Programmable security system and method for protecting merchandise

• US 9,501,913 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Grant, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/607,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/543, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/5.6, 340/5.21, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00539 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• 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 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermine period of time. A counter inactivates the programmable key after a predetermined maximum number of activations.

Claims

1. A programmable security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a programming station configured to provide a security code and having a memory for storing the security code;

a programmable key configured to communicate with the programming station to receive the security code from the programming station and having a memory for storing the security code, the programmable key comprising a power source; and

a security device configured to communicate with the programmable key to receive the security code from the programmable key, the security device having a memory for storing the security code;

wherein the programming station is configured to initially communicate the security code to the programmable key to be stored in the memory of the programmable key;

wherein the programmable key is configured to subsequently communicate the security code to the security device to be stored in the memory of the security device; and

wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power from the power source to the security device upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key to operate the security device,

wherein the programmable key comprises means for inducing a magnetic field and the security device comprises means for inducing an electrical current from the magnetic field, and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

2. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power to the security device to unlock a lock mechanism of the security device.

3. The programmable security system of claim 1,

wherein the means for inducing a magnetic field comprises a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core and electrically connected to the power source of the programmable key such that passing an electrical current through the conductive wire of the programmable key induces a magnetic field in the programmable key;

and

wherein the means for inducing an electrical current comprises a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core such that the magnetic field in the programmable key induces an electrical current in the conductive wire of the security device.

4. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the power transferred from the programmable key to the security device is configured to unlock a lock mechanism of the security device.

5. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power inductively to the security device.

6. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the security device does not have an internal power source.

7. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

8. The programmable security system of claim 1, further comprising a charging station configured to charge the power source of the programmable key.

9. The programmable security system of claim 8, wherein the charging station is configured to charge the power source of the programmable key inductively.

10. A method for protecting merchandise comprising:

providing a security code in a programming station and storing the security code in a memory of the programming station;

communicating the security code from the memory of the programming station to a memory of a programmable key;

communicating the security code from the memory of the programmable key to a memory of a security device;

determining whether the security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key;

inducing a magnetic field in the programmable key upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key;

inducing an electrical current in the security device from the magnetic field; and

transferring power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transferring comprises transferring power from a power source of the programmable key.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising charging the power source with a charging station.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein transferring comprises transferring power inductively from the programmable key to the security device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein charging comprises charging the power source inductively.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising unlocking a lock mechanism of the security device in response to transferring power from the programmable key to the security device.

16. A programmable security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a programmable key having a memory for storing a security code and a power source; and

a security device having a memory for storing a security code;

wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power from the power source to the security device upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key,

wherein the programmable key comprises means for inducing a magnetic field and the security device comprises means for inducing an electrical current from the magnetic field; and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

17. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power inductively to the security device.

18. The programmable security system of claim 16, wherein the programmable key is configured to transfer power to the security device to unlock a lock mechanism of the security device.

19. The programmable security system of claim 16, further comprising a programming station configured to provide the security code to the programmable key.

20. A method for protecting merchandise comprising:

storing a security code in a memory of a programmable key;

storing the security code in a memory of a security device;

determining whether the security code stored in the memory of the security device matches the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key;

inducing a magnetic field in the programmable key upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key;

inducing an electrical current in the security device from the magnetic field; and

transferring power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.