Wireless synchronization of pulsed magnetic EAS systems

A wireless arrangement of multiple magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, comprising:

• first and second magnetic EAS systems positioned for operation in such close proximity to one another that said first and second EAS systems have respective interrogation zones which partially overlap one another;
• said first and second EAS systems having respective antenna assemblies;
• said first and second EAS systems having respective marker interrogation transmitter circuits coupled to said respective antenna assemblies for generating at least one unique signal in said respective interrogation zones;
• said first and second EAS systems having respective marker detection receiver circuits coupled to said antenna assemblies for capturing signals including said at least one unique signal from said respective interrogation zones;
• said first and second EAS systems having respective controllers programmed with a common set of instructions for initiating and terminating transmission using said marker interrogation transmitter circuits of said at least one unique signal and for receiving any signal, including said at least one unique signal, using said marker detection receiver circuits from said respective interrogation zones at respective transmit and receive phases, determined by said instructions and relative to a common reference;
• said controller in said first EAS system initiating transmission using said marker interrogation transmitter circuit of said first EAS system of said at least one unique signal from said first EAS system, said at least one unique signal conveying phase information;
• and,
• said controller in said second EAS system initiating reception using said marker detection receiver circuit of said second EAS system of signals from said respective interrogation zone during one of said receiver phases and in response to receiving and identifying said at least one unique signal transmitted by said first EAS system during said receiver phase, said controller in said second EAS system modifying operation of said second EAS system responsive to said phase information conveyed in said at least one unique signal to synchronize operation of said second EAS system with operation of said first EAS system.