Abstract: A system for detecting and tracking motion in a given area, including a first passive motion detection sensor operable for passively detecting motion in any of a first multiplicity of detection zones and, responsive thereto, for providing a first detection output signal including an indication of a first detection zone in which the motion was detected, a second passive motion detection sensor operable for passively detecting motion in any of a second multiplicity of detection zones, each of the second multiplicity of detection zones at least partially overlapping each of the first multiplicity of detection zones, and, responsive thereto, for providing a second detection output signal including an indication of a second detection zone in which the motion was detected, and a processor operable for receiving the first and second detection output signals and, responsive thereto, for providing an indication of a location of the motion.

Abstract: Monitoring and mass notification systems, such as fire alarm systems, for use in occupied structures, and more particularly to wireless monitoring and mass notification systems include wireless base units that can be modular in design. This allows horns, mini horns, strobes, and audio messaging modules (e.g., speakers) to be physically plugged into the wireless base unit creating a unit with the appearance of a single physical unit. Preferably standardized plugs are used. In some cases, visual and audio modules (i.e., notification devices) have their own battery pack or external power interface. Each wireless base unit can optionally function as a repeater if it has dual transceivers (master transceiver and slave transceiver).

Abstract: Adaptive system for communicating with a customer in a retail store environment includes a sensor disposed at a sensor location in a retail environment. The sensor location is selected so that the sensor captures information that facilitates identification of at least one trait associated with a customer located proximate to the sensor location. A processing system is configured to use the information to determine the at least one trait. Thereafter, in response to such determination, the processing system selectively determines a message or content selection to be displayed to the customer based at least in part on the at least one trait that has been identified.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (400) for Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) security tags. The methods comprise: concurrently reading the RFID security tags and locator tags to obtain unique identifiers thereof and Received Signal Strength Indicator (“RSSI”) measurements therefore, where the RFID security tags are respectively coupled to inventory items located within a facility and the locator tags are placed at locations within the facility so as to respectively define a plurality of Zones Of Interest (“ZOIs”) in which inventory items may reside; and determining which ZOI of the plurality of ZOIs each said RFID security tag resides within based at least on the RSSI measurements, a number of times each locator tag was read, read times specifying when the locator tags were read, differences in read times for the locator tags, and known locations of the locator tags.

Abstract: A strobe notification appliance that outputs directional information is disclosed. The strobe notification appliance may generate, in addition to notification of the fire condition, directional information (e.g., such as away from the unavailable exit paths and/or toward the preferred exit paths). In one instance, the strobe notification appliance includes a strobe element (such as a flash tube strobe element or LED strobe element) outputting fire notification information and a directional light element (such as one or more LEDs) outputting directional information. In another instance, the strobe notification appliance includes the strobe element that outputs both fire notification information and directional information. In this way, occupants of a building may be notified of a fire and notified of available or unavailable exit paths.

Abstract: Antenna system includes a fixture having a first portion and a second portion joined along an alignment axis. A first planar antenna element having a first polarization direction is aligned with a first plane, and secured to the first portion of the antenna fixture. A second planar antenna element has a second polarization direction aligned with a second plane. The second planar antenna element is secured to the second portion of the antenna fixture so that the second plane is transverse to the first plane and the first and second planes intersect along a line parallel to the alignment axis. At least one tuned element mitigates near-field interference as between the first planar antenna element and the second planar antenna element. Signals applied to the antenna feed port will result in three-polarization radiation.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (200) for operating a sensor system. The methods comprise: performing first operations by a Wireless Sensor Network (102) to (a) configure operations of WSN end nodes (104, 134-138) and (b) control Bluetooth Low Energy (“BLE”) link activity within a BLE network; and performing second operations by the BLE network to (a) find people or objects (156) within a specified area and (b) provide services to users of mobile communication devices which are BLE enabled (152) and reside within the specified area.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (900) for detecting the presence of a security tag. The methods involve performing operations by a master pedestal of an EAS system to determine a first Tx/Rx scheme to be used during a first iteration of an EAS tag detection process based on (A) a first total number of time windows randomly selected from a plurality of total number of time windows in which an EAS exciter signal should be transmitted from at least one pedestal, and (B) first time windows randomly selected from a plurality of time windows in which the EAS exciter signal can be sent during the EAS tag detection process. Information specifying the first Tx/Rx scheme is communicated from the master pedestal to at least one slave pedestal. Transmit and receive operations are performed by the master and slave pedestals in accordance with the first Tx/Rx scheme.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1700) for providing a marker (102). The methods comprise forming a magnetic core (200) having a bone shape defined by two end portions (208, 212) and a center potion (210) disposed between the two end portions. The end portions each have a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the center portion. A coil (224) is disposed around the center portion. The coil is coupled to a passive electronic component (206) so as to form a resonator. The resonator is disposed in a housing (126) of the marker. The resonator resonates when an interrogation signal is produced by a transmitter circuit (112) located remote from and in proximity to the marker, whereby a variation in a magnetic field occurs.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (600) for controlling operations of a Handheld Scanning and Deactivation (“HSD”) device. The methods comprise: determining whether a human is located within a defined distance range of the HSD device; preventing first operations from being performed by the HSD device which cause a magnetic field to be generated, if it is determined that said human is located within the defined distance range of said HSD device; and initiating the first operations if it is determined that the human is not located within the defined distance range of the HSD device. The first operations comprise (1) interrogation operations for detecting a presence of an electronic article surveillance security tag and/or (2) deactivation operations for deactivating an electronic article surveillance security tag.

