Retail system signal receiver unit for recognizing a preset audible alarm tone

• US 8,803,687 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Southern Imperial Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valiulis, Thomas E., Valiulis, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/312,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20130142494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 386/225
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A signal receiver unit for retail systems is provided. The signal receiver unit may include a receiver, a processor, and an output transmitter, and may be configured to receive and process an alarm signal and to transmit an output signal in response. The output signal may be configured to be received by an output receiving device such that store personnel may be alerted to a possible theft.

Claims

1. An audible anti-theft alarm receiver unit for retail anti-theft systems, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the ambient noise of a retail environment;

a processor, coupled with the receiver wherein the processor is configured to recognize a preset audible alarm tone and generate an output signal upon the occurrence of a preset condition of the preset audible alarm;

an output transmitter electrically connected to the processor for transmitting the output signal to an output device; and

wherein the output device is a second audible anti-theft receiver unit, and the output signal is adapted to be received by the second audible anti-theft receiver unit for the purpose of activating a local indicating device proximate the second audible anti-theft receiver unit.

2. A theft deterrent system comprising:

a sensor operatively associated with an emitter, the sensor configured to sense a potential theft condition at a retail display unit and the emitter configured to emit an alarm signal when a potential theft condition is sensed by the sensor;

a signal receiver unit including a receiver in operative communication with a control circuit, and an output transmitter in operative communication with the control circuit, the receiver unit configured to receive an alarm signal, the control circuit configured to recognize an alarm signal received by the receiver and to output a signal indicating that the emitter has emitted an alarm signal indicating that a potential theft condition has occurred at the retail display unit via the output transmitter to an output device;

further comprising a plurality of emitters each operatively associated with one of a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to monitor a retail display device each of the emitters configured to emit an alarm signal having a unique identifier; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to identify the source of alarm signals received by the receiver.

3. The theft deterrent system of claim 2, wherein the emitters are configured to emit alarm signals comprising audible sound waves, and wherein the control circuit is configured to identify the one of the emitters that emitted each alarm signal by at least one of the volume, frequency, pitch, and wavelength of the audible sound waves.

4. The theft deterrent system of claim 2, wherein an alarm signal emitted by the emitter travels wirelessly to the receiver and wherein an alarm signal emitted by the emitter comprises at least one of audible sound waves, infrared light, visible light, radio waves, and microwaves.

5. The theft deterrent system of claim 2, wherein the sensors are configured to sense at least one of when a retail display device has been actuated to allow removal of merchandise from the retail display device and when merchandise has been removed from the retail display device;

wherein each of the emitters are configured to emit a removal signal when its associated sensor senses at least one of when its associated retail display device has been actuated to allow removal of merchandise from the retail display device and when merchandise has been removed from its associated retail display device;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive removal signals; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to recognize removal signals and produce an output indicative of a received removal signal upon recognition of the removal signal.

6. The theft deterrent system of claim 5, wherein the signal receiver unit further comprises a memory, and wherein, upon recognition of alarm and removal signals by the control circuit, at least one of the type of signal received, the time of reception, and the emitter from which the signal was received is stored in the memory;

and

wherein the signal receiving unit is configured to selectively output the contents of the memory.