Abstract: The present aspects include a magnetic detacher including a housing having a wall that defines a nest configured to receive a security tag; a gate member and an actuator configured to move the gate member between a closed position and an open position, wherein the gate member in the closed position blocks the nest, and in the open position allows access to the nest; a magnet positioned on an opposite side of the housing relative to the nest and adjacent to the nest, the magnet having a field in an area of the nest sufficient to unlock a magnetic lock of the security tag; and a processor in communication with the actuator and with a transaction system, wherein the processor is configured to control the actuator to move the gate member from the closed position to the open position based on receipt of an unlock signal from the transaction system.

Abstract: The present aspects include a method of detaching a security tag from an article, including receiving, at a detacher device, an unlock signal from a transaction system. The detacher device includes a housing having a nest configured to receive a security tag, a gate assembly including a gate member movable between a closed position that blocks the nest and an open position, and a magnet positioned on an opposite the nest and having a magnetic flux sufficient to unlock a magnetic lock of the security tag. The method further includes moving the gate member from the closed position to the open position based on receipt of the unlock signal, receiving the security tag in the nest, and unlocking the magnetic lock of the security tag to allow the security tag to be detached from the article.

Abstract: A security tag includes a tag body and a cooperating tack assembly having a tack head and an elongated pin extending from the tack head, with the pin being insertable into the tag body to secure an article therebetween. One or more electronic components and associated electrical circuits, including wireless communications modules and various types of sensors, are disposed in both the tack head and tag body. The tack head includes a battery and an energy harvesting circuit. The tack head pin has one or more discrete conductive segments which, when the pin is inserted into the tag body, electrically couple with electrical circuits disposed in the tag body, thus allowing the components in the tag body to be powered at least in part by the battery and/or the energy harvesting circuit disposed in the tack head. Methods for operating the tag to perform security functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security tag includes a tag body and a cooperating tack assembly having a tack head and an elongated pin extending from the tack head, with the pin being insertable into the tag body to secure an article therebetween. One or more electronic components and associated electrical circuits, including wireless communications modules and various types of sensors, are disposed in both the tack head and tag body. The tack head includes a battery and an energy harvesting circuit. The tack head pin has one or more discrete conductive segments which, when the pin is inserted into the tag body, electrically couple with electrical circuits disposed in the tag body, thus allowing the components in the tag body to be powered at least in part by the battery and/or the energy harvesting circuit disposed in the tack head. Methods for operating the tag to perform security functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security tag includes a tag body and a cooperating tack assembly having a tack head and an elongated pin extending from the tack head, with the pin being insertable into the tag body to secure an article therebetween. One or more electronic components and associated electrical circuits, including wireless communications modules and various types of sensors, are disposed in both the tack head and tag body. The tack head includes a battery and an energy harvesting circuit. The tack head pin has one or more discrete conductive segments which, when the pin is inserted into the tag body, electrically couple with electrical circuits disposed in the tag body, thus allowing the components in the tag body to be powered at least in part by the battery and/or the energy harvesting circuit disposed in the tack head. Methods for operating the tag to perform security functions are also disclosed.

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 security tag includes a tag body and a cooperating tack assembly having a tack head and an elongated pin extending from the tack head, with the pin being insertable into the tag body to secure an article therebetween. One or more electronic components and associated electrical circuits, including wireless communications modules and various types of sensors, are disposed in both the tack head and tag body. The tack head includes a battery and an energy harvesting circuit. The tack head pin has one or more discrete conductive segments which, when the pin is inserted into the tag body, electrically couple with electrical circuits disposed in the tag body, thus allowing the components in the tag body to be powered at least in part by the battery and/or the energy harvesting circuit disposed in the tack head. Methods for operating the tag to perform security functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (800) for operating a security tag. The methods involve: coupling the security tag to an article by at least partially inserting an attachment assembly into a tag body; performing core security tag functions by a first electronic circuit disposed within the tag body of the security tag to protect the article from an unauthorized removal of the article from an area; and performing at least one first peripheral security tag function by a second electronic circuit disposed within the attachment assembly of the security tag.

