Tag and method of making same

• US 4,954,814 A
• Filed: 09/11/1989
• Issued: 09/04/1990
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/405,596
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 333/175, 333/185, 156/152, 156/148, 361/402
• 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 capacitance 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 deactivator includes a composite strip with a conductive layer, a normally nonconductive layer adhered to the conductive layer, and a coating surrounding the adhered layers which is positioned in proximity to the resonant circuit so that, when excess energy is applied to the deactivator, the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive and the coating is rendered ineffective whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

Claims

1. Method of making tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

providing a detectable resonant circuit, forming a deactivator for deactivating the resonant circuit, wherein the forming step includes providing a composite strip having a conductive layer, a normally non-conductive layer adhered to the conductive layer and a coating surrounding the adhered layers, and positioning the composite strip in proximity to the resonant circuit so that when excess energy is applied to the deactivator the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive and the coating is rendered ineffective whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

2. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the coating includes an acrylic resin.

3. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the forming step includes slitting the composite strip from a wide web using knives so that the side edges are formed by knife cutting.

4. Method as defined in claim 2, wherein the forming step includes slitting the composite strip from a wide web using knives so that the side edges are formed by knife cutting.

5. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the coating includes normally non-conductive material which is rendered conductive when excess energy is applied to the deactivator.

9. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the forming step includes slitting the composite strip from a wide web using knives so that the side edges are formed by knife cutting.

6. Method of making tags for use in an electronic article surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

providing a detectable resonant circuit, forming a deactivator for deactivating the resonant circuit, wherein the forming step includes providing a composite strip having a conductive layer having side edges, a normally non-conductive layer adhered to the conductive layer and a coating on at least the side edges, and positioning the composite strip in proximity to the resonant circuit so that when excess energy is applied to the deactivator the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive and the coating is rendered ineffective whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

7. Method as defined in claim 6, wherein the coating includes an acrylic resin.

8. Method as defined in claim 6, wherein the coating includes normally non-conductive material which is rendered conductive when excess energy is applied to the deactivator.

10. A tag for use in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag comprising:

a detectable resonant circuit, a deactivator for deactivating the resonant circuit, wherein the deactivator includes a composite strip having a conductive layer, a normally non-conductive layer adhered to the conductive layer and a coating surrounding the adhered layers, the composite strip being positioned in proximity to the resonant circuit so that when excess energy is applied to the deactivator the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive and the coating is rendered ineffective whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

11. A tag as defined in claim 10, wherein the coating includes an acrylic resin.

12. A tag as defined in claim 10, wherein the coating includes normally non-conductive material which is rendered conductive when excess energy is applied to the deactivator.

13. A tag for use in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag comprising:

a detectable resonant circuit, a deactivator for deactivating the resonant circuit, wherein the deactivator includes a composite strip having a conductive layer with side edges, a normally non-conductive layer adhered to the conductive layer and a coating on at least the side edges, the composite strip being positioned in proximity to the resonant circuit so that when excess energy is applied to the deactivator the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

14. A tag for use in an electronic article surveillance system, the tag comprising:

a detectable resonant circuit, a deactivator for deactivating the resonant circuit, wherein the deactivator includes a composite strip having a conductive layer with cut side edges, a normally non-conductive layer adhered to the conductive layer and a coating on at least the side edges, the composite strip being positioned in proximity to the resonant circuit so that when excess energy is applied to the deactivator the normally non-conductive layer becomes conductive whereby the resonant circuit is deactivated.

15. A tag as defined in claim 14, wherein the coating includes an acrylic resin.

16. A tag as defined in claim 14, wherein the coating includes normally non-conductive material which is rendered conductive when excess energy is applied to the deactivator.