Portable handheld electronic article surveillance and scanner device

• US 20040046027A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• 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: Leone, Steven V., Relihan, Timothy J., Canipe, Larry, Varela, Armando, Labit, Rich, Easter, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,943 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

A handheld combined electronic article surveillance (EAS) and barcode scanner device. The device may be configured for wireless communication with a point of sale network so that is entirely portable within a protected area. The device may include a capacitor disposed in handle at a proximal end of the device and an antenna may be disposed at a distal end of the device. A base station may be provided for receiving the device.

Claims

1. A handheld EAS/Scanner comprising:

an EAS system comprising an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic field for modification of an activation state of at least one EAS tag disposed in said field;

a barcode scanner configured for scanning a barcode; and

a housing configured for receiving said EAS system and said barcode scanner, said housing comprising a handle, said handle having portions defining a handle cavity configured to accept an energy storage element for driving said antenna.

3. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

4. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said EAS tag comprises a magnetomechanical tag.

5. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a top portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a first end of said handle is coupled to said proximal end of said top portion.

6. The EAS/Scanner of claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises a base portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a second end of said handle is coupled to said proximal end of said bottom portion.

7. The EAS/Scanner of claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises a face portion having one end coupled to said distal end of said top portion, said face portion having portions defining a cavity therein, and wherein said an antenna is configured to be disposed at least partially within said cavity.

8. The EAS/Scanner of claim 7, wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coil.

9. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a base portion having a proximal end and a distal end and wherein said handle is coupled to said proximal end of said base portion, and wherein a face portion is coupled to said distal end of said base portion, said face portion having portions defining a cavity therein, and wherein said antenna is configured to be disposed at least partially within said cavity.

10. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said EAS/Scanner is configured for wireless connection to a point of sale network for accessing a database containing asset information associated with said barcode.

11. The EAS/Scanner of claim 1, wherein said EAS system is configured to operate in a plurality of operation modes.

12. The EAS/Scanner of claim 11, wherein one of said operation modes is a detection mode wherein said EAS system is configured to detect said EAS tag.

13. The EAS/Scanner of claim 11, wherein one of said operation modes is an automatic deactivation mode wherein said EAS system is configured to deactivate said EAS tag automatically upon detection of said EAS tag.

14. The EAS/Scanner of claim 11, wherein one of said operation modes is a manual deactivation mode wherein said EAS system is configured to deactivate said EAS tag upon instruction from a user.

15. The EAS/Scanner of claim 11, wherein one of said operation modes is an activation mode wherein said EAS system if configured to activate said EAS tag.

16. The EAS/Scanner of claim 11, wherein one of said operation modes is a reactivation mode wherein said EAS system if configured to reactivate said EAS tag.

17. A handheld EAS/Scanner device comprising:

a barcode scanner configured for scanning a barcode;

an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic field for modification of an activation state of at least one EAS tag disposed in said field;

a portable handheld housing comprising a handle, said handle including portions defining a handle cavity, said handle cavity configured to accept an energy storage element for driving said antenna; and

a controller configured to control said antenna for generation of said electromagnetic field in response to input from a user.

2. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, said device further comprising a battery for energizing said energy storage element, said battery disposed at least partially within said housing.

18. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, said device further comprising a battery for energizing said energy storage element, said battery disposed at least partially within said housing.

19. The EAS/Scanner of claim 17, wherein said EAS/Scanner is configured for wireless connection to a point of sale network for accessing a database containing asset information associated with said barcode.

20. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, wherein said energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

21. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, wherein said EAS tag comprises a magnetomechanical tag.

22. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coil.

23. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 17, wherein said housing further comprises a face portion, said face portion having portions defining a cavity therein, and wherein said antenna is configured to be disposed at least partially within said cavity.

24. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 23, wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coil and said EAS tag comprises a magnetomechanical tag.

25. A handheld EAS/Scanner comprising:

a barcode scanner configured for scanning a barcode;

an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic field for modification of an activation state of at least one EAS tag disposed in said field; and

a housing configured for receiving said barcode scanner and said antenna, said housing comprising a face portion, said face portion having portions defining a cavity therein configured for receiving said antenna.

26. The EAS/Scanner of claim 25, wherein said EAS tag comprises a magnetomechanical tag.

27. The EAS/Scanner of claim 25, wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coil.

28. The EAS/Scanner of claim 25, wherein said EAS/Scanner is configured for wireless connection to a point of sale network for accessing a database containing asset information associated with said barcode.

29. An EAS system comprising:

a handheld EAS device; and

a docking station configured to accept said EAS device; and

at least one of said EAS device and said docking station comprising a locking feature having an activation state and a deactivation state.

30. The EAS system of claim 29, wherein said locking feature in said activation state is configured to physically secure said EAS device to said docking station.

31. The EAS system of claim 30, wherein said locking feature in said deactivation state is configured to physically release said EAS device from said docking station.

32. The EAS system of claim 29, wherein said locking feature in said activation state is configured to disable said EAS device.

33. The EAS system of claim 32 wherein said locking feature in said deactivation state is configured to enable said EAS device.

34. The EAS system of claim 29, wherein said locking feature automatically enters said activation state upon coupling of said EAS to said docking station.

35. The EAS system of claim 29, wherein said locking feature is responsive to a release command to enter said deactivation state.

36. The EAS system of claim 29, wherein said EAS device comprises a barcode scanner for scanning a barcode.

37. The EAS/Scanner of claim 36, wherein said EAS/Scanner is configured for wireless connection to a point of sale network for accessing a database containing asset information associated with said barcode.

38. A handheld EAS/Scanner device comprising:

a barcode scanner configured for scanning a barcode;

an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic field for modification of an activation state of at least one EAS tag disposed in said field; and

a portable handheld housing configured to accept an energy storage element for driving said antenna,

said EAS/Scanner being configured for wireless connection to a point of sale network for accessing a database containing asset information associated with said barcode.

39. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 38, said device further comprising a battery for energizing said energy storage element, said battery disposed at least partially within said housing.

40. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 38, wherein said energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

41. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 38, wherein said EAS tag comprises a magnetomechanical tag.

42. The EAS/Scanner device of claim 38, wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coil.