Antitheft system and monitoring system

• US 6,304,181 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsudaira, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/419,909
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2488 Timing issues, e.g. synchronising measures to avoid signal collision, with multiple emitters or a single emitter and receiver

Abstract

This invention provides an antitheft system comprising an antitheft gate 2 installed in the vicinity of an exit of a store, and an alarm unit 1 attached to a commodity. The gate 2 has incorporated therein a signal generator 21 for producing a notifying signal, and an alarm device 22 capable of producing an alarm. The alarm unit 1 comprises an electronic buzzer 11, a receiving antenna 15 for receiving the notifying signal from the signal generator 21 of the gate 2, and a control circuit 17 for operating the buzzer 11 upon the antenna 15 receiving the notifying signal. The alarm device 22 of the gate 2 comprises an alarm producing circuit 225 capable of producing an alarm, a receiving antenna 221 for receiving electromagnetic waves generated by the buzzer 11 by operating the buzzer 11, and a control circuit 224 for operating the alarm producing circuit 225 upon the antenna 221 receiving the electromagnetic waves. The construction described renders the alarm unit 1 compact.

Claims

1. An antitheft system comprising:

a notifying signal generator for producing a notifying signal,

an alarm unit to be attached to an article to be prevented from being stolen and comprising an electronic buzzer, signal receiving means for receiving the notifying signal from the signal generator, and first control means for operating the electronic buzzer upon the signal receiving means receiving the notifying signal, and

an alarm device comprising alarm means capable of producing an alarm, electromagnetic wave receiving means for receiving electromagnetic waves generated by the electronic buzzer by operating the electronic buzzer, and second control means for operating the alarm means upon the electromagnetic wave receiving means receiving the electromagnetic waves.

2. An antitheft system according to claim 1 wherein the alarm unit comprises means for detecting detachment of the alarm unit from the article to produce a detection signal, and the first control means operates the electronic buzzer upon receiving the detection signal.

3. An antitheft system according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving means of the alarm device receives second harmonic of the electromagnetic waves, and the second control means operates the alarm means upon the electromagnetic wave receiving means receiving the second harmonic.

4. An antitheft system comprising:

a notifying signal generator for producing a notifying signal,

an electromagnetic wave generator to be attached to an article to be prevented from being stolen and comprising electromagnetic wave generating means capable of generating electromagnetic waves including a harmonic, signal receiving means for receiving the notifying signal from the signal generator, and first control means for operating the electromagnetic wave generating means upon the signal receiving means receiving the notifying signal, and

an alarm device comprising alarm means capable of producing an alarm, electromagnetic wave receiving means for receiving the harmonic of the electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator, and second control means for operating the alarm means upon the electromagnetic wave receiving means receiving the harmonic of the electromagnetic waves.

5. An antitheft system according to claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises means for detecting detachment of the wave generator from the article to produce a detection signal, and the first control means operates the electromagnetic wave generating means upon receiving the detection signal.

6. An antitheft system comprising:

a notifying signal generator for producing a first notifying signal,

an alarm unit to be attached to an article to be prevented from being stolen and operable to produce an alarm and a second notifying signal different from the first notifying signal in frequency upon receiving the first notifying signal from the signal generator, and

an alarm device for producing an alarm upon receiving the second notifying signal from the alarm unit,

the alarm unit having an antenna for receiving the first notifying signal and transmitting the second notifying signal, the antenna comprising a coil usable in common for receiving the first notifying signal and for transmitting the second notifying signal.

7. An antitheft system comprising:

a notifying signal generator for producing a first notifying signal,

an alarm unit to be attached to an article to be prevented from being stolen and operable to produce an alarm and a second notifying signal different from the first notifying signal in frequency upon receiving the first notifying signal from the signal generator, and

an alarm device for producing an alarm upon receiving the second notifying signal from the alarm unit,

the alarm unit comprising;

alarm means capable of producing an alarm,

an antenna for receiving the first notifying signal and transmitting the second notifying signal,

alarm control means for operating the alarm means upon the antenna receiving the first notifying signal,

signal processing means for preparing the second notifying signal and feeding the second notifying signal to the antenna upon the antenna receiving the first notifying signal, and

change-over control means for changing over the antenna from the receiving operation to the transmitting operation and vice versa,

the antenna comprising a coil L and a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2 which are connected to the coil L, the change-over control means being operable to change over the antenna from the receiving operation by the coil L and the first capacitor C1 to the transmitting operation by the coil L and the second capacitor C2 and vice versa.

8. An antitheft system according to claim 7 which further comprises a stop signal generator for producing an alarm stop signal for stopping the alarm of the alarm unit and wherein the alarm unit is capable of receiving the alarm stop signal by the antenna and has alarm stopping control means for stopping the operation of the alarm means upon receiving the alarm stop signal from the stop signal generator, and the change-over control means causes the antenna to alternate between the receiving operation and the transmitting operation after the alarm means is initiated into operation.

9. An antitheft system according to claim 7 wherein the coil L has one end P having connected thereto one end of the first capacitor C1 and an input end of the alarm control means, the other end of the first capacitor C1 being grounded, the other end of the coil L having one end of the second capacitor C2 connected thereto, the other end of the second capacitor C2 having an output end of the signal processing means connected thereto, the change-over control means comprising a transistor capable of grounding said one end P of the coil L, the second capacitor C2 being greater than the first capacitor C1 in capacity.

10. A monitoring system comprising:

a first notifying signal generator for producing a first notifying signal,

a second notifying signal generator for producing a second notifying signal different from the first notifying signal in frequency upon receiving the first notifying signal from the first notifying signal generator, and

an alarm device for producing an alarm upon receiving the second notifying signal from the second notifying signal generator,

the second notifying signal generator comprising;

an antenna for receiving the first notifying signal and for transmitting the second notifying signal,

signal processing means for preparing the second notifying signal and feeding the second notifying signal to the antenna upon the antenna receiving the first notifying signal, and

change-over control means for changing over the antenna from a receiving operation to a transmitting operation, and vice versa,

the antenna comprising a coil, and a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2 which are connected to the coil, the change-over control means being operable to change over the antenna from the receiving operation by the coil and the first capacitor to the transmitting operation by the coil and the second capacitor, and vice versa.

11. A monitoring system according to claim 10 wherein a first end of the coil being connected to a first end of the first capacitor and an input end of the change-over control means, a second end of the first capacitor being grounded, a second end of the coil being connected to a first end of the second capacitor, and a second end of the second capacitor being connected to an output end of the signal processing means,

the change-over control means comprising a transistor capable of grounding the first end of the coil,

the second capacitor having a capacity greater than a capacity of the first capacitor.