Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system

• US 20050099300A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• 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 7,172,123 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. (canceled).

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 an upper window oriented generally vertically;

a data reading system 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 first deactivation coil unit is disposed in a cavity between the weigh platter and the inner scan housing.

34. A system according to claim 32 further comprising

an inner scan housing containing lower scanner components and the lower window;

a removable weigh platter disposed over the lower housing section, the weigh platter having a horizontal window disposed over the lower window.

35. 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 lateral side of the window opposite the first EAS deactivation coil unit.

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

37. A system according to claim 35 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a second EAS deactivation coil unit.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. A system according to claim 41 further comprising

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

an inner scan housing containing lower scanner components,

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

43. A system according to claim 41 further comprising

an inner scan housing containing lower scanner components and the lower window;

a removable weigh platter disposed over the lower housing section, the weigh platter having a horizontal window disposed over the lower window.

44. A system according to claim 41 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 lateral side of the window opposite the first EAS deactivation coil unit.

45. A system according to claim 44 wherein the upstream EAS coil unit comprises a sensing unit for sensing presence of an EAS tag approaching the scan volume.

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

47. A system according to claim 41 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.

48. A system according to claim 41 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings without a solid core.

49. A system according to claim 41 wherein the first section EAS deactivation unit comprises a coil having a plurality of windings with a core of magnetically active material.

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

an outer housing;

a data reader contained within the outer housing having a window adapted for facing a scan volume, the data reader adapted 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 within the outer housing adjacent to and on 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 within the outer housing adjacent to and on a downstream side of the window, the second EAS unit comprising an EAS deactivation coil for deactivating EAS tags.

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

a data reader including weigh platter having a window adapted for facing a scan volume, the data reader adapted 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 below the weigh platter, adjacent to and on 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 below the weigh platter, adjacent to and on a downstream side of the window, 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.

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

54. A system according to claim 53 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.

57-86. -86. (canceled).

87. A checkout device comprising:

a barcode reader including a first portion having a substantially horizontal aperture and a second portion having a substantially vertical aperture;

a weight plate suspended above the horizontal portion; and

a security label deactivation system between the first portion and the weigh plate.

88. A checkout device comprising:

a barcode reader including a first portion having a substantially horizontal aperture and a second portion having a substantially vertical aperture;

a weight plate suspended above the horizontal portion; and

a security label deactivation system adjacent the first portion and under the weigh plate.

89. A checkout device comprising:

a first barcode scanning portion for generating first scan lines that pass through a substantially horizontal aperture;

a second barcode scanning portion for generating second scan lines that pass through a substantially vertical aperture;

a weight plate suspended above the first barcode scanning portion; and

a security label deactivation system between the first barcode scanning portion and the weigh plate.

90. A checkout device comprising:

a barcode reader including a first portion having a substantially horizontal aperture and a second portion having a substantially vertical aperture;

a weight plate suspended above the horizontal portion; and

a security label deactivation system between the first portion and the weigh plate substantially to one side of the substantially horizontal aperture.

91. The checkout device as recited in claim 90, wherein the one side comprises a left side.

92. The checkout device as recited in claim 90, wherein the one side comprises a right side.

93. A checkout method comprising the steps of:

reading a barcode label on an item moving in a path, which crosses an aperture of a scale weigh plate by a barcode reader;

sending a signal to an interlock by the barcode reader;

enabling a security label deactivation system between the scale weigh plate and a first portion of the barcode reader and in a downstream position from the aperture relative to the path of the item;

detecting a security label on the item by the security label deactivation system as the item moves along the path and crosses the security label deactivation system; and

deactivating the security label by the security label deactivation system.

94. The method as recited in claim 93, wherein the detecting step comprises the substeps of:

sensing movement a magnetic material in the security label as it passes near a coil assembly in the security label deactivation system.

95. The method as recited in claim 93, wherein the detecting step comprises the substeps of:

demagnetizing a magnetic material in the security label as it passes near a coil assembly in the security label deactivation system.