CABLE ALARM TAG

• US 20130147625A1
• Filed: 05/31/2010
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asset Control Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: USS Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Tong, Weiliang, Chen, Mingxing, Sayegh, Adel O., Redublo, Edgardo
• Granted Patent: US 9,847,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0029 Tags wrapped around the protected product using cables, wires or the like, e.g. with cable retraction for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2451 Specific applications combined with EAS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/00 Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved cable that includes at least one insulated conductor insulated from and within and inside a insulated second conductor, with both conductors connected with both ends with a cable alarm tag to form a closed electrical circuit, with the loop of the cable connected to an article for securing the article. With the cable of the present invention, if severed, the use of jumper cables will maintain the electrical circuit loop closed for the outer conductor only, but not the insulated inner conductor that is within and inside the outer conductor. Therefore, when severing the cable to disconnect and discontinue the physical loop to remove the secured article, even if cable jumpers are used, the insulated inner conductor will remain open circuited when the cable is cut, resulting in trigger of the alarm.

Claims

1. A cable, comprising:

a sense loop cable, having

inner conductors enclosed within and inside outer conductors;

the inner conductors longitudinally insulated from one another and from the outer conductors by inner dielectric layers, with an outermost outer conductor of outer conductors longitudinally insulated by an outer dielectric layer;

a first distal end of the cable is comprised of short-circuited first end of the inner and outer conductors, and a second distal end of the cable is comprised of second end of the inner and outer conductors connected to respective ground (GND) and High, forming the sense loop cable;

wherein the shorted-circuited first end of the inner and outer conductors comprises electrical and mechanically connection of a first end of the inner and outer conductors;

wherein the second end of the inner and outer conductors comprises electrical and mechanically connection with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

2. The cable as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first distal end includes a locking plug that encapsulates the short-circuited first end of the one or more inner and outer conductors.

3. The cable as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the locking plug interlocks with and is accommodated by an actuator of an alarm tag.

4. The cable as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second distal end includes a conductive connector that secures the inner and outer conductors, and securely maintains an extension of the outer conductors, with the second distal end inner and outer conductors coupled with one of microprocessor and ground (GND).

5. The cable as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least one conductor is an internal spirally-wrapped electrical conductive cord for added mechanical strength.

6. A cable, comprising:

a sense loop cable, having

a conductor and at least one auxiliary conductor enclosed within and inside the conductor;

the auxiliary conductor longitudinally insulated from the conductor by an inner dielectric layer, with the conductor longitudinally insulated from outside by an outer dielectric layer;

a first distal end of the cable is comprised of short-circuiting a first end of the conductor with the auxiliary conductor, and a second distal end of the cable is comprised of a second end of the conductor and the auxiliary conductor coupled with one of a ground and microprocessor.

7. A cable alarm tag, comprising:

a sense loop conductive cable, having

a conductor and at least one auxiliary conductor enclosed within and inside the conductor;

the auxiliary conductor longitudinally insulated from the conductor by an inner dielectric layer, with the conductor longitudinally insulated from outside by an outer dielectric layer;

a first distal end of the cable is comprised of a locking plug that encapsulates first ends of the conductor with the auxiliary conductor, with the first ends of the conductor and the auxiliary conductor short-circuited;

a second distal end of the cable is comprised of second ends of the conductor and the auxiliary conductor, with the first and second distal ends of the cable forming the sense loop conductive cable, with the second distal end of the cable coupled with an alarm device of the alarm tag.

8. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the locking plug is accommodated in a locking channel of an internal chamber of a housing component of an alarm tag, and inserted within a transversely oriented hollow portion of an actuator and locked when the locking plug is fully inserted and the actuator is moved to an active position; and

when fully inserted, a base of the locking plug contacts and activates a first plunger of a first plunger switch;

with the first plunger switch having a first output coupled with a first input line of a microprocessor for activation of the alarm device of the alarm tag.

9. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the second distal end of the cable is further coupled with a second input line of a microprocessor; and

severing any one of the auxiliary and outer conductors would pull one of the first and second input line signals to the microprocessor to a high, triggering an alarm signal.

10. A cable alarm tag, comprising:

a locking cable that is coupled with a housing of an alarm tag;

the housing of the alarm tag includes;

a first member coupled with a second member, forming a hollow internal chamber within which is mounted an alarm system, and a first side that includes a first aperture for accommodating an actuator switch;

the first member includes a visual indicator aperture for viewing of a visual indicator device, and a triggering unit that senses and generates surveillance signals to trigger an alarm;

the second member includes a protuberance that houses a clutch;

the first member and the second member include perforated areas that form the grill-openings of the housing for output of audio indicator.

11. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the locking cable includes;

a sense loop cable, having

one or more inner conductors enclosed within and inside one or more outer conductors;

the one or more inner conductors longitudinally insulated from one another and from the one or more outer conductors by one or more inner dielectric layers, with an outermost outer conductor of the one or more outer conductors longitudinally insulated by an outer dielectric layer;

a first distal end of the cable is comprised of short-circuiting a first end of the one or more inner and outer conductors, and a second distal end of the cable is comprised of a second end of the one or more inner and outer conductors coupled with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to form the sense loop cable.

12. The cable as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the first distal end includes a locking plug that encapsulates the short-circuited first end of the one or more inner and outer conductors.

13. The cable as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the locking plug interlocks with and is accommodated by the actuator switch.

14. The cable as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the second distal end includes a conductive connector that secures the one or more inner and outer conductors, and securely maintains an extension of the one or more outer conductors, with the one or more inner and outer conductors coupled with at least one input of a microprocessor of the alarm system.

15. The cable as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

at least one conductor is an internal spirally-wrapped electrical conductive cord for added mechanical strength.

16. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the locking plug is accommodated in a locking channel of the internal chamber of the first member of the housing the alarm tag, and inserted within a transversely oriented hollow portion of the actuator switch and locked when the locking plug is fully inserted and the actuator switch is moved to an active position;

when fully inserted, a base of the locking plug contacts and activates a first plunger of a first plunger switch;

with the first plunger switch having a first output coupled with a first input line of the microprocessor for activation of the alarm system of the alarm tag.

17. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the second distal end of the cable is further coupled with a second input line of the microprocessor.

18. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the actuator switch is comprised of a second transversally oriented clutch aperture, perpendicular the first member to accommodate the clutch housed in the protuberance of the second member, which clutch locks in the actuator in the active position against a biasing mechanism;

the actuator switch further includes a flange that actuates a switch arm that contacts a second plunger switch of a second plunger, which switches power to the alarm system of the alarm tag.

19. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

alarm system, includes;

a general purpose microprocessor with an internal memory that includes a set of instructions and mounted on a printed circuit board;

the microprocessor receives one or more input signals from one or more input periphery devices and generates one or more processed output signals for actuation of one or more periphery output devices;

one of the one or more input periphery devices is the sensed loop conductive cable, with the second distal end coupled with one of a one or more inputs of the microprocessor, and with the locking plug activates the first plunger of the first plunger switch;

with the first plunger switch having a first output coupled with a second input of the microprocessor for activation.

20. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

the internal memory of the microprocessor is an EEPROM that includes at least executable data for modifying alarm settings of the cable alarm tag.

21. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

the periphery output devices include audio and visual devices based.

22. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a first input periphery device is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device coupled with an EAS connector, with the EAS device comprised of a ferrite unit that is capable of receiving and transmitting signals;

a first output of the EAS connector is coupled with ground, and a second output of the EAS connector is coupled with an amplifier to generate an amplified signal of the EAS device;

the amplifier is comprised of a current limiting resistor that couples the input from the EAS connector to a base of a transitory, with the transistor functioning to amplify the current from EAS connector;

the transistor includes a first end coupled to power supply Vcc and a second end coupled to ground via an RC unit;

the amplified signal of the EAS device is input to microprocessor as one of one or more input signals.

23. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

one of the one or more processed output signals is a pulsed output signal to one of the one or more periphery output devices for actuation of a transducer for generating an audio alarm signal.

24. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

the transducer is actuated by an amplified pulsed output signal that is output from the microprocessor and amplified by a first output amplifier;

the first output amplifier is comprised of a transistor with a first end coupled to ground, a second end coupled to a transformer of the transducer, and a third end that is coupled to current limiting resistor, with the transistor providing an amplified pulsed output signal to alternately pull the transformer to ground, where pulsed outputs from the transformer drive a ceramic transducer.

25. The cable alarm tag as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

severing any one or more of the conductors would pull the input line signals to the microprocessor to a high, triggering an alarm signal.

26. A method for power management of an alarm, comprising:

determining if power ON;

if power is ON, then initializing and determining if a supplied power is greater than a first threshold;

if the supplied power is not greater then the first threshold, ceasing the operations;

otherwise, determining if supplied power is greater than a second threshold;

if the supplied power is not greater than a second threshold, outputting a low power supply indicator and arming the alarm;

otherwise, generating indicators that the alarm is armed.

27. A method for power management of an alarm as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

determining if an antenna signal is received for triggering an alarm;

if an antenna signal is received, triggering an alarm, otherwise, determine if the alarm is tampered and triggering an alarm if the alarm is tampered.

28. A method for power management of an alarm as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

tampering includes severing a cable of a cable alarm tag.