Shoplifting detection system of the transmission type

• US 5,051,727 A
• Filed: 03/16/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek "Nedap"
• Original Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek "Nedap"
• Inventors: Fockens, Tallienco W. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/495,030
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2488 Timing issues, e.g. synchronising measures to avoid signal collision, with multiple emitters or a single emitter and receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoplifting detection system of the transmission type, suitable in particular for the use of high-frequency interrogating signals, in which system an electronic label provided with a resonance circuit can effect an electromagnetic coupling between at least two antenna coils, at least one of which is a transmitting antenna coil which, in operation, is fed with an A.C. interrogating signal from a transmitter circuit, and at least one other of which is a receiving antenna coil which supplies a received signal to a receiver circuit. According to the invention said receiver circuit comprises a phase-sensitive synchronous detector to which the received signal is supplied, and to which a reference signal is supplied of such a phase that a component in the received signal, caused by an electronic label, provides a maximum output signal of said synchronous detector, and a signal phase-shifted through 90° relatively to said component provides a minimum output signal of said synchronous detector.

Claims

1. A shoplifting detection system of the transmission type, suitable in particular for the use of high frequency interrogating signals, in which system an electronic label provided with a resonance circuit can effect an electromagnetic coupling between at least two antenna coils, at least one of which is a transmitting antenna coil which, in operation, is fed with an A.C interrogating signal from a transmitter circuit, and at least one other of which is a receiving antenna coil which supplies a received signal to a receiver circuit, characterized in that said receiver circuit comprises a phase-sensitive synchronous detector to which the received signal is supplied, and to which a reference signal is supplied of such a phase that a component in the received signal, caused by an electronic label, provides a maximum output signal of said synchronous detector, and a signal phase-shifted through 90°

relatively to said component provides a minimum output signal of said synchronous detector.

2. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reference signal is the interrogating signal or a signal directly derived from said interrogating signal.

3. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said synchronous detector comprises a product detector which multiplies the received signal by the reference signal by analog computation.

4. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a band pass filter connected to the output of the synchronous detector.

5. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that both said at least one transmitting antenna coil and said at least one receiving antenna coil are eight-shaped.

6. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one transmitting antenna coil is connected to a receiver circuit of a detection system of the absorption type.

7. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 6, comprising a plurality of detection pillars disposed in a row and each containing at least one transmitting antenna coil or a receiving antenna coil to form a detection zone between each pair of adjacent detection pillars, characterized in that of the detection pillars defining a detection zone, one comprises a receiving antenna coil connected to a receiver circuit for a shoplifting detection system of the transmission type as claimed in claim 1, and the other comprises a transmitting antenna coil connected to a transmitter/receiver circuit of a shoplifting detection system of the absorption type.

8. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, viewed lengthwise of the row, the detection pillars with a receiving coil for a shoplifting detection system of the transmission type alternate with the detection pillars with a transmitting coil for a system cf the absorption type.

9. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the detection pillar on at least ore end of the row of detection pillars is one with a receiving coil for a shoplifting detection system of the transmission type.

10. A. shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 7, characterized by a blocking device which, in response to a label detection signal generated by one of the detection pillars, prevents the other detection pillars from generating a label detection signal.

11. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that each detection pillar is provided with a signalling lamp.

12. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the receiver circuit connected to a receiving antenna coil comprises a discriminator filter device connected to the output of the band pass filter, and including a low-pass filter permitting the passage of signals in such a first frequency band that these signals may be caused by an electronic label, and including a high-pass filter permitting the passage of signals within the frequency range allowed to pass the band pass filter, but outside said first frequency band.

13. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said discriminator filter device comprises an integration circuit with a positive and a negative input, the low-pass filter being connected to the positive input, and the high-pass filter to the negative input.

14. A shoplifting detection system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the integration circuit is connected to a comparator circuit which provides an output signal when the output voltage of the integration circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold value.