Method and device for the detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element

• US 6,592,037 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Meto International GmbH (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clancy, Terence
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US09/154,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.13, 705/21, 705/16, 705/22, 340/572.1, 340/571
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and a device for the detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element fitted in or affixed to an article for the purpose of electronic article surveillance. A code is allocated to each article, the code is read in or entered at an input device, an article information is allocated to the code, the article information containing an indication as to whether the article is protected agianst pilferage by an electronic security element, and that a deactivation unit is switched on when the presence of a corresponding indication is established.

Claims

1. A device for a detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element associated with an article, the article having a code provided with article information, comprising:

an input device which reads the code provided with the article, said article information provided with the code includes an indication as to whether the subject article is protected against pilferage by an electronic security element;

a processor for receiving the information in the code read by said input device, said processor including a storage unit for storing the information received; and

a deactivation unit which receives an input from said processor when the information indicates that the article is protected electronically by the electronic security element, and is switched on by the input received;

wherein said deactivation unit includes a plurality of types of deactivators for deactivating various types of security elements, and wherein said processor activates a selective one of said deactivators in response to the type of security element.

2. A device for the detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element associated with an article, the article having a code provided with article information, comprising:

an input device which reads the code provided with the article, said article information provided with the code includes an indication as to whether the subject article is protected against pilferage by an electronic security element and as to the type of security element with which the subject article is equipped;

a processor for receiving the information in the code read by said input device, said processor including a storage unit for storing the information received; and

a deactivation unit which receives an input from said processor when the information indicates that the article is protected electronically by the electronic security element, and is switched on by the input received in response to the type of security element.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the security element is one of an electromagnetic strip, a Barkhausen element, a thin-film element, a resonant frequency element, and acousto-magnetic element.

4. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the code is a bar code and said input device is a bar code reader.

5. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the code includes price information, and wherein said input device is a cash register.

6. A method for the detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element fitted in or affixed to an article for the purpose of electronic article surveillance, comprising the steps of:

allocating a code with article information to each article;

providing as part of the article information an indication as to whether the subject article is protected against pilferage by an electronic security element, and as to the type of security element with which the subject article is equipped;

reading in the code at an input device;

switching on a deactivation unit when the article information allocated to each article indicates that the subject article is protected by the electronic security element; and

switching on the deactivation unit in response to the type of security element.

7. A method for the detection and deactivation of a deactivatable security element affixed to an article for the purpose of electronic article surveillance, comprising the steps of:

allocating a code to each article, the code being provided with article information by a processor;

providing as part of the article information an indication as to whether the subject article is protected against pilferage by an electronic security element, and as to the type of security element with which the subject article is equipped;

saving the article information in a storage unit;

reading in the code at an input device;

detecting from the article information whether the article is equipped with an electronically detectable security element;

switching on a deactivation unit when the processor detects that the subject is equipped with the electronically detectable security element; and

switching on the deactivation unit in response to the type of security element.