Anti-theft security system and a process for the automatic detection and identification of merchandise security labels
First Claim
1. An anti-theft security system for securing merchandise comprising:
- a base station having a low frequency (LF) stage with a LF transmitting and receiving unit;
an antenna attached to said base station said antenna for generating an electromagnetic field;
a plurality of security labels for attachment to merchandise each having an active transponder, wherein each transponder comprises a LF stage having a LF transmitter and receiving unit operating on the same frequency as said base station LF stage, so that in response to a LF signal from said base station, a bidirectional signal transmission takes place between the base station and at least one of the security label transponders; and
an antenna disposed on said transponder'"'"'s LF-transmitting-and-receiving unit, wherein said antenna serves for both signal reception and transmission;
a HF-transmitter for operating at high frequency and associated with said at least one security label transponder, which HF transmitter is prompted by said LF-transmitting and receiving unit; and
a HF-receiving unit associated with said base station operating on the same frequency as said HF-transmitter of said transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A anti-theft security system and process for securing merchandise. The security system comprises a base station that has a low frequency (LF) stage having a LF receiving and transmitting unit attached to the base station. Attached to the LF stage is an antenna for generating an electromagnetic field. In addition a plurality of merchandise security labels are each attached to a piece of merchandise. Each security label comprises a LF stage having a LF transmitter and receiving unit operating on the same frequency as the base station LF stage. When a security label enters the field transmission region of the base station the base station a bidirectional signal transmission takes place between the base station and at least one of the security label transponders. If the base station detects an active LF stage on the one of the security labels then an alarm will sound. The process for securing this merchandise includes the steps of transmitting a control signal of the same frequency from a LP stage of the base station to a LF stage on a transponder and back. In addition, the base station transmits a receive confirmation signal to the transponder and the transponder sends this signal back again. Finally check mechanisms are integrated into the transmission sequence so that an alarm is triggered if the defined criteria are not maintained or satisfied.
74 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An anti-theft security system for securing merchandise comprising:
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a base station having a low frequency (LF) stage with a LF transmitting and receiving unit; an antenna attached to said base station said antenna for generating an electromagnetic field; a plurality of security labels for attachment to merchandise each having an active transponder, wherein each transponder comprises a LF stage having a LF transmitter and receiving unit operating on the same frequency as said base station LF stage, so that in response to a LF signal from said base station, a bidirectional signal transmission takes place between the base station and at least one of the security label transponders; and an antenna disposed on said transponder'"'"'s LF-transmitting-and-receiving unit, wherein said antenna serves for both signal reception and transmission; a HF-transmitter for operating at high frequency and associated with said at least one security label transponder, which HF transmitter is prompted by said LF-transmitting and receiving unit; and a HF-receiving unit associated with said base station operating on the same frequency as said HF-transmitter of said transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A process for the automatic detection and identification of a merchandise security label by a base station comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a low-frequency control signal by a LF-stage of the base station; receiving the control signal by a LF-stage of a transponder attached to a merchandise security label; transmitting a response signal by a transmitter attached to said transponder; receiving the transponder response signal by a receiving unit of said base station operating on the same frequency; transmitting a receive confirmation signal by said base station; and receiving the receive confirmation signal by said transponder; wherein, if a non-release signal is received by said transponder, or if no receive confirmation signal is received after the response signal has been repeatedly transmitted, and said transponder triggers an alarm on the LF-line, and prior to or in the course of signal transmission, said base station performs an occupancy check with respect to the external occupancy of the line used for receiving the response signal, and an occupancy message is issued if an external occupancy is detected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A process for the automatic detection and identification of a merchandise security label by a base station comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a low-frequency control signal by a LF-stage of the base station; receiving the control signal by a LF-stage of an active transponder attached to a merchandise security label; transmitting a response signal by a transmitter attached to said transponder; receiving the transponder response signal by a receiving unit of said base station operating on the same frequency; transmitting a receive confirmation signal by said base station; and receiving the receive confirmation signal by said transponder; wherein, if a non-release signal is received by said transponder, or if no receive confirmation signal is received after the response signal has been repeatedly transmitted, and said transponder triggers an alarm on the LF-line, and prior to or in the course of signal transmission, said base station performs an occupancy check with respect to the external occupancy of the line used for receiving the response signal, and an occupancy message is issued if an external occupancy is detected, and wherein said control signal is a prompting signal, so that when said LF-receiver receives the signal, it prompts the transmitter of said transponder.
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Specification