Antitheft device

• US 5,239,284 A
• Filed: 12/04/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Matsushima, Hiroshi, Hara, Iwao, Miyata, Kohei, Higaki, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/803,321
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/565, 340/567, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/573
• US Class Current: 340/539.17
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit

Abstract

An antitheft device of the type having a body unit to be attached to an article displayed in a shop for protecting the article against shoplifting. The device includes a transmitter for radiating an AC signal to a particular area, and the body unit which is adapted to receive a signal from the transmitter. The body unit comprises an alarm generator, and a receiving circuit operative to actuate the alarm generator in response to the signal from the transmitter. The transmitter radiates a feeble electromagnetic wave of less than 30 kHz corresponding to the sound range. The fact that the frequency of output from the transmitter is of a low frequency level corresponding to the sound range provides a greater allowance in the receiver for fluctuations in the frequency of signals received and thus good operation stability of the receiver. False alarming due to extraneous radiation is very unlikely to occur, and other components are free from the possibility of malfunctioning. In addition, the invention provides for compacturization of the receiver-side component or body unit.

Claims

1. An antitheft device including a transmitter adapted to radiate an alternating current signal to a particular area, and a body unit attached to an article and capable of receiving the signal from the transmitter;

said body unit having means for generating an alarm, and a receiving circuit for actuating the alarm generating means in response to the signal from the transmitter;

wherein;

said transmitter is capable of radiating a feeble electromagnetic wave of less than 30 kHz corresponding to an audio frequency range;

said transmitter having means for varying the transmission frequency of the transmitter with time by sweeping a frequency band including frequencies at which a signal can be received by said receiving circuit; and

said means for varying the transmission frequency including means for repetitively outputting a triangular wave which varies the output voltage with time, and means for effecting voltage-to-frequency conversion of the triangular wave.

2. An antitheft device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for detecting a person coming near the transmitter, and

means for causing the transmitter to radiate a signal for a predetermined period of time after the detection of the person by the detecting means.

3. An antitheft device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for generating a rectangular wave as an alternating current signal within the transmitter,

means for power amplification of the rectangular wave,

means for converting the amplified signal into a pseudo-sine wave, and

means for outputting the converted signal from an antenna.

4. An antitheft device including a transmitter adapted to radiate a signal to a particular area, and a body unit attached to an article and capable of receiving the signal from the transmitter, said body unit comprising:

means for receiving the signal from said transmitter,

means for generating an alarm,

a power supply for driving the alarm generating means,

first switch means interposed in series between said alarm generating means and said power supply,

second switch means operative to turn on said first switch means while said signal receiving means is receiving a signal,

third switch means arranged in parallel with said second switch means and having a control terminal, said third switch means being operative to turn on said first switch means when a voltage existing between said first switch means and said alarm generating means is applied to said control terminal, and

a time constant circuit connected to the control terminal of said third switch means and having a time constant which is shorter than the time interval of signal transmission from said transmitter and longer than the time interval of extraneous noises.

5. An antitheft device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said body unit is tag-configured and attached to the article by means of a tag cord,

said body unit has a pair of connecting portions to which are connected said tag cord at both end thereof, and

said antitheft device has means for detecting the discontinuity of said pair of connecting portions when the connecting portions are disconnected from each other, and means for applying an output of said detecting means to said third switch means.