Safety device and method for using a safety device

• US 8,985,452 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultes, Gerhard, Tomschitz, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US14/003,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/451, 235/492, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

The invention relates to a security device with sensors for checking whether the security device (1) is in an undamaged state and checking for the presence of a specified support (9) of the security device (1), said support (9) being an object, in particular a mechanical or electronic component, characterized in that the sensors detect movements and/or accelerations of the security device (1) relative to the support (9) and/or material properties of the support (9) and/or of the security device (1) and are connected to an electronic system (3) for signal evaluation. In a method for using such a security device (1) the state of the security device (1) and the presence of a specified support (9) are ascertained multiple times and in different ways, wherein signals are used which are obtained as actual values and which are compared with specified target values in an electronic system (3). An action is triggered upon a deviation of at least one of the actual values from the target values.

Claims

1. A security device comprising:

sensors for checking whether the security device is in an undamaged state and checking for a presence of a specified support of the security device;

the sensors configured to detect at least one of material properties of the support and the security device and generate a signal for the at least one of the material properties; and

wherein the security device is coupled to an electronic system that is configured to compare an actual value of the signal with a predetermined target value and trigger an action upon a deviation of the actual value from the predetermined target value.

2. The security device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is of the capacitive and/or inductive type for detection of the material properties of the support and/or of the security device.

3. The security device of claim 1 wherein the sensor for detection of the movements and/or accelerations of the security device with respect to the support is an acceleration sensor, a magnetic field sensor and/or a rotational rate sensor.

4. The security device of claim 1 further comprising means for firm attachment to the support.

5. The security device of claim 4 wherein the means for firm attachment to a support comprises metal at least at one attachment site.

6. The security device of claim 1 wherein the sensor has a capacitor electrode which is integrated in the security device and interacts with the support as a second electrode or with a further electrode integrated in the security device.

7. The security device of claim 6 wherein the capacitor electrode is a metal foil.

8. The security device of claim 2 wherein the inductive type sensor is an eddy current sensor.

9. The security device of claim 1 wherein the security device is integrated at least partially in a tag.

10. The security device of claim 1 wherein the electronic system is connected to the tag.

11. The security device of claim 1 wherein an electrode of the sensors is disposed in a layer of the tag.

12. The security device of claim 1 wherein the sensors include an RFID sensor.

13. The security device of claim 1 wherein the security device is self-adhesive.

14. A method for determining whether a security device is in an undamaged state, the method comprising:

sensing for a first time whether the security device has been removed from a support associated with the security device;

sensing for a second time whether the security device has been removed from the support associated with the security device, the sensing for a second time step comprising at least a different sensed measurement than the first sense;

wherein at least one of the steps of sensing for the first and second times includes detecting at least one of material properties of the support and the security device; and

wherein signals are used which are obtained as actual values and which are compared in an electronic system with predetermined target values, and an action is triggered upon a deviation of at least one of the actual values from the target values.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a distance and/or a position of the security device relative to the support and the material of the support is ascertained by the first and second sensing steps and the signals therefrom.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein an alternating current is applied during the first and second sensing steps and a signal amplitude and/or signal frequency is analyzed.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the signals are obtained from measurements of the movements and/or accelerations of the security device relative to the support and/or the material properties of the support and/or the security device.