Other

Wg Security Products, Inc.

Xiao Hui Yang

Arthur Fuss

Graham Handyside

Li Yanshan

Guo Yin

Bryan Whittington

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device for monitoring items comprises an electronics housing and an elastic band. The band is attached to the housing and is used to install the EAS device onto an item. A tension monitoring apparatus monitors the band and generates a signal based on the band's state of tension. Electronics within the housing receive this signal and use it to determine the status of the EAS device, i.e. installed, armed, tampered with, etc. Loss of tension may indicate a cut band or removed EAS device. Other sensors may also generate inputs for the electronics to evaluate. These include an installation sensor to monitor contact between the housing and an item and an arming switch to arm the EAS device before installation. The EAS device may have wireless communication capabilities, and external devices may arm and disarm the device with wireless communication.

EAS device with elastic band

Anti-theft tag for electronic device charging port

An electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring boxes and other items comprises a base, an electronics housing, and an elastic band. The base has posts and spring loaded pins proximal to the posts. The elastic band has two ends and an aperture at each end. The electronics housing has apertures that align with the spring loaded pins and that give access to switches within the housing. When the base is installed on an item and the elastic band is wrapped around the item with its apertures over the posts, the band restrains the spring loaded pins. When the housing is installed on the base, the band keeps the pins from actuating the switches. If the band has its tension relaxed, by tampering for example, the band ceases to restrain the pins which then actuate the switches. The electronics monitor the switches for tampering and can signal alarms.

An EAS tag has a housing and a shackle. The shackle has a first segment with a first end and a second segment with a second end. The first segment of the shackle is slidably mounted in the housing while the second segment moves in and out of the housing in accord with the first segment. When the second segment is out of the housing, the shackle can be placed through an aperture in an object to be protected or around a portion of an object to be protected. The shackle is then slid into the housing so that the second segment inserts into the housing. A clutch within the housing prevents the shackle from being shifted until the clutch is released. The housing carries at least a passive EAS element. More advanced EAS electronic elements may also be carried in the housing.

EAS tag with shackle

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device has a housing containing EAS electronics and a panel extending from the housing. An adhesive element on the panel provides a means of attaching the EAS device to an object to be monitored. The EAS device has a switch to detect when the EAS device is mounted to an object. The electronics within the housing monitor the switch. The switch may be associated with, or mounted in, the panel. The panel may be hinged to the housing. The panel may fold flat to the housing when not in use, and the switch will disconnect any power source to conserve energy when the panel is closed. The EAS electronics can communicate with external devices and an external EAS system which may include cloud functionality.

Anti-theft tag with attaching panel

An electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring boxes, crates, and other items having lids is comprised of a base, an electronics housing, and a sealing tape for sealing the lid. The sealing tape is fixed to the base. Adhesive on the base and sealing tape allow them to be fixed to a box. The sealing tape is placed over the edge of the lid. The sealing tape has a conductive loop within it and the ends of the conductive loop terminate on the base. The electronics housing mounts to the base and contacts on the electronics housing contact the ends of the loop to complete a circuit. The electronics within the housing monitor the integrity of the sealing tape. If the sealing tape is torn, the electronics interpret that as an attempt to open the box and remove its contents. The electronics then generate an alarm.

EAS device with conductive sealing tape

An electronic article surveillance device with an electronics housing and base attaches to an article to be protected. The housing and base have connecting interfaces which act together to attach the housing to the base. The housing and base have matching apertures. A switch and a wrapping splitter extend from the housing through the apertures. The switch detects when the device is attached to an object and the wrapping splitter splits the wrapping to prevent the wrapping from being used to defeat the switch. Electronics monitor the status of the switch. The apparatus may employ a restraining mechanism to prevent the operation of the wrapping splitter unless the housing is attached to the base. The housing and base may be attached to each other by a manually movable latch, which may also actuate the wrapping splitter. Electronics in the apparatus receive and send signals.

