Security tag deactivation system
AssigneeCheckpoint Systems, Inc.
InventorGeorge W. Kaltner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Security tags which bear a resonant circuit made of conductors on opposite sides of a dielectric are deactivated by applying to a tag sufficiently high RF power at the resonance frequency to produce breakthrough between opposed conductors. A tag presence alert signal is intentionally extended beyond the period of active tag presence detection. During high power operation, the system inhibits other nearby RF deactivating and electronic article surveillance systems. The RF transmissions of all these systems may also be slaved. The high power RF produced by the deactivating system is principally dissipated where it causes no undesirable heating effects.
Claims13
In a system for deactivating a tag which bears a resonant circuit made of conductors on opposite sides of a dielectric substrate by applying to said circuit sufficient RF power at its resonant frequency to disable said circuit through breakdown between said conductors, the improvement which comprises:
- means for detecting the presence of said tag near said system;
- means for responding to said detection to initiate a tag presence signal, said initiating means including means for detecting the presence of said tag near a pad housing an RF transmit antenna and an RF receive antenna:
- means for sensing the cessation of said detection due to disablement of said circuit by said RF power;
- means for extending the duration of said tag presence signal by a predetermined period of time beyond said sensing of cessation of detection;
- and
- means for responding to said detection to produce a signal capable of inhibiting the detection of the presence of a tag near another deactivating system.
In a system for deactivating a tag which bears a resonant circuit made of conductors on opposite sides of a dielectric substrate by applying to said circuit sufficient RF power at its resonant frequency to disable said circuit through breakdown between said conductors, the improvement which comprises:
- means for detecting the presence of said tag near said system;
- means for responding to said detection to initiate a tag presence signal, said initiating means including means for detecting the presence of said tag near a pad housing an RF transmit antenna and an RF receive antenna;
- means for sensing the cessation of said detection due to disablement of said circuit by said RF power;
- means for extending the duration of said tag presence signal by a predetermined period of time beyond said
- sensing of cessation of detection;
- and
- means for dissipating the disabling power principally within a cabinet separate from the pad which houses the transmit and receive antennas.
In a system for deactivating a tag which bears a resonant circuit made of conductors on opposite sides of a dielectric substrate by applying to said circuit sufficient RF power at its resonant frequency to disable said circuit through breakdown between said conductors, in conjunction with an electronic article surveillance system for detecting the presence near said surveillance system of a tag which has not been disabled by said deactivating system, the improvement which comprises:
- means for detecting the presence of said tag near said deactivating system;
- means for responding to said detection to initiate a tag presence signal;
- means for sensing the cessation of said detection due to disablement of said circuit by said RF power;
- means for extending the duration of said tag presence signal by a predetermined period of time beyond said sensing of cessation of detection;
- and
- means for responding to said detection of a tag near the deactivating system to inhibit the detection of a tag by said surveillance system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.