Theft preventive tag and method for attaching the same

• US 6,285,284 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
• Inventors: Nakazato, Minoru, Soe, Takeshi, Miyake, Masami, Ishiyama, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/424,588
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 428/611, 298/25, 298/29, 298/46, 361/816
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003

Abstract

The resonance frequency of a resonant circuit section does not change even if the surface of an article whose theft is monitored is formed of any material. An antitheft tag mounted on the article (11) whose theft is monitored includes a resonant circuit section resonating with the radio wave having a particular frequency and transmitted from a transmitting antenna. An electromagnetic shield layer formed of an insulating material is interposed between the mounting surface of the article and the resonant circuit section. The electromagnetic shield layer may be formed of ferrite powder or soft magnetic powder which has a particle size of 10 μm or less and plastic or rubber or may be formed by laminating a first layer composed of a composite material and a second layer composed of plastic or rubber. Preferably, the soft magnetic powder is any of amorphous alloy, Permalloy, soft magnetic iron, silicon steel, Sendust alloy and Fe—Al alloy.

Claims

1. An antitheft tag which is mounted on an article the theft of which is monitored and which includes a resonant circuit section configured to resonate with radio waves having a particular frequency that are transmitted from a transmitting antenna, comprising:

an electromagnetic shield layer interposed between a mounting surface of the article and the resonant circuit section; and

a high conductivity layer interposed between the mounting surface of the article and said electromagnetic shield layer.

2. An antitheft tag according to claim 1, wherein said high conductivity layer is formed of a non-magnetic material having an electric resistivity of 10⁻

2 Ω

·

cm or less.

3. An antitheft tag according to claim 2, wherein said high conductivity layer is formed of any of an aluminum sheet, a copper sheet, an aluminum foil, an ITO film and a silver thick film.

4. A method of mounting an antitheft tag according to claim 2 on an article, wherein the antitheft tag is mounted on the article using the front surface of the high conductivity layer of the tag as the surface to be mounted on the article.

5. A method of mounting an antitheft tag according to claim 3 on an article, wherein the antitheft tag is mounted on the article using the front surface of the high conductivity layer of the tag as the surface to be mounted on the article.

6. A method of mounting an antitheft tag according to claim 1 on an article, wherein the antitheft tag is mounted on the article using the front surface of the high conductivity layer of the tag as the surface to be mounted on the article.

7. An antitheft tag according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield layer is formed of an insulating material.

8. An antitheft tag according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield layer is composed of a composite material of ferrite powder and plastic or rubber.

9. An antitheft tag according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield layer is composed of a composite material of soft magnetic powder which has a particle size of 10 μ

m or less and plastic or rubber.

10. An antitheft tag according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield layer is formed by laminating a first layer composed of a composite material of ferrite powder or soft magnetic powder which has a particle size of 10 μ

m or less and plastic or rubber and a second layer composed of plastic or rubber.