SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING RETAIL DISPLAY MERCHANDISE FROM THEFT

• US 20120293330A1
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Grant, Jeffrey A., Johnston, Michael R., Phillips, Jonathon D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0233 System arrangements with pre-alarms, e.g. when a first distance is exceeded
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

Security systems and methods configured for use with an item of merchandise for retail display include a housing, at least one sensor carried by the housing and at least one output device carried by the housing. The security system further includes a controller carried by the housing and operably coupled to the sensor and to the output device. The controller is operable to determine a distance traveled by the item of merchandise from a retail display “home” position based upon a sensor input from the sensor, and to activate the output device based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding a threshold distance. The controller may utilize the at least one sensor in conjunction with an inertial navigation system (INS) and motion processing algorithms or techniques to determine the distance traveled by the item of merchandise from the retail display “home” position.

Claims

1. A security system configured for operation with an item of merchandise for retail display, the security system comprising:

at least one sensor;

at least one output device; and

a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the at least one output device, said controller operable

to determine a distance traveled by the item of merchandise from a retail display “

home”

position based upon a sensor input from the at least one sensor; and

to activate the at least one output device based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding at least one threshold distance from the retail display “

home”

position.

2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer.

3. The security system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a digital compass.

4. The security system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a gyroscope.

5. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one output device comprises at least one of an audio output device, a haptic output device, and a visual output device.

6. The security system according to claim 1, further comprising wireless communications circuitry operably coupled to the controller.

7. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one threshold distance comprises first and second threshold distances;

and wherein the controller is operable to activate the at least one output device with a first indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding the first threshold distance and to activate the at least one output device with a second indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding the second threshold distance.

8. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to deactivate the at least one output device based upon the item of merchandise subsequently being brought within the at least one threshold distance.

9. The security system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one input device operably coupled to the controller;

and wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the at least one output device based upon an input from the at least one input device.

10. The security system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one satellite positioning signal receiver operable to receive a satellite positioning signal and to thereby determine a geographical position of the item of merchandise.

11. A display battery pack configured to replace a service battery pack of an item of electronic merchandise for retail display, the display battery pack comprising:

a housing configured to be operably coupled to the item of electronic merchandise;

at least one battery cell carried by the housing and operable to supply electrical power to the item of electronic merchandise;

at least one sensor carried by the housing;

at least one output device carried by the housing; and

a controller carried by the housing and operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the at least one output device, the controller operable

to determine a distance traveled by the item of electronic merchandise from a retail display “

home”

position based upon a sensor input from the at least one sensor, and

to activate the at least output device based upon the distance traveled by the item of electronic merchandise exceeding at least one threshold distance from the retail display “

home”

position.

12. The display battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a digital compass, and a gyroscope.

13. The display battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the at least one output device comprises one or more of an audio output device, a haptic output device, and a visual output device.

14. The display battery pack according to claim 11, further comprising wireless communications circuitry operably coupled to the controller.

15. The display battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the at least one threshold distance comprises first and second threshold distances;

and wherein the controller is operable to activate the at least one output device with a first indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of electronic merchandise exceeding the first threshold distance and to activate the at least one output device with a second indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding the second threshold distance.

16. The display battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the controller is operable to deactivate the at least one output device based upon the item of electronic merchandise being within the at least one threshold distance.

17. A security module configured for operation with an item of merchandise in a retail display, the security module comprising:

a housing adapted for being coupled to the item of merchandise;

at least one sensor carried by the housing;

at least one output device carried by the housing; and

a controller carried by the housing and operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the at least one output device, said controller operable

to determine a distance traveled by the item of merchandise from a retail display “

home”

position based upon a sensor input from the at least one sensor, and

to activate the at least one output device based upon the distance travelled by the item of merchandise exceeding at least one threshold distance from the retail display “

home”

position.

18. The security module according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a digital compass, and a gyroscope.

19. The security module according to claim 17, wherein the at least one output device comprises at least one of an audio output device, a haptic output device, and a visual output device.

20. The security module according to claim 17, further comprising wireless communications circuitry operably coupled to the controller.

21. The security module according to claim 17, wherein the at least one threshold comprises first and second threshold distances;

and wherein the controller is operable to activate the at least one output device with a first indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding the first threshold distance and to activate the at least one output device with a second indication based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding the second threshold distance.

22. The security module according to claim 17, wherein the controller is operable to deactivate the at least one output device based upon the item of merchandise subsequently being brought within the threshold distance.

23. The security module according to claim 17, further comprising an attachment element for coupling the housing of the security module to the item of merchandise.

24. A method for protecting an item of electronic merchandise from theft comprising at least one sensor, at least one output device, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the at least one output device, the method comprising:

determining a distance traveled by the item of electronic merchandise from a retail display “

home”

position using the controller and a sensor input from the at least one sensor; and

activating the at least one output device based upon the distance traveled by the item of electronic merchandise exceeding at least one threshold distance from the retail display “

home”

position.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured for use with an item of merchandise for retail display comprising at least one sensor, at least one output device, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor and to the at least one output device, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a security system configured for operation with the item of merchandise to perform steps comprising:

determining a distance traveled by the item of merchandise from a retail display “

home”

position using the controller and a sensor input from the at least one sensor; and

activating the at least one output device based upon the distance traveled by the item of merchandise exceeding at least one threshold distance from the retail display “

home”

position.