Abstract: A method for wireless synchronization of a first and second magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems arranged for operation in close proximity to one another. The method includes the steps of programming each of the first and second EAS systems for transmitting at least one unique signal into a partially overlapping interrogation zone of the EAS systems and for receiving any signals from the interrogation zones at respective and predetermined transmit and receive phases relative to a common reference. The first EAS system transmits at least one unique signal containing phase information which is received and identified at the second EAS system during one of its receiver phases as the one unique signal. The second EAS system uses the conveyed phase information received to transmit synchronously with transmissions from the first EAS system.

Abstract: A user management interface for interaction, monitoring and control of an EAS system. A user accessible input is provided in the interface for actuation by a user. A generation assembly is responsive to the input and generates signals for interacting with the EAS system. A receiver at the interface receives signals from the EAS system and provides indications with respect thereto.

Abstract: An EAS system employing a central station having a central processing unit and a local station having a microcontroller and in which the functions necessary for detecting EAS tag signals and generating alarms are shared by the central station and the local station. A switch is further provided at the local station for automatically reconfiguring the receiver antennas based on antenna configuration instructions generated at the central station responsive to certain conditions at the location being monitored.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system has a receiver with a plurality of receiving coils. Each coil in the system is treated as a separate detection unit with its own noise environment which is distinct from the noise environments of the other coils in the system. The picture of the noise environment is preferably expanded to include examining noise per coil per phase. Control apparatus has facility for changing the interconnection and configuration of the receiving coils responsively to the per coil and per phase noise environment analysis. Noise analysis and coil configuration change can be practiced concurrently with EAS system operation or may be practiced during periods in which the EAS system is rendered inactive.

Abstract: An EAS central station has a number of input/output ports each for interfacing with a different personality local station. Hardware equipment and software programming of the central station have parts associated with the different personality local stations and a central processing unit selects the part of the hardware equipment and software programming associated with a local station.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system has a receiver with a plurality of receiving coils. Each coil in the system is treated as a separate detection unit with its own noise environment which is distinct from the noise environments of the other coils in the system. This allows the system to optimize its performance by maximizing the sensitivity of each coil according to its own local noise environment. In EAS systems in accordance with the invention, the priority of the detection routines is to keep an accurate and up-to-date picture of the noise environment for each coil in "noise phases" and to look for tags during "transmit phases". Upon tag detection, a controller establishes a validation sequence comprising a number of cycles and can change the number of cycles adaptively to the noise environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the strengths of muscles and muscle groups of a person. The apparatus comprises a support frame, a guide post, a support arm, and a force sensing device. The guide post is connected to the support frame such that the position of the guide post can be adjusted along the width of the support frame, and the support arm is connected to the guide post such that the position of the support arm can be adjusted along the height of the guide post. The force sensing device is connected to the support arm, and is provided to engage a body area of a person subjected to a force from a selected muscle or muscle group and to generate an initial signal, such as an elective voltage, in response to the force applied to the force sensing device. The initial signal from the force sensing device is processed, and a resultant signal, representing the force applied to the force sensing device, is displayed.