Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques for creating and controlling a magnetic field for use with electronic article surveillance (EAS) markers. In particular, the techniques make use of current switching devices to generate a signal having one or more current pulses for creating the magnetic field. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system includes a coil to create a magnetic field for changing a status of an EAS marker and a drive unit to output a signal having one or more current pulses for energizing the coil. A programmable processor within the EAS system controls the drive unit to generate the output signal according to a desired profile. By selectively activating and deactivating current switching devices within the drive unit, the processor can direct the drive unit to generate the output signal according to a desired profile having a number of current pulses of different amplitudes and direction.

Abstract: Tags encode information by means of spatial inhomogeneities that may be detected in the time domain; in effect, characteristics in space are transformed into time for sensing purposes. Such tags may be very inexpensively produced yet carry appreciable quantities of data. The inhomogeneities may be obtained by simple physical modifications to, or externally applied field biases operating on, materials that are very inexpensive to procure.

Abstract: A harmonic responsive electronic article surveillance marker is associated with a central, non-recorded region and/or a peripheral non-recorded region of an optically recorded or recordable media. The marker comprising at least one elongated strip, optionally having an arcuate configuration, and composed of soft magnetic material adapted to generate a harmonic signal voltage in the presence of an applied magnetic field which provides the marker with signal identity. Advantageously, the marker is inexpensive to construct. It is readily attached to or embedded in the non-recorded region and/or the peripheral non-recorded region, and generates a high amplitude, harmonic signal voltage having significantly increased detection sensitivity. With these attributes, the marker is especially suited for electronic surveillance of recorded media such as compact disks, digital video disks, laser disks and the like.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a security element for the electronic surveillance of articles. This security element is detected by surveillance systems operating in different frequency ranges and it includes at least two materials of high permeability which, when excited by an external alternating magnetic field emit each a characteristic signal. The maximum signal components of the two materials lie in different frequency ranges and the signal components of the one material are negligibly ow in that particular frequency range in which the signal component of the other material is at a maximum level. The invention also relates to surveillance systems that incorporate these security elements.

Abstract: A combination tag is disclosed, including a magnetically-responsive element and a radio frequency-responsive element. In one embodiment, the magnetically-responsive element also functions as an antenna for the radio frequency-responsive element.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave absorber which is excellent in the electromagnetic wave absorbing characteristics in the high frequency range above 1 GHz, and to provide a method of manufacturing the electromagnetic wave absorber and appliances using the electromagnetic wave absorber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus implying nearly 100% security with a tag system showing low cost and compact volume. Like a conventional tag, the disclosed tag system will respond properly to an interrogation signal. In addition, the disclosed tag system is able to monitor the environment local to a merchandise. Whenever the merchandise package is opened and/or impaired, alarm will be generated on the spot. It is almost impossible to disarm the tag system, unless a password is attained. The disclosed tag system shows a high sensitivity, and it does not need an electronic searching machine, or an interrogation gate, to operate. When combined with an electromagnetic transmitter, a smart tag system results, allowing merchandise to be traced on the computer screen, capable of performing discriminative tasks according to the imposed regulation rules on the merchandise IDs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marked paper document and a marked paper document detection device. The device comprises excitation means (A1, A2, A3) for varying the magnetization of glass-covered amorphous ferromagnetic filaments contained in the marked paper document with time, and means for detecting a variation in the magnetization of the ferromagnetic filaments.

Abstract: Magnetic security tags/labels require to be activated/deactivated by magnetic/demagnetization and to enable this to be effected in bulk, with tagged products packed in a crate or stacked on a pallet, the invention proposes the provision of bulk magnetization/demagnetization coils generating a powerful magnetic field which is applied to the crate or pallet with a particular orientation which ensures that regularly shaped (e.g. rectangular) packages packed/stacked together and each carrying a security tag/label will each be subjected to a magnetic field component directed appropriately for magnetization/demagnetization of the respective tag/label irrespective of the particular orientation of the tag/label on the particular package.

Abstract: Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device (RFID) label printing system which includes a printer for printing on a label having RFID circuitry. The printer includes a label exit for expelling a printed label, and an external programming module disposed adjacent the label exit for encoding the label expelled from said label exit. The external programming module can include a label marking mechanism which selectively marks a label to indicate a defective label to a user. A host computer communicatively connected to the printer and the external programming module coordinates the operation of the printer and the external programming module.

Abstract: A detector for magnetizable materials operates remotely to determine a amplitude and phase modification of an exciting magnetic field caused by the magnetizable materials. These amplitude and phase measurements are used to create a phase-amplitude trajectory in phase amplitude space, which may be finely divided to distinguish among a number of different types of components.

