Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system

• US 20040189472A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated), Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Acosta, Jorge L., Rudeen, Robert W., Salim, Mohamed A., Svetal, Michael P., Bontly, Craig H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• 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

Abstract

An integrated data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system, and methods of operation. In one configuration, a data reader such as a bar code scanner is equipped with an EAS deactivation module disposed behind the scanner surface preferably downstream and/or upstream of the scanner window. The system may be configured such that the EAS deactivation module is interchangeable from the right side of the scanner housing (which is preferred for left-to-right scanning motion) to the left side of the scanner housing (which is preferred for right-to-left scanning motion). In other configurations, the deactivation module may be disposed in the housing adjacent to the window and oriented longitudinally and parallel to the sweep direction of the item. The EAS deactivation modules have various configurations such as simple planar coils, a magnetically active core with coil windings, or two part L-shape construction.

Claims

1-31. -31. cancelled.

32. A system for data reading and electronic article surveillance (EAS) deactivation, comprising

a housing including a lower housing section containing a lower window oriented generally horizontally and an upper housing section containing a upper window oriented generally vertically;

a data reader disposed in the housing to read an item through the upper and lower windows as the item is passed through a scan volume defined between the upper and lower windows;

a first EAS deactivation coil unit including (a) a central portion and (b) outer windings disposed around the central portion, wherein the first EAS deactivation coil unit is disposed in one of the lower and upper housing sections and to one lateral side of the window thereof.

33. A system according to claim 32 further comprising

a weigh platter, the lower window disposed in the weigh platter;

an inner scan housing containing lower scanner components,

wherein the deactivation unit is disposed in a cavity between the weigh platter and the inner scan housing.

34. A system according to claim 32 wherein the first EAS deactivation coil unit comprises a downstream EAS coil unit disposed on a downstream side of the window, the system further comprising an upstream EAS coil unit disposed in the housing on a side of the window opposite the first EAS deactivation coil unit.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a sensing unit for sensing presence of an EAS tag approaching the scan volume.

36. A system according to claim 34 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a second EAS deactivation coil unit.

37. A system according to claim 32, wherein the first EAS deactivation coil unit is constructed and arranged to be interchangeable as between one lateral side of the window to the other.

38. A system according to claim 32 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings without a solid core.

39. A system according to claim 32 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings with a core of magnetically active material.

40. A system for data reading and electronic article surveillance (EAS) deactivation, comprising

a housing including a window adapted for facing a scan volume;

a data reader disposed in the housing to read an item through the window as the item is passed in a sweep direction through the scan volume;

a first EAS deactivation coil unit including (a) an elongated central portion and (b) outer winding(s) disposed around the central portion,

wherein the deactivation coil unit is disposed in the housing adjacent to the window for deactivating an EAS tag on an item being passed through the scan volume.

41. A system according to claim 40 further comprising

a weigh platter, the lower window disposed in the weigh platter;

an inner scan housing containing lower scanner components,

wherein the deactivation unit is disposed in a cavity between the weigh platter and the inner scan housing.

42. A system according to claim 40 wherein the first EAS deactivation coil unit comprises a downstream EAS coil unit disposed on a downstream side of the window, the system further comprising an upstream EAS coil unit disposed in the housing on a side of the window opposite the first EAS deactivation coil unit.

43. A system according to claim 42 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a sensing unit for sensing presence of an EAS tag approaching the scan volume.

44. A system according to claim 42 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a second EAS deactivation coil unit.

45. A system according to claim 40 wherein the first EAS deactivation coil unit is constructed and arranged to be interchangeable as between one lateral side of the window to the other.

46. A system according to claim 40 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings without a solid core.

47. A system according to claim 40 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings with a core of magnetically active material.

48. A method for checkout of an item bearing an optical code and having a deactivatable security tag, comprising the steps of:

passing the item along an item path and through a read volume of a data reader, the data reader being disposed in a housing;

reading the optical label on the item with the data reader through a window in the housing;

generating a security tag deactivation field with a security tag deactivation unit, the deactivation unit being disposed in the housing, and the deactivation field being located in the item path downstream of the read volume;

wherein once the data reader has read the optical code on the item and identified it, activating the security tag deactivation field and deactivating the security tag.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the deactivation field overlaps to some extent with the read volume.

