Abstract: A magnetomechanical EAS marker is formed of a housing, a magnetostrictive active element in the housing and a bias element fixedly mounted on the housing. A central portion of the active element is secured to the housing to keep the active element from shifting in a longitudinal direction relative to the bias element and to keep ends of the active element spaced from the housing. The active element remains free to mechanically resonate in response to an EAS interrogation signal. The stable positioning of the active element prevents variations in the bias magnetic field due to shifting relative to the bias element, while keeping ends of the active element free from frictional damping due to mechanical loading from contact with the housing.

Abstract: An arrangement for improving the operation of an analog to digital converter (A/D), which can form part of an integrated circuit, the A/D converter being coupled to a reference voltage and having a plurality of input pins associated therewith comprises: a resistor divider having a plurality of resistors coupled in series, the resistor divider having an upper node coupled to a source of voltage to be converted, having a lower node coupled to a source of reference potential and having a plurality of intermediate nodes; and, each of the upper intermediate nodes being coupled to a respective one of the input pins of the A/D converter. The A/D converter can have enhanced resolution and/or an extended dynamic range when the voltage level being tested is divided arid the reference voltage is reduced.

Abstract: An antenna system for an electronic article surveillance system, comprising: a first, tunable transmitting loop; a second, tunable transmitting loop, the first and second transmitting loops being arranged for first and second modes of operation, the transmitting loops being field-coupled to one another such that tuning the antenna system for one of the modes of operation detunes the antenna system for the other mode of operation; a tunable compensation coil field-coupled to each of the first and second transmitting loops, the tunable compensation coil enabling the antenna system to be tuned for operation in one of the modes at a first resonant frequency, and despite the detuning, enabling the antenna system to be tuned for operation in the other of the modes at a second resonant frequency independently of the tuning for the first mode of operation. The first and second resonant frequencies can be the same as or different from one another.

Abstract: A combined article surveillance and product identification system is formed of conventional elements, of which some are modified. Included in the system are conventional EAS detection equipment, hard EAS tags with RFID circuitry installed in the hard tag enclosure, a tag detaching device modified to include product data reading and transaction data writing capabilities, and a point-of-sale terminal modified to interact with the detaching device. The point-of-sale terminal triggers operation of the detaching device to separate the hard tag from an article of merchandise in response to data read from the tag by the detaching device and relayed to the point-of-sale terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the properly terminated connection between video components transmitting a video signal from one video component to the other. The video and/or data signal is input to a resistance element. A first comparison input device is connected to the input side of the resistance element and a second comparison input device is connected to the output side of the resistance element. A comparison unit is provided for comparing the voltages from the first comparison input device and the second comparison input device to determine whether there is a voltage drop across the resistance element thereby determining whether the video component is properly terminated. A data processing element connected to the output of the comparison unit receives data from the comparison unit which is detected across the resistance element.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical 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 current-annealing to an iron-nickel-cobalt based amorphous metal ribbon, or by cross-field annealing an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy that includes a few percent chromium and/or niobium.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system for computer network assets comprises: an RFID host; a transponder tag attached to an asset in a computer network, the tag having stored therein tag identifying data, inventory data describing the asset and security data; an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of the asset; an RFID reader/writer for reading data from the tag in an interrogation zone; respective communications links between the RFID host and each one of the RFID reader/writer and the asset, enabling the tag identifying data and the inventory or security data to be transferred between each of the RFID host, the EEPROM and the tag, the inventory data also being stored in the EEPROM; and, a control arrangement in the RFID host and in the asset for enabling operation of the asset only in response to a predetermined communications sequence between the RFID host and the asset over the respective communications link, whereby the asset can be iden

Abstract: A responsive tag and a method, apparatus and system for identifying a type of recyclable material. The tag includes an element attached to the recyclable material. The element responds to a selected interrogation signal of a recycling machine to provide a predetermined detectable signal associated with the type of recyclable material. The detectable signal is detected by a component in the recycling machine which then accepts the material for recycling.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in activating and/or deactivating an EAS tag which comprises a support, a first number of one or more first discrete small magnets arranged in a first row and a second number of one or more second discrete small magnets arranged in a second row. Each first discrete small magnet is situated adjacent a second discrete small magnet and has a first region of a first magnetic polarity and a second region supported on the support of a second magnetic polarity. Each second discrete small magnet has a first region of the second magnetic polarity and a second region supported on the support and of the first magnetic polarity.

