Device for the monitoring of objects and/or persons

• US 4,851,815 A
• Filed: 02/23/1988
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Enkelmann Computer
• Original Assignee: Thomas Enkelmann Computer
• Inventors: Enkelmann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US07/159,132
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/572, 340/571, 340/539, 340/568
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A device for the monitoring of objects and/or persons is described which comprises an RF transmitter (10) and a security tag (15) with a casing for accommodating an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit contains a battery and an alarm circuit (30). An alarm is triggered when an electrically conductive security element (14) for attaching the security tag (15) to the object or to the person is severed or when an external RF field generated by the RF transmitter (10) has a defined state. The RF transmitter (10) is here designed with an encoder (11) for coding the RF signal, while in the electronic circuit of the security tag (15) a decoder (20) is provided which outputs an alarm signal to the alarm circuit (30) to trigger an alarm when a defined information content of the coded RF signal is present.

Claims

1. In a device for the monitoring of objects and/or persons, in conjunction with an RF transmitter, and being in the form of a security tag with a casing accommodating an electronic circuit which comprises a battery and an alarm circuit, and which further comprises on the one hand an electrically conducting security element for attaching the security tag to the object/the person which triggers an alarm if severed, and which comprises on the other hand an RF receiver for alternative triggering of an alarm in response to an external RF field generated by the RF transmitter;

the improvement wherein the electronic circuit further comprises an alarm circuit (30) and a decoder (20) which outputs an alarm signal to the alarm circuit (30) to trigger an alarm when a defined information content of a coded RF signal from an RF transmitter is present;

wherein the decoder (20) and the alarm circuit (30) are designed in such a manner that when a first alarm code is received the alarm is triggered, and when a second reset code is received a triggered alarm is switched off; and

wherein the decoder (20) comprises a suppression circuit (30) which then outputs an alarm signal to the alarm circuit (30) if the second reset code is not received.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the decoder (20) comprises means (23, 23'"'"') of setting a code.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means of setting both codes comprises a single coding switch (23) by means of which both the codes can be set simultaneously.

4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the electronic circuit (20) comprises a divider (25), via which the alarm signal is led in such a manner that an alarm is triggered only if a number of alarm signals corresponding to a division ratio of the divider (25) were received.

5. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises a switch (29) which is mechanically connected to the casing in such a manner that its switch state alters when the casing is opened and an alarm signal is passed to the alarm circuit (30).

6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises a first pull-up resistor (27) between a first end of the security element (14) and a switch point (B;

Vcc) with a defined first logical level ("1"), whereby the second end of the security element (14) lies on a logical level ("0") opposite to that of the first logical level.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the electronic circuit further comprises a second pull-up resistor (28) electrically connected between said switch (29) and said switch point (B;

Vcc).

8. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises an OR gate (24) to the input of which all alarm signals are led and the output of which is connected to an alarm set input of the alarm circuit (30).

9. Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises a timing circuit (40) which outputs at defined intervals switch-on signals to controllable switches (43, 44) between the battery (45) and power supply connections (Vcc) of power-consuming components (27, 28) or assemblies (19, 20, 24, 26) to sample the alarm states.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the timing circuit (40) is designed in such a manner that the decoder (20) and (if appropriate) the OR gate (24) are supplied with power only for a period of time sufficient to receive the defined information content.

11. Device according to one of the claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the power-consuming components (27, 28) or assemblies (26) provided in the electronic circuit for monitoring the security elements (14) and the switch (29) are supplied with power only during a period of time defined at least by the switch times of the electronic circuit.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the timing circuit (40) has a clock output (C1) led to clock inputs of the electronic circuit and lies with a control input via a synchronization circuit (19) at the output of the RF receiver for synchronization of clock pulses.

13. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the suppression circuit comprises a counter (39) which is continuously supplied with power, a counting input (Count) of which is connected to the timing circuit (40) for counting the defined intervals, a reset input (Res) of which is connected to the decoder (20) for resetting when the second code is received and the output of which is connected to the alarm circuit (30) for outputting an alarm signal when the counter (39) exceeds the limit.

14. Device according to claim 13 characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an electroacoustic transducer to output an acoustic alarm.

15. Device according to claim 13 characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an RF alarm transmitter (34) to output an alarm signal detectable by an RF receiver.

16. Device according to claim 13 characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises coding means (35) for coding the alarm signal.

17. Device according to claim 13 characterized in that an aerial input of the electronic circuit is connected to an aerial (17) which is led together with the security element (14) out of the casing.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the security element (14) forms the one core or the inner conductor of a two-core lead or a coaxial cable, the other core or outer conductor of which forms the aerial (17).