Abstract: System for controlling access comprises a reader unit (108) which is disposed at a portal (102) to a controlled access area (118) and a wearable access device (WAD) (114) which is worn by a user (116). The reader and the WAD implement a bidirectional optical communication protocol (BOCP) to communicate digital data. The WAD receives an interrogation signal from the reader for initiating an access control interaction. At least one of the reader and the WAD uses a predetermined optical beam width (142, 308) and a boresight direction (140, 306) of an optical beam associated with the wireless optical communication link to facilitate a selective determination as to whether the WAD will respond to the interrogation signal with a reply signal to continue with the access control interaction.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (600, 1800) for making a marker. The methods comprise: obtaining a resonator material which has been annealed under a tensile force selected to provide a maximum resonant amplitude at a bias field; providing by a bias material of the marker an operating bias field with a value less than a value of the bias field; forming a first housing portion from a flexible material so as to have a planar shape; and forming a second housing portion from the flexible material so as to comprise a cavity in which the resonator and bias materials can be housed when the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion. The cavity is defined by two opposing short sidewalls, two opposing elongate sidewalls (OESW) and a bottom sidewall. Each of OESW is stiffened by forming a plurality of first stiffener edge features along an exterior surface thereof.

Abstract: A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling intrusion thresholds of intrusion detectors deployed in a premises, the system including intrusion detector output receiving functionality operative to receive at least one output from at least a first intrusion detector deployed in the premises, intrusion detector output comparison functionality operative to compare the at least one output from the at least a first intrusion detector with at least one of a multiplicity of premises intrusion detection patterns, and intrusion detector threshold controlling functionality operative, in response to ascertaining that the at least one output from the at least a first intrusion detector matches at least one of the multiplicity of premises intrusion detection patterns, to automatically tune a threshold of at least a second intrusion detector deployed in the premises.

Abstract: Systems (100, 1300) and methods (1700, 1800) for detaching a tag (1304) from an article. The methods comprise: detecting when the tag is in proximity to a detaching unit (1302); verifying that the article has been accepted for a purchase transaction or has been successfully purchased using information received from the tag; mechanically coupling a tag body to the detaching unit when it has been verified that the article has been accepted for a purchase transaction or has been successfully purchased; detecting when a pin (1306) of the tag is no longer in proximity of the detaching unit; and mechanically decoupling the tag body from the detaching unit when the pin is no longer in proximity to the detaching unit.

Abstract: Tracking items of items in a facility involves using an RFID portal system to determine when an EAS tag containing an RFID element has exited from a secured area within the facility. The EAS tag is triggered to initiate a wireless beacon signal upon exiting. Thereafter, control logic associated with the EAS tag is used to cause the wireless beacon signal to be communicated at predetermined intervals. The wireless beacon signal includes unique identifier information concerning the EAS tag. When the beacon signal is received at one or more short range communication (SRC) devices outside the secured area, its location is determined.

Abstract: A device and method for self-testing fire detection device uses a blockage sensor system to determine if a detection chamber is blocked due to dust, for example. The system includes at least one pathway light source for shining the light into pathways of a baffle system and one or more detectors for detecting the light. The blockage sensor system detects obstructions in the pathways by analyzing how light propagates through the pathways.

Abstract: In an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system a response is detected to an electromagnetic field. The response is caused by one or more objects present within the surveillance zone and an alarm condition is then selectively generated in accordance with one or more detection algorithms. A speed of a person traveling through the surveillance zone is measured, and if the speed exceeds a threshold then at least one characteristic of the detection algorithm(s) is varied to decrease a rigor of the detection algorithm.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (300) for selective device responsiveness using a plurality of control tags (132) affixed to a plurality of objects (102). The methods involve: receiving, by a plurality of control tags, a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communications link; and communicating a response to the reporting command signal from only those of the plurality of control tags which are (1) currently being moved, (2) have been moved within a first specified period of time, and/or (3) have a surrounding environment with at least one characteristic that has recently changed.