Abstract: A reusable EAS tag that is detachable from an article by placing the EAS tag in proximity to a detaching device is provided. The tag includes an energy coupler, a micro-actuator, and a clamping mechanism. The detaching device transmits a signal to the EAS tag to signal detachment, which is received by the energy coupler. The energy coupler converts the energy from the transmitted signal to electrical energy and delivers the electrical energy to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical energy to mechanical energy to actuate the clamping mechanism and release the tag's locking or clamping mechanism for removal of the tag from the article to which it is attached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an umbrella device that has a canopy, a canopy mechanism adapted to expand and collapse said canopy, a base, an arm assembly disposed between said base and said canopy mechanism, said arm assembly having a proximal end pivotally connected to said base and a distal end pivotally connected to said canopy mechanism, said arm assembly being operable, by pivoting said proximal end relative to said base, between a retracted configuration and a protracted configuration, said arm assembly protracting when said proximal end pivots in a first pivotal direction and retracting when said proximal end pivots in a second opposite pivotal direction. The canopy mechanism may be disposed in a first direction relative to said base in said retracted configuration and in a second direction relative to said base, substantially transverse to said first direction, in said protracted configuration.

Abstract: An identification/surveillance device including a tag portion and a tack. The tack includes a button and a pin having a dull end and a sharp end. The identification/surveillance device is secured to an article to be identified/surveilled by inserting the pin through the article and engaging the pin with the tag portion. The dull end of the pin is releasably engaged with either the button or the tag portion such that when the identification/surveillance device is removed from the article the sharp end of the pin remains engaged with either the tag portion or the button and only the dull end of the pin is exposed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for forming and using a magnetic spring clamp.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for analyzing defect data produced in testing a semiconductor chip from a logic design. In various embodiments, input for processing is a first inspection data set that identifies a first set of physical locations that are associated with defects detected during fabrication of the chip. Also input is a second test data set that includes one or more identifiers associated with failing circuitry in the chip. A second set of physical locations is determined from the one or more identifiers of failing circuitry, hierarchical relationships between blocks of the design, and placement information associated with the blocks. Each of the one or more identifiers is associated with at least one of the blocks. Correspondences are identified between physical locations in the first inspection data set and the second set of physical locations.

Abstract: A reusable EAS tag that is detachable from an article by placing the EAS tag in proximity to a detaching device is provided. The tag includes an energy coupler, a micro-actuator, and a clamping mechanism. The detaching device transmits a signal to the EAS tag to signal detachment, which is received by the energy coupler. The energy coupler converts the energy from the transmitted signal to electrical energy and delivers the electrical energy to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical energy to mechanical energy to actuate the clamping mechanism and release the tag's locking or clamping mechanism for removal of the tag from the article to which it is attached.

Abstract: The location indicator system includes a base station and a hand-held device. A hand-held device contains directional antennas. Each directional antenna radiates a signal in a particular direction. When the hand-held device is activated, it generates a directional signal, which represents a particular direction, and then the corresponding directional antenna radiates the directional signal respectively. In response, a base station that is located at an object receives the transmitted signals, computes the directional signals to determine its location with respect to the hand-held location, and then it transmits the location information back to the hand-held device. A hand-held device receives the location information and then indicates the location of the object to the users. The location indicator system can be used to determine a location of slow movement or a stationary object, person, and animal. The system is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is a cost effective and efficient device.

Abstract: A magnetomechanical EAS tag having a bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material so that stress, which is a result of ordinary use of an article incorporating the tag, demagnetizes the bias rending the EAS tag inactive is provided. In an alternate embodiment a mechanical mechanism is incorporated with a conventional EAS tag to deactivate the tag upon ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated. In yet another embodiment, a combination of the bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material and a mechanical deactivation mechanism is used to deactivate an EAS tag during ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated.

Abstract: A magnetomechanical EAS tag having a bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material so that stress, which is a result of ordinary use of an article incorporating the tag, demagnetizes the bias rending the EAS tag inactive is provided. In an alternate embodiment a mechanical mechanism is incorporated with a conventional EAS tag to deactivate the tag upon ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated. In yet another embodiment, a combination of the bias magnet made of a high magnetostrictive material and a mechanical deactivation mechanism is used to deactivate an EAS tag during ordinary use of an article to which the tag is associated.

