HARD TAG LOCKING CLAMP WITH ENERGY HARVESTING ELEMENT

• US 20170046933A1
• Filed: 08/11/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Torrecilla, David, Stewart, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 10,417,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0021 Transducers for transforming electrical into mechanical energy or vice versa dynamo-electric machines H02K99/00; electrostatic machines H02N1/00; piezoelectric devices H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0062 by generator
• 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: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for harvesting mechanical energy in a security tag. The methods involve: applying by a tool a pushing force so as to cause a securement mechanism disposed within the security tag to deform; transferring mechanical energy to a spring sleeve when the securement mechanism deforms due to loading applied by the tool; using an energy harvester (e.g., a piezo element or a magnet/solenoid element) to harness the mechanical energy applied by the tool, where the energy harvester is at least partially coupled to the securement mechanism; and converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy. The energy harvester is disposed between the securement mechanism and an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) or Radio Frequency IDentification (“RFID”) component of the security tag.

Claims

1. A method for harvesting mechanical energy in a security tag, comprising:

applying by a tool a pushing force so as to cause a securement mechanism disposed within the security tag to deform;

transferring mechanical energy to a spring sleeve when the securement mechanism deforms due to loading applied by the tool;

using an energy harvester to harness the mechanical energy applied by the tool, where the energy harvester is at least partially coupled to the securement mechanism; and

converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvester is disposed between the securement mechanism and an Electronic Article Surveillance (“

EAS”

) or Radio Frequency IDentification (“

RFID”

) component of the security tag.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvester comprises at least one of a piezo element, a magnet/solenoid element and a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (“

MEMS”

) device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvester comprises a piezo element attached to the spring sleeve of the securement mechanism.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvester detects distortion of the spring sleeve when the securement mechanism is engaged by the tool.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein positive and negative leads are attached to the energy harvester.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the energy harvester transmits an electrical signal to an electronic component of the security tag.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvester comprises a coil and a permanent magnet that is coupled to the securement mechanism.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the permanent magnet moves past the coil so as to induce an electrical charge when the securement mechanism rotates as a result of the pushing force being applied thereto.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the electrical charge is transferred to an electronic component of the security tag as to indicate that the securement mechanism has been engaged by the tool.

11. A security tag, comprising:

a securement mechanism disposed within the security tag so that the securement mechanism deforms when a pushing force is applied thereto by a tool, the securement mechanism comprising a spring sleeve to which mechanical energy is transferred when the securement mechanism deforms; and

an energy harvester at least partially coupled to the securement mechanism so that the mechanical energy applied by the tool is harnessed and converted into electrical energy.

12. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the energy harvester is disposed between the securement mechanism and an Electronic Article Surveillance (“

EAS”

) or Radio Frequency IDentification (“

RFID”

) component of the security tag.

13. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the energy harvester comprises at least one of a piezo element, a magnet/solenoid element and a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (“

MEMS”

) device.

14. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the energy harvester comprises a piezo element attached to the spring sleeve of the securement mechanism.

15. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the energy harvester detects distortion of the spring sleeve when the securement mechanism is engaged by the tool.

16. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein positive and negative leads are attached to the energy harvester.

17. The security tag according to claim 16, wherein the energy harvester transmits an electrical signal to an electronic component of the security tag.

18. The security tag according to claim 11, wherein the energy harvester comprises a coil and a permanent magnet that is coupled to the securement mechanism.

19. The security tag according to claim 18, wherein the permanent magnet moves past the coil so as to induce an electrical charge when the securement mechanism rotates as a result of the pushing force being applied thereto.

20. The security tag according to claim 19, wherein the electrical charge is transferred to an electronic component of the security tag as to indicate that the securement mechanism has been engaged by the tool.