Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system includes generating circuitry for generating an interrogation signal. The generating circuitry includes an interrogation coil for radiating the interrogation signal in an interrogation zone. A marker is secured to an article appointed for passage through the interrogation zone, and includes an active element for generating a marker signal including harmonic signal components at harmonics of an operating frequency of the generating circuitry. Detecting circuitry detects the harmonic signal components of the marker signal generated by the active element. The generating circuitry generates the interrogation signal in the form of discrete pulses and the detecting circuitry is operated concurrently with the generating circuitry.

Abstract: An EAS tag package in which an EAS tag is enclosed within a sealed, thin-walled flexible bag.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical article surveillance marker formed by first annealing an amorphous metal alloy, such alloy comprising iron and cobalt with the proportion of cobalt being in the range of about 5 to about 45 atomic percent, in the presence of a saturating magnetic field and then second annealing the alloy in the absence of the saturating magnetic field.

Abstract: A multiplexing arrangement for an electronic article surveillance and identification system interconnects a transmitter and a plurality of antennas. The transmitter has first and second terminals and each of the antennas includes an antenna coil. The multiplexing arrangement includes a step down transformer that has a primary winding connected across the first and second terminals of the transmitter, and also has a second winding. A first winding is positioned for inductively coupling with the antenna coil of a first antenna and a second winding is positioned for inductively coupling with the antenna coil of a second antenna. The multiplexing arrangement also includes a first switch and wiring that forms a series loop connection including the first winding, the second winding, the first switch and the secondary winding of the transformer. The first switch is arranged to selectively open-circuit the series loop connection.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for deactivating electronic article surveillance tags comprising a deactivation coil, a capacitor, charging means for charging the capacitor to a predetermined level, and an electronic switch connected to the capacitor and the deactivation coil so that when the switch is open the capacitor can be charged by the charging means and when the switch is closed the capacitor can discharge through the deactivation coil.

Abstract: An applicator for use in applying labels adhered to a release liner, the labels being in the form of a roll. The applicator comprises a body having a trigger and a roll holder for supporting the rolled release liner, an indexer for positioning label formats of varying pitch in the applicator and stripping labels from the release liner, an applicator assembly for applying the labels which were positioned by the indexer, and a friction drive responsive to the trigger for advancing the release liner through the applicator assembly. The friction drive includes a self-adjusting tensioner which includes a drive slip which allows the drive to slip when the label is correctly positioned by the indexer in the applicator. The drive slip includes a slip means for allowing the drive to slip when the label is correctly positioned, enabling the largest pitch label to be completely stripped from the release liner.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes first and second layers and an electronic article surveillance tag positioned between the first and second layers. Bonding material is positioned between the first and second layers to bond the first layer, second layer and electronic article surveillance tag together. The printed circuit board can be detected by an electronic article surveillance system.

Abstract: A semi-hard magnetic element is formed by at least partially crystallizing an amorphous soft iron-metalloid material. The heating process used to achieve crystallization includes a controlled oxidation stage to increase the level of remanent flux that is provided when the processed magnetic element is placed in a fully magnetized state.

Abstract: Operation of a plurality of electronic devices is synchronized. The plurality of devices include a master unit and a plurality of other units, and the master unit transmits a synchronizing signal to at least one of the other units at predetermined intervals. Each of at least two of the other units detects whether a synchronizing signal is received at the respective unit within a predetermined period of time. If not, the respective unit changes from a slave mode of operation to a master mode of operation. Contention between the two or more potential back-up master units is resolved based on priority in a daisy-chain arrangement or by providing different time-out watch-dog periods for the potential back-up devices.

Abstract: A signal received in an electronic article surveillance system is comb-filtered to remove interference. A second comb-filtering function is provided to detect occasions when the first comb-filtering generates ringing artifacts in response to impulsive noise. Alarm indications are inhibited at times when the artifacts due to impulsive noise are detected. Bandwidths of the filtering functions are adjustable in response to operator input.

Abstract: A user management interface for interaction, monitoring and control of an EAS system. A user accessible input is provided in the interface for actuation by a user. A generation assembly is responsive to the input and generates signals for interacting with the EAS system. A receiver at the interface receives signals from the EAS system and provides indications with respect thereto.

