Security tag for compact disc storage container

• US 5,081,446 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gill, Peter L., Piccoli, Anthony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ODA, CHRISTINE K
• Application Number:
  US07/586,934
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/568
• US Class Current: 340/572.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/286 Antitheft arrangements, e.g. Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0488 in boxes or containers comprising additional sound reproducing or activating means

Abstract

A security tag for a compact disc container holding a compact disc is comprised of a generally flat substrate which includes circuitry for establishing a resonant circuit. The substrate is positioned within the compact disc storage container such that a first portion of the substrate extends beyond the periphery of the compact disc and a second portion of the substrate overlaps at least a portion of the compact disc. A part of the circuitry is located on each of the first and second portions of the substrate so that the frequency of the resonant circuit is established at least in part by interaction between the circuitry and the compact disc. The security tag is used in an electronic security system for a surveilled area, including a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic energy into the surveilled area at a predetermined detection frequency and a receiver for detecting the presence of a security tag resonating at a detection frequency within the surveilled area.

Claims

1. A security tag for a compact disc container holding a compact disc, the security tag for use with an electronic security system for a surveilled area, including transmitter means for transmitting into the surveilled area electromagnetic energy within a predetermined detection frequency range and receiver means for detecting within the surveilled area the presence of a security tag resonating at a frequency within the detection frequency range in response to the electromagnetic energy, the security tag comprising:

a generally flat, planar substrate positioned within the compact disc storage container such that a first portion of the substrate extends beyond the periphery of the compact disc and a second portion of the substrate overlaps at least part of the compact disc, the first and second substrate portions lying in a common plane; and

circuitry means on the substrate for establishing a resonant circuit, at least part of the circuitry means being located on each of the first and second portions of the substrate, whereby the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is established at least in part by interaction between the circuitry means and the compact disc.

2. The security tag as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuitry means comprises an inductance and a capacitance connected in parallel with the inductance, at least a portion of the inductance being located on the first portion of the substrate to inhibit interaction between the inductance and the compact disc and at least a portion of the capacitance being located on the second portion of the substrate to promote interaction between the capacitance and the compact disc.

3. The security tag as recited in claim 2 wherein at least a portion the capacitance is located on the first portion of the substrate whereby the capacitance of the capacitor is increased by the interaction with the compact disc so that the resonant circuit has a resonant frequency within the detection frequency range.

4. The security tag as recited in claim 3 further including means for short-circuiting the capacitor when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the detection frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to thereby deactivate the tag.

5. The security tag as recited in claim 2 wherein the capacitance is comprised of:

a first capacitance branch connected in parallel with the inductance, the first capacitance branch including a first capacitor connected in series with a second capacitor; and

a second capacitance branch connected in parallel with the inductance and with the first capacitance branch, the second capacitance branch including a third capacitor connected in series with a fourth capacitor, the first and third capacitors being located on the first portion of the substrate and the second and fourth capacitors being located on the second portion of the substrate, whereby the a capacitance of the second and fourth capacitors is increased by the interaction of the second and fourth capacitors with the compact disc so that the resonant circuit has a first resonating frequency within a first frequency range beyond the detection frequency range.

6. The security tag as recited in claim 5 wherein the second and fourth capacitors each include means for short-circuiting one of the second and fourth capacitors when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the first frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level for changing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the detection frequency range to thereby activate the tag and for thereafter short-circuiting the other of the second and fourth capacitors when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the detection frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level for changing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a third frequency beyond the detection frequency range to thereby deactivate the tag.