Tag and method of making same

• US 4,910,499 A
• Filed: 02/10/1989
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Benge, S. Eugene, Froning, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sutcliffe, Geoff
• Application Number:
  US07/308,699
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 156/52, 156/155, 156/272.2, 156/273.9, 156/324, 156/51, 361/402, 427/96, 427/121, 427/123, 333/185
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/702 of thick-or thin-film circuits or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0522 Using an adhesive pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1545 Continuous processing, i.e. involving rolls moving a band-like or solid carrier along a continuous production path
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/046 by selective transfer or selective detachment of a conductive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/202 using self-supporting metal foil pattern

Abstract

This invention relates to a deactivatable tag useable with an electronic article surveillance system and comprised of planar conductive material cut into a pair of inverse, first and second spiral conductors wrapped about each other and positioned for capacitive and inductive coupling. The invention also relates to method of making tags wherein conductors are cut from a planar web of conductive material in a continuous process in a manner that the cutting results in the formation of two spiral conductors without accompanying waste of conductive material, and thereafter positioning the conductors to provide resonant circuits. The conductors of each pair are connected by welding to provide a reliable circuit. A film of electrostatic-charge-draining material on a web of deactivatable tags prevents their premature deactivation.

Claims

1. A longitudinally extending tag web including a series of connected deactivatable tags usable in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag web comprising a continuous longitudinally extending supporting web, each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and a continuous longitudinally extending web of conductive material on the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.

2. A longitudinally extending tag web including a series of connected deactivatable tags usable in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag web comprising a continuous longitudinally extending supporting web, each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and deactivator, and a continuous longitudinally extending film of electrostatic-charge-draining material on the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.

3. A longitudinally extending tag web including a series of connected deactivatable tags useable in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag web comprising a continuous longitudinally extending supporting web, each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and a continuous longitudinally extending coating of conductive material on the supporting web along he series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electronic discharge.

4. A longitudinally extending tag web including a series of connected deactivatable tags useable in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag web comprising a continuous longitudinally extending supporting web, each tag having a detectable resonant circuit on the supporting web and a deactivator, and a continuous longitudinally extending film of anti-static material on the supporting web along the series of tags to help prevent circuit deactivation caused by electrostatic discharge.