19. Device according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the security element (14) is led at one end via an inductor (18) to chassis.

20. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an alarm memory (31) which is designed in such a manner that an alarm sounds at least for a defined period of time when an alarm signal is output.

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the alarm memory (31) can be cleared by means of a reset signal.

22. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suppression circuit comprises a counter (39) which is continuously supplied with power, a counting input (Count) of which is connected to the timing circuit (40) for counting the defined intervals, a reset input (Res) of which is connected to the decoder (20) for resetting when the second code is received and the output of which is connected to the alarm circuit (30) for outputting an alarm signal when the counter (39) exceeds the limit.

23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an electroacoustic transducer to output an acoustic alarm.

24. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an RF alarm transmitter (34) to output an alarm signal detectable by an RF receiver.

25. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises coding means (35) for coding the alarm signal.

26. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that an aerial input of the electronic circuit is connected to an aerial (17) which is led together with the security element (14) out of the casing.

27. Device according to claim 26, characterized in that the security element (14) forms the one core or the inner conductor of a two-core lead or a coaxial cable, the other core or outer conductor of which forms the aerial (17).

28. Device according to claims 26 or 27, characterized in that the security element (14) is led at one end via an inductor (18) to chassis.

30. Device, according to claims 1 or 29, in combination with a stationary RF transmitter emitting the coded RF signal.

41. Device according to claims 1 or 40 characterized in that the power-consuming components (27, 28) or assemblies (26) provided in the electronic circuit for monitoring the security elements (14) and the switch (29) are supplied with power only during a period of time defined at least by the switch times of the electronic circuit.

42. Device according to claim 41, characterized in that the timing circuit (40) has a clock output (C1) led to clock inputs of the electronic circuit and lies with a control input via a synchronization circuit (19) at the output of the RF receiver for synchronization of clock pulses.

29. In a device for the monitoring of objects and/or persons, in conjunction with an RF transmitter, and being in the form of a security tag with a casing accommodating an electronic circuit which comprises a battery and an alarm circuit, and which further comprises on the one hand an electrically conducting security element for attaching the security tag to the object/the person which triggers an alarm if severed, and which comprises on the other hand an RF receiver for alternative triggering of an alarm in response to an external RF field generated by the RF transmitter;

the improvement wherein the electronic circuit further comprises an alarm circuit (30) and a decoder (20) which outputs an alarm signal to the alarm circuit (30) to trigger an alarm when a defined information content of a coded RF signal from an RF transmitter is present; and

wherein the electronic circuit comprises a timing circuit (40) which outputs at defined intervals switch-on signals to controllable switches (43,

     44) between the battery (45) and the power supply connections (Vcc) of power-consuming components (27,

     28) or assemblies (19, 20, 24,

     26) to sample the alarm states.

31. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the decoder (20) comprises means (23, 23'"'"') of setting a code.

32. Device according to claim 31, characterized in that the means of setting both codes comprises a single coding switch (23) by means of which both the codes can be set simultaneously.

33. Device according to claim 32, characterized in that the electronic circuit (20) comprises a divider (25), via which the alarm signal is led in such a manner that an alarm is triggered only if a number of alarm signals corresponding to a division ratio of the divider (25) were received.

34. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises a switch (29) which is mechanically connected to the casing in such a manner that its switch state alters when the casing is opened and an alarm signal is passed to the alarm circuit (30).

35. Device according to claim 34, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises a first pull-up resistor (27) between a first end of the security element (14) and a switch point (B;

Vcc) with a defined first logical level ("1"), whereby the second end of the security element (14) lies on a logical level ("0") opposite to that of the first logical level.

36. Device according to claim 35, characterized in that the electronic circuit further comprises a second pull-up resistor (28) electrically connected between said switch (29) and said switch point (B;

Vcc).

37. Device according to claim 34, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises an OR gate (24) to the input of which all alarm signals are led and the output of which is connected to an alarm set input of the alarm circuit (30).

38. Device according to claim 34, characterized in that the alarm circuit (30) comprises an alarm memory (31) which is designed in such a manner that an alarm sounds at least for a defined period of time when an alarm signal is output.

39. Device according to claim 38, characterized in that the alarm memory (31) can be cleared by means of a reset signal.

40. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the timing cicuit (40) is designed in such a manner that the decoder (20) and (if appropriate) the OR gate (24) are supplied with power only for a period of time sufficient to receive the defined information content.