Anti-theft security system for product displays

• US 5,821,857 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vanguard Products Group, Inc., DBA Vanguard Protex Global
• Original Assignee: Protex International Corporation (Vanguard Protex Global)
• Inventors: Rand, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/802,167
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/691, 340/815.03, 340/502, 340/693, 439/917, 200/512, 200/520
• US Class Current: 340/568.8
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/917 Alarm circuit, e.g. window affixed foil

Abstract

An anti-theft product display system utilizes a command module and a plurality of sensor satellites arranged in a daisy chain configuration. The command module and sensor satellites operate with microprocessors and can be programmed to perform several operating functions. Each sensor satellite can receive up to eight sensors without requiring shunts or terminators for the unused sensor jacks. A data retention system is incorporated into each sensor satellite to prevent the loss of data in the event of power failure to the command module.

Claims

1. A computer controlled anti-theft security system for product displays comprising:

a command module having a front panel, a back panel, a power supply means for providing power to the system, a satellite connection receptacle, and a programmable device, said programmable device including

(a) a command module micro-processor electrically coupled to said power supply means, and said satellite connection receptacle;

(b) a keypad electrically coupled to said command module micro-processor, disposed on said front panel of said command module, to generate user selected operating instructions to said command module micro-processor, the instructions configuring the anti theft security system to operate in a predetermined configuration;

at least one sensor satellite coupled to the satellite receptacle of said command module, said at least one sensor satellite having a satellite input port, a satellite output port, a plurality of sensor connection jacks, and a plurality of status indicators, wherein said satellite input port and said satellite output port connect additional sensor satellites;

at least one sensor coupled to said satellite sensor connection jack; and

a satellite micro-processor electrically coupled to said satellite input port, said satellite output port, said plurality of sensor connection jacks, and said plurality of status indicators.

2. The computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein said power supply means comprises:

a power jack disposed on the back panel of said command module;

a DC power supply releasably connected to said power jack and adapted to provide DC power to said command module; and

a backup power supply for maintaining the operation of said command module micro-processor when said DC power supply fails.

3. The computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 2 wherein said command module further comprises:

a plurality of indicator lights corresponding to each of said at least one sensor satellites connected to said command module, said plurality of indicator lights controlled by said command module micro-processor;

an on/off keyswitch adapted to activate and deactivate the computer controlled anti theft security system;

a speaker adapted to provide audible alarm sounds during operation of the system, said speaker controlled by said command module micro-processor;

an AC power indicator adapted to provide power status indication to the user, said AC power indicator controlled by said command module micro-processor; and

a backup power supply indicator adapted to provide status of the backup power supply.

4. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 3, wherein said indicator lights are LED lamps.

5. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 3, wherein said on/off keyswitch will reinitialize the command module micro-processor and thus reset the system after the alarm goes off provided no sensor alarm state exists.

6. The computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor satellite further comprises:

a speaker coupled to said satellite microprocessor and being adapted to selectively provide an audible alarm; and

a local reset button-coupled to said satellite micro-processor and being adapted to selectively reset said sensor satellite after an alarm condition, said local reset button being activated or deactivated by said programmable device of said command module.

7. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein said satellite micro-processor is adapted to receive input data from said sensors and generate output data representative of the current operating status of said sensor satellite and any sensor satellites additionally connected to said satellite input port regardless of the presence of said sensor in said sensor connection jack.

8. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 7, wherein said satellite micro-processor further comprises:

means for receiving from said additionally connected satellites binary input data wherein 0 represents ground and 1 represents an elevated state,

means for examining said binary input data,

means for generating binary output data in the form of 32 bits (four 8-bit bytes) representative of the current operating status of said sensor satellite and any sensor satellites additionally connected to said satellite input port regardless of the presence of said sensor in said sensor connection jack, and

means for transmitting said binary output data to either another said sensor satellite micro-processor or said command module micro-processor.

9. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 8, wherein said satellite micro-processor further comprises:

means for calculating a parity bit of said binary output data for each byte added,

means for checking said parity bit of said binary input data,

means for waiting and accepting additional binary input data in the event said parity bit signals an error, and

means for transmitting said parity bit with said binary output data.

10. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor satellite comprises up to 10 satellites modules coupled in series to each other.

11. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein each satellite module has up to 8 sensor connection jacks for receiving up to 8 sensors.

12. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 11, wherein the removal of any sensor or disconnection of any satellite module will be sensed by said command module microprocessor to trip the alarm on said command module.

13. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein said keypad is adapted to activate and deactivate said computer controlled anti-theft security system.

14. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein a keyswitch activates said keypad to permit the user to generate user selected operating instructions to said command module micro-processor.

15. A computer controlled anti-theft security system according to claim 1, wherein a battery is electrically connected to said sensor satellites to maintain functionality when said sensor satellite is disconnected from said command module while activated.