Security device with dual use transformer

• US 9,299,232 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Christianson, David P., Johnson, Donald Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/137,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20150179035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 3405722-5726, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.4, 340/571, 70/571, 70/18, 70/53, 70/63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A security device may include an attachment assembly configured to affix the security device to an object, a locking assembly configured to lockably secure the attachment assembly and configured to transition between at least a locked state and an unlocked state, a transformer configured to drive an alarm assembly to generate an alarm, and processing circuitry. The transformer may be further configured to operate as a wireless receiver to receive a remotely transmitted wireless signal. The processing circuitry may be configured to monitor an output of the transformer to determine whether the wireless signal has been received via the transformer, and selectively activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate the alarm.

Claims

1. A security device comprising:

an attachment assembly configured to affix the security device to an object;

a locking assembly configured to lockably secure the attachment assembly, the locking assembly being configured to transition between at least a locked state and an unlocked state;

a transformer configured to drive an alarm assembly to generate an alarm, the transformer being further configured to operate as a wireless receiver to receive a remotely transmitted wireless signal; and

processing circuitry configured to;

monitor an output of the transformer to determine whether the wireless signal has been received via the transformer; and

selectively activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate the alarm.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate the alarm in response to the attachment assembly being compromised.

3. The security device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate the alarm in response to determining that the locking assembly has transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state without having received the wireless signal via the transformer.

4. The security device of claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly includes a sense loop, and wherein processing circuitry is further configured to activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate the alarm in response to the sense loop being compromised.

5. The security device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving the wireless signal:

receive the remotely transmitted wireless signal via the transformer;

verify the remotely transmitted wireless signal; and

open a window of time during which activation of the transformer to drive the alarm assembly is prevented, to permit the locking assembly to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state without generating an alarm.

6. The security device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a transmitted code.

7. The security device of claim 6, further comprising a memory configured to store a verification code, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the transmitted code matches the verification code.

8. The security device of claim 7, wherein the verification code is fixed during the locked state, and wherein the verification code is programmable during the unlocked state.

9. The security device of claim 6, further comprising a memory configured to store a verification code, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to overwrite the verification code with the transmitted code responsive to receipt of the transmitted code while the security device is in the unlocked state.

10. The security device of claim 1, wherein the alarm assembly comprises a piezo sounder.

11. The security device of claim 1, wherein the transformer forms a portion of a tuned circuit configured to receive the wireless signal.

12. The security device of claim 11, wherein the tuned circuit is configured to receive the wireless signal from an electronic key, the electronic key comprising at least one magnet configured to magnetically interact with the security device to transition the security device to the unlocked state.

13. The security device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to define a listening period during generation of the alarm to enable the transformer to stop driving the alarm assembly to listen for the wireless signal.

14. A method comprising:

monitoring, via processing circuitry, a locking assembly configured to lockably secure an attachment assembly to a object, wherein the monitoring of the locking assembly determines whether the locking assembly has transitioned between a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the processing circuitry, the locking assembly, and the attachment assembly are components of a security device;

monitoring an output of a transformer of the security device, via the processing circuitry, to determine whether a wireless signal has been received via the transformer; and

selectively activating the transformer to drive an audible alarm based on whether the wireless signal has been received and whether the locking assembly has transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selectively activating the transformer to drive the audible alarm comprises determining whether the wireless signal includes a transmitted code that matches a verification code.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing a code provided with the wireless signal as a verification code responsive to receiving the wireless signal while the locking assembly is in the unlocked state.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to receiving the wireless signal:

receiving the wireless signal via the transformer;

verifying the wireless signal; and

opening a window of time during which activation of the transformer to drive the alarm assembly is prevented, to permit the locking assembly to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state without generating an alarm.

18. A device interface for a security device that is affixable to an object, the device interface comprising:

receiver circuitry configured to detect receipt of a wireless signal; and

a transformer in communication with the receiver circuitry and in communication with an alarm assembly of the security device to selectively drive the alarm assembly responsive to instruction from processing circuitry of the security device, the processing circuitry being configured to;

determine whether a locking assembly configured to lockably secure an attachment assembly of the security device is in a locked state or an unlocked state;

monitor to determine whether the wireless signal has been received via the transformer; and

selectively activate the transformer to drive the alarm assembly to generate an alarm.

19. The device interface of claim 18, wherein the transformer forms a portion of a tuned circuit configured to receive the wireless signal.

20. The security device of claim 18, wherein the tuned circuit is configured to receive the wireless signal from an electronic key, the electronic key comprising at least one magnet configured to magnetically interact with the security device to transition the security device to the unlocked state.