Microprocessor controlled security tag

• US 20070008137A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory Kron, James Stoffer, Mark Kieckhefer, Richard Halbach
• Original Assignee: Gregory Kron, James Stoffer, Mark Kieckhefer, Richard Halbach
• Inventors: Stoffer, James, Kron, Gregory, Kieckhefer, Mark, Halbach, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled security tag and accompanying security system is described. The tag generally includes a housing having external contacts to interface with elongated contacts on a connecting band. The band forms a complex impedance circuit with a patient'"'"'s limb that allows detection features such as removal and band compromise. A microprocessor and related circuitry as well as a transmitter and receivers are enclosed in the housing. The tag is adapted to communicate inductively with an activator/deactivator unit as well as a tag programmer that updates and changes tag features in the tag firmware. The overall system further includes a hub to receive the data from a plurality of tags in the system. The tag can also communicate with a phased multiple antenna that sends signals to the tag.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a security tag having a microprocessor, a transmitter and a receiver;

a phased multiple quadrature antenna in communication with the receiver on the tag;

a tag receiver in communication with the transmitter on the security tag;

a hub in communication with the tag receiver;

a tag activation and deactivation device in inductive communication with the tag;

a tag programmer in inductive communication with the tag; and

one or more computers in communication with the tag receiver, the hub, the tag activation and deactivation device and the tag programmer.

2. An antenna, comprising:

at least two phased antenna elements in a spatially oriented configuration in an antenna plane; and

at least two independently phased excitation sources coupled to each of the phased antenna elements, wherein the phased antenna elements are arranged orthogonally.

3. The antenna as claimed in claim 2 wherein the spatial orientation includes a resultant magnetic vector within a defined tag activation zone.

4. The antenna as claimed in claim 3 wherein a resultant activation field is a uniform strength received signal at the tag throughout a full 360 degree rotation within a single tag plane defined generally parallel to the antenna plane

5. The antenna as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tag includes a receiver adapted to receive signals from the antenna.

6. A method, comprising:

providing a security tag having a band electrically coupled to the tag and internal circuitry including instructions to;

sense when the band has been removed from a skin surface by detecting impedance changes in a circuit formed between the band and the skin surface;

determine if the band has a short circuit by detecting impedance changed in the circuit formed between the band and the skin surface.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tag further comprises instructions to receive a first signal from a quadrature antenna, when the tag is in a range of the antenna and to return a second signal based on a qualification of the first signal to a tag receiver.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tag further comprises instructions to optionally inductively interface with a tag activator and deactivator in order to activate or deactivate the tag and to check power in the tag.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tag further comprises instructions to optionally inductively interface with a tag programmer that provides pulse programming to the tag in order to program features and parameters related to the instructions in the tag.