Integrated data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system

• US 20060208894A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Drew, Douglas A., Aguirre, Gerardo, Barnum, Garrett J., Easter, Ronald B., Newman, David J., Friend, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.300
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An integrated data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system, and methods of operation. Several configurations are also disclosed for alternate deactivation coil designs and mounting schemes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use at point of sale, comprising

an optical data reader having a plurality of optical scanning element for reading optical tags being passed through a scan volume;

a deactivator for deactivating electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, said deactivator having at least one magnetic deactivation coil unit arranged to avoid interference with operation of the optical data reader, wherein the deactivation coil unit comprises a plurality of windings disposed around a central opening without a solid core, the deactivation coil unit positioned to permit the date reader to form a read path through the central opening into the scan volume,

wherein the windings of the deactivation coil unit are arranged with a cross-sectional geometry that avoids blocking the reading path of the data reader through the central opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling operation of said data reader and/or said deactivator wherein said controller is programmed to detect which of said coils is best suited for deactivation and only energizes that coil.