Sensor element for a monitoring device

• US 20060208921A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reinhold Ott
• Original Assignee: Reinhold Ott
• Inventors: Ott, Reinhold
• Application Number:
  US11/413,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208921A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/693.600
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

A sensor element may be provided for a monitoring device designed to protect displayed merchandise against theft. The sensor element may be flexible and include a sensor layer with a measuring circuit loop integrated therein. During attempted theft, a contact element that may be arranged on an adhesive surface creates an open in the measuring circuit loop, thereby triggering an alarm.

Claims

1. A sensor element, comprising:

a sensor layer;

a measuring circuit loop provided on the sensor layer, the measuring circuit loop having a break;

an adhesive layer for fastening the sensor layer to a device;

a contact element positioned on a surface of the adhesive layer, the contact element for short-circuiting the break of the measuring circuit loop;

wherein the sensor element is elastically deformable.

2. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor layer is a rigid board.

3. The sensor element according to claim 2, wherein the measuring circuit loop is provided directly on the rigid board.

4. The sensor element according to claim 2, wherein the measuring circuit loop includes end contacts provided on the rigid board.

5. The sensor element according to claim 2, further comprising:

a cover mounted on the adhesive layer and covering the rigid board.

6. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the cover includes a through hole through which a cable extends to electrically connect to the measuring circuit loop.

7. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the rigid board is glued to the cover.

8. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the cover includes a window superposed above the rigid board.

9. The sensor element according to claim 8, wherein the rigid board supports a light emitting diode that is exposed through the window of the cover.

10. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive layer has a shape that is substantially the same as a shape of the cover.

11. The sensor element according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive layer has a rectangular portion that extends beyond the shape of the cover.

12. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the cover is fabricated from an elastic material.

13. The sensor element according to claim 5, wherein the rigid board is smaller than the adhesive layer and smaller than the cover.

14. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit loop short-circuited by the contact element is interruptible when a force vertical to a surface of the adhesive layer is applied to the sensor layer.

15. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit loop short-circuited by the contact element is interruptible when a force parallel to the surface of the adhesive layer is applied to the sensor layer.

16. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is a double-sided adhesive strip.

17. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element includes a signal circuit for displaying an alarm state.

18. The sensor element according to claim 17, wherein the signal circuit contains a light-emitting diode.

19. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element contains one of at least a connecting element and a cable for electrically connecting the measuring circuit loop to a processing circuit.

20. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the measuring circuit loop includes a resonator.

21. The sensor element according to claim 1, wherein the contact element located on a surface of the adhesive layer is at least partially graphite.

22. A sensor element, comprising:

a rigid board supporting a measuring circuit loop, the measuring circuit loop having a break;

an elastically deformable adhesive layer provided on the surface of the rigid board, the adhesive layer supporting a contact element short-circuiting the break of the measuring circuit loop; and

an elastically deformable cover mounted on the adhesive layer and covering the rigid board;

wherein the rigid board is smaller than the adhesive layer and the cover.

23. The sensor element according to claim 22, wherein the cover includes a through hole through which a cable extends to electrically connect to the measuring circuit loop.

24. The sensor element according to claim 22, wherein the rigid board is glued to the cover.

25. The sensor element according to claim 22, wherein the cover includes a window superposed above the rigid board.

26. The sensor element according to claim 25, wherein the rigid board supports a light emitting diode that is exposed through the window of the cover.

27. The sensor element according to claim 22, wherein the adhesive layer has a shape that is substantially the same as a shape of the cover.

28. The sensor element according to claim 27, wherein the adhesive layer has a rectangular portion that extends beyond the shape of the cover.

29. The sensor element according to claim 22, wherein the adhesive layer is a double-sided adhesive strip.