EAS device with wrapping splitter for objects with wrapping

Embodiments of the current invention entail a highly visible tag that can be attached to a product at a highly visible location on the product at a store, but can easily be removed once the purchaser buys the product and takes it home. Once the purchaser gets the product home, they can remove it themselves and use it in public. Once the tag is removed, it cannot be reattached by the consumer. Depending on the store policy, the product may not be returned, or an extra fee charged for returning the garment, or other similar policies. Absence of a tag makes it clear that the buyer has removed the tag and provides an indication that the product, such as a garment has been used or worn in public. The tag is most effective for products that are used in public, such as garments. The tag may carry EAS technology.

One time use tag

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device has a plug configured to fit a port of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the port used in the portable electronic device is a charging port. The EAS device may have an additional attaching mechanism to maintain the EAS device attached to a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the additional attaching mechanism is a panel with an adhesive element. The EAS device may have a switch that changes state when the plug is inserted into the port. Electronics within the EAS device may monitor the switch and plug to detect attachment of the EAS device. The EAS device may also have a charging port in electrical continuity with the plug so that the electronic device can be charge with the EAS device in place.

An anti-theft tag has two slightly concave shells attached to each other by a hinge. One shell has an aperture through it and the other shell has a post located to insert through the aperture when the two shells are brought together. At least one catch tab extends laterally from the end of the post. The catch tab exceeds the width of the aperture and is constructed to give to allow the post to insert into the aperture, but to resist and prevent the extraction of the post. The post is severable to allow the remove of the catch tab to allow the opening of the tag. One of the shells also has a slot and the other has a tack. When the post is inserted through the aperture, the tack inserts into the slot. The tack passes through an object to be protected and maintains the tag in place.

One time use multi-function tag

A highly visible single use tag prevents the fraudulent return of garments. Two members are connected by a hinge. The hinge allows the members to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration where the members form and enclose a space. Complementary latch elements on the members engage and hold the members in the closed configuration. At least one of the members has a tack extending inwardly into the space enclosed by the members. This tack pierces a garment intended to be protected by the tag and maintains the tag on the garment. At least one of the members has at least one perforated line across the width of the member. This perforated line allows that member to be pulled apart and the tag removed without the need of any tool to do so.

Anti-fraud tag

An electronic article surveillance device with an electronics housing and base attaches to an article to be protected. The housing and base have connecting interfaces which act together to attach the housing to the base. The housing has a switch on the underside and the base has an aperture partially covered by a flexible tab that aligns with the switch. The flexible tab normally protrudes away from the bottom surface of the base. When the base is attached to an article, the tab is pushed back into the aperture. When the housing is attached to the base, the switch contacts the tab. If the EAS device is removed from the base without disarming the device, the tab moves out of the aperture and allows the switch to detect the removal. The EAS device then issues an alarm. The flexible tab may a piercing element to pierce plastic wrapping, if present.

EAS device with installation switch and activating base

An EAS system employs multiple antennas which are in separate electrical circuits and do not overlap to avoid magnetic coupling. Each antenna is paired with each other antenna. The controls for the system employ multi-function amplifier filters (MAF) to perform a difference operation on the signals in each pair. The results are converted from analog to digital and directed to a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP adjusts digital potentiometers to minimize the differences at the MAFs. The controls then operate at least one antenna to pulse generate an interrogation field. The controls monitor the antenna signals for additional signal at the MAFs. The DSP performs pattern recognition on additional signals at the MAFs to distinguish types of EAS tags.

Noise compensating EAS antenna system

A system and method provides access to antennas of an electronic article surveillance system via WiFi and the Internet. Each antenna of the EAS system has a WiFi chip associated with its controls and the WiFi chip relays the antennas operating parameters as well as its reading of electromagnetic noise in its environment to the Internet. A remote technician can review the information provided by the antennas of the EAS system and optimize their operation with each other and their environments. In some embodiments, remote software can optimize the operation of the EAS system antennas. In some embodiments, the WiFi chip is an aftermarket addition.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Xiao Hui Yang