50. A method according to claim 48 further comprising

generating a security tag detection field with a detection unit, the detection unit being disposed in the housing, and the detection field being located in the item path upstream of the read volume;

alerting the deactivation unit upon detection of a security tag.

51. A system for data reading and electronic article surveillance (EAS) deactivation, comprising

a housing including a window adapted for facing a scan volume;

a data reader disposed in the housing to read an item through the window as the item is passed in a sweep direction through the scan volume;

a first EAS unit located in the housing toward an upstream side of the window, the first EAS unit comprising an EAS detector for sensing presence of EAS tags on items on an upstream side of the scan volume;

a second EAS unit located generally downstream of the scan volume, the second EAS unit comprising an EAS deactivation coil for deactivating EAS tags.

52. A system according to claim 51 wherein the second EAS unit comprises a plurality of windings disposed about an interior.

54. A system according to claim 51 wherein the second EAS deactivation unit comprises (a) an elongated central portion and (b) outer winding(s) disposed around the central portion.

55. A system according to claim 51 further comprising a controller receiving input from both the data reader and the first EAS unit, and controlling activation of the EAS deactivation coil.

56. A system according to claim 51 wherein the first EAS unit comprises an EAS detector for sensing EAS tags on items approaching the scan volume.

53. A system according to 52 wherein the interior comprises a core of magnetically active material.

57. A method of operating a self-service checkout terminal comprising the steps of:

allowing scanning of an item for purchase via a scanner;

determining whether the item has an active electronic article surveillance tag; and

allowing deactivation of the active electronic article surveillance tag when it is determined that the item includes an electronic article surveillance tag.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of determining whether an item has an active electronic article surveillance tag includes the step of utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector, includes utilizing an electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with the scanner.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising the step of determining whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated after the step of allowing deactivation of the active electronic article surveillance tag when it is determined that the item includes an electronic article surveillance tag.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the step of determining whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated includes the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector, includes the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with a bagwell of the self checkout.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector, includes the step of utilizing a second electronic article surveillance detector that is associated with a security scale of the self checkout.

64. A self checkout comprising:

a scanner operative to scan an item;

an electronic article surveillance detector operative to detect whether a scanned item has an active electronic article surveillance tag; and

an electronic article surveillance deactivator operative to deactivate the active electronic article surveillance tag when it is determined by the electronic article surveillance detector that a scanned item has an active electronic article surveillance tag.

65. The self checkout of claim 64, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector is associated with the scanner.

66. The self checkout of claim 64, further comprising a second electronic article surveillance detector that is operative to determine whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated by the electronic article surveillance deactivator.

67. The self checkout of claim 66, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a bagwell of the self checkout.

68. The self checkout of claim 66, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a security scale of the self checkout.

69. The self checkout of claim 66, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector comprises a coil and electronic circuitry/logic that is operative to obtain a signal from the coil indicative of an active electronic article surveillance tag.

70. The self checkout of claim 69, wherein the coil and electronic circuitry/logic are modular.

71. A self checkout comprising:

a processor;

a scanner in communication with the processor;

an electronic article surveillance detector in communication with the processor;

an electronic article surveillance deactivator; and

memory in communication with the processor and storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

(a) allow scanning of an item for purchase via the scanner, (b) determine whether the item has an active electronic article surveillance tag via the electronic article surveillance detector, and (c) allow deactivation of the active electronic article surveillance tag when it is determined that the item includes an electronic article surveillance tag.

72. The self checkout of claim 71, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector is associated with the scanner.

73. The self checkout of claim 71, further comprising a second electronic article surveillance detector, and the memory has further program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine via the second article surveillance detector whether the electronic article surveillance tag has been deactivated by the electronic article surveillance deactivator.

74. The self checkout of claim 73, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a bagwell of the self checkout.

75. The self checkout of claim 73, wherein the second electronic article surveillance detector is associated with a security scale of the self checkout.

76. The self checkout of claim 71, wherein the electronic article surveillance detector comprises a coil and electronic circuitry/logic, and the memory has further program instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to cause the electronic circuitry/logic obtain a signal from the coil indicative of an active electronic article surveillance tag.