Systems and methods for optical reading and EAS tag sensing and deactivating at retail checkout

• US 20050219053A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated), Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Tabet, Nicolas N., Guess, Alan Jackson, Clifford, Harold C., Drew, Douglas Allen, Paris, Bruce E., Kortt, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.400
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003

Abstract

Methods of operation of a data reader and security tag deactivation system whereby a data reader such as a barcode scanner is equipped with EAS deactivation coils or modules disposed in the vicinity of the read volume or generally proximate thereto and the system is operable to permit reading of the ID tag (such as the barcode label) on an item, and upon a successful read, the deactivation unit is operable to (1) sense the presence of an EAS tag; (2) if presence of an EAS tag is sensed, energize the deactivation coil/module to deactivate the EAS tag; and (3) sense if the EAS tag is deactivated. If the EAS tag is sensed to have been deactivated, the system signals as such and a next item may be scanned. If the EAS tag is sensed to have not been deactivated, the system proceeds to alternate operational steps to handle the exception. In another function, the system is operable to urge the operator to return the item to the read volume to enhance EAS tag deactivation, one method being by delaying a good read acknowledgment until the system determines that the EAS tag which may have been previously detected has subsequently been deactivated.

Claims

1-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A method of operating a system comprised of a security tag deactivation unit and a data reader, the method comprising the steps of

passing an item through a read zone;

simultaneously attempting to read an encoded tag on the item and attempting to sense an electronic security tag on the item whether or not an encoded tag has first been read;

obtaining a valid read of item identification data from the encoded tag with the data reader;

attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag that has been sensed;

preventing reporting of a subsequent reading of an encoded tag of the same item identification data while attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag;

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein the step further comprising

starting a timer upon obtaining a valid read of item identification data;

preventing reporting of a subsequent reading of an encoded tag of the same item identification data unless the timer has expired;

if prior to expiration of the timer an electronic security tag is sensed, restarting the timer;

if prior to expiration of the timer an encoded tag of the same item identification data is read, restarting the timer.