Abstract: An electronic article surveillance tag including a tag body member and a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, wherein the pin portion extends along a first axis. The tag further includes a locking member having a clutch mechanism including a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material and an unlocking member connected to the clutch mechanism. The unlocking member is moveable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein during movement between the locked position and the unlocked position, the unlocking member moves the clutch mechanism between the first position corresponding to the locked state and the second position corresponding to the unlocked state.

Abstract: In an aspect, the present disclosure includes a system for interrogating a person exiting a store. The system comprises one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit, one or more mmWave sensors, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from a person approaching the point of exit and triggering an interrogation of a security tag; and one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from the security tag passing through the exit portal.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance tag with a locking member having a clutch mechanism including a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material. The tag further includes a tag body member and a releasably engageable pin portion of a connecting member, the pin portion extending along a first axis. The clutch mechanism is movable parallel to the first axis between a first position that engages the pin portion to define a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state that allows pin portion detachment. The tag further includes an unlocking member slidably engaged with the tag body member and clutch mechanism and moveable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. Additionally, the tag may include an actuator connected to the unlocking member and configured to move the unlocking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: An example electronic security tag attachable to an item includes a tag body member, a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, the pin portion extending along a first axis. The electronic security tag further includes a locking member to lock the connecting member to the tag body member. The locking member includes a clutch mechanism movable parallel to the first axis between a first position in contact with the pin portion and corresponding to a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state. The locking member further including a rotational drive member configured to rotate and interact with a plunger member of the clutch mechanism to move the clutch mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a security tag. The methods comprise: receiving a first wireless signal using a receive circuit of the security tag; inducing a voltage in the receive circuit of the security tag while the first wireless signal is being received; performing operations by a controller to selectively close a switch while the voltage is being induced in the circuit; causing a release of a mechanical component of the security tag by allowing energy to flow from the receive circuit to the mechanical component when the switch is closed; and performing operations by the controller to prevent damage to the mechanical component as a result of the security tag being a certain distance from an external device.

Abstract: Transmitting a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogation signal into an RFID interrogation zone of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. Detecting at least one response signal from a first RFID tag of the EAS system responding to the interrogation signal. Capturing, at one or more times in a window of time around the detection, sensor data within a sensor field, the sensor field and the RFID interrogation zone overlapping to form a zone of interest. Characterizing movement of a non-tag object during the window of time based on the captured sensor data. Determining whether the first RFID tag is associated with the characterized non-tag object based on a comparison of the at least one response signal and the characterized movement of the non-tag object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling a tag to an item. The methods comprise: dispensing the tag from a tag feeder of a tag applicator; performing first operations by the tag applicator to mechanically move the tag into a nest of the tag applicator; determining if a given criteria is met based on feedback information received from at least one of a user of the tag applicator and a sensor provided with the tag applicator; and performing second operations by the tag applicator to couple the tag to the item, when a determination is made that the given criteria is met.

Abstract: A system may be configured to accurately track shelf activity in real-time with support for dynamic shelf size, configuration, and item containment. In some aspects, the system may parse regions of a video frame to determine a region of interest representation corresponding to a physical location (e.g., a shelf compartment), determine an enhanced region of interest representation based at least in part on the region of interest representation and an image enhancement pipeline, determine edge information of one or more objects based on the enhanced region of interest representation, compare a reference representation of the physical location to the edge information, and determine the amount of available space for the physical location based on the comparing.

Abstract: In an aspect, the present disclosure includes a system for detecting metal foil using millimeter wave (mmWave) for retail applications. The system comprises one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit, one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from a security tag passing through the exit portal and one or more mmWave receivers, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from metal foil, wherein the detection of metal foil results in an alert message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker. The method comprising: receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) element of the marker, an RFID deactivation signal transmitted from an external device; and responsive to the RFID deactivation signal, supplying power from the RFID element to a detuner element so that the detuner element switches from a first state to a second state. The marker's resonant frequency is changed to a first value that falls outside of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) systems operating frequency range when the detuner element switches from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure includes a method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, including connecting a first wire and a second wire across a chip, maintaining the spaced apart distance between the first wire and the second wire adjacent to each side of the chip to define a spaced apart segment of the first wire and the second wire that forms part of an inductive loop, connecting the first wire and the second wire at each side of the chip distal from and adjacent to the spaced apart segment of the first wire and the second wire to close the inductive loop, define connected wire segments, and to form an RFID assembly, and moving the RFID assembly through a casing material at or above a glass transition temperature of the casing material to encase the RFID assembly.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for transmitting at least one incident radio frequency identification (RFID) signal to a RFID tag attached to a merchandize item, receiving at least one reflected RFID signal from the RFID tag, determining a frequency response of the RFID tag based on the at least one reflected RFID signal, comparing the frequency response to a plurality of baseline frequency responses, and determining a state of the RFID tag based on the comparing.

Abstract: An EAS system first transmits, over a time, a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogation signal into an RFID interrogation zone of an EAS system. The system then first receives at least one RFID response signal from a first RFID tag of the system responding to the interrogation signal. The system second transmits, over a second time overlapping at least in part with the first time, a non-RFID RF signal into a second zone. The second zone and the RFID interrogation zone overlap to form a zone of interest. The system second receives, from the first RFID tag, an indication that the first RFID tag received the second transmission. The system determines, based on receiving both the RFID response signal from a first RFID tag and the indication that the first RFID tag received the second transmission, that the first RFID tag is in the zone of interest.

Abstract: A system may include a security controller communicatively coupled with pedestals having a first set of antennas and a second set of antennas spaced from the first set of antennas to form an interrogation zone. The security controller may be configured to alternate transmission and reception of interrogation signals between the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas. The security controller may be configured to determine whether a metal object is detected in the interrogation zone in response to the reception of the interrogation signals by the second set of antennas or by the first set of antennas. The security controller may be configured to generate and send an alarm signal in response to the metal object being detected in the interrogation zone.

Abstract: A system may be configured to perform object counting in high volume traffic. In some aspects, the system may detect a candidate object within the region of interest in a current video frame, and determine that the candidate object is a detected object based at least in part on comparing an attribute value of the candidate object to historic attribute information determined during a plurality of previous video frames. Further, the system may determine track information based on the detected object and determine an object count representing a number of the objects that have entered the region of interest and/or a number of the objects that have exited the region of interest.

Abstract: A system may be configured to perform object counting in high volume traffic. In some aspects, the system may determine object detection information defining an absence of an object within the region of interest in a current video frame, and determine that a location associated with the object is within a placeholder-eligible area within the region of interest based on first tracker information determined in a previous video frame. Further, the system may determine second tracker information including a bounding representation for the object based at least in part on the location and object detection information, and determine, based on the second tracker information, an object count representing a number of the objects that have entered the region of interest and/or a number of the objects that have exited the region of interest.