are coupled to the first and second antenna loops respectively, for respectively generating in a first mode of operation first and second pulsed magnetic fields together defining an interrogation zone for a marker generating a characteristic response to the magnetic fields in the interrogation zone, and for receiving signals from the interrogation zone in a second mode of operation. The first and second transceiver circuits alternately generate the first and second magnetic fields substantially in phase with one another and substantially out of phase with one another. The partially overlapping antenna loops prevent detuning of the transceivers otherwise resulting from the phase alternating.

Abstract: A self-contained conveyor member including a plurality of EAS deactivators is adapted to connect in-line to an existing conveyor system for transporting goods at a manufacturer or distributor's site. The conveyor member has attached to it several commercially available EAS marker deactivators spaced apart to provide continuous coverage across the width of the conveyor and such that the deactivation field of each of the deactivators do not cause interference of the deactivation fields of the adjacent deactivators. EAS markers attached to articles being transported on the conveyor member will pass through at least one of the deactivation fields and will be deactivated. The deactivators selectively deactivate a variety of specific EAS markers such as RF and/or magnetomechanical EAS markers.

Abstract: A device for deactivating a magnetomechanical EAS marker includes two coils and an energizing circuit for alternately driving the coils. One coil is driven for one cycle of an alternating power signal, and then the other coil is driven for one cycle, and this sequence is repeated. The driving signal is switched from one coil to the other at a point in time which corresponds to a zero crossing of the current level of the driving signal.

Abstract: A coil array for an EAS marker deactivation device is formed by stacking planar substrates, on each of which a respective array of spiral coils was formed by a deposition and etching process. The coil array may be a six-by-six square array, four layers thick, with each of the spiral coils consisting of three turns.

Abstract: An apparatus for deactivating a surveillance tag comprising a first coil located in a first plane, a second coil located in a second plane, and a third coil located in a third plane such that the third plane intersects the first and second planes at an angle that is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

Abstract: In an electronic article surveillance system, quadrature transmitting and receiving antennas are used to improve field distribution. A transmitting antenna arrangement includes first and second adjacent co-planar antenna loops and excitation circuitry for generating respective alternating currents in the first and second loops such that the respective alternating currents are 90.degree. out of phase. In a receiving arrangement, respective signals received from two adjacent co-planar antenna loops are respectively phase-shifted by +45.degree. and -45.degree., and the resulting phase-shifted signals are summed. A far-field cancelling transmitting antenna arrangement includes four loops operated at phases of 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. respectively. All four loops may be co-planar, with any bucking vertical segments being horizontally displaced from each other. Alternatively, the 0.degree. and 180.degree.

Abstract: A device for deactivating a magnetomechanical EAS marker includes a coil and circuitry for energizing the coil to generate an alternating magnetic field. The coil is wound around a magnetic core. The core may be cruciform with four arms, on each of which a respective coil is provided. Alternatively, the core may be generally square and planar, with two coils wound around the core in different respective directions.

Abstract: An outdoor enclosure for a video surveillance system comprises: a housing having an outer wall with an opening; an observation bubble disposed over the opening, the housing being adapted for supporting a video surveillance camera; and, first and second fans mounted in the enclosure to establish an air flow pattern when the fans are operating which circulates substantially unidirectionally around the video surveillance camera when the camera is disposed in the bubble, the circulating air flow pattern being substantially free of dead zones inside the bubble and efficiently conducting thermal energy from within the enclosure to the outer wall and to the bubble for subsequent dissipation outside the enclosure. The enclosure can comprise a temperature responsive heater mounted in the circulating air flow pattern adjacent to the fans, downstream from the heater and upstream from the bubble. The fans are substantially transversely aligned within the circulating air flow pattern.

Abstract: A pedestal assembly for an EAS system comprises an antenna, an electronic assembly, and a support member having at least first and second recesses. The antenna is seated in the first recess and the electronic assembly is seated in the second recess. Bumpers are secured to opposed sides of the support member and a top cap member is applied to the assembled support member and bumpers. Upper ends of front and rear covers are inserted interiorly of the top cap member and thereby retentively circumscribed. Lower ends of the first and second covers are then secured to the support member to complete the pedestal assembly. Field service is facilitated in that all interior components of the pedestal assembly are accessible simply upon unsecuring the lower ends of the covers from the support member and downwardly sliding the covers from the top cap member. The support member comprises a two-layer plastic body, one layer of which defines the first and second recesses.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magneto-mechanical marker has a resonant frequency characteristic that is at a minimum at a bias field level corresponding to the operating point of the magnetomechanical marker. The magnetostrictive element has a magnetomechanical coupling factor k in the range 0.28 to 0.4 at the operating point. The magnetostrictive element is formed by applying cross-field annealing to an iron-rich amorphous metal alloy ribbon (45 to 82 percent iron) which includes a total of from 2 to 17 percent of one or more of Mn, Mo, Nb, Cr, Hf, Zr, Ta, V. Cobalt, nickel, boron, silicon and/or carbon may also be included. The metal alloy may include one early transition element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf and Ta, and also a second early transition element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Mo, Nb, Cr, and V.