Patents by Inventor Ronald B. Easter

Ronald B. Easter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230298447
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker that involve receiving, by a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) element of the marker, an RFID deactivation signal; and responsive to the RFID deactivation signal, supplying power to a detuner element of the marker 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Adam S. BERGMAN, Manuel SOTO, Ronald B. EASTER
  • Patent number: 11727240
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald B. Easter, Manuel Soto, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Patent number: 11699335
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Manuel Soto, Ronald B. Easter
  • Patent number: 11568726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deactivating an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag. The methods comprising: using an AC drive signal to charge an energy storage component of the tag deactivator; selectively actuating a switch so that a closed circuit is formed between the energy storage component and at least one deactivation coil of the tag deactivator; generating a tag deactivation field to deactivate the EAS tag by energizing the at least one deactivation coil with current supplied from the energy storage component; and using a step down transformer, disposed between the energy storage component and the at least one deactivation coil, to decrease a frequency of a decaying coil current waveform representing a current flowing through the at least one deactivation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Ronald B. Easter
  • Publication number: 20220044088
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ronald B. EASTER, Manuel SOTO, Mohammad MOHIUDDIN
  • Patent number: 11205106
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald B. Easter, Manuel Soto, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Patent number: 11121742
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a security tag. The methods comprise: performing communication operations by the security tag at a communications frequency; using a receive circuit of the security tag to harvest energy emitted from a transmit circuit of an external device at an energy harvesting frequency. The communications frequency is out of band of the energy harvesting frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Ronald B. Easter, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Publication number: 20210233372
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Adam S. BERGMAN, Manuel SOTO, Ronald B. EASTER
  • Publication number: 20210201641
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deactivating an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag. The methods comprising: using an AC drive signal to charge an energy storage component of the tag deactivator; selectively actuating a switch so that a closed circuit is formed between the energy storage component and at least one deactivation coil of the tag deactivator; generating a tag deactivation field to deactivate the EAS tag by energizing the at least one deactivation coil with current supplied from the energy storage component; and using a step down transformer, disposed between the energy storage component and the at least one deactivation coil, to decrease a frequency of a decaying coil current waveform representing a current flowing through the at least one deactivation coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Adam S. BERGMAN, Ronald B. EASTER
  • Patent number: 11011037
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Manuel Soto, Ronald B. Easter
  • Patent number: 10997838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker. The methods comprise: storing energy collected by an energy harvesting element of the marker; using the stored energy to enable operations of the marker's communications element; receiving, by the marker's communications element, a marker deactivation signal transmitted from an external device; and causing either a resonator to be prevented from receiving transmit bursts emitted from an EAS system, a bias element's magnetic field to be normalized, or a resonator to be physically prevented from vibrating, in response to the marker deactivation signal's reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Hubert A. Patterson, Thomas Solaski, Ronald B. Easter
  • Patent number: 10978231
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatus, and systems for deactivating an AM tag including receiving a deactivation signal via a first inductive coil, storing electrical charges generated from the deactivation signal in a capacitor, and discharging the electrical charges through a second inductive coil, wherein: a first bias strip in the demagnetized state and a second bias strip cause a resonator to vibrate at a first resonant frequency corresponding to an activated state of the AM tag, the discharging magnetizes the first bias strip from a demagnetized state to a magnetized state, and the first bias strip in the magnetized state and the second bias strip cause the resonator to vibrate at a second resonant frequency different than the first resonant frequency, wherein the resonator vibrating at the second resonant frequency corresponds to a deactivated state of the AM tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald B. Easter, Guillermo H. Padula, Thomas Patrick Solaski, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Patent number: 10964183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deactivating an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag. The methods comprising: using an AC drive signal to charge an energy storage component of the tag deactivator; selectively actuating a switch so that a closed circuit is formed between the energy storage component and at least one deactivation coil of the tag deactivator; generating a tag deactivation field to deactivate the EAS tag by energizing the at least one deactivation coil with current supplied from the energy storage component; and using a step down transformer, disposed between the energy storage component and the at least one deactivation coil, to decrease a frequency of a decaying coil current waveform representing a current flowing through the at least one deactivation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Ronald B. Easter
  • Publication number: 20210091826
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a security tag. The methods comprise: receiving a first wireless signal transmitted from a transmit circuit 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 the controller to selectively close a switch when the voltage is being induced in the receive circuit; and 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald B. Easter, Manuel Soto, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Publication number: 20210091825
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a security tag. The methods comprise: performing communication operations by the security tag at a communications frequency; using a receive circuit of the security tag to harvest energy emitted from a transmit circuit of an external device at an energy harvesting frequency. The communications frequency is out of band of the energy harvesting frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Ronald B. Easter, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Publication number: 20210089855
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald B. Easter, Manuel Soto, Mohammad Mohiuddin
  • Publication number: 20210020010
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deactivating an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) tag. The methods comprising: using an AC drive signal to charge an energy storage component of the tag deactivator; selectively actuating a switch so that a closed circuit is formed between the energy storage component and at least one deactivation coil of the tag deactivator; generating a tag deactivation field to deactivate the EAS tag by energizing the at least one deactivation coil with current supplied from the energy storage component; and using a step down transformer, disposed between the energy storage component and the at least one deactivation coil, to decrease a frequency of a decaying coil current waveform representing a current flowing through the at least one deactivation coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Ronald B. Easter
  • Publication number: 20200395154
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatus, and systems for deactivating an AM tag including receiving a deactivation signal via a first inductive coil, storing electrical charges generated from the deactivation signal in a capacitor, and discharging the electrical charges through a second inductive coil, wherein: a first bias strip in the demagnetized state and a second bias strip cause a resonator to vibrate at a first resonant frequency corresponding to an activated state of the AM tag, the discharging magnetizes the first bias strip from a demagnetized state to a magnetized state, and the first bias strip in the magnetized state and the second bias strip cause the resonator to vibrate at a second resonant frequency different than the first resonant frequency, wherein the resonator vibrating at the second resonant frequency corresponds to a deactivated state of the AM tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald B. EASTER, Guillermo H. PADULA, Thomas Patrick SOLASKI, Mohammad MOHIUDDIN
  • Patent number: 10621843
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a marker. The method comprising: receiving, by a communications element of the marker, a marker deactivation signal from an external device; and causing a coil surrounding at least the marker's resonator to be shorted in response to the marker deactivation signal, by supplying power to a deactivation element so that the deactivation element switches from an open state to a closed state. In some scenarios, the power is supplied by an energy harvesting element disposed in the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Manuel Soto, Ronald B. Easter, Thomas Solaski
  • Publication number: 20200043313
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, Manuel Soto, Ronald B. Easter