Activate/deactiveable security tag with enhanced electronic protection for use with an electronic security system

• US 6,400,271 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Appalucci, Lawrence, Piccoli, Anthony Frank, Mazoki, Gary Thomas, Dutcher, Alan Paul, Davies, John Edwin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/528,637
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 340/572.2, 340/551
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags

Abstract

A security tag for use with an electronic security system which functions within a second frequency range comprises a substantially planar dielectric substrate having first and second sides. A first conductive pattern is provided on the first side of the substrate, the first conductive pattern comprising at least a first inductive element, a first plate of a first capacitive element and a first plate of a second capacitive element. A second conductive pattern located on the second side of the substrate comprises at least a second inductive element, a second plate of the first capacitive element and a second plate of a second capacitive element with the plates of the capacitive elements being generally aligned. The inductive elements and the capacitive elements form a resonant circuit which resonates at a first frequency within a first frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range. A direct electrical connection extends through the substrate to electrically connect the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern to thereby continuously maintain both sides of the substrate at substantially same static charge level.

Claims

1. A security tag for use with an electronic security system which functions within a second frequency range, the tag comprising:

a substantially planar dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side;

a first conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate, the first conductive pattern comprising at least a first inductive element, a second inductive element, a first plate of a first capacitive element, and a first plate of a second capacitive element;

a second conductive pattern on the second side of the substrate, the second conductive pattern comprising, at least a second plate of the first capacitive element and a second plate of the second capacitive element, the plates of each of the capacitive elements being generally aligned, the inductive elements and the capacitive elements forming a resonant circuit, which resonates at a first frequency within a first frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range;

a direct electrical connection extending through the substrate to electrically connect the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern to thereby continuously maintain both sides of the substrate at substantially the same static charge level, wherein the first capacitive element includes an activation feature for short circuiting the first capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the first frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the first inductive element and thereby change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the second frequency range.

2. The security tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the second capacitive element includes a deactivation feature for short circuiting the second capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the second frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the second inductive element and thereby prevent the circuit from resonating or change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a third frequency within a third frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range.

3. The security tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the direct electrical connection extends between the first inductive element and the second plate of the first capacitive element.

4. The security tag as recited in claim 1, when the first and second inductive elements are wound in opposite directions.

5. A security tag for use with an electronic security system, which functions within a second frequency range, the tag comprising:

a substantially planar dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side;

a first conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate, the first conductive pattern comprising at least a first inductive element, a first plate of a first capacitive element, and a first plate of a second capacitive element;

a second conductive pattern on the second side of the substrate, the second conductive pattern comprising at least a second inductive element, a second plate of the first capacitive element, and a second plate of the second capacitive element, the plates of each of the capacitive elements being generally aligned, the inductive elements and the capacitive elements forming a resonant circuit which resonates at a first frequency within a first frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range; and

a direct electrical connection extending through the substrate to electrically connect the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern to thereby continuously maintain both sides of the substrate at substantially the same static charge level, wherein the first capacitive element includes a deactivation feature for short circuiting the first capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the first frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the first inductive element and thereby change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the second frequency range.

6. The security tag as recited in claim 5, wherein the second capacitive element includes a deactivation feature for short circuiting the second capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the second frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the second inductive element and thereby prevent the circuit from resonating or change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a third frequency within a third frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range.

7. The security tag as recited in claim 5, wherein the direct electrical connection extends between the first inductive element and the second plate of the first capacitive element.

8. The security tag as recited in claim 5, when the first and second inductive elements are wound in opposite directions.

9. A security tag for use with an electronic security system which functions within a second frequency range, the tag comprising:

a substantially planar dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side;

a first conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate, the first conductive pattern comprising at least a first inductive element, a second inductive element, a first plate of a first capacitive element, and a first plate of a second capacitive element;

a second conductive pattern on the second side of the substrate, the second conductive pattern comprising at least a third inductive element, a fourth inductive element, a second plate of the first capacitive element, and a second plate of the second capacitive element, the plates of each of the capacitive elements being generally aligned, the inductive elements and the capacitive elements forming a resonant circuit which resonates at a first frequency within a first frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range; and

a direct electrical connection extending through the substrate to electrically connect the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern to thereby continuously maintain both sides of the substrate at substantially the same static charge level, wherein the first capacitive element includes a deactivation feature for short circuiting the first capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the first frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the first and third inductive elements and thereby change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the second frequency range.

10. The security tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the second capacitive element includes a deactivation feature for short circuiting the second capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the second frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the second and fourth inductive elements and thereby prevent the circuit from resonating or change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a third frequency within a third frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range.

11. The security tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the direct electrical connection extends between the first inductive element and the third inductive element.

12. The security tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and third inductive elements are wound in opposite directions.