System and method for optimizing range of an electronic article surveillance system

• US 20040011873A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Haberstich, Dan, Leone, Steven V., Canipe, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system including: an EAS device and an EAS range finder system for providing indication as to when the EAS device is within an operational distance from the EAS tag. The system may include a barcode scanner for providing an output having a distinct visible pattern when the operational distance is achieved. An energy source may be provided, and the EAS system may determine when the operational distance is achieved by detection of energy reflected from an article carrying the EAS tag.

Claims

1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system comprising:

an EAS device configured for modifying an activation state of an EAS tag; and

an EAS range finder system configured for providing an operational indication when said EAS device is within an operational distance from said EAS tag.

2. The EAS system of claim 1, wherein said operational indication is a visible indication.

3. The EAS system of claim 2, wherein said system comprises a display, and wherein said visible indication is provided on said display.

4. The EAS system of claim 1, wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a light source for providing an output that is visible on an article carrying said tag, said output having a first visible characteristic when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance and a second visible characteristic different from said first visible characteristic when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said second visible characteristic.

5. The EAS system of claim 4, wherein said light source comprises a barcode scanner.

6. The EAS system of claim 5, wherein said barcode scanner comprises a barcode scanner light source and a mirror configured to reflect said barcode scanner light source on said article carrying said tag, and wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a controller configured to control said mirror for establishing said first characteristic.

7. The EAS system of claim 1, wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a light source for providing an output that is visible on an article carrying said tag, said output having visible characteristics oriented in a first pattern when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance, and wherein said visible characteristics converge as a distance between said EAS tag and said EAS device is decreased to establish a second pattern when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said second pattern.

8. The EAS system of claim 1, wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a light source for providing a generally annular pattern that is visible on an article carrying said tag when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance, and wherein annular pattern collapses as a distance between said EAS tag and said EAS device is decreased to establish a visible circle when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said visible circle.

9. The EAS system of claim 1, wherein said EAS range finder system comprises an energy source for transmitting energy and a detector for detecting a reflected portion of said energy reflected from an article carrying said EAS tag, and wherein said operational indication is provided in response to said reflected portion of said energy.

10. The EAS system of claim 9, wherein said operational indication is provided in response to a detected intensity of said reflected portion of said energy.

11. The EAS system of claim 9, wherein said detector comprises a threshold decision circuit for providing a threshold decision circuit output when a characteristic of said reflected portion of said energy exceeds a threshold level, and wherein said operational indication is provided in response to said threshold decision circuit output.

12. The EAS system of claim 9, wherein said energy source comprises a light source, and wherein said detector comprises a light sensitive element.

13. The EAS system of claim 12, wherein said light source comprises a barcode scanner.

14. The EAS system of claim 9, wherein said energy source comprises an electromagnetic energy source.

15. The EAS system of claim 9, wherein said energy source comprises an acoustic energy source.

16. A combined EAS/Scanner system comprising:

an EAS device configured for modifying an activation state of an EAS tag;

a barcode scanner for scanning a barcode; and

an EAS range finder system configured for providing an operational indication when said EAS device is within an operational distance from said EAS tag.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said barcode scanner comprises a barcode scanner light source and a mirror configured to reflect said barcode scanner light source on an article carrying said tag, and wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a controller configured to control said mirror for establishing a barcode scanner output that is visible on an article carrying said tag, said output having a first visible characteristic when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance and a second visible characteristic different from said first visible characteristic when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said second visible characteristic.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said barcode scanner comprises a barcode scanner light source and a mirror configured to reflect said barcode scanner light source on an article carrying said tag, and wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a controller configured to control said mirror for establishing a barcode scanner output that is visible on an article carrying said tag, said output having visible characteristics oriented in a first pattern when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance, and wherein said visible characteristics converge as a distance between said EAS tag and said EAS device is decreased to establish a second pattern when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said second pattern.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said barcode scanner comprises a barcode scanner light source and a mirror configured to reflect said barcode scanner light source on an article carrying said tag, and wherein said EAS range finder system comprises a controller configured to control said mirror for establishing a barcode scanner output in a generally annular pattern that is visible on an article carrying said tag when said EAS device is outside of said operational distance, and wherein annular pattern collapses as a distance between said EAS tag and said EAS device is decreased to establish a visible circle when said EAS device is within said operational distance, said operational indication comprising said visible circle.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said operational indication is a visible indication.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said system comprises a display, and wherein said visible indication is provided on said display.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said EAS range finder system comprises an energy source for transmitting energy and a detector for detecting a reflected portion of said energy reflected from an article carrying said EAS tag, and wherein said operational indication is provided in response to said reflected portion of said energy.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said operational indication is provided in response to a detected intensity of said reflected portion of said energy.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said detector comprises a threshold decision circuit for providing a threshold decision circuit output when a characteristic of said reflected portion of said energy exceeds a threshold level, and wherein said operational indication is provided in response to said threshold decision circuit output.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said energy source comprises a light source, and wherein said detector comprises a light sensitive element.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said light source comprises said barcode scanner.

27. The EAS system of claim 22, wherein said energy source comprises an electromagnetic energy source.

28. The EAS system of claim 22, wherein said energy source comprises an acoustic energy source.

29. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system comprising:

means for modifying an activation state of an EAS tag; and

means for providing an operational indication when said means for modifying said activation state of said EAS tag is within an operational distance from said EAS tag.