Abstract: A multiple compact disc player, particularly although not necessarily solely, directed towards an audio compact disc player. The turntable for supporting two or more compact discs is provided with connected or associated releasable clamps to engage the compact discs onto the turntable when in the out-of-play position. The clamps are released once an adjacent compact disc is engaged by the drive spindle of the reading unit to allow the compact disc to be positioned appropriately for play. The provision of the clamps allows the turntable, reading unit and disc player as a whole to be oriented in positions other than the horizontal including a substantially vertical orientation if desired. Furthermore, the reading unit itself undergoes linear transverse motion with respect to the general plane of the turntable for easier engagement with the compact disc on the turntable.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical marker has a resonant frequency characteristic that is at a minimum at a bias field level corresponding to the operating point of the magnetomechanical marker. The magnetostrictive element has a magnetomechanical coupling factor k in the range 0.28 to 0.4 at the operating point. The magnetostrictive element is formed by applying current-annealing to an iron-nickel-cobalt based amorphous metal ribbon, or by cross-field annealing an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy that includes a few percent chromium and/or niobium.

Abstract: A disc device includes a disc substrate having an information signal pattern formed on a surface thereof and a magnetic material layer formed on the information signal pattern which permits for detection of the device by an electronic article surveillance detection system.

Abstract: A marker for a harmonic electronic article surveillance system includes three wires of magnetic material arranged in parallel. The material has a magnetic hysteresis loop with a large Barkhausen discontinuity such that, upon exposure of the marker to an external magnetic field whose field strength in the direction opposing the instantaneous magnetic polarization of the marker exceeds a predetermined threshold value, there results a regenerative reversal of the magnetic polarization in the material. The three wires are coupled at opposite ends thereof by flux concentrating elements formed of a highly permeable material so that all three wires exhibit the regenerative reversal simultaneously on exposure to the above-described magnetic field. The flux concentrators have magnetic anisotropies oriented transversely relative to the length of the wires to aid in coupling the wires for simultaneous switching.

Abstract: A self-biasing magnetostrictive element for a magnetomechanical EAS marker is formed by first annealing a ribbon of ferromagnetic material in the presence of a magnetic field applied in a transverse direction relative to the ribbon's longitudinal axis, and then annealing the ribbon a second time in the presence of a magnetic field applied in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The twice-annealed ribbon exhibits remanent magnetization along the longitudinal axis and has plural magnetic domains situated along the longitudinal axis. The orientation of magnetization in each domain is canted by .+-..theta..degree.<90.degree. from the ribbon axis with the direction of canting alternating from domain to domain.

Abstract: A marker for a harmonic electronic article surveillance system includes three wires of magnetic material arranged in parallel. The material has a magnetic hysteresis loop with a large Barkhausen discontinuity such that, upon exposure of the marker to an external magnetic field whose field strength in the direction opposing the instantaneous magnetic polarization of the marker exceeds a predetermined threshold value, there results a regenerative reversal of the magnetic polarization in the material. The three wires are coupled at opposite ends thereof by magnetic charge spreading elements formed of a highly permeable material so that all three wires exhibit the regenerative reversal simultaneously on exposure to the above-described magnetic field. The resulting harmonic marker can be formed with a substantially shorter over-all length than previously practical markers of the harmonic type while providing a signal of comparable amplitude.

Abstract: A semi-hard magnetic element is formed of an amorphous soft iron-metalloid material containing at least 50 atomic percent iron and at least a part of the bulk of which has been crystallized to give the overall element semi-hard magnetic properties.

Abstract: A marker for use in an electronic article surveillance system in which the marker comprises a magnetically soft component and exhibits a pinned wall hysteresis characteristic with a step change in flux at a threshold value of applied field and in which the marker further comprises a magnetically hard or semi-hard component integral with the soft component and whose magnetic state can be switched between activating and deactivating states to switch the marker between active and deactive states.