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: Systems (100) and methods (800) for operating a security tag. The methods involve: coupling the security tag to an article by at least partially inserting an attachment assembly into a tag body; performing core security tag functions by a first electronic circuit disposed within the tag body of the security tag to protect the article from an unauthorized removal of the article from an area; and performing at least one first peripheral security tag function by a second electronic circuit disposed within the attachment assembly of the security tag.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (400) for providing store intelligence. The methods involve: generating sensor data relating to movement of a security tag (122) by at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors (126) disposed in the security tag; analyzing, by an electronic device (140) remotely located from the security tag, the sensor data to determine if the security tag is currently being moved in an abnormal manner; and selectively performing, by the electronic device, first operations facilitating facility security if a determination is made that the security tag is currently being moved in an abnormal manner.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1300) for operating a security tag (132). The methods involve: slidingly coupling a first engagement member (212) of the security tag to a first sidewall (208) forming a first right angle with a base (220) of an article; and extending a securement member (218) of the security tag across an exterior surface of the base of the article. A second engagement member (210) of the security tag is slidingly coupled to a second sidewall (206) opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article. A length of the securement member is then decreased so as to place the securement member in a tensioned position whereby the security tag is secured to the article. The securement member can be locked in the tensioned position using a mechanical locking mechanism (222) of the security tag.

Abstract: A security tag is provided that includes a housing, an electronic sensor held within the housing, an accessory pin provided with the housing and a lock assembly held within the housing. The accessory is pin provided with the tag housing and may be moveable with respect to the housing between locked and unlocked positions. When the accessory pin is in the locked position, the tag housing is secured to the accessory. When the accessory pin is in the unlocked position, the tag housing is disengaged from the accessory. The lock assembly may include a magnetically influenced (MI) member which is movable from a biased position to a relaxed position in the absence of the selected magnetic field to lock the accessory pins.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1500) for operating a security tag (132) of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system. The methods involving: attaching a clip (210) to a curved sidewall (202) of an article (102) such that a central body (304) of the security tag is vertically aligned with a central axis of the curved sidewall; maintaining the vertical alignment by locating first and second flanges (306, 502) of the security tag against respective opposing surface areas of the curved sidewall; wrapping a securement member (212) of the security tag around an elongate structure (204) of the article which is offset from the curved sidewall in at least one direction and which protrudes away from a main body (218) of the article; and locking the securement member in a position wrapped around the elongate structure of the article using a mechanical locking mechanism (214) of the security tag.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1300) for operating a security tag (132). The methods involve: slidingly coupling a first engagement member (212) of the security tag to a first sidewall (208) forming a first right angle with a base (220) of an article; and extending a securement member (218) of the security tag across an exterior surface of the base of the article. A second engagement member (210) of the security tag is slidingly coupled to a second sidewall (206) opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article. A length of the securement member is then decreased so as to place the securement member in a tensioned position whereby the security tag is secured to the article. The securement member can be locked in the tensioned position using a mechanical locking mechanism (222) of the security tag.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1500) for operating a security tag (132) of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system. The methods involving: attaching a clip (210) to a curved sidewall (202) of an article (102) such that a central body (304) of the security tag is vertically aligned with a central axis of the curved sidewall; maintaining the vertical alignment by locating first and second flanges (306, 502) of the security tag against respective opposing surface areas of the curved sidewall; wrapping a securement member (212) of the security tag around an elongate structure (204) of the article which is offset from the curved sidewall in at least one direction and which protrudes away from a main body (218) of the article; and locking the securement member in a position wrapped around the elongate structure of the article using a mechanical locking mechanism (214) of the security tag.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (1300) for operating a security tag (132). The methods involve: slidingly coupling a first engagement member (212) of the security tag to a first sidewall (208) forming a first right angle with a base (220) of an article; and extending a securement member (218) of the security tag across an exterior surface of the base of the article. A second engagement member (210) of the security tag is slidingly coupled to a second sidewall (206) opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article. A length of the securement member is then decreased so as to place the securement member in a tensioned position whereby the security tag is secured to the article. The securement member can be locked in the tensioned position using a mechanical locking mechanism (222) of the security tag.

Abstract: A security tag is provided that includes a housing, an electronic sensor held within the housing, an accessory pin provided with the housing and a lock assembly held within the housing. The accessory is pin provided with the tag housing and may be moveable with respect to the housing between locked and unlocked positions. When the accessory pin is in the locked position, the tag housing is secured to the accessory. When the accessory pin is in the unlocked position, the tag housing is disengaged from the accessory. The lock assembly may include a magnetically influenced (MI) member which is movable from a biased position to a relaxed position in the absence of the selected magnetic field to lock the accessory pins.