Abstract: A signal received in an electronic article surveillance system is subjected to a nonlinear comb filtering function to remove interference. The nonlinear comb filtering is provided by performing a polyphase decomposition of an input digital signal, nonlinear filtering of the resulting subsequences, and then synthesizing the nonlinear-filtered subsequences. A median filter may be used as the subsequence filtering function. A linear comb filtering function may be provided downstream from the nonlinear comb filter to provide additional attenuation of interference.

Abstract: A locating system including a transmitter housing having a plurality of button switches situated thereon. Also included is at least one receiver housing coupled to an object. A speaker, button key, and high intensity strobe light are situated on the receiver housing. The transmitter housing is equipped with transmitter circuitry for emitting one of a plurality of unique signals upon the instantaneous depression of an associated button on the transmitter housing. Receiver circuitry is situated within the receiver housing and is adapted to activate upon the receipt of an associated signal transmitted via the transmitter circuitry. The receiver circuitry is further adapted to deactivate only upon the depression of the key on the receiver housing. Also included is audible receiving indication circuitry for emitting an audible signal via the speaker comprising a short descriptive phrase representative of the object to which the receiver housing is connected.

Abstract: A system has a plurality of transceiver units, including a parent unit and one or more portable and wearable child units, for generating an alarm when a child transceiver unit is more than a predetermined distance away from a parent transceiver unit. The distance is determined by the difference in the phase of a reference signal from the time it is transmitted on an rf signal by a parent unit, received and retransmitted by a child unit, and then received again by the parent unit.

Abstract: An electronic bonding device provides a seal for containers and equipment and allows the status of the seal to be remotely monitored. The device has a seal body housing sensing means and communication means, and sealing means for affixing the device to an item to be bonded. The sealing means comprises a line providing, between terminal end portions, a circuit having a detectible characteristic. In one embodiment, the circuit is an optical fiber light transmission circuit. Alternatively, the circuit may be an electrical circuit. A change in the circuit characteristic, e.g., a break in the continuity (optical or electrical), is sensed by the sensor and transmitted to a remote location by a transmitter, to indicate that tampering with the item has occurred. The line is provided with a protective sheath. In one embodiment, the sheath is a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip. In other embodiments, the sheath is a relatively rigid or flexible shackle member.

Abstract: A transducer device for converting mechanical motion into an electrical output, consists of an inductance, a flexible support and a permanent magnet positioned in approximately colinear alignment, the nature of the flexible support being such that the inductance and the permanent magnet are free to move mutually independently. The magnetic fields of the permanent magnet and the inductance are mutually interactive, and when the flexible support moves even slightly, it causes the magnet to move, which in turn induces changes in the self-inductance of the inductance and thus the resonance of the circuit, so as to convert the mechanical motion into an electrical output. This inventive transducer device may be implemented in a wide variety of different circuits to serve various functions, but it is particularly suited for use in an alarm device having one or more alarm or warning means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector for theft prevention used in contact with a commodity or the like exhibited in a shop.Conventionally, an operated portion for contacting a commodity or the like is pivotable only in one direction from a projected position. The commodity or the like cannot be moved in directions requiring the operated portion to pivot in directions other than that direction. A forcible movement would damage the operated portion.In a detector for theft prevention of this invention, a switch (3) provided for a box (2) thereof has a pivotable operated portion (3a) biased to return to a position projecting from a surface (2c, 2d) contacting an object of theft prevention (E). The operated portion (3a) is pivotable in a plurality of directions including at least two opposite directions (e1, e2). The detector for theft prevention is properly operable for movements in varied directions of the object of theft prevention (E).

Abstract: A security device providing alarm and chime units is an inexpensive and unobtrusive system which the typical homeowner can easily install and operate. The device includes a housing having a front plate which replaces the standard residential wall outlet plate. A motion detecting sensor, a chime unit, an alarm unit capable of at least 110 decibels, and a converter to convert the alternating current to direct current are also included in the housing. A switch is provided on the housing for setting the device from OFF to ALARM or CHIME, as desired. The present invention mounts at standard electrical wall outlets and uses the available alternating current (AC) to power the device, thus eliminating the worry of a possibly discharged power source.

Abstract: A multi-functional intrusion warning system is used directly in the conventional circuitry of a building such as a home, small business or the like, having a conventional AC power source, a plurality of branch circuits and a circuit breaking means (located intermediate the power source and the branch circuits for interrupting the current to any branch circuit experiencing a current surge) to provide the building with a means of controlling the current to certain or all of the branch circuits which enables the power to be cut off to these branch circuits and then turned back on due to an occurrence detected by a motion, sound, smoke, heat, and/or telephone call activated or similar detection device. The lighting, alarms, and/or other electrical devices on these branch circuits are activated when the detection device activates the control unit of the intrusion warning system.

Abstract: An automatic baggage claiming apparatus for use in an airport, train station, or bus station controls removal of baggage from a secured area. The present invention scans a baggage tag and a claim check in order to obtain the baggage tag identifier and the claim check identifier, respectively. The present invention compares the tag identifiers and provides a signal if the tag identifiers are the same or an alert signal if the tag identifiers are not the same. If the signal is provided, a passenger is permitted to exit the secured area with the checked baggage. However, if the alert signal is provided, the passenger is prevented from exiting the secured area with the baggage.

Abstract: A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water immersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk.

Abstract: A pre-assembled glass breakage detector applique has a carrier substrate which carries an electrical circuit subassembly. The electrical circuit subassembly includes an electrically conductive fragile film and spaced electrical connectors. A method of making a glazing unit security system includes pre-assembling one or more such glass breakage detector appliques and then applying the electrical circuit subassembly thereof, with or without the carrier substrate, to the surface of a glazing pane, and connecting electrical needs from continuity loss detection circuitry to the electrical connectors. In a motor vehicle application, the appliques can be applied to stationary and/or moveable vehicle windows, being especially advantageous for use on a hidden surface area of moveably mounted glazing panes. The fragile film loses electrical continuity upon disruption of the underlying glazing pane, such as upon overall fracture of a tempered glass pane upon significant fracture anywhere in the pane.