Abstract: A device for removing reusable "hard" EAS tags from articles of merchandise is controlled so as to operate in response to identification data generated by an RFID element in the hard tag. A transmitter-key device is provided to selectively condition the detaching unit to operate in the absence of the otherwise required identification data. The transmitter-key device may also be used to turn the detaching unit on and off. Data indicative of the identity of the holder of the transmitter-key device may be stored in the detaching unit or an associated point-of-sale terminal to log detaching transactions authorized by the transmitter-key device.

Abstract: An antenna system for use in detecting an information tag in an interrogation zone comprising a first coil for generating a first field in an interrogation zone, a second coil that is larger than said first coil and positioned proximate the first coil for generating a second field that opposes the first field, and a nonferrous conductive plate positioned proximate the first and second coils and being shaped so that its periphery is approximately at least as large as the periphery of the second coil.

Abstract: A disc device includes a disc substrate having an information signal pattern formed on a surface thereof and a magnetic material layer formed on the information signal pattern which permits for detection of the device by an electronic article surveillance detection system.

Abstract: A video camera apparatus and a video surveillance system having a video camera are provided with a video compression unit which utilizes quantization for spatial processing and motion vectors for temporal processing. The camera apparatus and surveillance system include a camera with an adjustment mechanism which allows panning, tiring, zooming and focusing of the camera. The adjustment mechanism has a device for generating adjustment indication signals which indicate the state of adjustment of the camera. The adjustment indication signals are generated by a remote control panel or by means of transducers which detect the state of panning, tilting, zooming or focusing. A processor generates an instruction to the compression unit to adjust the degree of compression processing by video compression unit in response to the adjustment indication signals.

Abstract: A method for processing single line data and multiple line data generated at a POS station for driving a printer thereof into common structure data, e.g.

Abstract: A marker to be used in an article surveillance system is formed by processing a continuous ribbon of magnetic material having a longitudinal axis. Domains are developed in the magnetic material to produce a wall configuration which includes a plurality of substantially parallel domain walls extending in a wall direction that is canted at least 15.degree. from the longitudinal axis of the continuous ribbon. The continuous ribbon is then further processed to cause the wall configuration of substantially parallel domain walls to remain in a pinned state for values of applied field below a threshold value. The processed continuous ribbon can be cut to produce discrete magnetic elements which exhibit a step change in magnetic flux when the applied field crosses a threshold value.

Abstract: An EAS tag or label deactivator having a central area and an edge area bordering the central area. The central area is formed from magnetic regions having alternating magnetic polarities arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The edge area is formed from a linear multipole magnet having magnetic regions of alternating polarity. The sides of the magnetic regions of the linear multipole magnetic are sized to be of lesser extent than the sides of the adjacent magnetic regions of the central area.

Abstract: A data storage device located at a first location stores data representing plural images of a dynamic video image stream. A host processor located at a second location stores a program file representing a search algorithm for searching for a desired image among the images represented by the data stored at the first location. The program file representing the search algorithm is downloaded from the host processor to the data storage device. The downloaded program file is used to search for the desired image in the video data stored in the data storage device at the first location.

Abstract: A deactivation device for use in deactivating electronic article surveillance ("EAS") tags includes a deactivating coil having first and second coil parts. The first coil part is positioned in angular adjacent relation to the second coil part so that the coil parts are adapted to transmit simultaneously a deactivating field. The deactivating field forms a deactivation zone having a configuration which permits for deactivation of an active EAS tag when the active EAS tag is situated within the deactivation zone.