Abstract: The invention is in a device for monitoring the position of a swinging door that is mounted on a stationary frame, the device essentially comprises a magnet and magnetic proximity sensor which are mounted in coaxially aligned relation on a pair of opposing leafs of a hinge. Means are provided for moving the magnet to and from the sensor to correspondingly vary the gap or spacing between them.

Abstract: Tags encode information by means of spatial inhomogeneities that may be detected in the time domain; in effect, characteristics in space are transformed into time for sensing purposes. Such tags may be very inexpensively produced yet carry appreciable quantities of data. The inhomogeneities may be obtained by simple physical modifications to, or externally applied field biases operating on, materials that are very inexpensive to procure.

Abstract: A harmonic responsive electronic article surveillance marker is associated with a central, non-recorded region and/or a peripheral non-recorded region of an optically recorded or recordable media. The marker comprising at least one elongated strip, optionally having an arcuate configuration, and composed of soft magnetic material adapted to generate a harmonic signal voltage in the presence of an applied magnetic field which provides the marker with signal identity. Advantageously, the marker is inexpensive to construct. It is readily attached to or embedded in the non-recorded region and/or the peripheral non-recorded region, and generates a high amplitude, harmonic signal voltage having significantly increased detection sensitivity. With these attributes, the marker is especially suited for electronic surveillance of recorded media such as compact disks, digital video disks, laser disks and the like.

Abstract: A location tracking system for individuals is capable of being used in a number of environments, including in retail or other commercial environments to track the movements of customers. An electronic tagging method and apparatus apply an electronically-readable tag to an individual, where the electronically-readable tag is comprised of a magnetic composition that is applied to an individual's footwear, and magnetized with an electronically-readable code. A location tracking method and apparatus determine an electronically-readable code from a magnetic composition applied to an individual's footwear and sensed by a magnetic sensor. A method and apparatus also track customers in an establishment by tagging a plurality of customers when entering the establishment, so that each is assigned a unique electronically-readable code.

Abstract: A magnetic marker for use in an article surveillance system, and an electronic article surveillance system utilizing the same are presented. The marker comprises a magnetic element including a predetermined number of microwire pieces made of an amorphous metal-containing material coated with glass and having substantially zero magnetostriction, coercivity substantially less than 10 A/m, and permeability substantially higher than 20000, said predetermined number of the microwire pieces and a core diameter of the microwire piece being selected in accordance with a desired detection probability of the marker to be obtained in a specific detection system.

Abstract: A magnetic microwire for use in a magnetic tag attachable to a product is provided to enable authentication of the product, as well as the magnetic tag, a detector device and a system for product authentication utilizing the same. The magnetic microwire is a glass-coated amorphous magnetic microwire characterized by a large Barkhausen discontinuity and substantially zero or positive magnetostriction. The microwire is responsive to an external alternating magnetic field generated by the detector device to produce short pulses of magnetic field perturbations.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprises at least one first coil operatively coupled to a first portion of a vehicle seat and at least one magnetic sensing element operatively coupled to an interior portion. At least one first signal is operatively connected to the at least one first coil, wherein the at least one first signal is an oscillating signal. At least one second signal responsive to the at least one first signal is sensed from the at least one magnetic sensing element, and an occupant is discriminated an occupant on the vehicle seat responsive to the second signal.

Abstract: An EAS marker assembly includes a housing defining an interior compartment and at least one channel accessible exteriorly of the housing and extending therethrough, an EAS marker contained in the compartment, and at least one securement member having a body portion and first and second leg portions depending from the body portion configured to be jointly insertable in the channel, the body portion and the leg portions defining a cavity closed at one end by the body portion and open at free ends of the leg portions.

Abstract: The present invention replaces the conventional bias magnets for EAS markers with a paintable or printable bias magnet material, which is either directly painted onto the EAS marker or first placed onto a substrate material, which is then placed into the EAS marker. The material includes a magnetic powder mixed with resin and solvent. This “bias paint” is then applied onto the EAS marker. The magnetic powder, resin, and solvent provide a very dense layer after drying, which has a magnetic material density that is usually lower than a rolled product, but is higher than that of the injection-molded magnet material. Printing the bias magnet allows nondeactivatable magnetomechanical EAS markers to be made using web-based mass productions methods.