Abstract: A simple trip-wire or magnetic circuit associated with a shipping container provides continuity, which is detected electrically. Simply, if continuity is disabled by a forced entry of the container, electrical detection means, such as a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tag, will alert the owner or monitoring station. The trip-wire concept would require the replacing of a broken trip wire (resulting from forced entry), while the magnetic circuit concept can be reused repetitively. In a second embodiment, a magnetic circuit and the detection device (RFID tag) are embedded into the shipping article during manufacturing. The preferred detection device, an RFID tag, could also be a battery backed transceiver type on which a replaceable or rechargeable battery could be mounted on the inside of the shipping container during manufacturing. The RFID tag would communicate with an interrogator unit, which could be connected to a host computer.

Abstract: Fresnel lenses are incorporated into bear's paws of a child's toy teddy bear. The Fresnel lenses cover infrared detectors, and gather infrared energy and focus it onto the infrared sensors. The signal generated by the infrared sensors is passed to a detector timer assembly and then to a power control device. The detector assembly consists of a low-pass filter, a level comparator, a variable time-on timer, and a daylight override circuit. The power control device provides power to an outlet.

Abstract: A seismoscopic detector has a front casing, a rear casing, a positioning plate, a cup and a flashlight. An upper opening, a window, a positioning hole and a plurality of threaded holes are on the front casing. The rear casing has four side plates to support a positioning plate. The inner surface of the side plates has lobes with threaded holes. A cell chamber and a buzzer are disposed in the rear casing. The positioning plate has through holes. A slot and an elastic plate are formed on the positioning plate. The slot is covered by a cell cover. An upper clamp plate and a lower clamp plate are at the lower portions of the positioning plate perpendicularly. A recess and two opposite clipping blocks are formed on the upper clamp plate. A spring is disposed between two clipping blocks. A cup is disposed between two clamp plates. An inner flange is on the cup to receive a sound sensor. A steel ball is placed in the cup. A flashlight is disposed on the spring.

Abstract: An alarm system for preventing loss or theft of one or more articles includes an ultrasonic transmitter incorporated in the article(s) to be protected, and a monitoring unit provided with a receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal from said transmitter and triggering an alarm, for example when the distance between the receiver and transmitter exceeds a predetermined value. The monitoring unit periodically interrogates the protected articles by transmitting a coded RF signal which is decoded and identified by the protecting device of the concerned article, the article emitting an ultrasonic coded signal in response. The ultrasonic coded signal is received by the monitoring unit and triggers an alarm when predetermined conditions are met. Two receiving channels can be arranged in space diverse relationship for better receiving the ultrasonic signal, and the distance between the monitoring unit and the article to be protected can be adjusted.

Abstract: A system for locating an object, particularly a remote control, has a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the receiver has circuitry implementing power saving features. The receiver includes circuitry for turning off portions of the circuitry not essential for performing the current task. The receiver additionally only activates the wireless signal receiver portion of the circuitry periodically for short periods of time. The time of activation represents a small fraction of the operational time if the wireless signal receiver portion were to remain activated continuously.

Abstract: A security apparatus for a retail store in which each item for sale has a security tag attached thereto. A computerized database stores the approximate weight of each item for sale. During a purchase transaction, a predicted total weight of the items purchased is calculated and the items are placed in a bag or bags. A security station positioned near the exit of the store includes a scale for determining the actual total weight of a bag or bags containing the items purchased; a computer controller for comparing the actual total weight of the bag or bags with the predicted total weight and for generating a notification signal when the actual total weight is not within a predetermined range of the predicted total weight; and a deactivation pad for deactivating the security tags during weighing of the bag or bags. A security tag detection apparatus is positioned between the security station and the exit.

Abstract: A thermal warning device attaches to a wheel assembly of a railway car to detect whether the wheel assembly has reached high temperatures and may lead to a potential bearing failure. A temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the wheel assembly is coupled to an electronic circuit for determining whether a bearing failure may occur based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor. In particular, the temperature sensor adjustably extends into the wheel assembly in order to obtain accurate readings of high temperatures in wheel assembly. Also, the electronic circuit is situated away from the outer surface of the wheel assembly so that the electronic circuit will not be subjected to heat from the wheel assembly and may freely dissipate heat produced by its own components. Upon determination of a warning condition, the electronic circuit transmits a warning signal to a wayside station or train crew.

Abstract: An improved paper image reproduction device being communicatively integrated into a communications network and having a cabinet having at least one cassette receiver for receiving a paper cassette and a paper cassette paired with each such paper cassette receiver, the paper cassette bearing a supply of stacked paper sheets, includes a detector disposed with the cabinet for sensing a partial supply of paper in each such paper cassette. A signal generator is coupled to the detector and is communicatively coupled to the communications network for providing a signal to the local area network representative of a partial supply of paper in each such paper cassette. The local area network communicates such signal to at least one station on the communications network.

Abstract: The present re/desensitizer is an apparatus for changing the status of a magnetic marker of an electronic article surveillance system. The markers are attached to or otherwise associated with an object to be protected, such has a book, CD, etc. The device can be set up as a resensitizer, a desensitizer, or with the inclusion of a mode switch, a combination re/desensitizer. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for generating a marker status changing magnetic field, detection means for detecting presence of an object, a control means for controlling the activation time of the magnetic field generator such that the marker status changing magnetic field is generated when an object is present. The magnetic field generator includes an offset core designed for continuous operation without excessive heat build up.