Combined article surveillance and product identification system

Detacher apparatus for removing an EAS tag from an article of merchandise, the EAS tag comprising a first element and a second element, the first and second elements adapted for assembly together by snap connection through the article of merchandise, the EAS tag further comprising release means for selectively releasing said snap connection and transponder means for selectively providing a multibit identification signal, the detacher comprising:

• a housing;
• first means in said housing for indicating that an EAS tag is present at the housing;
• second means, responsive to said first means, for generating an interrogation signal for stimulating said transponder means of the EAS tag to provide said multibit identification signal;
• third means for receiving said multibit identification signal provided by said transponder means of the EAS tag;
• and
• fourth means, in said housing and responsive to said third means, for actuating said release means of the EAS tag to release said snap connection so that said first and second elements may be separated from each other to detach the EAS tag from the article of merchandise.

A detacher for removing a hard EAS tag from an article of merchandise, comprising:

• a housing having a top surface and a nesting area in said top surface shaped for receiving the hard tag;
• a switch at said nesting area for being mechanically actuated by a hard tag inserted into said nesting area;
• an antenna in said housing for receiving an identification signal from a hard tag inserted into said nesting area;
• separation means in said housing for inserting a probe into said hard tag to release clamping means in said hard tag;
• a control circuit for controlling operation of aid separation means;
• at least one signal port at said housing;
• first means for providing a signal path between aid antenna and said at least one signal port;
• and
• second means for providing a signal path between aid at least one signal port and said control circuit.

A combined EAS/article identification tag, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• an attachment portion adapted for assembly together with said enclosure by snap connection through an article of merchandise;
• a marker element, housed in the enclosure, for triggering an article surveillance system to generate an alarm signal;
• and
• an identification circuit in said attachment portion for generating a multibit radio frequency identification signal;
• wherein said attachment portion is a tack having a head in which said identification circuit is lodged.

An electronic article surveillance and article identification system comprising, in combination:

• a detection device, positioned at an exit of a retail store, for detecting unauthorized removal of goods from the retail store;
• an identification signal reader at a checkout counter in the retail store, said identification signal reader for receiving via radio communication identifying information related to goods presented for purchase at the checkout counter, said identification signal reader including a point-of-sale terminal;
• a plurality of reusable EAS/ID tags for being removably attached to goods on sale at the retail store, each of the EAS/ID tags including a marker element for triggering the detection device to generate an alarm signal and an identification element, separate from the marker element, for providing identifying information to the identification signal reader via radio communication;
• and
• a detacher device at the checkout counter for removing the EAS/ID tags from the goods presented for purchase;
• said detacher device responding to a signal generated by said identification signal reader, said signal being generated by said identification signal reader in response to identification information provided by an identification element of one of the EAS/ID tags;
• said identification signal reader including reading circuitry connected to the point-of-sale terminal and integrated in a housing with the detacher device.