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: The present invention is a method for providing a container with a magnetic tag and seal. At least one magnet is placed near an object and the magnetic field strength and vector direction are measured using a magnetometer from at least one location near the object to provide a magnetic vector field tag and seal. Afterward, the magnetometer is moved away from the object to a location where it cannot be detected. Any change in the in the measurements indicates that the seal has broken. If the object is a container, this change can be used to aid in determining whether the container and anything inside the container have been tampered with.

Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.

Abstract: A method and system for physiological monitoring using a microprocessor-enhanced magnetic field sensor to measure the mechanical effects of body motion is described. The measurements may be used for a variety of applications, such as detection of respiration, cardiac rhythms, and blood pressure. The source or detector may be made sufficiently small so as to be implantable. The system is sufficiently sensitive to provide output data for very small movements.

Abstract: Security elements used to secure goods, as well as castings or injection-molded parts containing such security elements, for protection against theft are encased in a powder lacquer layer. Security elements for protecting goods contain soft magnetic and hard magnetic components. When a magnetic alternating field is applied to the soft magnetic components, they are excited in order to emit a characteristic signal. The hard magnetic components are located on the soft magnetic components in such a way that the hard magnetic components, in their magnetized state, prevent the emission of the characteristic signal of the security element. In order to protect the security elements, in particular against detachment of the soft magnetic components from the hard magnetic components, the security components are at least partially encased in a layer of powder lacquer.

Abstract: A method for tracking deactivation of security devices being associated with items to be sold, each of the items being associated with a tracking identifier. The method includes determining a number of security tag deactivations which should occur using select ones of the identifiers and determining a number of actual security tag deactivations which occurred. The method then compares the number of actual security tag deactivations to the number of security tag deactivations which should have occurred, and generates an output when the comparing results in an inconsistency therebetween.

Abstract: Tags encode information by means of spatial inhomogeneities that may be detected in the time domain; in effect, characteristics in space are transformed into time for sensing purposes. Such tags may be very inexpensively produced yet carry appreciable quantities of data. The inhomogeneities may be obtained by simple physical modifications to, or externally applied field biases operating on, materials that are very inexpensive to procure.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance marker is disclosed, including a signal producing layer and a signal blocking layer. The signal producing layer includes flux collection portions joined by magnetic switching sections each having a major axis A, and the signal blocking layer comprises signal blocking elements overlying each flux collection portion. The elements each have at least one boundary that overlies a magnetic switching section and preferably has a tangent T that is not perpendicular to the major axis A of that magnetic switching section. Methods of making the inventive marker are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tape material (1) comprising a support layer (2) and a thin-layer magnetic material (3), which is placed onto the support layer (2), serves as a security material. In a surveillance zone the thin-layer magnetic material (3) emits a characteristic signal for the electronic surveillance of articles. The aim is to provide a tape material which allows for simple application of thin-layer materials on any support materials. To this end a transfer layer (4), which can be melted by pressure and/or heat, is provided for on the thin-layer material (3), and the adhesion between the support layer (2) and the thin-layer material (3) is less than the adhesion between the thin-layer material (3) and the transfer layer (4). Consequently, a hot-pressing die (7) may be utilized to transfer a desired area of the thin-layer material (3), via the transfer layer (4), onto the article (6a) or another support layer (6b).

Abstract: A flat magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance marker is provided having a magnetostrictive resonator and a pair of bias magnets disposed on opposite sides and adjacent the resonator to bias the resonator with a magnetic field of a preselected field strength. The pair of bias magnets and the resonator are maintained substantially parallel and coplanar with each other to form a thin, flat EAS marker. During assembly of the marker, the bias magnets can be laterally adjustable to fine-tune the resonant frequency of the marker, and to compensate for material variability. Alternately, during assembly of the marker, the bias magnets can be adjustable in length to fine-tune the resonant frequency of the marker, and to compensate for material variability.

Abstract: A method for remote detection of objects, each object is provided with a sensor comprising at least two magnetic elements arranged in a predetermined mutual relationship representing an identity of the sensor. Electromagnetic signals are generated for exciting the sensor elements to produce electromagnetic reply signals. An amplitude of the electromagnetic reply signal from each sensor element is modulated by a first magnetic field having a magnitude-variant and a magnitude-invariant component. A second magnetic field is generated with rotating field vector. A frequency shift is detected in a component of the reply signal, when a magnitude-invariant component of the second magnetic field balances the magnitude-invariant component of the first magnetic field, wherein the respective sensor element is momentarily exposed to a resulting magnetic field with essentially no magnitude-invariant component.