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: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objects are realized in an apparatus and method for superimposing text information on a video background signal. The apparatus includes means to input the video background signal, a text generator for generating a text signal containing the text information to be superimposed on the video background signal and automatic contrast circuit means for selectively controlling the brightness of the text signal to maintain at least a predetermined minimum contrast between the brightness of the text signal and the brightness of the video background signal as the brightness of the video background signal varies. The automatic contrast means maintains at least a predetermined minimum contrast by adding a predetermined amount of brightness to a first text signal generated by the text generator above the brightness of the video background signal to provide a second text signal for superimposing on the video background signal.

Abstract: An inventory of goods is protected from theft by affixing to at least some of the items of the inventory an electronic article surveillance marker. An indicia which indicates the presence of the marker is also applied to the items of the inventory. In some cases, the indicia may be applied to goods to deter theft thereof even though no EAS marker is present on the goods. The indicia may be provided whether the marker is affixed in a concealed or visible location on the goods and may also provide guidance as to how to activate or deactivate the marker.

Abstract: A data processing system automatically maintains records of respective locations of a plurality of objects in real time. Each of the objects has secured thereto a respective object marker which transmits an identification signal that is unique to the respective object. Sensor devices are installed at respective doorways of a building. Each sensor device receives the identification signal transmitted from the object marker as the respective object is moved through the doorway. The sensor device detects from the identification signal a direction in which the object is being moved through the doorway and generates a detection signal indicative of the detected direction of movement and also indicative of the identification signal for the object. The data processing system receives the detection signals from the sensor devices and maintains a data record with respect to each of the objects indicating the present location in the building of each of the objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article comprising a member for holding a bag for packaging an article having an associated electronic article surveillance tag, deactivation means positioned in relation to the member to deactivate an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article when such article is in a bag held by the member, and detection means for detecting when a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member to actuate the deactivation means.

Abstract: A transmitter circuit drives a transmit antenna for an electronic article surveillance system with an alternating drive signal. The transmitter circuit includes a DC power supply which converts an AC input power signal into a DC power supply potential, a switching circuit which forms an alternating signal from the DC power supply potential, and a transformer which couples the alternating signal to the antenna. The transformer provides isolation for the transmit antenna, as well as voltage step-down to a desired amplitude for the antenna driving signal. The DC potential supplied to the switching circuit may be regulated or unregulated.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system includes a signal generator for generating an interrogation signal in an interrogation zone, an antenna which receives a signal present in the interrogation zone, and interference cancelling circuitry for cancelling interference components in the signal received by the antenna. The interference cancelling circuitry includes a hybrid interference component cancelling loop in which a digital interference estimate signal is formed and converted into an analog estimate signal, and the analog estimate signal is subtracted from an input analog signal. The resulting difference signal is processed with a hybrid automatic gain control loop. A digitized signal, formed from the resulting difference signal, is subjected to digital interference cancellation processes in addition to the hybrid interference component cancellation process.

Abstract: An EAS system employing a central station having a central processing unit and a local station having a microcontroller and in which the functions necessary for detecting EAS tag signals and generating alarms are shared by the central station and the local station. A switch is further provided at the local station for automatically reconfiguring the receiver antennas based on antenna configuration instructions generated at the central station responsive to certain conditions at the location being monitored.

Abstract: A video surveillance system has a camera equipped with a fisheye lens having a substantially hemispheric field of view. The system implements operations equivalent to the panning, tilting and zooming of a conventional camera without the use of moving parts. The lens is mounted vertically above a plane under surveillance. The camera produces a fisheye image made up of a plurality of pixels. The fisheye image is distorted due to the properties of the fisheye lens. The system corrects the distortion by mapping the pixels of the fisheye image to coordinates produced by selecting a particular part of the fisheye image to be viewed. This allows an operator to select parts of the field of view of the fisheye lens and view them as if they had been produced by a camera having a conventional lens being panned tilted or zoomed. The fisheye image formed by the camera is split into four separate image components carried by four bundles of optical fibers.