Programmable security system and method for protecting merchandise

• US 10,297,139 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Grant, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark S
• Application Number:
  US15/829,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20180102031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 3405682
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00539 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermine period of time. A counter inactivates the programmable key after a predetermined maximum number of activations.

Claims

1. A programmable security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a programmable key having a memory for storing a security code and a power source, wherein the programmable key comprises a housing enclosing the memory and the power source; and

a security device having a memory for storing the security code;

wherein the programmable key comprises a transfer end configured to transfer power from the power source to the security device by inducing an electrical current in the security device,

wherein the security device is configured to be operated using power transferred from the programmable key to the security device when the security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

2. The programmable security system of claim 1,

wherein the programmable key comprises means for inducing a magnetic field and the security device comprises means for inducing an electrical current from the magnetic field;

and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

3. The programmable security system of claim 1, further comprising a programming station configured to generate the security code and having a memory for storing the security code.

4. The programmable security system of claim 3, wherein the programming station is configured to initially communicate the security code to the programmable key to be stored in the memory of the programmable key.

5. The programmable security system of claim 1,

wherein the programmable key comprises a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core and electrically connected to the power source of the programmable key such that passing an electrical current through the conductive wire of the programmable key induces a magnetic field in the programmable key;

wherein the security device comprises a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core such that the magnetic field in the programmable key induces an electrical current in the conductive wire of the security device; and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

6. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the security device is configured to communicate with the programmable key to receive the security code from the programmable key.

7. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power inductively to the security device.

8. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power to the security device via one or more electrical contacts.

9. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the security device does not have an internal power source.

10. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

11. The programmable security system of claim 1, further comprising a charging station configured to charge the power source of the programmable key.

12. The programmable security system of claim 11, wherein the charging station is configured to charge the power source of the programmable key inductively.

13. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an actuator configured to be manually actuated for initiating communication with the security device.

20. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the transfer end is located at an end of the housing of the programmable key, and wherein the transfer end comprises an inductive coil configured to transfer power to the security device.

14. A method for protecting merchandise, comprising:

storing a security code in a memory of a programmable key, wherein the programmable key comprises a housing enclosing the memory and a power source;

storing the security code in a memory of a security device;

determining whether the security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key;

transferring power from the power source of the programmable key to the security device with a transfer end of the programmable key by inducing an electrical current in the security device; and

operating the security device using power transferred from the programmable key to the security device when the security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inducing a magnetic field in the programmable key upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key; and

inducing an electrical current in the security device from the magnetic field,

wherein the transferring comprises transferring power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating the security code in a programming station and storing the security code in a memory of the programming station.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating the security code from the memory of the programming station to the memory of a programmable key.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating the security code from the memory of the programmable key to the memory of a security device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the transferring comprises transferring power inductively from the programmable key to the security device.