Abstract: An integrated deactivatable hybrid marker is disclosed which can be used both in radio frequency and magnetic harmonic article surveillance systems. The harmonics generating element or elements of the marker are inserted into a RF resonant circuit as an active part of the circuit. The deactivation of the marker is accomplished by employing another element of high coercivity magnetic material. When placed in a RF interrogation field, the hybrid marker causes an increase in absorption of transmitted signal in order to reduce the signal in the receiving coil of the RF surveillance system. When placed in an interrogation zone of a magnetic harmonic article surveillance system, the marker generates high harmonics of the interrogating frequency that can be detected by the receiver of the surveillance system. In addition both the RF and harmonic functions of the hybrid marker can be deactivated by a single process.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of a ferromagnetic object comprising at least one coil formed from a multiple winding of a wire and a controller comprising an alarm. The coil is constructed and arranged such that, upon the relative motion of the ferromagnetic object proximate the at least one coil, a voltage induced in the coil is transmitted to the controller, and controller is constructed and arranged to determine whether the induced voltage falls within a predetermine range and, if so, to trigger the alarm.

Abstract: A resonator, having a width no larger than about 13 mm, for use in a marker containing a bias element which produces a bias magnetic field in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system is produced from annealed ferromagnetic ribbon having a basic composition FeaCobNicSixByMz wherein a, b, c, x, y and z are in at %, wherein M is one or more glass formation promoting elements and/or one or more transition metals, and wherein 15≦a≦30, 6≦b≦18, 27≦c≦55, 0≦x≦10, 10≦y≦25, 0≦z≦5, 14≦x+y+z≦25, such that a+b+c+x+y+z=100. The ferromagnetic ribbon is annealed in a magnetic field oriented perpendicularly to the ribbon axis and/or while applying a tensile stress to the ribbon along the ribbon axis. Single resonator or multiple resonator assemblies can be formed by cutting elements from the annealed ribbon. If multiple resonators are formed, the elements are placed in registration.

Abstract: An Fe group-based amorphous alloy ribbon having a cross section having a width of from 100 to 900 &mgr;m and a thickness of from 8 to 50 &mgr;m and a magnetic hysteresis loop which exhibits a large Barkhausen discontinuity. The amorphous alloy ribbon is suitable for preparing magnetic markers for use in an anti-theft system and an article surveillance system, and as a pulse generator. A magnetic marker formed from the amorphous alloy ribbon is also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to largely protect an anti-theft element for acoustomagnetic anti-theft systems which contains a module that is accommodated in a housing and has a magnetic element as well as a thin metal plate from manipulations, in particular, deactivation by strong magnetic fields, without a noteworthy enlargement of the structural size, the invention proposes to realize the magnetic element in the form of magnetic foils that are polarized with a north pole alignment and a south pole alignment, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.

Abstract: An anti theft tack device incorporating a detectable element which can be attached to the body component of an existing electronic article surveillance security tag to replace the tack-like connecting component of the security tag. The anti theft tack device includes a connecting element, a base element, a housing that encloses elements whose proximity is detectable by the in-store electronic equipment, a means to releaseably secure the device to the article to be protected, and a means to releaseably engage the device to the body component of an existing surveillance tag. Engagement of the present device to a surveillance tag provides the ability to upgrade an existing surveillance tag incorporating a first detection technology to a second type of detection technology.

Abstract: Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.

Abstract: Magnetic tags or markers are disclosed, together with a variety of techniques by means of which such tags may be interrogated. In one aspect, the magnetic marker or tag which is characterised by carrying a plurality of discrete magnetically active regions in a linear array. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of interrogating a magnetic tag or marker within a predetermined interrogation zone, the tag compromising a high permeability magnetic material, for example to read data stored magnetically in the tag or to use the response of the tag to detect its presence and/or to determine its position within the interrogation zone, characterized in that the interrogation process includes the step of subjecting the tag sequentially to: (1) a magnetic field sufficient in field strength to saturate the high permeability magnetic material, and (2) a magnetic null as herein defined.

Abstract: The magnetic marker strip is formed of a signal strip made from ferromagnetic material with a low coercive force onto which there is applied ferromagnetic material whose coercive force is distinctly higher than that of the material of the signal strip. The signal strip is relatively long as compared with its width, and emits harmonic-containing signals in a first, unmagnetized state as a consequence of the magnetic field in the interrogation region and emits no harmonic-containing signal in a second state in this magnetic field. The ferromagnetic material with the larger coercive force is arranged in the form of a plurality of control elements at a spacing from one another on the signal strip, the width of the control elements being essentially equal to the width of the signal strip, and the control elements switching the signal strip into the first state when they are in a first, unmagnetized state, and switching the signal strip into the second state when they are in a second, magnetized state.

