Abstract: A method of utilizing a mobile climate control assembly to selectively generate air flow across an angular range and at various velocities that includes providing first and second fan blower wheel assemblies each retained in a housing, having a wheel blade member operably coupled to a motor and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation, and having an air deflector wall surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member to direct generated air outwardly from the housing and electronically controlling the motor(s) to independently rotate the wheel members to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path outwardly from the at least one housing without rotating the housing or the air deflector wall of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a mobile climate control assembly to selectively generate air flow across an angular range and at various velocities that includes providing first and second fan blower wheel assemblies each retained in a housing, having a wheel blade member operably coupled to a motor and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation, and having an air deflector wall surrounding a partial circumference of the wheel member to direct generated air outwardly from the housing and electronically controlling the motor(s) to independently rotate the wheel members to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path outwardly from the at least one housing without rotating the housing or the air deflector wall of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A mobile climate control assembly that includes a portable housing with a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having a wheel blade member, partially surrounded by an air deflector wall, disposed within a housing cavity and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another. The assembly also includes a fan motor operably coupled to the wheel blade members and an electronic controller electronically and communicatively coupled to the fan motor and operably configured to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the portable housing.

Abstract: A mobile climate control assembly that includes a portable housing with a first fan blower-wheel assembly and a second fan blower assembly each respectively having a wheel blade member, partially surrounded by an air deflector wall, disposed within a housing cavity and operably configured to rotate 360° around an axis of rotation parallel and non-co-planar with respect to one another. The assembly also includes a fan motor operably coupled to the wheel blade members and an electronic controller electronically and communicatively coupled to the fan motor and operably configured to independently and selectively control rotation of the wheel member of each of the first and second fan blower-wheel assemblies to generate an ambient air velocity gradient along at least an approximate 90° angular traverse path from the front face and without rotation of the portable housing.

Abstract: A combination EAS/RFID antenna for use in an EAS/RFID surveillance system. The antenna includes an EAS antenna element and an RFID antenna element. The EAS antenna element includes an EAS loop antenna defining an interior area. The RFID antenna element is positioned within the interior area defined by the EAS loop antenna and includes a ground plane and RFID patch antenna. The ground plane and/or the RFID patch antenna have a segmented conductor pattern etched thereon. The segmented conductor pattern minimizes eddy currents in the ground plane produced by current flow through EAS loop antenna. The RFID antenna element is situated proximate the EAS loop antenna in such a fashion that the overall size of the antenna is reduced.

Abstract: A combination EAS/RFID antenna for use in an EAS/RFID surveillance system. The antenna includes an EAS antenna element and an RFID antenna element. The EAS antenna element includes an EAS loop antenna defining an interior area. The RFID antenna element is positioned within the interior area defined by the EAS loop antenna and includes a ground plane and RFID patch antenna. The ground plane and/or the RFID patch antenna have a segmented conductor pattern etched thereon. The segmented conductor pattern minimizes eddy currents in the ground plane produced by current flow through EAS loop antenna. The RFID antenna element is situated proximate the EAS loop antenna in such a fashion that the overall size of the antenna is reduced.

Abstract: A combination EAS/RFID antenna for use in an EAS/RFID surveillance system. The antenna includes an EAS antenna element and an RFID antenna element. The EAS antenna element includes an EAS loop antenna defining an interior portion. The RFID antenna element includes an RFID patch antenna having a hatched conductor pattern. The RFID antenna element is situated proximate the EAS loop antenna in such a fashion that the overall size of the antenna is reduced.

Abstract: A combination EAS/RFID antenna for use in an EAS/RFID surveillance system. The antenna includes an EAS antenna element and an RFID antenna element. The EAS antenna element includes an EAS loop antenna defining an interior portion. The RFID antenna element includes an RFID patch antenna having a hatched conductor pattern. The RFID antenna element is situated proximate the EAS loop antenna in such a fashion that the overall size of the antenna is reduced.

Abstract: A handheld barcode/RFID reader includes a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes at least a portion of barcode/RFID electronic circuitry affixed thereto. The second side contains a ground plane for the electronic circuitry. The handheld barcode/RFID reader further includes a patch antenna, electrically coupled to the circuitry, and mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board such that the ground plane of the printed circuit board also provides a ground for the patch antenna.

Abstract: The present invention provide a motion detection circuit for a handheld item detection system, where the motion detection circuit includes an accelerometer outputting at least one signal corresponding to a measured acceleration. A differentiator differentiates the measured acceleration. A motion detection device evaluates a discriminated version of the acceleration and a discriminated version of the acceleration to determine whether the handheld item detection system is in motion. The present invention extends battery life and allows a handheld system to quickly enter an active operational mode without any user intervention other than handling (moving) the system.

Abstract: A handheld barcode/RFID reader includes a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes at least a portion of barcode/RFID electronic circuitry affixed thereto. The second side contains a ground plane for the electronic circuitry. The handheld barcode/RFID reader further includes a patch antenna, electrically coupled to the circuitry, and mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board such that the ground plane of the printed circuit board also provides a ground for the patch antenna.

Abstract: The present invention provide a motion detection circuit for a handheld item detection system, where the motion detection circuit includes an accelerometer outputting at least one signal corresponding to a measured acceleration. A differentiator differentiates the measured acceleration. A motion detection device evaluates a discriminated version of the acceleration and a discriminated version of the acceleration to determine whether the handheld item detection system is in motion. The present invention extends battery life and allows a handheld system to quickly enter an active operational mode without any user intervention other than handling (moving) the system.

Abstract: An adaptive security device includes a tag module and a processor module. The processor module contains a tag disable electronic circuit and a controller. The controller provides tag control commands to the tag disable electronic circuit. The tag disable electronic circuit selectively enables or disables the tag module based on the tag control command. In one embodiment, the tag module is an electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) tag module.

Abstract: A simple and attractive electronic survey device for collecting survey data includes an electronic housing including an electronic display, whereon survey questions are displayed. A user input interface is mounted on the electronic housing, and coupled to operate in response to displayed survey questions. A central processing unit (CPU) is coupled to operate the electronic display. An electronic memory, coupled to the CPU, is used for storing at least one question(s) and customer response entered through the user input interface. A communications port is coupled to receive and transmit data from the electronic memory. An Internet: web portal is linked to the communications port for receiving and transmitting survey data including survey programs and questions for loading into the CPU and memory.

Abstract: An antenna system for use in detecting an information tag in an interrogation zone comprising a first coil for generating a first field in an interrogation zone, a second coil that is larger than said first coil and positioned proximate the first coil for generating a second field that opposes the first field, and a nonferrous conductive plate positioned proximate the first and second coils and being shaped so that its periphery is approximately at least as large as the periphery of the second coil.

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: A method of deactivating a frequency-dividing-transponder that includes an active strip of magnetic material that, when magnetically biased to be within a predetermined magnetic field intensity range, responds to excitation by electromagnetic radiation of a first predetermined frequency by radiating electromagnetic radiation of a second predetermined frequency that is a frequency-divided quotient of the first predetermined frequency; and a magnetized bias strip of magnetic material having first and second ends and disposed in relation to the active strip of magnetic material for magnetically biasing the active strip of magnetic material to be within the predetermined magnetic field intensity range only when the bias strip of magnetic material is magnetized includes the step of converting the bias strip of magnetic material into a tripole bar magnet, having a pole of one magnetic polarity in a predetermined region of the strip located between the ends of the strip, and having a pole of a different magnetic pol