Abstract: An anti theft tack device incorporating a detectable element which can be attached to the body component of an existing electronic article surveillance security tag to replace the tack-like connecting component of the security tag. The anti theft tack device includes a connecting element, a base element, a housing that encloses elements whose proximity is detectable by the in-store electronic equipment, a means to releaseably secure the device to the article to be protected, and a means to releaseably engage the device to the body component of an existing surveillance tag. Engagement of the present device to a surveillance tag provides the ability to upgrade an existing surveillance tag incorporating a first detection technology to a second type of detection technology.

Abstract: A tape material (1) comprising a support layer (2) and a thin-layer magnetic material (3), which is placed onto the support layer (2), serves as a security material. In a surveillance zone the thin-layer magnetic material (3) emits a characteristic signal for the electronic surveillance of articles. The aim is to provide a tape material which allows for simple application of thin-layer materials on any support materials. To this end a transfer layer (4), which can be melted by pressure and/or heat, is provided for on the thin-layer material (3), and the adhesion between the support layer (2) and the thin-layer material (3) is less than the adhesion between the thin-layer material (3) and the transfer layer (4), so that by means of a hot-pressing die (7) a desired area of the thin-layer material (3) can be transferred via the transfer layer (4) onto the article (6a) or another support layer (6b).

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system and method utilizing two transmitted signals to generate and detect a marker signal is provided. The first signal is set at or near the resonance of the marker so its energy can be transmitted and stored in the marker. The second signal is a low frequency magnetic field that changes the resonant frequency of the marker. Because the marker's resonant frequency is constantly varying in response to the low frequency magnetic field, the marker's response to the first transmitted signal also changes. As a result, the marker performs a modulation on the first transmitted signal. Detection of a sideband of the modulated signal indicates the presence of the marker within an interrogation zone formed by the two transmitted signals. Multiple interrogation zones can be implemented by transmitting multiple low frequency signals, one low frequency signal for each interrogation zone.

Abstract: A burglar detection apparatus has a tag 11 that includes a resonance circuit. The tag is preferably contained with an object 15 whose theft is desired to be detected. The tagged object may be placed in a drawer 14 which is contained in a box 13. A tag detection sensor 16 is installed in the box and detects whether the tag 11 is present in the drawer 14. Also, a drawer sensor 17 detects whether the drawer is opened. Based on respective detection outputs of the tag detection sensor 16 and the drawer sensor 17, a control circuit 19 controls an alarm 18. Advantageously, the apparatus can be installed in a comparatively small space, does not malfunction even if subjected to large amounts of electrical noise, and reliably detects the presence or absence of a tag even if the tag is located near a metal object.

Abstract: This invention provides a system that utilizes the magnetic properties of specific materials to provide an authentication and/or authorization function. The system consists of two parts. The first is a marker that contains a magnetic material with spectral magnetic properties and is attached to the item that is to be authenticated or is to be part of a subsequent information transfer process requiring authorization. The second is a reader. The reader contains a transmitter that generates the electromagnetic search field and energizes the magnetic material and a receiver that analyzes the signal produced by the resulting interaction with the magnetic material and gives a go/no go decision based upon a match with stored information. The reader employs a feedback control system to stabilize the measurement environment, thereby producing accurate, high quality results.

Abstract: The resonance frequency of a resonant circuit section does not change even if the surface of an article whose theft is monitored is formed of any material. An antitheft tag mounted on the article (11) whose theft is monitored includes a resonant circuit section resonating with the radio wave having a particular frequency and transmitted from a transmitting antenna. An electromagnetic shield layer formed of an insulating material is interposed between the mounting surface of the article and the resonant circuit section. The electromagnetic shield layer may be formed of ferrite powder or soft magnetic powder which has a particle size of 10 &mgr;m or less and plastic or rubber or may be formed by laminating a first layer composed of a composite material and a second layer composed of plastic or rubber. Preferably, the soft magnetic powder is any of amorphous alloy, Permalloy, soft magnetic iron, silicon steel, Sendust alloy and Fe—Al alloy.

Abstract: Multiple bits of information may be conveyed by passive target material incorporating filaments of magnetizable material having different magnetization functions and, in particular, different coercivities. Detection of the presence or absence of the individual filaments may be done remotely by measuring induced flux B as a function of an externally imposed magnetic field waveform and subjecting the measured induced flux signal to differentiation or Fourier transform techniques.